Amt 1 ATTACHMENT C - RFP REVISIONS.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) ACI 2000 Tel: (223) 2070-23-00 Rue 243 Porte 297 Fax: (223) 2022-39-33 P.O. Box 34 Bamako, Mali Website: http://mali.usaid.gov

Issuance Date: March 15, 2022

Deadline for Questions: March 22, 2022, 5:00 p.m. Mali time

Responses to Questions: March 29, 2022

Proposals Due: April 28, 2022, 5:00 p.m. Mali time

Subject: Request for Proposals (RFP) No. SOL-720-688-22-R-00002 for Implementing the

MALI MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING (MEL) PLATFORM Activity.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking proposals to establish and implement the

USAID/MALI MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING (MEL) PLATFORM Activity to provide technical and advisory services to design and carry out various monitoring, evaluation and learning activities for USAID/Mali as further described under Statement of Work, Section C – of the RFP. The primary objective of the contract is to establish and implement an M&E platform that will provide USAID/Mali with continued services in third-party monitoring, evaluation services and surveys and collaborating, learning and adaptive management and communication services.

Additionally, the contractor will conduct assessments, special studies that will help inform the design of individual activities and/or larger Activities.

This Contract will be awarded through a competitive process and work will be delivered through a Cost-Plus-Fixed Fee

(CPFF) completion type contract. USAID anticipates that the total estimated cost of the Activity will range between

US$20 million to $24.9 million. Revealing the cost range does not imply that Offerors should strive to meet the maximum. Offerors must propose costs that are realistic and reasonable for the work described in Section C of this solicitation. Please review Section L for Instructions regarding the development of a Technical and a Cost Proposals as well as submission requirements. Section M lists the Evaluation Criteria for this procurement. The North American

Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and

Technical Services.

USAID/Mali OAA invites all interested and qualified organizations to submit proposals in accordance with the requirements of this RFP. U.S. and non-U.S. (including Malian) for-profit firms and non-governmental organizations

(NGOs) are eligible to submit proposals for this RFP. In support of USAID’s interest in expanding the number and sustainability of development partners, USAID/Mali encourages proposals from U.S. small businesses and potential new local partners as prime or sub-contractors.

Please refer to Section L for information regarding proposal requirements and all instructions for the preparation and submission of required proposal contents, including critical dates/times for submission of questions, proposal submission closing date and time. Offerors should take into account the expected delivery time required by the email transmission method, and they are responsible to ensure that proposals are received at USAID by the due date and time as specified above. Failure to comply with the submission date and email transmission method will deem any submission unacceptable and it will not be reviewed or evaluated. Section M states the criteria by which proposals will be evaluated.

If your organization decides to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, it must be submitted by the designated date and time indicated in Block 9 of the RFP (Standard Form 33). 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.

Please note that the designated initial point of entry to the government infrastructure for proposal submissions is the

USAID internet server. Please pay careful attention to, and complete in full, RFP section K – Representations, Certifications, and Statements of Offerors. Offerors should also carefully consider section L – Instructions to Offerors, and section M – Evaluation Factors for Award. Sections B through I of the solicitation will become the substantive part of the anticipated contract with blanks to be completed by the Contracting Officer upon award. Proposals must be signed by an official authorized to bind the Offeror’s organization.

The issuance of this solicitation does not in any way obligate the U.S. Government to award a contract nor does it commit the U.S. 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

SOL-720-688-22-R-00002

USAID/Mali Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform Page 2

U.S. Government. The award of a Contract under this solicitation is subject to availability of funds and other internal

USAID approvals.

This solicitation can be viewed and downloaded from www.sam.gov. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Further, be aware that amendments to solicitations are occasionally issued and will be posted on the same website from which you downloaded the solicitation. USAID advises to regularly check the above website for amendments. Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by email to the following address, by the date and time stated in this cover letter, to bamakoaao@usaid.gov .

We thank you for your interest in this important program and look forward to receiving your proposals.

Sincerely, Nathan Hilgendorf

Contracting Officer

USAID/Mali

NATHAN ROBERT

HILGENDORF

(affiliate)

Digitally signed by

NATHAN ROBERT

HILGENDORF (affiliate) Date: 2022.03.30 18:19:58 +02'00'

USAID/Mali Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform Page 3

TERMS AND ACRONYMS

The following terms and acronyms are used in this solicitation orders with meanings as reflected below:

