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FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF APRIL 25, 2014 FBO #4535
SOLICITATION NOTICE

R -- Securing Water for Food Technical Assistance Facility - SWFFTAF RFI (AID-SOL-OAA-14-000098)

Notice Date
4/23/2014
 
Notice Type
Presolicitation
 
NAICS
541990 — All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
 
Contracting Office
Agency for International Development, Washington D.C., USAID/Washington, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 7.10-006, Washington, District of Columbia, 20523, United States
 
ZIP Code
20523
 
Solicitation Number
AID-SOL-OAA-14-000098
 
Archive Date
5/17/2014
 
Point of Contact
Veronica Bates-Shields,
 
E-Mail Address
vbates-shields@usaid.gov
(vbates-shields@usaid.gov)
 
Small Business Set-Aside
N/A
 
Description
SWFFTAF RFI REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) Solicitation Number: SOL-OAA-14-000098 Notice Type: Request for Information (RFI) Subject: Securing Water for Food Technical Assistance Facility Issuance Date: April 23, 2014 Closing Date: May 2, 2014 Closing Time: 2:00 PM EST I. Description The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in support of the Center for Development Innovation (CID) is seeking information on GSA schedules currently held in relation to this request, clarity of the proposed requirement, labor categories, other direct costs and any comments on the requirement would be helpful. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, USAID is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondees are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website; www.fbo.gov. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor the website for additional information pertaining to this requirement. II. Introduction The SWFF Innovator Technical Assistance Facility is an essential component of Securing Water for Food: A Grand Challenge for Development (SWFF). The Innovator Technical Assistance Facility will provide guidance for 10-30 SWFF innovators to achieve technical and financial milestones and reach scale. The purpose of the Facility is to directly provide assistance or arrange for assistance to help awardees "accelerate" their innovations. The Facility Manager will work in coordination with the innovators, Founding Partners (USAID and Sida), and other parties that directly support SWFF. The successful consortium will: • Demonstrate a proven record of accelerating innovative, technology-focused ventures at both the market driven product/business development and scaling/commercialization stages; • Demonstrate the ability and commitment to develop person-to-person relationships with SWFF awardees; • Demonstrate an expert understanding of the marketplace for water technologies and/or business model innovations; • Demonstrate established contacts and well-developed networks with investors and financial institutions-especially those looking to invest in water or food innovations; and; • Demonstrate the ability to source and manage assistance from multiple firms/organizations for business development, investment facilitation, and partnership development-including developing country firms/organizations. III. Background The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), (collectively, the "Founding Partners") launched Securing Water for Food: A Grand Challenge for Development (SWFF) on September 2, 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden. Through this Grand Challenge for Development, we will identify and accelerate science and technology innovations and market-driven approaches that enable the production of more food with less water and/or make more water available for food production, processing, and distribution in developing and emerging countries. SWFF is focused on three (3) areas that are critical to reducing water scarcity in the food value chain: (1) Water Efficiency and Reuse - especially targeted at the food value chain. This will become a greater necessity as water availability is threatened by competition between industrial, agricultural, and energy uses. Improving water efficiency and reuse has tremendous potential water-saving benefits that may have multiplier effects at various levels of a country's economy. (2) Water Capture and Storage. These systems are in high demand in many regions where rain occurs at limited times. With projected increases in rainfall variability due to climate change and increased demands for food production, capture and storage systems at various scales are needed to secure water supplies throughout the year and build resiliency to drought and floods. (3) Salinity and Salt Water Intrusion. In coastal areas, over pumping and rising sea levels are leading to saltwater intrusion, forcing farmers to use marginal quality water for irrigation. With more than 30% of the world's population living in coastal areas and drawing food supply from fertile deltas, urgent solutions are required to reduce the impacts of salinity on the quality of aquifers and food production. The Founding Partners opened the first "call for innovations" in November 2013 and invited Concept Note submissions from applicants around the world. The Founding Partners have invited 83 semi-finalists to submit a Full Proposal that addresses a more rigorous set of questions about their innovation and target market. In July 2014, the Founding Partners will convene in-person interviews with the top 40 finalists. In September 2014, the Founding Partners will make approximately 10-30 awards and provide chosen innovators with a mix of financial and technical support. Awardees may be nonprofits, for-profit ventures, and universities and research institutions. The Founding Partners will provide financial support