SOL-OAA-11-000021 TASC4-Africa.pdf

SOL-OAA-11-000021

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

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

ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

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

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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.

(Date)(Hour) local timeuntildepository located in copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if hand carried, in the

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND

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designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

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

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

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

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

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(Signature of Contracting Officer)

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AWARD (To be completed by government)

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REQ-GH-11-00000604/20/2011

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GH/HIDN

GH - Office of Health, Infectious Kate Bryant, Contracting Officer

USAID, M/OAA/GH/HSR

SA-44, 549-U, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20523

1400 LT 05/19/2011

Kathlyn Bryant 202 kbryant@usaid.gov

567-5007

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Bruce Baltas

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition is unusable

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SOL-OAA-11-000021

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OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

NSN 7540-01-152-8067

Issuance Date: April 20, 2011 Closing Date: May 19, 2011 Closing Time: 2:00 PM Local Time

Subject: Request for Proposals (RFP) No. SOL-OAA-11-000021 Technical Assistance Support Contract Four – AFRICA (TASC4 – AFRICA)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking proposals to provide Technical Assistance and Support for the Africa Region (TASC4 – AFRICA) for USAID’s Office of Global Health, Health Infectious Diseases and Nutrition (HIDN) as described in the attached Request for Proposals (RFP). USAID anticipates the award of up to six (6) five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IDIQ). Two of the contracts are set aside for award to small business concerns.

Task orders with a total estimated cost of $1 million or less will be set-aside for small businesses unless the Task Order Contracting Officer determines that one of the fair opportunity exceptions applies.

USAID anticipates that the maximum aggregate ordering limitation for contracts resulting from this RFP will be $500 million over the 5-year ordering period. The maximum aggregate dollar value of task orders awarded to all contractors cannot exceed this contract ceiling. This ceiling is not being subdivided among the number of awardees nor is it being multiplied by the number of awardees. There is no guarantee on the number of task orders that the successful contractors will receive or the amount of money beyond the minimum order guarantee set forth in the RFP.

Please refer to Section L for information regarding proposal requirements. Offerors should take into account the expected delivery time required by the proposal transmission method they choose, and they are responsible to ensure that proposals are received at USAID by the due date and time as specified in Section L.6. Failure to comply with the submission date will deem any submission unacceptable and it will not be reviewed or evaluated. Faxed proposals are not acceptable, nor will they be reviewed or evaluated.

Section L of the RFP sets forth 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. Section M states the criteria by which proposals will be evaluated. Oral explanations or instructions given before award of the Contract will not be binding.

This RFP in no way obligates USAID to award a contract nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Award of a Contract under this RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal USAID approvals.

RFP: SOL-OAA-11-000021

TASC4 – AFRICA

This RFP can be viewed and downloaded from the Internet at Worldwide Web address www.fedbizopps.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 Internet site from which you downloaded the solicitation.

You are therefore advised to regularly check the above internet site for amendments.

Sincerely, /s/

Bruce Baltas Contracting Officer, USAID

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this Contract is to provide services to missions and Bureaus to meet broad-based or specific population, health, infectious disease and nutrition support requirements.

USAID Task Order Contracting Officers (TOCOs) will request the work through the issuance of Task Orders during the ordering period as specified in Section F of the Contract.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

This is a multiple award IDIQ contract. The Government will issue Task Orders that are Cost-Plus-Fixed Fee (Completion or LOE) (CPFF) or Firm Fixed Price (FFP). The Contractor must perform the services set forth in Task Orders at prices consistent with Section B of this Contract.

B.3 MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT

The basic contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $25,000 to cover the minimum order guarantee. USAID is required to order and the Contractor is required to furnish the minimum order amount of work.

Following this initial obligation, individual task orders will obligate funds to cover the work required under that task order. The initial obligation will be applied towards the first task order awarded under this contract.

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING

The maximum aggregate ordering limitation for contracts resulting from this RFP will be $500 million over the 5-year ordering period. The maximum aggregate dollar value of task orders awarded to Contractors cannot exceed this contract ceiling. This ceiling is not being subdivided among the number of awardees nor is it being multiplied by the number of awardees.

