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Request for Proposal (RFP)

RFP #: American English (AE) E-Teacher Course RFP

Issued on: February 29, 2016

For: Online, university-level professional development opportunities related to Teaching

English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for non-native English speaking teachers

(NNESTs) outside the United States under the American English E-Teacher Scholarship

Program (AE E-Teacher)

Estimated Period of Performance: August 1, 2016 – December 15, 2017

Proposal Deadline: May 6, 2016

___________________________________________________________________

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Table of Contents

Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Description .................................................................................................................................................. 3

Period of Performance .............................................................................................................................. 4

Professional Development Suite Components ..................................................................................... 5

Guidelines .................................................................................................................................................... 5

Intellectual Property ............................................................................................................................... 5

Audience .................................................................................................................................................. 5

Technical Requirements ........................................................................................................................ 6

Course Design ......................................................................................................................................... 7

Scope of Work (SOW) ............................................................................................................................. 8

Adaptation and Development of Content .......................................................................................... 9

Implementation and Delivery ............................................................................................................... 9

Deliverables ................................................................................................................................................ 9

Submission of Materials and Resources ............................................................................................ 10

Narrative Program and Financial Reports ........................................................................................ 10

Budget ........................................................................................................................................................ 10

Cost Share Guidance ........................................................................................................................... 10

Instructions to Applicants ...................................................................................................................... 12

RFP Response Information ................................................................................................................ 12

Submission Requirements ................................................................................................................... 12

Eligibility ................................................................................................................................................ 14

Criteria/Qualifications for Evaluation .............................................................................................. 14

Terms and Conditions ............................................................................................................................. 14

Certification of Independent Price Determination ......................................................................... 14

Withdrawal of Proposals ..................................................................................................................... 15

Right to Select/Reject .......................................................................................................................... 15

Disclaimer .............................................................................................................................................. 15

Request For Proposal Firm Guarantee ............................................................................................. 16

Offer Verification ................................................................................................................................. 16

False Statements in Offer .................................................................................................................... 16

Conflict of Interest ............................................................................................................................... 16

Reserved Rights .................................................................................................................................... 16

Attachments .............................................................................................................................................. 17

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Purpose FHI 360 is soliciting proposals for subcontractors to adapt and deliver core online courses for

English language teaching professionals under the American English E-Teacher Scholarship

Program (AE E-Teacher), sponsored and funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/A/L). In addition to offering Global Online Courses

(GOCs) for cohorts of up to 25 participants at a time, the project will support a suite of

professional development opportunities, including the adaptation and delivery of GOCs as

Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs). GOCs and MOOCs will be augmented with

Webinars, Scheduled Online Events (SOLEs) and Communities of Practice (CoPs). All

courses, events and resources will be accessible online via a teaching and learning portal,

developed by a vendor contracted by FHI 360.

The AE E-Teacher Scholarship Program offers graduate-level professional development

opportunities for linguistically and culturally diverse non-native English speaking teachers

(NNESTs) around the world in the discipline of Teaching English to Speakers of Other

Languages (TESOL). Courses, events and resources utilize the latest educational technology

and introduce the most current methods and evidence-based approaches to teaching English

as a Second or Foreign Language (ESL/EFL). AE E-Teacher professional development

opportunities are provided by multiple U.S. universities and allow for direct access to experts

with whom participants might not otherwise have the opportunity to interact. The

professional development opportunities expose participants to U.S. student-centered teaching

techniques, give insight into U.S. culture and values, and foster opportunities to increase

global awareness and understanding.

AE E-Teacher program participants are expected to become agents of change by sharing the

knowledge they gain from participating in this program with their colleagues. To support this

level of engagement, each GOC offered in the AE E-Teacher program must contain at least

one lesson examining best practices for “Cascading New Knowledge,” and a CoP related to

this theme and moderated by FHI 360’s TESOL Technical Officer will provide further

opportunities for participants to explore strategies for sharing experiences, methods, and

techniques within their wider community. This allows the reach of the AE E-Teacher

program to be multiplied to affect an unlimited number of teachers around the world, as well

as the English Language Learners (ELLs) they teach.

