SOL-OAA-17-000108_-_Energy_II.pdf

SOL-OAA-17-000108

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".

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

SEALED BID (IFB)

5. DATE ISSUED

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED RATING PAGE OF PAGES

1 140

C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS)A. NAME

10. FOR

INFORMATION

CALL:

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

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

CONTRACT CLAUSES

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

I

J

K

L

M SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

PACKAGING AND MARKING

DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT

SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSESPART I - THE SCHEDULE

H

G

F

E

D

C

B

A

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

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

18. OFFER DATE17. SIGNATURE

SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

(Type or print)AND

ADDRESS

OF

OFFEROR

CODE FACILITY

16. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER15A. NAME

DATEAMENDMENT NO.DATEAMENDMENT NO.

and related documents numbered and dated):

amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS

CALENDAR DAYS (%)30 CALENDAR DAYS (%)20 CALENDAR DAYS (%)10 CALENDAR DAYS (%)

(See Section I, Clause No. 52.232.8)

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

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

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within ______________ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted

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.

28. AWARD DATE

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

CODE 24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7)

ITEM

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

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

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

21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION20. AMOUNT19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED

AWARD (To be completed by government)

CODE

REQ-EGEE-17-00015812/14/2017

X

EGEE/EI

United States Agency for Internatio 1300 Pennsylvania, Ave. NW Washington DC 20005

1200 ET 01/17/2018

Tseyone Demissie TSDEMISSIE@usaid.gov

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

PAGE(S)

Matthew Courtad

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition is unusable

STANDARD FORM 33 (Rev. 9-97)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.214(c)

Solicitation Issuance Date: 12/14/2017 Closing Date and Time for Offeror Questions: 12/20/2017 at 12:00p.m. EST Closing Date and Time for Receipt of Proposals: 01/17/2018 at 12:00p.m. EST

Subject: Request for Proposals (RFP) No. SOL-OAA-17-000108 – Energy IDIQ II

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Agency for International Development (“USAID” or the “Agency”) is seeking proposals to enable USAID’s energy programs to respond to a broad range of Agency priorities, including post-disaster and post-conflict recovery, economic growth and poverty reduction, regional security, and environmental stewardship for the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment (“E3”) as described in the attached Request for Proposals (“RFP”).

USAID anticipates awarding Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (“IDIQ”) Contracts (up to eight IDIQ contracts, of which up to three may be reserved for small business concerns). USAID reserves the right to award more or less awards than this anticipated number or to make no award.

USAID invites all interested and responsible organizations to submit offers in accordance with the requirements of this solicitation. USAID will conduct this procurement as a full and open competition under which any type of organization may submit a proposal. The procedures set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) Part 15 will govern the procurement. The North American Industry Classification System (“NAICS”) Code is 541990. The Authorized Geographic Code for procurement of goods and services under any task order issued under this IDIQ Contract is 937.

USAID anticipates that the maximum aggregate ordering limitation for contracts resulting from this RFP will not exceed $500,000,000 over the five (5)-year ordering period. 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.

Upon award of the Energy IDIQ II contracts, USAID anticipates issuing one initial Cost-Plus- Fixed-Fee (“CPFF”) Term task order. The period of performance for this task order is five years, and the total estimated cost (“TEC’) for this task order is between $20,000,000 and $23,000,000.

Prospective offerors must submit questions about this solicitation to Matthew Courtad (mcourtad@usaid.gov), Selam Demissie (sdemissie@usaid.gov), and Tseyone Demissie (tsdemissie@usaid.gov) by the time and date indicated above. Offerors must submit proposals electronically in accordance with the instructions contained in Section L, “Instructions to mailto:mcourtad@usaid.gov mailto:sdemissie@usaid.gov mailto:tsdemissie@usaid.gov http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

PART I—THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B—SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide services that fall within the Scope of Work (“SOW”) specified in Section C for Energy IDIQ II. USAID Task Order Contracting Officers (“TOCO”) will request the work through the issuance of task orders during the ordering period as specified in Section F of the IDIQ.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

This is an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (“IDIQ”) type contract. The Government will issue task orders that are either Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (“CPFF’) (term or completion), Cost-Plus- Award-Fee (“CPAF”), Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee (“CPIF”), Firm Fixed-Priced (“FFP”), or any combination thereof. The Contractor must perform the services set forth in task orders at prices consistent with Section B of this IDIQ contract.

USAID intends to issue one (1) Task Order upon the award of this IDIQ. This task order will be a CPFF term and will provide services under tasks further described in Attachments J.1 and J.2. Subsequent Task Orders will be solicited separately.

