SOL-688-13-000011.pdf

Request for Proposals Number SOL-688-13-000011

RFP Issuance Date: March 20, 2014 Receipt of Questions: April 3, 2014

RFP Closing Date: May 2, 2014 RFP Closing Time: 12:00AM – Bamako Time

Subject: Request for Proposals Number SOL-688-13-000011

To All Prospective Offerors:

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

This procurement is being conducted through full and open competition, 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. All types of organizations are eligible to compete under this RFP.

USAID plans to award a 5-year cost-plus-fixed-fee completion type contract with a maximum estimated cost of $10.3 Million for the Livestock for Growth Program (L4G). Although this estimate is provided, Offerors should propose costs that they believe are realistic and reasonable for the work described in their proposals. The most effective approach for achieving the expected results is encouraged and award will be made to the offeror whose proposal offers the best value to the Government considering technical and cost factors (see Section M).

USAID encourages the participation to the maximum extent possible of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns, and women-owned small business concerns in this activity as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor, in accordance with FAR Part 19.

Receipt of this solicitation through the internet must be confirmed by written notification to bamakoaao@usaid.gov. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received in its entirety, including subsequent solicitation amendments, if any, and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

Issuance of this solicitation and the submittal of a proposal do not constitute a commitment on the part of the U.S. Government nor USAID to make an award, neither does it constitute an obligation for any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal.

Award will be subject to funds availability following the proper completion of required USAID internal processes.

Further, the U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. To this end, this RFP is being issued and consists of this cover letter and the text of the attached request for proposals (RFP). All offerors are cautioned to carefully review this cover letter and the contents of the RFP.

The details associated with the submission requirements for offerors’ proposals are outlined in Section L of this solicitation. Proposals must be signed by an official who is authorized to bind the organization and are to be submitted to USAID no later than the closing date stated above, to the place designated in RFP, Section L for receipt of proposals. The proposal, and any modifications submitted after the initial proposal, will be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided in Section L. If the proposal is received after the deadline or if it is incomplete, it may not be accepted or otherwise considered unless authorized by the contracting officer. Late proposals will be handled in accordance with FAR 15.208. Facsimile submissions are not authorized and will not be accepted.

Offerors are instructed to pay careful attention to Section K - Representations, Certifications and Acknowledgements of the accompanying Request for Proposals. Offerors are now expected to comply with FAR clause 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration, and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via the Online Representations and Certifications Application website at http://orca.bpn.gov.

An interested vendors list is not included in this solicitation. Offerors can register and use the interested vendors list found at the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO.gov) webpage created for this solicitation so that that interested firms and individuals can contact one another for consideration of teaming arrangements and/or small business subcontracting opportunities arising from this solicitation.

You are strongly encouraged to submit any comments or questions concerning this RFP in writing by no later than April 3, 2014 cob.

These should be directed by email to bamakoaao@usaid.gov.

The required closing date and time for receipt of proposals is 12:00 AM Bamako local time on May 2, 2014. Late proposals will not be accepted. Only electronic submission will be accepted for receipt of this solicitation. Faxes are not acceptable.

mailto:bamakoaao@usaid.gov http://orca.bpn.gov/ mailto:bamakoaao@usaid.gov

Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of the contract will not be binding. Furthermore, the U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government. Award of a contract under this RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal USAID approvals.

Thank you for your interest in working with USAID/Mali.

Sincerely, /s/

Aaron H. Ruble Contracting Officer

Table of Content Page

TABLE OF CONTENT

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET AND CEILINGS

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

B.6 REIMBURSABLE COSTS

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 INTRODUCTION

C.2 BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

C.3 SCOPE OF WORK

C.4 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND EXPECTED RESULTS

C.5 RELATIONSHIP TO MALI’S INVESTMENT PLAN FOR AGRICULTURE AND OTHER USAID AND DONOR PROGRAMS

C.6 DETAILED WORK REQUIREMENTS

C.6.1 Technical Approach C.6.2 Targeted Populations C.6.3 Innovation C.6.4 Results by L4G Intermediate Results IR1: Increased Livestock Productivity IR 2: Increased Domestic and Export Trade IR 3: Increased Resilience of Vulnerable Communities and Households IR 4: Strengthened Local Capacities and Systems IR.5: Improved enabling environment for livestock sector

C.7 GENDER

C.8 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

C.9 MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

C.10 COORDINATION AND ROLE OF USAID

C.11 DELIVERABLES

C.12 KEY PERSONNEL

C.13 LOCATION

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.2 BRANDING POLICY AND STRATEGY

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

F.5 FAR 52.217-8, OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

F.6 KEY PERSONNEL

F.7 PROGRAM REPORTING

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S AUTHORITY

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE

G.3 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.4 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998)

