INL/WHP requires the services of an M&E contractor to develop M&E policies and procedures; create realistic and feasible performance measures; support, manage, and conduct data collection efforts across the hemisphere; and develop and maintain an M&E data management, analysis, and reporting system and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This contract will help INL/WHP comply with the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016 (FATAA), which codifies reporting on the performance of U. S. foreign assistance and its contribution to the policies and priorities undertaken by the Federal Government. There are four (4) components of this contract: Washington D.C.-Based M&E Support - The contractor shall furnish a team of performance management experts who will support INL/WHP in developing performance measures for INL/WHP programs and projects. This team shall be based in the Washington D. C. metro area. This team will thoroughly define each performance measure, for example, through Performance Management Definition Forms (PMDFs) and Variable Definition Forms (VDFs), which explain each measure and serve as a record of data collection methodology. This team will oversee the personnel located at various overseas posts as defined later in this solicitation and hereinafter referred to as - in-country M&E Specialists, prevent duplication of effort, establish and manage reporting cycles, and develop analytical reports for INL/WHP use. As required, this team may also deploy to develop performance measures in conjunction with the in-country M&E Specialists, develop Data Collection Tools (DCTs), and collect data from third party sources with prior written approval of the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). These activities may also include creation of surveys, data comparisons, statistical analysis, or interviews. At the end of the contract, these M&E Specialists will be responsible for ensuring the transfer of all information, SOPs, and data to D. C.-based INL/WHP employees and systems. In-Country M&E Support - This contract shall require support for Posts within the Western Hemisphere with INL/WHP programming, as enumerated in the Personnel section of this solicitation. This support shall include developing strategic and project level indicators, collecting and managing both project and country-level data and will contribute to reporting against standardized strategic-level indicators across the Western Hemisphere. This shall include researching and partnering with other entities that are pursuing M&E efforts, requesting data from host governments, conducting open source research, and performing light data entry. These activities may also include creation of surveys, semi-experimental comparisons, statistical analysis, and interviews. At the end of the contact, these M&E Specialists will be responsible for ensuring the transfer of all information, SOPs, and data to INL-designated in-country officers and INL/WHP. Data Management Support - The contractor shall provide D. C.-based Data Management Specialist(s) who will design data collection tools and support the development and maintenance of INL/WHP's data management system. The Data Management Specialist(s) will also assist in designing DCTs, including for implementers, support the M&E Specialists to enforce reporting cycles, clean and enter data, and produce analytical reports and data visualizations for INL/WHP use. At least one Data Management Specialist must be based on-site with access to all allowable INL systems, ensuring the data under the purview of this contract is always accessible to stakeholders. The contractor may be required to conduct a significant amount of data entry. The Data Management Specialist(s) shall provide instruction manuals and quick-guides for all templates, data management processes, and reporting activities to ensure the complete and easy transfer of information from the contractor to INL/WHP-designated staff prior to the end of the contract. Sustainability, Transition, Technical Assistance, and Training - The contractor shall train and provide technical assistance upon request to key stakeholders on the reporting process and templates as required by INL/WHP and/or Posts. The contractor shall perform all activities to ensure program officers in Washington D. C. and Post are able to effectively access and use data stored in the commercially available system managed by the Data Management Specialists. Before the end of the contract, the contractor shall perform all activities to ensure the successful transition of all indicators, data collection, data management, analysis, and reporting knowledge, systems, processes, and activities to staff in INL/WHP and INL Sections overseas. While the process of ensuring sustainability and transition will take place throughout the contract, the contractor shall be responsible for completing training and mentoring for INL/WHP-designated staff prior to the end of the contract on the data measures, data collection methods, and use of the M&E system.