B.3 MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT

The basic contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $10,000.00 to cover the minimum order guarantee USAID is required to order. The Contractor is required to furnish the minimum order amount of services.

Following this initial obligation, individual task orders will obligate funds to cover the work required under that task order.

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING

This is a multiple award IDIQ with an overall ceiling price of $500,000,000. The maximum aggregate dollar value of task orders awarded to all contractors must not exceed this ceiling. This ceiling is not being subdivided among the number of awardees nor is it being multiplied by the number of awardees.

B.5 FIXED FEE CEILING (Cost-Plus- Fixed-Fee Task Orders Only)

(a) The ceiling on fixed fee does not apply to FFP, CPIF, and CPAF Task Orders. Fees for CPIF or CPAF Task Orders will be negotiated by the Task Order Contracting Officer (“TOCO”) at the time of task order award.

(b) For each CPFF task order issued under this IDIQ, the TOCO and Contractor agree to negotiate a fixed dollar amount for 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. The fixed fee in any individual task order must not exceed [Offeror insert proposed fixed fee percentage] of the task order’s total estimated cost, excluding fee. The fixed fee ceiling applies to the prime contract and all cost-reimbursement subcontracts.

(c) The Total Estimated Cost-Plus- Fixed- Fee for each task order must be negotiated in accordance with the terms of this contract.

(d) Fixed Fee Payment. For any task order issued under this IDIQ Contract, at the time of each payment of allowable costs to the contractor, the USAID paying office ordinarily pays the contractor a percentage of fixed fees that directly corresponds to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. One exception to paying fixed fee in this manner applies:

If the TOCO determines that this method results in paying a disproportionately higher ratio of fixed fee than the percentage of work that 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.

(e) Fees must not be applied to Grants under Contracts (“GUCs”).

B.6 LABOR

(a) This Section B.6 is only applicable to Cost-Reimbursement task orders.

(b) The workday and workweek policies and method of accounting for paid absences including holidays for the contractor and major subcontractors is set forth in Attachment J.X [To be inserted at time of award ].

(c) Compensation of personnel under this contract or any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation (July 2007) (See Section H.).

B.6.1 Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates

(a) The task order rates must not exceed the ceiling daily rates set forth in the table below.

(b) Each unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates (“CDR”) for personnel listed below is “unburdened” and must only include salary costs or consulting rates of the individual providing the services. The CDR for employees must not include the following:

(1) Payroll costs (e.g., fringe benefits, FICA, allowances, differentials, etc.);

(2) Indirect Costs applicable to labor; and

(3) Profit or fee, if any.

(c) The CDRs set forth below are fixed for the contract period and is for a productive eight (8) hour day. The CDRs apply to all labor (i.e., the prime contractor, subcontractor, Third Country Nationals (“TCNs”), Cooperating Country Nationals (“CCNs”), and consultant salaries) on cost-type task orders. CCN and TCN labor are also governed by the local compensation plan limitations.

(d) Locally Hired National Personnel or Other Non-U.S. Expatriate Rates

(1) All locally hired national personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates must be paid in accordance with AIDAR 722.170.

(2) Salaries for individual locally-hired personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates under any task orders or resulting subcontracts must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007, Personnel Compensation (July 2007), and should be based upon a combination of factors including the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by USAID and consideration of the individual's education, work experience and recent relevant salary history.

(3) Unless otherwise authorized by USAID, the compensation for CCN and TCN labor must not exceed the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by USAID and must be paid in the currency of the cooperating country.

(e) Actual salaries for all personnel will be negotiated under task orders and final approval is provided by the TOCO. The ceiling rates presented below do not constitute approval of final salary rates above the Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) (see ADS 302).

The unburdened CDR rate for each labor category set forth in Table 1 represents the mid-level and senior level rate in each category. One unburdened ceiling daily rate for each labor category/grouping is included in the contract to provide more flexibility under task orders. If junior-level personnel are required under task orders, they must be proposed at rates below the unburdened ceiling daily rate.