G.5 PAYING OFFICE

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

H.1AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.2 LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

H.3 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

H.4 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JULY 2007)

H.5 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

H.6 EMPLOYMENT OF THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (TCNS) AND COOPERATING COUNTRY NATIONALS (CCNS)

H.8 INSURANCE AND SERVICES

H.7AIDAR 752.228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES (JULY 2007)

H.8 AIDAR 752.7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JUL 1997)

H.9 AIDAR 752.231-71 SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR HG EMPLOYEES (OCT 1998)

H.10 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING (FEB 2002)

H.11 USAID DISABILITY POLICY - ACQUISITION (DECEMBER 2004)

H.12 AIDAR 752.7032, INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (JAN 1990)

H.13 AIDAR 752.225-70 SOURCE, ORIGIN AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS (FEB 2012)

H.14 AIDAR 752.245-71 TITLE TO PROPERTY

H.15 APPROVALS FOR NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES

H.16 VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) AND CUSTOMS DUTIES

H.17 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (MAR 2006)

H.18 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES (JAN 2002)

H.19 HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE-12 (HSPD-12) (SEPT. 2006)

H.20 AIDAR 752.7101 VOLUNTARY POPULATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES (JUNE 2008)

H.21 SUBCONTRACT CONSENT

H.22 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

H.23 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

H.24 SOURCE/ORIGIN REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

H.25 CONTRACTOR’S USE OF PROJECT VEHICLES AND LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES48

H.26 BUSINESS CLASS TRAVEL

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

I.2 FAR 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

I.3 FAR 52.227-23 RIGHTS TO PROPOSAL DATA (TECHNICAL) (JUN 1987)

I.4 FAR 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (APR 2010)

I.5 FAR 52.209-8 UPDATES OF INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (APR 2010)

I.6 FAR 52.203-13 CONTRACTOR CODE OF BUSINESS ETHICS AND CONDUCT (DEC 2008)

I.7 FAR 52.222-50 COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (FEB 2009) ALT. I (AUG 2007)

I.8 FAR 52.244-2 SUBCONTRACTS (JUN 2007)

I.9 AIDAR 752.209-71 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DISCOVERED AFTER AWARD (JUN 1993)

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

K.2 FAR 52.204-3 TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION (OCT 1998)

K.3 FAR 52.204-6 DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBER (JUNE 1999)

K.4 FAR 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (FEB 2009)

K.5 AIDAR 752.226-01 DISADVANTAGED ENTERPRISE REPRESENTATION (APR 1991)

K.6 FAR 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (OCT 2008)

K.7 FAR 52.223-13 CERTIFICATION OF TOXIC CHEMICAL RELEASE REPORTING (AUG 2003)

K.8 COMPLIANCE WITH VETERANS EMPLOYMENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

K.9 INSURANCE - IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.10 AGREEMENT ON, OR EXCEPTIONS TO, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

K.11 FAR 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (APR 2010)

K.12 FAR 52.209-8 UPDATES OF INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (APR 2010)

K.13 SIGNATURE

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

L.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

L.2 FAR 52.215-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS - COMPETITIVE ACQUISITION (JAN 2004) - ALTERNATE I (OCT 1997)

L.3 FAR 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

L.4 QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

L.5 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.6 RESPONSIVENESS TO RFP

L.7 OFFEROR’S RESPONSIBILITIES

L.8 SUBMISSION OF ALTERNATE PROPOSALS

L.9 GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION

L.10 UNNECESSARILY ELABORATED PROPOSALS

L.11 INSTRUCTION FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

Technical Approach Monitoring and Evaluation Organizational Capability and Management Plan Key Personnel Past Performance

SECTION M - SELECTION CRITERIA

ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT 1 - IDENTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL GEOGRAPHIC CODE NUMBERS

ATTACHMENT 2 - USAID FORM 1420-17 CONTRACTOR BIOGRAPHICAL DATA SHEET

ATTACHMENT 3 - SF LLL - DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

ATTACHMENT 4 - LOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR LIVESTOCK VALUE CHAIN PROJECT – LIVESTOCK FOR GROWTH ACTIVITY

ATTACHMENT 5 - DONOR MAPPING FOR LIVESTOCK ACTIVITIES IN MALI

ATTACHMENT 6 - SYNTHESIS OF GENDER CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO LIVESTOCK SECTOR

ATTACHMENT 7 - KEY FEATURES OF, IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH AND PRINCIPLES FOR VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT

ATTACHMENT 8 - INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION FOR AEG PROGRAM

ATTACHMENT 9 - COMMUNE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR LVC PROJECT

ATTACHMENT 10 - ACRONYMS

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER RATING PAGE OF PAGES

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER 4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION 5. DATE ISSUED 6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED

7. ISSUED BY CODE 8. ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than Item 7)

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations "offer" and "offeror" mean "bid" and "bidder".

