SOL_72027818R00006_Amendment_No._02.pdf

Date Issued: 09/19/2018

Question Deadline: 10/03/2018

Date Amended: 10/22/2018

Revised Closing Date: 11/9/2018 2:00 PM (Amman Time)

SUBJECT: Request for Proposal (RFP) 72027818R00006

USAID/Jordan Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activity

TO ALL PROSPECTIVE OFFERORS:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Jordan invites interested and qualified organizations to submit proposals in accordance with the requirements of this

RFP. The selected offeror will be required to provide technical assistance services required to implement the program named “USAID/Jordan Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activity

(MELA).” The details of this program are defined in the Statement of Work (SOW) located in

Section C of the attached Request for Proposal (RFP). This procurement will be conducted as a total small business set-aside in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-

1 and utilizing competitive proposal procedures pursuant to Part 15 of the FAR. The North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this opportunity is 541611. The authorized geographic code for procurement of goods and services under the resulting contract is

937.

USAID/Jordan anticipates awarding a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) completion-type contract as a result of this solicitation. The total estimated cost for the resulting contract will range from

$25 - $30 million for the period of five years. USAID/Jordan will select the Offeror’s proposal that demonstrates the technical understanding required to achieve the project objectives at the best value to the Government. USAID/Jordan is not obligated to make an award as a result of issuance of this solicitation. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the instructions listed in Section L of this RFP. Proposals received after the closing date and time will be processed as late and handled in accordance with FAR 15.208. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

Issuance of this solicitation does not obligate the Government to make an award, nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the Government.

Offerors are hereby notified that changes are made to this solicitation. The changes are highlighted in yellow for ease of reference. It is, however, the responsibility of the Offeror to

TBD

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 (RFP)

7. ISSUED BY CODE 72000 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

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 ________ 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)

1 178 N/A

72027818R00006 X

Sep. 19, 2018

N/A

Garth O. Patterson gpatterson@usaid.gov

X SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM X

X X

X

X

X

X

X

See Section G.9

Michael Ashkouri, Esq.

Supervisory Contracting Officer

Acquisition & Assistance Office (AAO)

USAID Jordan

P.O Box 354

Amman 11118

Jordan

Table of Contents

B - Supplies or Services/Prices C - Description/Specifications D - Packaging and Marking E - Inspection and Acceptance F - Deliveries or Performance G - Contract Administration Data H - Special Contract Requirements I - Contract Clauses J - List of Documents, Exhibits and Other Attachments K - Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Bidders L – Instructions to Offerors M - Evaluation Factors for Award

B - Supplies or Services/Prices

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to procure monitoring, evaluation, and learning services for USAID/Jordan.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This will be Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) completion-type performance based contract. For the consideration set forth below, the Contractor must provide the results or outputs described in Sections C and F and comply with all contract requirements. The Contractor must also comply with all other contract requirements.

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

A. The total estimated cost and ceiling for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is $ (TBD). The fixed fee, if any, is $(TBD). The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, is $(TBD). USAID will not pay the Contractor any sum in excess of the total estimated cost.

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 hereunder is $(TBD). The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount and unless authorized by the Contracting Officer in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.232-22, entitled, “Limitation of

Funds.”

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

D. Fixed Fee Schedule of Payment. In accordance with FAR 16.306 and 52.216-8, the fixed fee will be paid on a quarterly fixed fee schedule with fee payments based on the reasonable achievement of performance standards towards the Work Plan as verified by the Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR). See B.7 below.

B.4 BUDGET AND CEILING PRICE

Line Item Year 1 Year 2 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year5 Total

For Direct Labor Costs TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

For Other Direct Costs TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Fixed Fee TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Ceiling Price

(Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee)

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

The contractor will not be paid any sum in excess of the ceiling price.

B.5. INDIRECT COSTS

Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs must be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases pursuant to the contractor’s current executed Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA):

(To be determined at time of award)

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD TBD 1/ 1/ 1/

TBD TBD 2/ 2/ 2/

1/ Base of Application: TBD

Type of Rate: TBD

Period: TBD

2/ Base of Application: TBD

Type of Rate: TBD

Period: TBD

Note: 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 NICRA.

B.6. FAR 52.216-8 FIXED FEE (JUN 2011)

A. The Government shall pay the Contractor for performing this contract the fixed fee specified in the

Schedule.

