Sources Sought_ Bangladesh Aquaculture Activity.pdf

To: Sources Sought Notice (Attachment B) – Small Business Only Reference Number: SS-SB-720388-24-BSAA Release Date: December 7, 2023 Response Date: December 28, 2023

Subject: Sources Sought Notice - Small Business Only - Feed the Future (FtF) Bangladesh Sustainable Aquaculture Activity

PURPOSE:

Referring to FAR Part 10, FAR 15.201(e) the United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development’s Mission in Bangladesh (USAID/Bangladesh), is publishing the subject Sources Sought for the Feed the Future (FtF) Bangladesh Sustainable Aquaculture Activity. The estimated range for this activity is $24.6 million over a 5-year period.

As permitted by FAR Part 10, this is a market research tool being utilized for informational and planning purposes. Your responses will assist the Government in the development of its acquisition strategy for a possible Request for Proposal (RFP), to be issued at a later date, and in determining whether any type of small business set-aside is possible for this procurement or whether full and open or other competitive procedures should be utilized. If full and open or other competition is ultimately pursued, responses to this synopsis will be used to aid in establishing small business subcontracting goals.

USAID is conducting this Sources Sought to identify small business contractors who possess the capabilities to provide services as specified in the Attachment A: SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES and to determine their availability, capability, and adequacy. If your firm may be interested in this requirement, is a qualified small business for the NAICS code 541990 (Size Standard in Millions of Dollars is $17.0 according to SBA Table of Small Business Size), and has performed similar projects, we request the information specified in the Attachment B: Sources Sought Information. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to the Attachment B of this notice.

Potential Small Business must have prior experience implementing similar aquaculture projects within the last five years.

https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20July%2014%202022_Final-508.pdf https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20July%2014%202022_Final-508.pdf

SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

Please submit your response to requested information in the Attachment B electronically to Jerome Robinson, Jr., at jerrobinson@usaid.gov and a copy to Fatema Resalat at fresalat@usaid.gov no later than December 28, 2023. Please indicate Sources Sought reference number provided above in the subject of the email. You will receive only an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response. No individualized feedback or suggestions will be sent to responders. Your responses may contribute to upcoming activity design(s). However, this Sources Sought Notice will not be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government (USG) to issue any solicitation or pay for any information submitted in response to this request. Responders are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or restricted information contained in their responses. No basis for claims against the U.S.

Government shall arise because of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or from the USG’s use of such information. Specific questions about this Sources Sought Notice should be directed only to the email addresses identified above. This office will not respond to any telephonic or other inquiries regarding this notice.

Please note USAID is not seeking technical or cost proposals currently. Do not submit any Attachments:

1. Closeout Information Sheet

2. Indirect Cost/Audit Certification Form Proposal in response to this Sources Sought. Only the information as requested in Attachment B as applicable will be considered.

CONTENT:

Attachment A – SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES Attachment B – Sources Sought Information

Sincerely, Jerome Robinson, Jr.

Contracting Officer mailto:jerrobinson@usaid.gov mailto:fresalat@usaid.gov

Attachment A: SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

C.1. INTRODUCTION

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Bangladesh mission seeks to award a five-year contract with a ceiling of $24.6 million for the Feed the Future (FtF) Bangladesh Sustainable Aquaculture activity (hereafter known as “the activity”). The purpose of the activity is to enhance inclusive and sustainable aquaculture sector growth through a market system approach to improve rural household income and nutrition. The activity will sustainably increase aquaculture production by improving access to quality inputs and services, and increasing adoption of improved and environmentally sound technologies and management practices. The activity will strengthen aquaculture market systems by supporting governmental regulatory bodies to improve standards and compliance, facilitating linkages with broader markets, enhancing value-addition of fish products for domestic and international markets, promoting product diversification, and reducing post-harvest loss. Furthermore, the activity will increase the consumption and safe handling of nutrient-rich fish products by engaging in behavior change campaigns to raise awareness of how fish consumption integrates into a healthy lifestyle.

