USAID Sustainable Local Development Project in Serbia

USAID Sustainable Local Development Project in Serbia
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) No. SUB 004
Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship Projects
Concept
Issuance Date: July 12, 2011
Closing Date: August 2, 2011
Closing Time: 05:00 PM
The Sustainable Local Development Project in Serbia (hereinafter the Project) is inviting eligible
Serbian organizations to submit a proposal for the Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility
and Social Entrepreneurship Projects Concept
As a result of this solicitation, the Sustainable Local Development Project expects to award one
(1) fixed price subcontract.
A fixed price subcontract is a contract for services that will result in concrete deliverables
provided to and accepted by Chemonics on behalf of the Sustainable Local development Project.
As the name implies, the price of the subcontract is fixed and it is not subject to any adjustment
on the basis of the Subcontractor's cost experience in performing the work, thereby placing full
responsibility for all costs and resulting profit or loss on the Subcontractor. Payment is based on
the completion of deliverables and the subcontractor is fully responsible and accountable for the end
product. Based on the nature of the procurement advances or upfront payments are not allowed.
A blank sample copy of the terms and conditions of the subcontract can be provided upon
offereor’s request. Offerors are encouraged to review the draft subcontract when preparing the
proposal.
Please submit separate technical and financial proposals in accordance with the attached forms.
Your proposal(s) will be subject to negotiation between your authorized representative and the
Project, and may result in a contract.
On behalf of Chemonics and the Sustainable Local Development Project in Serbia, thanks for
your participation,
Peter B. Epstein
Chief of Party
PART.SD.006
RFP no: SUB 004
Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship Projects Concept
2.
2.a
SCOPE OF WORK
PROJECT BACKGROUND
In response to USAID priorities, the Sustainable Local Development Project (hereinafter the
Project) is designed to contribute to sustainable local area-based development in Serbia, by
providing targeted and comprehensive development assistance to maximize impact, increase
donor cooperation, and achieve sustainability.
•
By identifying shared interests and using them to initiate stakeholder dialogue within a
geographic area, the Project will form clusters of local governments for the purpose of
intergovernmental cooperation (IMC) in major investment projects, shared administrative
functions, and capacity building. Each cluster will be comprised of three or more local
governments with at least one civil society organization (CSO)/advocacy organization and one
private sector representative.
•
In most instances the cluster will center on a lead city with some proven capacity and
willingness to mentor smaller neighboring municipalities. The formed clusters will collaborate
together to develop sustainable forms of IMC. To ensure sustainability, early in the life of the
project we will agree with counterparts on exit strategies that assure their ownership of IMC
mechanisms for continued regional development at the consortium and cluster level.
In support of aforementioned design principles, Project activities will be implemented under five
components: 1) IMC, especially on major infrastructure for EU funding and joint economic
development projects; 2) Public Administration Reform, particularly related to improved local
government finance, oversight of municipal utilities, and good governance; 3) Increased Public
Participation, used to gather input from citizens, and to ensure greater transparency and
accountability from local governments (LGs); 4) Youth Education and Employment, with a focus
on increasing employment opportunities for youth through formal and non-formal means of
education; and 5) Improving the Business Enabling Environment (BEE), in cooperation with
local business leaders and LG representatives, with the goal of creating a more favorable climate
for growth in jobs and investment.
One of the Project objectives within improving the Business Enabling Environment is to promote
modern concepts of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social entrepreneurship. Project
intents to provide technical support and limited financial support to local organizations in order
to build partnerships at the cluster/consortia through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
projects and social entrepreneurship (SE) models.
2.b
SUBCONTRACTOR’S SCOPE OF WORK
Sustainable local development in general is not possible without full participation, commitment
and partnership engagement of all three sectors working in local communities: local government,
civil society and business. For this reason, the Project seeks to explore and asses current status of
partnerships, local needs, obstacles, opportunities, as well as relations among key local
stakeholders; to build capacities of local stakeholders through technical support, guidance and
training; to target specific projects, interventions of common interest; and finally to facilitate the
joint engagement of selected stakeholders in the implementation of local initiatives.
As the Project works with local municipalities and other public sector bodies, this task is
especially aimed at emphasizing the potentials lying in the business sector, and through their
engagement in local communities by utilizing the concept known as CSR (Corporate Social
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RFP no: SUB 004
Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship Projects Concept
Responsibility), and at building stronger relations between the business sector, civil society
organizations and local self governments in order to achieve common goals. The Project also has
a small amount of grant funds that it can allocate on a competitive basis to support specific CSR
initiatives within its 12 partner intermunicipal clusters. Within the clusters municipalities will
form forum, coordination committee and working groups It is anticipated that each
Intermunicipal Forum will form a Working Group on Business Enabling Environment and/or a
separate or subgroup specifically focused on CSR that would serve as a lead counterpart in each
cluster for the activities being supported through this subcontract.