B. Payment of the fixed fee shall be made as specified in the Schedule; provided that the Contracting

Officer withholds a reserve not to exceed 15 percent of the total fixed fee or $100,000, whichever is less, to protect the Government’s interest. The Contracting Officer shall release 75 percent of all fee withholds under this contract after receipt of an adequate certified final indirect cost rate proposal covering the year of physical completion of this contract, provided the Contractor has satisfied all other contract terms and conditions, including the submission of the final patent and royalty reports, and is not delinquent in submitting final vouchers on prior years’ settlements. The

Contracting Officer may release up to 90 percent of the fee withholds under this contract based on the Contractor’s past performance related to the submission and settlement of final indirect cost rate proposals.

B.7 FIXED FEE SCHEDULE

(a) As stated in B.3.(d), USAID shall pay the Contractor for performing this contract the fixed fee specified in the Schedule. Payment will be made on a fixed quarterly schedule via separate invoice based on successful completion of work required for that quarter in accordance with the approved

Workplan and as determined by the CO and COR.

(b) Fee Payment Schedule

Fee payment eligibility per quarter is based on a performance period of five (5) years (15 quarters).

Fee payment eligibility per quarter is $ to be added at award. The fee payment of $ to be added at award per quarter is subject to the aforementioned withholding in B.6.

B.8. COST REIMBURSABLE

The US dollar costs allowable must be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 31 (Contract Cost Principles), FAR 52.216-7 (Allowable Cost and Payment), FAR

52.216-8 (Fixed Fee), if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003, Documentation for Payment.

[END OF SECTION B]

C - Description/Specifications

DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS / STATEMENT OF WORK

USAID/Jordan Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Activity (MELA)

The Contractor must design and implement a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Activity (MELA) that will contribute to 1) ensuring that USAID’s development programs in Jordan achieve their intended results through an efficient and effective mechanism; and 2) building the institutional capacity of local monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) firms to assume increasing management responsibility of MEL awards.

The Contractor will provide support services for designing and conducting evaluations, monitoring performance, and applying learning and adaptive management, while ensuring sustainability through building the capacity of USAID and Implementing Partner (IP) staff as well as local stakeholders.

MEL efforts will use the latest information technology gathering tools and will support technical teams in their indicator reporting and implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems on a regular (quarterly/annual) basis. As the Mission‐wide, flagship MEL mechanism, the primary purpose of this award is to provide fast, flexible, demand‐driven MEL support, guidance, and capacity development for USAID/Jordan, its IPs, and local MEL businesses.

I. BACKGROUND

Rigorous monitoring, performance management, and evaluation of USAID interventions are a major focus of Agency practices to improve accountability, learning, and evidence-based decision making. The Agency has most recently focused on improving evidence-based decision making by incorporating Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) practices into MEL. As stated in ADS 201.3.5, “the purpose of monitoring, evaluation and learning practices is to apply knowledge gained from evidence and analysis to improve development outcomes and ensure accountability for the resources used to achieve them.” By tying MEL to learning priorities, the Agency can rely on evidence to inform decision-making for management purposes, mid-course adjustments, and future designs.

To this end, USAID/Jordan awarded the Monitoring and Evaluation Support Program (MESP) to MSI on

December 1, 2013, under contract AID-278-C-13-00009. The principal purpose of the work was to enable

USAID/Jordan to fulfill its performance monitoring and evaluation requirements by providing technical and advisory services to the USAID/Jordan Program Office (PRO), USAID/Jordan Development Objective

(DO) teams, and IPs in the areas of project and activity performance monitoring, evaluation, research, organizational learning, capacity building, and knowledge management.

Throughout its five years of implementation, MESP improved the MEL capabilities of the Mission and IP staff through training and technical assistance, reviewing and helping to improve indicators and

Performance Management Plans (PMPs) at the Mission level and Activity MEL Plans (AMELPs), supporting the Mission to analyze and report on results, providing strategic communications; and conducting special studies, assessments, and performance and impact evaluations. Building on these successes, USAID/Jordan intends for the MEL Activity to continue to support the Mission in a wide range of performance management, learning, and evaluation functions, as well as to continue a number of existing interventions that began under the MESP contract. These include, but are not limited to the following tasks where the Contractor will:

● Operate and maintain the web-based performance data management information system, DevResults.

● Support the Mission in the collection, review, and utilization of geographic information data, using ESRI ArcGIS software.

● Advance efforts to build the capacity of local MEL professionals.

● Operate and maintain the Knowledge Management Portal (KaMP).