This Statement of Objectives (SOO) describes the objectives of the United States Agency for International Development in Bangladesh (USAID/Bangladesh) for the USAID/Feed the Future (FtF) Bangladesh Sustainable Aquaculture activity and provides Offerors with the flexibility to propose cost-effective solutions and innovative approaches to meet the stated objectives. In response to this SOO, Offerors are requested to submit a proposed Performance Work Statement (PWS) as to how they will meet the stated objectives. The Offerors should also submit realistic targets, and the methodology through which it derived those targets.

USAID will work with the contractor to periodically review, if needed and based on experience, progress, and learning—make changes to the work plan and/or the Contractor’s overall approach. Therefore, performance work statements must incorporate technical and budgetary flexibility such that the Contractor is able to pivot in response to new data, evidence, and opportunities in coordination with the USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The award will be issued on a cost plus fixed-fee basis. In the interest of adaptive management, targets are expected to be modified periodically (at least annually) based upon learning and evidence to ensure that targets are realistic but aggressive.

C.2. BACKGROUND/PROBLEM STATEMENT

Bangladesh is one of the world's leading fish producing countries with a total production of 4.62 million MT in 2020-2021. The aquaculture sector contributes 3.57% to the national GDP and more than 12% of the total population is directly or indirectly engaged in the sector for their livelihood.

The sector holds huge potential for improving household income and food security, alleviating protein deficiency and malnutrition, generating employment and foreign exchange earnings in the economy.

Insufficient availability of quality inputs at an affordable price, adoption of improved technologies, climatic shocks and stressors, weak market linkages, post-harvest loss, food safety and hygiene practices and lack of awareness on nutritional benefits of fish are some of the challenges for the development of the aquaculture sector. Additionally, safe and quality production, processing and value addition, and marketing remain critical areas for improvement to maximize domestic demand and international exports. The activity will follow a market systems approach by strengthening vertical and horizontal linkages between actors across the value chain, for example input suppliers, producers, traders, processors, wholesalers, and service providers. The activity will expand the involvement and influence of women and youth in aquaculture value-chains, and prioritize locally led solutions to address the challenges and develop the aquaculture sector.

C.3. CONTRACT OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED RESULTS

The following describes the objectives and the results that the Contractor must accomplish under the contract.

Objectives and Targets

Objective One: Sustainably increase aquaculture production.

The aquaculture sector in Bangladesh has great potential for further expansion and can significantly contribute to national economic growth. The production and consumption of fish can also play an important role towards improved household-level income, food security, and nutrition. The Government of Bangladesh is also prioritizing the aquaculture sector, aiming to double fish production by 2041 to 9.0 million tons/year1. However, there remain some significant barriers to sustainably increase fish production in Bangladesh such as insufficient availability of quality feed at an affordable price; low supply of quality ‘seed’ (fry/fingerling); adoption of improved technologies remain low; climatic shocks and stressors limit aquaculture productivity etc. To achieve the objective, targets are:

Indicators Minimum Targets

EG.3-2: Number of individuals participating in USG food security programs [IM-level]

400,000

EG.3.2-24: Number of individuals in the agriculture and food system who have applied improved management practices or technologies with USG assistance [IM-level]

300,000

Custom 1: % increased productivity of aquaculture producers receiving USG assistance

15%

1 Department of Fisheries, 2022

Objective Two: Increased sales and private sector investment in the aquaculture sector to enhance supply in domestic and international markets.

The aquaculture market system in Bangladesh faces many barriers to advancing its efficiency, sustainability, and inclusivity. Some of the major constraints facing the aquaculture market system include an excess of value-chain intermediaries between producers and consumers that reduces profit margins for farmers and increases market prices for consumers, a lack of price transparency, and bargaining power for farmers that is exacerbated by trader syndicates who informally control prices, post-harvest loss leads to quality deterioration and fish waste, and a lack of access to accurate and objective market information. Furthermore, the private sector lacks experience working with development organizations and donor-funded activities, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, which is one of the biggest constraints for inclusive and sustainable aquaculture development. To achieve the objective, targets are:

EG.3.1-14: Value of new USG commitments and private sector investment leveraged by the USG to support food security and nutrition [IM-level]

$10 million

% increase in full-time equivalent employment of firms receiving USG assistance

15%

% increase of annual sales of producers and firms receiving USG assistance

20%

% reduction in post-harvest losses among beneficiary farmers and traders 10%

Objective Three: Increase the consumption and safe and hygienic handling of nutrient-rich fish products.