Description The AE E-Teacher Scholarship program was piloted in 2004, offering five courses including

Assessment for EFL, Teaching Critical Thinking, English for Business, English for Law, and

Teaching English to Young Learners. Most recently, a selection of ten courses were offered

and the program has operated in over 155 countries around the world.

With the new program, participants will be selected through U.S. Embassies. Participants are

enrolled in the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs AE E-

Teacher Scholarship Program, administered by FHI 360, and are not enrolled in or students of

the institutions providing course content or instruction under this grant. Once enrolled,

participants will complete a pre-course self-assessment and online orientation module

including language and technology assessments. Subsequent adjustments to course

placement may be made by FHI 360 and ECA/A/L. Teachers placed in a GOC will have

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exclusive access to that course’s content and instructor. All GOC participants with an

account on the teacher training portal will have access to other professional development

opportunities available on the portal including Webinars, MOOCs, SOLEs and resource

repositories. Access to CoPs and archived resources following course completion allows

participants to continue to engage with other teaching professionals and share knowledge and

resources with their colleagues. As GOCs are transitioned to MOOCs, the number of

participants who benefit from the AE E-Teacher Scholarship program will grow. For the

purposes of this project, a MOOC is defined as an online course that permits for open and

unlimited enrollment of learners at no cost to the learner.

In a needs assessment conducted by FHI 360 and ECA/A/L, eight GOC topics were identified

as particularly relevant professional development topics. Attachment A provides a general

description of these course topics.

1. TESOL Methodology

2. Critical Thinking in the English Language Classroom

3. Assessment of English Learners

4. Teaching Younger Learners

5. Using Educational Technology in English Language Teaching

6. Techniques of Teaching Reading and Writing

7. Professional Development for Teacher Trainers

8. English for Specific Purposes

FHI 360 is open to receiving proposals for the above courses as well as additional GOC

topics which address evidence-based approaches or issues relevant to EFL teaching.

Institutions may choose to submit a proposal for as many professional development suites as

they have the resources to offer, including the identified topics, or other existing courses they

may wish to propose as relevant and useful, within the guidelines of this RFP. A separate

proposal should be submitted for each GOC topic. FHI 360 reserves the right to subcontract

for as few or as many professional development suites as meet the needs of the program.

This RFP supports adaptation of existing online course content with modifications to

incorporate elements of particular relevance to AE E-Teacher Scholarship recipients. FHI

360 expects to receive proposals from institutions that already offer high quality, online,

university-level courses in the field of TESOL, and is interested in receiving proposals from

institutions that can exhibit flexibility in both the adaptation and scheduling of course

offerings. Courses will be scheduled according to demand. There may be periods of high

demand for some courses, resulting in the need for multiple sections. FHI 360 reserves the

right to cancel courses with low enrollment.

Period of Performance The Estimated Period of Performance is August 1, 2016 – December 15, 2017. The calendar

of quarters, the number of courses that will be offered each quarter and the number of sections

needed will be determined during post-award and on-going conversations with FHI 360 in

collaboration with ECA/A/L.

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Professional Development Suite Components In addition to the GOC, each course will be adapted to be taught as an instructed MOOC, and

then as a stand-alone MOOC. Each professional development suite will include a skills-

based Webinar series and Scheduled Online Events (SOLEs). The 4-part Webinar series will

run concurrently with the instructed delivery of the MOOC, and should augment the course

topic. The Webinars will be recorded to stand alone as a coherent series providing evidence-

based techniques and strategies for improving English language instruction or enhancing

learner’s English acquisition. The SOLEs will also be implemented as live events concurrent

with the instructed MOOC, allowing NNESTs the opportunity to interact with experts in the

field on topics of particular concern to the EFL context.

The subcontractor will be responsible for ensuring that the GOC instructor identifies and

tracks high performing GOC alumni. The subcontractor will mentor high performing alumni

to act as facilitators during MOOC delivery, and will recommend additional high performing

alumni to FHI 360 to be mentored by FHI 360 as CoP facilitators.

