USAID_RFP_No._SOL-OAA-15-000077.pdf

RFP Issuance Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015

Questions Due: Thursday April 23, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

Closing Date and Time: Friday May 29, 2015 at 2:00 PM (ET)

Subject: Request for Proposal (RFP) No. SOL-OAA-15-000077 for the provision of technical and institutional support services to the USAID Africa Bureau (AFR) and its offices in Washington and overseas

Please note that this solicitation is a total small business set-aside only open to small businesses with a current facility (Secret level) security clearance . If an offeror submits a proposal, but does not have a current facility (Secret level) security clearance, the proposal will be deemed non-responsive.

The United States Government represented by the United States Agency for International Development

(USAID) is seeking proposals to provide non-direct hire support services to the Bureau for Africa, related

Washington, DC offices and overseas field Mission as described in the attached Request for Proposal.

USAID anticipates awarding a single Time-and-materials (three year base period with two one year options) Contract. The applicable NAICS code for this acquisition is 541611 and there is not an incumbent for this award as this requirement is new.

Please refer to Section L for information regarding proposal requirements. Offerors must take into account the expected delivery time required by the proposal transmission method they choose, and they are responsible for ensuring that proposals are received at USAID by the due date and time as specified in

Section L. 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. Proposals (including all attachments and appendices) must be submitted electronically to

Contracting Officer Jimmie Curtis at jcurtis@usaid.gov using only word, excel and/or pdf formats.

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.

Offerors must submit any comments or questions concerning this RFP, no later than 5:00pm ET, April

23, 2015. All questions related to the RFP must be submitted to Mr. Jimmie Curtis at jcurtis@usaid.gov.

Please write in the Subject Line: “RFP No. SOL-OAA-15-000077, Questions”, when submitting questions to the point of contact and please include references to sections and page numbers of the solicitation where possible. Unless otherwise notified, by an amendment to the RFP, no questions will be accepted after this date and time.

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. This RFP can be viewed and downloaded from 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 website from which you downloaded the solicitation. USAID advises to regularly check the above website for amendments.

/s/

Jimmie Curtis

USAID Contracting Officer mailto:jcurtis@usaid.gov mailto:jcurtis@usaid.gov http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD 1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 350)

RATING PAGE OF

PAGES

1 | 65

2. CONTRACT (Proc. Inst. Ident.)

NO.

3. SOLICITATION NO.

SOL-OAA-15-000077

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

[ ] SEALED BID (IFB)

[ X ] NEGOTIATED (RFP)

5. DATE ISSUED

04/16/2015

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE

REQ-AFR-15-000008

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

US Agency for International Development

M/OAA/SIDP, Rm. 504 F SA44

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20523-7100

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

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified, in the depository located in until

_____________________ local time _________.

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

10. FOR INFORMATION

CALL:

A. NAME

Mr. Jimmie Curtis

B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT

CALLS)

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT

202-567-5019

C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

jcurtis@usaid.gov

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

(x) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S) (x) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(

S)

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

X A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM X I CONTRACT CLAUSES

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

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

X D PACKAGING AND MARKETING PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

X E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE X K REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND

X F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

X G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION X L INSTRS., COND., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

X H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS X M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

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

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within calendar days (120 calendar days unless a different period is inserted by the offer) from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT SEE

(See section I, Clause No 52.232-8)

10 CALENDAR DAYS

20 CALENDAR DAYS

30 CALENDAR DAYS

CALENDAR DAYS

14. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the solicitation and related documents ) numbered and dated:

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

AND

ADDRESS

OF

OFFEROR

TO SIGN OFFER (Type or print)

15B. TELEPHONE NO. (Include area code)

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS [ ]

IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER SUCH

ADDRESS

17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEM NUMBERED

20. AMOUNT

$0.00

21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

[ ] 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)( ) [ ] 41 U.S.C. 253(c)( )

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

(3 copies unless otherwise specified)

ITEM

24. ADMINISTRATION BY (If other than Item 7)

CODE

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

28. AWARD DATE

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

PART 1 – SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this statement of work is to obtain support services from a small business Contractor. The primary objective is for the Contractor to provide technical and institutional support services to USAID’s

Africa Bureau (AFR) and its offices in Washington and overseas to advance AFR’s core mandate to contribute to ending extreme poverty in Africa and furthering USAID’s development and policy objectives within sub-Saharan Africa. The Contractor shall provide services in accordance with the requirements specific in this contract and section C.

B.2. CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

The Government anticipates awarding a time and materials Contract. The Contractor must perform services set forth in Contract at prices consistent with Section B.5 of this contract.

