RFP_SOL-674-16-000024_Final.pdf

Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance

June 30, 2016 Issuance Date: June 30, 2016 Questions Due: July 15, 2016 17:00, Local Pretoria Time Closing Date: August 10, 2016 17:00, Local Pretoria Time

Subject: Request for Proposals No.: SOL-674-16-000024 Indefinite Quantity Contracts for Research and Evaluation Services

To All Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission to the Southern Africa, is seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing the evaluation services described in the attached solicitation.

This procurement is being conducted through full and open competition among South African organizations only, for which the procedures for "contracting by negotiation, trade-off process” method of procurement, as described in Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), will apply. Eligible South African organizations are defined as follows:

“Local Organization means an entity, that at the time of the award and performance of the contract or subcontract, is one that:

(1) is organized under the laws of the South Africa;

(2) has its principal place of business in South Africa;

(3) is not less than 51 percent legally and beneficially owned by one or more resident citizens of South Africa or is managed by a governing body, the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of South Africa; and

(4) is not controlled by a foreign entity or by one or more individuals who are not resident citizens of the South Africa. “

USAID will make award to either (1) a local organization, (2) a local organization with local and/or international sub-partners, (3) or a consortium of organizations (the entity implementing PERFORMANCE is hereinafter referred to as the “contractor”) to evaluate all activities implemented under the Practical Education Research For Optimal Reading and Management (PERFORM) project.

Proposals will be accepted from South African private, for-profit and non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including universities, research organizations, Sol-674-16-000024 IDIQ for Research and Evaluation Services

ACRONYMS

COR Contracting Officer’s Representative

DBE Department of Basic Education

GoSA Government of South Africa

HODs Heads of Department

IDIQ Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quality

IT Information technology

LTSM Learning and Teaching Support Materials

NDP National Development Plan

NECF National Education Collaboration Framework

NGO Non-Governmental Organization

PERFORM Practical Education Research For Optimal Reading and Management

PERFORMANCE Practical Education Research For Optimal Reading and Management:

Analyze, Collaborate, Evaluate

RSP Reading Support Project

SCIP School Capacity Innovation Program

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USAID/SA United States Agency for International Development/ South Africa

ZAR South African Rand (currency)

PART I – The Schedule

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide services that fall within the scope of the work specified in Section C for Educational Evaluation Services. The request of services under this contract will be issued via task order during the ordering period as specified in Section F of the contract.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

This is an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract (IDIQ). The US Government will issue only Firm-Fixed Priced Contracts from this IDIQ. The Contractor must perform the services set forth in task orders at prices consistent with section B of this contract.

B.3 MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT

The basic contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $10,000.00 to cover the minimum order guarantee. USAID will be required to order and the Contractor will be required to furnish the minimum order amount of services. Following this initial obligation, individual task orders will obligate funds to cover the work required under that task order.

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING

This is a single award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract with an overall ceiling price of $5,000,000USD. The maximum aggregate dollar value of all task orders awarded under this contract shall not exceed the contract ceiling.

B.5 OBLIGATED AMOUNT, ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE

(a) Obligated Amount. The basic contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $10,000.00 to cover the minimum order amount.

(b) The Total Estimated Price for each task order must be negotiated in accordance with the terms of the IDIQ contract. In no event may the indirect rates or fixed fee for a task order exceed the ceilings set forth in Section B.6 and B.8 of the IDIQ contract. The U.S. dollar costs must be limited to reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216- 7, Allowable Cost and Payment, and FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee, A-21 (for universities), and A- 122 (non-profit).

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS

Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs shall be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated rates and the appropriate bases:

Description Year 1 Rates

Year 2 Rates

Year 3 Rates

Year 4 Rates

Year 5 Rates

Fringe (%) Indirect Cost

Note 1: Contractors are allowed to recover applicable indirect costs (i.e., overhead, G&A, etc.)

on other direct costs (ODCs), if it is part of the contractor's usual accounting procedures, consistent with FAR Part 31, and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

Note 2: While Subcontractor indirect cost rates are not incorporated above, subcontractor indirect cost rates as indicated in Note 1 above may be included in task order proposals, and are subject to approval of the TOCO in accordance with FAR 52.244-2, Subcontracts.

Contractors with a NICRA: If the Contractor does not have a Government Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), it may charge all costs as direct where possible. If the contractor wishes to use an indirect cost rate, it may propose an indirect cost rate ( on Attachment 2 in Section J) with supporting documentation

B.7 CEILING ON INDIRECT COST RATES

The government shall not be obligated to pay any additional amount on account of indirect costs above the ceiling rates established in the contract. This advance understanding shall not change any monetary ceiling, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract.

