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Request for Proposals:

United States Institute of Peace
Project Evaluation for a Security Sector Training Reform Project in Tunisia

Response Deadline: August 14, 2019

1. General Instructions

A. The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) requests proposals to conduct an evaluation of a project that has been assisting Tunisian security sector actors in modernizing and improving their training systems and approaches. The evaluation will focus on the outcomes of the various activities and engagements implemented throughout the project.

B. The evaluation will require the evaluating firm or individual to identify and request consultations with relevant USIP staff, project partners and stakeholders for data collection. The project requires the evaluator/evaluation firm to deliver the following:

•  A kick-off meeting with the USIP project team. And a consultation of relevant project documentation (including monitoring and evaluation tools) and stakeholder mapping provided by USIP.
• A brief inception report, including results of the desk review and outlining the evaluation approach, methodology and data collection tools, submitted to USIP to allow for feedback and questions.
• Data collection from all relevant stakeholders and the development of a draft evaluation report, submitted to USIP to allow for feedback and questions.
• An evaluation report, not to exceed 40 pages plus annexes submitted to USIP.
•  Presentations of the findings of the report, lessons, and recommendations to USIP.

C. Invoicing will occur with completion and approval of the deliverables outlined in this document. Total amount invoiced for all deliverables should not exceed $65,000.

D. The response must be submitted by email to Ouiem Chettaoui (ochettaoui@usip.org), Leo Siebert (lcsiebert@usip.org) and Rahma Limem (rlimem@usip.org) by August 14, 2019, at 6:00 PM GMT +1.

E. The Institute is not liable for any costs incurred by responding firms/individuals prior to issuance of an executed contract with the Institute.

F. Submissions must be typed or printed and must follow the format of the requests for information in the Submission of Proposals section below. No changes or corrections to a response will be allowed after the deadline.

G. USIP reserves the right to cancel this request at any time. Any cancellation of this request will be delivered electronically.

H. Any questions concerning this Request for Proposals should be directed to Ouiem Chettaoui (ochettaoui@usip.org), Leo Siebert (lcsiebert@usip.org) and Rahma Limem (rlimem@usip.org).
Pertinent responses will be made available to all proposers by e-mail. No inquiries will be accepted or responses given after August 14, 2019.

I. Proposed schedule:

•  Augsut 14, 2019 – RFP submissions due by 6:00 PM GMT +1
• August 16, 2019 – Announcement of selection results
•  September 20 2019 –performance under contract begins
•  January 31, 2020 – End of contract performance

2. Scope of Work

A. Evaluation Topic

The project is the second phase of a potential three-phase initiative and is based on three main
pillars:

• The enhancement of security sector training institutions’ pedagogical capacities
•  The modernization of training materials’ management and storage
•  The institutionalization of international best practices of curricular development and training
  reform

Each pillar consists of a set of engagements designed and delivered specifically to improve the effectiveness of our partners’ training system. The activities build on each other and complement one another.

The activities consist primarily of workshops and trainings delivered to trainers and training administrators working for the security sector training departments in Tunisia. The themes covered are primarily around pedagogy and training management best practices (such as monitoring and evaluation),

It is within this framework that USIP seeks to conduct an external final evaluation of this second phase of the project. The purpose of the evaluation is to capture the outcomes of the project and learn lessons to inform future similar work in Tunisia and elsewhere in terms of good practices to be reinforced, as well as areas needing further development. The evaluation also needs to focus on the linkage between the various activities and how they impacted one another.

B. Evaluation Questions

Potential key questions for the evaluation to answer include:

Relevance:

• To what extent are the project components relevant to improving and modernizing the training systems in place?
• Did USIP succeed in selecting and requesting the relevant stakeholders for each engagement?
•  How relevant were the activities’ rationale, design and implementation approach to the security sector reform and democratic transition context in Tunisia?

Effectiveness

• To what extent did USIP partners engage in the various activities? Which engagement methods were the most effective in terms of inspiring Tunisian partners to make reform oriented and training modernization-related changes.
•  How effective was the project’s approach in engaging Tunisian partners in the institutionalization process of shared lessons and best practices?
•  To what extent has USIP built the capacity of its partners to improve curriculum development and training management?
• To what extent has USIP changed attitudes towards reform and change both on the managers’ level and trainers’ level?
• To what extent has USIP established and expanded its relationships with key international, national and local stakeholders? To what extent was this important to the outcomes of the project?
• What were the direct and an indirect outcomes of USIP activities? What, if any, are the internal and external challenges and barriers to the project’s success?
• To what extent did the various activities delivered by USIP within the framework of this project inform the reform process of Tunisian security sector?

Effectiveness

• To what extent did USIP partners engage in the various activities? Which engagement methods were the most effective in terms of inspiring Tunisian partners to make reform oriented and training modernization-related changes.
• How effective was the project’s approach in engaging Tunisian partners in the institutionalization process of shared lessons and best practices?
• To what extent has USIP built the capacity of its partners to improve curriculum development and training management?
• To what extent has USIP changed attitudes towards reform and change both on the managers’ level and trainers’ level?
• To what extent has USIP established and expanded its relationships with key international, national and local stakeholders? To what extent was this important to the outcomes of the project?
• What were the direct and an indirect outcomes of USIP activities? What, if any, are the internal and external challenges and barriers to the project’s success?
• To what extent did the various activities delivered by USIP within the framework of this project inform the reform process of Tunisian security sector?
•  What lessons can be learned about USIP strategy and implementation approach to supporting its Tunisian partners.

