SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- USAID RFI - Fragile Waters
- Notice Date
- 2/3/2022 12:27:59 PM
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- Contracting Office
- USAID M/OAA WASHINGTON DC 20523 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20523
- Solicitation Number
- 7200AA22RFI00TBD
- Response Due
- 2/24/2022 9:00:00 AM
- Point of Contact
- Kyle Davis, Phone: 2029162699
- E-Mail Address
-
kydavis@usaid.gov
(kydavis@usaid.gov)
- Description
- U.S. Agency for International Development Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, Center for Water Security, Sanitation and Hygiene, Request for Information � Support Services for the Fragile Waters Activity Issuance Date: February 3, 2022 Response Date: February 24, 2022 at 12:00 PM EST To All Interested Parties, The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS), is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to all interested parties. The RFI is intended to: Obtain information on the capability of potential contractors to support flexible water security, sanitation and hygiene programming in fragile contexts, in alignment with the recently released USAID sector technical brief on Humanitarian-Development Coherence in WASH or WRM Programs. USAID is conducting market research to determine the most suitable acquisition strategy for an anticipated award to provide support for the Fragile Waters Activity. USAID requests that any interested organizations review the draft summary in Attachment One and provide responses to the questions contained in Attachment Two. � This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the result of the review. 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 reserves the right to, or not to, incorporate any, some, or none of the comments received from this RFI into any subsequent solicitations or design documents. Submission Instructions and Response Format: Please provide one (1) electronic copy of your response in Microsoft Word format as a single email attachment to Mr. Kyle Davis at kydavis@usaid.gov. Please submit responses via email only by Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 12:00PM EST. The total length of the RFI submission cannot exceed four (4) pages and must be submitted using 12-point Arial font, 8.5 x 11-inch paper (letter-sized), single line spacing, one-inch margins, no graphics, and pages numbered consecutively. If the submitter has produced relevant reports and/or other written materials or would like to cite other reference materials, then those reports may be included only as embedded links within the page limit. The respondent should include the following information on the first page: Name Title Organization Email DUNS number Business size Responses to this notice are NOT considered offers and CANNOT be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. Therefore, USAID is not seeking technical or cost proposals at this time. Please do not submit a full proposal as these will not be reviewed and will be discarded. Thank you for your interest in USAID�s Fragile Waters activity. We look forward to receiving your responses. Sincerely, Rachel Baltes Contracting Officer, M/OAA/RFS Attachments: #1 - Fragile Waters Background and Objectives #2 - RFI Questions and Submission Instructions Attachment #1: Fragile Waters Background and Draft Objectives Water security, sanitation, and hygiene (WSSH) is fundamental to achieve prosperity, stability, and resilience. As outlined in the USG Global Water Strategy, and in alignment with the forthcoming USAID Climate Strategy, USAID Resilience Policy and USG Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, USAID seeks to support partner countries in developing and leveraging robust systems to plan, finance, and implement solutions that ensure sustainable and equitable water resources for people, the economy and the planet. Definition of WSSH Water security, sanitation and hygiene (WSSH) encompasses water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), as well as water resources used for everything from ecosystems to livelihoods and industry (e.g. irrigation, hydropower). However, some 80 percent of the places where USAID works are in acute crisis, recovering from disaster, or experiencing smaller-scale upheaval.[1] The average humanitarian crisis now lasts more than nine years[2] and the duration of forcible displacement (either externally as a refugee or as an internally displaced person) averages between 17-20 years.[3] Even parts of the world that have long been seen as stable are facing unprecedented challenges as the adverse impacts of climate change mount. Stronger storms are flooding cities; more intense droughts are withering crops; diseases, such as malaria, ebola, and cholera, are appearing where they never existed before--all of which heighten conflict risk and fragility.[4] Without immediate action, climate change could push an additional 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030,[5] and displace over one billion people by 2050.[6] Conflict, climate change, and displacement have disproportionate impacts on women, gender minorities, people with disabilities, and children, and these groups are more likely to experience violence, water-borne diseases, domestic and livelihood responsibilities, and psychosocial distress associated with WSSH in fragile contexts. No corner of the world is immune to water-related shocks, nor to shocks and stressors that can jeopardize water security and the myriad households, communities, livelihoods, ecosystems and industries on which it depends. Sustainable WSSH in these fragile contexts faces countless obstacles--from disruptions in service delivery to breakdowns across water sharing agreements to reinforced power imbalances--while absent or unequitable WSSH policies and practices can exacerbate fragility. At the same time, the processes through which WSSH assistance is provided need to evolve to meet the world�s new challenges, and need to include local voices, including those of women and gender minorities, youth, persons with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, and other marginalized populations. This