Term/Acronym Meaning

ADS USAID Automated Directives System

AIDAR USAID Acquisition Regulation

AOR Agreement Officer’s Representative

BIP Branding Implementation Plan

CO

COR

Contracting Officer

Contracting Officer’s Representative

COM Chief of Mission

COP Chief of Party

COR

CLA

Contracting Officer’s Representative

Collaboration, Learning and Adapting

CST Contractor Salary Threshold

CSO Civil Society Organizations

DEC Development Experience Clearinghouse

DO Development Objective

GPS

GoM

Global Positioning System

Government of Mali

IR Intermediate Result

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

NGO Non-Governmental Organization

NICRA Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

ODC Other Direct Cost

OP Operational Plan

PMP Performance Management Plan

RFP Request for Proposal

TCN Third Country National

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USG United States Government

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TABLE OF CONTENT

Page

ACRONYMS………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4

SECTION A – SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM 7

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS 7

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

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

B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS AND ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING ON CEILINGS

B.6 FEE SCHEDULE

B.7 REIMBURSABLE CONTRACT

B.8 CANCELLATION CEILING AND MULTI YEAR CONTRACT

SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK 9

C1. INTRODUCTION

C2. USAID MALI PROGRAM OVERVIEW

C.3 THE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE:

C.4 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

C.5 ACTIVITY COMPONENTS/DESCRIPTION

C.6 MANAGEMENT APPROACH

C.7 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING 21

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (January 1993)

D.2 BRANDING AND MARKING STRATEGY

D.3 BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION AND MARKING PLAN

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 23

E.1 FAR 52.252-1-2 – NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 24

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 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES

F.6 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK AND DAY

F.7 KEY PERSONNEL

F.8 AIDAR 752.7005 – SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 33

G.1 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998)

G.2 PAYMENT AND VOUCHERS

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICE

G.4 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.5 CONTRACTOR'S PAYING OFFICE/PAYMENT ADDRESS:

G.6 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

G.7 TECHNICAL DIRECTION/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 37

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H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

H.2 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JULY 2007)

H.3 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.4 EMPLOYMENT COSTS OF THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS AND COOPERATING COUNTRY

H.5 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES (NOV 2017)

H.9 AIDAR 752.228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES (JULY 2007)

H.10 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY

H.11 RESTRICTIONS AGAINST DISCLOSURE (MAY 2016)

H.12 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.13 CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT (CRM)

H.14 CONFIDENTIALITY AND OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

H.15 AIDAR 752.7034 ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DISCLAIMER (DEC 1991)

H.16 COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS POLICY

H.17 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING

H.18 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT

H.19 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT -- IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES

H.20 752.7025 APPROVALS (APR 1984)

H.22 AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

(APRIL 2014)

H.23 ALLOWABLE AIRFARE

H.24 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT (DECEMBER 2020)

H.25 LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H.26 SUBCONTRACTING PLAN REPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS

H.27 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACTS

H.28 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: EVALUATION, DEFINITE QUANTITY (September

2018)

H.29 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM

H.30 APPROVED INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL

H.31 DEFENSE BASE ACT (DBA) INSURANCE FOR 2015-2021

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES 48

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

FAR CLAUSES

I.2 FAR 52.204-1 APPROVAL OF CONTRACT (DEC 1989)

I.3 FAR 52.229-8 TAXES - FOREIGN COST-REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS (MAR 1990)

I.4 FAR 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

I.5 52.223-99 ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS

(OCT 2021) (DEVIATION #M/OAA-DEV-FAR-22-01C)

I.6 AIDAR 752.229-71 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JUL 2007)

SECTION J - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS 56

ATTACHMENT J.1 – ILLUSTRATIVE TRIGGER INDICATORS

ATTACHMENT J.2 – INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE)

ATTACHMENT J.3 – BUDGET PROPOSAL FORMAT

ATTACHMENT J.4 - AID 1420-17 BIOGRAPHICAL DATA FORM

ATTACHMENT J.5 – SF LLL - DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

ATTACHMENT J.6 – SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN TEMPLATE

ATTACHMENT J.7 – ILLUSTRATIVE LOCAL COMPENSATION PLAN

ATTACHMENT J.8 – MAP OF USAID MALI ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS

ATTACHMENT J.9 – ILLUSTRATIVE LIST TO EVALUATION, SURVEYES, SPECIAL STUDIES,

ATTACHMENT J.10 – ILLUSTRATIVE LIST OF TRAINING MODULES

ATTACHMENT J.11 – STRATEGY BASELINE SURVEY

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF THE

OFFEROR 57

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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

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K.3 FAR 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (SEP 2021)

K.4 FAR 52.204-26 COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES-

REPRESENTATION (OCT 2020)

K.5 FAR 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (AUG 2020)

K.6 FAR 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2018)

K.7 FAR 52.209-9 – Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (OCT 2018) K.8 FAR 52.230-1 -- Cost Accounting Standards Notices and Certification (JUN 2020) K.9 FAR 52.230-7 -- Proposal Disclosure—Cost Accounting Practice Changes (Apr 2005)