The partners that USIP works with on this project are from the Tunisian internal security forces. This implies that some cultural and bureaucratic sensitivities may arise around asking certain questions and scheduling meetings. The USIP project team will play a facilitating role when necessary but the contracted specialists are expected to show attentiveness to these factors in the proposed design and eventual communication with the partners

A final design for the evaluation, including key evaluation questions will be developed in consultation with the contractor after the selection process as part of the inception report.

C. Audiences

The primary audiences for the evaluation are first, the members of the USIP Security Sector Training Reform SSTR team; second, USIP project partners. Ideally this evaluation would contribute to enriching future work led by USIP and its funding partner relating to training reform and modernization in Tunisia and elsewhere.

D. Process, Data Collection, and Methodology

USIP envisions data collection activities potentially including focus groups and/or key informant interviews with the following groups: USIP staff and relevant stakeholders (Tunisian Ministry of Interior international cooperation officials, leadership of training as well as training department administrative staff and trainers in addition to USIP’s funding partners). In addition, data collection activities could include surveys or other tools and modes of analysis to better understand project results. Proposals are encouraged to consider rigorous qualitative methods and are encouraged to produce a quantitative analysis where relevant.

E. Deliverables and Schedule

The project will require the evaluator/evaluating firm to hold an initial kick-off meeting with USIP staff and the Learning, Evaluation, and Research Team to clarify evaluation questions, clarify roles and responsibilities for the evaluation, plan and coordinate data collection activities, and identify the precise methodology for the evaluation.

The evaluator will then conduct a desk review of available monitoring documents, reports, and materials provided by USIP. Based on that desk review the evaluator will submit an inception report outlining the final evaluation questions, the evaluation approach, and methodology. USIP will provide feedback and comments on the evaluation approach and draft data collection tools.

The evaluator will then carry out data collection and analysis in Tunisia (see above section D).Finally, the evaluator will be required to write and edit a draft report, which will be shared with USIP for factual corrections and general comments or feedback. Based on this, the evaluator will develop a final evaluation report which will contain findings related to each evaluation question, and lessons and recommendations geared toward USIP staff and funders of similar
projects. The evaluator will be required to present findings, lessons learned, and recommendations to USIP staff, and to participate in a learning session facilitated by USIP’s Learning, Evaluation, and Research Team.

Proposed Schedule:

F. Budget

The maximum allowed budget for this evaluation is $65,000.

3. Submission Requirements

A- Technical Proposal (no more than 10 pages)

Past Experience:
Describe a project of similar scope and complexity you have worked on previously. This should
include evaluations of projects that had an institutional reform effort with some training component and ideally in relation to a security sector training system. Provide a point of contact with telephone number and email address for the client of the described project.

Overall Approach and Methodology:
Based on the information provided, describe your proposed approach to field research, data collection, data analysis, research methodology, and development of conclusions. As noted above, the final evaluation methodology will be developed in consultation with USIP in the inception report phase.

Specific Expertise:
Describe your level of knowledge and expertise in 1) methodologies to assess organizational and programmatic capacity, and on 2) evaluating capacity building activities in relation to security sector.

Key Personnel and Staffing:
Describe the key personnel as well as information on the overall staffing plan for the project. Please note that staff may be non-US citizens and do not require a security clearance.

B- Resumes

For each of the key personnel, please provide a resume of no more than two pages. Resumes will not count as part of the ten pages of the technical proposal.

C- Cost Proposals

The cost proposal should include a budget summary, a detailed budget, and a budget narrative that provides itemized budget with units, cost per unit, and total cost. The cost proposal should include sum costs per deliverables, including staff time and level of effort.

4- General Terms and Selection Process

A. The Selection Committee will review all submissions received on time using the selection criteria established for the project. The selection process may involve interviews, by phone or in person, with applicants. The final decision will be based on best value to USIP.

B. The Selection Committee reserves the right to reject any submission or to reject all submissions in the best interests of the Institute. The Institute may cancel this Solicitation at any time prior to contract award if it is in the best interests of the Institute.

C. The successful firm shall not discriminate against any person in accordance with Federal, state, and local law.

D. The submission of any materials to USIP in response to this RFP will constitute (i) a representation that the submitting party owns or has unrestricted license to use and license such materials and all intellectual property expressed therein; and (ii) the grant of a non- exclusive license to USIP to use such materials and intellectual property for any purpose, including specifically the evaluation, negotiation and documentation of an agreement with any party.

E. Proposals will be judged as follows:

• Technical Proposals will be judged on the following factors, weighted equally.
• Factor 1. Staffing and Key Personnel (with some preference for teams that have francophone or arabophobe evaluators.)
• Factor 2. Past Experience (particularly regarding former experience with security sector reform and pedagogical and educational modernization and reform projects.)
• Factor 3. Overall Approach and Methodology
• Cost Proposals are a determinate factor whose value is equal to that of the sum of the elements of the technical proposal.

External Annexes:
Attached: Sample Budget respecting USIP preferred format.
Attached: USIP Terms and Conditions

How to Apply:

Applications should be directed to Ouiem Chettaoui (ochettaoui@usip.org), Leo Siebert (lcsiebert@usip.org) and Rahma Limem (rlimem@usip.org).

USIP_Terms_and_Conditions

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