Despite the rapid improvement of social and health indicators in Bangladesh over the past decade, poor maternal and child nutrition remains a severe problem with 24% of children under five years stunted (have low height-for-age) and 11% are acutely malnourished or wasted2. Fish is a critically important nutrient-dense food that can significantly improve numerous health indicators when included in the diet. Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, and iodine as well as vitamins A, D and B. But there is a lack of awareness among rural Bangladeshi households on the nutritional benefits of consuming fish as a critical part of a healthy diet. To achieve the objective, targets are:

2 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), 2022.

Custom 1: % increase in consumption of fish products among participants who receive USG assistance

50%

Custom 2: Number of beneficiaries receiving USG assistance who have applied improved safe and hygienic practices with fish products

200,000

C.4. PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Period of Performance The activity’s period of performance is five years from the date of contract award.

Place of Performance The activity will be implemented in Bangladesh, especially in the Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI).

Coordination with other activities This activity is part of a portfolio of USAID/Bangladesh activities that are intended to complement one another and work at different levels to achieve the objectives outlined in the Bangladesh Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and U.S. Government Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS).

C.5. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

In addition to addressing the challenges and achieving performance objectives, the activity must address and integrate each of the following cross-cutting requirements and key principles below:

Localization and sustainability The activity will prioritize locally-led development through which local actors set their own agendas, develop solutions, and bring the capacity, leadership, and resources to make those solutions a reality. In order to successfully accomplish the goal of this activity, it will be essential for the prime implementer to work through local organizations.

Integration and coordination The activity will focus primarily on improving income and nutritional status for aquaculture families and the broader communities and populations of the ZOI. Aligning with the Mission Integration Framework, this activity will use a co-location approach, where a new activity should operate depending upon other activities of different technical offices in that area to have synergies, best use of resources and broader outcomes. This activity will also implement coordination or collaboration approaches with other technical teams, offices, and activities such as Environment (ECOFISH II); Health and Nutrition (Community Health and Nutrition activity); and

Humanitarian Assistance (Nobo Jatra Plus) to achieve the common goal and to track progress through collaboration and allow access to relevant data across stakeholders.

Developmental Impact and Leverage It is incumbent upon the successful Offeror to ensure that transactions facilitated are necessary to accomplish USAID developmental objectives, that the cost of facilitating the targeted transactions is minimized and that the amount of funds used to facilitate transactions achieves maximum impact (not necessarily maximum leverage). In order to ensure lasting impact, bidders may propose an approach to ensuring that learning from this activity (particularly with regard to government aquaculture policies in Bangladesh) are communicated to policy makers. This could include some form of public/private advisory council which would meet periodically to provide input to and learn from project activities.

Market Distortion and Sustainability This activity must avoid market distortion, promote competition, and avoid favoritism. The activity will ensure that the funding is used where it is most required and to the greatest extent possible is facilitating commercially viable solutions for the development of the sector. The activity should use funding in such a way that it catalyzes systemic and sustainable improvements in terms of increasing production, processing, and marketing.

Inclusive Development Inclusive development is a key priority for Bangladesh. The activity will follow a no one is left behind approach and engage all related stakeholders including people with disabilities, indigenous people, youth, ethnic minorities and disadvantaged and LGBTIQ+ communities in different segments of the value chain to develop the aquaculture sector.

Digital As noted in the GFSS (CC IR 10), digital technology should play an integral role in the implementation of the activity, as appropriate. This activity should seek opportunities to responsibly leverage digital technologies to improve the activity’s measurable development outcomes, consistent with USAID’s Digital Strategy and in line with the Principles for Digital Development.

Environmental Guidelines and Climate Risk Management.

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, Section 117 requires that the impact of USAID’s activities on the environment should be considered, and that USAID include environmental sustainability as a central consideration in designing and carrying out its development programs.