K.10 INSURANCE IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.11 AGREEMENT ON, OR EXCEPTIONS TO, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

K.12 SIGNATURE

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS OR

RESPONDENTS 66

L.1 FAR 52.252-1-2 -- Solicitation Provisions and Clauses Incorporated by Reference L.2 FAR 52.215-16 -- Facilities Capital Cost of Money (June 2003)

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

L.4 GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION

L.5 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

L.6 DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

L.7 FORMAT AND PRESENTATION

L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.9 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL

L.10 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN(BIP)

AND MARKING PLANS

L.11 WAIVERS UNDER FAR PART 4.2101 PROHIBITION ON COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT (DECEMBER 2021)

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS 78

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.3 COST/PRICE EVALUATION

M.4 DETERMINATION OF COMPETITIVE RANGE

M.5 SOURCE SELECTION

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SECTION A – SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The contractor will provide the services that fall within the scope of the Statement of Work (SOW) specified in Section

C for implementing the USAID/Mali Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform Activity. The Activity will support the Mission’s project design, performance monitoring and evaluation, and operational learning and adapting as specifically detailed in Section C.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee completion-type Contract. For the consideration set forth in the contract, the Contractor shall provide the deliverables or outputs described in Sections C and F and comply with all contract requirements.

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

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is

$__________. The fixed fee, if any, is $________. The estimated cost-plus fixed fee is $_______.

(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 shall 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). See Section I of this contract.

Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through TBD.

B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET

Contract Period (year 1 – 5)

Salaries

Total Direct Costs

Indirect Costs (includes Fringe, Overhead and G&A)

Fixed Fee

Total Cost-Plus Fixed Fee

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS AND ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING ON CEILINGS

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 for the prime contractor and its major subcontractors (“major subcontractors” are those subcontractors expected to perform at least 20% or more of the technical effort):

Prime:

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD 1 % 1/ 1/ 1/

TBD 2 % 2/ 2/ 2/

1/ Base of Application:

Type of Rate: TBD

Period: TBD

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2/ Base of Application:

Period:

TBD

Subcontractor(s):

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD 1 % 1/ 1/ 1/

TBD 2 % 2/ 2/ 2/

1/ Base of Application:

Period:

TBD

2/ Base of Application:

Period: TBD

B.6 FEE SCHEDULE

Pursuant to FAR 52.216-8, the fixed fee payable under this contract is tied to the completion of the activities and tasks identified in Section C. the Contracting Officer reserves the right to withhold up to 15% of the total fixed fee or

$100,000, whichever is less, to protect the Government’s interest.

Activities and Tasks Due Date Proposed Percentage of Fee

Component 1

TBD Activities

Component 2

TBD Activities

Component 3

TBD Activities

Note: This table is an illustrative table. Offerors are requested to propose a fee payment schedule. A final fee payment schedule will be negotiated with the Contractor prior to award.

B.7 REIMBURSABLE CONTRACT

This is a Cost Reimbursable Contract type. The U.S. dollar costs allowable shall be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment, FAR

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

B.8 CANCELLATION CEILING AND MULTI YEAR CONTRACT

The contract is subject to the requirements of FAR 17.106. However, this is a Cost-Plus-Fixed Fee type contract where the Contractor is authorized to be reimbursed for all costs which are allowable in accordance with FAR

52.216‐7, “Allowable Costs and Payment.” Therefore, the Contractor will not incur any costs which would have been amortized over the life of the contract should the contract be canceled in accordance with FAR 52.217‐2. If cancellation under the clause at 52.217- 2, “Cancellation Under Multi-Year Contracts” occurs, the Contractor will be paid a cancellation charge not over the cancellation ceiling.

END OF SECTION B

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SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK

Title: USAID/MALI MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING (MEL) “PLATFORM”

C1. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Platform “MEL” Platform is to provide technical and advisory services to design and carry out various monitoring, evaluation and learning activities for USAID/Mali. This contract will have three major components: 1) USAID/Mali monitoring support through a Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) mechanism; 2) Evaluation Services and Surveys; and 3) Collaborating, Learning and Adaptive Management and

Communication Services.

The MEL Platform will assist USAID/Mali and its partners to generate empirical data and to foster learning and knowledge management through a participatory process in order to support stronger results and improve evidence-based programming. These efforts will facilitate informed program management decisions, shape the longer-term strategic direction of programs and decision-making within the Mission, and enable USAID/Mali to comply with USAID’s monitoring and evaluation guidance as mandated in the Automated Directives System (ADS), especially in ADS 201.

The principal customers for this MEL Platform contract will be USAID/Mali staff, other USG agencies, USAID implementing partners, Malian Government counterparts, and relevant offices in USAID/Washington.