B.8 CEILING ON FIXED FEE

In negotiating the fixed dollar amount for fee, the TOCO must consider the policies and factors for establishing fee in FAR 15.404-4 as well as applicable for RFP NO. SOL-674-16-000024. In no event, may the amount of fixed fee in any individual task order exceed 10 percent (Offeror proposes ceiling percentage) of the task order's estimated cost, excluding fee.

B.9 LABOR

Compensation of personnel under this contract or any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation, the full text of which is in section H.

Central management costs will be handled through the following method: The Contracting Officer has determined that a key technical manager is not necessary or required to administer the basic IQC. The contractor will not be authorized to bill USAID directly for IQC management costs under this IQC or under task orders. The contractor shall propose a centralized management structure that allows for recovery of IQC management costs as part of its indirect costs.

All locally hired national personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates shall be paid in accordance with rates negotiated between the contractor and the cognizant USAID TOCO. The negotiated rates for individual locally-hired personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates shall be based upon a combination of factors including, but not limited to, prevailing in-country salaries for the professional category being negotiated and consideration of the individual's education and salary and/or consultant rate history over the most recent 3-year period. Annual salaries will be converted to daily salaries by dividing the annual figure by 260 workdays per year, except for annual salaries at the current approved maximum level, which shall not exceed the established approved current daily rate.

B.10 OTHER DIRECT COSTS

Other allowable direct costs necessary for the performance of the work, including, but not limited to, such costs as DBA and Medevac insurance, travel and transportation, lodging and subsistence expenses may be authorized in the task order. Any cost elements included in the Contractor's indirect cost rate pools shall not be charged in other direct costs. Lodging and subsistence costs may be authorized for locally-hired national personnel, if the terms of the task order require travel, in accordance with the clause of this contract entitled "Travel and Transportation (JAN 1990)", AIDAR 752.7002. Costs for U.S. expatriate travel/transportation to perform services overseas may be authorized by the TOCO in accordance with the same "Travel and Transportation" clause.

The TOCO shall make the determination whether or not other direct costs are allowable, in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles (i.e., FAR 31.2 and AIDAR 731.2 for commercial (for profit) organizations, FAR 31.3 and AIDAR 731.3 for educational institutions, or FAR 31.7 and AIDAR 731.7 for other not-for-profit organizations).

B.11 TASK ORDER LIMITATIONS

(a) Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Task Orders. When issuing FFP task orders, the TOCO must state in the task order the firm-fixed-price, which represents the total amount of the task order and the maximum price the contractor may be paid to perform the services, reports, or other deliverables in the task order. Although contracts will reflect US Dollars, all awards will be paid out in local currency. The contractor will be required to track both USD and local currency budget.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 PROJECT PURPOSE AND SCOPE

USAID/South Africa (USAID/SA) intends to solicit and award an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for research and evaluation services focusing on language and literacy in the primary grades, beginning on or around December 1, 2016. The goal of the Practical Education Research For Optimal Reading and Management: Analyze, Collaborate, Evaluate (PERFORMANCE) contract is to generate an evidence base that demonstrates which interventions are most effective in improving the quality of language and literacy skills of primary grade learners in South Africa. These findings will be used to design and refine USAID-funded education programming.

USAID will make award to either (1) a local organization, (2) a local organization with local and/or international sub-partners, (3) or a consortium of organizations (the entity implementing PERFORMANCE is hereinafter referred to as the “contractor”) to evaluate all activities implemented under the Practical Education Research For Optimal Reading and Management (PERFORM) project. The contractor will conduct a meta-analysis of these findings and set up a professional learning community of education researchers focused on language and literacy in the early grades.

Through PERFORMANCE, USAID aims to inform the South African Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) primary grade language and literacy policy and implementation, as well as the work of other donors, funders, and organizations working on primary grade reading issues.

One project under PERFORM, the Reading Support Project, will support reading outcomes in home language and first additional language, including work with District officials, school principals, and school teachers. Interventions under this project will deliver training on management skills, facilitation skills, content knowledge, and pedagogy, as well as implementing learning and teaching support material. Training and support will take on various forms, including block training, school-based training and support, and virtual support. The Reading Support Project will likely be implemented at scale in one or two provinces, which will be decided in collaboration with DBE. The estimated budget for the Reading Support Project is approximately ZAR 150,000,000. The contractor for PERFORMANCE cannot be involved in the implementation of other projects under PERFORM, including the Reading Support Project.