and the SWFF Innovator Technical Assistance Facility will provide technical support as outlined in this document. The primary customers of the Facility will be the innovators who choose to participate in the Innovator Technical Assistance Facility. SWFF will support innovators in two broad stages of innovation: • Stage 1 - Market-driven product/business development: These innovations have been verified through a standalone pilot or a series of pilots and now need to be tested and adapted for adoption in new developing or emerging countries. These innovations may require technical validation and proof of adoption/uptake in a new market. • Stage 2 - Scaling/Commercial Growth: These are established innovations that have already demonstrated a viable business model and are generating revenue. They require support for commercial growth, including adaptation of the innovation for larger scale production, market adoption, and distribution. It is expected that these innovations have already demonstrated technical feasibility and market acceptance and can provide evidence supporting these points. SWFF awardees will receive an initial tranche of funding that is approximately 15-20% of the total amount of funding available per awardee depending on their Stage. In order to receive additional funding beyond the initial tranche, each awardee will be required to meet mutually developed and agreed-upon financial and technical milestones. Though awardees are not required to participate in the Innovator Technical Assistance Facility, it is designed to help innovators achieve their financial and technical milestones. The awardee, the USAID Agreement/Contracting Officer, the USAID Program Manager, and an Acceleration Facilitator (as explained below under "Specific Tasks and Requirements") will jointly determine milestones at the time of award for awardees that choose to participate in the Technical Assistance Facility. The USAID Program Manager, the innovator, and the Acceleration Facilitator will review progress toward the completion of awardee milestones every six months. The USAID Agreement/Contracting Officer will ultimately assess if milestones have been achieved at the annual review. IV. Objectives The objectives of this contract are to provide advice, technical expertise, and implementation services relating to work performed and supported by the Securing Water for Food Grand Challenge for Development. The contractor will provide a comprehensive suite of products, services, and deliverables, with a specific focus on grants management, acceleration support, and monitoring and evaluation support. This will be the basis for evaluation and awarding of the contract. Additional work is anticipated beyond but related to these tasks. A flexible ability to add and subtract STTA(short term technical assistance) and LTTA( long term technical assistance) will be required. In addition, major program elements may require delivery through sub-contracts. 1. Innovation Program Conceptualization, Development, and Implementation • Concept notes, barrier analysis and state of innovation work. • Partner development and implementation • Launch and other event planning and execution. • Writing grant calls. • Application intake, evaluation methodology, and execution for selecting grantees from 100s of applications • Grant award processing • Grant management 2. Acceleration support for SWFF Innovators (described more specifically in Section A below) • Provide direct assistance (or facilitating the provision of assistance) to innovators, enabling them to improve their innovations, reach new markets, attract outside capital, and secure partnerships. • Work with innovators to determine technical assistance needs including but not limited to: business model improvements; testing/piloting prototypes; operational improvements, strategic marketing, manufacturing, and distribution networks, marketing goals; partnership identification and networking; human resource management; marketing; IT: legal/regulatory, procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, and distribution experts and business model innovation advisory services and organizational capacity/training. 3. Monitoring and Evaluation (described more specifically in Section B below) • Individual grantee analysis • Program specific analysis • Data collection, verification, and analysis • Grantee technical support (including trainings) to help them meet all M&E requirements of the grant • Consolidation of reports from multiple grantees for the same program 4. Travel support logistics for USAID paid travel by grantees, presenter, and others as directed by USAID • Primary POC for communications with the traveler • Scheduling and reservations • VISA processing support • Financial tracking and accounting • Voucher processing from the traveler • All other functions required for a successful and pleasant experience by the traveler A. SWFF Technical Assistance Facility A.1 Objectives The Innovator Technical Assistance Facility's objective is to help SWFF-supported innovators reach scale. The Facility will create connections to the marketplace, providing direct assistance (or facilitating the provision of assistance) to awardees, enabling them to refine their innovations, access new markets, bring in outside capital, develop partnerships, and - ultimately - have measureable impact in improving water availability and efficiency along the food value chain, thus boosting food security, alleviating poverty, and stimulating inclusive growth. SWFF innovators will have varying needs, and as such, offerors need to demonstrate their ability to function as a highly networked apex organization that draws on multiple firms/organizations for business development, investment facilitation, and