C2. USAID MALI PROGRAM OVERVIEW

USAID/Mali is in a transition phase as its next Country Development Cooperative Strategy (CDCS) is being designed and its 2015 – 2020 CDCS will be extended until September 2022. The new Mali CDCS will adopt an integrated approach that will outline two main development objectives - Improved Governance and Improved Socio-Economic

Development - and at least eight Intermediate Results (IRs). The Mission intends to monitor: 1) the success and progress of the CDCS at the Development Objective (DO) and Intermediate Result levels; 2) the strategy assumptions and risks as scenario planning is being used as a recurrent tool to consider during the CDCS implementation.

In FY 2021 USAID/Mali budget was $123,000,000 million which included Health ($71,000,000), Agriculture and

Economic Growth ($28,000.000), Education and Social Services ($16,900,000); Democracy, Human Rights and

Governance ($7,100,000).

C2.1 Health Program:

In the Health sector, USAID/Mali is implementing a robust health portfolio to improve the overall health outcomes of the Malian population. This portfolio includes activities related to health systems strengthening, health financing, maternal and child health, family planning, malaria, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, global health security, and COVID-19 response – all of which are aligned with the U.S. and Malian Governments’ strategic health priorities.

C2.2 Education Program:

The education sector includes activities promoting equitable access to quality education among primary school children and youth, particularly children with disabilities. The portfolio includes activities in the Mopti area to reach marginalized groups and provide education services in crisis and conflict areas.

C2.3 Accelerated Economic Growth Program:

USAID/Mali also supports the Government of Mali’s National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) which aligns with the U.S. Government’s Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS). Activities include crop production of key value chains and building market systems around value chains that are designed to strengthen the resilience of targeted populations in Mopti, Tombouctou and Sikasso regions through inclusive, sustainable, and nutrition-sensitive agricultural-led economic growth. USAID/Mali is planning to support Mali's Water for the World High Priority Country Plan that seeks to assist the provision of safe and reliable potable water for domestic use to rural Malian communities, with a focus on strong local governance, resilience, and sustainability.

C2.4 Peace, Democracy, and Governance (PDG) & Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Programs:

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PDG and BHA offices are working conjointly together at USAID/Mali. PDG addresses core peacebuilding and democratic governance needs in Mali. This includes a focus on key U.S. Foreign Assistance priorities to advance peace, democracy, and human rights such as the Security Governance Initiative; Trans Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership;

Countering Violent Extremism; Women, Peace, and Security; and efforts to combat Trafficking in Persons. In the justice sector, the Mission is supporting a range of activities aiming to improve the administration and access to justice, to increase transparent resource flows to the regions, increase civil society’s watchdog role, and counter violent extremism.

BHA in Mali supports emergency, development, and risk reduction for displaced populations and vulnerable households. BHA funds Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the World Food Program (WFP) and the United

Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide life-saving health care—often integrated with nutrition and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming—to conflict-affected people in Mali. BHA also supports activities focused on repairing and increasing access to sources of safe drinking water as well as other WASH infrastructure, including latrines and handwashing stations. BHA is currently funding a Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) with the goal to improve food security and resilience of communities in conflict-affected areas by strengthening local systems and community participation.

As the Mission anticipates the completion of its new CDCS with two (2) development objectives, USAID/Mali is focusing on the effort to efficiently and effectively fulfill its performance measurement and reporting requirements as mandated in ADS 201. More holistically, this means support in monitoring USAID activities, reporting accurate data, monitoring programmatic assumptions, and operational context, evaluating performance and impact, and learning and adapting from evidence. The MEL Platform is designed to meet these requirements.

C.3 THE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE:

Since the development of the current CDCS in 2015, the security situation has deteriorated in Mali and many of the country’s regions are difficult to access, including the center part of the country (Mopti Region) where USAID/Mali has several activities. Travel restrictions for USAID staff exist for most parts of the country, making it hard for the Mission staff to comply with the ADS 201.3.4.10 requirements. The ADS stipulates that the “Mission must perform visits to provide oversight over agreements/awards, inspect implementation progress and deliverables, verify monitoring data, and learn from the implementation”. With the current CDCS, few activities have undertaken a performance or impact evaluation. For the past 5 years, the Mali Mission has conducted only 10 out of 24 planned evaluations, 3 of which fall under the external evaluation category.

C.4 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

C.4.1: Requirement

The Contractor will provide technical and advisory services to design and carry out monitoring, evaluation, learning, and capacity building related activities on behalf of USAID/Mali. These services will include, but will not be limited to: site visits, data verification, performance baseline surveys, mid-term and final performance evaluations, impact evaluations, sector assessments, public opinion polls, learning and capacity building related activities and trainings in support of USAID/Mali programs. While undertaking these activities, the Contractor will engage collaboratively with USAID/Mali’s technical and support offices, implementing partners and other stakeholders to collect and aggregate information.