Guidelines FHI 360’s project team will be available to provide assistance with course design, and

evaluation of course materials, activities and assessment strategies in relation to the target

audience throughout the period of performance. GOC and MOOC course design will be

reviewed to ensure minimum standards for course development, design and delivery are met.

Guidelines will be provided to maintain consistency of experience across institutional

providers, and to facilitate compliance with the U.S. Department of State’s branding

requirements.

Intellectual Property The AE E-Teacher Scholarship program represents an investment in the next generation of

open educational resources (OER) by requiring that all new intellectual property, including

all digital content, be openly licensed for free use, adaptation, and improvement by others.

OER are teaching, learning, and research materials in any medium that reside in the public

domain or have been released under an open license that permits their free use and re-

purposing by others. “Educational materials” can be but are not limited to the following:

courses, course materials or modules, textbooks, handouts, videos, assessments, multimedia

applications, audio, games, lesson plans, curriculum maps, teaching guides, training and

certification materials, and any other explanatory materials used to support access to

knowledge.

All materials and resources built or revised with grant funds, associated with components of

the professional development suite, must be openly licensed and made publicly available

under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY). The purpose of the CC BY

licensing requirement is to extend the reach of the AE E-Teacher Scholarship program by

allowing participants to share materials within their teaching networks and provide access to

materials that can be modified to fit the particular context in which they are teaching.

Audience

The chart below summarizes the GOC and MOOC audience and approaches to meet their

needs:

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Characteristics Approaches

Language Level ➔ TOEFL 525/70iBT/CEFR

B2; some higher and many

lower-level participants

- Target course materials to CEFR

B1

- Provide extension

materials/activities for higher level

participants

- Scaffold instruction

Educational

Background ➔ Most hold a BA; may not

have an advanced degree or

degree related to English or

Education

- Do not assume prerequisite

knowledge

- Use needs assessments to gauge

participants’ background

knowledge and experience

Technical

Environment ➔ Asynchronous environment

➔ Low bandwidth environments

that can limit reliability and

frequency of Internet access

- Structure course activities so that

participants can interact with

materials on a schedule that works

for them locally

- Avoid course design that requires

daily log in; provide downloadable

packets of course materials

- While videos can be a useful

method of engaging distance

learners, they should not be the

core of instruction and transcripts

should be provided as a backup for

low-bandwidth participants.

Learning

Environment ➔ Global audience with varied

teaching contexts and goals

➔ Significant work/family

commitments may impact

ability to devote time to

coursework

- Emphasize EFL- specific

outcomes and use participants’

experience as a springboard for

activities

- Limit median time required to

complete weekly coursework

Technical Requirements

Both GOCs and MOOCs will be delivered using the Canvas Learning Management System

(LMS) via the teaching and learning portal managed by FHI 360. If the subcontractor’s

current online course offering(s) utilize an LMS other than Canvas, the subcontractor should

be prepared to export course materials to the Canvas LMS and administer all courses there.

FHI 360’s project team will be able to provide assistance with the course export process, the

GOC to MOOC transition, and course implementation. The following applies to each

professional development suite:

● Content must be web-based and operate flawlessly via a wide variety of internet browsers

including Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Opera;

● Content must operate on a variety of mobile devices including the most common

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smartphones and tablets;

● GOC and MOOC course content and materials must be fully downloadable;

● Content must be accessible to users with limited bandwidth;

● GOC and MOOC course content must be universally adaptable and transferable between

various platforms and learning management systems;

● Content must be compliant with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;

● All content, activities and participant records of all components must be 100% accessible

by FHI 360 and ECA/A/L 100% of the time.

Course Design

All GOCs and MOOCs are expected to follow industry standards, such as those outlined by

AECT and TESOL. Courses should familiarize participants with the most current methods

and evidence-based techniques in TESOL, providing online learning experiences that

motivate NNESTs to create effective learner-centered classrooms. Online engagements

promoting networking, collaboration and engagement should inspire participants to share

aspects of their culture, particularly those related to teaching and learning. Courses should

take a measured approach and incorporate video and other dynamic media for engaging

participants and supporting a variety of learning styles, where practicable, while taking into

consideration low-bandwidth issues.