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

Table 1. Labor Categories and Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates

No Labor Category Level Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7

1 Director Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

2 Financial Advisor Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

3 Legal Advisor Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

4 Engineering Advisor Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

5 Scientist Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

6 Procurement Expert Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

7 Economist Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

8 Regulatory Advisor Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

9 Gas Specialist Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Renewable Energy/Sustainability Expert

Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

11 Cross-Cutting Specialists Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

12 Home Office Specialist Positions

Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

13 Administrative Support Specialists

Senior $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Mid $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Table 2. Definition of Labor Categories

Labor Category Illustrative Examples

Director Director, Project Manager, Chief of Party

Financial Advisor General Financial Advisor, Financial Modeler, Finance Arranger, Transaction Advisor

Legal Advisor General Legal Advisor, Institutional Legal Advisor, Project Legal Advisor, Local Legal Advisor

Engineering Advisor Licensed Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Environmental, Engineer, Project, Planning Engineer

Scientist Geologist, Hydrologist, Environmental Scientist

Procurement Expert Procurement, Contracting Specialist, Tender Expert for Engineering Services, EPC Contracts, BOT and PPP Concessions

Economist General Rates Specialist, Electric Utility Expert, Utility Accountant, Utility Financial Expert

Regulatory Advisor Regulatory and Legal Framework Advisor, Power Sector Restructuring Advisor, Regulatory Agency Advisor, Electricity Market Expert, Rural Electrification Agency Advisor

Gas Specialist Gas Policy Expert, Gas Planning Expert, Gas Pipeline Expert, Gas Health and Safety Expert, Gas Pricing Expert

Renewable Energy/Sustainability Expert

Energy Efficiency Expert, Sustainability Advisor, Climate Change Expert, Hydro, Wind, Solar, Biomass, Geothermal, Fuel Cell, or Mini-Grid Expert

Cross-Cutting Specialists Gender Specialist, Monitoring & Evaluation Expert, Social/Community Impact Advisor, Communications Advisor, Web Designer

Home Office Specialist Positions

Home Office Project Managers, Compliance, Grants, Accounting, Security or Procurement Specialist

Administrative Support Specialists Secretary, Receptionist, Clerk

B.6.2 Minimum Qualifications

In order to perform the statement of work set forth in Section C, the Contractor must provide personnel that meet both the minimum education and experience requirements set forth in Table

3. These minimum qualifications for mid-level and senior personnel correspond to the Unburdened CDRs set forth in Table 1 above.

Table 3. Minimum Qualifications

Level Education Requirement (highest degree obtained should relate to the services provided)

Experience Requirement (experience must relate to the services provided)

Mid-Level Ph.D. 4 JD/All But Dissertation (“ABD”) 5

MS/MA/MBA 6

BS/BA 7

Less than BS/BA 8

Senior-Level Ph.D. 6

JD/ABD 8

MS/MA/MBA 9

BS/BA 10

Less than BS/BA 14

B.6.3 Subcontractor Rates

The following provides guidance for various subcontracting arrangements:

(a) When the Prime subcontracts with an approved Subcontractor from the original IDIQ competition, the unburdened CDR’s for the Prime contract apply to the Subcontractor.

(b) When the Prime contracts with a new Subcontractor that is not yet approved, the unburdened CDR’s for the Prime contract apply to the new Subcontractor.

(c) In the instance where the Prime subcontracts with a new Subcontractor is not yet approved and may or may not have a different cost accounting system that only processes fully burdened rates and when the Subcontractor proposes rates that are “above” the Prime’s IDIQ rates, the Prime may then include in its TO proposal, (i) the fully burdened rate proposed to the Prime by the Subcontractor, (ii) allocation of the Prime’s indirect costs in accordance with established accounting practices, and (iii) a reasonable profit. If the rates proposed to USAID, inclusive of the Prime’s allocable indirect costs and a reasonable profit are above the Prime’s unburdened CDRs, the Prime must disclose the amount of the indirect costs, and the amount of the proposed profit that were added to the Subcontractor’s proposed rates. A reasonable profit will be negotiated by the TOCO for the specific TO. The CDRs of the subcontractor must not exceed the prime’s CDRs in the IDIQ contract.

B.6.4 Unburdened CDR Changes

The unburdened CDRs are fixed for all contract years; however, the Contractor may submit a proposal reducing the labor rates and/or indirect rates 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 interest of the Government. If the rates are accepted, the Government will modify the contract by incorporating the new rates into the contract.

B.6.5 Billing Central Management Costs

The Contracting Officer has determined that a key (full time) technical manager is not necessary or required to administer this basic IDIQ Contract. Contractors will not be authorized to bill USAID directly for IDIQ management costs under this IDIQ Contract or under task orders.

Contractors must propose a centralized management structure that allows for recovery of IDIQ management costs as part of its indirect costs.

B.7 INDIRECT COSTS AND ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING ON CEILINGS

(a) Indirect rates are only applicable to Cost-Reimbursement Task Orders.