The Contractor will, to the maximum degree possible, consult with Mali national, provincial, regional and/or local tiers of government, USAID implementing partners, local experts, and non-government stakeholders regarding MEL activities, with the aim of using existing local knowledge about relevant cultural and contextual factors, with a view to developing high quality local MEL capacities and competencies.

The Contractor will provide direct services and operational support to fulfill all requirements of this contract, considering USAID principles and requirements, including those within USAID’s Evaluation Policy and ADS 201. In addition to sector-specific expertise, the Contractor will offer services to reflect the most recent and innovative techniques and approaches in MEL, including rigorous impact evaluation methods.

Furthermore, the Contractor will follow the standard and ethical practices of the American Association for Public

Opinion Research (www.aapor.org/Standards-Ethics.aspx) in developing and conducting survey work. The Contractor

USAID/Mali Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform Page 11 will comply with USAID’s Human Subject Protection Policy and other survey-relevant policies, as applicable.

Safeguarding the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in survey research supported by USAID is the responsibility of the Contractor. USAID has adopted the Common Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, Part 225 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations found at https://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy/series-200.

The Contractor must comply with the internationally recognized standard and ethical practices in developing and conducting research. In particular, the Contractor must do no harm and protect the privacy and confidentiality of the respondents/participants to any research and MEL activities. All data collected (e.g., from monitoring activities, assessment, survey, evaluation, polls, etc.) must be protected through data security protocols and submitted to the MEL

Platform’s Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) upon completion of each study or evaluation as appropriate.

The Contractor will keep all data through the life of the Contract.

As youth will be a cross-sectoral theme in our new CDCS, the Contractor will ensure that evaluation designs, methodologies, data collection and analysis adequately capture the situations and experiences of youth. The Contractor will address USAID development data requirements (ADS 579) when collecting and reporting on USAID data.

To satisfy these requirements, the Contractor will meet with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Alternate

COR or identified Activity Manager(s) to review the status of the services on a monthly basis (via conference call or in person). Other relevant individuals from USAID/Mali, USAID/Washington, implementing partners, and/or key stakeholders will also be invited to the meeting as deemed appropriate by the COR. The COR will also coordinate with the Contractor to ensure participation of USAID staff and other stakeholders on evaluations and other MEL assignments where relevant and appropriate. The Contractor must be proactive in identifying learning opportunities and possible new collaborations and inform the Mission of any substantial changes in the country context that could affect programming.

The Contractor will address all three components as described below.

C.5 ACTIVITY COMPONENTS/DESCRIPTION

C.5.1 COMPONENT I: THIRD PARTY MONITORING (TPM)

In an environment characterized by uncertainty, instability, inaccessibility and/or insecurity, the Mali Mission recognizes the inability of its staff to perform its performance monitoring duties as described in ADS 201.3.5.4.

Therefore, the need to make use of a Third-Party Monitoring is necessary to intentionally and systematically collect its performance monitoring and contextual data.

The Contractor will develop a comprehensive approach to carry out the TPM activities that will be available to all of

USAID/Mali awards in addition to the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance awards based on demand, especially where there are gaps. The Contractor will also undertake TPM to provide useful support to Agreement Officer's and

Contracting Officer's Representatives (A/CORS), enabling them to effectively manage their activities. Monitoring visits will be conducted on a need basis with the Mission determining which site will be visited, the dates for the visits and the questions to be asked or verifications to be conducted. The Contractor will use a range of different data collection methods, including new technologies, to meet various monitoring needs of USAID staff, provide and data analysis services. The Contractor must show how collected data will be used for adaptive management and learning.

C.5.1.1 Performance Monitoring and Operational Context Monitoring

TPM will be done through performance monitoring and operational context monitoring. Performance-monitoring is the on-going and systematic collection of performance indicator data and other quantitative or qualitative information to reveal whether implementation is on track and whether expected results are being achieved. Performance monitoring includes monitoring the quantity, quality, and timeliness of activity outputs within the control of USAID’s implementing partners and includes visiting the sites where activity is taking place. Context monitoring is the systematic collection of information about conditions and external factors relevant to the implementation and performance of a Mission’s activity. This includes information about local conditions that may directly affect implementation and performance or external factors that may indirectly affect implementation and performance (such as macro-economic, social, or political conditions).

A. Performance Monitoring

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For performance monitoring, the Contractor will undertake the TPM component through two (2) activities:

1) Verification of outputs and deliverables through site visits;

2) Verification of outcomes of USAID activities through quick beneficiaries’ surveys.

Activity 1. Verification of outputs and deliverables through site visits.

