Request for Proposal (RFP)
RFP Title:
LA IDEA Activity 2: Supporting High Impact Entrepreneurs
Authority:
AID-OAA-A-12-00088
RFP #:
3569-020-RFP-2014-001
Contract Type:
Firm Fixed Price
Issued on:
AUG 18th, 2014
Proposal Deadline:
SEP 5TH, 2014
Submission Format:
Email (see details in Section IV below)
PURPOSE OF RFP: FHI 360’s LA IDEA project is seeking proposals to administer event planning,
coordinate travel, facilitate 3 small business workshops for the La idea Activity of Promoting Pacific
Alliance, High-Impact businesses nominated by the Pacific Alliance. The 3 workshops must be
conducted during the period December 2014 – February 2015 with a mechanism to provide ementoring ex-post to entrepreneurs.
The bidding is open to consortiums to allow for three incubators with competency in the three
different sectors to work together to deliver top quality programs.
I. INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND
The La Idea program is designed to support Latin American entrepreneurs based in the US and the Latin
America with resources that will help them cultivate and grow innovative businesses and startups that
will generate employment and economic growth throughout the Americas. In 2013, La Idea conducted a
LA Idea Business Pitch competition aimed at helping to provide Latin American Start up and Small
Business with funds to promote growth and innovative ideas. This next activity will continue to help
small businesses grow, but will focus on accelerating growth of trade partners, specifically high-impact
companies in strategic sectors for the Pacific Alliance.
The La Idea Activity of Supporting High-Impact Entrepreneurs has two objectives. The first will support
the development among Pacific Alliance countries in early stage ventures through a targeted “La Idea”
incubator program, with a specific focus on the Pacific Alliance countries (Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and
Chile) and the sectors of advanced agriculture, health services, and agribusiness. The second objective is
to promote mentoring linkages with diaspora in the U.S. and in countries in Latin America through
online mentoring as an easy to use service that connects entrepreneurs with volunteer mentors. Highimpact refers to the post-revenue, export-ready companies that are established and ready for a scaling
up that is required to take on the global market. The sectors of focus will include:
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 Advanced manufacturing (3D printing, nanotechnology, advanced materials, robotics, etc.)
 Health services (delivery systems, telemedicine, financing arrangements, etc.)
 Agribusiness (irrigation, distribution, food / beverage processing, etc.)
This activity will support those companies at this stage in the defined sectors. The key milestones in
competition are as follows:
1. November 1, 2014 – Participating businesses are selected by their countries for the 3 workshops
focusing on either advanced manufacturing, health services or agribusiness. Each country will
chose 5 high-impact businesses and 2 alternates for each workshop.
2. November 18, 2014 – These businesses will be announced at the Pacific Alliance event in Cali,
Colombia
3. December 2014 – February 2015 – Workshops will be held at the Small Business Associated
selected.
4. December 2014 – March 2015 – Mentoring will continue to be facilitated after the workshops
for 3 months by the SBA for sustained and new linkages between the U.S. and Latin American
businesses.
Note that this request for proposal is being issued in anticipation of USAID funding being made
available to FHI 360 for this purpose. While FHI 360 expects such funding to become available, there
can be no assurance that this will be the case.
II. PURPOSE
FHI 360 is seeking a U.S. based small business incubator, accelerator or Small Business Development
Center (Vendor) to organize three Workshops for Latin American businesses with a focus on the
sectors of advanced manufacturing, health services, and agribusiness (December 2014 – February
2015), and to facilitate an online mentoring platform for continued community network development
and growth. These small businesses selected will be looking for skills and knowledge of how to expand
their business, become high-impact companies and to continue to learn from the networks in Latin
America and in the U.S.
The goal of La Idea is to have all businesses that participate come away with positive impact and
learning from being part of the process. They will increase their knowledge of the exporting and
operations management that comes with business growth, as well as learn from experts and mentors
brought in through the incubator or SBA’s network. In that context, the purpose of these Workshops is
to provide an environment for learning, facilitate interaction with mentors, and provide networking
opportunities to the selected businesses s as they prepare themselves and their business for growth and
new channels. The three Workshops will be held at the SBA and will be designed and facilitated by the
chosen SBA. Each of these workshops will be two weeks in length, beginning on a Monday at 8am and
ending on the following Friday afternoon.