(b) Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, USAID will reimbursed allowable indirect costs on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases to the contractor’s current executed Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (“NICRA”).

Table 4. Indirect Costs and Ceilings

Offeror Fringe Rate %

Overhead Rate %

Overhead Ceiling Rate %

G&A Rate %

G&A Ceiling Rate %

PRIME (Insert Name) Base of Application Source: (insert) Period: (insert) Major Subcontractors (Insert Name (s))

Base of Application Source: (insert)

Period: (insert)

Note: The un-shaded columns in the indirect cost table are the current approved indirect cost rates for the prime and major subcontractor(s).

(d) The Contractor must not make any change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs that impacts this contract without the prior written approval of the IDIQ Contracting Officer.

(e) USAID will reimburse the Contractor for indirect costs at the final negotiated rates, but not in excess of ceiling rates specified in Table 4.

(f) Contractors are allowed to recoup indirect costs (e.g., overhead, G&A, etc.) as other direct costs if it is part of the contractor’s usual accounting procedures, consistent with FAR Part 31 and the contractor's NICRA.

(g) The Government will not be obligated to pay any additional amount associated with indirect costs above the ceiling rates established in the contract. This advance understanding must not change any monetary ceiling, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract without prior approval from the IDIQ Contracting Officer.

B.8 REIMBURSABLE COSTS

For Cost-Reimbursement task orders, USAID will only reimburse the Contractor for allowable costs in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, “Allowable Cost and Payment”, FAR § 52.216-8, “Fixed Fee”, FAR § 52.232-20, “Incentive Fee”, FAR § 52.216-10, “Limitation of Cost” and FAR § 52.232-22, “Limitation of Funds”, if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003, “Documentation for Payment”.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 BACKGROUND

The lack of sufficient, accessible, affordable, and reliable energy is a primary impediment to USAID’s core objective of poverty reduction. A modern energy sector underpins not only economic growth but also the expansion and improvement of services in all sectors of development, from food security and health to education. However, in parts of the developing world nearly two-thirds of the population does not have access to electricity. Even where there is access, global energy demand is projected to rise by over 70 percent by 2040, with nearly 90 percent of that growth expected to come from developing countries. Because of its vital importance, the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity receive significant attention and resources from both governments and international development agencies.

However, public sector funds alone will be unable to meet the billions of dollars of new investment that are required to address the scale of the global challenge, necessitating wider mobilization of the private sector.

Sustainably meeting the growing energy demands of developing countries in the coming years requires overcoming numerous obstacles, particularly those that constrain investment. The supply of energy services in many countries is of poor quality due to operational inefficiencies, difficulties in reaching dispersed populations, and unsustainable pricing and tariff structures.

These issues are compounded by the use of outdated energy system technologies/practices, persistent application of ineffective energy sector policies, and limited technical capacity of sector personnel in both utility management and regulatory reform and enforcement.

Governments often subsidize electricity prices as a means to spur commercial and industrial growth and address issues of social equity. However, such practices have proven unsustainable, as utilities are unable to get sufficient revenue to expand energy systems to meet increasing demand - or to even properly maintain and repair existing facilities. With unreliable energy systems, countries are hindered in their ability to attract cross-sector private investment, and are unable to sufficiently support social service facilities.

USAID implements a broad range of energy sector programs, including those that promote environmentally sound economic growth, rehabilitate energy sectors in post-conflict and post-disaster contexts, improve the resilience of energy systems, and enhance energy security. Underlying each is the aim of addressing the policy, institutional, technological, financial, and commercial issues that developing countries face in strengthening their energy sector and attracting the private sector investment needed to increase access to modern, financially and environmentally sustainable energy services.

C.2 OBJECTIVE

The Energy IDIQ II aims to address the global demand for, and use of, modern energy services by fostering sustainable energy development in countries assisted by USAID. Task Orders under the Energy IDIQ II mechanism will provide USAID Missions, regional bureaus, host-country stakeholders and partners with ready access to technical assistance and capacity building to manage the legal, regulatory, policy, governance, operational, financial, economic and transactional components of improved energy sector performance and strengthened enabling environment for private sector investment. Activities may include interventions at multiple scales, from the household level to issues of global dimension. Task Orders can also support activities at the intersection of energy and any of USAID’s primary program areas, including but not limited to: agriculture and food security, economic growth and trade, democracy, rights and governance, education, climate variability and change, human population and health, social development and gender equality, disaster mitigation and response, reconstruction, environmental and natural resource management, and urban development.