USAID/SA anticipates that along with the Reading Support Project and the PERFORMANCE contract, PERFORM will include additional new and follow-on awards. These awards may include basic education cooperative agreements or grants, and follow-on support for activities piloted under the School Capacity Innovation Program (SCIP). Other mechanisms may be developed in the future to further advance the project’s goals through task orders under PERFORMANCE, the contractor will contribute to the diagnostic, planning, and design phases of these projects to ensure that implementation allows for sound evaluation methods.

Interventions under PERFORM will run for three to four years, with the PERFORMANCE contract extending approximately a year beyond that to allow for the collection and analysis of longitudinal data.

C.2 BACKGROUND

Despite the government of South Africa’s (GoSA) large investment in basic education – ZAR

228.8 billion (approximately $15.25 billion) in 2016/17 – roughly 16% of the national budget – South Africa continues to face challenges providing a quality education in the majority of the country’s schools and its education indicators continue to lag behind that of its peers. In international comparative reading tests, South Africa still performs below most other African countries and has nearly the highest number of functionally illiterate learners (Van der Berg et al, 2011). The GoSA considers education to be one of its highest domestic priorities and one of the greatest long-term challenges facing the country, as is evident in the National Development Plan of which the number 1 Outcome is improving the quality of Basic Education (DBE, 2013).

To support the GoSA in this endeavor, USAID/SA is implementing the PERFORM program.

The overall goal of PERFORM is to improve reading skills of primary grade learners. This will advance a top priority of South Africa’s National Development Plan, “Improving Education, Training and Innovation,” as well as the continuation of Goal 1 of USAID’s Global Education Strategy into 2016 and beyond, which aims for 100 million children with improved reading skills.

PERFORM will contribute to these goals through implementing education interventions in support of three objectives:

● Improved primary grade reading instruction;

● Increased quality of educational administration and support; and

● GoSA support for reading initiatives built at district, provincial and/or national level.

Interventions will be designed and implemented in partnership with GoSA to focus on building teacher knowledge and skills that can improve literacy pedagogy, strengthening and improving education management for better reading outcomes, as well as involving community members in supporting reading outcomes.

PERFORM will use a demonstration effect and rigorous evaluation to support GoSA in bringing proven education solutions to scale, thus increasing the impact and value of national investments in the education sector. This will be done by piloting and testing local solutions which show promise to improve the reading skills of primary grade learners. Close collaboration with GoSA will aim to generate buy-in for new reading interventions and to ensure GoSA has the data necessary to decide how best to take successful, cost-effective literacy improvement interventions to scale across the country.

In order to deliver rigorous evaluations under PERFORM, the PERFORMANCE IDIQ contract will engage a local organization, a local organization with local and/or international sub-partners or a consortium of organizations, to provide technical, analytical, advisory, monitoring, evaluation and related support services to assist USAID/SA in effectively diagnosing, planning, designing, monitoring, evaluating and learning from interventions. The contractor will also be responsible for relaying this information to GoSA, the education research community, and other education sector stakeholders. This dedicated education sector evaluation IDIQ contract will provide cohesion across all evaluations of PERFORM activities, as well as a meta-analysis of outcomes across the project. It will also allow for the flexibility to adapt to changes in PERFORM activities and to address additional reading related research and analysis requests from USAID that develop during the course of PERFORM’s implementation, both in response to the needs of DBE and otherwise.

PERFORMANCE will help to fill a critical research gap by providing rigorous analysis in target areas related to improving the quality of language and literacy skills of primary grade learners in South Africa and the region. USAID/SA found there is little data available on the impact of teacher training programs on student learning outcomes, including literacy. There is also little rigorous analysis available on the effectiveness of school principals, district authorities, communities, and parental engagement to increase student learning. Furthermore, research studies on the cost-effectiveness of quality teacher training, school management, and administration is even more limited, especially that which estimates the cost-effectiveness of various types of programming in developing countries. In general, the quality and methodological rigor of the research that is available varies so significantly that it does not offer a sound empirical base for program design in South Africa. Rigorous research that does exist is so context-specific that it is not necessarily generalizable. PERFORMANCE aims to fill this crucial research gap with rigorous evaluations, studies, and assessments.

C.3 OBJECTIVES OF PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE will be implemented to achieve the following objectives:

Objective 1: Design and conduct evaluations, surveys, studies and sector assessments;

Objective 2: Make recommendations for viable future education sector activities; and

Objective 3: Strengthen the community of practice surrounding education research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning for literacies and languages.

C.3.1 OBJECTIVE 1

Design and implement both quantitative and qualitative evaluations, surveys, studies, and assessments (including both impact and performance evaluations) for PERFORM and other reading-related education projects as specified by USAID/SA. Provide technical advice in the design, planning, and implementation phases of PERFORM interventions to allow for high quality evaluations, and to maximize opportunities to gather comparable data across the USAID/SA education portfolio. Utilize performance data in collaboration with USAID/SA and implementing partners to facilitate continual learning and adaptive implementation throughout the programming cycle. This data and feedback loop will allow USAID/SA to constantly reflect on and improve its primary grade reading interventions.