The GOC and MOOC courses should employ basic pedagogical and andragogical strategies

that are effective for adult learners.

● The instructional approach should take into consideration variability in the learner’s

educational background, expectations, goals, and cultural context;

● The experience of participants should provide a springboard for learning activities;

● Process-based activities such as case studies, simulations and self-evaluation should be

employed to support learning objectives;

● The instructional approach should create a safe and supportive environment in which the

learner is encouraged to share experiences and develop intercultural communication

skills;

● Formative and summative assessment should be valid, reliable, practical, and authentic;

● The instructional approach should facilitate development of independent learning and

encourage learners to employ critical and creative thinking strategies.

Design Requirements Recommendations

3- 4 hours per week of instruction Presentation of instruction

5 to 10 hours per week of student

interaction with course Amount of time required to review course instruction, read course

materials, participate in course activities, and complete homework

Assessment of pre- and post-

course knowledge Diagnostic: assess current state of participants’ knowledge base relative

to learning objectives

End of course assessment should measure achievement.

Retention Strategies The first two weeks of the course are a critical period - special attention

must be paid to actively supporting and engaging participants to

maximize retention. Applicants must address strategies in the proposal.

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Design Requirements Recommendations

“Cascading New Knowledge”

lesson/module Use project-based design to embed aspects of “Cascading New

Knowledge” requirement throughout the course, with Action Plan due

as culminating product shared with other course participants

Incorporation of existing

Department of State, Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs

American English teaching

resources, including Forum

magazine articles

(americanenglish.state.gov)

Encourage participants to interact with resources by: - Reflecting on their teaching context and submitting an article to

“My Classroom;”

- Choosing an American English resource they have used and writing

an outline of their experience for submission to “Teacher

Perspectives”

Incorporation of American

culture - Emphasize culture as a natural part of the language learning

experience, using American culture and participants’ own cultural

contexts as examples

- Give suggestions for selecting materials and activities of cultural

interest to students

- Provide participants with relevant information about the American

education system

- Highlight American Culture resources available on American

English that may pertain to the course topic

Emphasis on digital literacy skills

including identifying appropriate

web sites, integrating new

applications, and adapting web-

based materials with follow-up

exercises and printable guides

- Provide instruction and practice in identifying reliable online

sources - Provide suggestions and techniques for navigating and integrating

technology into the classroom - Provide instruction and examples of adapting web-based materials

to the classroom

Addressing intellectual property

rights to arrive at a shared

understanding of what they are

and how to protect them

- Explicitly define and teach intellectual property rights using a video

or other presentation - Include a required exercise in which participants must identify

plagiarism and give suggestions for correction - Include both pre- and post-module assessments

Peer-to-peer interaction - Discussion forums

- Peer evaluation and feedback activities

Instructor-student interaction - GOCs: Timely, individualized feedback

- GOCs and MOOCs: Instructor-led teaching demonstrations and

strategic video clips to minimize sense of distance and engage

participants

Development of independent

learning strategies and critical

and creative thinking skills

Course content and activities should encourage analysis, synthesis and

evaluation of a variety of input; participants should ultimately arrive at

a plan for both amending their teaching approach and acting as a

catalyst for change in their community.

Scope of Work (SOW) The subcontract(s) negotiated under this award will be issued as Master Service Agreements

(MSAs), under which separate task orders (TOs) will be issued for the various components

required to develop and implement the professional development suite. TOs issued under the

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MSA will provide detailed SOWs related to the following activities:

Adaptation and Development of Content

● Adapting existing course material, according to the guidelines provided in this RFP and in

consultation with FHI 360 and ECA/A/L, to provide an 8-week GOC curriculum.

● Adapting GOC course material to provide facilitated MOOC curriculum.

● Adapting facilitated MOOC format to provide an on-demand MOOC curriculum.

● Developing a 4-part Webinar series to accompany delivery of the facilitated MOOC.