This activity will be composed of the following:

Site Selection. The Contractor must conduct regular site visits in the areas of Mali considered as non-permissive environments. Most site visits are expected to be coordinated in advance with USAID and the activity’s Implementing

Partner (IP) being monitored. The Contractor will undertake spot visits at the request of USAID. In cases in which an activity is operating in multiple locations, USAID will specify which locations the Contractor should visit, select the sites in collaboration with the Contractor, and will ask the Contractor to propose a methodology to select a sample of sites to visit.

At the beginning of each quarter and in consultation with the technical office CORs and Agreement Officer

Representatives (AORs), the Contractor will develop a list of sites to be visited along with a schedule. A final list of the sites as part of the Contractor annual work plan will be submitted to the MEL Platform’s COR for approval.

The development of the data collection tools that field monitors will use to verify activity implementation and collect other information as requested by USAID is a highly critical step in the process. The tools are usually developed in a collaborative and iterative manner, involving the TPM service provider, implementer, and USAID. The tools are revised as needed on an ongoing basis.

Toolkit Design. The toolkit is a planning document that includes the approach and the tools that the Contractor will be using to collect the data on the field. The toolkit must be developed in collaboration with the technical office

CORs/AORs and must be approved by the MEL Platform COR before data collection begins.

Data Collection, Analysis and Monitoring Reports. The Contractor will conduct site visits1 and prepare site-specific verification reports that need to be reviewed and approved by the MEL Platform’s COR. Information in the reports will be triangulated and responsive to the type of information that USAID needs. In particular, USAID’s technical offices, COR, and the Contractor will agree on what issues require immediate notification to the COR, and which will appear in the monitoring reports. The MEL Platform COR will share these reports with the technical offices and the IPs to allow them to respond to the learning points identified and take action to address identified gaps and deficiencies. The report will be the basis for any conversation between the technical offices and the IPs on adaptive management.

Activity 2. Verification of outcomes of USAID activities through quick beneficiaries’ surveys

At the request of USAID, the Contractor will design quick beneficiaries’ surveys to gather beneficiaries’ viewpoints about a specific activity. The Contractor will carry out eight (8) beneficiaries surveys a year.

The Contractor will submit the following:

a. Implementation schedule: The contractor will submit an implementation schedule for the beneficiaries’ survey.

b. Survey design: The Contractor will submit for USAID review and approval a survey design document describing the approach, the methodology that will be used to carry out the survey, the data collection instruments along with the survey budget.

c. Draft and final report of the survey: The Contractor will submit for USAID review a survey draft report.

The content and the length of the survey report will be specified in the Survey Statement of Work, which will be provided by the MEL Platform COR to the Contractor. The draft survey report will be submitted in

English and will include the following sections:

● Executive summary highlighting main findings, conclusions and recommendations;

1 Given the security situation which is not improving and other global health challenges such as the COVID-19, the Contractor may, in certain instances, be authorized to use remote monitoring tools where and when necessary and to work with local partners to identify mechanisms for the continuity of remote monitoring through new technologies and tools. Satellite imagery, for example, and other tools offered by USAID’s Center for Digital Development are options.

USAID/Mali Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform Page 13

● A full description of the methodology used, as well as the limitations in the inferences that can be drawn.;

● Findings,

● Conclusions and/or recommendations;

● Annexes (including questionnaires, data sheets, survey forms, etc).

Following the reviewing of the draft report, the Contractor will submit a final survey report, which incorporates comments from USAID and other stakeholders, for USAID/Mali approval.

B. Operational Context Monitoring

For operational context monitoring, the Contractor will undertake the TPM component through two (2) activities:

1) Carrying an annual Public Opinion Poll; and

2) Establishing a tracking system to monitor the CDCS assumptions and risk indicators.

Activity 1. Annual Public Opinion Poll.

The purpose of these polls is to - for example - assess the trends of many socio-economic and political data, to track progress against USAID/Mali’s CDCS, to gather information on specific events or programs that receive USAID or

U.S. Government assistance, and to facilitate USAID’s understanding of local perceptions and knowledge of the U.S.

Government’s assistance in Mali. The Contractor will be responsible for providing a final report.

The Contractor will submit the following:

a. Implementation Schedule. The contractor will submit an implementation schedule for each public opinion poll and permit adequate time for the following steps to occur: a) submission of the proposed survey instruments

(questionnaire); b) incorporation of USAID comments; translation of the survey instruments into local language;

training of poll takers and pre-test of the instruments; and submission of the final questionnaire.

b. Final Questionnaires. All survey questions and final public opinion polls must be approved by the MEL

Platform COR before proceeding. Implementation plan will allow for full participation of USAID staff in finalizing survey questions.