To this end evaluation work under this IDIQ must be done in compliance with the current (or subsequent) USAID Evaluation Policy (download a copy from https://www.usaid.gov/evaluation/policy).

Objective 1 Expected Results:

● A high quality evaluation product for every task order issued;

● A collaboratively developed improvement plan based on evidence gathered from each evaluation product;

● Evaluation reports and improvement plans disseminated to stakeholders for information sharing and learning;

● Completion of at least one impact evaluation, one performance evaluation, and two assessments or studies with the possibility of additional requests from USAID/SA; and

● Improved use of lessons learned to inform policy makers, implementing partners, and program clients.

C.3.2 OBJECTIVE 2

Analyze trends revealed by a meta-analysis of USAID education sector evaluations, especially those performed under this contract, and other credible current research into literacy and language pertinent to the South African context, to inform education policy and future education programming in South Africa and the region.

Objective 2 Expected Results:

● Comprehensive, fact-based reports, analyzing USAID education evaluations and current education research;

● Recommendations focused on promoting viable programming in the education sector;

and

● Completion of at least two reports with the possibility of additional requests from

USAID/SA.

https://www.usaid.gov/evaluation/policy

C.3.3 OBJECTIVE 3

Generate support for a strong community of practice around research into literacies and languages in education, to ensure credible, rigorous, independent, data-driven analyses that can inform policy. To this end, the contractor must make use of existing networks, including both public and private research entities, and must ensure a cooperative and mutually beneficial working relationship with DBE. The contractor should also investigate the work of other donors, funders, and organizations working on primary grade reading issues and seek to influence them to contribute to and benefit from the community of practice.

Objective 3 Expected Results:

● A virtual clearinghouse with the capacity to deliver, analyze, evaluate, and disseminate high quality education sector focused research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning in the area of literacy and language, to the standards of the most rigorous of international best practices in social science research for public and private sector clients;

● Identification of a viable method (and ideas for alternative methods) for sustaining the virtual research community;

● Improved USAID/SA understanding of the work of other donors, funders, and organizations working on primary grade reading issues; and

● Increased alignment of the research agenda for literacies and languages in South Africa and the region.

C.4 STATEMENT OF WORK

C.4.1 OBJECTIVE 1: DESIGN AND CONDUCT EVALUATIONS, SURVEYS,

STUDIES AND SECTOR ASSESSMENTS

A. PERFORMANCE AND IMPACT EVALUATIONS

In response to task orders the contractor will be expected to design and conduct a wide array of performance and impact evaluations in the education sector, in conjunction with PERFORM activities. The contractor will also be required to suggest key evaluation questions during each activity design, in consultation with USAID.

For each evaluation, the contractor must prepare a work plan, methodology and study protocol that meet or exceed the USAID requirements for rigorous evaluations, as defined by the USAID Evaluation Policy (download a copy from https://www.usaid.gov/evaluation/policy). The protocol must include evaluation questions that will address the most important and relevant questions about project/activity performance, as well as questions linked to specific future decisions to be made by USAID/SA or partner government institutions regarding the development hypothesis underlying PERFORM. Each evaluation protocol should further include plans for a cost-benefit analysis and/ or cost-effectiveness analysis as required.

https://www.usaid.gov/evaluation/policy

B. SURVEYS, STUDIES, AND SECTOR ASSESSMENTS

In response to task orders, the contractor will be expected to design and conduct a wide array of surveys, studies, and education sector assessments to identify opportunities for PERFORM interventions to further PERFORM’s objectives. For example, the contractor could conduct a gender analysis to assess gaps between gender reading outcomes, and to recommend strategies to achieve gender equality. The contractor could also conduct assessments to analyze issues affecting teachers; language of instruction; marginalized groups; persons with disabilities; and minority groups as far as they impact on reading results. For each survey, study, or sector assessment the contractor must provide a study protocol for approval that reflects the most current and widely accepted practices for conducting the particular product desired.

C. FEEDBACK AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The contractor will be expected to participate in and may be asked to lead collaborative meetings, held at a minimum on an annual basis after evidence-driven cycles, to learn from PERFORMANCE and to adapt plans based on the evidence. These meetings will convene the contractor, USAID/SA, DBE, and implementing partners to facilitate continual learning and adaptive implementation throughout the PERFORM programming cycle, in an effort to close the feedback loop between policy makers, implementing partners, and program clients.