B.5 ESTIMATED COST AND FIXED FEE

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

(b) Fixed Fee Payment. For any task order issued under this contract, at the time of each payment of allowable costs to the Contractor, the USAID paying office ordinarily pays the Contractor a percentage of the fixed fee that directly corresponds to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. Two exceptions to paying fixed fee in this manner apply:

(i) If the TOCO determines that this method results in paying a disproportionately higher ratio of fixed fee than the percentage of work the Contractor has completed, then the TOCO may suspend further payment of any fixed fee until the Contractor has made sufficient progress to justify further payment, up to the agreed percentage.

(ii) Because the clauses entitled "Allowable Cost and Payment" (FAR 52.216-7) and "Fixed Fee" (FAR 52.216-8) are incorporated into this contract, the terms and conditions of these clauses apply after total payments of fixed fee reach eighty five percent (85%) of the total fixed fee.

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS

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

Description Rate Base Type Period

% 1/ 1/ 1/ % 2/ 2/ 2/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

Source:

2/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

Source:

Note 1: Contractors are allowed to recover applicable indirect costs (i.e., overhead, G&A, etc.) on other direct costs (ODCs), if it is part of the contractor's usual accounting procedures, consistent with FAR Part 31, and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

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

B.7 ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING ON CEILING ON INDIRECT COST RATES AND

FINAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR INDIRECT COSTS

(a) Reimbursement for indirect costs shall be at the lower of the negotiated final or predetermined rates, or the following ceiling rates:

Description Rate Base Type Period % 1/ 1/ 1/ % 2/ 2/ 2/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

Source:

2/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

Source:

(b) The Government shall not be obligated to pay any additional amount should the final indirect cost rates exceed the negotiated ceiling rates. If the final indirect cost rates are less than the negotiated ceiling rates, the negotiated rates shall be reduced to conform to the lower rates.

(c) This advance understanding shall not change any monetary ceiling, obligation, or specific cost allowance or disallowance. Any changes in classifying or allocating indirect costs require the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

(d) The contractor will make no change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer and OAA/CAS.

(e) This advance understanding shall not change any monetary ceiling, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract.

(f) The distribution base for establishment of final overhead rates is --------------. The distribution base for establishment of final G&A rates is ----------------------------.

NOTE: Small Business Concerns – The TOCO shall determine a fair and reasonable indirect cost rate ceiling for each task order awarded to a small business that does not have an established NICRA.

B.8 CEILINGS ON FIXED FEE

(a) For each task order issued under this IDIQ, the TOCO and Contractor agree to negotiate a set dollar amount for fixed fee. In negotiating the fixed dollar amount for fee, the TOCO must consider the policies and factors for establishing fee in FAR 15.404-4 as well as any applicable USAID policy on establishing a fixed fee amount.

In no event, however, may the amount of fixed fee in any individual task order exceed _____ percent (offeror proposes ceiling percentage) of the task order’s estimated cost, excluding fee.

(b) The fixed fee for any subcontractor not listed above, whether a new subcontractor approved by the IDIQ Contracting Officer or TOCO or included as a non-major subcontractor in the contractor’s original teaming arrangement, shall not exceed the prime contractor’s IDIQ fee ceiling.

(c) The Total Estimated Cost plus Fixed Fee for each Task Order must be negotiated in accordance with the terms of the IDIQ Contract. Small Business Concerns: The TOCO shall determine a fair and reasonable indirect cost rate ceiling for each task order awarded to a small business that does not have an established NICRA.

B.9 LABOR

(a) Compensation of personnel under this contract or any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation (July 2007), the full text of which is in Section H.

(b) Central management costs will be handled through the following method:

The Contracting Officer has determined that a key (full-time) technical manager is not necessary or required to administer the basic IDIQ. Contractors will not be authorized to bill USAID directly for IDIQ management costs under this IDIQ or under task orders. Contractors shall propose a centralized management structure that allows for recovery of IDIQ management costs as part of its indirect costs.

(c) The work day and work week policies and method of accounting for paid absences including holidays for the contractor and major subcontractors is set forth in Attachment J___. (The Contracting Officer will fill in the Attachment number at the time of award and incorporate the information from the contractor’s proposal into Section J of the contract).

(d) Salary Approval: Acceptance of the Contractor labor rates presented during IDIQ or task order negotiation does not constitute approval of final salary rates above the Contractor Salary Threshold (CST). (See ADS 302.3.6.10.) All TOCOs will comply with the approval requirements in ADS 302. See section H.9 and H.10 for guidance regarding approvals.