9. Sealed offers in original and _____________________________ copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if handcarried, in the depository located in until local time _______________________ (Hour) (Date)

CAUTION - LATE Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals: See Section L, Provision No. 52.214-7 or 52.215-1. All Offers are subject to all terms and conditions contained in this solicitation.

A. NAME B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS) C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

(X) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S) (X) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S)

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

I CONTRACT CLAUSES

B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

D PACKAGING AND MARKING PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA L INSTR., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

K REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

NOTE: Item 12 does not apply if the solicitation includes the provisions at 52.214-16, Minimum Bid Acceptance Period.

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within _120_______ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted by the offeror) from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT 10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) CALENDAR DAYS (%) (See Section I, Clause No. 52-232-8)

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors and related documents numbered and dated:

CODE FACILITY 16. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER 15A. NAME AND

ADDRESS

OF OFFEROR

(Type or print)

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER 17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT. 15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT FROM

ABOVE - ENTER SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE

19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED 20. AMOUNT 21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: 23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ITEM (4 copies unless otherwise specified)

10 U.S.C. 2304(a) ( ) 41 U.S.C. 253(c) ( )

24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7)

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE CODE

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 28. AWARD DATE

IMPORTANT - Award will be made on this Form, or on Standard Form 26, or by other authorized official written notice.

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

(REV. 9-97)

10. FOR INFORMATION CALL:

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

STANDARD FORM 33

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

SOLICITATION

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

1 112 N/A

SOL-688-13-000011

X

Office of Acquisition and Assistance USAID/Mali C/O U.S. Embassy

Bamako, Mali bamakoaao@usaid.gov See Attached Table of Contents

$.00

Office of Financial Management USAID/Mali Bamako, Mal PO Box . 34

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide technical assistance and services as described in detail in Section C, Statement of Work for the implementation of the USAID/Mali “Livestock for Growth (L4G)” Project.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) completion-type contract. For the consideration set forth below, the Contractor must achieve the performance objectives and deliverables or outputs described in Section C in accordance with the performance standards specified herein.

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

(a) For the five year contract period, the estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, is TBD. The fixed fee, if any, for the contract period is TBD. The total estimated cost plus fixed fee is TBD.

(b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee (if any) specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (and payment of fee, if any) for performance of the contract period hereunder is TBD. The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount unless authorized by the Contracting Officer pursuant to the clause of this contract entitled “Limitation of Funds” (FAR 52.232-22).

(c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through TBD.

B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET AND CEILINGS

(a) The contract budget shown below is based on the contractor’s original proposal and/or final proposal revision, which was accepted by USAID through award of this contract.

(b) Without the prior written approval of the contracting officer, the contractor may not exceed the total estimated cost set forth in the budget hereunder or the obligated amount, whichever is less.

(c) The following itemized budget sets forth the estimates for reimbursement of dollar costs for individual line items of cost, and the fixed fee (if any).

Items Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total Direct Costs Indirect Costs Fixed Fee Total Estimated Cost (TEC) + Fixed Fee

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

(a) The contract clause entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment (DEC 2002)”, FAR 52.216-7, specifies that the indirect cost rates must be established for each of the Contractor’s accounting periods that apply to this contract. Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs shall be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases:

Description Rate Base Type Period 1/ 1/ 1/ [To be determined]

The Contractor is 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). Indirect costs shall not be allowed for local organizations.

All costs for local organizations must be budgeted and billed as direct costs.

(b) The Contractor must make no change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

(c) The Government will not be obligated to pay any additional amount on account of indirect costs above the ceiling rates established in the contract.

(d) This understanding will not change any monetary ceiling, obligation, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract.

B.6 REIMBURSABLE COSTS

The US dollar costs allowable will be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 31 (Contract Cost Principles), A-21 (Cost Principles for Educational Institutions), A-122 (Cost Principles for Non- Profit Organizations), FAR 52.216-7 (Allowable Cost and Payment), FAR 52.216-8 (Fixed Fee), if applicable, and AIDAR

752.7003 (Documentation for Payment), in order to be reimbursable under this contract.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 INTRODUCTION

USAID|Mali intends to award a five-year contract for the Livestock for Growth (L4G) Program in Mali. It will be the core activity of the multi-component Livestock Value Chain Project under the USG Feed the Future Initiative (FtF) in Mali.