As part of this effort and in accordance with the objectives of the LA IDEA program, FHI 360 shall seek
the services of a local implementer, hereinafter referred to as the “vendor” to facilitate the three
workshops and the continued online mentoring facilitation.
III. SCOPE OF WORK & DELIVERABLES – NEED MORE SCOPE INFORMATION
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It is anticipated that the Vendor will begin this assignment in mid-November 2013 and continue until
Spring 2015. This will be a cost-reimbursable grant that will cover the cost of labor, operations, food and
expenses related to the three workshops and online mentoring platform.
Scope of Work
As introduced in Section II above, the Vendor shall complete the following tasks:
1. Administrative Tasks – Liaise with 4 Pacific Alliance country representatives to facilitate to plan
travel logistics and lodging options.* These tasks may include assisting companies prepare travel
and lodging reservations, coordinating with companies on company history and testimonials,
logistics from arrival and schedule during workshops.
2. Company Profile and Video Testimonials – For the Pacific Alliance Summit on November 18th,
Vendor will be responsible for preparing videos, highlighting the chosen companies to be
presented at the summit. A Spanish-speaking representative of the Vendor will be in attendance
of this event. These videos will be presented at the Pacific alliance Summit in Cali, Colombia on
November 18th, where the 60 participating companies will be announced. A representative from
the Vendor (Spanish speaking) will represent the Vendor at this event.
3. Logistical Tasks – Organize the event venues and materials, including workshop meals. This will
include developing courses, workshops and site visits for each cohort sector, with work and
experience relevant to their sector and business.
Each workshops will be 10 days long, including 30 meals for 20 participants.
4. Workshop Tasks – Plan, Organize and Facilitate the execution of the workshop including guest
speakers.
These workshops will focus on the business that are trying to import and export. They
will be working on developing better sales and operations capacity, as well as a scale-up
plan for businesses to grow. Site visits for the participants are encouraged for dynamic
learning and industry engagement.
The workshops will end in a culmination of training, presenting their new strategies to
key US partners brought in by the Vendor for an opportunity of linkages and
partnership.
5. Mentorship – facilitate the development of online mentorship on micromentor.org for
continued growth of linkages. The Mentors in attendance at the workshops will be 5 mentors in
the sector of interest for the specific workshop (advanced manufacturing, health services, and
agribusiness).
6. Summary Report Task – Produce a final report including summary of workshop and (optional)
event video.
*The cost of the travel and per diem (lodging and meals and incidentals) will be paid for by the sponsors
of the participating businesses.
Deliverables
No.
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Deliverable
Due Date
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3
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Develop introduction video for companies and November 3, 2014
their background story
Travel and Workshop Plan for participants
November 24, 2014
Hold 3 Workshops
December 20th, 2014
January 20th, 2015
February 20th, 2015
Facilitation of online mentoring and final report March 15th, 2014
Draft deliverable dates will be determined in consultation with FHI 360. The dates above are due dates
for final deliverables.
IV. Submission Materials & Timeline
Vendors shall include the following materials in their email submission:
1) Proposal Describing Workshop Services, Structure, and Strategy for Online Mentoring
(maximum of 10 pages); in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF
2) Explanation of corporate capabilities and past performance experience of applicant
organization, qualifying vendor as the (maximum of 3 pages); in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF
3) Budget
a. A price proposal and narrative explaining costs necessary to implement the proposed
contract to include; the number of work days proposed for each labor category.
Proposed Level, the names of the proposed individual(s) for each labor category to the
maximum extent practicable, the specific duties and responsibilities for each labor
category. This shall also include the total firm fixed price offered with the quantity of
services/work days proposed for each task described in the scope of work.
b. Budget Assumptions and Instructions for the Price Proposal: Budget Notes, in Microsoft
Word or Adobe PDF. A brief narrative explanation and justification for each line item
must be included in a separate section entitled “budget notes” and include data to
support actual costs and/or methodologies to support cost estimates. Budget estimates
must remain valid for a period of at least 90 days. Budget notes serve as justification for
each cost included in a budget; they should be presented in such a way as to be easily
referenced from the budget; and they should provide sufficient information so that FHI
360 may sufficiently review a proposed budget for reasonableness. All projected costs
must be in accordance with the organization’s standard practices and policies.
