DAI USAID TIH Project Monitoring and Evaluation Services Request for Proposals (Urgent)

DAI USAID TIH Project Monitoring and Evaluation Services Request for Proposals (Urgent)

East Africa Trade and Investment HubRequest for Proposals (RFP)
RFP-NAI-0003
Monitoring and Evaluation Services
Issue Date: 24 October 2014
The East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (TIH) is a five year USAID project intended to spur inclusive economic growth by promoting an enabling environment for trade and investment and increasing East African trade and investment.

The project builds upon prior investments to increase regional trade competitiveness and reduce poverty through:

Integrated EAC market with full implementation of the EAC Common Market and Customs Union;

Increased regional competitiveness driving growth in trade, investment and agriculture; and

Increased two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and East and sub-Saharan African.The project pursues these goals through four integrated components:

Policy environment for EAC integration, trade and investment improved and implemented.

Competitiveness of selected regional agricultural value chains increased.

Exports and trade promotion, particularly with the U.S. under AGOA, increased.

Investment and technology transfer between Eastern and Sub

Saharan Africa and global markets, particularly the U.S., increased.Objectives:
The project seeks immediate professional Monitoring & Evaluation services to assist with M&E strategy, planning, system and development of the Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP).
Tasks and Deliverables:

Establish baseline data to benchmark sector or firm-level performance to enable future opportunities for assessment and impact evaluation.

Develop project indicators, to include standard indicators established under ACTE as well as TIH specific indicators

Develop project Performance Management PlanAt the minimum, the PMP must have the following:
1. A description of the management system within which the project PMP will operate – the management system refers to:

Organization-wide policies and procedures for monitoring and their relation to the particular PMP.

Organizational staffing/expertise, roles, and responsibilities and how these are to be used in the particular PMP, including the role of subcontractors.

Automated and other methods used to gather, store, process, summarize, analyze, and/or report performance data.

Procedures for regular communication with USAID regarding the status of monitoring activities, including early notification of problems.

Means of addressing a discovered lack of progress or success. Procedures must focus on learning from mistakes, analyzing them, and ascertaining the reasons for missteps.2. Information about all activities to be monitored under the PMP; the listing of activities must be provided in a logical framework which:

Links activities to contract results—both those dictated by USAID in the contract and lower level or complementary results contained in the technical approach.

Describes assumptions being made about the relationship of the activity to the contract result.

Identifies the indicators against which progress is to be measured (in addition to those that are contractually mandated).

Sets the baseline data and the quarterly/annual target for every indicator.

Describes the methods/tools/techniques to be used for monitoring.

Methods for monitoring vary according to what it is being monitored.

Some activities can be observed easily and costs and outputs can be measured against the original targets and timetable.

Other activities are less easy to monitor in terms of quantitative achievements, especially such intangible effects as awareness and empowerment and their direct links to program interventions. Indirect or proxy indicators may have to be identified, even if these cannot be verified. By considering these factors at the planning stage, expected results can be kept realistic and cost-effective and the project can recognize that not all available and useful indicators are ‘objectively verifiable.”

Provides an illustrative schedule for discrete monitoring activities tied to the overall project work plan.Period of Performance: The period of performance is anticipated that the work will begin by October 29, 2014 and conclude approximately 4 weeks later at a maximum.
Place of Performance: The place of performance under this contract is Nairobi, Kenya.
For more information and job application details, see; Job Title

Synopsis of the RFP
RFP No: FP-NAI-0003
Issue Date: 24 October 2014
Title: Monitoring and Evaluation services
Issuing Office & Email / Physical Address for Submission of Proposals: ProcurementTIHInbox@dai.com
Deadline for Receipt of Proposals: Monday, 27 October 2014, 11:59 pm local time, Nairobi
Point of Contact for Questions: ProcurementTIH@dai.com
Anticipated Award Type: Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order
Basis for Award: An award will be made based on the Trade Off Method.
The award will be issued to the responsible and reasonable offeror who provides the best value to DAI and its client using a combination of technical and cost/price factors.