Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Gap Analyses

This is the amendment to respond to questions and provide answers in regards to the solicitation. Please see the attached Amendment and the Q&A attachment. The close date of the solicitation is April 30, 2020 at 12:00pm EST. This is the amendment to extend the close date of the solicitation to April 30, 2020 at 12:00pm EST. The extension of the solicitation will allow the Government an opportunity to respond to questions. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) anticipates a need of environmental and social consulting services. The purpose of this solicitation is to establish an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts (each, an - IDIQ Contract) are being established to provide timely, cost effective, and professional services. The Government uses IDIQ Contracts (sometimes also referred to herein as an - IDIQ) to place Task Orders against a basic contract for individual requirements. Minimum and maximum quantity limits are specified in the basic IDIQ Contract as dollar values. One (1) IDIQ Contract will be awarded. This procurement is unrestricted using NAICS Codes 541620. All business concerns may submit a response to the RFP. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Gap Analyses The role of the Independent Consultant (IC) will be to provide DFC support in conducting gap analyses of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) for high-risk (Category A) projects that are under consideration for OPIC support in the area of debt finance, insurance, or equity finance. The IC will help identify and close gaps in the ESIAs with regards to the Applicable Standards so that OPIC can post the ESIAs on its website to satisfy OPIC's requirements for public disclosure of ESIAs for Category A projects. The exact number and types of projects are not known at the present time, but OPIC estimates that we will need the IC to conduct up to 10 ESIA reviews in any given 12-month period. The IC will provide reviews on an - as-needed time and materials basis as ESIAs are received by OPIC. Prior to beginning work on each project, the IC and DFC will agree on a not-to-exceed budget based on the length and complexity of the ESIA. Turnaround times for the initial ESIA reviews are expected to be 2-4 weeks, again, depending on the complexity and length of the ESIA document. The contract is expected to include one base year and up to four option years for a total of five years. The work will be desk-based and may be performed off-site. STATEMEMT OF WORK OPIC will utilize the tasks established by this solicitation to award IDIQ Task Orders to the Contractor to perform services within the specified areas of expertise. Once OPIC's OIP has determined a need for a specific task that is covered in this document, OPIC will issue a IDIQ Task Order. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES REQUIRED Independent Consultant Scope of Work The proposed scope of services is described below. Task 1 - Initial Review of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment For each potential OPIC project, the IC will review the ESIA document (including Annexes and associated studies), and determine the adequacy of the ESIA (and the ESIA process) with regards to the requirements of the Applicable Standards with a specific focus on assessing the adequacy and completeness of the following (over the lifetime of the Project): 1. The description of the proposed project (including maps/diagrams), its area of influence, and any associated facilities; 2. The description of the baseline conditions in the project's area of influence, including the identification of directly and indirectly affected populations, and the adequacy and completeness of the baseline studies; 3. The Project's direct, indirect, and cumulative negative environmental and social impacts to ensure that they have been properly identified and evaluated (including rationale for non-applicability of specific Performance Standards); 4. Information dissemination and consultation activities conducted to date; and 5. The proposed environmental and social management plans/procedures to mitigate the impacts identified in (3) above. Task 2 - Deliverables The IC will prepare a Gap Analysis Report (table or list) based on the analysis described in Task 1 above. The report should include: 1. Recommended edits to the ESIA to close any gaps, rectify any internal inconsistencies, and improve the clarity of the document; and 2. Recommendations for additional surveys, studies, assessments, or management plans that need to be prepared in order for the ESIA to comply with the Applicable Standards and meet OPIC's disclosure requirements. Task 3 - Finalizing the ESIA for Public Posting DFC will forward the Gap Analysis Report to the project developer, who will make the recommended changes to the ESIA document (NOTE: the process of updating the ESIA could take several weeks or months, depending on the nature and complexity of the gaps or additional studies that need to be conducted). The IC will review any revisions/additions to the ESIA made by the project developer and assess their adequacy against the Applicable Standards. If gaps remain after revisions are made to the ESIA, the IC will prepare an updated Gap Analysis Report. The IC will continue this process until the document meets OPIC's disclosure requirements. Contract Terms The IC will provide technical support on a time and materials basis. Prior to initiating the ESIA review for a given project, OPIC will provide the IC with basic information for each project, including the project location, sector, and size of the ESIA (# of pages). OPIC and the IC will then agree to a not-to-exceed (NTE) amount and a timeline for the review of the ESIA. Turnaround times for the initial ESIA reviews (Task 1) are expected to be 2-4 weeks, depending on the complexity and size of the ESIA document. Turnaround times for any subsequent reviews (Task 3) are expected to be 1 week. OPIC and the IC can agree to increase the original NTE amount based on the nature and complexity of the subsequent review(s), and/or the quality/completeness of the project developer's revisions. DFC is an agency of the United States Government that supports U.S. private sector investment in new and emerging markets overseas. OPIC supports a wide range of investments, including