C.4.2 OBJECTIVE 2: MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VIABLE FUTURE

EDUCATION SECTOR ACTIVITIES

A single-holder for this contract is sought to maintain quality control of all USAID/SA education evaluations so that results from all the evaluations are comparable in the aggregate. A meta-analysis of all evaluations performed under this contract in conjunction with meta-analyses of other education sector evaluations and research will be conducted and disseminated to inform pertinent and viable future education programming for both USAID and other interested education stakeholders. The contractor may also be asked to identify and reference models and best practices from other countries that have been successful in overcoming identified challenges to primary grade literacy, root causes for low results. The contractor may also be asked to conduct comparative analyses between regions and with practices in other countries.

C.4.3 OBJECTIVE 3: STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

SURROUNDING EDUCATION RESEARCH, MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND

LEARNING FOR LITERACY AND LANGUAGE

As an integral aspect of PERFORMANCE, the contractor must seek to strengthen the networks involved in educational research in South Africa as it relates to languages and reading. In coordination with USAID/SA, DBE, South African and international universities and research organizations, and non-governmental organizations, the contractor must work towards generating support for high quality research on literacy and language with the goal of facilitating a shared research agenda. The contractor must also work to ensure the existence of an entity, partnership, or network able to produce such education research to the standards of the most rigorous of international best practices in social science research for public and private sector clients. This will be achieved through creating and determining a viable method for sustaining a virtual research community that can produce its own research as well as evaluate the quality of research from other sources. It should publish its findings on a virtual platform and foster an influential and mutually beneficial relationship with policy makers in government, as well as other relevant education sector stakeholders, including current and future students pursuing advanced degrees in related areas, and other donors. USAID/SA and DBE are engaged in ongoing discussions about research areas of interest, including policy decisions related to language of instruction (LOI) in the Foundation Phase. The contractor may also be asked to investigate ways to foster international collaboration, for example through conferences.

C.4.4 OBJECTIVE 4: MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

The contractor must provide all general management and administrative support necessary to perform the contract and achieve the above results. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. The contractor will provide overall management and administration of the contract, including home office support and administrative services. The contractor will provide both the key personnel specified in the contract and additional personnel, long-term and short-term, necessary to meet recurring general management and administrative support needs under the contract.

2. The contractor will procure or lease facilities, supplies and services as necessary to perform the contract.

3. The contractor will provide the planning necessary for performance of the contract.

4. The contractor will get the necessary ethical clearance and permission from authorities to conduct research in government sites, particularly where students will be involved.

Requirements for ethical clearance may vary by province and target provinces are not yet determined. The contractor will be responsible for investigating and fulfilling the requirements for such clearance.

5. The contractor will provide oversight, quality control, and general technical support of all services and deliverables provided pursuant to the contract. This includes the provision of copywriters/editors that are familiar with US American English and US American report writing and reporting standards.

6. The contractor will provide and assure the proper, efficient, and uniform use of modern management and accounting practices, information technology (IT), communications, reporting, human resource management, property control, security, records, and other administrative processes and systems required under the contract.

7. The contractor will manage the overall reporting needs of the program as specified in the contract and developed in work plans in conjunction with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

C.5 GENDER

South Africa has a robust legal and policy framework that guarantees gender equality. The country has signed and ratified the key international and regional instruments and conventions on gender equality and women's rights, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the African Charter of Human Rights, and the Protocol on Gender and Development. Access to educational opportunities is considered as a human right and is protected in the Constitution. The South African Schools Act (1996) made schooling compulsory for all children aged 7 to 15 years. South Africa has achieved nearly universal primary school enrollment with 98.8 percent of children aged 7 to 14 enrolled in school.

Through this contract, USAID/SA will collect gender sensitive data. The contractor must consider, use, and apply gender sensitive approaches to research, analysis and evaluations.

C.6 STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

This section defines the performance requirements to which the contractor shall be held, establishes the performance levels or standards, and defines how these performance standards will be measured. The contractor will be continually evaluated against these standards.

Measurable performance standards will be established for individual task orders. These performance standards will be consistent with the objectives of PERFORMANCE, including the following general performance standards:

Technical competence: Performance may be measured by the contractor's effectiveness on the assignment. Effective technical assistance will produce reports that contain actionable recommendations that can be successfully implemented by the client, the USAID/SA Education Team, and utilized to improve ongoing implementation. Ineffective technical assistance is marked by superficial, unsubstantiated or theoretical findings and recommendations, which are irrelevant or cannot be implemented, and do not help to close the feedback loop between policy makers, implementing partners, and program clients.