partnership development. The offerors extensive network will enable them to flexibly provide technically and geographically varied services depending on the individual needs of SWFF innovators. This type of networked organization will be able to provide training at the group level in addition to facilitating specific market based development per awardee. Services should be sourced both from international and local firms/organizations and individuals. The Facility will directly provide or manage the provision of a wide array of services to participating SWFF awardees to increase demand for their innovations and increase their organizational and institutional capacity to meet that demand - both of which are likely required to bring SWFF innovations to scale. The Facility will provide both supply and demand side advisory services. Some technical assistance may be delivered to all awardees participating in the Facility, and other types of assistance will need to be targeted towards individual awardees. As further outlined under "Specific Tasks and Deliverables" below, this assistance may include advisory services, technical services, and partnership facilitation. Supply side interventions may include: improving the innovation, capacity building of the management team, improving distribution models, gaining operational efficiency, and expanding access to capital to finance the growth strategy. Demand-side interventions may include: improving market linkages, securing contracts, building partnerships, enabling penetration of new markets, and support in attracting a growing customer base. The Facility Manager should propose their overall acceleration methodology that includes a detailed explanation of direct technical advisory services and marketplace facilitation opportunities. We recognize, however, that not all awardee needs can or will be identified in advance. As such, the offeror must also propose a methodology for identifying and sourcing highly specialized services that may require subcontractors and/or the management of a voucher program (whereby innovators would receive a voucher for the procurement of services from organizations identified and approved by the Facility Manager). While the Facility Manager should propose their general acceleration methodology (including a robust menu of direct technical advisory offerings and marketplace facilitation opportunities), we recognize that not all innovator needs can (or should) be identified in advance. The contractor must therefore propose a methodology for identifying and sourcing highly specialized services that may require additional subcontractors and/or the management of a voucher program, whereby innovators would receive a voucher toward the procurement of services from organizations screened by the Facility Manager. A.2 Results Results sought (for innovators who use the services of the Facility) will include: • Increased technical and financial viability of SWFF-supported innovations • Increased usage/uptake of SWFF-supported innovations • Expanded number of partnerships between SWFF awardees and the private sector • Increased amount of outside capital attracted by SWFF awardees • Expanded number of collaborations between SWFF awardees and industry experts • Improved organizational and institutional capacity of SWFF innovators A.3 Specific Tasks and Requirements The full scope of targeted services will depend on the needs of each innovator participating in the Facility. The following, however, are general support categories that the Facility Manager will be expected to provide. Offerors should propose cost-effective ways of delivering the services described below (for example, some activities could be done virtually and/or in groups). The Facility Manager shall: • Provide overall management of the Facility. This includes providing direct technical assistance to SWFF awardees, as well as provisioning assistance from consortium members or additional providers that have yet-to-be identified (see flexible subcontracting or voucher program below). • Provide an Acceleration Facilitator who will manage the relationships with all awardees. The role of the Acceleration Facilitator will be to work with the innovator and the USAID Program Manager to develop Acceleration Workplans; work with the innovators to determine technical assistance needs; match innovators with required assistance; provide targeted advice and mentorship; proactively build connections and find opportunities for partnerships; facilitate access to new sources of capital; access industry or other resources (for example mentors, resource partners) that will help the innovator achieve milestones; and track progress on the Acceleration Workplan and develop semi-annual reports (with a summary of key actions, qualitative findings of opportunities and challenges and reporting on acceleration metrics) for each innovator. We recognize these abilities/areas of expertise may not be found in one organization, and consortia are encouraged to fulfill this requirement. Sub-awards may be made to meet these obligations. • Create a network of mentors for SWFF innovators. Mentoring is a productive way to connect innovators with industry professionals, which may lead to valuable partnership opportunities. The Facility Manager will establish a mentor network, drawing from the water and agricultural industries, as well as other corporations, financial institutions, universities, and nonprofits. The Acceleration Facilitator will match awardees with mentors that can provide insight, advice, and assistance. Offerors should propose creative and cost-efficient ways of sourcing and retaining mentors throughout the duration of the SWFF program. • Create a flexible subcontracting or voucher program. If