● Writing and submitting an article or “Teaching Technique” to the English Teaching

Forum magazine. The submission should be provided by instructional staff associated

with the institution’s development and implementation of the AE E-Teacher program.

● Providing complete course curriculum and associated materials; submitting course

materials organized into packets to the American English website Resource section where

they may be downloaded, printed, and reproduced as ECA determines.

Implementation and Delivery

● Delivery of the GOC, by a qualified instructor, at least one time during the period of

performance.

● Instruction of the MOOC, by a TESOL, Linguistics or Education program teaching

assistant, at least one time during the period of performance.

● Delivery of the 4-part Webinar series as live events facilitated by instructors in

conjunction with the instructed MOOC, and re-recording the events to edit out extraneous

material.

● Implementing two live SOLEs facilitated by instructors.

Additionally, the Subcontractor must:

1. Designate a main point of contact (POC) to interact frequently by phone and/or e-mail

with designated FHI 360 contacts to discuss design, development, implementation and

evaluation of all components of the professional development suite. All inquiries must

be answered in a timely fashion and within no longer than two working days.

2. Collaborate with FHI 360 to develop a detailed Work Plan for each component of the

professional development suite as outlined in the Deliverables section. FHI 360 will

provide final approval of all Work Plans. Any changes to Work Plans, if required, will

be negotiated with all parties.

3. Provide any course content, data and examples of participant work not housed within the

Canvas LMS at the completion of each course.

Deliverables Deliverables will be outlined and agreed upon during development of the Work Plan, due no

later than 30 days after the Subcontract is signed. The Work Plan must be approved by FHI

360 prior to commencement of any activities excluding consultations and necessary work to

inform the Work Plan.

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Submission of Materials and Resources In addition to providing draft materials for review and approval, subcontractor will work with

FHI 360 to prepare final course materials for inclusion in an online repository. These

materials must be submitted using guidelines provided by FHI 360 and ECA/A/L and

according to schedules agreed upon in consultation. Course materials are inclusive of the

following: syllabus, course calendar, lesson plans, all resources referenced by and required to

facilitate instruction according to lesson plans, diagnostic test, final course assessment,

interim assessments, grading rubrics, and answer keys.

Narrative Program and Financial Reports The applicant is expected to submit regular narrative program and financial reports. These

reports detail the progress of ongoing activities, successes, challenges, lessons learned, and

plans for future quarters; and include reporting on relevant assessment indicators.

Specifically, the narrative program report should comment on the success of retention efforts,

provide data regarding quarterly completion rates, and indicate the level of knowledge gained

by program participants. Financial reports shall detail quarterly expenses as well as a

quarterly pipeline for expected expenses.

The applicant must submit a narrative final report that comments on the following:

● Analytics of participants’ performance and level of participation/engagement

● Comparison of knowledge gains in GOC and MOOC implementations

● Experience of TAs instructing MOOC

● Experience mentoring and using high-performing Alumni to facilitate MOOC

● Suggestions for revisions to course content and delivery

Budget FHI 360 will issue a sub-contract with a maximum award ceiling of $229,500 for each

professional development suite in the form of a Master Service Agreement (MSA). Work

under the MSA will be authorized as Time and Materials or Fixed Price Task Orders (TOs).

Subcontracts will be administered in accordance with the applicable donor regulations.

Professional Development Suite Development Costs

Initial Delivery Costs: 1 GOC, 1 MOOC, etc.

Follow-on Delivery, per course section (max 25 students) Total Award

Ceiling $ 90,000.00 $ 18,000.00 $ 13,500.00

Maximum Follow-on Delivery – 9 sections (no more than 3 per quarter) scheduled as needed throughout the period of performance: $ 121,500.00 $ 229,500.00

Applicants should present their costs in as much detail as possible, including budget

calculations. Please use the budget template provided as Attachment B and submit your

budget as an Excel document, including a budget narrative.

Cost Share Guidance

Cost share is one option through which funders broaden their reach and increase program

impact. Applicants with significant cost sharing will be deemed more competitive. Bidders

under this solicitation must provide a cost share of no less than 10% of their overall budget.