C.2 BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

The United Nations ranks Mali among the world's poorest countries with some of the lowest social indicators. Until March 2012, Mali was led by a stable, democratically-elected government for over 20 years. However, the central government was historically weak and faced challenges in providing adequate access to quality health care, nutrition, education, and opportunity for its citizens. On March 22, 2012, a military coup overthrew the elected president and his administration.

Taking advantage of the political vacuum in the south, armed rebels led by Islamic extremists took control of the northern two-thirds of the country. On January 11, 2013, following southward movement of the extremists, the French Government intervened to help Malian and African forces repel the insurgents and regain occupied territory. The country has since returned to relative calm, with two rounds of peaceful presidential elections conducted on July 28 and August 11, 2013, followed by legislative elections in December. While sporadic fighting continues in the north, efforts are underway to strengthen the African forces that will continue to secure the territory and maintain peace.

As a result of the coup d’état and consistent with US laws and policy, all USG development assistance in Mali was suspended, though it has now been reinstated with the successful presidential elections. Other donors also froze many of their programs, which are now slowly coming back to life. Despite the continued presence of an international military force, the security situation in the North remains fluid. After the French intervention, most partners returned to the Mopti region to restart implementation, however, pockets of fighting and attacks continue in the regions of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal.

USAID plans to restart activities in Mopti and the region of Timbuktu in the coming months to address the food security needs as the physical security situation allows. It is in this context that the USG currently operates in Mali and thus requires the development of options and alternatives to manage the high degree of uncertainty.

In April 2011, Mali’s Feed the Future Strategy for 2010-2015 was approved, providing the roadmap for investments in agriculture and nutrition aimed at reducing poverty and hunger in Mali. The strategy uses a value chain approach to increase economic opportunities and focuses development interventions on three core value chains: sorghum/millet, rice, and livestock. These three value chains are key to Mali’s development and overall food security as the majority of the population relies directly upon these staple foods for their livelihoods and food security. The Livestock Value Chain Project focuses on small ruminants (sheep, goats) and cattle in pasture-based systems, and is comprised of components that will contribute to the competitiveness of the value chain, which is constrained in a number of areas.

With respect to USAID’s priorities, there is concern that the sector does not provide sufficient benefits or incentives for herders and small producers. Being widely dispersed, these producers are difficult to serve on a profitable basis, thus they receive little in the way of necessary inputs, financial services, technical advice or information. For the most part they are neither well organized nor business oriented. We are also cognizant of the gender implications for improvements in the livestock value chain. Traditionally, women own and/or manage small ruminants, and may also sell forage. Female producers are even more isolated than male producers, due to cultural norms restricting their authorities over productive resources, their under-developed leadership or business skills, and extremely low literacy rates. Generally, women are less able to participate in training sessions because of their domestic and childcare responsibilities.

The Livestock Project is USAID|Mali’s umbrella for investments in the livestock sector, and is composed of three separate activities which contribute to the Project’s Goal and Purpose. Other supporting activities may be identified in the future, dependent on Mission priorities and availability of funds. The three planned activities are:

1. Livestock for Growth (L4G) contract for developing and increasing the competitiveness and inclusiveness of the livestock activities.

2. Grant to the Government of Mali (GOM) Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MOLF) to expand their Program to Support Sustainable Development of Livestock in Western Sahel (PADESO). This will provide funds to develop grazing perimeters for livestock producer cooperatives that will use improved resource management practices.

3. Grant to l’Institute d’Economie Rurale (IER) for research on livestock forages and fodder.

USAID does not plan to provide grants to MOLF and IER until after the L4G contract has been awarded.

This Statement of Work is for the Livestock for Growth (L4G) contract, which will be responsible for increasing the competitiveness and inclusiveness of Mali’s livestock (defined here as small ruminants and cattle), and ensuring that herders, small producers, and women participate in and benefit from this transformation process. In light of USAID’s goals of transformative impacts, budget constraints, the difficulty of tracking purely nomadic pastoralists, and the security situation, the L4G Activity will prioritize those herders evincing a semi-sedentary lifestyle, in which livestock play a significant role, but perhaps are not the sole source of family income. The L4G Activity will take an approach using agency best practices to transform the sector from a low input-low output system to one in which there is improved flow of information and technologies throughout the chain, with more efficient vertical linkages and horizontal relationships, and strengthened support services (advisory, inputs, finance, research). To increase the inclusiveness in the livestock sector, traditionally excluded groups - women, youth and poor rural households – should be specifically included through innovative mechanisms. Activities should increase their access to products and services and identify incentives for wider participation in livestock activities.