can be particularly important in contexts where governments are involved in perpetuating conflict. Specifically, some of the most pressing challenges include the following: Silos between humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors prevent effective, coordinated WSSH programming in fragile contexts. In large part, donor funding drives siloing between humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. Countries and implementers typically have completely separate funding streams for each type of programming, and humanitarian funding, while initially more flexible, often declines as crises persist. These silos extend to programming approaches, policymaking, and areas of expertise among research, advocacy, and practitioner communities. Humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors have mismatched timelines, mandates, and geographic focus areas for their WSSH programming. While development actors generally have programs with multi-year funding cycles, humanitarian actors operate through programs with shorter 6 month to 2 year cycles.� Systemic, stabilizing change and peacebuilding, on the other hand, can take decades. Although some countries do have coordination platforms, including WASH clusters, they are often separated by type of assistance and underutilized in bridging gaps between different types of actors. The distinct mandates of humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors, and the different geographies in which they operate, further contribute to an incoherent overall approach to WSSH in fragile contexts. There are limited resources for creative, transformative WSSH programming in fragile contexts. As crises persist and global attention subsides, funding often wanes, and implementing partners are left to address increasingly complex WSSH challenges with fewer staff, diminishing resources, and less flexibility. Damaged infrastructure, fractured communities, and political fallout contribute to backsliding on development outcomes as well as greater obstacles to implementation of WSSH programs. Staff working in these environments face burnout and threats to their safety, which contributes to high turnover. As a result, there is limited capacity to take on long-term, strategic programming to address systemic WSSH challenges in fragile contexts. Development actors avoid fragile contexts. Development actors generally work in areas that remain relatively stable and are incentivized to program there so as to reach key performance indicator targets, leverage limited funding, and deliver sustainable results. Moreover, many international actors have adopted a risk averse posture due to direct attacks against aid workers, targeting of water infrastructure, and corruption. Operating in areas experiencing complex crises is also more challenging and expensive (with high overhead costs) due to security concerns. However, the need for targeted, sustainable, and effective WSSH programming in these contexts is growing, and complementary development and peacebuilding approaches are necessary for effective recovery and to build resilience to future crises. Knowledge gaps related to WSSH systems in fragile contexts prevent effective programming. Neither development, nor humanitarian, nor peacebuilding actors are currently well-positioned to explore underlying WSSH systems and vulnerabilities in crisis settings. Humanitarian actors generally need to use their limited time and resources to address acute needs. Peacebuilding actors do not systematically focus on risks and opportunities presented through WSSH. While development actors do not have the necessary experience working in these settings. As a result, there is a knowledge gap around WSSH systems in fragile contexts, which hinders effective and sustainable programming. Taken together, these challenges contribute to a cycle of vulnerability, where fragility precludes targeted development funding, which in turn compounds existing drivers of insecurity and contributes to decreased resilience to future shocks. To effectively disrupt this cycle, humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding approaches cannot be implemented as separate, sequential processes; they must be layered and coordinated.[7] It is also critical for local actors to be at the center of any WSSH programming, particularly in fragile contexts where knowledge of WSSH systems and social and political context is imperative to making meaningful, sustainable, inclusive progress. As we face longer and more common protracted conflicts, as well as more frequent and intense weather events and increasing rates of climate change-related migration, our new reality demands a fundamental shift in the WSSH community�s approach to programming in fragile contexts. Strengthening water security for all uses and users, as well as adapting, providing and maintaining WASH services, is critical for achieving and maintaining development gains in communities and countries that face the compounding risks of climate change, conflict, and COVID-19. Draft Objectives Because WSSH challenges confronting the world are so nuanced and fast evolving--particularly as the adverse impacts of climate change continue to unfold--the goal of Fragile Waters is to support agile and sustainable WSSH programming in fragile contexts, with a focus on supporting locally-led approaches. To achieve this goal, Fragile Waters will have four primary objectives: Objective 1: Conduct rapid analyses to inform WSSH programming in fragile contexts. USAID Operating Units (OUs), service providers, regulators, basin authorities, local officials and communities, and other stakeholders need information to pivot programs and approaches and/or stand-up new efforts as shocks and stressors unfold. Fragile Waters must retain the skills and expertise to provide targeted short-term technical assistance (STTA) to the aforementioned stakeholders for analysis on the following illustrative topics:[8] Conflict analysis and associated impacts on water security programs and approaches, as well as WSSH-related drivers of conflict. Risk and vulnerability analysis around existing or projected shocks and stressors (e.g. armed conflict, flood/drought, energy shortages) including impacts on source water, WASH services (including degree of sector subsidies), industrial production, and women, girls and other gender minorities that would inform WSSH activity design and implementation. Assessing the key drivers of, and identifying interventions to prevent gender-based violence related to WSSH in specific geographies. Seasonal forecasting that enables proactive identification of climatic shocks that might degrade water infrastructure, increase pressure on water stores, or otherwise affect the need for WSSH programming. Objective 2: Support capacity strengthening for local organizations and coordination needs to implement WSSH programming in fragile contexts. Local entities are often best placed to work in insecure contexts, given their deep knowledge of the local context and their position as an existing entity within the local ecosystem. Fragile Waters will therefore take a multi-faceted approach to help strengthen the technical capacities of local WSSH organizations, private enterprises, and service providers, among others. Fragile Waters� capacity-strengthening support will span a variety of activities, including in-person and remote training sessions, twinning arrangements (i.e. partnerships between higher capacity and lower capacity entities), peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and one-on-one technical assistance. Illustrative training topics include: Emergency preparedness and response, as well as contingency planning (particularly as it relates to continuity of operations for service providers and basin authorities). Identifying the needs of and opportunities to meaningfully engage women and gender minorities and people with disabilities. Using climate information services for WSSH disaster risk reduction and proactive conflict mitigation. Facilitating collaborative and inclusive water resources management, climate adaptation, and peacebuilding decision-making. Gender-based violence prevention, with training that is equally available and affordable to men, women, gender minorities, and youth on platforms based on need, access, and skill. Supporting the sharing of best practices of peacebuilding and conflict resolution across networks, villages, and districts, through local women�s organizations. In addition, Fragile Waters will support coordination efforts within USAID OUs and/or across sector stakeholders to help local efforts to harmonize humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding programming. Fragile Waters will identify practical actions to promote coordination and harmonization, and will embed processes within local systems or institutions for sustainability. Illustrative actions include: Delivering technical assistance on monitoring at the outset and throughout the duration of shocks, including the implementation of baseline and endline surveys to measure outcomes. Developing locally-owned, shared metrics for success across humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding WSSH actors operating within overlapping geographic zones.� Facilitating joint work planning and/or pause and reflect exercises to enhance coordination and collaboration. Providing sector-specific backbone coordination support across WASH cluster participants and development WASH actors. Improving coordination between disaster response actors and WSSH ministries/departments. Objective 3: Provide direct assistance to support evolving WSSH needs in fragile contexts. When shocks hit or crises persist for years, USAID OUs face siloed funding and programming, limited resources, and knowledge gaps, as outlined in the challenges above. OUs often need surge support on the ground to provide fast, flexible, short-term assistance, including but not limited to grants, short term technical assistance, procurement of goods and services, and training to target key WSSH needs through sustainable approaches and interventions. Illustrative interventions include: Upgrading/rehabilitating/building low-tech, decentralized wastewater systems (sewage pumps, wastewater treatment plants) Damage assessment and/or upgrading/rehabilitating/building water systems Water resource interventions that prevent or mitigate flooding, increase water storage (especially through groundwater recharge), and strengthen early warning systems Linking/facilitating spare parts and consumables (e.g. water treatment chemicals, fuel) supply chains Management information systems for asset management (including pump tests, water quality, location of systems, etc.), water resources data, water resource mapping Subsidies or vouchers for WSSH products and services Standby financing support for service providers in crisis to sustain flow of spare parts, to keep personnel paid and equipped, and to meet need of system rehabilitation and repairs Adapt WSSH services to address the needs of women and girls to either address direct impacts of a shock or to mitigate potential impacts Expanding access to and incentivizing efficient irrigation practices and technologies; soil, land, and water conservation; and water allocation planning that creates equitable access to resources and promotes peace Empower and facilitate women and gender minorities, youth, and people with disabilities to be leaders and participants in water management, climate change adaptation, and peacebuilding processes Support local authorities to develop systems to monitor service delivery coverage post-shock Objective 4: Advance learning for WSSH programming in fragile contexts. To fill key knowledge gaps on WSSH systems in fragile contexts, Fragile Waters will develop a suite of knowledge products that distill lessons and learning from activities conducted under Objectives 1, 2 and 3 (as applicable). The products should be developed through ongoing consultation with relevant stakeholders, including local actors, and should be designed with an eye towards practical implementation and replication. Illustrative activities include: Research on barriers and entry points for sustainable WSSH programming in fragile contexts, including best use of resources. Distilling and documenting