(e) Labor Categories: The Contractor shall furnish personnel with the necessary education, training and/or relevant experience, as specified in the task orders to be issued under this contract. Task order proposals must justify proposed rates to the satisfaction of the TOCO.

(f) Locally Hired National Personnel or Other Non-U.S. Expatriates

(1) Third Country Nationals (TCNs) and Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs) who are working in the United States or are legal residents of the United States at the time they are hired for a task order, must be extended benefits and subject to restrictions on the same basis as U.S. citizens who work in the

United States. The U.S. labor rates may be applied to TCNs and CCNs conforming to this regulatory provision.

(2) Salaries for locally-hired personnel and other non-U.S. labor under this contract or any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007, Personnel Compensation (July 2007), and should be based upon a combination of factors including prevailing in-country salaries for the professional category being negotiated and consideration of the individual's education, work experience and recent relevant salary history.

(3) Unless otherwise authorized by the Mission Director, the compensation for CCN and TCN labor shall not exceed the Mission’s Local Compensation Plan and shall be paid in the currency of the cooperating country.

B.10 OTHER DIRECT COSTS – MATERIALS (CPFF ONLY)

(a) In additional to direct labor, other direct costs necessary for the performance of the work under task orders, such as travel and transportation, lodging and subsistence expenses, and allowances may be authorized by the task order.

(b) The Contracting Officer determines which other direct costs are allowable, allocable, and fair and reasonable in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles (i.e., FAR 31.2 and AIDAR 731.2 for commercial (for profit) organizations or FAR 31.3 and AIDAR 731.3 for educational institutions, or FAR

31.7 and AIDAR 731.7 for other not-for-profit organizations). For those other direct costs the TOCO authorizes, the Contractors are allowed to recover applicable indirect costs on these costs, if doing so is part of the Contractor's usual accounting procedures, consistent with the applicable cost principles, and are included in the Contractor's Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

B.11 TASK ORDER LIMITATIONS

(a) Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Task Orders:

When issuing CPFF task orders, the TOCO must state in the task order the total estimated cost plus fixed fee, which is the total amount of the task order and the maximum amount the Contractor may be paid without the advance written approval of the cognizant Contracting Officer. This maximum amount represents the negotiated mix of the prime contractors’ and subcontractors' professional labor categories and salaries, an estimated number of workdays, other direct costs, and fixed fee.

(b) Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Task Orders:

When issuing FFP task orders, the TOCO must state in the task order the firm-fixed-price, which shall be the total amount of the task order and the maximum price the contractor may be paid to perform the services, reports, or other deliverables in the task order.

(1) The Firm-Fixed Price for each task order will be negotiated based on the price to complete the work. After acceptance of a fixed price task order by the Contractor, the task order price will only be adjusted to reflect changes in scope or conditions governed by other clauses (differing site conditions, etc.).

(2) Cost reimbursable line items may be allowed in Firm-Fixed Price task orders for elements of the task order that cannot be reasonably estimated.

(c) Notwithstanding the above, if issuance of a task order to, and acceptance of a task order by, the Contractor would: (1) result in the Contractor (or its personnel or its subcontractors or their personnel) having an organizational conflict of interest for which restrictions would be placed on the Contractor's (or its personnel's or its subcontractors' or their personnel's) future activities; or (2) violate the provisions of the Procurement Integrity legislation, i.e., Section 27 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 423), as amended by Section 814 of Pub. L.

101-189 the Contractor, after written notification to the TOCO is not obligated to furnish those services or reports and other deliverables under this contract, and USAID may acquire the supplies or services from another source.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/ STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

(a) BACKGROUND

The original TASC I IDIQ was awarded in 1998 under the Child Health Results Package (CHRP) authorization (936-3096). TASC became a successful and popular contracting mechanism within the Global Health Bureau as well as with USAID Missions in the field. It proved to be an effective and efficient means of delivering in-country services to Missions. In FY 2001, it was determined that the CHRP authorization structure would be too restrictive for TASC2 to meet expected demand created by new Agency funding in HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases.

TASC2 was moved into its own Activity Authorization Document (936-3106) and expanded to a Bureau-wide activity, thereby including Population and Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS, and infectious disease activities in addition to its existing TASC I objectives. Three sectors of contracts were awarded under TASC2: Global Health;

Tuberculosis, and Media/ Communications.

TASC3 consisted of two sectors. It continued the efforts of the TASC2 “Global Health” sector with a total of 15 contractors. The second sector awarded 5 contractors for operations and applied research in HIV/AIDS. (Operations and applied research in other health and disease areas fell under the Global Health sector.]