B.3. MAXIMUM CONTRACT PRICE

This is a single award time and materials Contract with a not-to-exceed ceiling price of $ (to be determined prior to award).

B.4. BUDGET and CONTRACT LINE ITEMS

Plug amounts are provided for the Travel CLINs.

Contract Line Item Base Year #1

Base Year #2

Base Year #3

Option Year #1

Option Year #2

TOTAL

CLIN #1 - ISC General Support

CLIN #2 - PATA Support

CLIN #3 - SD Support

CLIN #4 - SD Consultants

CLIN #5 - Materials (Direct materials, subcontracts, ODCs and indirect costs per FAR 16.601)

CLIN #6 - Travel $375,000 $386,250 $397,838 $409,773 $422,066 $1,990,927

TOTAL

Base Year #1, Base Year #2, Base Year #3, Option Year #1, Option Year #2

Labor CLIN #1: General Institutional Support Services

Direct Labor Category/GS Grade Equivalent # of positions Max. Days/Year

Fully Loaded

Daily Rate

Total

Chief of Party / GS-15 1 260

Administrative Manager / GS-14 1 260

Labor CLIN #2: Power and Trade Africa Support Services

Direct Labor Category/GS Grade Equivalent # of positions Max. Days/Year

Fully Loaded

Daily Rate

Total

Knowledge Management-M&E Specialist / GS-14 1 260

Administrative Assistants / GS-07 2 260

Labor CLIN # 3: Africa/Sustainable Development Support Services

Direct Labor Category/GS Grade Equivalent # of positions Max. Days/Year

Fully Loaded

Daily Rate

Total

Program Analyst / GS-13 1 260

M&E Specialist / GS-15 1 120

Communications/Knowledge Mgmt. Specialist / GS-

1 260

Research-Logistics / GS-11 1 260

Labor CLIN # 4: Africa/Sustainable Development Short-Term Consultants

Direct Labor Category/GS Grade Equivalent # of positions Max. Days/Year

Fully Loaded

Daily Rate

Total

Senior Advisors / GS-14 20 100

Mid-Level Advisors / GS-12 15 50

Administrative Staff / GS-09 5 50

Materials CLIN # 5: Materials (Direct materials, subcontracts, ODCs and indirect costs per FAR 16.601)

Direct materials:

Subcontracts:

Other direct costs:

Indirect costs:

Travel CLIN # 6: Travel-related costs

See CLIN plug amounts above and use those amounts:

*The same number of positions and number of days per year will be needed for each of the three base years and both of the Option Years.

*Per FAR 16.601, the labor CLINs include the number of direct labor days required and detailed above, the proposed and negotiated fixed daily rates and the number of positions required and detailed above.

*Per FAR 16.601, the proposed fully loaded daily rate may include but not be limited to the following components: wage, overhead, general and administrative expense and profit.

*For CLINs #1, 2, 3 and 4, the offeror should provide the daily rate and total not to exceed amount which equals (maximum # of days * proposed daily rate) for each labor category. Offeror must provide the daily rate and total not to exceed amount for all three years (base and two option years) for each labor category.

*For CLIN #5, offeror should provide costs for direct materials, subcontracts, other direct costs and indirect costs as applicable.

*For CLIN #6, offeror should use the plug amounts provided by USAID in the overall budget.

1. The above time and materials labor CLINs will be funded and ordered on a demand-driven basis.

There is no guarantee the Government will reach the ceiling established for each CLIN per contract year.

2. Travel CLIN is estimated not to exceed cost listed above and all travel costs will be reimbursed at cost to the contractor.

3. The Contractor shall be responsible for tracking and reporting the level of effort for all funded

CLINs and ensuring stated levels are not exceeded.

4. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) has the authority to adjust the number of days available to order amongst existing labor categories in the Contract as long as the total dollar value of labor ordered is not exceeded for that Contract Year. The COR must provide this approval in writing before the Contractor may make any adjustment. Ultimately, the Contractor must forward their request and COR’s approval to Contracting Officer for modification to update the Contract document.

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

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

(TO BE INSERTED AT AWARD)

Description Rate Base Type Period

1/ 1/ 1/

2/ 2/ 2/

3/ 3/ 3/

4/ 4/ 4/

5/ 5/ 5/

1/Base of Application

Type of Rate:

Period:

2/Base of Application

3/Base of Application

4/Base of Application

5/Base of Application

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

Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

CO’s must grant separate subcontract approvals for subcontractors not listed above in accordance with

FAR part 52.244-2 and 44.202-2.