the Facility Manager or a member of its consortium is unable to directly provide services, the Manager will source and competitively contract providers to deliver this support. The Facility Manager will also oversee the delivery of support. These services may alternatively be procured through a voucher program, whereby the innovator identifies the provider and the Facility Manager provides a voucher that the innovator can use to procure needed services. • Facilitate access to investors and opportunities to raise capital for innovators who are seeking outside capital. Activities may include holding workshops on investment-preparedness; convening investors' circles; facilitating co-investment partnerships with investors and/or other financial intermediaries; facilitating partnerships with risk insurance entities; and helping innovators source and close deals. Investment-related activities and follow-up actions will be documented in the Acceleration Workplans at six-month reviews. • Enable partnerships for innovators who are seeking partners. The Facility Manager should initiate and grow relationships that result in business linkages between SWFF innovators and the private sector. Activities may include helping commercially ready innovators to develop marketing and distribution strategies, overall sales and business development support, partnership development, and facilitation of international marketing opportunities. Types of partnership opportunities may include co-investment opportunities with commercial water technology, engineering, or similar companies; partnerships to develop and commercialize new water technologies (such as advance market/purchase commitments); or due diligence/ validation/screening partnerships (particularly focused on Stage 1 awardees). The first of these activities will be the Securing Water for Food development exchange (DevX) in September/October 2014. We expect the Facility Manager and Acceleration Facilitator will work with an existing contracted organization to provide initial support to awardees in late August/early September. Partnership-oriented activities and follow-up should be documented in the Acceleration Workplans at six-month reviews. The Acceleration Facilitator shall: • Work to create and maintain "Acceleration Workplans" that evaluate and establish targets for technical or business model improvements; testing/piloting; operational goals; marketing goals; partnership identification and networking; and organizational capacity/training. The Acceleration Facilitator will work with the innovator to set adoption/uptake targets. The Acceleration Workplans will detail recommended activities, resources, and timeframes. Workplans should establish mutual expectations by documenting what the innovator will contribute and what the Facility will contribute. Activities should directly accelerate the innovator's capacity and ability to achieve technical and financial milestones. Workplans will be updated at six-month reviews. The Facility Manager will determine what support each innovator receives and at what point in time. The Facility Manager will make support recommendations to the USAID Program Manager, which may include increasing or decreasing support for a particular innovator. The percent of support per innovator will not be constant over time; it will vary depending on the stage and progress of each awardee as they move along the innovation pipeline. • Provide or manage the provision of business development services and mentoring to SWFF awardees to help develop their innovation and organizational capacity (based on individual innovator needs). Types of business development services may include access to technology and engineering, pricing, human resource management, marketing, IT, legal/regulatory, procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, and distribution experts and business model innovation advisory services. Needs and services should be documented in the Acceleration Workplans at six-month reviews. • Actively identify market opportunities for adoption and uptake. SWFF innovators will already have an implementation plan for their innovation and the Acceleration Facilitator will help awardees meet their original adoption/uptake target. The Acceleration Facilitator will identify additional opportunities for adoption and uptake (within the target country and/or regionally). This may include demand/market surveys, competitor assessments, press/media outreach, and facilitating participation in marketplace events and trade shows. B. SWFF Monitoring and Evaluation (ME) Technical Assistance Facility B.1 Objectives The objective of the Securing Water for Food M&E Technical Assistance Facility (SWWFMETAF) is: (i) to provide vital support services to the SWFF Partners to enable their effective management, monitoring and evaluation of the program; and (ii) to facilitate the dissemination and transfer of SWFF-related knowledge and lessons learned to further promote the design and deployment of innovations that produce more food using less water and/or make more water available for food production, processing, or distribution in developing countries. The contractor is expected to coordinate and work closely with USAID's Global Development Lab's support contractor providing a variety of services to all of the Grand Challenges programs. We expect that specific short-term technical assistance (STTA) or long-term technical assistance (LTTA) will be required to address the specific water and/or agriculture technical metrics that each awardee will need to meet the requirements of SWFF. B.2 Core Activities The following types of activities will be undertaken through SWWFMETAF: (1) Advising on and strengthening SWFF awardees' ability to comply with