TASC4 will continue the efforts of the TASC3 Global Health sector with up to 18 contractors in 3 regions, and up to 6 small business contractors in a separate but linked IDIQ for Information and Knowledge Management. This RFP is for the Africa region only, hereinafter referred to as TASC4 – Africa.

(b) RATIONALE For 40 years, USAID has worked to improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world through its global programs in family planning and reproductive health, infectious disease prevention and control, child survival, maternal health, and other life-saving areas. In FY 2007, the US Department of State and USAID established the Foreign Assistance Standardized Program Structure that included the goal to “Help nations achieve sustainable improvements in the well-being and productivity of their populations through effective and accountable investments in education, health, and other social services.” The Foreign Assistance Framework was updated in FY 2010 to include a new Element, Nutrition. In support of the Agency's goal, the Global Health Bureau (GH) operates under the following nine Program Elements of the Investing in People program area (http://www.usaid.gov/policy/afr07/app_01.html):

1. Reduce the transmission and impact of HIV/AIDS through support for prevention, care and treatment programs;

2. Reduce the number of deaths caused by TB by increasing detection of cases of TB and by successfully treating detected cases, as well as addressing issues of multi-drug resistant TB, TB and HIV, and investing in new tools for TB;

3. Support the implementation of the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), related malaria control programs, and malaria research activities to reduce malaria-related mortality. Develop effective malaria vaccines, new malaria treatment drugs, and targeted operations research;

4. Limit the spread of avian influenza (AI) in animals and help to prevent a human influenza pandemic, and in the event of a pandemic, provide appropriate humanitarian response;

5. Address public health threats posed by infectious diseases not targeted elsewhere in the Framework as well as significant non-communicable health threats of major public health importance;

6. Increase the availability and use of proven life-saving interventions that address the major killers of mothers and children and improve their health status, including effective maternity care and management of obstetric complications;

prevention services including newborn care, routine immunization, polio eradication, safe water and hygiene; and treatment of life-threatening childhood illnesses;

7. Expand access to high-quality voluntary family planning (FP) services and information, and reproductive health (RH) care. This element contributes to reducing unintended pregnancy and promoting healthy reproductive behaviors of men and women, reducing abortion, and reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity;

8. Ensure broadly accessible, reliable and economically sustainable water and sanitation services for health, security, and prosperity;

9. Increase availability and use of proven nutrition interventions to reduce mortality, morbidity, and food insecurity, including nutrition education to improve maternal diets, nutrition during pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding, and infant and young child feeding practices; fortified or biofortified staple foods, specialized food products, and community gardens to improve consumption of quality food; and delivery of nutrition services including micronutrient supplementation and community management of acute malnutrition. Strengthen host country capacity by advancing supportive nutrition and food security policies and improving nutrition information systems.

In addition, the Global Health Bureau also addresses environmental health issues such as indoor air quality, medical waste management, toxic substance exposure, and outdoor air pollution.

TASC4 is designed to meet the need for cost-effective short- and long-term support to Missions and other Bureaus in the areas of population, health, nutrition, and infectious diseases by offering operating units the flexibility to procure customized services and the ability to operate quickly in emerging and expanding health initiatives.

TASC4 will be comprised of four separate IDIQs, three regional and one technical.

The regional IDIQs, which will cover Africa, Europe and Asia, and Latin America, will have scopes almost identical to those in the previous iterations of the TASC mechanism for global health.

USAID anticipates awarding up to approximately 6 contracts in the Global Health sector to meet the Agency’s programmatic needs in Child Health, Maternal Health and Nutrition, Population, HIV/AIDS, and Infectious Diseases for this RFP. USAID welcomes submissions from consortia for these areas with the understanding that no one Offeror is able to provide services to meet the Agency’s full needs in the entire range of areas included in this contract.

Anticipated No.of Awards. Award Sector Type of Award Up to four (4) Africa Unrestricted Two (2) Africa Small Business Set-Aside Total number of awards: up to 6

USAID is actively seeking to increase the numbers of new contractors participating under the TASC4 – AFRICA mechanism as prime contractors or as subcontractors that are able to implement high quality task orders.

