1. Healthcare

TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
The Asia Foundation - Afghanistan
Program Office:
Funding Opportunity Title: Base Line Survey for WEP project
Announcement Type:
Funding Opportunity Number:
Deadline for Applications: 15 February 2015 (03:30 p.m., Kabul time)
Please Note that Applicants / potential bidders arriving at the TAF /AG premises after the given
time (03:30 pm) will not be entertained.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For further queries regarding the project please contact [email protected]. And
for all administrative queries please contact [email protected] or
[email protected] . No personal visits or telephone calls shall be entertained.
THE PROCUREMENT UNIT
The Asia Foundation
House # 861, Street # 1
Shirpour, District-10, (Sub Street of Shirpour Project)
Kabul, Afghanistan.
The Foundation will not be responsible for proposals left at the main gate, reception, guard offices,
or handed over to any Foundation employee other than the procurement unit staff.
CHECKLIST OF DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN PROPOSAL
Documents / Content to be included in the RFP
Yes
No
Please explain if “No” has been checked.
Technical Proposal
CVs of Key Staff and Core Personnel
Summary Table of Similar Projects
Letters of Recommendation
Implementation Plan
Risk Assessment Plan
Budget and Budget Narrative
Gender Equity Policy
Copies of Annual Audit Reports (last two
years)
Bidder’s Declaration
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Not Required
Not Required.
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TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
Contents
I.
BACKGROUND SUMMARY............................................................................................................. 3
II.
STATEMENT OF WORK AND EXPECTED DELIVERABLES ...................................................... 4
III. GENDER .............................................................................................................................................. 5
IV. BUDGET GUIDELINES: .................................................................................................................... 5
V.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL: ................................................................... 5
VI. TIMEFRAME ....................................................................................................................................... 7
VII. EVALUATION CRITERIA ................................................................................................................. 8
VIII. TYPE OF AWARD INSTRUMENT ................................................................................................... 8
IX. OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS ................................................................................................ 8
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TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
I.
BACKGROUND SUMMARY
The Asia Foundation (the Foundation) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed
to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. Drawing on 60
years of experience, the Foundation supports initiatives to improve governance, law, and civil
society; women's empowerment; economic reform and development; sustainable development and
the environment; and international relations. With a network of 19 offices throughout Asia, an
office in Washington, D.C., and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these
issues on both a country and regional level. In Afghanistan, the Foundation supports five primary
themes: Governance, Women's Empowerment, Education, Islam and Development, and the
Annual Survey of the Afghan People.
Project Goals:
The Support for Non-State Justice Providers and Advocates for Peace in Afghanistan project will
contribute to the long-term goal of stabilizing Afghanistan through enhanced access to justice and
the promotion of inclusive and meaningful peacebuilding strategies. The project contains two
distinct yet complementary components focusing on: 1) enhancing the efficacy and responsiveness
of the informal justice sector within Kunduz province by building the capacity of non-state justice
providers and strengthening coordination between State and non-State justice mechanisms; and 2)
establishing community-based groups in four provinces across Afghanistan committed to
resolving local-level conflicts and promoting inclusive and participatory strategies to promote
peace and social reconciliation.
The relevant objectives of the project include:
1) Developing the capacity of non-state justice providers in Kunduz province, particularly in
relation to enhancing their ability to understand legal concepts and protect and promote women’s
rights; and
2) Enhancing coordination between State and non-State justice sector providers in Kunduz
province.
Expected Results:
The expected results under Component One of the project include:
•
•
Increased knowledge of relevant national laws and principles of human rights among nonstate justice sector actors and increased capacity among these providers to analyze conflicts
and mediate cases to aid in resolving disputes in a just and equitable manner;
Easier access among women to the non-State justice sector as both claimants and agents of
change, and greater sensitivity to women’s rights among informal justice providers, leading
to more satisfactory resolution of women’s disputes; and
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TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
•
Increased linkages and understanding between State and non-State justice providers,
cognizant of the fact that improved understanding promotes improved access to justice for
all Afghans.
Please note: This RFP only concerns Component One of the project (as outlined above) and is
limited to the specific activity listed below.
Methodology and Approach:
II.
STATEMENT OF WORK AND EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
The purpose of this RFP is to engage a suitably qualified organization to complete the following
activity on behalf of the Foundation:
Activity 1: Conduct a mapping and/or baseline survey to identify existing non-state justice sector
providers throughout Kunduz province.
