Cost Benefit Analysis Economist (Independent Consultant)

Amendment 0002: The purpose of this amendment is to extend the quotation submission deadline from 1:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 to 1:00 pm ET on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.-----Amendment 0001: The purpose of this amendment is to provide MCC's responses to questions received regarding the solicitation.  See attached file below.-----Title: Consultant Cost Benefit Analysis EconomistSolicitation No.: 95332420Q00101)    This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is 95332420Q0010 and is issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ). This solicitation document incorporates all mandatory commercial item provisions and clauses that are in effect through the most recent Federal

Acquisition Regulation amendments which can be found at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html.2)    The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government corporation whose mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. For more information on the MCC, please visit www.mcc.gov. 3)    THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT AND IS NOT FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT DIRECT WITH MCC.  PLEASE VISIT http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Independent-Contractor-Defined FOR INFORMATION REGARDING INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. Note:  MCC will assist the consultant in coordinating with an Independent Contractor Engagement Services Provider for payroll, travel, international travel insurance, etc.; therefore, a DUNS number and registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not required.4)    Description of Services: The Department of Policy and Evaluation, Economic Analysis (EA) Division is seeking to retain the services of an independent consultant with cost benefit analysis expertise to support economic research, strengthen applied cost-benefit analysis methods, and contribute to preparation and/or review of cost-benefit analysis modeling the division conducts for country compacts under preparation by MCC.More than one consultancy may be awarded through this solicitation at MCC’s sole discretion. MCC expects that up to four (4) consultancies may be awarded.5)    The North American Industrial Classification Systems (NAICS) code is 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services) and the small business size standard is $16.5 million.6)    FAR Clauses 52.212-1 through 52.212-5 apply to this procurement. The exact text and wording of clauses and provisions may be obtained from the Internet at http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html.  The Government contemplates award of a time-and-materials order resulting from this solicitation. NOTE: An Addendum to FAR clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions –Commercial Items (Alt I) is attached.  Please note that the FAR clauses referenced in this solicitation are provided for informational purposes only.  The clauses will not apply directly to the independent consultant, but may apply indirectly by virtue of flow-down requirements from the “Independent Contractor Engagement Services Provider” referenced in Item 3, who is the prime contractor on a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with MCC for payroll and accounting services.7)    This combined synopsis and solicitation notice is a request for competitive quotations. Therefore, all quotations received prior to the RFQ close date/time will be considered.8)    The Government will award an order to the responsible independent consultant(s) whose quote conforming to this notice represents the best value in terms of technical criteria, past performance and price. All non-price factors (technical criteria and past performance) are more important than price. If options are included, quotes will be evaluated by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. This includes options under FAR clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, which applies to this solicitation.  Evaluation of options under FAR 52.217-8 will be accomplished by using the price(s) offered for the last option period to determine the price for a 6-month option, which will be added to the base and other option periods to arrive at the total price. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). 9)    Quote Submission. The Independent Consultant shall submit the following documents:a.    Technical:Cover letter that addresses each of the evaluation factors listed in Section 10; Curriculum Vitae (25 page maximum). CV fulfilling the CBA Economist qualifications listed in Section 10. Please clearly document all CBA experience.Sample CBA Model(s): One or more relevant CBA models (including detailed calculations) previously completed. Please clearly state your role in producing the model and the role of any other contributors.Academic transcripts reflecting the relevant education referenced in Section 10.b.    Past Performance:  Three professional references, including contact information and a description of the work performed for/with the individual (NOTE: MCC reserves the right to contact references). References must be for relevant work performed within the past five (5) years.c.    Price:  Bio-Data Form which includes the independent consultant’s proposed rate and salary history (see Attachment 2). NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT COMBINE YOUR SUBMISSION INTO ONE (1) DOCUMENT. DOCUMENTS (a), (b), AND (c) MUST BE SUBMITTED AS SEPARATE DOCUMENTS IN ONE (1) EMAIL.10)    Evaluation Factors. Only quotes which meet the required technical evaluation criteria will be considered.  a)    Technical Qualifications of Consultant: The Consultant shall possess the following REQUIRED qualifications/experience:  Advanced knowledge of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) methodology. Mastery of and expertise in economic principles, concepts and practices, and modeling complex economic concepts.Experience preparing comprehensive reports for technical and executive-level audiences that provide recommendations in complex and critical areas of economic CBA.At least three (3) years of experience conducting CBA in one or more relevant sectors such as agriculture, education, electricity, financial services, health, nutrition, policy and institutional reform, private sector development, roads, tax administration, or WASH. Please submit one or more previously completed CBA models (including detailed calculations) fulfilling this requirement and clearly state your role in producing the model and the role of any other contributors.Education:A master's degree in economics, public policy or a closely related field that has a significant quantitative analysis component; ORA combination of education and experience: A degree that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus, and at least five years of experience conducting cost-benefit analysis.Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, capable of listening to the client and providing effective oral and written responses.The following qualifications/experience are DESIRED:Either a Ph.D. in Economics with 5 or more years or a master’s in economics with eight (8) or more years of demonstrated experience in relevant fields of economics as applied to developing countries.Publications in relevant fields of economics.b)    CBA Model(s): MCC will evaluate the quality, strength and relevance of the sample CBA model(s) provided.c)    Past Performance: MCC will evaluate the relevance of the Consultant’s professional references to the work to be performed under the resulting task order. d)    Price: The Government will examine the proposed rate for fairness and reasonableness.  