Syria MEL RFI.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Subject: Request for Information Issued Date: June 2, 2023 Comments Due Date: June 22, 2023, at 12:00pm Istanbul, Turkey time Requested Information: Organizations Providing Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research and

Analysis Services in Syria

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Syria, is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) as part of market research to identify organizations providing monitoring, evaluation, and research and analysis services in Syria. The RFI is open to all organizations as defined below:

a. Local Entities (for- and not-for-profit) to conduct independent third-party monitoring of

USAID/Syria programs. Local entities in this context are defined as any organization that has not received more than $5 million from USAID in the past five years.

b. Local and International Entities (for- and not-for-profit) to provide in-depth research, analysis, evaluations and assessments related to the Syrian economic, political and social context.

Depending on the results of our market, we anticipate releasing the Request for Proposal (RFP) for this upcoming requirement by September 1, 2023.

The purpose of the RFI is detailed on Page 3 onwards.

It is important to note this activity will involve monitoring and evaluation of other USAID/Syria activities, which will impact the Contractor’s ability to bid on other opportunities and will require an Organizational Conflict of Interest plan in accordance with FAR part 9.5.

This is a request for information and is not a Request for Proposals. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. government to issue any solicitation or ultimately award a contract or assistance agreement on the basis of this RFI, or to pay for any information voluntarily submitted as a result of this request. USAID is not seeking technical or cost proposals at this time. Do not submit any proposal in response to this RFI. Responding to this RFI does not give any advantage to any firm or organization in any subsequent competition. Responses will be held confidential. USAID reserves the right to respond to any, all, or none of the comments and questions submitted. USAID’s responses (if any) will be issued through the www.sam.gov and www.grants.gov portals. Please continue to monitor these sites for any postings.

Please submit your comments to this RFI via email to syriasolicitations@usaid.gov to the attention of Ms. Amy McQuade with the subject: “Request for Information (RFI): USAID/Syria Third-Party Monitoring,” no later than the date and time above.

Thank you for your interest in the subject RFI.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:syriasolicitations@usaid.gov

Sincerely, ________/s/_________ Amy McQuade USAID/Middle East Regional Platform/Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance Regional Contracting Officer

ANNEX 1 – PURPOSE

This RFI is for an anticipated Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). The purpose of this activity is to ensure high-quality, reliable, timely, and objective monitoring, evaluation, learning, and research and analysis services from our BPA holders to help ensure sufficient analysis for and oversight of USAID/Syria activities. More specifically, this activity will enable USAID’s Agreement/Contracting Officer Representatives (A/CORs) to procure research and analysis to inform program design and use independent monitoring services to verify and report on activity implementation where USAID staff are unable to conduct on-site monitoring visits due to a number of reasons, including, but not limited to:

non-permissive security conditions; difficulty obtaining government approval to visit certain geographic location; and health/safety issues. Independent monitoring under this activity will include verification of environmental requirements and mitigation plans, as needed. The primary focus of the activity will be independent monitoring and/or select evaluations and research and analysis related to learning priorities of USAID/Syria.

SERVICES NEEDED

The activity will obtain the services of local monitoring, and learning organizations; and local or international evaluation, research and analysis organizations to provide technical services to USAID/Syria, for its activities in non-regime-held areas of Syria.

Below is the range of services needed:

a) Performance Monitoring and Data Analysis

The Contractor will improve the performance monitoring and accountability measures to verify that activities in Syria supported by USAID are taking place or have been completed, and whether or not interventions are effective and meeting expected objectives. The Contractor is expected to monitor the implementation of USAID’s activities in Syria, including but not limited to the integration of gender considerations, the mitigation of environmental impacts, and the future sustainability of results.

Tasks may include, but are not limited to:

1) Development of a system to collect and report accurate data related to activity performance and compliance with USAID regulations.

2) Identification and drafting of reports on findings that need immediate USAID action.