An initial baseline survey will be conducted consisting of a desk review, questionnaire and data
analysis to map existing non-state justice sector providers throughout Kunduz province. The aim
of the survey will be to determine:
1) The decision-makers constituting these forums;
2) How cases or disputes are brought before these providers;
3) The methods utilized by these providers to resolve cases or disputes;
4) How these resolutions are implemented; and
5) How ‘restorative justice’ processes are incorporated into these resolutions.
A needs assessment will also be conducted as part of the baseline survey to identify the tools
required to develop the providers’ capacity to provide the most just, equitable and legitimate
resolution of disputes at the community level. Further, this mapping exercise will also determine
the responsiveness of such providers to the protection of the rights of women, children and
minorities, which will further inform avenues for strengthening the level of responsiveness of
providers in the implementation of activities.
A comprehensive report will be produced as a deliverable under this activity that will provide
relevant data on non-state justice mechanisms and actors throughout Kunduz province including
the identification of possible ‘spaces’ and strategies for women to become more meaningfully
engaged. The findings of the report will therefore be used to shape subsequent project activities.
An additional benefit of this report would be its circulation amongst relevant stakeholders to aid
comparative analysis of non-state justice mechanisms throughout Afghanistan.
It is anticipated that the baseline survey will take approximately three months in total to complete.
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TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
III.
GENDER
The Foundation considers gender equality to be a critical cross-cutting theme and is committed to
incorporating strategies to protect and promote the rights of women and girls into all aspects of
organizational programming. Recognizing that discrimination can take a multitude of forms, the
Foundation is committed to dismantling barriers that reinforce the marginalization of women and
girls.
The Foundation’s approach to programming is consistent with the relevant provisions of the
Constitution of Afghanistan (2004) and relevant national laws such as the law on the Elimination
of Violence against Women (2009), in promoting gender equality, gender justice and women’s
rights. Further, the integration of gender considerations into all aspects of programming reinforces
The Foundation’s commitment to upholding the three pillars of development as outlined in the
National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA), which include 1) Security; 2)
Governance, Rule of Law, and Human Rights; and 3) Economic and Social Development.
The Foundation therefore requires all implementing partners and sub-grantees to identify and
integrate gender considerations into all aspects of project development, planning and
implementation. Implementing partners and sub-grantees are also required to establish systems to
evaluate the measurable impact of project interventions against gender-sensitive indicators (where
relevant) to ensure that project activities comply with the Foundation’s commitment to protecting
and promoting the rights of women and girls and preventing discrimination.
IV.
BUDGET GUIDELINES
Please refer to the attached budget template in designing budget.
Size of grants
Any grant awarded under this program must not exceed the following amount:
•
Maximum Cost: USD $30,000
The financial/cost of partners will be evaluated according to the below criteria laid down in this
document.
V.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL
Rules of this call for proposals:
These guidelines set out the rules for the submission, selection and implementation of actions
financed under the program.
Eligibility of applicants: Who may apply?
In order to be eligible for a grant, applicants must be:
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TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Organizations registered with the government of Afghanistan
National organizations with proven experience undertaking similar (research/survey)
projects for international organizations or the government of Afghanistan
Experience working in challenging districts and provinces
Have a strong management team
Have team members with strong written and verbal skills in English, Dari and Pashtu
Have extensive experience in conducting/implementing survey tools, i.e., in a
transparent and accountable manner
Have good relationships with related governmental institutions, policy makers and civil
society organizations
Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action (not acting as
intermediary).
Applicants are excluded from participation in calls for proposals or the award of grants if, at the
time of the call for proposals, they:
•
•
•
Are subject to a conflict of interest
Are guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required by the
contracting authority as a condition of participation in the call for proposals or fail to
supply this information
Have attempted to obtain confidential information or influence the evaluation
committee or the contracting authority during the evaluation process of current or
previous calls for proposals.
It is important to mention in your proposal technical details regarding scope of operation.
Number of proposals and grants per applicant:
Applicants may submit only one proposal for this particular action.
How to apply and procedures to follow:
A separate cover letter including the name, address, and telephone number of the applicant
organization, and signed by the person or persons authorized to represent the agency should
accompany the proposal submission.
Financial Proposal and Technical Proposal Envelopes MUST BE COMPLETELY SEPARATE
and each must be clearly marked on the outside as either “TECHNICAL PROPOSAL” or
“FINANCIAL PROPOSAL” when submitted.