C.2 PURPOSE OF TASC4 – AFRICA

The purpose of TASC4 - AFRICA is to establish a mechanism to contribute to improvements in the health of people, especially women, children and other vulnerable populations in countries of the developing world, through expansion of basic health services, including family planning, strengthening national health systems, and addressing global issues and special concerns such as HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases (program area 3.1, Investing in People-Health, of the Framework for Foreign Assistance, http://www.usaid.gov/policy/afr07/app_01.html).

TASC4 - AFRICA will continue and expand the mechanism established by the original TASC IDIQ and the subsequent TASC2 and TASC3 IDIQs. TASC4 - AFRICA shall provide the Agency with cost-effective access to technical expertise and implementation support to meet evolving USAID needs efficiently and in a cost effective manner to implement activities. TASC4 - AFRICA is a major tool contributing to achievement of the goals of Investing in People – Health, Program Areas 3.1 of the Framework, as stated above.

a. TASC4 - AFRICA’s six (6) objectives:

(1) Provide USAID with access to technical expertise and implementation support in areas of population, health, nutrition, and infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS in support of Mission and USAID/Washington programs;

(2) Customize technical consultations and program support to meet evolving USAID needs;

(3) Provide specialized services and expert assistance to programs that integrate multiple Elements and sectors;

(4) Reduce procurement time for Missions and Bureaus;

(5) Provide a mechanism to allow Missions with reduced management and procurement capacity to implement activities;

(6) Allow USAID/Washington to assist USAID’s “non-presence” countries (countries without a USAID Mission) and to work with regions and worldwide.

Task orders awarded under the TASC4 – AFRICA IDIQ will follow the principles of the Global Health Initiative by promoting the following:

(1) Women-centered approach

(2) Increasing impact by improving strategic integration and coordination:

relevance/buy-in/complementarily w/ USG partners

(3) Strengthened partnership with multilaterals

(4) Developing country partnerships: Country ownership/responsiveness to country priorities/enhanced country partnership: challenge of coordinating TA SWAps/IHP+ move from supply-driven to demand-driven; country involvement in needs ID, contract design, oversight

(5) Increasing sustainability through health system strengthening (use/strengthening of country capacity)

(6) Improving metrics, monitoring and evaluation/involvement of countries in evaluation/ accountabilities to countries as well as to Mission

(7) Leading the way in R&D and innovation; promote innovation, best practices;

dissemination/scale-up; support of in-country capacity to lead R&D

b. In pursuit of its goal, TASC4 - AFRICA will produce the following outputs:

(1) Engage in long-term, in-country coordination and implementation of population, health, nutrition and infectious diseases activities;

(2) Provide short-term technical consultations and program implementation support;

(3) Disseminate information through seminars, workshops, conferences, and working papers;

(4) Increase capacity of host-country decision-makers and technical personnel to design and implement population, health, nutrition, and infectious diseases interventions;

(5) Augment technical and programmatic capacity available to USAID/Washington and Missions, and

(6) Conduct and/or oversee implementation of operations, applied research, and research and development activities.

C.3 SCOPE OF WORK

GENERAL

As requested under individual task orders, all contractors selected for TASC4 - AFRICA shall provide population, health, nutrition and infectious disease services to USAID Missions, the Global Health Bureau, and other USAID Bureaus and operating units. Through TASC4 - AFRICA, the Contractor also shall provide, as requested by Missions and other operating units, long- or short-term programmatic support and technical services to host country institutions (both governmental and non-governmental) to achieve the operating unit’s population, health, nutrition, and infectious disease objectives. Task orders issued by the requesting USAID operating unit will define the precise specifications and activity requirements.

a. CONTRACTOR’S ROLES

TASC4 - AFRICA will provide a technical resource mechanism from which Missions and Bureaus may draw to meet broad-based or specific population, health, infectious disease, and nutrition support requirements. Based on task order requirements, Global Health Sector contractors may be expected to promote increased use of PHN services through service provision at the community, district, or national levels for delivery of services at all possible levels of a country’s health system. Requests may also include, but are not limited to: policy reform, behavior change, monitoring and evaluation, system strengthening, capacity building, and commodity system management and development. Historically, African Missions have used TASC to develop programs of work that strengthen health systems and improve health practices, often focusing on HIV/AIDS and Most At-Risk Populations, family planning, and malaria.

b. DESCRIPTION OF FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND TASKS

The anticipated means for achieving results under TASC4 - AFRICA will be through separately awarded task orders. When a task order is placed under this contract, the Contractor shall be required to perform the functions and tasks within the framework of that task order. Contractor performance shall be evaluated against the performance indicators established in each task order.