11)    Evaluation Methodology. The Government will perform a comparative analysis of quotes and will assess the advantages and disadvantages of each quote in relation to the Evaluation Factors (Section 10). Multiple awards may be made from this notice and all quotes will be retained and may be utilized for requirements for a period of 12 months after the RFQ deadline.12)    Question Deadline: Independent Consultants must submit their questions in response to this notice by 1:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday, December 31, 2019. Questions submitted in response to this notice shall include the solicitation number (95332420Q0010) and title in the subject line and must be submitted via email to whitleyah@mcc.gov and naranjoj@mcc.gov.13)    Quotation Submission Deadline. Independent Consultants must submit their quotations in response to this notice by 1:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. Quotations submitted in response to this notice shall include the solicitation number (95332420Q0010) AND title in the subject line and must be submitted via email to whitleyah@mcc.gov and naranjoj@mcc.gov. The maximum file size is 10MB.  14)    MCC does not accept responsibility for delays in transmission or receipt of any submission. Independent Consultants are responsible for submitting their package so as to reach the designated Government office by the closing date and time specified above. Submissions received after the closing date and time will not be considered, unless there is acceptable evidence to establish that it was indeed received by the Government installation prior to the time and date specified in this announcement. Receipt of submissions in response to this announcement does not constitute an award commitment.  The U.S. Government will not reimburse any costs incurred in the preparation of a submission. Any submission is at the sole risk and expense of the Independent Consultant.15)    MCC 52.213-70 Exclusion of Quotes and Pre-Award Communications with Offerors (JUNE 2019): At any time prior to award, including upon receipt of quotes, the Government may exclude a quote from further consideration for reasons such as (but not limited to): non-compliance with instructions related to this solicitation; the quote is not among the most highly rated; or the quote is not likely to be selected for award. The Government need not notify a Quoter that its quote has been excluded from further consideration nor need it provide the Quoter with a pre-award debriefing. However, the Quoter will be provided post-award notification and if requested, a brief explanation of the basis for the award decision. After receipt of quotes, the Government will conduct an evaluation. The Government intends to evaluate quotes and issue a contract without communications with offerors. However, during the evaluation process, the Government may, solely at its discretion, communicate with a Quoter for any purpose, such as to gain a better understanding of the quote. As a result of such communication, the Government may allow Quoters to submit quote revisions. If quote revisions are allowed, the Government may, solely at its discretion, impose non-common due dates for the revisions. In other words, the Government may elect to have a quote revision date for a Quoter that is different than the quote revision date for another Quoter(s). The Government need not conduct communications with all Quoters. Rather, the Government may, at its discretion, conduct communications with one or only some Quoters. Furthermore, the Government need not permit all Quoters to submit quote revisions. Rather, the Government may, at its discretion, seek quote revisions from only one or only some Quoters.16)    MCC 52.204-71 Notice of MCC Electronic Mail Filters (JUNE 2019): Offerors and other interested parties are hereby notified that the Millennium Challenge Corporation utilizes electronic mail filters for security purposes that may block certain messages from unknown or suspicious senders and certain potentially malicious file types. As such, the following information and guidance is provided:a)    General Inquiries, Questions, and/or Submission of Quotes/Proposals.  As unrecognized or unknown senders may be blocked by MCC’s email security measures, Offerors and interested parties are advised of the following:Offerors and interested parties must conform to any submission instructions included in this solicitation or notice, including referencing any solicitation or notice number(s) identified in the subject line of any communications regarding it to minimize the chance that the message will be identified as spam or as a suspicious message. MCC considers Offerors and interested parties responsible for confirming with MCC personnel that messages containing such communications, including general inquiries about MCC solicitations, questions regarding MCC solicitations, and electronic submissions of quotes or proposals have been received.As a general practice, MCC acknowledges receipt of inquiries about a solicitation, questions about a solicitation, or submission of quotes/proposals in writing, so if such an acknowledgement has not been received, then the offeror or interested party should contact MCC directly for confirmation of receipt. This verification should be completed by contacting MCC personnel identified directly in this solicitation or notice regarding the inquiry, question, or quote/proposal via telephone number if a confirmation of receipt or acknowledgement is not returned by MCC personnel. As such, Offerors and interested parties, if submitting questions or quotes/proposals that are time-sensitive, must provide sufficient time to contact MCC and verify receipt prior to any quotation/proposal/question due date. b)    Blocked and Unacceptable File Types.  Offerors and interested parties are advised that due to current cybersecurity threats, MCC currently blocks attachments containing extensions that run programs.  These include any files that contain or are executables, macros, and other extensions that present a threat.  As such the Offeror must not use any of these file extensions and remove all macros from Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel) or their inquiry, question, or quote/proposal will be blocked, preventing receipt of the message by MCC and potentially preventing the Offeror from being considered for award. The following are examples of file types that are blocked, however this list is not exhaustive or fully-inclusive as additional, similar file types may be blocked in the future:.vbs (Microsoft visual basic scripting).vbe (VBScript Encoded Script File).scr (script).reg (registration file).jar (java file extension).exe (executable).docm (word with macros).xlsm (excel with macros).pptm (PowerPoint with macros).app (executable).ani (animation files).ace (data compression archive file format used by WinAce).ico (image file format).js (java script).zip (compression file)17)    There are no additional contract requirement(s) necessary for this acquisition other than those consistent with customary commercial practices.18)    Attachments:•    Attachment 1: Addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-4, (Alt I)•    Attachment 2: MCC Bio-Data Form •    Attachment 3: Statement of Work