This RFP seeks to identify potential partner to Sustainable Local Development Project that would
be able to develop and facilitate the process, work both with the Project team and key local
stakeholders in order to achieve the key goals of the task, through very concrete deliverables,
such as assessment and analyses, training, facilitation, planning and implementation of local
projects.
The offeror will assess the awareness and understanding of the ideas of corporate social
responsibility and social entrepreneurship among cluster business and community leaders and
will evaluate the scope/status of any CSR or social entrepreneurship initiatives completed or in
progress. This is expected to be done in three of the four clusters formed within the Sustainable
Local Development Project by the end of July (Niš, Novi Sad, and Vranje).
The offeror will propose a feasible methodology that would ensure capacity building of all key
stakeholders, their understanding of concepts such as cross sector or cooperation, CSR and
sustainable development, and their concrete engagement in local community projects.
Tasks:
1. Stakeholder’s assessment, stakeholders’ analyses and study on potentials of cross sector
partnerships and cooperation at cluster level. The offerors are expected to develop
methodology and activities that will enable understanding the needs, viewpoints and
relationships among key stakeholders, and to map potentials for their future joint
cooperation. The proposed methodology should lead to development of strong local
ownership of the projects emerging form the cooperation of the local stakeholders, thus
creating pre-conditions for the long term sustainability.
2. Capacity building, joint planning and facilitation of partnerships. The offerors will
propose various ways on how to develop practical and theoretical capacities of key
sectors stakeholders. This would include their knowledge and r on Corporate Social
Responsibility and cross sector partnership and cooperation. For this purpose the offeror
will propose training and other educational activities. Based on the needs of local
communities, but also taking into account specific potentials, and already undertaken
practices on the local level, if any, the offerors will propose specific tailored training for
targeted audiences. The proposed training would serve as an add on to the efforts of
planning and implementing concrete joint projects in local communities. The training
should focus on topics related to the overall project goals and promote corporate social
responsibility concept, cooperation among stakeholders and/or similar topics. The
successful offeror will demonstrate its capacity and experience in delivering similar
training.
3. Develop practical proposals on concrete community projects that the stakeholders could
jointly work on. The process should deliver concrete proposals of actions that could and
should be undertaken as cross – sectorial efforts of key local stakeholders. These projects
should be implemented utilizing all the resources, but also should be beneficial to the
wider local community. For each of three targeted clusters, the Subcontractor should
identify four (4) CSR concepts in a preliminary form and with the cluster counterparts
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RFP no: SUB 004
Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship Projects Concept
select one or two of the most promising and develop an action plan for its realization.
Preferably, these concepts would engage multiple firms from throughout the cluster and
they would be designed to complement major intermunicipal projects identified as
priorities by the cluster local governments. Another prospective topic for CSR of
particular interest would be concepts that help advance the objectives of the Project’s
Youth Development Component. *Note: Youth internships will be supported by a
separate Project subcontract and grant component and should not be the subject of this
subcontract.* But the CSR concepts identified by the Subcontractor could also respond to
and encourage CSR initiatives by larger, individual firms with the capacity to implement
a meaningful CSR project unilaterally.
4. Collection, processing and dissemination of existing positive practices in local
communities. The offeror will gather and evaluate existing best practices in local
communities in the area of CSR, cross sector cooperation and social entrepreneurship.
This should serve as stimulation, knowledge sharing and positive motivation for other
communities and all targeted parties. The offeror will also present perspectives and
recommendations for future development of joint cross sector cooperation projects and
CSR at the local level in a form of an outlined strategy on how these cooperation
processes and CSR projects should be developed in the future, with the emphasis on
potential creation of some informal or formal structures, and acknowledgment of specific
roles of local actors.
The offerors have the autonomy to propose the methodology, and subsequent activities to
implement required tasks and to achieve the Project objective to promote concepts of corporate
social responsibility (CSR) and social entrepreneurship.
2.c
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
The following are expected deliverables:
1) Report on satekholders’ assesment and analysis and methodology describing in detail
concept and implementation of CSR projects at the local level – targeted
municipalities/clusters Nis Novi Sad and Vranje.