● Complete the Impact Evaluation of the CITIES Program.

● Conduct the Population-Based Survey on a bi-annual basis.

● Host events and bring together MEL professionals from the Mission and IPs among other stakeholders, including the annual MEL Conference.

Consistent with this guidance, USAID/Jordan is committed to the key principles and practices that foster a results-oriented culture and will make every effort to strengthen its MEL oversight. To this end, the

Contractor will work collaboratively with Mission staff, IPs, and local firms on incorporating CLA into

MEL practices to provide fast, flexible, robust, and rigorous MEL support under a single, integrated MEL contract. The Contractor will not directly monitor projects and activities, and will neither replace nor substitute for (1) the contractual obligations of USAID/Jordan’s IPs for their monitoring, and (2) the responsibilities for CORs’/Agreement Officer Representatives’ (AORs) technical offices to carry out their monitoring. USAID/Jordan IPs have developed a range of activity-level monitoring approaches as a basis for collecting, tracking, and reporting performance information to show progress towards identified targets.

The Mission’s performance information is reported in a systematic manner through DevResults and quarterly and annual reports, and the Contractor will assist in the analysis of this information and data.

As part of the Agency’s Local Solutions approach and in support of USAID’s goal towards creating self-reliance, the Contractor will support USAID/Jordan to use, strengthen, and partner with local actors in ways that are purposeful, strategic, and cost-effective to achieve sustainable development results. Within the five years, this Contract will purposefully build the technical capacity of MEL with one or more local partners and strengthen the overall management processes that are required by USAID for a local firm to fully manage a similar MEL Contract in the future.

II. MISSION OVERVIEW

USAID/Jordan is a major donor in Jordan, with a planned annual budget of approximately $800 million in

Economic Support Funds. The USAID/Jordan Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) lays out a focused plan to help the Government of Jordan (GOJ) carry out its stated commitment to broad‐ based political and economic reforms. As a result of the Syria crisis and influx of refugees to Jordan, the

CDCS was amended in 2015 and extended through 2019. The goal for this strategy period is to improve prosperity, accountability, and equality for a stable, democratic Jordan, which will be achieved through the following Development Objectives (DOs) and a Special Development Objective (SDO):

DO 1: Broad‐based, inclusive economic development accelerated

DO 2: Democratic accountability strengthened

DO 3: Essential services to the public improved

SDO4: Gender equality and female empowerment enhanced

In the CDCS, USAID/Jordan noted that “M&E forms a critical component of USAID/Jordan’s development approach. Through rigorous M&E efforts, USAID/Jordan will assess and improve the results of programs, justify assistance resources with empirical evidence and data, and demonstrate a commitment to accountability and transparency.” It further commits that “midterm and end‐of‐project evaluations of major projects will be used to adapt activities to better achieve results and to identify areas of cross‐sectoral collaboration.” To support CDCS implementation, USAID/Jordan awarded approximately 50 new activities over the strategy period. For the upcoming strategy (with an anticipated duration of five years), USAID/Jordan will continue to require support on the analytical work that is necessary to provide the

Mission with a comprehensive and up‐to‐date understanding of opportunities and constraints. This work will provide a baseline for a Mission‐wide PMP under the new strategy and inform project design. For new activities coming online during the upcoming strategy, the Contractor will support the Mission to establish performance indicators and baselines, as well as set targets and time‐bound benchmarks needed to meet

CDCS goals and support Agency design and evaluation guidance.

In response to this dynamic environment, USAID’s strategy must be a living, operational guide that is responsive to lessons learned throughout program implementation and to changes in the operating environment. Given the unpredictable and often rapidly-changing local and regional environments, strategy implementation must likewise be supported by a carefully constructed, adaptable, and responsive MEL system.

III. STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

It is critical that the Contractor use flexible and adaptable systems and work plans in case of unanticipated changes. Should new MEL priorities arise during the course of this contract, the Contractor will recognize and adhere to adjustment of tasks in line with the overall MELA contract Statement of Work. In conducting work under this contract, it is required that the Contractor seek input, technical contributions, and other pertinent work or information from relevant Jordanian stakeholders, including the GOJ, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and/or other public or private organizations, consistent with and supportive of the nature of the work to be conducted. The Contractor is required to partner with one or more local businesses and/or consultants in completing the MEL tasks outlined under this contract and to collaborate closely with the COR, DO teams, IPs, and the GOJ in doing so.