This mandate is codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (22 CFR 216) and in ADS Part 201.5.10(g) and in ADS 204 (http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/204/), which, in part, require that the potential environmental impacts of USAID-financed activities are identified prior to a final decision to proceed and that appropriate environmental safeguards are adopted for all activities. In addition, the recipient must comply with host country environmental regulations unless otherwise directed in writing by USAID.

https://www.usaid.gov/digital-strategy https://digitalprinciples.org/ https://digitalprinciples.org/

No interventions funded under this activity will be implemented unless an environmental threshold determination, as defined by 22 CFR 216, has been reached for that intervention, as documented in a Request for Categorical Exclusion, Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), or Environmental Assessment duly signed by the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO).

Some of the interventions under this activity will be technical assistance (TA) in nature and will impart no negative impact on the physical or natural environment. These TA activities qualify for a categorical exclusion per 22 CFR 216.2 (c)(2)(i). However, a threshold determination of negative determination with conditions pursuant to 22 CFR 216.3 (a) (2) (iii) is recommended for possible purchases of pond management inputs, adoption of environmentally responsible technologies, and introduction of improved carp genetics to the farmers.

The aquaculture activity is covered under the IEE of Asia 22-104, under “new activities” which expires on September 30, 2028. The activity scope, funding amount, environmental risks and threshold determinations, and implementation time period remain the same as in Asia 22-104 (page 20).

Based on the threshold determinations and the climate risk assessment, at the implementation stage, the implementing partner must prepare an environmental mitigation and management plan and a climate risk mitigation plan.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) (right now, for better understanding only; no need to respond) As outlined in USAID’s ADS 201.3.4.10, the Offeror must develop an activity MEL Plan after the award. After being awarded, the contractor will work closely with USAID collaboratively to finalize the MEL Plan and indicators. The contractor will perform assessments and studies, as needed, to inform the development of work plans, major milestones, and program monitoring indicators, as well as establishing baseline data and performance targets for each indicator as they relate to criteria for success. USAID and the contractor will conduct periodic performance reviews to monitor the progress of work and the achievement of results as based on the targets specified in the MEL Plan. USAID and the contractor will use objectively verifiable indicators with periodic data collection to measure performance and make adjustments as necessary. The MEL Plan will be revised as appropriate in collaboration with USAID and evolving USG requirements.

The MEL Plan will include annual and the life-of-activity targets, indicator reference sheets, and the approved process for ensuring data quality. In addition, the MEL Plan will also guide all assessments, studies, pause-and-reflect sessions, data collection, and reporting plans over the life of the activity. USAID encourages approaches amenable to a rigorous experimental or quasi-experimental impact evaluation, e.g. randomized control trials (RCTs).

There are some important learning questions that the activity would be well-positioned to explore. Some illustrative learning questions would include:

● What are the major challenges of the aquaculture sector in the areas of production, processing and marketing?

● How can the public and private sectors contribute to developing the aquaculture sector?

● How to strengthen the market linkages to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and inclusivity of aquaculture sector development?

● What are the policy barriers and how can the activity address regulatory and policy issues related to the aquaculture sector?

● How can food safety, hygiene practice, fish consumption, and healthy behavior be strengthened?

● What are the gaps in processing plants and how can they contribute to increasing sales in the national and international markets?

● What structural and cultural barriers exist for inclusion and how effectively can women and youth be integrated in aquaculture interventions and in the sector?

● What environmental and climatic stresses limit aquaculture productivity and what are the possible solutions to address these barriers?

USAID prefers a third-party to conduct a midterm evaluation and/or final performance evaluation to monitor the progress and/or achievements of results based on the targets specified in the activity MEL Plan. The Implementer must cooperate with any third-party evaluators hired by USAID. This includes:

● Close coordination with the evaluator to identify one or more interventions to evaluate with a counterfactual, agree on randomization of cohorts or other approaches for outreach, eligibility criteria, selection and roll-out schedule for those interventions to allow a counterfactual with evaluators, and implement an agreed approach. As noted above, Offeror should identify in their proposal which interventions would be useful to evaluate as a public good, and which would be best-suited for evaluation, ideally under some kind of randomization.

● Sharing of operational, financial, and other data with the evaluator, under a non-disclosure agreement if necessary.