2) Training of stakeholders
3) Identify and propose (4) four local CSR projects in each of the three targeted clusters
4) CSR and social entrepreneurship Best Practice Manual
2.d
ILLUSTRATIVE DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE
Phase I
Report on satekholders’ assesment and analysis and methodology describing in detail concept and
implementation of CSR projects – September 5, 2011
Phase II
Training of stakeholders – September 30, 2011
Phase III
Identify and propose (4) four local CSR projects in each of the three targeted clusters- September
30, 2011
Phase IV
CSR and social entrepreneurship Best Practice Manual – October 30, 2011
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Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship Projects Concept
3.
3.a
PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS
Eligibility
Offerors shall be able to comply with the proposed scope of work and have a satisfactory
performance record and record of integrity and business ethics. Applicants shall abide by the
terms of the United States Anti-kickback Act of 1986, which will be included as FAR 52.203-7
ANTI-KICKBACK PROCEDURE (JUL 1995) in any resulting subcontract. It can be found at
http://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/html/52_200_206.html#wp1137568.
Eligible organizations:
— Local for-profit consulting firms: Interested organizations shall have legal
capacity to enter into a subcontract and shall be a registered organization.
Organizations shall have the financial resources to perform subcontracts and shall
have fulfilled all tax obligations.
— Local non-profits or NGOs who are qualified to provide services and have the
capacity to self-finance.
— International organizations legally registered in country
Ineligible organizations:
— Individuals
— Government entities,
— Organizations that appear on the List of Parties Excluded from Federal
Procurement and Non-Procurement Programs. The list can be found at
http://epls.gov.
— Individuals and organizations listed in the Specially Designated Nationals and
Blocked Persons list from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The list can be
found at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn/t11sdn.pdf
— Individuals and organizations listed in the UN Consolidated List established by
the 1267 Committee. The list can be found at
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/pdf/consolidatedlist.pdf
3.b
Dates and Submission Details
The estimated schedule for this procurement is:
Steps of the Request
Date
Issue date of the RFP
Deadline for the submission of questions/clarifications
Date by which the project will answer all questions
Deadline for Submission of Proposal
Estimated Award Decision date
Subcontract estimated period of performance
July 12, 2011
July 22, 2011
July 27, 2011
August 2, 2011
August 5, 2011
August 10, 2011 to
October 30, 2011
Comments
The offerors shall send their questions and/or request for clarifications via email to Tatjana Milic
Zanoskar at tmilic-zanoskar@lokalnirazvoj.rs. All questions and answers will be sent to all
eligible offerors. The Sustainable Local Development Project will not accept phone calls
regarding this Request for Proposals. All inquires and correspondence regarding this procurement
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RFP no: SUB 004
Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship Projects Concept
should be directed only in writing to the program official(s) noted above. An RFP amendment
will be issued if necessary.
Submission of proposals: Proposals may be submitted in hard copy or electronically. The
technical and financial proposals should be separate documents. The technical proposal must not
include any financial information. Late applications will not be accepted.
Electronic copies: Signed MS word and PDF electronic formats are welcome and should be
emailed to tmilic-zanoskar@lokalnirazvoj.rs, by the date and time of the deadline.
Hard copies: If submitting in hard copy, please submit 1 (one) original and 3 (three) copies of
the technical and financial proposals and other documents. An electronic copy of both technical
and financial proposal should be included in the submission in formats compatible with MS
Word, pdf and Excel. Formulas in the financial proposal shall be unlocked to allow Sustainable
Local Development Project to analyze the calculations.
Address for hard copies delivery:
RFP No. 004 Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship
Projects Concept
Attn. Tatjana Milic Zanoskar Grants and Subcontracts Manager
Name of Project: USAID Sustainable Local Development
Address 11000 Beograd Balkanska br. 2
3.c
Instructions to Interested Organizations
All proposals shall be submitted in English. Printed proposals should be on A4 size paper,
single-spaced, and minimum of a 11-point type. Supporting documents may be provided in
Serbian.
Technical Proposal
The proposal for providing the services and activities included in the Scope of Work must not
exceed 5pages (cover page, table of contents, section dividers and CVs do not count against
the page limitation) and must include the following sections:
1. A cover letter by the interested organization stating the name, designation, and
address of the key contact person (organization’s legally authorized negotiator), the
organization’s full address, telephone, and email address.
2. Proposed Methodology and description of the deliverables: Offerors shall provide a
description required service
3. Work plan: This should include timelines and staff allocation
4. A description of the interested organization giving a brief profile that highlights its
experience in the training and consulting services in Section 2 Scope of Work. A
description of the materials and resources available for meeting the goals lay out in
the Scope of Work; This description shall be no more than 2 pages.
