Notice of Intent to Extend PEACE IQCs

Notice of Intent to Extend PEACE Indefinite Quantity Contracts Without Full and Open CompetitionThe United States Agency for International Development (USAID) intends to extend the ordering period by two (2) years and revise the performance period of the Programming Effectively Against Conflict and Extremism (PEACE) Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQCs) without full and open competition. This extension will not increase the IQC ceiling of $600,000,000. The authority for this proposed contract action is AIDAR 706.302-70(b)(5), which authorizes other than full and open competition for an award for the continued provision of highly specialized services when award to another resource would result in substantial additional costs to the Government or would result in unacceptable delays. The statutory authority is 40 U.S.C. 113.The purpose of the PEACE IQC is to both a) promote the design and implementation of conflict-sensitive development programs that manage and mitigate the sources and

consequences of violent conflict; and b) extract key lessons learned and technical insights from these programs, supported by other technical research and assessments, and manage and disseminate this knowledge through training, toolkits, and other knowledge management tools and systems.Accordingly, the PEACE IQC has four main components: 1) Knowledge Generation, Dissemination and Management; 2) Training; 3) Field Program Implementation and 4) Analytical services. The ordering period for the first three components of the PEACE IQC is set to expire on August 29, 2018. The extension of the ordering period by two (2) years to August 29, 2020 and revision of the task order period of performance limitations to allow the period of performance of all task orders to go up to five years but not more than two years beyond the end of the ordering period will: 1) ensure that USAID's Operating Units have uninterrupted access to specialized, high quality services in conflict management and mitigation and countering violent extremism (CVE) as the Agency formulates its strategy on how to elevate and strengthen USAID's ability to respond and prevent conflict and violence, and 2) allow sufficient time to plan, design and procure new mechanism(s) that meet the Agency's needs, in line with USAID's proposed policy objectives as stated in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Congressional Budget Justification - Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (FY 19 CBJ). Of the $600 million IQC ceiling, there is approximately $400 million still available for use. USAID intends to extend the following PEACE IQCs to allow for the issuance of new task orders or modification to existing task orders, as appropriate and in accordance with fair opportunity procedures:AID-OAA-I-13-00005 - CREATIVE ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONALAID-OAA-I-13-00013 - DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES, INC. (DAI)AID-OAA-I-13-00041 - FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL (FHI360)AID-OAA-I-13-00042 - MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC (MSI)Democracy International (AID-OAA-I-13-00044), a small business set-aside award under the PEACE IQC for Analytical Services, will not be included in this extension.USAID conducted a full and open competition for the PEACE IQC prior to contract award in 2013. Operating in highly complex and fluid environments requires contractors that possess expert technical and managerial capacity to deliver results while doing no harm. Highly specialized expertise is also necessary to support the Agency's integration of conflict sensitivity and best practices into sector-specific development programs in areas such as health, education, economic growth, natural resource management, and democracy and governance. The IQC holders, and their subcontractor partners, have demonstrated unique qualifications and ability to respond to USAID's conflict management and mitigation and CVE technical services needs.A lapse in the PEACE IQC would significantly hinder the Agency's ability to effectively mobilize critical programs in conflict and violent extremism-affected countries, train Agency personnel on a broad range of topics in this field as well as procure other services. Extending the PEACE IQC ordering period will enable the Agency to quickly mobilize new services as needed while also allowing time for USAID to define its medium and long-term needs and requirements and procure services in line with the Agency's policy objectives.USAID plans to conduct a full and open competition for similar services in the coming years. The scope and duration of this mechanism is currently under discussion. To meet the immediate needs worldwide, the extension of the ordering period and the performance period under the existing PEACE IQC is critical to meet the Agency objectives aimed at addressing conflict management and mitigation and CVE issues worldwide.All responsible sources may submit a written expression of interest which shall be considered by USAID. The Government will consider responses received by the established due date and time set forth in this notice. Only written inquiries or expressions of interest will be accepted via e-mail to Ms. Leigh Carlson, Contract Specialist, at lcarlson@usaid.gov. Telephone or verbal responses will not be considered or accepted.A determination by the Government to extend the existing PEACE contracts without full and open competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.