USAID policies and procedures. SWFF anticipates that many of the awardees may be organizations that have little or no experience working with USAID. The SWWFMETAF contractor shall serve as a front-line resource for the awardees in understanding and complying with USAID operational policies and procedures, such as those articulated in the Automated Directives System (ADS). Anticipated areas of assistance may include, but are not limited to: facilitating pre-award surveys, establishing appropriate accounting and financial management practices, and providing guidance in technical/financial reporting. Specific activities may include the preparation of standard awardee operation manuals/guidelines, providing individualized assistance to awardees, hosting training workshops, and establishing an awardee "hotline" through which tailored assistance may be remotely provided. (2) Monitoring awardee performance. The SWWFTO contractor shall assist SWFF with overseeing the implementation and progress of the awards. This will include the following types of activities: (a) Quality control of awardee progress reporting: Given many awardees' expected lack of familiarity with USAID reporting requirements, the contractor shall review their progress reports, which may include semi-annual and annual reports, for completeness and coherency before they are submitted to USAID. The contractor shall prepare a reporting template for awardees to follow, including progress towards meeting project objectives and reporting on the relevant, selected indicators described in the awardees' monitoring and evaluation plan. Any reporting templates produced shall be reviewed by USAID before being finalized, and could be developed as an input to the Award Management Online Platform (see (c) below). (b) Field visits to verify achievements and assist with addressing any shortcomings: As required, the contractor shall travel with the USAID Program Manager to the awardees' implementation sites to verify reported achievements and the completion of project milestones, which may be required for payment of invoices under Fixed Obligation Grants (FOGs), and provide guidance to awardees on overcoming any obstacles that may be hindering project progress. (c) Development and maintenance of an Award Management Online Platform: The contractor shall develop an online platform that will enable the SWFF Partners to quickly access information on the awardees' projects and current performance. The platform should include reader-friendly presentation of the projects' objectives, place of implementation, targets, current results, identified risks to achieving targets, and links to any associated material such as press releases, videos, etc. The platform should also provide access to an archive of the awardees' documents, including relevant contractual information and progress reports. NOTE: If there is already an existing GCD online M&E platform at the time of the implementation of this contract, the contractor will make sure to assist awardees and, where necessary, directly enter awardee projects' objectives, place of implementation, targets, current results, identified risks to achieving targets, and links to any associated material such as press releases, videos, etc (3) Designing and conducting performance and impact evaluations: The SWWFMETAF contractor shall work with SWFF to further implement the overall monitoring and evaluation framework for SWFF that links to the broad "meta-level" Grand Challenge for Development (GCD) Strategic Framework as well as the Securing Water for Food Strategic Framework. Additionally, the contractor shall assist SWFF and awardees with developing individual project monitoring and evaluation plans that include targets and indicators tailored to the awardees' individual projects and inclusive of USAID standard indicators for water and agriculture subject areas. As required, the contractor shall perform mid-term project performance evaluation that, inter alia, assess progress towards achieving the projects' objectives, identifies implementation obstacles and assesses awardees' efforts to overcome them, and recommends any mid-term project modifications. The contractor may also perform end-of-project performance evaluations that assess the extent to which the project's objectives were achieved and captures lessons learned that may be informative for the design of future SWFF projects. The contractor may also be required to assist with the design and execution of impact evaluations that typically utilize counterfactual analysis to assess the changes, both intended and unintended, that can be attributed the project. During the development of the overall monitoring and evaluation framework, the contractor shall advise on the feasibility and likely effectiveness of impact evaluations and timing and characteristics of baseline data collection. (4) Organizing and facilitating SWFF events: The SWWFMETAF contractor shall take a leading role in organizing SWFF events, including such activities as making logistical arrangements, reserving appropriate venue space, organizing speakers, vetting speakers' presentations, printing materials, preparing binders, renting equipment, as necessary, organizing catered meals, assembling and disassembling exhibit booths, etc. As required, the contractor shall facilitate the travel arrangements of SWFF event participants, including making flight and hotel arrangements and obtaining visas. At the SWFF events, the contractor shall undertake such activities as facilitating and moderating sessions, taking notes, preparing note summaries or proceedings, and taking photos and video. Additionally, the contractor may be required to present on selected technical topics related to the SWFF. (5) Facilitating