Ability to assemble or prepare effective expertise through subcontracts: Performance may be measured in several different ways. For example, superior contractor recruitment ability goes beyond a simple review of candidates’ resumes before submission to USAID. Some candidates might appear qualified on paper, but may lack effectiveness in action. Superior recruitment processes shall be based on references and first-hand contacts with the technical expert proposed.

Similarly, in team building, superior contractor performance will be demonstrated by assembling teams that function smoothly in accomplishing the required task. Superior contractor performance shall take into consideration how each individual will contribute to create positive group chemistry when assembling teams. It shall also take into consideration the importance of advancing the capacity of contractor and subcontractor staff throughout completion of the project. Inferior performance is marked by disruptive team relations, notwithstanding the sometimes stellar reputation of individual members on the team, and stunted professional growth among team members.

Contractor responsiveness: Performance may be measured by the contractor's ability to maintain open, direct, and responsive communication channels with the USAID/SA Education Team. Superior contractor performance is marked by a rapid, helpful response to the client without undue delays.

Client satisfaction with the finished product: Performance may be measured in many ways.

Superior contractor performance is distinguished by the quality of the final deliverable. High quality deliverables should be clear, concise, accurate, well structured, and easily comprehended.

Clear and concise causal relationships between evaluation questions, evidence, and conclusions should be readily apparent and easily read. Evaluation jargon must be explained in layman’s terms so that the report is accessible to a wide audience. Client satisfaction may be measured by the amount of input needed from and revision demanded by the client.

Proficiency of the client: Performance may be measured based on the increased ability of the client to understand and act on the technical subject matter subsequent to contractor's provision of services.

Adherence to the proposed subcontracting plan: This relates to the contractor's ability to assemble or prepare effective expertise (noted above). USAID expects to be able to benefit from access to the full range of experience and expertise. The contractor's adherence to the proposed sub-contracting plan constitutes part of the basis for the evaluation of contractor performance.

References

Department of Basic Education. 2013. Action Plan 2019: Towards the realization of Schooling 2030. Pretoria.

Van der Berg, S.; Taylor, S., Gustaffson, M.; Spaull, N. and Armstrong, P.

(n.d). Improving education quality in South Africa (p. 1-26). 2011. National Planning Commission, Pretoria.

[END OF SECTION C]

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 MARKING, AIDAR 752.7009 (JAN 1993)

(a) It is USAID policy that USAID-financed commodities and shipping containers, and project construction sites and other project locations be suitably marked with the USAID emblem.

Shipping containers are also to be marked with the last five digits of the USAID financing document number. As a general rule, marking is not required for raw materials shipped in bulk (such as coal, grain, etc.), or for semifinished products which are not packaged.

(b) Specific guidance on marking requirements should be obtained prior to procurement of commodities to be shipped, and as early as possible for project construction sites and other project locations. This guidance will be provided through the cognizant technical office indicated on the cover page of this contract, or by the Mission Director in the Cooperating Country to which commodities are being shipped, or in which the project site is located.

(c) Authority to waive marking requirements is vested with the Regional Assistant Administrators, and with Mission Directors.

(d) A copy of any specific marking instructions or waivers from marking requirements is to be sent to the Contracting Officer; the original should be retained by the Contractor.

D.2 BRANDING AND MARKING POLICY

In accordance with this provision, and where applicable, the Contractor shall comply with the requirements of the policy directives and required procedures outlined in USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) 320.3.2 “Branding and Marking in USAID Direct Contracting” and USAID “Graphic Standards Manual available at http://www.usaid.gov/branding or any successor branding policy.

D.3 BRANDING STRATEGY

In accordance with ADS 320.3.2.1, the Branding Strategy (BS) is part of the contract requirements, as such Contracting Officers must ensure that USAID contract solicitations include a Branding Strategy and instruct Offerors to prepare a Branding Implementation Plan (BIP) and Marking Plan (MP) to implement the Branding Strategy. Please note that the Branding Strategy and Marking Plan shall not be included with the original proposal but shall be provided only after a written request of the Contracting Officer The BS for this activity is as follows:

Program Name:

To Be Determined

Branding

The branding shall incorporate the message that “This assistance is from the American People.”

How the USAID logo will be positioned on materials and communications USAID policy requires exclusive branding and marking in USAID direct acquisitions. These deliverables will be positioned as sponsored by USAID. This rule applies to subcontracts of contracts. Contractor and subcontractor corporate identities are prohibited on all program materials. Marking is not required on contractor vehicles, offices, and office supplies or other commodity used solely for administration of this contract.

Desired level of visibility Visibility for the program is a very important segment of the project implementation.

Establishment of a strong communications and public relations capability toward the clients and other significant target audiences, such as media, local officials, citizens at large, and other interested parties, is essential to the success of the project.