The period of performance is anticipated to be a total of 7 months beginning o/a mid-September 2014
or as soon as the contract is awarded.
Please submit completed proposals electronically by 5:00 pm EDT, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 to Meredith
Cann at mcann@fhi360.org and copy to Roberto Matus at rmatus@fhi360.org. Applicants may also
contact Meredith Cann in writing with any questions or requests for clarification regarding the RFP.
We appreciate your interest and look forward to reading your submissions.
VI. Evaluation Criteria
Vendors are responsible for review of the terms and conditions described below and in the award
budget template attached. If relevant, particular attention should be paid to clauses regarding USAID
geographic code, marking and branding requirements and equipment and commodity purchases.
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Criteria
Technical Approach
Corporate
Qualifications
Past Performance
Comments
Points
Describe how you will address/deliver the demands of the RFQ;
providing a detailed description of the essential performance
characteristics, reporting conditions and quality assurance
mechanisms that will be put in place. What tools and technologies
do you use to manage, measure and improve work?
Describe and explain how and why you are the best entity that can
deliver the requirements needed by FHI 360 by indicating the
following – Staff, network of experts, entrepreneurs. Due to
alignment with the sponsor’s objectives, special consideration will
be provided to SBDC offices applying with strategic partnerships in
the Pacific Alliance countries. Entities be registered with or have a
relationship with the Small Business Administration.
Track Record – Extent to which contractor’s reputation with
former or current partners demonstrates the applicant's past
performance for the following:
1) Adhering to the terms and conditions of its contracts, or grants,
including the technical, business and administrative aspects of
performance;
2) Demonstrating a commitment to partner satisfaction;
demonstrated experience in contracts of similar size and scope;
3) Pursuing excellence in all aspects of its business and successful
financial performance and maintaining good working relationships
with its contract holder
30
20
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In cases where an Offeror lacks relevant past performance history,
the Offeror will receive a neutral rating on past performance.
Competitive Pricing
Provide competitive pricing – Proposed cost will not be scored, but
will be a selection factor and considered in terms of the total
proposed amount, proposed cost and the proposed profit. The
cost proposal will be judged on: (i) whether it is realistic and
consistent with the technical proposal; (ii) overall cost control
(avoidance of excessive salaries, excessive home office visits, and
other costs in excess of reasonable requirements); and (iii) amount
of proposed profit. A cost realism analysis will also be conducted.
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Cost realism is an assessment of accuracy with which proposed
costs represent the most probable cost of performance, within the
Offeror's technical and Management Capacity.
Cost realism evaluation shall be performed as part of the
evaluation process:
(a) to verify the Offeror's understanding of the requirements;
(b) to assess the degree to which the cost/price proposal
accurately reflects the approaches and/or risk assessments made
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in the technical and Management Capability as well as the risk that
the Offeror will provide the supplies or services for the offered
prices/cost; and
(c) to assess the degree to which the cost included in the
cost/price proposal accurately represents the work effort included
in the Technical Proposal.
Total
100
FHI 360 intends to award a contract or contracts resulting from this solicitation to the responsible
offeror(s) whose proposal(s) represent the best value after evaluation in accordance with the factors
and sub factors as set forth in this solicitation. In this evaluation, technical factors are more important
than cost.
V. General Terms and Conditions
Vendors are responsible for review of the terms and conditions described below and in the award
budget template attached. If relevant, particular attention should be paid to clauses regarding USAID
geographic code, marking and branding requirements and equipment and commodity purchases.
WITHDRAWALS OF PROPOSALS
Vendors may withdraw proposals by written notice via email received at any time before award.
Proposals may be withdrawn in person by a Vendor or his/her 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/individuals 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 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.
OFFER VERIFICATION
FHI 360 may contact Vendors to confirm contact person, address, bid amount and to confirm that the
bid was submitted for this solicitation.
FALSE STATEMENTS IN OFFER
Vendors must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this solicitation and its
attachments.
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CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Vendors 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 Vendor.