B.6 TRAVEL

Travel, if authorized, shall be reimbursed at cost and shall be conducted in accordance with Federal

Travel Regulations and the Cost Principles outlined in FAR Part 31.205-46. All travel must be approved in advance by the designated Contracting Officers Representative (COR). COR will be granted authority to approve travel in the COR Designation Letter.

B.7 LABOR RATE CHANGES

(a) The labor rates are fixed for the contract year period; however, the Contractor may submit a proposal to reduce or increase the labor rates and/or indirect rates applicable to materials at any time during the life of this contract. The Government will review these proposals and determine if the revised rates are realistic and in the best interests of the Government. If the rates are accepted, the Government will modify the contract by incorporating the new rates into the contract.

(b) At any time and throughout the life of the contract, at the request of either the Contractor or the

Government, the Contractor may propose additional labor categories, rates and descriptions in addition to the contract labor categories. These additional labor categories, rates, and descriptions will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and may only be approved by the Contracting Officer.

This change will not increase the Total Price of the contract established in B.4.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1. Definitions and Acronyms

ADS Automated Directives System

AFR Africa Bureau at USAID

CO Contracting Officer

DoD Department of Defense

DP Office of Development Planning in the Africa Bureau

PATA Office of Power Africa/Trade Africa in the Africa Bureau

SSA Sub-Saharan Africa

SD Office of Sustainable Development in the Africa Bureau

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

USG U.S. Government

YALI Young Africa Leaders Initiative

C.1.1 PURPOSE

This contract is designated as a dual purpose contract in accordance with ADS Chapter 567 “Classified

Contract Security and Contractor Personnel Security Program” and FAR Subpart 4.4 “Safeguarding

Classified Information within Industry.” As such, it is subject to the requirements of these regulations and the security classifications specifications contained in the DD Form 254. The purpose of this solicitation is to establish a contract for the provision of technical and institutional support services to the

USAID Africa Bureau (AFR) and its offices in Washington and overseas to advance AFR’s core mandate to contribute to ending extreme poverty in Africa and furthering USAID’s development and policy objectives within sub-Saharan Africa. AFR achieves this goal through a wide range of activities that support several key development objectives:

Providing policy-relevant information and helping African countries and partners use this information to improve their policies, programs, and strategies for development;

Building Africa’s capacity to manage its own development by strengthening African institutions; and, Helping African countries and institutions build more effective regional channels for economic and technical cooperation.

The Contractor will recruit, hire and maintain a contracted technical, professional, operational, and administrative support staff that supplies services to AFR to support USAID/Washington (USAID/W) and USAID Missions overseas to accomplish Bureau priorities as expressed in the Regional Development

Cooperation Strategy (RDCS).

C. 2. BACKGROUND

AFR works in partnership with African leaders and decision-makers to help design and implement development projects that are appropriate for local conditions and address local challenges in order to eliminate extreme poverty in SSA. The Bureau supports three distinct types of activities. First, AFR provides policy-relevant ideas and information, and helps African countries and partners use this information to improve their policies, programs, and strategies for development. Second, it influences

African countries and institutions to build more effective regional channels for economic and technical cooperation. Third, it builds the capacity of Africa’s institutions to manage African development.

http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/AFR-RDCS.pdf

In working to support the core mandate and activities of AFR with respect to development programs, and in light of an increasing number of United States’ Government (USG) priorities in SSA, the Contractor will provide short and long-term technical assistance for assessments, analysis, assisting with strategy development, assisting with program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, communications, knowledge management, conferences and seminars, and other requirements. This solicitation focuses on the provision of technical and institutional support services to AFR.

C.3. OBJECTIVE

USAID seeks institutional support services for AFR staffing, both in Washington, DC and in Africa. The technical and support services provided under this contract will assist USAID in achieving its program priorities by providing contracted technical, professional, operational, and administrative support staff in support of USAID’s African programs on both a short- and long-term basis.

C.3.1. General Framework

Strategies and objectives are determined by the Executive Branch of the USG for agencies such as

USAID to follow when creating programs. At the highest levels of the framework, the foreign assistance reforms set forth three important pillars, “diplomacy, development and defense” – and an overarching

USG foreign assistance goal: “To help build and sustain democratic, well-governed states that will respond to the needs of their people, reduce widespread poverty, and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system.”

The framework consists of six regional/country categories of focus. Within each of these six categories, all foreign assistance is organized so that the agencies’ programs can support the achievement of the following five priority objectives: peace and security, governing justly and democratically, investing in people, economic growth, and humanitarian assistance. These objectives each support the overarching

USG foreign assistance goal.