C.3 CROSS-CUTTING TECHNICAL THEMES

The Energy IDIQ II covers four technical themes: clean energy, energy poverty, energy sector governance and reform, and energy security. These themes are inter-related and likely to be combined in programs. They are relevant to countries at widely varying levels of sector development as they encompass the preconditions needed for the improved investment climate needed to attract private sector investment, and ensure increased access and the sustainability of services.

Clean Energy

As the cost of clean energy technologies such as solar and wind have dropped significantly over the past seven years, investment has taken off. According to International Renewable Energy Agency, global investment in renewables rose from under $50 billion in 2004 to $348 billion in 2015; renewable energy technologies are now outpacing conventional ones in global capacity additions. Beyond being increasingly cost-effective, clean energy can offer additional advantages such as greater environmental sustainability through reduced pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increased energy security and resilience by diversifying a country’s resource mix and increasing use of indigenous resources, improved energy access through distributed generation, and job creation in a high-growth sector. To capture these benefits, USAID supports countries to integrate and scale clean energy technologies.

Energy Poverty According to the International Energy Agency, “without access to modern, commercial energy, poor countries can be trapped in a vicious circle of poverty, social instability and underdevelopment.” Energy poverty — the lack of access to a steady, clean and safe supply of electricity – remains a pervasive problem. Roughly 1.2 billion people around the world lack access to electricity. More than 2.7 billion people rely on traditional fuels like wood and dung for cooking. This reliance leads to an estimated 4 million deaths per year from indoor air pollution, contributes to environmental degradation through deforestation, and disadvantages women who typically bear responsibility for collecting the fuel. In line with its goal of eradicating extreme poverty, USAID supports countries in their efforts to expand access, while ensuring that the electricity supply is stable, resilient, affordable, and environmentally sustainable.

Energy Sector Governance and Reform

Good governance and rule of law are critical underpinnings of a well-functioning energy sector, and are a prerequisite for encouraging private sector investment. Reform and restructuring of the power sector - such as introduction of independent regulatory bodies, better corporate governance of utilities, and use of competitive procurement - can improve the quality, cost, and responsiveness of public services delivered to customers while promoting more sustainable management of resources. This is particularly true where the power sector is dominated by an inefficient, state-owned utility that is unable to recover costs, maintain system assets or invest in new infrastructure to meet growth in demand. This often occurs in the context of a lack of policy and regulatory framework with clear rules for such subjects as market structure and transactions, private sector participation, tariff setting, and utility performance, and the absence of functioning institutions that can competently formulate, apply and enforce such frameworks. As a result, in some countries the power sector is a large fiscal burden on national budgets as governments move resources away from other public services, such as health and education, to subsidize inefficient power utility operations. USAID supports reforming and restructuring the energy sector, and improving the accountability and transparency of authorities and institutions in the energy sector, as the foundations for improved performance and greater investment.

Energy Security

The uninterrupted availability of affordable energy – energy security -- has become essential to the functioning of modern economies. Multiple factors can lead to energy becoming physical unavailable or its price becoming uncompetitive and/or overly volatile: political instability, the manipulation of energy supplies, competition over energy sources, attacks on supply infrastructure, as well as accidents, fuel price volatility, natural disasters, and the impacts of climate variability and change. USAID supports countries in their efforts to increase their energy security, through measures that encourage diversification of energy types and supply sources, promote use of sustainable domestic resources (such as renewable energy), reduce overall demand through energy efficiency and demand response measures, and facilitate better functioning of energy markets and greater regional integration through cross-border trade.

C. 4 TECHNICAL SERVICES

In relation to these themes, the Energy IDIQ II Contractor will provide technical services for the following types of activities:

● Developing assessments, strategies, program designs and evaluations

● Creating enabling environments for energy sector reform and governance

● Increasing human resources and institutional capacity related to energy services

● Catalyzing private sector participation and investment

● Facilitating financing for energy

● Assessing the environmental and social implications of energy services

● Improving disaster preparation, response, and recovery

C.4.a Developing Assessments, Strategies, Program Designs and Evaluations

Before launching reforms, governments and stakeholders often require sector or issue-based assessments that describe existing conditions, identify areas for reform, identify regional or global experiences and best practices, and recommend actions. These analyses can become the basis for strategies and plans that provide an implementation roadmap, and a basis for designing USAID programs or activities. Once programs are underway, third party evaluations, either during program implementation or after completion, may be necessary to make mid-course corrections and to capture lessons learned and best practices for future application.