The components to be addressed and specific activities to be performed under this IDIQ will be defined in individual task orders, but may include:

Global Health Functional Areas:

Illustrative Global Health sector activities that TASC4 - AFRICA Contractors are likely to be requested to perform are:

1. Service Delivery

Provide state-of-the-art technical assistance to host governments or NGOs on improved service delivery programs and ways to increase access to services, applying lessons learned from other countries.

Design, in collaboration with local partners, service delivery interventions that will deliver improved results.

Coordinate and facilitate capacity-building programs in relevant technical areas.

Support implementation of chosen interventions.

Provide technical support to establish community or facility-based programs.

2. Health Policy Reform

Provide short and long term technical assistance to review and assess existing policies that may impede the success of PHN programs while also presenting policy data for decision making within various scenarios.

Provide long-term advisors or teams to work with host country counterparts to draft appropriate policies to enhance the implementation and impact of PHN programs.

Facilitate and promote policy dialogue through various forums, including conferences and meetings.

3. Community Mobilization and Individual Behavior Change

Advise target groups on evidence-based behavior change activities and programs;

Design and implement, in collaboration with local partners;

Behavior change interventions that lead to measurable impact and results;

Coordinate and facilitate capacity-building programs for behavior change in health;

Ensure Gender Considerations: The ability to identify and address gender constraints is an important element in the design of appropriate and sustainable programs. The cultural norms and values associated with being male or female can affect access to health, nutrition and infectious disease services. As mentioned in the purpose section and as one of the principles of the Global Health Initiative, the contractor will be expected to implement approaches to ensure a women-centered approach to improve equality of services for women and men.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation

Prepare assessments of existing activities that influence demand for services or household or community behaviors that affect PHN programs, including

HIV/AIDS.

Conduct analyses and prepare assessments at all levels of existing service delivery activities.

Provide on-going monitoring and evaluation for specific programs and activities.

5. Capacity Building

Increase technical skills and capability among in-country providers via short and long term training programs.

Design and or implement knowledge transfer to local in-country institutions.

6. Commodities System Management

Conduct assessments of inventory management and warehouse information systems, identifying strategies for improvement, including recommending feasible computerized approaches based on system readiness.

Provide training to improve drug management capacity particularly at the lower levels of decentralized health systems, utilizing approaches that build the skills needed to address operational problems.

Assess warehousing and distribution systems and identify cost effective approaches that may include employing the private sector in lieu of exclusively relying on the public sector system.

Conduct analyses of expenditures for drug purchases to assess the relevance of drug selection decisions with regard to health priorities and potential health impact.

C.4 MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN

Evaluation under TASC4 will focus on three tiers of responsibilities and accountabilities. The Global Health Bureau will be responsible for administering the contract in a manner that will lead to the following expected results:

Improved access to technical expertise and implementation support Efficiency/reduced administrative costs paid by Missions and USAID centrally Reduced procurement time for Missions and Bureau Availability of management and procurement capacity to reduced capacity

Missions Fairness/transparency of process Quality/capacities of prequalified firms Economies of scale Improved access to/utilization of relevant knowledge

This will be the basis for a GH-funded evaluation of the TASC4 - AFRICA mechanism to take place 18 months before its closing.

Missions and offices executing Task Orders of TASC4 - AFRICA will be responsible for the design and award of task orders, their oversight and evaluation to achieve the following results:

Relevance: to the country’s overall strategy and objectives and to USG’s strategy and objectives in the country, including responsiveness to the GHI principles (country ownership, integration across USG efforts, a women-centered approach, strengthened partnership with multilaterals, developing country partnerships, increased sustainability through health system strengthening, improving metrics, monitoring, and evaluation, and promotion of R&D and innovation)

Efficacy: extent to which targets and objectives set out in individual contracts are achieved, and the extent to which contract outcomes contribute to the achievement of country and USG targets and objectives

Efficiency: value of contracts for money; performance of Mission in contract design, negotiation, oversight/quality control, evaluation.