C.3.2. USAID’s Support of USG Foreign Assistance Goals

Under this framework, AFR supports all five of the priority objectives. The work to be performed by the

Contractor’s staff will cover a range of technical and administrative areas further outlined below, all aimed at advancing USAID’s development objectives in SSA. The primary AFR participants in this contract are the Office of Sustainable Development (AFR/SD), the Office of Development Planning

(AFR/DP), the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) and the Power Africa and Trade Africa

(PATA) team. The contract also supports AFR bilateral and regional missions overseas.

C.3.2.1. Office of Sustainable Development (AFR/SD)

The Office of Sustainable Development is responsible for, in partnership with USAID’s pillar bureaus, providing intellectual leadership and for carrying out analyses in, but not limited to, the following areas:

Macroeconomics and poverty studies

Democracy and governance, and human rights

Countering violent extremism, transnational threats, and conflict mitigation

Food and nutrition security, natural resource management, and biodiversity conservation

Agriculture and rural development

Private sector development and trade

Health, population, and HIV/AIDS

Basic and higher education

Labor productivity, employment, and urban development

Gender equality and female empowerment across sectors.

The Office also manages Bureau strategic, region-wide projects essential to AFR’s goal of developing

African regional institutions, managing Presidential Flagship Initiatives and USAID African Initiatives, and executing the Bureau's regional analytical initiatives. There are four Divisions and one team within

AFR/SD: Economic Growth, Environment and Agriculture (EGEA); Education (ED); Conflict, Peacebuilding and Governance (CPG); and Health; and the Program Team. AFR/SD also has a Gender

Advisor who is tasked with building the Bureau’s technical capacity to implement USAID’s gender policies.

AFR/SD/EGEA provides support for USAID Missions to accelerate growth, increase female economic empowerment, reduce poverty and combat hunger, climate change and environmental degradation in

Africa. These include promoting new agricultural methods and technologies, expansion of markets and trade, use of innovative environmental measurement tools and natural resources management techniques, aimed at sustainably increasing African incomes, resilience, and social stability. The Division builds local capacity, strengthens African institutions, and supports African networks to promote policy relevant research. It also applies the Internet and related technologies to promote accelerated, sustainable, and equitable growth.

AFR/SD/ED supports basic education activities in Africa, with a special emphasis on the education of girls and women, distance learning and innovative technologies, education for democracy, and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on students and teachers. Division programs engage in policy research, capacity building, institutional strengthening and dissemination of best practices. The Division provides strategic guidance to missions as they design and evaluate their basic education programs.

AFR/SD/CPG engages in policy research, capacity building, institutional strengthening and dissemination of best practices regarding peace and security, and democracy, human rights and governance issues. The

Division works to prevent and mitigate the effects of crises by linking crisis management with long-term development programs and by helping African nations integrate democracy, human rights and good governance principles across development sectors and in their societies.

AFR/SD/Health works across all sectors related to health, including those that strengthen food security, such as nutrition and local systems strengthening. The Division directly manages activities that support

African capacity development and improving the lives of Africa's most vulnerable populations. The

Health Division works in close collaboration with other USAID Bureaus, including the Bureau for Food

Security, the Bureau for Global Health and the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian

Assistance, to integrate programs and coordinate strategic and technical support to USAID missions, program reviews and assessments, staff development, etc. It works closely with African and donor partners such as the African Union, the World Bank, World Health Organization/Africa, and others.

The Program Team has overall responsibility and delegated authority for the oversight and administration of broad, emerging, and critical AFR/SD programs and operations, and evaluating current and proposed programs and operations and recommends actions, as needed. The team also plans, establishes and directs program management and administrative control systems for AFR/SD. It plans and directs the analytical and evaluative work for critical Agency functions related to the development and presentation of the

AFR/SD strategy, program planning and reporting, and budget control. The team works with AFR/SD’s technical divisions to develop long-range program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones for evaluating and measuring the effectiveness of AFR/SD programs and oversees the preparation of annual and long-term plans, reports and evaluations. The Program Team evaluates relevant policies, instructions, and legislative directives affecting AFR/SD operations and specific budgetary submissions to ensure adherence to the policy and directives. It also coordinates the preparation of obligation and expenditure schedules, special studies, and reports.

C.3.2.2. USAID’s Africa Bureau/Office of Development Planning (AFR/DP)

AFR/DP provides leadership for Bureau strategy, budget, and policy development and oversees development. AFR/DP identifies and addresses crosscutting development issues, manages the allocation and tracking of budget resources, assesses the impact of assistance, coordinates assistance with other donors, provides communications and outreach services, and provides guidance on overall program and budgeting strategy and policies. AFR/DP also leads AFR coordination of USAID Forward objectives.