renewable energy and clean technology projects, and is required by U.S. law to evaluate the potential environmental, health, safety and social impacts of projects it supports and to decline support for projects that, in OPIC's judgment, would result in major or unreasonable hazard to the people or the environment of the host country. The IC will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with OPIC. Proposals Core Team: The IC should propose a Core Team of at least five people, each of whom must possess at least five years experiences in conducting and/or reviewing ESIAs against the Applicable Standards. The IC should include hourly rates for the Core Team members in the proposal. For members of the Core Team a master's degree in a field relevant to interdisciplinary environmental and social assessment (e.g., natural resource/environmental management, ecology, anthropology, sociology, etc) is strongly preferred. Experience in developing countries and experience applying the IFC Performance Standards are required. Spanish and French language fluency is highly desirable. Technical Experts: The IC is expected to have access to specialized experts on technical subjects that may be needed to assist in the work. As part of the proposal, the IC should provide hourly rates and examples of the CVs of Technical Subject Experts that it would utilize to review ESIAs that have impacts in the following areas: 1. Biodiversity; 2. Air emissions / ambient air quality; 3. Ambient water quality / wastewater disposal; 4. Noise; 5. Stakeholder consultation; 6. Hazardous materials management; 7. Emergency preparedness and response; 8. Indigenous Peoples; 9. Land acquisition and involuntary resettlement; 10. Cultural heritage; and 11. Labor and working conditions (including occupational health and safety). NOTE: OPIC understands that the entire Core Team and group of Technical Experts won't be on call 24/7. In its proposal, the bidders should confirm that at least one member of the Core Team will always be available to conduct/supervise the review and that adequate Technical Experts will be available for specific tasks as needed. Example Gap Analyses: As part of the proposal, please provide a concise (2 pages maximum per example) but detailed description of the specific areas/subjects/issues your firm would consider as part of your ESIA review under Task 1 for the following 3 theoretical projects: 1. A 500 MW open-cycle gas-fired power plant next to a national park and a small village. 2. A bauxite mine with an associated 100 km access road that crosses land traditionally owned and used by an Indigenous group for religious purposes. 3. A natural gas liquefaction plant whose construction will result in the involuntary resettlement of ~2,500 people. FINAL NOTE: Please be advised that the scope of services that OPIC is requesting is for gap analyses of ESIA documents only - not full ESDDs of the projects. After posting the finalized ESIA for public comment, OPIC will conduct its own pre-investment ESDD of each project. Please ensure that proposals reflect this information. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Gap Analyses The role of the Independent Consultant (IC) will be to provide DFC support in conducting gap analyses of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) for high-risk (Category A) projects that are under consideration for OPIC support in the area of debt finance, insurance, or equity finance. The IC will help identify and close gaps in the ESIAs with regards to the Applicable Standards so that OPIC can post the ESIAs on its website to satisfy OPIC's requirements for public disclosure of ESIAs for Category A projects. The exact number and types of projects are not known at the present time, but OPIC estimates that we will need the IC to conduct up to 10 ESIA reviews in any given 12-month period. The IC will provide reviews on an - as-needed time and materials basis as ESIAs are received by OPIC. Prior to beginning work on each project, the IC and DFC will agree on a not-to-exceed budget based on the length and complexity of the ESIA. Turnaround times for the initial ESIA reviews are expected to be 2-4 weeks, again, depending on the complexity and length of the ESIA document. The contract is expected to include one base year and up to four option years for a total of five years. The work will be desk-based and may be performed off-site. STATEMEMT OF WORK OPIC will utilize the tasks established by this solicitation to award IDIQ Task Orders to the Contractor to perform services within the specified areas of expertise. Once OPIC's OIP has determined a need for a specific task that is covered in this document, OPIC will issue a IDIQ Task Order. Independent Consultant Scope of Work The proposed scope of services is described below. Task 1 - Initial Review of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment For each potential OPIC project, the IC will review the ESIA document (including Annexes and associated studies), and determine the adequacy of the ESIA (and the ESIA process) with regards to the requirements of the Applicable Standards with a specific focus on assessing the adequacy and completeness of the following (over the lifetime of the Project): 1. The description of the proposed project (including maps/diagrams), its area of influence, and any associated facilities; 2. The description of the baseline conditions in the project's area of influence, including the identification of directly and indirectly affected populations, and the adequacy and completeness of the baseline studies; 3. The Project's direct, indirect, and cumulative negative environmental and social impacts to ensure that they have been properly identified and evaluated (including rationale for non-applicability of specific Performance Standards); 4. Information dissemination and consultation activities conducted to date; and 5. The proposed environmental and social management plans/procedures to mitigate the impacts identified in (3) above. Task 2 - Deliverables The IC will prepare a Gap Analysis Report (table or list) based on the analysis described in Task 1 above. The report should include: 1. Recommended edits to the ESIA to close any gaps, rectify any internal inconsistencies, and improve the clarity of the document; and 2. Recommendations for additional surveys, studies, assessments, or management