Representative tasks the Contractor may be required to implement could include:

● Conduct sector-wide or issue-based assessments and any underlying fact-finding, diagnoses, and analyses.

o Conduct energy resource assessments (e.g., solar, wind, biomass, geothermal);

o Assess the existing policy, legal, regulatory, financing and commercial context within the energy sector, including identifying barriers and evaluating sector strategies and national plans;

o Provide an overview and analysis of institutional roles and responsibilities related to energy including an assessment of institutional and human capacity;

o Assess the adequacy and potential for development of regional energy networks and markets;

● Design program strategies and activities to be implemented by USAID operating divisions in areas related to energy development;

● Assist with developing program designs in collaboration with stakeholders, including new program designs or revisions to the design of faltering programs.

● Conduct evaluations of USAID programs or of plans, strategies, or initiatives of host country governments.

C.4.b Creating Enabling Environments for Energy Sector Reform and Governance

Ensuring increased access and sustainability of services over the long term requires the creation of supportive enabling environment. The enabling environment is a key factor to attracting significant private sector investment and fostering accountable, financially sound institutions to operate the systems reliably.

Representative tasks the Contractor may be required to implement are:

● Developing Institutions: Support the development of key institutions in the energy sector (such as regulators), including improving their effectiveness in carrying out their duties through technical assistance and capacity building.

● Power Sector Planning: Provide technical assistance for power system planning, such as development and implementation of Integrated Resource Plans, Integrated Resource and Resilience Plans, transmission and distribution master plans, cross-border transmission planning, renewable energy zoning, electrification plans, and Low Emissions Development Strategies.

● Data collection and Modelling: Assist in gathering and/or improving data collection and modelling for sector planning and operations, including advising and training on relevant IT tools and systems.

● Policy, Regulatory and Legal Reform: Assist in development of national and sub-national energy sector laws, policies, frameworks, and regulations.

● Tariff, Subsidy, and Economic Frameworks: Advise on the design and adoption of cost reflective generation, transmission and distribution tariffs and transparent tariff methodologies, the design and implementation of effective subsidy and social safety net programs, identifying and sharing functioning economic models that address primary costs, improvements to transparency of the regulatory process and promote transparent consultative processes including public hearings.

● Competitive Procurement: Assist on design and evaluation of international competitive tenders for generation, transmission, and distribution projects, as well as other parts of the electricity supply chain.

● Designing and implementing new market structures: Assist stakeholders with examining potential market models (e.g. unbundling, competitive wholesale markets, decentralization) and their pros and cons, developing strategies, examining the respective roles of stakeholders, building consensus around optimal market structures, and implementing activities to support transition to the new market structure.

● Energy Markets and Cross-border Trade: Advise and assist in the development and expansion of energy trade and wholesale markets both within countries and across borders, such as establishing and/or harmonizing regulations and rules for trade in power and related services, development of market monitoring and oversight capacity, coordinating energy system planning and investments, and coordinating power dispatching to balance supply and avoid congestion.

● Utility reform and restructuring: Support the design and adoption of commercialization policies, such as power sector reform and restructuring, corporatization and improvement of corporate governance of utilities, and introduction of private participation; design and hold workshops and exchanges on best practice in utility management and operations; provide technical assistance and analysis to design and implement technical and/or commercial loss reduction programs, including customer regularization and metering; assist utilities with assessing their organizational structures and human resource policies and procedures, and their needs for training, tools and technologies that can enhance utility performance and take advantage of opportunities for adopting new technologies

● Grid Integration of Variable Renewable Energy: Provide technical assistance on the integration of intermittent generation resources.

● Energy Efficiency and Demand-side Management: Assist ministries, energy commissions, regulatory agencies, and electric utilities in designing, executing, monitoring and evaluating energy efficiency (EE) and demand-side management (DSM) programs.

C.4.c Increasing Human Resources and Institutional Capacity Related to Energy

The organizational and management capacity of public institutions, civil society and the private sector are directly linked to the sustainable management of energy services. USAID is committed to building human resource and institutional capacity of partner organizations and host-country government agencies to improve energy sector management and governance.

Representative tasks the Contractor may be required to implement are:

● Strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of relevant agencies and institutions engaged in the energy sector, including ministries and departments, regulators, utilities, legislators, academia, civil society organizations, and the private sector. This could include assistance related to organizational restructuring, internal governance, the development of personnel, financial, and business management systems, strategic planning capacity, and monitoring and evaluation capacity.

● Support the formation, staffing, and capacity building of independent regulatory agencies.

● Conduct trainings, workshops, roundtables, conferences or exchanges on technical, financial, and non-technical topics for professionals in the energy sector.

