Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. For more information, go to www.acdivoca.org.
The goal of the Transforming Market Systems (TMS) Activity, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is to foster competitive, resilient, and inclusive market systems that provide increased economic opportunities that incorporate poor, marginalized Hondurans and reduce incentives to migrate. TMS applies a market systems development approach to tackle the root causes behind the vicious cycles that marginalize people and businesses and identifies leverage points that result in virtuous new ways of doing business and expand economic opportunities. This will result in sustainable increases in income, through more business sales and jobs for Hondurans, including marginalized populations, while building the foundation for broad-based, long-term economic growth.
ACDI/VOCA is soliciting proposals from organizations/consultants capable of providing support in the development, writing, translation Spanish-English, and review of various types of communications materials.
Anticipated Tasks and Activities:
- Assist with the development and technical writing of the Project’s Annual Performance Report
- Assist with the development and technical writing of other periodic reports including, biweekly and quarterly reports.
- Assist with reviewing, editing and/or creating communications and learning materials, including newsletters, success stories, case studies, lessons learned and other communication materials to the Project’s audiences in accordance with the Project’s Communication Strategy (these products are named as success stories in the products table)
- Edit and format technical reports and training materials produced by staff and consultants.
- Mentor local communications and other relevant staff engaged in producing communication materials to develop their skills
CONTRACT MECHANISM & TERMS OF PAYMENT
ACDI/VOCA anticipates issuing a Blanket Purchase Agreement with annual task orders or an Independent Consultant Agreement.
ACDI/VOCA will issue fixed payment(s) based on submission and ACDI/VOCA acceptance of deliverables. Once an award is issued, it will include a fixed price payment schedule with deliverables specified above. A copy of the purchase order terms and conditions are attached to this RFP for informational purposes.
PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Instructions for Proposal Preparation
The selection committee will evaluate the Offerors based upon their written technical and cost proposals. Each section will be evaluated according to the criteria for evaluations in Section V. Offerors are expected to examine the specifications and all instructions in the RFP. Failure to do so is at the Offeror’s risk. Interested Offerors must provide the following:
Capability and Technical Experience Statement
Demonstrate capabilities and technical experience by providing the following:
- Organization/Consultant experience Overview
- Capabilities Statement
- Project Approach
- Activity (work) Schedule based on the products table above.
- Project Staffing
Identify the project staffing and the percentage of the time each will spend on this activity. Include no more than a half-page bio sketch for everyone considered essential for the successful implementation of this contract. Language Proficiency must be Level V (fluent/native) in English and Level IV (fluent) in Spanish.
Offerors will submit a proposed budget with their proposals in a separate file labeled “Budget Proposal.” The proposed budget will have sufficient detail to allow evaluation of elements of costs proposed and must include all costs that the offeror will need to incur in order to perform the work. Budgets should be submitted in the currency in which your organization is located and will be paid; please label your budget with the name of the currency. ACDI/VOCA reserves the right to request any additional information to support detailed cost and price.
Cost proposal must include a table listing the different products and the level of effort estimated of all required staff.
Please include three client references and contact information. References should have worked with your organization within the past two years in connection with the countries or regions (and if possible, subject matter) applicable to this RFP.
Instructions for Submission of Proposal
- Technical and cost proposals must be submitted by email to [email protected] by the submission deadline found on the cover of this RFP.
- All inquiries and requests for information related to this RFP must be emailed to [email protected] by the question/inquiry submission deadline on the front cover of this RFP. Please reference the RFP number in the subject line of the communication (email).
- ACDI/VOCA will not compensate Offerors for their preparation of responses to this RFP.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
ACDI/VOCA will evaluate proposals based on a best-value determination; Offerors should submit their most competitive price proposal. Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:
The evaluation committee will review the technical proposal based upon the technical criteria listed above. The cost proposals will be reviewed to ensure they are complete and free of computational errors. The committee will also assess the reasonableness of costs and the cost-effectiveness of the budget and will determine whether the costs reflect a clear understanding of project requirements. A contract will be offered to the responsible Offeror whose proposal follows the RFP instructions and is judged to be the most advantageous to ACDI/VOCA.
Once the RFP is released, the Offerors must prepare a formal proposal to be sent to the contact person at ACDI/VOCA as indicated in Section IV (b) (1). The submitted proposals will be reviewed against the criteria for evaluation defined in Section V above and rated on their ability to satisfy the requirements stated in this RFP document. A preferred Offeror will be chosen and formally notified. A formal contract will be negotiated with the selected Offeror and, if endorsed, the Offeror will begin work on the project.
Proposals received after the submission deadline stated in the cover page of this RFP may not be considered. Offerors will be held responsible for ensuring their quotations are received according to the instructions stated herein. A late offer will be considered if the cause was attributable to ACDI/VOCA or its employees/agents, or if it is in the best interest of ACDI/VOCA.
Modification of RFP Requirements
ACDI/VOCA retains the right to terminate the RFP or modify the requirements upon notification to Offerors.
Proposals may be withdrawn by written notice via email at any time before award. Proposals may be withdrawn in person by an Offeror or authorized representative, if the representative’s identity is made known and the representative signs a receipt for the proposal before award.
Right of Negotiation and Acceptance of Proposal
This RFP represents a definition of requirements and is an invitation for submission of proposals. ACDI/VOCA reserves the right to fund/award any or none of the submitted proposals. No commitment is made, either expressed or implied, to compensate Offerors for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of their proposal.
ACDI/VOCA may reject any proposal that is nonresponsive. A responsive proposal is one that complies with all terms and conditions of the RFP. A proposal must be complete, signed by an authorized signatory, and delivered no later than the submission time and date indicated on the cover sheet of this RFP. ACDI/VOCA may reserve the right to waive any minor discrepancies in a proposal.
ACDI/VOCA reserves the right to issue an award based on the initial evaluation of proposals without discussion. ACDI/VOCA also reserves the right to enter into best and final negotiations with any responsive Offerors for all or part of the proposed scope.
Proposals submitted shall remain open for acceptance for 60 days from the last date specified for receipt of proposals. This includes, but is not limited to, pricing, terms and conditions, service levels, and all other information. If your organization is awarded the contract, all information in the RFP and negotiation process is contractually binding.
Minimum Offeror Qualifications
Offerors submitting proposals must (1) be officially licensed to do such business in United States or Honduras, (2) be able to receive USAID funds and (3) not have been identified as a terrorist. In addition, Offeror may be required to provide the following information:
- Documentation to verify licensure (e.g., tax id, registration certificate, W-9, etc.)
- Demonstration of adequate management and financial resources to perform the contract
- Satisfactory records of performance history, integrity and business ethics
All tangible or intangible property created or acquired under this contract shall be the exclusive property of ACDI/VOCA and the donor. The term “property” includes all data and reports associated with this engagement. Reference is made to Sections 12 and 13 in the business terms and conditions attached in Appendix A.