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As defined by USG regulations, to fall within the definition of Cost Share, the offering must

be:

1. Verifiable from recipient records;

2. Not included as contributions for other federally assisted projects (i.e., it cannot be used

twice);

3. Necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient accomplishment of the project

objectives;

4. Allowable under applicable cost principles;

5. Not paid by USG under another award

6. Provided for in the approved budget;

7. Valued in accordance with applicable cost principles; and

8. Expended during the performance period.

Allowable Cost Share ● Donated or Reduced Price In-Kind Materials and Services

● Volunteer Services/Donated Time and Reduced Salaries: Volunteer services furnished by

professional and technical personnel, consultants, and skilled and unskilled labor may be

counted as cost sharing if the service is an integral and necessary part of the approved

project. In addition, the differential between a consultant’s market-based rate and what

that consultant charges can also be treated as cost share

● Travel: Travel costs absorbed by non-USG funds can be treated as cost share if they are

project-relevant and occur during the project period

● Office and Meeting Space: Office or meeting space donated by a private business, school,

hotel, or community to a project free of charge or at a reduced rate may be treated as cost

share

● Office Supplies and Expendable Equipment: Non-USG-funded supplies, including

expendable equipment, office supplies, laboratory supplies, software, contributed utilities

(electric, telephone, computer network, janitorial services), and training or workshop

materials may be treated as cost share when donated or given to the project at a reduced

price

● Air/Media Time: Air or media time, including website management costs, donated to a

project free of charge or at a reduced price may be treated as cost share.

● Cash Contributions: Cash from a non-USG source donated to a project that is used to

support the project’s objectives can be treated as cost share after it has been spent. In

addition, a non-USG funding source may offer to pay project-related invoices, like

printing expenses, during the project. This, too, can be treated as cost share

● Unrecovered Indirect Cost: agree to recover less than outlined in negotiated indirect cost

recovery agreement (NICRA), the differential can be treated as cost share if pre-approved

by the funding agency.

Unallowable Cost Share ● USG funding: Federal funds cannot be used as cost share for another grant, unless

specifically delineated in a solicitation or authorized by Federal statute.

● Salary Caps: The differential between what a team member/consultant charges and what

USG sets as a salary cap cannot be used as cost sharing as USG does not view excessive

salary rates as an allowable cost.

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Instructions to Applicants

RFP Response Information

The key dates for this RFP process are shown below:

February 29, 2016 RFP released to potential Applicants.

March 14, 2016 Submission of questions or requests for clarification need to be

submitted in writing via email to eteacher@fhi360.org.

Please note that inquiries and answers to inquiries will be shared with

all Applicants. Please do not contact any FHI 360 employees regarding

this RFP. Contacting individual employees may be cause for

disqualification.

No Telephone Inquiries Will Be Answered.

March 28, 2016 FHI 360’s response to all submitted questions are posted.

May 6, 2016 Submission of Proposals due by 5:00 pm Washington, DC (EDT) via

email to eteacher@fhi360.org. Proposals received after this time will

not be considered.

Please note FHI 360 shall, as a courtesy, reply via email confirming receipt of all proposals

received prior to closing date. This receipt response shall ONLY be notification that a

proposal email has been received by FHI 360 and is in no way to be construed as suggesting

or acknowledging receipt of a valid, complete or otherwise acceptable proposal file.

Submission Requirements

FHI 360 is requesting interested Applicants to complete a Capability Assessment using the

link provided below, and submit the remaining documents in PDF format:

1. Capability Assessment: Complete the Assessment located here at

http://tinyurl.com/rfpeteacher. If you open the link and need to return to it later, the

information you previously entered should have been saved. Simply return to the link

and make any changes or additions necessary before submitting.

2. Detailed Course Syllabus: Submit existing course syllabus and include a description that

addresses the content and curriculum components of the course including reference to the

industry standards that are met in the areas of online learning design, content and

delivery. The syllabus should describe the learning objectives and learner outcomes, a

summary of learning activities and assessments for each topic, and a weekly schedule.