IV. ANTICIPATED RESULTS

A. Increased Utilization of Evaluation and Assessment Findings

The Contractor is required to improve the quality of evaluations and assessments requested by the Mission, and increase the utilization of the findings for future programming and decision-making.

1. Evaluations

The Contractor must provide guidance and assistance, as noted below, on mid-term and final performance evaluations, impact evaluations, whole-of-project evaluations, and evaluation utilization. In order to ensure quality, timeliness, and the adequate dissemination of results, the Contractor will conduct evidence‐based evaluations at the Mission’s request and in line with Agency evaluation policy. Evaluation assistance will help the Mission:

a. Build on past successes, learn from risks taken that did not yield required results, and validate assumptions.

b. Adapt activities to better achieve results.

c. Identify areas of cross‐sectoral collaboration to reinforce broad‐based sustainable development.

d. Make informed management decisions within the context of strategy implementation.

e. Document whether vulnerable populations, especially youth, women, and the poor, share equitably in economic benefits and social services and are not excluded from democratic processes.

f. Document lessons learned, especially for pilot programs, and share these lessons and information with donors and GOJ stakeholders in order to make U.S. development assistance in the country more effective.

The Contractor will provide a range of assistance for evaluations (requiring a mixture of low, medium, and high level of effort), including: case studies, performance evaluations, impact (experimental and quasi‐ experimental) evaluations, cross-sector evaluations, whole-of-project evaluations as per Agency guidance, and other evaluation studies as identified in collaboration with the Mission. The evaluation approach will be consultative in terms of developing the scope of the evaluation and determining the evaluation design that best meet USAID evaluation policy standards and principles, USAID/Jordan needs, resource limitations, and the complexity of the program. Qualitative and quantitative methods must generate the highest quality and most credible evidence that corresponds to the questions being asked, taking into consideration time, budget, and other practical considerations. The methodology will result in evaluation recommendations that are action‐oriented, practical, specific, and with defined responsibility for the action.

Illustrative evaluation tasks that the Contractor will undertake include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Assist DO teams to develop an evaluation plan for interim and final evaluations of identified on‐ going and planned activities, as well as other types of evaluation studies and assessments as needed. Evaluations must identify learning opportunities and be timed so that their findings can inform USAID’s programmatic decisions, such as program modifications, designing new programs, or making policy decisions.

b. Work with the Mission to establish the management decisions for which evaluation information is needed, who will need the data, and in what format the results can most usefully be presented.

c. Help craft evaluation questions for specific evaluations as requested and design a methodology that will answer those questions and determine the overall scope.

d. Identify which evaluations will be designed as impact evaluations and/or whole-of-project evaluations (Refer to ADS 201).

e. Where possible, synthesize findings and recommendations of evaluations to serve as whole-of-project evaluation.

f. Design and implement performance, and whole-of-project evaluations for activities across

USAID/Jordan’s portfolio.

g. Complete the Impact Evaluation of the CITIES Program.

2. Assessments and Surveys

In order to better understand the context in which USAID activities are implemented, the Contractor must support geographic and sectoral assessments, sectoral surveys, and baseline analyses. These will be demand‐driven and will depend on the needs and requests of DO teams and/or address unforeseen needs due to political, economic, and regional challenges impacting Jordan. The Contractor will provide this assistance to identify opportunities for Mission interventions to enhance sector performance. The

Contractor will potentially review any relevant USAID/Jordan sector—as directed and guided by the

USAID COR—in order to inform Mission strategic planning, decision‐making, and project implementation. Specific details on the questions of interest will vary across assessments and will be provided in the SOW prepared by the Mission for the Contractor. The Contractor will carry out thematic assessments (requiring a combination of low, medium, and high level of effort needs) on issues that are relevant to USAID/Jordan interests. For example, the Contractor could conduct various gender analyses to assess gaps between men and women in Jordan, focusing on different sectors, providing recommendations to empower the leadership and expertise of women and girls and strategies for meeting their needs.