C. Poll Design Document. The Contractor will design a nation-wide statistically significant public opinion polls (margin of errors: 3%) that will include a representative sampling of the Malian people. Data from these polls must be disaggregated by gender (male/female), age groups, and by region. It is expected that the

Contractor will sub-contract with local firms with proven experience in implementing Public Opinion Polls to implement this type of activity if needed. The design document must be accompanied with a budget.

c. Briefing. Upon completion of each poll, the Contractor will present the results to USAID stakeholders including the Government of Mali (GoM).

d. Draft and final report. The Contractor will submit for USAID review a public opinion poll draft report.

The content and the length of the report will be specified in the poll design document. The draft public opinion poll report will be submitted in English and will include the following sections:

● Executive summary highlighting main findings, conclusions and recommendations;

● A full description of the methodology used, as well as the limitations in the inferences that can be drawn.;

● Findings,

● Conclusions and/or recommendations;

● Annexes (including questionnaires, data sheets, survey forms, etc.).

Following the review of the draft report, the Contractor will submit a final public opinion poll report, which incorporates comments from USAID and other stakeholders, for USAID/Mali approval.

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Activity 2. Assumptions and risks tracking system.

During the five years of the MEL contract, the Mission will coordinate its understanding - through data and analysis around priority trigger points - of Mali’s ever-changing trajectory to adapt to the U.S. Government’s development and humanitarian assistance in Mali. This requires examining data from the national to the commune level, using indicators that measure the state of wellbeing and reporting when communes are getting better or worse under each prioritized scenario. With this information, USAID/Mali will review its preparation and mitigation efforts taken to date through its programs and adjust and adapt efforts to better position activities to the changing situation and needs. Through a

Mission-wide effort, technical teams and their partners will coordinate and collaborate across sectors by layering, sequencing, and integrating activities in the affected communes and complement it with robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning to continuously adjust and adapt interventions according to the situations. As part of this effort, the MEL platform will monitor trigger indicators based on three three possible scenarios: 1) Mali’s political transition, 2) Crisis and resilience, and 3) Pandemic and socio-economic conditions.

Through the TPM component, the Contractor will track the CDCS assumptions and risks identified as part of the CDCS development process and also the scenario/trigger indicators (see Attachment J1). The Contractor will submit the following:

a) Dashboard of trigger indicators results on a quarterly basis;

b) Quarterly report showing how actors and conditions outside the control of USAID/Mali are or are not affecting program implementation.

C.5.2 COMPONENT II: EVALUATION, SURVEY, SERVICES (ESS)

The Contractor will conduct various surveys, performance and impact evaluation and assessments and special studies during the period of performance of this contract. The survey will consist of baseline, midline and endline. A survey is used to establish values for performance indicators (outcome and impact) for a particular Activity for which a performance evaluation is needed. Baseline data is required for the CDCS Intermediate Result indicators and for all outcome and impact indicators of a particular Activity for which a performance evaluation is needed. The MEL Platform will include these services throughout the life of the strategy. The Contractor will implement the three surveys (baseline, midline, endline) at the strategy level and three (3) Activity or Project level baseline surveys to inform potential external evaluations.

The Contractor will also conduct performance and impact evaluations. Performance evaluation focuses on descriptive and normative questions describing what a particular activity or program has achieved (either at an intermediate point in execution or at the conclusion of an implementation period). The Contractor will conduct performance evaluations

(midterm or final) using qualitative and/or quantitative data collection methods.

Impact evaluations measure the change in a development outcome that is attributable to a defined intervention or a set of interventions; impact evaluations are based on models of cause and effect and require a credible and rigorously defined counterfactual to control for factors other than the intervention that might account for the observed change.

Finally, to understand the economic, social, and political context or to gather information on a specific sector, the

Contractor, on behalf of USAID/Mali, will carry out a sector assessment or conduct a special study. Those assessments or special studies will be demand-driven and will depend on the needs and requests of a Technical Office. (See

Attachment J3 for a potential list of Assessment and Studies).

USAID/Mali will provide the Contractor with a ESS Request which will include pertinent information, Statement of

Work (SOW), evaluation questions if relevant, and other instructions. Attachment J.9 represents the illustrative list of evaluation activities anticipated for the first two years of the contract. The Contractor will have a period of five (5) business days to review each specific term of reference (TOR) and provide comments or raise questions to the COR.