C.3.2.3. Power Africa Trade Africa (PATA)

The PATA team, and the Private Capital Group for Africa (PCGA) implement the President’s Power

Africa and Trade Africa Initiatives, a program to increase access to energy services through a variety of public and private partnerships, analysis and assistance interventions, and technical assistance to help overcome market barriers to increased private sector investment in energy and trade. PATA technical support services help power generation, distribution, and transmission projects, including clean energy projects and off-grid and mini-grid solutions, reach the construction stage within priority countries in

SSA, including but not limited to, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria, Liberia, as well as with

East and West Africa Regional Missions and the non-presence and limited presence countries they support, with potential expansion to additional SSA countries. Technical support will also be provided to support efforts to expand regional trade within Africa (principally the countries of the East African

Community (EAC)) and international trade between Africa and the U.S. Assistance in enhancing the enabling environment includes legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as institutional capacity building in priority countries.

C.3.2.4 Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI)

The USAID AFR Young African Leaders Initiative team implements the President’s Young African

Leaders Initiative (YALI), an interagency effort including the Department of State, and U.S. African

Development Foundation to support young Africans as they shape the future of sub-Saharan Africa.

YALI was launched in 2010 but has expanded greatly during 2013-14 as the high-profile signature White

House initiative to invest in the next generation of African leaders. USAID's role in YALI may grow further, but presently includes extensive support (mentoring, internships, events, etc) in Africa for annual groups of YALI Mandela Washington Fellows when they return to Africa after their studies in the United

States. USAID's work also includes establishing Regional Leadership Centers in Africa to support leadership development, training, and networking for the many thousands that are interested in the special relationship with that United States that YALI offers but do not participate as YALI Fellows. The

Regional Leadership Centers allow for selected participants across Sub-Saharan Africa to participate in

YALI. The USAID YALI team oversees federal awards implementing YALI objectives, develops and manages public-private partnerships, prepares budget and programmatic guidance and information products, guides YALI staff in the Africa, guides YALI strategy, and monitors and evaluates results.

C.4. STATEMENT OF WORK

The Contractor will provide AFR with short- and long-term technical assistance and support services in

Washington, DC and in SSA.

Recruit, hire and maintain, as requested Contractor staff that will be placed in specific non-direct-hire

USAID positions. These positions are categorized as technical, professional, operational, and administrative support in nature;

Under this Classified Contract, the Contractor must possess and maintain a facility Security (Secret level) clearance from the Defense Security Service (DSS) that will allow the Contractor to request the processing and issuance of Secret security clearances for Contractor employees. The facility clearance must be active at the time of proposal submission and maintained for the life of the contract with the

Contractor providing a security officer for all security questions and matters. The facilities clearance is necessary because the Contractor may need to supply institutional contract staff with security clearances whose responsibilities will require them to sit in USAID office space on a daily basis. This applies to both Washington and field Mission placements. For such staffing requirements, the

Contractor shall arrange for the necessary security clearances and building access approvals through the USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to ensure coordination with USAID’s Office of Security in Washington or appropriate Regional/Mission Security Office for field Mission placements;

The Contractor must have the ability to request clearance for employees and consultants at the secret security clearance level. Also, they need to have the ability to officially send Visit Requests (VALs) or Permanent Certifications (PermCerts) to USAID.

Provide services to USAID offices on an as-needed basis, both long- and short-term. The locations include AFR and its offices in Washington; regional missions and country missions overseas. The

Contractor must also be willing to work in Critical Priority Countries (CPCs), as needed. CPCs are high-priority countries for the U.S. Government, and are most often already enduring some form of armed conflict. The current CPCs in SSA are Sudan and South Sudan;

Ensure Contractor employees placed in USAID positions WILL NOT perform “inherently governmental functions,” nor supervise any employees other than the Contractor’s own staff, nor make final decisions or sign documents that commit the U.S. Government (See OMB Circular A-76 for guidance on this subject);

Ensure Contractor employees are aware that organizational conflict of interest (COI) situations may arise due to their participation in the procurement process of a USAID project or program resulting in the employing firm not being able to bid on or participate in any other contracts or agreements within that USAID location. (See ADS 302 for more information on COI);

Guarantee office space of up to 15 off-site workstations, dedicated conference room facilities (two conference rooms), two offices, and a secure network for consultants (to include other contracted consultants not hired under this SOW) to house the management team and all technical and support staff that do not work on-site in the Ronald Reagan Building (RRB). Based on the need for frequent contacts between the Contractor and its Washington employees, USAID COTR, the Africa Bureau, other USAID Washington clients, and per requirements of Homeland Security Policy Directives, it is necessary that the Contractor establish this office within a half-mile radius of the RRB (1300