● Increasing the understanding of public sector officials of private sector investment, such as its drivers and how private sector actors select projects/countries in which to invest.

● Initiate partnerships with U.S. institutions (such as the National Association of Regulatory

Utility Commissioners, U.S. Energy Association, National Rural Electricity Cooperatives Association, US National laboratories, or universities) as well as other local, regional and global public and private sector partners in developing training materials or curricula, conducting study tours and exchanges, twinning programs, and or embedding of experts.

● Support development and implementation of training programs to develop next generation talent.

● Support the development of public education and outreach programs.

● Improve the advocacy and negotiation skills of civil society organizations, business associations and other local groups so that these organizations can best represent and increase the presence of their constituents.

● Assist in building the capacity of energy related ministries and departments to consider and address the challenges and needs of women concerning energy use and access.

C.4.d Catalyzing Private Sector Participation and Investment

While public funding and donor assistance play a key role in advancing energy sector investments, private investment will need to increase substantially to meet the scale of the financing needs in the energy sector globally. Greater private participation can bring new expertise and investment to the energy sector. USAID supports country government efforts to attract investment in generation (large-scale, small-scale, and distributed) as well as private sector participation in other parts of the energy supply chain where it will cost-effectively improve sector performance, operations and management.

Representative tasks the Contractor may be required to implement are:

● Provide technical, legal, regulatory and policy support to governments, ministries, utilities and regulators on private sector investment (e.g. development of IPP and PPP laws and regulations; tendering procedures, IPP design; tariff and pricing methodologies; economic and financial models).

● Assist with the design, implementation, and evaluation of transparent, competitive tendering and procurement processes in any or all components of the electricity supply chain.

● Strengthen government capacity to understand power sector project finance and negotiate transactions with the private sector, including transaction advisory services and preparation of PPAs and other transaction documents.

● Advisory services for project pipeline development, project identification, screening, feasibility and pre-feasibility assessment and design.

● Advise on private sector participation in distribution or utility operations, such as through management contracts and concessions.

● Conduct economic and financial studies of the impacts of private sector participation;

● Assist in designing and implementing privatization activities, such as advising on the proper sequencing of privatization, analysis of key privatization issues (e.g., debt liabilities), and development of transparent and public processes to address the social implications of privatization.

● Support financing facilities that enable private sector investors to increase participation in the power sector.

● Provide financial modelling, financial advisory and/or financial arrangement services to governments and utilities.

● Technical support for the design of financing instruments, such as revolving funds, infrastructure funds, bonds, and specialized financing mechanisms.

● Assist project developers and governments in identifying and accessing energy financing through regional, international and/or multi-lateral funds and mechanisms, such as climate investment funds, green funds, and clean technology funds.

● Advise governments, electric utilities, developers, investors, and lenders on guarantees and credit enhancement mechanisms.

● Develop financing mechanisms for distributed generation, energy service companies (ESCOs), and scale small-scale service providers.

● Technical assistance in project feasibility analysis, tariff studies, business and financial planning for energy projects.

C.4.e Assessing the Environmental and Social Implications of Energy Services

To ensure environmentally sound and sustainable interventions in the energy sector, USAID both requires environmental assessment processes in its own programs as mandated in Federal Regulations (22 CFR 216), as well as consideration of longer-term factors such climate variability and change. In addition, USAID addresses the social impacts of energy programs, including gender.

Representative tasks the Contractor may be required to implement are:

● Perform environmental impact assessments of proposed USAID programs and preparing draft Initial Environmental Evaluations (IEE) or Environmental Assessments (EAs), consistent with the requirements of 22 CFR 216, for USAID review and approval.

● Prepare environmental mitigation and monitoring plans for USAID programs.

● Review ongoing and planned activities of host-country governments for potential environmental impacts and recommend mitigating measures to reduce or eliminate adverse impacts, including analysis of GHG implications and vulnerabilities and resilience to impacts from climate variability and change.

● Prepare environment and social impact assessments for select generation, transmission or distribution projects.

● Provide environmental management expertise and building capacity in host-country institutions to effectively deal with environmental issues related to the energy sector.

● Evaluate near and long-term low carbon development goals nationally and by sector/sub-sector.

● Analyze of the technical and economic potential of policies and technologies to reduce GHG emissions including the development of carbon abatement cost curves.

● Assess of the economic, social, and environmental development benefits (and costs) of specific technologies.

● Develop and customize planning and assessment tools for energy and GHG modeling, forecasting and scenario development.