3. Program Narrative: A description of no more than 10 double-spaced pages describing

how the existing online course will be adapted to address variations in language

proficiency and background, and effectively address the topic within the 8-week length

requirement. The narrative should address the retention and support strategies that will be

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used in the first weeks of the course, how American English and Forum resources will be

incorporated, how the applicant intends to incorporate the “Cascading New Knowledge”

Action Plan requirement, and how the applicant will approach CC BY licensing. The

final section should propose Webinar topics to accompany the MOOC implementation.

4. Indirect rate (NICRA, F&A Cost Rate Agreement) documentation, if applicable.

5. Timeline: Detailed timeline/calendar for executing adaptation and development activities

as described in scope of work and deliverables.

6. Staffing: Names, bio sketch, up-to-date CVs of each key personnel (not to exceed two

pages each) including their experience on this type of work, percentage of staff time of

principals and managers on this activity, and information regarding who will manage the

account.

7. Prior Performance Report: Please include a summary of previous grants awarded to

your institution including the name, a brief description, the award amount, and whether or

not the grant was successfully completed.

8. Appendices: Applicants may provide up to five additional pages of appendices that

specifically relate to solution design and content.

9. Cost Proposal: Please provide a detailed budget using the template provided in

Attachment B, as well as a budget narrative that reflects as accurately as possible the real

costs for the above scope of work. This must be provided as a Microsoft Excel document.

● Proposed budget should provide sufficient detail to allow evaluation of elements of

costs proposed.

● Proposed budget should be broken down by labor costs; please include the names of

the people who will do the work and unit costs; travel, per diems, logistics, training

and supervision costs, overhead or agency fees, indirect and direct costs etc.

● All fees must be clearly stated including the basis on which they will be applied. For

example, if your organization has a set fee or price list for these activities, please

indicate it; also any agency or overhead fees if applicable.

● The proposal must contain the signature of a duly authorized officer or agent of the

company submitting the proposal.

● The price you quote should be all-inclusive. If the price excludes certain taxes, fees or

charges, you must provide a detailed list of excluded fees with a complete explanation

of the nature of those fees.

● If the execution of work to be performed by your company requires the hiring of

subcontractors, you must clearly state this in your proposal. Subcontractors must be

identified and the work they will perform must be defined. In your proposal, please

provide the name, address, and EIN of the subcontractor. FHI 360 and ECA/A/L will

not refuse a proposal based upon the use of subcontractors; however we retain the

right to refuse the subcontractors you have selected.

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Eligibility

This competition is open to any non-governmental organization, non-profit or for-profit

entity. To be minimally eligible for funding, applicants must comply with the following

conditions:

● Organizations must be legally registered or otherwise authorized to conduct business in

their country or countries of operation

● Organizations must have a DUNS number

● Organizations must submit their application in English

Criteria/Qualifications for Evaluation

Proposals will be reviewed according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are weighted

as follows:

● Organization’s Capability – demonstrated current capacity of the applicant to provide all

material goods and services required as explained in this RFP. Experience,

corporate/consultant capabilities, syllabus and successful completion of past projects will

be taken into consideration. (30%)

● Program Narrative and Timeline – demonstrated understanding of the tasks assigned,

discussion of issues, and approach to completing them as demonstrated in the response

section. (30%)

● Staff and Qualifications – staffing qualification and level of effort to cost-effectively

provide required material goods and services. (20%)

● Cost and Budget – with appropriate breakdown and unit prices and costs that are in line

with industry standards. (20%)

Terms and Conditions Applicants are responsible for review of the terms and conditions described below:

Certification of Independent Price Determination

The applicant certifies that—

1. The prices in this offer have been arrived at independently, without, for the purpose of

restricting competition, any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other

applicant, including but not limited to subsidiaries or other entities in which applicant

has any ownership or other interests, or any competitor relating to (i) those prices, (ii)

the intention to submit an offer, or (iii) the methods or factors used to calculate the

prices offered;

2. The prices in this offer have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed by the

applicant, directly or indirectly, to any other applicant, including but not limited to

subsidiaries or other entities in which applicant has any ownership or other interests, or

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any competitor before bid opening (in the case of a sealed bid solicitation) or contract

award (in the case of a negotiated or competitive solicitation) unless otherwise required

by law; and

3. No attempt has been made or will be made by the applicant to induce any other concern

or individual to submit or not to submit an offer for the purpose of restricting

competition or influencing the competitive environment.