The L4G Activity will build resilience of poorer livestock households through developing skills necessary to effectively participate in commercial activities, livestock production and sales, or in related service industries (e.g., fodder). L4G investments in resilience activities will occur with sequencing and layering of Food for Peace (FFP) or other donors’ humanitarian interventions, within the L4G area of intervention. The future of the FFP development assistance in Mali is unknown but it is unlikely that it will commence before FY2015.

The L4G Activity will also work with the GOM’s PADESO livestock perimeters and will assist the producer members of the cooperatives that manage these perimeters. Support will include capacity building for improved herd, pasture, and water management, increasing use of services to improve animal health and nutrition, and strengthened linkages to markets. Also, the L4G Activity will work with IER on disseminating new technologies to various value chain actors.

Finally, the L4G Activity will provide capacity building to MOLF and PADESO, in anticipation of the second portion of the LVC, a direct Fixed Amount Reimbursement Agreement (FARA). According to USAID regulations, “a FARA is a U.S.

Government assistance mechanism whereby the host government implementing agency is reimbursed a fixed amount for the successful completion of specified activities or outputs with previously agreed upon specifications or standards.” It is the responsibility of the L4G Contractor to analyze and improve the capacity of MOLF to manage such a mechanism, following an assessment of the MOLF’s procurement, financial and research management capacities. The precise details will be worked out with the USAID|Mali Acquisitions and Assistance and Financial Management Offices following award. USAID anticipates this activity requiring approximately $300,000 over the first two years of the L4G program.

Through the Mission’s Feed the Future (FtF) strategy life of 2010-2015, the L4G Activity will be focused on achieving FtF objectives only in Mopti and in two districts (see Annex 6). The L4G Contractor will select communes for L4G implementation based on recommended criteria (see Annex 6) and USAID guidance and approval.

There will be some uncertainty due to Mali’s security situation, possible shifting of USAID priorities and budget levels, and the fact that L4G Activity’s five-year timeframe extends beyond the current FtF strategy.

C.3 SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor will provide technical assistance to support the sustainable development of a competitive, inclusive livestock production sector within USAID/Mali Feed the Future Zone of Influence (see attachment for commune list) which will have positive impacts on the overarching concerns of poverty and malnutrition, in line with Feed the Future goals.

C.4 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND EXPECTED RESULTS

The Livestock Value Chain Project Goal is to increase inclusive agricultural sector growth. This is one of two goals of Feed the Future and will be measured by changes in agricultural GDP and by per capita expenditures (as a proxy for incomes) of USG beneficiary households.

The L4G Purpose is to increase inclusive livestock value chain competitiveness

The development hypothesis of the L4G Activity is that (1) if the quality of livestock improves, (2) market access and incentives are expanded, and (3) poorer households are included in the value chain development, then Mali’s livestock sector will be more competitive and contribute to increased agricultural GDP and to broad based economic growth.

The LVC Project will provide support in four areas, as articulated in the LVC Results Framework (RF) and the Logical Framework (found in Attachment 1 to this Request for Proposals). The non-shaded IRs and Sub-IRs are those for which

L4G will be responsible. Shaded areas of the RF indicate that other USAID projects or other donors will be contributing to achieve these results. The L4G Activity will work closely with USAID|Mali’s activities involved in the development of private sector, finance, household nutrition and hygiene and the enabling environment. It is also expected that USAID|West Africa’s Trade Hub Network activities to expand regional trade will support the L4G Activity’s objectives for livestock export trade The Contractor will collaborate with and leverage these activities and others in order to further enhance the impact of the L4G Activity.

The IRs and Sub-IRs for which L4G is responsible are repeated here and in the following flow chart (note that shaded components are parts of the overall LVC which will not be the responsibility of L4G):

IR 1: Increased livestock productivity

1.1: Enhanced technology innovation, development, dissemination, and management 1.2: Increased access to quality inputs and services (animal health/nutrition, advisory, financial services) 1.3: Improved community literacy, numeracy, and nutrition and hygiene practices

IR 2: Increased domestic and export livestock trade 2.1: Strengthened market linkages and access 2.2: Decrease barriers to trade

IR 4: Strengthened local capacities and systems

4.2: Strengthened capacity of livestock value chain actors (public, private and civil society)

IR 5: Improved enabling environment for livestock sector

5.2: Increased capacity of universities, think tanks and civil society for policy analysis and advocacy.

C.5 RELATIONSHIP TO MALI’S INVESTMENT PLAN FOR AGRICULTURE AND OTHER USAID

AND DONOR PROGRAMS

Government of Mali’s Investment Plan for Agriculture As part of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) process, Mali developed a National Plan for Priority Investments in the Agricultural Sector (PNIP-SA) in which the Government of Mali (GOM) identifies the sectors for investment that will lead to achieving or exceeding the CAADP goal of 6% annual growth in the agricultural sector. The PNIP-SA consists of five components: Capacity Building, Investments, Production and Competitiveness, Research and Training, and Food Security. Under Production and Competitiveness, the PNIP-SA gives priority to five value chains: rice, maize, sorghum/millet, livestock, and fish.