C.4.f Improving Energy Sector Resilience and Disaster Preparation, Response, and Recovery

A robust energy sector is a key component to improving resilience to and recovery from disasters. USAID is often called upon to improve national or local government capacity to prepare for and respond to natural or man-made disasters that affect the energy sector, including those related to climate variability and change.

Representative tasks the Contractor may be required to implement are:

● Prepare pre-disaster risk and hazard assessments and mitigation plans, which take into consideration resilience to climate risks.

● Develop post-disaster short, medium and long-term recovery plans and/or programs for the energy sector that will assist communities recover from the effects of a disaster.

● Prepare response plans, training and programs intended to improve the capability of energy service personnel and local community leadership to respond to disasters and emergencies.

● Programs intended to share experiences and techniques related to the preparation for, and the recovery from, a disaster that impacts the energy sector.

C.5 IDIQ MANAGEMENT

The Contractor must provide the central management necessary to fulfill all the requirements of the contract, including cost and quality control of all tasks and assignments. To this end, the Contractor shall designate an IDIQ Manager to provide overall technical, administrative and logistical management of the Contract and overall management of Task Orders awarded under this IDIQ contract. The IDIQ Manager shall be the individual bearing primary responsibility for technical aspects of contract performance, as well as procurement, personnel, reporting, and other management related requirements. The IDIQ Manager shall be the main point of contact for USAID on procedural and substantive matters, and will serve as the liaison between the Contractor and CO/COR, and between the Contractor and Chief of Party in awarded Task Orders. Individual Task Orders will have their own Task Order management approach and structure.

The IDIQ Manager’s responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

● Ensure that task orders are efficiently and effectively implemented.

● Oversee the development of required deliverables essential for successful contract performance; including monitoring all Task Order work plans to ensure quality control and timely delivery of such deliverables.

● Ensure fulfillment of USAID reporting requirements.

● Ensure access to, and recruitment, coordination, and oversight of technical and administrative staffing, subcontractors and/or consortium organizations to ensure that their performance meets or exceeds technical and financial contractual requirements.

● Perform any other necessary technical and management functions that may be required by USAID to successfully implement and manage the IDIQ Contract and all Task Orders that may be awarded.

The IDIQ Contract Manager must have the experience and capability to provide management, supervision, and quality control over all implemented activities undertaken by the Contractor. At minimum, the IDIQ Manager must have a BA/BS degree or higher in economics, business, engineering, finance, law, international relations or other related area from an accredited college or university. S/he must also have:

● At least 10 years progressively responsible professional experience in managing and administering energy sector development programs of a similar size and scope to those described in this RFP. This must include past managerial and technical experience in energy sector development and overseas experience in developing countries;

● Strong written and oral presentation skills;

● Practical experience working with a range of program partners, including government agencies (USG and host country), donors, regulatory bodies, utilities, the private sector, NGOs, civil society, and consumers; and

● Experience with programs in conflict areas, post-conflict areas, and/or post-natural disaster area is desirable.

C.6 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

C.6.1 Grants Management

Subject to the approval by the relevant Head of the Contracting Activity for the Task Order, funds may be made available in individual Task Orders for the award and administration of grants that are within the scope of this IDIQ contract. Such grants will be defined and managed under the Task Order. In this circumstance, the contractor shall solicit, negotiate, award and administer grants under Task Orders in accordance with USAID policy and procedures

(including restrictions on construction under assistance). These grants will be secondary or minor to the overall work performed under the Task Order.

C.6.2 Maximizing Use of Local Entities

The contractors shall, when applicable, make use of local implementers for carrying out energy-related activities under this IDIQ contract and task orders. In keeping with the principles of designing programs for host country recipients, and where the Offeror determines that program content and efficiency of implementation will be beneficial, the Contractor is strongly encouraged to sub-contract with local NGOs, local offerors and other key country entities in the implementation of programs.

C.6.3 Gender

In recognition of the important role that women can and should play in advancing the energy sector in development countries, the Contractor will adhere to USAID’s Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy. The Policy’s strategic outcomes include the following objectives:

● Reduce gender disparities related to control over, access to, and benefit from resources, wealth, opportunities and services;

● Reduce gender-based violence and mitigate its harmful effects on individuals and communities;

● Increase the capability of women and girls to realize their rights, determine their life outcomes, and influence decision-making in households, communities, and societies.

In designing interventions, the Contractor must identify and address the barriers women face in terms of participation in decision making processes; access to, control over, and benefits from electricity services, the natural resources used to provide electricity; and employment throughout the power sector.