and/or introducing innovative best practices for WSSH assessments in fragile contexts. Developing guidance documents and toolkits for effective engagement of local organizations and voices, including the perspectives of women and gender minorities, youth, persons with disabilities, and ethnic and religious minorities in WSSH programming in fragile contexts. Identifying financial and operational best practices for WSSH service providers during complex crises. Documenting and analyzing the evolution of WSSH service delivery over time, before, during, and after a complex crisis. Attachment #2 RFI Questions and Submission Instructions Please include the title �RFI - Fragile Waters� in the subject line of your email. The respondent should provide the following details (in a Microsoft Word attachment) [4 pages max]: Level of Interest and Organizational Capabilities relative to Fragile Waters [1 page max]: Level of Interest: Please provide the level of interest your organization has in participating in Fragile Waters and indicate your organization type (e.g. U.S, Non-U.S, designated US small business). Please indicate what, if any, agency IDIQ or GSA/MAS/OASIS your organization holds as either a prime holder or team member. The information collected from this RFI will be used to help make planning decisions and will not be released publicly. Organizational Capabilities: Please provide your relevant organizational capabilities relative to the draft objectives included in Attachment 1. Respondents may include organizational information such as: past experience working in any of the noted technical areas; core capabilities; experience working with other stakeholders, particularly local NGOs; previous experience in specific fragile contexts (e.g. list of countries/specific areas), experience with construction; or other information relevant to an organization�s ability to successfully perform the tasks outlined in this RFI. Additionally, please provide information as to what other organizations(s) you would propose to partner with to implement any or all of the objectives of this global mechanism. USAID is interested in promoting locally-led development and partnering with a wide range of organizations, including local organizations and smaller organizations with niche expertise and on-the-ground knowhow. In response to the following questions, please share information on how USAID can best provide the support needed to strengthen WSSH programming in fragile contexts and meet Fragile Waters� four objectives. In your responses, please consider the background, problem statement and draft objectives (Attachment 1). Respondents are free to answer any or all of the questions below. In your responses, please provide any relevant sources for the information, including peer-reviewed or grey literature, expert opinion, project evaluation reports, and other documents. What are the biggest barriers to achieve the goals of Fragile Waters, including effectively strengthening WSSH in fragile contexts to mitigate and/or minimize the impact of shocks on services and systems? What recommendations can you provide to overcome these barriers, while meeting inclusion, equity, and diversity objectives and promoting locally-led development?� What objectives and actions should USAID prioritize to bridge current gaps in humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding WSSH programming in fragile contexts? Is there anything missing or requiring clarification?� How can this mechanism provide nimble and rapid expertise while enabling and promoting locally-led development? Propose an illustrative activity(s) that that you and your partner organization(s) could implement that would achieve Objective #3 of Fragile Waters, while promoting locally-led approaches and organizations. Would sufficient staff be available on hand or be able to be mobilized rapidly (i.e. within one month with some physical presence on the ground) to achieve Objective #3 if that Objective was exclusively funded through buy-ins? [1] USAID Journey to Self-Reliance Policy Framework https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/Web_PF-MINI_BOOKLET_10APRIL2019.pdf [2] Global Humanitarian Report 2019 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/gho-2019-digital-04122019_iii.pdf [3] UNHCR (2020) Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2019; https://www.unhcr.org/5ee200e37.pdf. [4] A New Climate for Peace [5] Hallegatte, S., M. Bangalore, L. Bonzanigo, M. Fay, T. Kane, U. Narloch, and A. Vogt-Schilb. ""Managing the impacts of climate change on poverty."" Shock Waves: Climate change and development series (2016). [6] Institute for Economics & Peace. Ecological Threat Register 2020: Understanding Ecological Threats, Resilience and Peace, Sydney, September 2020. Available from: https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ETR_2020_web-1.pdf [7] Oxfam. (2019). The Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus: What does it mean for multi-mandated organizations? [8] We note that provision of some of these analytic services may have implications for organizational conflicts of interest, and USAID may include provisions, in accordance with the principles of FAR subpart 9.5 and USAID policy, precluding contractors or awardees from furnishing, as a prime or subcontractor or otherwise, implementation services under any contract or task order that results in response to findings, proposals, or recommendations written by the contractor. This preclusion would apply to any such awards made within 18 months of USAID accepting the report, unless the head of the contracting activity, in consultation with USAID's competition advocate, authorizes a waiver (in accordance FAR 9.503) determining that preclusion of the contractor from the implementation work would not be in the government's interest.� In addition, provisions may be included that require awardee or contractors to not use or make available any information obtained about another organization under the contract in the preparation of proposals or other documents in response to any solicitation for a contract or task order.
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