Additional studies may focus on youth or vulnerable populations and poverty alleviation. Illustrative assessments, special studies, and survey tasks that the Contractor will undertake may include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Conduct background research and analysis to inform results‐oriented program planning and implementation. Frame clear research questions and issues. Mine existing data, apply best practices, and conduct primary source research.

b. Assess the legal framework, institutional capabilities, donor engagement, strengths, weaknesses, gaps and opportunities of a sector.

c. Design and conduct assessments and special studies and provide technical expertise to inform

USAID/Jordan on strategic planning and project design. This may include recommending opportunities for focusing resources geographically, within a sector or across sectors, or on specific populations and beneficiaries within regions, such as economically vulnerable households, women, youth, or other communities.

d. Prepare and disseminate briefs analyzing cross‐cutting issues or special studies.

e. Undertake special studies or assessments as needed to address any identified data shortcomings and recommend creative approaches to measure project achievements in the complex environment of Jordan.

f. Conduct the Population-Based Survey on a bi-annual basis and develop other survey polls where needed to better understand people perception of USAID interventions.

B. Improved Performance Monitoring and Data Analysis

The Contractor will improve the performance monitoring and accountability measures of the Mission by:

providing guidance and technical assistance to improve the performance monitoring capacities of Mission staff and IPs; developing and/or maintaining systems that streamline monitoring processes; and supporting the analysis of data and catalyzing USAID/Jordan’s transformation into an effective learning organization.

This assistance must support the development of best practices, processes, guidelines, and policies that support monitoring, data management, and building the capacity of Mission staff, IPs, and local firms.

Tasks undertaken for IPs will not replace the MEL requirements that they need to carry out in fulfillment of their agreements with USAID.

Illustrative Mission assistance tasks that the Contractor must undertake include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Implementation of the PMP

b. Support the identification and selection of indicators based on logical theory of change and support the development of Mission baselines and targets. The Mission anticipates that approximately two (2) indicators may require completion of baseline surveys in preparation for the

CDCS. Support the development of learning agendas, evaluation plans, and CLA approaches for

DOs.

c. Support Mission and IP staff in developing project- and activity-level indicators, theories of change and MEL plans that feed into Mission PMP and results.

d. Assist Mission staff with Data Quality Assessments (DQAs), and site visits and work with DO teams to understand issues of data quality and data limitation. This includes updating tools for staff to conduct their own DQA, and developing a method to follow-up with recommendations from DQAs in collaboration with PRO, COR/AORs, and IPs.

e. Review data collection methodologies, approaches and other related documentation of IPs and other stakeholders, as requested, to ensure results and indicators are aligned with those of the

Mission, and ensure that definitions are clear and data reporting formats are standardized to streamline data collection and entry.

f. Where needed, support USAID in completing baseline studies to inform the PMP; and periodic data collection and monitoring for select indicators.

g. Assist DO teams in analyzing the submitted data, including analyzing any data deficiencies or inconsistencies.

h. Support the development and/or updating of standardized MEL templates (e.g. AMELPs, Quarterly, Annual Reports, DQA checklists, etc.).

2. Data Management and Analysis

1. Support the aggregation and analysis of data across the Mission.

2. Support the operation and maintenance of data systems, including:

a. DevResults (http://www.devresults.com/), the Mission’s Performance Management System

(PMS) that includes all activity level indicators as well as Mission PMP indicators.

b. Knowledge Management Portal (KaMP) (https://jordankmportal.com/), the Mission’s online platform that houses Jordan-specific information and resources that professionals in the development sector have access to. Maintaining KaMP require a web developer with Ruby on

Rails application and skills in HTML and CSS.

c. Geographic Information System (GIS); the Mission utilizes ArcGIS software to design maps and visualize USAID interventions in Jordan.

d. Support the transition of systems from DevResults to USAID’s Development Information

Solutions (DIS). The DIS will be a suite of IT tools designed to harness the richness of USAID’s data, improve efficiencies across the entire Program Cycle, and support the ability to tell one cohesive story about how well USAID’s activities are achieving their goal.

e. Host and maintain the Knowledge Management System (KMS) which provides a platform for

USAID to track data on Jordanian sub-awardees (mainly grants) built using SharePoint 2010 technology.

3. Support stocktaking and learning events as needed (i.e., portfolio reviews and collaborative data walks).

The Contractor and Mission will coordinate with M/CIO as required in ADS 302 to obtain CIO approvals as necessary.

3. Local Capacity Building on MEL

a. Develop and conduct relevant MEL training for Mission and IP staff (DQA, Performance

Indicator Reference Sheet (PIRS) development, theory of change, evaluation SOWs, CLA, alternative Monitoring methods such as Most Significant Change and Outcome Harvesting, etc.);

training must be relevant for MEL specialists, technical staff and senior management.

b. Train Mission and IP staff on performance monitoring systems (DevResults or DIS)

c. Develop “starter packs” for newly awarded implementing partners to understand mission-specific

MEL expectations and communicate latest agency policy.

d. Identify and offer innovative MEL training for institutions and/or individuals beyond the Mission and implementing partners (these may include government entities, individual consultants including MEL specialists, MEL service providers, etc.).