The L4G Project will support one of the PNIP-SA priority value chains and many sub-components of the PNIP- SA Components, notably:

● Strengthening producer organizations, agriculture-related private sector, public-private partnerships

● Increasing professionalization of private sector associations

● Improving integration of gender considerations in the livestock sector

● Improving pasture and water management

● Improving access to livestock inputs, including improved fodder species and services (animal health, advisory, financial)

● Improving access to livestock markets

● Supporting for research in improved forages, animal feeds

● Providing long term and short term training for public and private sectors

● Increasing awareness in communities regarding nutrition and hygiene practices

Other USAID Programs

Other Planned LVC activities: The following are planned LVC activities, but are subject to USG priorities and availability of funds. These activities will start after the L4G contract has been awarded.

● PADESO: L4G will provide capacity building and technical assistance to strengthen producer cooperatives participating in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries’ PADESO perimeters in areas such as grazing, water resources, and environmental management; business skills, market linkages, herd management improvements, preventative animal health regimes, meeting standards and market requirements, etc. As mentioned above, the Offeror is required to identify and address where possible any constraints to awarding the FARA.

● Institute d’Economie Rurale: L4G will link with IER to identify promising technologies for improving livestock that can be test in the field and disseminated to beneficiaries. Currently the focus of the IER grant will be on identifying shrubs and trees to be used as animal forages.

Cereals Value Chain (CVC) project: This projects supports development of the sorghum, millet and rice value chains, which are interrelated with the livestock value chain. Livestock feeds could become more affordable if basic ingredients could be reliably and cost effectively produced within Mali. Rice bran and sorghum can be used in feed and, with assistance other research institutes, least cost rations can be developed for feed mills.

Crop farmers can also use livestock manure to increase soil fertility. Additionally, the actors in livestock and cereal sectors face many of the same policy environment constraints, such as trade barriers, high transactions costs of crossing borders, lack of respect of ECOWAS trade protocols, poor capacity for policy analysis and formulation, lack of environment for private sector investment, and lack of alternative sources of collateral for agri-businesses.

Out of School Youth: The livestock project could benefit from using graduates of this program as service providers in the livestock sector. The L4G Activity could also target youth for livestock activities.

USAID/West Africa Regional Trade Project: The L4G Activity could greatly benefit from USAID/West Africa trade project’s ability to work at the regional level. It will complement the L4G activity with its focus on 1) grades and standards; 2) market information including prices and preferences; 3) financial services, including cross-border financial transactions and regional credit reference bureau; 4) trade and transport policies, including ECOWAS trade protocol; 5) decreasing transport costs; and 6) reducing illicit taxes. The regional trade project will build the capacity of regional trade associations, which have member organizations from West African countries including Mali.

In addition to the above, USAID|Mali will be funding activities to support enabling environment, financial services, private sector, and improved nutrition and hygiene practices. There is also a possibility that Title II Food for Peace development assistance may be approved for Mali in future years. L4G will actively seek out collaboration with these new activities as they come online.

Development Partners In accordance with USAID’s commitment to the L’Aquila principles of aid effectiveness, the development partners (DP) meet on a regular basis. The DP members of the Livestock Thematic Group have agreed that the value chain approach is the most appropriate, and have begun mapping out current and future activities to identify gaps, complementarities and potential areas for cooperation. The Contractor will to the extent feasible collaborate with other donor projects that may complement, further strengthen, and/or expand the effectiveness of L4G.

See Attachment 2 for a mapping of Development Partners in Mali’s livestock sector.

C.6 DETAILED WORK REQUIREMENTS

This section presents USAID’s requirements in implementing the L4G Activity to achieve the purpose of increased inclusive livestock value chain competitiveness.

C.6.1 Technical Approach

The technical approach for L4G will be designed to directly support the LVC Goal of inclusive agricultural growth; the L4G Purpose of increased competitiveness and inclusiveness of the livestock value chain; and the Intermediate and sub-Intermediate Results found in the Results Framework. The Logical Framework in Attachment 1 provides an illustrative list of indicators at all levels of the Results Framework.