plans that need to be prepared in order for the ESIA to comply with the Applicable Standards and meet OPIC's disclosure requirements. Task 3 - Finalizing the ESIA for Public Posting OPIC will forward the Gap Analysis Report to the project developer, who will make the recommended changes to the ESIA document (NOTE: the process of updating the ESIA could take several weeks or months, depending on the nature and complexity of the gaps or additional studies that need to be conducted). The IC will review any revisions/additions to the ESIA made by the project developer and assess their adequacy against the Applicable Standards. If gaps remain after revisions are made to the ESIA, the IC will prepare an updated Gap Analysis Report. The IC will continue this process until the document meets OPIC's disclosure requirements. Contract Terms The IC will provide technical support on a time and materials basis. Prior to initiating the ESIA review for a given project, OPIC will provide the IC with basic information for each project, including the project location, sector, and size of the ESIA (# of pages). OPIC and the IC will then agree to a not-to-exceed (NTE) amount and a timeline for the review of the ESIA. Turnaround times for the initial ESIA reviews (Task 1) are expected to be 2-4 weeks, depending on the complexity and size of the ESIA document. Turnaround times for any subsequent reviews (Task 3) are expected to be 1 week. OPIC and the IC can agree to increase the original NTE amount based on the nature and complexity of the subsequent review(s), and/or the quality/completeness of the project developer's revisions. OPIC is an agency of the United States Government that supports U.S. private sector investment in new and emerging markets overseas. OPIC supports a wide range of investments, including renewable energy and clean technology projects, and is required by U.S. law to evaluate the potential environmental, health, safety and social impacts of projects it supports and to decline support for projects that, in OPIC's judgment, would result in major or unreasonable hazard to the people or the environment of the host country. The IC will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with OPIC. Proposals Core Team: The IC should propose a Core Team of at least five people, each of whom must possess at least five years experiences in conducting and/or reviewing ESIAs against the Applicable Standards. The IC should include hourly rates for the Core Team members in the proposal. For members of the Core Team a master's degree in a field relevant to interdisciplinary environmental and social assessment (e.g., natural resource/environmental management, ecology, anthropology, sociology, etc) is strongly preferred. Experience in developing countries and experience applying the IFC Performance Standards are required. Spanish and French language fluency is highly desirable. Technical Experts: The IC is expected to have access to specialized experts on technical subjects that may be needed to assist in the work. As part of the proposal, the IC should provide hourly rates and examples of the CVs of Technical Subject Experts that it would utilize to review ESIAs that have impacts in the following areas: 1. Biodiversity; 2. Air emissions / ambient air quality; 3. Ambient water quality / wastewater disposal; 4. Noise; 5. Stakeholder consultation; 6. Hazardous materials management; 7. Emergency preparedness and response; 8. Indigenous Peoples; 9. Land acquisition and involuntary resettlement; 10. Cultural heritage; and 11. Labor and working conditions (including occupational health and safety). NOTE: OPIC understands that the entire Core Team and group of Technical Experts won't be on call 24/7. In its proposal, the bidders should confirm that at least one member of the Core Team will always be available to conduct/supervise the review and that adequate Technical Experts will be available for specific tasks as needed. Example Gap Analyses: As part of the proposal, please provide a concise (2 pages maximum per example) but detailed description of the specific areas/subjects/issues your firm would consider as part of your ESIA review under Task 1 for the following 3 theoretical projects: 1. A 500 MW open-cycle gas-fired power plant next to a national park and a small village. 2. A bauxite mine with an associated 100 km access road that crosses land traditionally owned and used by an Indigenous group for religious purposes. 3. A natural gas liquefaction plant whose construction will result in the involuntary resettlement of ~2,500 people. FINAL NOTE: Please be advised that the scope of services that DFC is requesting is for gap analyses of ESIA documents only - not full ESDDs of the projects. After posting the finalized ESIA for public comment, OPIC will conduct its own pre-investment ESDD of each project. Please ensure that proposals reflect this information. Provided below are instructions for the preparation and submission of proposals. The purpose is to establish requirements for the format and content of proposals so that proposals are complete, contain all essential information and can be evaluated equitably. The solicitation should be reviewed upon receipt and any questions or problems regarding the documents or the process directed immediately to the CO in writing via email at Antionette.Collins@dfc.gov . All questions regarding this solicitation are due no later than March 31, 2020, at 12:00pm Eastern Standard Time. All questions should be sent to Antionette.Collins@dfc.gov . All questions and answers will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website (www.fbo.gov) for viewing shortly after the deadline for questions. The following is the established requirements for the format and content of proposals so that the submissions are complete, contain all essential information and can be evaluated equitably. Please send all documents via e-mail to Antionette.Collins@dfc.gov . Only electronic submissions and electronic signatures will be accepted. Offerors must submit their responses in accordance with the preparation instruction contained herein. Submission of proposals shall only be accepted through e-mail to Antionette.Collins@dfc.gov . Responses to this solicitation are due no later than April 30, 2020, 12:00pm Eastern Standard Time. It is the responsibility of the offeror to verify successful transmission.