3) Periodic presentation related to site visits and summary reporting, as requested by USAID.

b) Research and Analysis

The activity will ensure high-quality, locally led analysis and research services are delivered to USAID and its Syria programs in order to inform locally led program design. USAID seeks local and/or international entities with experience in applying rigorous qualitative research methodologies and with developing action-oriented knowledge products to inform program design. Specific types of analyses that may be requested under this activity include desk and literature reviews; landscape analysis; political economy analysis; deep dives; atmospheric reports; and other applied research. These may cover the whole of

Syria with areas and different thematic topics including economic, political, governance, and social sectors.

c) Evaluations

The Contractor must carry out high quality, timely, and useful evaluations and assessments of USAID’s activities and projects in Syria. The results, findings, and recommendations from these evaluations will allow USAID to actively manage these projects and activities – as well as plan future projects and activities – using evidence as a basis for decision-making.

RFI SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

RFI respondents must provide information/comments by the closing date and time noted on page 1.

Submission via email is required; phone calls or hard copy delivery will not be accepted.

The total length of the RFI submission should not be longer than four pages. Submissions shall use only size 12 Calibri font or similar size typeset, 8.5 inch by 11-inch paper, and single-spaced pages for all narrative documents, with each page numbered consecutively. Respondents are encouraged to use the optional response template at the end of this RFI (Appendix I). Respondents are encouraged to copy and paste Appendix 1 into a new document, provide their responses in that document, and email that document to syriasolicitations@usaid.gov.

If the submitter has produced relevant reports, those reports may be included, preferably as embedded links. If the reports are not online, they may be submitted as attached documents. The submission must be in English.

Please do not submit applications, proposals, or resumes as they will be discarded. Responses will be held confidential. Proprietary information should not be sent. Submissions will not be acknowledged, nor will responses be sent. USAID may use any information provided without incurring any obligation.

USAID reserves the right to, or not to incorporate any, some, or none of the comments received from this RFI into any subsequent solicitations.

All information provided will become the property of USAID, will not be returned, and will not be released publicly. USAID reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for USAID’s own purposes. Proprietary information must not be sent.

USAID/Syria asks that interested respondents submit short written responses to the questions outlined below. Respondents are encouraged to review the questions and respond to only those that are relevant to their experience and capabilities. Responses to all questions are not required but encouraged as applicable.

Respondents can reply using the response template (Annex 2).

[END OF ANNEX 1]

mailto:syriasolicitations@usaid.gov

ANNEX 2 – RESPONSE TEMPLATE

1. What is your name and title?

2. What organization do you represent, if applicable? Please provide name and physical address.

3. What is your email address?

4. Are you a local entity in accordance with the criteria listed above (Page 1)?

a. Yes / No

5. What is your status in Syria?

a. Independent consultant/self-employed

b. Private sector firm/Limited Liability Company

c. Non-governmental organization/civil society organization

d. Academic institution/university professor

e. Other [please describe]

6. Please describe your ability to speak, read, and write in English and Arabic using the following levels:

Level I Basic Knowledge Level II Limited Knowledge Level III Good Working Knowledge Level IV Fluent Level V Professional Translator/Interpreter

7. Please describe your (or your organization’s) past experience and technical capacities to conduct performance monitoring and data analysis in Syria and other contexts. Please specifically describe your experience with any specific methodologies mentioned in the services needed section of this RFI, as applicable.

8. Please describe your (or your organization’s) past experience and technical capacities to conduct locally led research and analysis to inform program design in Syria and other contexts. Please specifically describe your experience with any specific methodologies mentioned in the services needed section of this RFI, as applicable.

9. Third party monitoring relies heavily on the use of innovative technology to execute successful field monitoring. Please provide examples of how you would integrate technology in conducting tasks under the proposed activity.

10. Please describe how you might successfully apply continuous learning strategies among implementing partners in order to apply lessons learned and improve programmatic results.

In addition to the specific questions requested above, please outline below any general program recommendations, relevant context, existing organizational capacities, or other information pertinent to the design of future USAID/Syria MEL programming relevant to its objectives and programming areas as noted in the RFI that you would like to share here.

Thank you for your interest and assistance in the USAID/Syria.

[END OF ANNEX 2]