In implementing the L4G Activity, the Contractor will use the value chain approach to reach the objective of improving the inclusiveness and competitiveness of livestock sector.1 The approach begins with an understanding of the market system in its totality: the firms that operate within a value chain—from input suppliers to buyers; the strength and efficiency of vertical and horizontal linkages between actors, including levels of cooperation and competition; the availability and affordability of supporting services provided through markets as well as technical, business and financial services; and the incentives created by the formal and informal enabling environment in which each value chain operates. Such a broad scope for analysis is needed to understand the principal constraints to competitiveness within the market system. See Attachment 4 for the key features of the value chain approach2 and implementation principles for value chain development. These elements will be key in developing proposals.

Inclusiveness The Contractor will develop and implement a strategy for L4G to address inclusiveness such that traditionally excluded populations – women, youth, poor herders and small producers - equitably participate in and benefit from increased competitiveness of the livestock value chain.

Limitations While the L4G will use a value chain approach, it will not initially undertake implementation over the entire livestock value chain. The Contractor will focus on production of cattle and small ruminants (sheep, goats).

Initially, the L4G Activity will exclude the sub-sectors of meat butchering and processing, milk (with the exception of promoting rural household consumption of clean milk to contribute to improved nutrition), hides, skins or leather.

The security situation in the North remains fluid. This has a potential to limit L4G’s implementation.

C.6.2 Targeted Populations

The L4G contract will focus on multiple value chain actors, including but not limited to livestock producers, traders, transporters, and inputs/other service providers. For the L4G Activity, producers are broadly defined to be those households with members who raise small ruminants and/or cattle. Some producers, particularly larger scale, may also be traders. The L4G will be in areas of Mali where pastoralism is the predominant form of livestock rearing; however, in some of these areas, livestock producers may also have some (semi-) sedentary regimes, such as the producers in PADESO perimeters. The L4G activity will need to develop appropriate approaches and interventions in the value chain for each production system.

While semi-sedentary herders, small producers and small traders will be the primary focus, L4G will not and cannot exclude working with medium and large producers and traders as these are often the initial adopters and can demonstrate the benefits of technologies. Providers of inputs – e.g. forage and fodder seed, feeds and ration supplements, vaccines and veterinary pharmaceuticals – and services such as veterinary services will be the main focus on the inputs side, to be complemented by support from other USAID-supported activities. For example, in financial services, L4G’s proposed work with the animal feed industry will have strong links to USAID|Mali’s Cereal Value Chain Activity (CVC) through the use of sorghum and rice products.

L4G’s focus on semi-sedentary herders, small producers, women, and youth will require additional lenses of the socio-economic and cultural environments, including asset bases and risk management strategies of these households. The Contractor will use innovative risk reduction and/or risk sharing approaches with herders and small producers as well as service providers who are expected to serve these non-traditional clients.

While it is recognized that livestock production can be the best use of semi-arid lands, human and livestock

1 See www.microlinks.org/vcwiki for definitions and explanation of the value chain approach and its key features.

2 See http://apps.develebridge.net/amap/index.php/Key_Elements_of_the_Value_Chain_Approach http://www.microlinks.org/vcwiki http://apps.develebridge.net/amap/index.php/Key_Elements_of_the_Value_Chain_Approach http://apps.develebridge.net/amap/index.php/Key_Elements_of_the_Value_Chain_Approach population pressure and climatic change has led to degradation of pasturelands. With uncertainty about the effects of climate change on pastoral resources, the Contractor will develop strategies, systems and incentives for adoption of improved management practices and technologies that reduce producers’ risk while ensuring the sustainable productivity of pastoral systems.

Organization capacity strengthening and leadership building and training will be critical factors under-pinning most of L4G’s interventions. From basic literacy to business skills, organizational management, production and management technologies, marketing, and advocacy, there is a great need for strengthening capabilities of all actors to catalyze the necessary upgrading and investments. Building management and leadership capacity of men and women throughout the chain is critical to ensuring that the L4G’s results are market driven and sustainable in the long term, and at multiple levels. The Contractor is encouraged to sub-contract with one or more local firms, and through this relationship, provide on-the-job mentoring and build capacity for Malian organization(s) to implement USAID projects.

To achieve FtF objectives, the L4G Activity has integrated gender and household nutrition and hygiene practices into its approach and outputs. While not an objective of L4G, it is expected that improved management of livestock will result in increased milk production, which can have nutritional benefits for livestock households. The L4G Activity will work with ongoing and planned USAID|Mali nutrition and hygiene activities to reinforce communities’ awareness of improving nutrition and hygiene practices at the household level. The L4G Activity offers several venues for disseminating key nutrition and hygiene practice messages to target groups, using service provides, researchers and other who have direct contact with producers and/or their organizations. With respect to gender, Mali’s diverse cultures and ethnic groups will require the L4G Activity to tailor content and venues to ensure appropriateness and ability to access both men and women with information, be it on technologies, services, or nutrition and hygiene behavior change. Achieving gender equity in all value chain activities and benefits will also require understanding culture, practices and household dynamics in order to reduce gender inequities with respect to access to, control over and benefits from economic opportunities. To further understand the complexities within of gender in the livestock value chain, the Contractor will conduct a gender study, using pre-identified questions, focused on the proposed geographic regions of the L4G Activity.