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW/ Washington, D.C. 20004);

USAID may also request that workspace be provided to other USAID direct and non-direct hire employees who do not have assigned USAID office space or who may be waiting for security clearances (Not to exceed the 15 workstations requested);

http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/302.pdf

The Contractor will maintain a pool of no fewer than 40 pre-vetted technical advisors and administrative support staff that can be notified and deployed on short notice. These personnel must already possess the appropriate security clearance and minimum qualifications outlined in section

C5.3. Further, they must be prepared for travel within one month of notice (i.e. vaccinated, passport obtained and valid for at least one year, passport photos on hand for visas).

When required and as allowed by Missions, ensure Contractor employees are able to be co-located within USAID offices in Washington and overseas, including securing and maintaining required security clearances for individual Contractor employees;

Ensure that the Contractor employees have performance standards for their positions and that yearly evaluations against those standards are performed in a manner reflecting integration with the USAID office of assignment/team;

In addition, post deployment online surveys on the Contractor employee’s performance shall be developed, executed and systematized so that Contractor employee’s performance and deployments are easily searchable on a management website or other proposed format;

Allow for subcontracting by the Contractor when there is a particular need for technical expertise that the Contractor does not have;

Establish and enable an environment of open dialog and cooperation with USAID so the Contractor’s employees are ensured an atmosphere within which to succeed. This will include an employee orientation that outlines the specific goals and work environment where the position is located;

Require Contractor employees and consultants to sign a non-disclosure agreement, prior to working under this Contract;

Contractor must be able to manage travel logistics and visa requirements (airline reservations, hotels, etc.) and all details pertaining to a consultant’s overseas deployment (details in C.5.7);

Final reports and deliverables must be submitted in a timely fashion to USAID’s identified COR in addition to delivery on all SOW deliverables if Mission funded; and, Contractor may be asked to develop a database for deliverable documents, reports, assessments and any other technical documentation storage and management that result from consultants contracted under this mechanism.

In the day-to-day performance of their work, the Contractor’s employees will work closely with other members of the USAID teams. USAID believes that for this working relationship to succeed, an interdependent relationship must exist. Each member of the team – Contractor, Contractor’s employee, and USAID office of assignment – must understand and perform their respective roles, as well as understand the limitations to their roles, responsibilities and duties. These relationships are both highly effective and complex. This means working with a variety of personalities serving USAID under a variety of personnel resource mechanisms. The Contractor’s employees will provide support and assistance depending upon place of assignment, fully integrated with the office/team, but will always report to the

Contractor’s management organization.

The technical assistance and support services will typically fall within the following generic categories:

C.4.1 Advisory and Analytic Support

This Contract Line item covers the breadth of the potential needs for advisory and engagement support, including the following sub-line items:

Assisting with strategic planning at the sectorial, institutional and national levels;

Assisting with the design, implementation and evaluation of programs and projects;

Conducting research on program approaches;

Assisting with program management, planning and monitoring;

Dissemination of best practices and sharing of lessons learned; and

Knowledge management and learning.

Agriculture

Conducting research and disseminating analytical results on important agricultural developments and trends that have impacts in SSA; and

Identifying and analyzing policies for sustainably meeting the food needs of assisted countries through application of advanced agricultural technologies and practices that balance production and income, resilience building efforts, and natural resource capitalization and management.

Environment

Identifying processes that lead to improved environmental soundness and best management practices to conserve biodiversity and maintain productive natural resource assets over the long term that can adapt to climate change; and

Integrating environmental procedures into planning, implementation and results monitoring.

Economic Growth

Developing policies for trade and investment programs in Africa;

Developing linkages between U.S. and African educational institutions and associations on trade and investment programs; and

Examining the constraints to growth and macroeconomic analysis of poverty dimensions.

Energy

Assistance to help power generation, distribution, and transmission projects, including clean energy projects and off-grid and mini-grid solutions, reach the construction stage;

Assistance in enhancing the enabling environment for private and public investment in energy infrastructure, including legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as institutional capacity building.

Education

Developing partnerships with African organizations that foster education programs;

Providing technical assistance on solving national and regional education and human capacity development challenges; and

Identifying program directions and objectives that increase the involvement of African communities in the education of their children.