Communication materials will target all the above, and USAID requires all publicly distributed communication materials to be written in English.

Exceptions Exceptions and waivers to USAID marking requirements may be granted in accordance with the

ADS.

Other organizations to be acknowledged N/A

[END OF SECTION D]

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address:

https://www.acquisition.gov/far.

NUMBE

R

TITLE DATE

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION

(48 CFR Chapter 1)

52.246-4 INSPECTION OF SERVICES—FIXED PRICE AUG

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

USAID inspection and acceptance of services, reports and other required deliverables or outputs shall take place at USAID/Southern Africa Mission or at any other location where the services are performed and reports and deliverables or outputs are produced or submitted. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) identified in Section G has been delegated authority to inspect and accept all services, reports and required deliverables or outputs.

The TOCO may designate a COR for a specific task order. If so, the Task Order COR (TOCOR) may inspect and accept all services, reports and required deliverables or outputs if specified in each individual task order.

E.3 RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL

In accordance with the clause entitled “Inspection – Fixed Price” (FAR 52.246-4), inspection of results or other deliverables required by each Task Order issued hereunder shall be made by the cognizant TOCOR. Acceptance of goods/services and reports or other deliverables by the cognizant TOCOR shall form the basis for payments to the contractor, and will form the basis of the contractor’s permanent performance record with regard to this contract.

[END OF SECTION E]

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address:

https://www.acquisition.gov/far.

NUMBER TITLE DATE

FEDERAL ACQUISITION

REGULATION

(48 CFR Chapter 1)

52.242-15 STOP-WORK ORDER AUG 1989

ALTERNATE I (APR 1984)

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The ordering period for this contract is five (5) years from the date of award of the contract.

Although task orders may be issued at any time during this ordering period, two constraints apply to the period of performance for task orders. First, the period of performance for a task order may not go beyond three (3) years after the end of the ordering period. Second, a TOCO may not award a task order for a period of performance that goes more than five (5) years into the future at the time the order is either awarded or extended by modification.

F.3 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Evaluation of the Contractor's overall performance in accordance with the performance standards set forth in Section C will be conducted jointly by the COR and the Contracting Officer, and shall be reported in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).

F.4 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES OR OUTPUTS

In addition to the requirements set forth for submission of reports in Sections I and J and in AIDAR clause 752.242-70, “Periodic Progress Reports,” the Contractor shall submit the following deliverables or outputs to the COR specified in accordance with Section I:

(a) Contents Of Periodic Progress Reports

(1) Performance Monitoring Reports (PMRs). The Contractor shall submit performance reports summarizing progress of the major activities in process during the period in relation to the requirements of the contract, indicating any problems encountered, and proposing remedial actions as appropriate. In addition, beginning with the second PMR, and continuing subsequently with even numbered PMRs, the Contractor shall include a section which discusses any salient programmatic trends that can be distilled from major activities that are in https://www.acquisition.gov/far process or recently completed; and, highlights unresolved or on-going administrative/bureaucratic constraints to the Contractor's optimal performance;

an update of which will be used as part of future award evaluations.

(2) Contract Financial Report. The contractor shall submit a contract financial report including the following:

(i) Notification of New Task Order Report Content:

(1) Task Order number,

(2) Mission/Bureau contracting the task order,

(3) Period of Performance,

(4) CO,

(5) COR,

(6) Ceiling Price, and

(7) Initial Obligated Amount.

(ii) Modifications to Existing Task Orders Report Content, to include a short description of any of the following changes to existing task orders:

(1) Incremental funding,

(2) Time extensions,

(3) Change of CO and/or COR, and

(4) Completion of work.

(3) The above reports shall be submitted within 30 days of the three-month periods (calendar quarters) ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.

(4) The contractor shall submit the reports to the COR identified in Section G of the Schedule, who will forward the reports to the responsible Contracting Officer.

(5) The contractor shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer and COR of any problems, delays, or adverse conditions which materially impair the contractor's ability to meet the requirements of the contract.

(b) Accrual Reports The contractor shall submit an estimated accrual report to the cognizant technical office for the task order:

(1) Total amount obligated,

(2) Total amount invoiced for,

(3) Total amount expended but not yet invoiced for,

(4) Remaining unexpended funds.

The contractor shall submit these reports to the COR identified in Section G of the Contract on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.

(c) Language of Reports and Other Deliverables All reports and other deliverables shall be in the English language, unless otherwise specified by the task order.

(d) Meetings

The contractor shall be responsible for attending semi-annual meetings with the COR.