The study will be completed in conjunction with USAID staff, and must be completed within 150 days of the contract award date. Additional information, including proposed questions can be found in Section F. The Contractor will use the assessment‘s findings for further developing its approach in targeting and integrating women into the livestock value chain.

C.6.3 Innovation

Prior to the coup d’état in 2012, Mali was demonstrating solid rates of agricultural sector growth.

Transformation of the livestock sector, however, has been slow despite significant past donor investment. Part of the reason for lagging growth in the livestock sector has been the lack of engagement of the private sector, particularly providers of productivity- enhancing, market-linked inputs and services. The L4G Activity will focus on strengthening the role of Mali’s private sector in providing access to new technologies and services, complementing efforts to improve management capabilities of the semi-sedentary herders and smallholders who are responsible for the majority of Mali’s livestock production.

The Contractor is encouraged to explore innovative approaches enlisting the engagement of the private sector to set the foundation for transformative development at the livestock production system level. The Contractor is encouraged to be creative, yet realistic, in terms of how best to use innovative implementation approaches that encourage to men and women producers to adopt improved technologies and input dealers and other service providers to expand their commercial networks in order to reach semi-sedentary herders and smallholders. The overall result expected is that market intermediaries recognizing new commercial opportunities in an expanding livestock sector. Actions of the L4G Activity are expected to expand access of value chain actors to financial services, for instance. Producers and traders will establish sustainable partnerships built on commercial interests to achieve results and meaningful and transformational impacts.

C.6.4 Results by L4G Intermediate Results

L4G Activity Objective: Increased competitiveness and inclusiveness of the livestock value chain.

The L4G Activity is expected to achieve results as detailed in the Activity Results Framework, above (page 8).

Illustrative tasks under each expected intermediate results (IR) and sub-IRs are provided below. The L4G will be responsible for reporting on progress using the following FTF standard and suggested custom indicators3:

• Value of new private sector investment in the agriculture sector or food chain leveraged by FTF implementation (FTF 4.5.2-38) (RiA)

• Malian share of livestock sales in regional markets (custom)

• Revenues generated from cattle/small ruminant-related activities (producer households, fodder, animal health service providers, traders, transporters) attributable to FtF assistance (custom)

• Number of food security private enterprises (for profit), producers organizations, water users associations, women's groups, trade and business associations, and community-based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG assistance (FTF 4.5.2-11) (RiA)

IR1: Increased Livestock Productivity Illustrative indicators:

• Gross margin/head (cattle, small ruminants), disaggregated by sex of producer (FtF 4.5-4) (RiA)

• Number of food security private enterprises (for profit), producers’ organizations, water users organizations (CBOs) receiving USG assistance (FTF 4.5.2-11) (RiA)

The L4G Activity envisions target households realizing increased income and improved nutrition as a result of the production of healthier and higher quality animals with attributes valued in the marketplace and increasing numbers of quality cattle, and small ruminants being marketed. The increased access to inputs and services that the L4G Activity will drive will result in reduced costs for producers (reduced losses due to disease, etc.) and higher revenues (higher weaning rates, heavier weights of animals sold, etc.) Offtake rate is an important indicator of increased production system productivity and will be expected to increase in targeted herds and flocks. Improved productivity depends on a well-functioning value chain and the overall development of the livestock market system. Productivity is interconnected with end market demand, access to input and service markets (e.g., veterinarians, CAHWs, agro-vets, financial services), and conducive and supportive policy environment. Producer response to knowledge about and understanding of opportunities for greater returns through use of inputs and services and through changes in relations with traders is of critical importance.

Producer training and producer organization capacity building will raise the confidence of producers and their willingness to engage in markets, delivering more and better quality animals to traders. Increased off-take rates, stronger linkages between traders and herders, and producers profiting from premium prices for quality animals in end markets are the anticipated results of achieving increased productivity.

The L4G Activity’s approach to productivity recognizes that the transformative processes that move livestock producers toward a greater market orientation starts from a base of traditional roles that animals play in the livelihoods of Malian producers. For instance, social-cultural practices and risk mitigation strategies may require maintaining types of animals in herds and flocks that are considered by outsiders to be less-than-productive.

L4G strategies need to be cognizant of these influences on herd structure, breed selection and flock management decisions with a transformation…