C. Strengthened Collaboration, Learning and Adapting

The Contractor must improve CLA (see ADS 201.3.5.19) within USAID/Jordan to ensure that interventions are coordinated, grounded in evidence, and adjusted as necessary to remain relevant and effective throughout implementation. As stated in the ADS, strategic collaboration, continuous learning, and adaptive management link together all components of the Program Cycle. Work in this area will incorporate CLA practices into MEL as a way to support Mission staff and IPs to better understand and improve our work by tying MEL to learning priorities and using the data and information generated to inform decision-making.

Illustrative tasks that the Contractor must undertake include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Collaborating

a. Manage and support communities of practice for improved learning and collaboration (MEL-related, for IPs, USAID staff; e.g. MEL conference, learning exchanges among IPs and others);

b. Facilitate collaboration among IPs, e.g. information sharing sessions on indicator development and data reporting issues;

c. Organize MEL Specialists and Sector working group meetings (IPs and USAID).

2. Learning

a. Support the development and implementation of learning agendas with DO teams;

b. Host sessions for knowledge sharing;

c. Organize learning events and stakeholder meetings (through planning, logistics, coordination, content development, knowledge capture/exchange), focused on evaluation findings or topical, sectoral assessments;

d. Provide training on CLA to IPs, Mission Staff and local stakeholders;

e. Support the development of CLA Action Plans with DO Teams, IPs or local stakeholders and see through implementation;

f. Collect CLA examples from the field and share lessons learned.

3. Adapting

a. Support the organization of planning, mid-course stocktaking or pause and reflect sessions for

CDCS or sector-specific achievements;

b. Support, as needed, development of the future strategy;

D. Enhanced Strategic Communication on MEL

Strategic communication on MEL is about strategic learning. Communicating visible and meaningful results is vital for all USAID programs. Intense scrutiny of the USAID/Jordan program means that results must be communicated and made accessible to a wide variety of audiences. Using a customer-focused approach, the Contractor will strengthen coordination, collaboration, and synergies within the Mission and with other key stakeholders regarding performance management, program interventions, MEL, and lessons learned. Although the Mission has a communications contract, the tasks requested from the MELA will focus particularly on communicating MEL findings and lessons learnt. This task will encourage transparency throughout our communications by (1) clearly and accurately conveying the problems through

MEL data that impede progress and the steps that are being taken to address them; (2) communicating any limitations in data quality, so that achievements can be honestly assessed; and (3) clearly communicating when results are achieved jointly with the host country or other development partners.

Illustrative, strategic communication tasks that the Contractor will undertake include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Support development and dissemination of learning information

a. Organize public events to discuss MEL with the collaboration of USAID’s IPs and other stakeholders (i.e., Annual MEL Conference, Community of Practice Sessions, compiling lessons learned and sharing this information).

b. Produce publications focused on USAID's overall achievements in MEL (e.g. regular newsletters, briefers and visuals, etc.).

c. Produce information catered to beneficiary communities, for example data retrieved through an evaluation or assessment.

d. Create one-page syntheses of evaluation findings and recommendations.

e. Capture MEL cases and videos for a Mission archive.

f. Upload MEL reports on public websites as applicable, including the Development Experience

Clearinghouse (DEC) and KaMP.

g. Support IPs in disseminating information on research and data collected under their activities.

2. Manage a roster of local evaluators and work to strengthen/establish this network of local evaluators.

E. Build Capacity of Local MEL Firms in Jordan

A guiding principle of this task is to support the core USAID value of building local capacity and work through local solutions, enabling select local, for-profit firms to become stronger, more strategically‐ focused entities that may become eligible to receive a direct award from USAID or other donors in the future. As mentioned above, the Contractor must choose one or more local subcontractors to assist in implementing the requirements of the Statement of Work. The Contractor will involve local firms in all

MEL components addressed in previous sections related to (A) evaluations and assessments; (B) performance monitoring; (C) CLA; and (D) strategic communication on MEL.