(e) REPORTS

(1) The cover page of all deliverables required hereunder shall include the USAID Identity (or the name of the Agency written out) prominently displayed, the contract number (see the cover page of this contract), Contractor name, name of the USAID project office, USAID/Southern Africa Program and Project Development Office, the publication or issuance date of the document, document title, author name(s), project number, and project title. Descriptive information is required whether Contractor furnished products are submitted in paper or electronic form. All materials shall include the name, organization, address, and telephone/fax/internet number of the person submitting the materials.

(2) Hard copy reports shall be prepared on non-glossy paper (preferably recycled and white or off-white) using black print. Elaborate art work, multi-color printing, and expensive bindings are not to be used. Whenever possible, pages shall be printed on both sides (see also Section E. of this contract).

(3) Electronic formats shall be submitted with the following descriptive information:

(i) Operating system format, e.g., DOS or Macintosh compatible;

(ii) Name of application software used to create the files on the diskette, e.g., WordPerfect Ver. 5.0, Microsoft Word Ver. 2.1;

(iii) The format for any graphic and/or image files included, e.g., TIFFcompatible;

And

(iv) Any other necessary information, e.g., special backup or data compression routines/software used for storing/retrieving submitted data.

(f) Distribution to COR and Briefing

(1) Distribution of Task Orders to Basic Contract COR One copy of each new task order issued under this IQC must be forwarded to the IQC COR within one week of receipt by the Contractor.

(2) Briefings Prior to completion of each task order Contractor personnel shall brief the relevant USAID Mission and/or cooperating country officials on the principal activities, accomplishments, and findings during the assignment, unless a briefing is not desired.

As requested by the COR for this contract, Contractor personnel will brief the IQC COR and provide copies of any documents generated under individual task orders.

F.5 TASK ORDERS

(a) Task Orders may only be issued by USAID TOCOs.

(b) Each task order will carry a specific task order number which must be cited on each invoice placed against this contract.

(c) In no event shall the aggregate total of all task orders exceed the Maximum Ordering Limitation authorized in the contract. All task order statements of work and performance periods shall be within the scope of work and effective period of this contract.

(d) The FAR and AIDAR clauses/provisions included in the contract are applicable to task orders as issued based on their individual scopes of work. Clauses and provisions remain applicable throughout the terms of the contract and orders.

(e) All Statements of Work and estimated budgets for prospective Task Orders must be cleared by the COR for the Basic IQC.

(f) Offerors shall prepare their cost proposals for task orders issued in United States Dollars USD$ and Rand and state the exchange rate used for conversion from ZAR to USD. However, USAID shall pay the Contractor the price stipulated in the individual task order in Rand for supplies rendered and accepted, upon the submission of proper invoices or vouchers.

F.6 TASK ORDER ISSUING

(a) General

All USAID Mission/Bureau Contracting Officers (includes Mission Directors and Executive Officers) may issue task orders within their delegated authorities to provide desired services within the scope of Section C. The Basic IQC COR must review the prospective task order requirement or statement of work (SOW) and agree that it complies with the SOW for the basic contract before the task order CO may begin. The TOCO must negotiate and administer task orders in accordance with the ordering procedures set forth herein.

The contractor will be required to submit a proposal for every task order request; all Proposals must be inclusive of price.

(b) Request for Task Order Proposal

(1) Individual task orders shall clearly describe all services to be performed or supplies to be delivered so the full price for the performance of the work can be established when the order is placed. Orders shall be within the scope, issued within the period of performance, and be within the maximum value of the contract. Only the Contracting Officer for the basic contract may modify the basic contract to change the scope, period, or maximum ceiling.

(2) The TO proposal request must be in writing (via email or as specified in the Request for Task Order Proposal (RFTOP) and include a description of the intended services and the evaluation procedure

(3) To obtain services or other deliverables that are within the scope of this contract, the TOCO may issue orders using any of the pricing types specified in the contract.

(4) Contractor must respond to the RFTOP within the number of calendar days stated in the request for proposal. No separate payment will be made to the contractor for the cost to prepare, submit and/or negotiate a task order proposal.

(e) Task Order Award The Contractor must not commence work until authorized by the TOCO.

(f) Task Order Administration Task Order Extensions (non-funded). The TOCOR has the authority to extend the Contractor's performance one time under the task order beyond the estimated completion date set forth therein, provided that:

● This approval is made in writing before the original estimated completion date set forth in the task order and clearly states that the extension is at no additional cost to the task order;

● Performance must not extend beyond 60 calendar days from the original estimated completion date set forth in the task order;

● Performance must not extend beyond the end of the period of performance in Section F of the base IQC;

● Performance will not increase the Total Estimate Cost or Fixed Price of the Task Order; and

● COR has not previously extended the Task Order completion date.

Prior to the original estimated completion date, the Contractor must provide a…