outreach and communication: Effective outreach and communications are critical to the success of SWFF, given its focus on attracting attention to the SWFF development problem, engaging with non-traditional partners, and disseminating technical and non-technical information to SWFF audiences. The contractor shall prepare a wide set of written and visual content that will be used in multiple locations. This content will include but not be limited to press releases, program notices, one-pagers, web content, emails, and social media posts. In addition, the contractor shall aggregate and post relevant SWFF related information that might be of interest to the SWFF audience, particularly on social media sites. The contractor shall also develop videos, infographics, and additional non-traditional content along with providing photos that effectively communicate SWFF goals and results to the targeted audience. The contractor shall assist the SWFF team with developing the SWFF website into a platform that serves both as a tool for communicating with the general public as well as a technical resource for development experts and other stakeholders. The contractor will help ensure that the website provides ready access to the latest information on innovations, solutions and approaches at the clean energy/agriculture nexus. (6) Facilitating travel by SWFF awardees and experts: The contractor shall, as appropriate, support the travel of SWFF awardees and/or experts in the clean energy/agriculture nexus to events such as meetings, workshops, conferences and other fora related to SWFF. This may include payment of travel costs (e.g. airline tickets, per diem, hotels, ground transportation) and/or logistical support by assisting with travel and event-related arrangements, such as flight and hotel reservations, conference registration, etc. The contractor shall assist participants with obtaining visas, as necessary. (7) Develop training manuals for awardees: Training materials should be able to easily be viewed as a single document (PDF and/or PPT), as well as throughout the online database. Training materials should include "quick tips" and FAQs. Consultant will participate in dry-run training sessions to test efficacy of materials and make adjustments accordingly. (8) Integrating Securing Water for Food Projects into Partner Programs. To transfer knowledge gained from SWFF projects and activities and strengthen USAID and partner programs in the clean energy-agriculture nexus, the contractor shall conduct assessments and provide training and technical assistance to selected USAID Bureaus and Missions, their implementing partners, and other stakeholders or partners. This may include technical advice on incorporating clean energy solutions in the design and implementation of USG agricultural and food security programs, such as Feed the Future. Other activities may include hosting training workshops, including preparing course curriculums and materials, inviting speakers, and giving presentations; review of selected USG clean energy/ agriculture program designs and workplans to identify opportunities for incorporating clean energy solutions; conducting assessments of field programs (estimated one per year), and preparation of analytical papers, toolkits and other materials to disseminate SWFF lessons learned. V. Period of Performance This estimated period of performance for this task order is September, 2014 through September, 2018. VI. Place of Performance The majority of activities will be implemented in Washington D.C. to enable effective communication between USAID and the contractor. International travel will be required to implement some of the above tasks, including at least once a year to each of the project implementation sites and to the location of annual SWFF Partners meetings, which rotates between the home offices of the Partners. VII. Deliverables The following deliverables shall be submitted to USAID in association with SWFFMETAF: A. Work Plan. Within 30 days of contract award, the contractor shall submit a draft Work Plan that describes key objectives, activities, milestones, responsible contractor staff and/ or sub-contractors, and timeframe. B. Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. Within 45 days of the contract award, the contractor shall develop an operation plan to implement the overall SWFF M&E Framework. The operational plan will be developed in close consultation with the SWWFMETAF COR, and include components for assessing outputs, outcomes, and, as appropriate, impacts with associated key indicators and methodologies for their measurement. Up to three times per year, the contractor shall monitor and verify progress results through site visits, interviews, and review of project documentation. C. SWFF Awardees' Progress Reporting. The contractor shall prepare a progress report template for the SWFF awardees to document their progress in meeting project objectives and reporting on the relevant, selected indicators described in the awardees' monitoring and evaluation plan. D. Evaluations. The contractor shall design and perform up to three mid-term, performance and/or impact evaluations per year. E. Award Management Online Platform. The contractor shall develop an online platform that will enable the SWFF Partners to quickly access information on the awardees' projects and current performance. The platform should include reader-friendly presentation of the projects' objectives, place of implementation, targets, current results, identified risks to achieving targets, and links to any associated material such as press releases, videos, etc. The platform should also provide access to an archive of the awardees' documents, including relevant contractual information and progress