Applications must be in English and accompanied by the following documents:
1. Technical proposal (not to exceed 20 pages) - please use 12 point Times New Roman font,
single-spaced, and with appropriate margins;
2. CVs of key staff and core personnel - please limit individual CVs to three pages;
3. A summary table explaining when, where, and how the applicant has undertaken similar
projects;
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TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
4. Letters of recommendation from previous projects from donors and international
organizations;
5. Implementation plan showing detailed schedule of activities.
6. Risk assessment plan;
7. Detailed budget along with budget narrative - please use the budget format provided, do not
use your own format;
8. Gender equity policy;
9. Copies of the agency’s annual audit reports (last two years, or if new organization written
explanation);
10. Bidder’s Declaration - potential bidders must disclose any relationships e.g. friends, family,
business etc. with Foundation staff
Applicants are to submit:
Four (4) hard copies of the Technical Proposal in a sealed envelope and one (1) original hard copy
of the Financial Proposal in sealed envelope marked in the upper left-hand corner with the name
and address of the applicant and the RFP title.
All interested applicants bidding for a project through this RFP are required to mention their
DUNS # (in bold) on first page of the proposal.
The supporting documents requested must be supplied in the form of originals or photocopies.
Where such documents are in a language other than English, a faithful translation into English
must be attached and will be used to evaluate the proposal. All proposals should be signed only
by an authorized representative of the applicant. The deadline for the receipt of applications is Feb
15, 2015 at 03:30 PM, Kabul time.
VI.
TIMEFRAME
Announcement of RFP
Pre-Bid Conference
Last date for submission of proposal
Evaluation of proposals and identification of agency
Agreement with selected agency
28 Jan 2015
Feb 05, 2015 (10:00 -11:00am)
15 February 2015
16 February 2015
TBD
NB: Those attending pre-bid conference will not be admitted after 10:05 am.
Late bids/proposals will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Any proposal received by the Foundation after the deadline for submission of proposals shall be
declared late, rejected, and returned unopened to the proposer. Any correction or resubmission
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TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
done by the proposer will not extend the submittal due date. Once submitted, proposals cannot be
altered without the prior written consent of the Foundation’s proposal review committee.
All short-listed bidders will be informed following the selection process their status with regard to
selection and shortlisting.
VII.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
How proposals will be evaluated and selected:
All applications/proposals will be examined and evaluated by a committee constituted by the
contracting authority comprising of members from the relevant program team, PMO (Program
Management Office) and Grants, who will evaluate proposals from both a technical and financial
standpoint. Applications/proposals submitted by applicants will be assessed according to the
following criteria:
VIII.
TYPE OF AWARD INSTRUMENT
The Foundation will issue a Service Agreement to the selected agency, which will be as per the
Foundation’s internal policies and will be governed by the Foundation’s Rules, Regulations and
Area
Technical
Approach
Comments
Score
Clarity and appropriateness of scope in the proposed technical 30
approach with demonstrated understanding of project goals and
component tasks.
Simple and clear approach to project
implementation and delivery of services. Project serves
beneficiaries and engages relevant stakeholders.
Organizational Institutional profile, background, expertise, clientage, experience 20
Capacity
with similar projects, and operational and financial capacity. The
Foundation reserves the right to visit organizations for due
diligence purposes.
Personnel/ Key Relevant experience and technical knowledge of team leader and 15
Staff
proposed staff, including CVs and professional references.
Cost/Budget
Reasonableness and appropriateness of cost. Clear budget 35
alignment between level of effort, technical approach, and
deliverables.
Guidelines. Payments to the NGO will be made as per the payment schedule, which will be
negotiable and finalized while signing the agreement.
IX.
OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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TAF-RFP No. TAF-WEP-JAN-2015-003
The Foundation’s project-specific marking and branding regulations may apply to all deliverables
produced from this assignment. The Foundation is not bound to select any of the agencies
submitting proposals. As quality is the principal selection criterion, the Foundation also does not
bind itself in any way to select the agency offering the lowest price. The cost for preparing a
proposal and of negotiating an award including visits to the Foundation’s office, is not
reimbursable as a direct cost of the assignment. Both for-profit and not–for-profit agencies may
apply for this RFP, interested not-for-profit agencies should provide a copy of their registration
certificate as a not-for-profit agency.
Important Note:
The Foundation encourages proposals from both new implementing partners (IPs) and those with
existing projects, but partners currently implementing two projects with the Foundation will be
considered only if their current project completion date precedes the starting date specified in the
current RFP.
Finally, this RFP does not obligate the Foundation to award a contract nor does it commit the
Foundation to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. The award
of a contract under this RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal Foundation
approvals.
Annexes:
1- ANNEX I -Proposal Budget Template with sample budget worksheet
2- ANNEX II -CV template - for Proposed Staff
3- ANNEX III - Office Address Direction
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