USAID recognizes the limited experience that local firms have in managing USAID awards of similar magnitude and/or complexity as MELA. Although expertise in the field of MEL is certainly growing, the intent of this Contract will be to develop the capacity of a Jordanian partner or partners to become the primary entity or entities in managing similar MEL tasks while adhering to USAID requirements in project implementation and administration. To this end, the Contractor must prepare a five-year Capacity Building

Plan to provide ongoing support with the goal of developing the capacity of one or more chosen local subcontractors to implement and sustain the activities of this contract after its completion. After five years, and depending on availability of funding, an award to a local subcontractor will be considered if it is determined, that it has met the required capacity-building criteria to oversee full implementation. The

Contractor will develop indicators, baseline, and targets for local capacity development which will be included in the Capacity Building Plan and submitted to the USAID COR for approval.

Illustrative, capacity building development tasks that the Contractor must undertake include, but are not limited, to the following:

1. Strengthen institutional capacity of local firms to prepare them to independently operate and manage awards of similar nature, complexity, and magnitude.

2. In a “learning‐by‐doing” partnership with select local Jordanian firm(s), build the firm(s)’ capacity to carry out evidence‐based evaluations and assessments, focusing on methodologies to strengthen their analysis and reporting of data.

3. Provide capacity building in technical areas (including training on theories of change, performance indicators, Activity MEL Plans, data collection and analysis, report writing, managing evaluations), and organizational capacity development (including leadership, team dynamics, organizational and financial management).

Under this result, the Contractor must adopt approaches and include measures for how it will engage with local partners and increasingly involve them in award implementation, as well as how it will build their capacity to become direct partners with USAID beyond the life of this award.

Towards the end of this contract, the Contractor must perform all of the pre-award requirements (e.g., pre-award survey, market research, choice of instrument, etc.) for USAID to award a follow-on MEL contract to a local Jordanian firm.

VI. IMPLEMENTATION, MANAGEMENT, AND STAFFING PLANS

This contract will be managed by the USAID/Jordan Program Office with technical input from the

USAID/Jordan DO teams. The Contractor will discuss IP performance, IP MEL systems, and

IP targets only with USAID, unless otherwise directed by the COR. The responsibilities of the DO teams are not to be delegated to the MEL Contractor. The Contractor will be fully supportive of the work of the

DO teams, but will not serve as his/her representative in the field. The Contractor will make recommendations and observations for USAID program improvements, but solely to USAID and not to

IPs. The Contractor will not make directives or recommendations to IPs; Contractor work with IPs will consist only of technical assistance, monitoring, verification, analysis, and selected training. The Contractor will work collaboratively with the COR to develop the required annual work plans and progress reports.

This includes cost and quality controls under this contract. Technical requirements and tasks will be based on the Contractor’s proposed work plan, as amended during discussions with USAID/Jordan. The

Contractor will adopt a management approach that ensures effective capacity building and engagement of local partners in conducting the required MEL tasks envisioned under this contract as well as building the capacity of local partners to receive a direct award from USAID for similar work in the future.

VII. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, Section 117 requires that the impact of

USAID’s activities on the environment be considered and that USAID include environmental sustainability as a central consideration in designing and carrying out its development programs. This mandate is codified in Federal Regulations (22 CFR 216) and in USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) Parts

201.5.10g and 204 (http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ADS/200/), which, in part, require that the potential environmental impacts of USAID‐financed activities are identified prior to a final decision to proceed and that appropriate environmental safeguards are adopted for all activities. The offeror’s environmental compliance obligations under these regulations and procedures are specified in the following paragraphs of this contract. In addition, the Contractor must comply with GOJ environmental regulations unless otherwise directed in writing by USAID. In the case of conflict between host country and USAID regulations, the latter will govern. No activity funded under this contract will be implemented unless an environmental threshold determination, as defined by 22 CFR 216, has been reached for that activity, as documented in a

Request for Categorical Exclusion (RCE), Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), or Environmental

Assessment (EA) duly signed by the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO). (Hereinafter, such documents are described as “approved Regulation 216 environmental documentation.”)

Activities envisioned under this contract are limited to technical assistance, research and evaluation, training, and capacity building. Accordingly, and as per 22 CFR 216.2 (c)(1)(ii), this contract has been approved for Categorical Exclusion. The Mission Environmental Office (MEO) concluded that no further

Environmental Assessment is required for activities under this contract.

As part of its initial work plan, and all annual work plans thereafter, the Contractor, in collaboration with the COR and MEO, will review all ongoing and planned activities under this contract to determine if they are within the scope of the approved Regulation 216 environmental documentation. If the contractor plans any new activities outside the scope of the approved Regulation 216 environmental documentation, it must prepare an amendment to the documentation for USAID review and approval. No such new activities will be undertaken prior to receiving written USAID approval of environmental documentation amendments.