reports. NOTE: If there is already an existing GCD online M&E platform at the time of the implementation of this contract, the contractor will make sure to assist awardees and, where necessary, directly enter awardee projects' objectives, place of implementation, targets, current results, identified risks to achieving targets, and links to any associated material such as press releases, videos, etc F. Outreach and Communications. The contractor shall develop up to thirty articles, press releases, and/or other written content per year, and up to two videos per year, which communicate to targeted audiences information about SWFF and associated projects, activities and events. G. Accrual Reports. The contractor shall submit an estimated accruals reports on a quarterly basis to the SWWFMETAF COR, which includes the following information: 1. Total amount obligated, 2. Total amount invoiced, 3. Total amounts expended but not yet invoiced for, and 4. Remaining unexpended funds. H. Reporting. Following the award of SWWFMETAF, the contractor shall submit to the SWWFMETAF COR concise quarterly reports that summarize the major activities and achievements made during the quarter, problems encountered and remedial actions proposed or taken, and activities planned for the next quarter. An annual report shall be prepared at the end of each fiscal year that summarizes the quarterly reports (a fourth quarter quarterly report will not be required) and assesses progress against the Work Plan described in Section X (A) above. I. Key Personnel The Contractor shall propose the following Key Personnel for implementation of SWFF M&E TA Facility: (1) Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (MES): The MES will be responsible for implementing the overall SWFF M&E framework described in Section II.2.c. Additionally, the MES shall assist SWFF and awardees with developing individual project monitoring and evaluation plans that include targets and indicators tailored to the awardees' individual projects and inclusive of USAID standard indicators for water and agriculture subject areas. The MES must have at least seven years of experience with designing and performing mid-term, performance and impact evaluations in developing countries, preferably associated with the implementation of clean energy programs. S/he must be able to demonstrate a high degree of knowledge of M&E methodologies and best practices, including, but not limited to, developing M&E plans and collecting baseline data in a developing country context, statistical sampling, and analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data. S/he must have strong oral and written communication skills and be prepared to travel to SWFF award sites, which may be in remote, rural areas, to collect data, conduct interviews, and verify results. The technical proposal shall include a summary of each of the Key Personnel's qualifications. A complete and current resume must be submitted as an Appendix for each of the Key Personnel positions, detailing the requisite qualifications and experience of the individual and references with contact information. Resumes may not exceed five (5) pages in length. Qualifications, experience and skills shall be placed in chronological order starting with most recent information. Each resume shall be accompanied by a signed letter of commitment from each candidate indicating his/her: (a) availability to serve in the stated position, in terms of days after award; (b) intention to serve for a stated term of the service; (c) agreement to the compensation levels which corresponds to the levels set forth in the cost proposal; and (d) prior work experience with the Prime contractor or subcontractor (if nominated by a subcontractor). The letter of commitment must specify the length of commitment to the position. Applicants shall also submit a minimum of three (3) references of professional contacts within the last three years with current and complete contact information, including email addresses, for each proposed candidate. J. Implementation Plan The Implementation Plan should describe how the Contractor intends to implement the activities described in Section II: Statement of Work and to achieve the specified deliverables, as set forth in Section V: Deliverables. It should include the following sections: (a) An Introduction describing the Contractor's overarching strategy and approach. (b) A Technical Approach that identifies key milestones and associated activities in achieving SWWFMETAF objectives and the inputs and outputs required for their achievement. Associated timeframes and indicators for monitoring implementation progress should also be presented. (c) A Management Plan that clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities of Key Personnel and other staff that may be required to complete the activities described in Section I: Scope of Work. The Management Plan should include an organization chart and describe the Contractor's proposed decision-making structure and system for the internal controls and communication. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide Securing Water for Food Technical Assistance Facility. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. USAID has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
 
Web Link
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AID/OP/WashingtonDC/AID-SOL-OAA-14-000098/listing.html)
 
Place of Performance
Address: Washington D.C. with possiblity of International Travel, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
 
Record
SN03346734-W 20140425/140423235315-733393d1ba1efa0e71327bb1d03c5307 (fbodaily.com)
 
Source
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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