The Contractor should plan, implement, and document a monitoring and evaluation component which will establish the effectiveness of the activity. Core indicators will be specified in individual task orders, and contractors will be responsible for the results specified in the task order and for assuring in so doing that they meet the same criteria specified above;

Relevance: to the country’s overall strategy and objectives and to USG’s strategy and objectives in the country, including responsiveness to the GHI principles (country ownership, integration across USG efforts, a women-centered approach, strengthened partnership with multilaterals, developing country partnerships, increased sustainability through health system strengthening, improving metrics, monitoring, and evaluation, and promotion of R&D and innovation)

Efficacy: extent to which targets and objectives set out in individual contracts are achieved, and the extent to which contract outcomes contribute to the achievement of country and USG targets and objectives

Efficiency: value of contracts for money; performance of Mission in contract design, negotiation, oversight/quality control, evaluation.

C.5 CONTRACT MANAGEMENT ELEMENTS

a. CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

The primary point-of-contact for individual task orders is the designated Task Order Contracting Officer Technical Representative (TO COTR). The primary point-of-contact for each awarded TASC4 - AFRICA IDIQ is the Global Health Bureau COTR (GH COTR), who will be assisted by Technical Advisors and/or other staff from the participating GH Offices.

b. CONTRACTOR STAFFING

The Contractor shall provide the necessary combination of permanent staff and consultants, office space and equipment to carry out the each awarded task order issued under this mechanism. The Contractor will provide staff and consultants with the specified expertise, availability, language proficiencies, and experience for each task order issued under this IDIQ. The contractor shall provide all necessary logistical support, including travel arrangements (with required USAID clearances), computer support, team-planning facilitation, and report editing and dissemination.

c. MANAGEMENT OF TASK ORDER SUB-GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT

(GUCs) When the Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA) provides written approval, along with clearance from the cognizant GC or RLA and the CO, the Contracting Officer may permit the contractor to execute grants of up to $100,000 with U.S.

nongovernmental organizations (not-for-profits or for-profits), providing conditions in ADS 302.3.4.8 are met. GUCs provided to non-U.S.

nongovernmental organizations are not subject to this dollar value limitation. The size of sub-grants issued under individual task order contracts is limited per

USAID ADS 302.

d. SEQUENCING OF SUPPORT

After IDIQ contract award, the contract may also be tasked (via task orders) with support for global health sectors funded by other US Government Agencies and/or donor entities, using cost-type or fixed price Task Orders. The ceiling(s) shall remain unchanged unless modified in writing by the CO.

e. PERFORMANCE MONITORING

Operating units that award task order contracts under this IDIQ will determine indicators and targets and monitor the results of these task orders. The TASC4 - AFRICA IDIQ COTR in the Global Health Bureau will monitor the types and cost levels of task orders issued under the IDIQ.

[END OF SECTION C]

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

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

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

D.2 BRANDING STRATEGY

Program Name: Technical Assistance Support Contract, Four – Africa, (TASC4 –

AFRICA)

Branding: The branding shall incorporate the message that “This assistance is from the American People” sponsored by USAID.

Positioning on materials and communications: USAID policy requires exclusive branding and marking in USAID direct acquisitions. Contractor is required to use USAID identity on any program-related deliverables, commodities or communication to be produced and delivered under this contract. Contractor and subcontractor’s corporate identities are prohibited on all program materials. Marking is not required on contractor vehicles, offices, and office supplies or other commodities used solely for administration of this contract.

Desired Level of Visibility: USAID identity must be prominently displayed on:

commodities or equipment; printed, audio, visual or electronic public communications;

studies, reports, publications, web sites, and promotional and informational products; events and grants under contracts financed by USAID. Visibility for the program is a very important segment of the project implementation and is essential for the success of the TASC4 – Africa program.

Exceptions: Exceptions and waivers to USAID marking requirements may be granted in accordance with ADS 320.3.2.5 Exceptions to Contract Marking Requirements and ADS

320.3.2.6 waivers to Contract Marking Requirements.

Other organizations to be acknowledged: Where appropriate and applicable, the branding may acknowledge the cooperation and participation of other organizations deemed as partners of an event or deliverable.

All branding must comply with the standardized USAID regulations on branding. All branding for USAID, its partners, and other USG and non-USG entities engaged in a specific activity implemented under this task order, must have equal representation on all public or internal documentation, publications, advertising, presentations, brochures, etc.

The MP shall enumerate all of the public communications, commodities, infrastructure projects, program materials, events, deliverables, and other items that shall be marked with the USAID identity or brand.

The contractor shall comply with, and all contract deliverables shall be marked with the USAID identity following the requirements of the USAID “Graphic Standards Manual” available at www.usaid.gov/branding or any successor branding policy.