Any ongoing activities found to be outside the scope of the approved Regulation 216 environmental documentation must be halted until an amendment to the documentation is submitted and written approval is received from USAID.

VIII. GENDER

As a policy goal for USAID globally, USAID investments in support of gender equality and female empowerment seek to improve the lives of citizens around the world by advancing equality between women and men, girls and boys, as well as empowering women and girls to participate fully in society and benefit from securing better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. Within this goal, gender equality is the process of being fair to women and men, including measures to compensate for historical and social disadvantages that prevent men and women from operating on level playing fields. It is the state or condition that affords women and men equal enjoyment of human rights, socially valued goods, opportunities and resources.

Activities supported by USAID/Jordan aim to benefit both men and women and maximize potential benefits for their target populations. The Contractor will support the Mission’s efforts to operationalize gender equality and female empowerment throughout its programming, monitoring evaluation and learning.

This will include collaborating with Mission staff and IPs to identify gender sensitive indicators and incorporate evaluation questions that gauge activity impact on men and women. At a minimum, all performance management interventions, assessments, surveys, studies, and reports must include gender‐ disaggregated data. The Contractor must support USAID/Jordan’s implementation of the Agency’s gender policy related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning as outlined in ADS 205.3.6. The Contractor may be asked to support IPs regarding the required gender monitoring and reporting, collecting and analyzing sex disaggregated data, and tracking gender indicators related to the Agency’s Policy. The Contractor will pay attention to and highlight gender-based constraints and issues in connection to the conduct of all deliverables. For example, the Contractor must highlight gender‐specific issues that arise from the data collection of IPs. The Contractor must inform USAID of such issues and offer corrective measures to be taken to address them. The Contractor is required to adhere to gender principles when constructing its core team as well as in fielding additional short‐term consultants during the life of the contract.

X. SUSTAINABILITY

The Contractor’s implementation approach must ensure strengthening local capacity and systems throughout the life of the project. The Contractor will work closely with local entities and stakeholders to ensure a continuation of MEL interventions beyond the life of the contract. Furthermore, the Contractor will build the technical and institutional capacity of one or more local firm(s) to be capable to manage the follow on MEL Activity in the future. The Contractor will be evaluated on the proposed approach and management structure for how it proposes to achieve these objectives, and will be monitored on the progress for achieving agreed-upon milestones in this regard.

The Population-Based Survey

The Population Survey is a large-scale survey to measure several Mission performance indicators across

USAID/Jordan’s portfolio. Survey data will be used to measure Mission indicator data in the Jordanian population at-large, measure Mission indicator data among a population of self-identified beneficiaries, provide implementing partners with comparison group samples of non-beneficiaries, cross-reference measures against a spatial and temporal mapping of Mission inputs, and explore a learning agenda to better understand the determinants of indicator performance. This is a house-hold level survey with a sample size of 12,000 across 57 municipalities or city districts in all of Jordan’s governorates. The Mission is currently conducting the first Population-based Survey to collect baseline data (May/June 2018); the incumbent is required to repeat this survey twice during the life of the MEL contract, and another two polls throughout the life of the Activity. The incumbent is also required to conduct data analysis, report writing and dissemination of the findings of the Survey. Please see the Population-Based Survey Design Report

(Attachment J.6).

CITIES Impact Evaluation

The evaluation uses a mixed methods approach to compare institutional-level measures between 15 treatment and 15 comparison municipalities, small-scale surveys of direct beneficiaries of municipal service improvements, and qualitative inquiry to understand the context-specific factors behind municipal institutional capacity development and successful implementation of a decentralization agenda. The evaluation also includes a learning agenda to help understand the environment in which findings are situated, identify heterogeneous treatment effects, and learn which factors strengthen or impede activity success. To the extent feasible, all data will be disaggregated by youth, gender, and membership in a marginalized group, and these disaggregations will also be examined as a cross-cutting theme across the primary fields of inquiry around institutional development and improved service delivery. The incumbent is required to conduct the endline data collection exercise followed by data analysis, report writing and dissemination of the findings of the complete CITIES impact evaluation. Please see the CITIES Impact

Evaluation Design Report (Attachment J.5).

[END OF SECTION C]

D - Packaging and Marking

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (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 semi-finished products which are not packaged.

B. Specific guidance on…