A. Components for the Surveys

For each baseline survey, the Contractor will submit the following components:

a. Survey Work Plan. The work plan is basically a document that describes the schedule, activities, and milestones of the evaluation team. The Work Plan will include the evaluation team composition, Level of Effort

(LOE), roles and responsibilities and qualifications of each team member; identification of other required

USAID/Mali Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform Page 15 personnel and local subcontractors relevant to the specific statement of work; the survey implementation schedule; the survey logistical information (survey materials; vehicles; etc.); and the deliverables schedule.

b. Survey Data Collection Plan. In response to the MEL Platform COR’s written notification of a survey task, within twenty business days, the Contractor will prepare and submit a survey data collection plan to the MEL

Platform COR for approval. As appropriate, the survey data collection plan will include at the minimum the survey stated goals and objectives; the survey methodology including the sampling techniques, questionnaires, field procedures and methods for data analysis. The Contractor will design a sampling methodology that will meet the recommendations for statistical sampling of quantitative surveys that intend to represent specific population segments. Survey methodologies will be revised, as needed, with the written concurrence of the

MEL Platform COR.

c. Survey in-Briefings. The Contractor will hold a survey in-brief with the relevant USAID/Mali offices prior to undertaking fieldwork and data collection. The in-brief will include a review of the inception report and the evaluation design with the goal to clarify any concerns regarding the evaluation questions, the data collection methodology or any other issues.

d. Survey Briefings. The Contractor must present preliminary and final findings to USAID/Mali and/or other stakeholders.

e. Draft Survey Reports. The Contractor must incorporate comments from USAID/Mali and other stakeholders following the survey briefing and submit a draft survey report to the MEL Platform COR. The draft survey report will be submitted in English. The length of the report will be specified in the Baseline

Statement of Work, which will be provided by the MEL Platform COR to the Contractor. The draft survey report will include the following sections:

● Executive summary highlighting main findings, conclusions and recommendations.

● A full description of the methodology used, as well as the limitations in the inferences that can be drawn.

● Findings.

● Conclusions and/or recommendations.

● Annexes (including questionnaires, data sheets, survey forms, etc.).

B. Components of the Performance and Impact Evaluations

For the performance and impact evaluations, a statement of work (SOW) for each evaluation will be submitted to the

Contractor by the MEL Platform COR. Each SOW will include tailored evaluation questions, background documents and other pertinent evaluation activity information.

For each evaluation, the Contractor will submit the following Components:

a. Evaluation Work Plan. Depending on the scope of the evaluation, a work plan will be created. The work plan is basically a document that describes the schedule, activities, and milestones of the evaluation team. The

Work Plan will include the evaluation team composition, their Level of Effort (LOE) and their roles, responsibilities and qualifications of each team member; identification of other required personnel and local subcontractors relevant to the specific Statement of Work, their LOE, roles and responsibilities, and qualifications; their Logistical information (survey materials; vehicles; etc.), the evaluation deliverable.

b. Inception Report. The Contractor will submit an inception report of 25 pages or less, which is basically a report that addresses what the evaluation team has learned based on Activity documents provided to them. The inception report is also a document that provides a comprehensive “big-picture” overview of activities in a particular sector to gain a greater understanding of the targeted issue.

c. Evaluation Design. The Contractor must develop a written evaluation design based on the information gaps identified as part of the inception report. This document will include the proposed methodology, the main features of the data collection instrument, an evaluation matrix and a data analysis plan. The evaluation design will describe and will document how the data collection and analysis methods will be used to produce credible evidence for answering all of the evaluation questions within the time and budget constraints. The evaluation design will also lay out the evaluation dissemination plan (including consideration of key stakeholders and

USAID/Mali Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform Page 16 proposed deliverables for effective use and communication of evaluation results). The methodology description will note both strengths and limitations of the proposed methodology.

d. An Evaluation In-Brief. The Contractor will hold a briefing with the relevant USAID/Mali team prior to undertaking fieldwork and data collection. This will include a review of the inception report, the evaluation design, and the work plan to clarify any questions or logistical needs.

e. Evaluation Briefing/Presentation. The evaluation briefing occurs after the data collection, analysis, and synthesis phase, in the form of a presentation of major and/or preliminary findings to USAID/Mali and/or other stakeholders within 20 business days after the conclusion of fieldwork.

f. Draft Evaluation Report. The Contractor must incorporate comments from USAID/Mali and other stakeholders following the evaluation briefing and electronically submit a Draft Evaluation Report to the MEL platform COR. The draft evaluation report will include all sections of the final evaluation report. While the report will not include annexes, it must clearly indicate which annexes will be included with the final evaluation report. The MEL Platform COR will transmit written comments on the draft evaluation report to the Contractor within 15 business days after receipt.

g. Final Evaluation Report. The Contractor must revise the draft evaluation report as per the COR’s comments and electronically submit the Final Evaluation Report to the MEL Platform COR within 10 subsequent business days. Upon approval of the Final Evaluation Report by the COR, the Contractor shall submit electronic copies of the reports in English with annexes as well as an electronic copy of the Final Evaluation Report, and all annexes to the COR within five business days. The report must present a well-researched, thoughtful and organized effort to objectively evaluate a USAID Activity, or program.