Democracy/Governance and Conflict

Supporting programs and activities that build democratic institutions, promote human rights, protect vulnerable populations, enhance the rule of law, improve accountability, strengthen the voice of African citizens in their interactions with governments, support credible elections and peacebuilding activities, and counter violent extremism, trafficking, and organized crime; and

Recommending approaches that promote the integration of democracy, governance and conflict mitigation activities into other sectors.

Health

Although it is unlikely that there will be any direct analytical or advisory support offered in the health domain, there are still several cross-cutting health issues such as health system strengthening and health finance that incorporated into other activities.

Poverty

Providing assistance in identifying the size and scope of extreme poverty in Africa; and

Providing assistance in identifying the cause of, and solutions to, extreme poverty in Africa.

Communications

Providing editing and publication production services;

Designing and producing Africa Bureau publications such as electronic newsletters, annual reports, project reports, or special publications and briefs.

Providing assistance in developing and maintaining the AFR/SD web-site and other social media outlet activity using innovative new ideas for delivery; and, Developing a sustainability plan for the maintenance of AFR/SD web-site that considers ongoing

Agency efforts and best cost and efficiency options.

Knowledge Management

Providing technical assistance in evaluation methods, baseline data collection, and integration of findings into strategic planning and project design;

Assisting Missions in the establishment and systematic use of performance management plans

(PMPs);

Helping AFR/SD in developing a collaborative learning program;

Helping AFR/SD in its monitoring and evaluation of its own programs; and

Assisting in the development and maintenance of digital systems for consolidating and managing

AFR/SD’s publications, reports, briefers, and data.

C.4.2. Events and Special Projects

AFR convenes both external and internal agency events to advance its mission and mandate. In addition, AFR may have a role in advancing special projects or events related to supporting Africa. Under this

Contract Line Item, AFR may request support for the planning, design, and delivery of both internal and external events convened by AFR in order to advance partnerships, private sector engagement, and fellowships. This could include:

Externally oriented events aimed at engaging partners, and/or the African diaspora and faith-based communities;

Events targeting internal USAID audiences in order to facilitate learning, knowledge sharing, and networking;

Events targeting audiences interested in Africa and in Presidential Initiatives supporting Africa;

Events related to current or planned initiatives; and

Assist with all aspects of event logistics, including as requested procurement of event-related venues and services.

C.5 RESULTS – Performance Plan

The Contractor will be required to develop a Performance Plan that outlines procedures for performing the work outlined in this statement of work. The Contractor is urged to strengthen their plan with processes that show a continuity of services with the least amount of disruption, efficiency, quality assurance, cost containment, and financial control.

The Performance Plan must be centered on strong Contractor-written company policies and procedures that will serve as the base for the proposal. USAID has provided guidance in this section for the

Contractor to consider and address when writing this Performance Plan. This guidance is provided for the

Contractor to understand USAID needs and processes and must be used to construct efficient, timely and cost-effective processes for this USAID contract.

When developing the Contractor’s Performance Plan, the Contractor must explain the interface between their internal processes and USAID requirements, when it is appropriate, and explain how it lends impact to the performance of the contract.

In addition, the Performance Plan must also include Contractor procedures for recruiting, including:

Positions and Grade-Level Ranges

The Contractor will provide procedures to address:

How the Contractor identifies appropriate candidates with the required expertise, availability, language proficiencies and experience;

How the Contractor will make position announcements available to the widest number of potential candidates, which must include both current Contractor staff and outside recruitments;

How the Contractor will identify appropriate candidates for positions that may contain requirements that include: (1) highly specialized technical needs, and/or (2) availability for difficult-to-fill positions because the position is either located in an area where there are scarce labor markets or at

USAID posts where it is difficult to recruit;

How the Contractor will process critical positions where it must be filled on very short notice, e.g., two to four weeks and rapid response will be essential to ensure contract effectiveness;

How the Contractor will provide support services for positions in Washington, DC and overseas.

How the Contractor will establish and classify position descriptions and the grade-level range based on direct-hire equivalent ladder positions encompassing GS-6/7/9 and GS-9/11/12/13/14/15;

How the Contractor will establish the performance standards for each position; and

How the Contractor will make serious efforts in support of USAID’s diversity objectives.

Terminated Positions and Grade-level Ranges

As termination of existing positions is largely an administrative matter, the Contractor’s Performance

Plan must explain the Contractor’s processes for termination of the approved position description and its grade-level range in relation to the Contractor’s administrative processes. The Performance Plan will address some of the following:

If the position is occupied, how will the Contractor process the termination;

How will the Contractor processes determine remaining money obligated against the position; and, In the case of restricted funds provided for the position, how the Contractor will bring the issue of remaining funds to the attention of the COR. For example: a position is funded by a specific

Mission, but the Mission has decided not to replace the Contractor staff after a vacancy occurs and there are $57,000 of restricted unexpended Mission funds in the account for the position.