D.3 BRANDING, IMPLEMENTATION AND MARKING PLAN

The Contractor will adhere to all USAID policy directives and required procedures on branding and marking of USAID-funded programs, projects, activities, public communications, and commodities with the USAID “Standard Graphic Identity” (or “USAID Identity”) as specified in ADS 320 (effective 05/05/2009) and the Graphic Standards Manual (GSM).

(a) In accordance with ADS 320.3.2.1, the Branding Strategy (BS) is a part of the contract requirements. Contracting Officers must ensure that USAID contract solicitations include a Branding Strategy and therefore offerors are instructed to prepare a Branding Implementation Plan (BIP) and Marking Plan (MP) to implement the Branding Strategy for TASC4 – AFRICA (unless directed otherwise in a specific Task Order). Contractor shall submit Branding Implementation Plan with proposal. The standard forms for the BRANDING AND MARKING TEMPLATES are located at:

http://www.usaid.gov/branding/.

(b) Contractors and subcontractors' corporate identities or logos must not be used on USAID-funded program materials. Marking is not permitted on any communications that are strictly administrative, rather than programmatic, in nature. USAID identity is also prohibited on Contractor and recipient communications related to award administration, such as hiring/firing of staff or renting office space and/or equipment.

(c) Each request for Task Order proposal (RFTOP) under this IDIQ shall request a program-specific BIP and MP. For each Task Order, the contractor shall develop a detailed Branding

Implementation Plan (BIP) and Marking Plan (MP). The Marking Plan may include requests for exceptions to marking requirements or programmatic reasons, to be approved by the Contracting Officer. Waivers, as defined by ADS 320, may be necessary for compelling political, safety or security concerns or if the marking shall have an adverse effect in the host country. Marking and attribution for physical structures may need to be visible as soon as work commences. If grants are authorized in a TO, the Contractor shall clearly and conspicuously state in the small grants documentation and all delivered procurement that resources for the grant have been donated by USAID and make clear that the Contractor is acting as USAID's agent.

D.4 BRANDING AND MARKING POLICY

In accordance with provision D.2 above, and where applicable, the Contractor shall comply with the policy directives and required procedures outlined in USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) Chapter 320.3.2 “Branding and Marking in USAID Direct Contracting (version from January 8, 2007) at http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/320.pdf; and USAID “Graphic Standards Manual available at http://www.usaid.gov/branding, or any successor branding policy.

[END OF SECTION D]

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The following Provisions and/or Contract clauses pertinent to this section are hereby incorporated by reference (by Citation Number, Title, and Date) in accordance with the clause at FAR "52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE" in Section I of this RFP. See FAR 52.252-2 for an internet address (if specified) for electronic access to the full text of a clause.

NUMBER TITLE DATE

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION

(48 CFR Chapter 1)

52.246-2 INSPECTION OF SUPPLIES—FIXED PRICE AUG 1996

ALTERNATE I – (JUL 1985)

52.246-3 INSPECTION OF SUPPLIES—COST REIMBURSEMENT MAY 2001

52.246-4 INSPECTION OF SERVICES—FIXED PRICE AUG 1996

52.246-5 INSPECTION OF SERVICES—COST REIMBURSEMENT APR 1984

52.246-16 RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUPPLIES APR 1984

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

USAID inspection and acceptance of services, reports and other required deliverables or outputs shall take place at USAID Washington or at any other location where the services are performed and reports and deliverables or outputs are produced or submitted. The COTR identified in Section G has been delegated authority to inspect and accept all services, reports, and deliverables required by the basic IDIQ.

COTRs may also be designated for a specific task order. If so, the task order COTR (TO COTR) may inspect and accept all services, reports and required deliverables or outputs if specified in the task orders.

E.3 RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL

In accordance with the clauses of this contract entitled ―Inspection – Cost – Cost Reimbursement, (FAR 52.246-5) and ―Inspection – Fixed Price, (FAR 52.246-4), inspection of results or other deliverables required by each Task Order issued hereunder shall be made by the cognizant COTR for that Task Order. Acceptance of goods/services and reports or other deliverables by the cognizant COTR for that Task Order shall form the basis for payments to the contractor, and will form the basis of the contractor‘s permanent performance record with regard to this contract.

[END OF SECTION E]

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The following Provisions and/or Contract clauses pertinent to this section are hereby incorporated by reference (by Citation Number, Title, and Date) in accordance with the…