4. Each signature on the offer is considered to be a certification by the signatory that the

signatory—

a. Is the person in the applicant's organization responsible for determining the prices

being offered in this bid or proposal, and that the signatory has not participated

and will not participate in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through

(a)(3) above; or

(i) Has been authorized, in writing, to act as agent for the principals of the

applicant in certifying that those principals have not participated, and will not

participate in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above;

(ii) As an authorized agent, does certify that the principals of the applicant

have not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to

subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above; and

(iii) As an agent, has not personally participated, and will not participate, in

any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above.

5. Applicant understands and agrees that —

(1) violation of this certification will result in immediate disqualification from this

solicitation without recourse and may result in disqualification from future

solicitations; and

(2) discovery of any violation after award to the applicant will result in the

termination of the award for default.

Withdrawal of Proposals

Applicants may withdraw proposals by written notice via email received at any time before

award. Proposals may be withdrawn in person by an applicant’s authorized representative, if

the representative’s identity is made known and the representative signs a receipt for the

proposal before award.

Right to Select/Reject

FHI 360 reserves the right to select and negotiate with those firms it determines, in its sole

discretion, to be qualified for competitive proposals and to terminate negotiations without

incurring any liability. FHI 360 also reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received

without explanation.

Disclaimer

This RFP represents only a definition of requirements. It is merely an invitation for

submission of proposals and does not legally obligate FHI 360 to accept any of the submitted

proposals in whole or in part, nor is FHI 360 obligated to select the lowest priced proposal.

FHI 360 reserves the right to negotiate with any or all firms, both with respect to price, cost

Page 16

and/or scope of services. FHI 360 has no contractual obligations with any firms based upon

issuance of this RFP. It is not an offer to contract. Only the execution of a written contract

shall obligate FHI 360 in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in such

contract.

Request For Proposal Firm Guarantee

All information submitted in connection with this RFP will be valid for three (3) months from

the RFP due date. This includes, but is not limited to, cost, pricing, terms and conditions,

service levels, and all other information. If your firm is awarded the contract, all information

in the RFP and negotiation process is contractually binding.

Offer Verification

FHI 360 may contact subcontractors to confirm contact person, address, bid amount and that

the bid was submitted for this solicitation.

False Statements in Offer

Subcontractors must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this

solicitation and its attachments.

Conflict of Interest

Subcontractors must provide disclosure of any past, present or future relationships with any

parties associated with the issuance, review or management of this solicitation and

anticipated award. Failure to provide full and open disclosure may result in FHI 360 having

to re-evaluate selection of a potential subcontractor.

Reserved Rights

All RFP responses become the property of FHI 360 and FHI 360 reserves the right in its sole

discretion to:

● Disqualify any offer based on subcontractor failure to follow solicitation instructions.

● Waive any deviations by subcontractors from the requirements of this solicitation that in

FHI 360's opinion are considered not to be material defects requiring rejection or

disqualification; or where such a waiver will promote increased competition.

● Extend the time for submission of all RFP responses after notification to all

subcontractors.

● Terminate or modify the RFP process at any time and re-issue the RFP to whomever FHI

360 deems appropriate.

● Issue an award based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion.

● Award only part of the activities in the solicitation or issue multiple awards based on

solicitation activities.

● FHI 360 will not be able to compensate subcontractors for preparation of their response to

this RFP.

● Issuing this RFP is not a guarantee that FHI 360 will award a purchase order.

● FHI 360 may choose to award a purchase order to more than one subcontractor for

specific parts of the activities in the RFP.

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Attachments Attachment A – Course Descriptions

Attachment B – Budget Template – END OF RFP –