Cost Effectiveness USAID requires the use of cost-effectiveness analysis to ensure the best value for money of its investments. The activity shall incorporate collection of detailed, disaggregated cost data so that cost-effectiveness and other types of cost analyses can be conducted. The activity will conduct analyses of program costs, including the overall cost of implementing and sustaining the activity, costs for specific program activities, and costs per beneficiary. The COR will approve the categorization of these interventions for accounting purposes in annual work plans.

Collaborative Learning and Adapting (CLA) USAID has defined CLA as a guiding framework for and component of the implementation of its activities throughout the Program Cycle. The activity will have a CLA Plan that is fit-for-purpose to enable evidence-driven adaptation. The CLA Plan outlines the approaches and resources for learning opportunities for adaptation, measuring results and achievements of activity, collaborating, and adapting. Traditional monitoring and evaluation (M&E) approaches including indicator monitoring are included under the CLA umbrella, specifically the learning section. The activity will apply other complexity-aware monitoring and learning approaches (e.g. outcome harvesting, most significant change) as appropriate.

Strategic Communications There will be a need for a robust communication strategy for this activity, which will be aligned with the mission’s communication strategy and will be developed within the first six months of the award.

Adaptive Management The Mission intends to issue this award on the basis of adaptive management and will provide this award under which USAID reserves the right in collaboration with the implementer to periodically amend the award approach and targets based upon performance and learning.

Attachment B: Sources Sought Information (For Small Business Respondents ONLY):

I. Cover Page with Business Information (1 page maximum)

1. Company/organization name and website

2. Affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, and potential teaming partners

3. Year the firm was established and number of employees

4. Two points of contact (names, titles, phone numbers and email addresses)

5. UEI /SAM number and CAGE Code, as registered in the System for Award

Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov/

6. Has your company ever provided services internationally, especially in the Asian region?

a. Yes

b. No

7. Does your company qualify as a Small Business under NAICS 541990?

a. Yes

b. No

8. Small Business designation/status (must correlate with SAM registration):

a. Small Business

b. Small Disadvantaged Business

c. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

d. HUBZone Small Business

e. 8(a) Small Business

f. Women-Owned Small Business

g. Veteran-Owned Small Business

h. Other

i. Not Applicable

9. Is your company eligible to receive awards under the 8(a) Program?

a. Yes

b. No

10. After careful review of the size and scope of this activity described in Attachment A of this document, do you intend to submit an offer if this solicitation is posted?

a. Yes, as a Prime

b. Yes, as a Subcontractor

c. Consortium/Teaming Participant

d. No

II. Capability Statement (4 pages maximum)

1. Introduction- Small businesses can form a consortium or teaming arrangements with relevant organizations to implement the project successfully and achieve the goal. All http://www.sam.gov/ organizational arrangements must also include the above-cited information and certifications for each entity in the proposed arrangement. Small Business can provide the consortium or teaming arrangements related information with this Sources Sought or during the proposal stage.

2. Institutional Capability- Describe your capacity and ability to successfully manage and implement a large, dynamic activity like Aquaculture. Provide a brief summary describing your organizational core technical and structural capabilities by providing examples of the relevant aquaculture projects within last 5 years describing:

A. Past experience and expertise in managing and implementing large and dynamic aquaculture sector development projects.

B. Past experience and achievements issuing Grants Under Contracts (GUC) to local organizations based in Asia or other regions.

C. Past experience and achievements working in low-income and developing countries.

D. The above examples should include the following information:

a. Populations served

b. Geographic locations

c. Models of implementation

d. Financial management

e. Organizational capacity

f. Staffing

g. Monitoring programmatic performance

h. Strengthening the capacity of local entities

i. Experience with USG funding including size, lengths and type of awards, and relationship (sub or prime awardee)

III. Response to Technical Questions (3 pages maximum)

1. What problems would your organization focus on solving in order to sustainably increase productivity, sales, and private sector investment in the aquaculture sector?

What approaches would your organization use to increase the consumption and safe and hygienic handling of nutrient-rich fish products for USAID’s priority populations?

2. What tools and approaches would your organization use to enhance inclusive and sustainable aquaculture sector growth in Bangladesh? What contextual evidence is there to support these tools and approaches?

3. Who will be your key stakeholders in terms of accomplishing the objectives of the activity? Why?

4. How will you incorporate adaptive management into the full performance work statement?