RESERVED RIGHTS
All RFP responses become the property of FHI 360 and FHI 360 reserves the right in its sole discretion to:
o Disqualify any offer based on Vendor failure to follow solicitation instructions;
o Waive any deviations by Vendors 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;
o Extend the time for submission of all RFP responses after notification to all Vendors;
o Terminate or modify the RFP process at any time and re-issue the RFP to whomever FHI 360
deems appropriate;
o Issue an award based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion;
o Award only part of the activities in the solicitation or issue multiple awards based on solicitation
activities.
GOVERNING LAW AND LANGUAGE
This solicitation and any resulting contract shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the U.S.
Government except in cases where they contradict North Carolina law. The English language version of
this solicitation and any resulting contract shall govern, and all notices pursuant to the provisions of this
solicitation and any resulting contract shall be in English.
CERTIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION
(a) The Vendor 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 Vendor,
including but not limited to subsidiaries or other entities in which Vendor 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 Vendor,
directly or indirectly, to any other Vendor, including but not limited to subsidiaries or other entities in
which Vendor has any ownership or other interests, or 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 Vendor 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.
(b) Each signature on the offer is considered to be a certification by the signatory that the signatory-(1) Is the person in the Vendor'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
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(2) (i) Has been authorized, in writing, to act as agent for the principals of the Vendor 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 Vendor 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.
(c) Vendor 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 Vendor will result in the termination of the
award for default.
VI. Award and Notification of Selected Proposals
1. Prior to the expiration period of proposal validity, FHI 360 will notify the successful Vendor who
submitted the highest scoring proposal in writing by registered letter, email, or facsimile and invite it
to negotiate the contract.
2. The aim will be to reach agreement on all points, and draft an initial contract by the conclusion of
negotiations.
3. Negotiations will commence with a discussion of the Vendor’s technical proposal, schedule of
activities, staffing and any suggestions you may have made to improve upon the Scope of Work.
Agreement must then be reached on the final deliverables, staffing, logistics and reporting. Special
attention will be paid to define clearly the inputs required from FHI 360 to ensure satisfactory
implementation of the assignment.
4. Changes agreed upon will then be reflected in the financial proposal, using proposed unit rates.
5. Having selected the SubVendor on the basis of an evaluation of proposed key professional staff among
other things, FHI 360 expects to negotiate a contract on the basis of the staff named in the proposal
and, prior to contract negotiations, will require assurance that these staff will be actually available.
FHI 360 will not consider substitutions during contract negotiations except in cases of unexpected
delays in the starting date or incapacity of key professional staff for reasons of health.
6. The negotiations will be concluded with a review of the draft form of the contract. FHI 360 and the
Vendor shall finalize the contract to conclude negotiations.
7. The contract will be awarded after successful negotiations with the selected Vendor. If negotiations
fail, FHI 360 will invite the Vendor having obtained the second highest score to contract negotiations.
8. Issuance of this Request for Proposal does not constitute an award commitment on the part of FHI
360 nor does it commit FHI 360 to pay for the costs incurred in the submission of a proposal to the
RFP. Furthermore, FHI 360 reserves the right to reject any or all offers received and to negotiate
separately with a Vendor, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of FHI 360’s client
organization, the U.S. Agency for International Development.
9. FHI 360 may evaluate offers in response to this solicitation without discussions and will award a
contract to the responsible Vendor whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, will be most
advantageous to FHI 360 based on the technical factors specified in this solicitation and the price.
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FHI 360 reserves the right to:
(a)
Reject any or all offers;
(b)
Accept other than the lowest-price offer; and/or
(c)
Waive informalities or minor irregularities in offers received.
10. Please note that if you consider that your firm does not have all the expertise for the assignment,
there is no objection to your firm associating with another firm to enable a full range of expertise to
be presented. However, joint ventures between firms on the shortlist are not permitted without the
prior approval of FHI 360. The request for a joint venture should be accompanied with full details of
the proposed association.
THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) IS THE EXCLUSIVE, CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY PROPERTY OF FHI
360. IT MAY NOT BE COPIED, TRANSMITTED, OR DISCLOSED BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
WRITTEN CONSENT OF FHI 360. BY ACCEPTING A COPY HEREOF, RECIPIENT AGREES TO USE THE RFP
(AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS) SOLELY FOR RESPONDING TO THIS RFP, AND DESTROY THE RFP (AND
ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS) UPON YOUR DECISION NOT TO RESPOND TO THIS RFP.
– END OF RFP –
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