General Requirements for all Candidates

The Performance Plan must outline the general benefits offered to all employees.

Additional procedures included in the Performance Plan include:

Vacancy Announcements: The Contractor must describe how ALL vacancy announcements will be widely circulated to reach the widest range of qualified candidates and how it will support

USAID’s diversity objectives.

Management Procedures for Application: Outline the processes for accepting and receiving applications; validating applications and references prior to entering them in the candidate application pool; and, other internal processes used to ensure that all responses are treated fairly.

Management Procedures for Qualifying Candidates: After an application has been validated to be entered into the pool of candidates, outline the processes for qualifying each application prior to evaluation. Outlines must also cover preparation of evaluations of applications and preparing qualifying application lists. When a large number of applications are received, it is acceptable to forward a short list to USAID.

Removal and Replacement of Contractor Employees: Procedures for the removal and replacement of Contractor employees must be outlined in the Performance Plan to the fullest extent possible.

For example:

1. If USAID cannot utilize the Contractor employee because of changing USG needs and/or

2. USAID is not satisfied with the Contractor’s employee performance, then the COR will provide a written request to the Contractor for the removal of the Contractor employee and a determination of whether to continue, revise or terminate the position description and/ grade-level range. Upon receipt of such a written request, the Contractor will remove the Contractor employee from the

USAID assignment.

If a replacement is required, the COR, with concurrence of the AFR Office Director, will advise the

Contractor in writing.

C.5.1 USAID Position Guidance

This contract begins with approximately three pre-approved position descriptions with assigned grade-level ranges. During the life of the contract, new position descriptions are expected to be established within the identified grade-level ranges. With respect to treatment (i.e., terms and benefits), to maximize equity among the staffing mix found within USAID, position salaries and benefits will be based on US government rules and regulations for Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) for the following hiring types:

United States Citizens (USC), Third Country Nationals (TCN), Cooperating Country Nationals (CCN) and Foreign Service Nationals (FSN). This is not to mean or imply that these positions may perform the functions or services that a PSC may perform, or that these Contractor employees will perform personal services.

C5.2 Position Descriptions/Grade-Level Ranges

Positions and their grade-level ranges are defined as new, continuing, revised, or terminated. The following guidelines apply when considering processes for these positions:

New Positions and Grade-Level Ranges

A new position is one that is created when USAID issues a new job title and supporting documentation to the Contractor who, in turn, creates a finalized position description and issues a grade-level range classification. The following are the steps taken by the USAID COR and the Contractor for establishing new positions and grade-level ranges:

USAID provides new statements of work for the position to the Contractor. These statements of work will include the position title, estimated salary (federal grade-level equivalency), period of performance, place of performance, highlights of the statement of work describing duties and responsibilities, desired start date, education/experience required for the position (including minimum criteria and preferred, selection (eligibility) factors and evaluation factors (knowledge, skills and abilities);

The Contractor will prepare a finalized Position Description and classify the grade-level range to be used for recruiting purposes;

The Contractor will also furnish the draft performance standards for the position;

The documents are sent via email to the COR who reviews and provides final approval of the position description and the grade-level range; and

Once the Contractor receives the COR approval, the Contractor will initiate the candidate search.

Continuing Positions and Grade-level Ranges

A continuing position is one that has a position description and grade-level range that has been approved by the USAID COR. The contractor may recruit for these positions under the existing position description and grade-level range as long as there is no change to the title, qualifications, level of education, grade-level and/or work and the COR has given approval to move forward with a candidate recruitment.

Revised Position Descriptions and Grade-Level Ranges

A revised position is one that is changed when USAID issues supporting documentation that affects the title, qualifications, level of education and/or adds or subtracts work to an existing position description. If the position description is changed, the position must be re-classified to see if the grade-level range is also affected. A grade-level range change cannot be made unless statements of work are updated and/or justification is created to explain why the position was not correctly graded when it was established.

The following are the steps taken by the USAID COR and the Contractor for establishing revised positions and grade-level ranges:

USAID provides revised statements of work for the position to the Contractor. These statements of work may include the position title, estimated salary (federal grade-level equivalency), period of performance, place of performance, highlights of the statement of work describing duties and responsibilities, desired start date, education/experience required for the position (including minimum criteria, preferred selection (eligibility) factors and evaluation factors (knowledge, skills and abilities);

The Contractor will prepare a finalized Position Description and recheck and adjust the classification of the grade-level range, if appropriate;

The…