5. Organization chart and a list of proposed personnel by expertise and the kinds of tasks
they are qualified to carry out.
6. A minimum of 3 organizational references (name and contact information) indicating
the relevant services carried out in the last three years that best illustrate your
organization’s qualifications. Independent verification of the references will be
carried out.
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RFP no: SUB 004
Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship Projects Concept
7. A table with 3 examples of similar (size, geographic zone, and/or technical area) jobs
done detailing the scope, value of the contract/grant/other, name of client and or
donor if applicable.
8. Signed CVs of the key proposed professional staff and the authorized representative
submitting the application. The CVs submitted shall clearly spell out the
qualifications and competence of the proposed staff in terms of: General
qualifications (both academic and general work experience), specific skills possessed
by the proposed personnel that are relevant to this scope of work (see Section B);
relevant work experience (both long-term employment and short-term consultancies).
The technical proposal shall not have references to cost information.
Cost proposal
There is not page limit for the cost proposal
1. Cost / Budget for providing the services in the Scope of Work; (must show costs of
proposed activities); Documentation of audited indirect rates, if applicable, and fees
charged by the organization, including clear information on how indirect rates are
applied to bases. Organizations that do not have audited indirect rates shall submit
their audited financial statements for the last three years AND copies of at least two
contracts from the past three years.
2. A copy of a valid certificate of registration.
3. A copy of the VAT registration certificate.
3.d
Validity of Proposal
Proposals should have a 60-day validity period from the proposal submission date. Within the
proposal’s validity term, the project reserves the right to: i) accept your proposal in full or in part,
ii) conduct negotiations and/or request clarifications prior to award and iii) cancel for
convenience the whole procurement procedure for this RFP.
3.e Conflict of Interest
Offerors and its proposed personnel shall disclose any factors that could limit the organization’s
independence to perform the services such as relationship with counterpart employees, past
employment, etc.
4.
4.a
SELECTION CRITE RIA AND PROCESS
Selection Criteria
The quality of each offer will be evaluated in accordance with the selection criteria and the
associated weighting as specified below:
Criteria
Rating
1.
Technical approach: This will evaluate the offeror’s proposed methodology
and work plan. In the methodology it includes the understanding of the scope of
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Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship Projects Concept
work; appropriateness of the proposed intervention and clarity of the proposed
deliverables. Under the Work plan it includes the organization of the tasks,
maximization of time and clarity in the assignment of personnel.
2.
Past experience in relevant field and corporate capabilities: This will
include an evaluation of the capacity of the organization to perform the scope of
work, review of previous experience in similar jobs, references about quality
deliverables, etc.
3.
Team composition: This will include the evaluation of the qualifications of
proposed staff; mix of experience and technical capabilities and assignment of
tasks to maximize resources’ and meet deadlines. Evaluation of the CV and
reference if needed.
TOTAL
4.b.
20
20
70
Selection Process
Subcontract awards will be based on a “best value determination” approach. In the event that the
Project determines that one offer is technically superior, yet more expensive, the Project can
award to that offeror based on the evaluation that offers the best overall value given the
price/technical trade-off.
The combined technical evaluation factors in the table above are more important than cost or
price. However, Sustainable Local Development Project will not select an offeror for award on
the basis of a superior technical proposal without considering cost. Cost will be evaluated on the
basis of cost reasonableness, allowability, and realism. Cost realism will be based on
considerations such as the following:
-
Are proposed costs realistic for the work to be performed?
Do the costs reflect a clear understanding of RFP requirements?
Are the costs consistent with the various elements of the Offeror’s technical proposal?
The maximum weighting for cost proposal is 30 points
A technical/cost trade-off analysis will be performed by Sustainable Local Development Project
to determine the best value to the project.
Sustainable Local Development Project will notify via phone and e-mail the selected
organization(s).
4.C.
Last disposition
Please note that in submitting a response to this RFP, the offeror understands and agrees that
proposal protests will not be considered. It further understands that USAID and the US Embassy
are not a party to this procedure; therefore will not consider protests made to it under USAIDfinanced subcontracts Sustainable Local Development Project, at its sole discretion and in
consultation with its home office in Washington DC, might entertain debriefs with the
unsuccessful offerors upon a request submitted no more that 10 days after the announcement of
the awards.
5.OTHER ANNEXES
REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
SAMPLE OF SUBCONTRACT
Available upon written request
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