Posted in Admin - Clerical 30+ days ago.
Type: Full-Time
Request for Proposals
United States Institute of Peace
Learning from Local Peacebuilding Initiatives to Inform Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Youth
Location of Work: Remote-based, work may be performed from any location
Release Date: March 12, 2024
RFP Due Date: 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time on April 14, 2024
Submit Questions and/or Proposals to: |
Chris Sfetsios at csfetsios@usip.org |
Do not use the Apply button on this page. |
Pertinent responses to questions will be made available to all offerors by e-mail. Questions will not be accepted after 5:00 pm EST on March 22, 2024.The final proposal must be submitted by time and date listed above to be considered. |
USIP has compiled answers to all questions that were submitted on or before March 27, 2024. Please email Chris Sfetsios at csfetsios@usip.org for a copy of the questions and their answers or visit RESOLVE's website at www.resolvenet.org.
Introduction and Background
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. For more information, please visit http://www.usip.org.
The RESOLVE Network (housed at USIP) is a global consortium of researchers and organizations committed to better research, informed practice, and improved policy on violent extremism. RESOLVE Research Initiatives—which span thematic and geographical areas—facilitate research, capacity building efforts, and convenings to provide key insights on specific aspects of violent extremism to enhance and inform preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) research, policy, and practice. Viewing violent extremism as a form of violent conflict, RESOLVE’s research further considers how peacebuilding and conflict resolution mechanisms can or might be used to prevent and address local manifestations of violent extremism. For more information and to view RESOLVE publications, please visit https://www.resolvenet.org.
Purpose of RFP
Under RESOLVE’s Learning from Local Peacebuilding Approaches initiative, in partnership with the USAID Bureau for Africa,(1) the RESOLVE Network Secretariat is soliciting proposals for authorship of an original short form RESOLVE Policy Note publication focused on youth, peacebuilding, and preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) in sub-Saharan Africa. For more on the project and previous publications, see the project page on RESOLVE’s website: https://www.resolvenet.org/projects/learning-local-peacebuilding-approaches.
This Policy Note publication will:
Successful offerors will submit a proposal to write a new, original policy note publication primarily focused on presenting brief, research-informed policy and practice-oriented considerations that can assist policymakers and practitioners in better understanding the roles and impact of youth within local peacebuilding and P/CVE efforts in the region and clarify the potential role of international donors and partners in supporting these P/CVE efforts. Submissions focused on the role of youth in, or considerations crafted for, one or more of the following countries are preferred: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and/or Senegal. Submissions drawing considerations from research using quantitative data and statistical analysis are highly encouraged.
Please note:
Focusing on considerations around youth in local peacebuilding initiatives and lessons for P/CVE efforts, publication topics may include (but are not limited to):
The selected offeror will produce one RESOLVE policy note (approx. 1,500-3,000 words), according to RESOLVE editorial guidelines, on the role of youth in local peacebuilding and P/CVE efforts in sub-Saharan Africa with considerations specific to incorporating youth into P/CVE programs and/or developing P/CVE programs focused on youth in the Sahel region. Submissions focused on the role of youth in, or considerations crafted for, one or more of the following countries are preferred: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and/or Senegal. Submissions drawing considerations from research using quantitative data and statistical analysis are highly encouraged.
RESOLVE Policy Notes are short-form publications (approx. 1,500-3,000 words) authored by experts in response to policy- and practice-relevant priorities. Policy notes focus exclusively on presenting policymakers with a short list of timely and targeted considerations and considerations based on the analysis of a mix of scholarly, grey, and practice-based literature and in light of developing and/or previous violent extremism-related trends. Beyond advanced analysis of conflict and security dynamics, Policy Notes accentuate peacebuilding implications and considerations to improve P/CVE policy and practice to be proactive, constructive, and grounded in local understandings and rigorous research and practice. Policy Notes also include a “Sources” section and a “Suggested Further Reading, by topic” section (an additional list of recommended readings for topics addressed in the Note itself). Please note that Policy Notes must include considerations for efforts to address violent extremism based on local peacebuilding insights. Examples of published policy notes can be found here, or at RESOLVE’s website: resolvenet.org.
The production of this policy note will not involve field research, but rather, draw on desk review of existing studies and/or the author’s own experience. Should the policy note be based on unpublished research findings from the author, the author is responsible for confirming and must submit to USIP/RESOLVE documentation showing that (1) the research was undertaken in accordance with and proper approval from ethics review committees for research involving human subjects including Institutional Review Board (IRB), and (2) that the author has the necessary rights and permissions to utilize those unpublished research findings.
The final written product will be tailored to an audience of policymakers and practitioners, offering detailed and specific considerations and/or reflections that are of use to this audience and incorporating a “Suggested Further Readings” section (see policy note description annex). Deliverables are subject to the RESOLVE Secretariat’s internal review and editing process, and the authors will address all necessary revisions within the scope of the contract prior to the publication being deemed final. All final publications are required to include references formatted in the Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition notes-bibliography style. The authors may also be asked to present a briefing of the findings for internal USIP/USAID and external audiences.
Expected Deliverables
Anticipated Timeline
Selected offeror(s) will work with RESOLVE Secretariat Staff to finalize the timeline for carrying out the project. All work is expected to be completed by no later than September 30, 2024. An example timeline based on the expected deliverables is included below for reference:
Preferred Experience/Skills:
Expected Contract Type: Firm fixed price
Submission Requirements
Any proposal that does not contain all items listed below may be considered nonresponsive. For more detail on the selection process, including corresponding evaluation criteria, please see Section IV below. To be considered under this RFP, please submit the following:
Technical Narrative Proposal
The technical narrative proposal should be no more than 6 pages and include the following sections:
Past Experience: Describe at least two publications, reports, or other contributions of similar scope and complexity the offeror has worked on previously. Provide a point of contact with telephone number and email address for each of the described projects.
Overall Approach: Based on the information provided in the project background and scope of work sections above, describe the proposed topic for the policy note, its relevance P/CVE policy and practice priorities and initiatives, its country(ies) of focus (note: focus on P/CVE-relevance in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and/or Senegal is preferred), and your overall approach to the development of the policy note – including a brief description of existing work (research, programs, expertise) the publication would draw from. As noted above, the final topic and approach will be developed in consultation with the RESOLVE Secretariat.
Proposed Outline: Please include a tentative outline based on the RESOLVE Policy Note outline provided below:
INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT (Approx. 250-500 words)
RELEVANCE TO POLICY AND PRACTICE (Approx. 250-500 words)
CONSIDERATIONS (Approx. 1,000-1,500 words total)
CONCLUSION (Approx. 250 words)
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING, by topic
Budget
Provide a cost proposal in spreadsheet format in US dollars that outlines the cost of providing the services described above, including an hourly rate and estimated hours to complete the project. Cost proposals may not exceed $1,000 USD.
Certification Page
Complete and sign the Certification Page below and submit with the proposal.
Date |
Schedule |
March 12, 2024 |
RFP issued |
March 22, 2024 |
Questions concerning RFP and project emailed to csfetsios@usip.org no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. |
March 27, 2024 |
Answers to questions will be made available to all offerors. |
April 14, 2024 |
Proposals are due no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time. Late submissions may not be accepted. |
April 29, 2024 |
Notification to selected offeror |
May 27, 2024 |
Estimated project commencement date |
USIP may adjust dates in the schedule or cancel this RFP at any time prior to contract award.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria below. For more detail on each submission requirement, see Section IV of this RFP. The USIP Selection Committee will review all proposals received on time using the evaluation criteria established below based on the best value offered to USIP. The Selection Committee reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, in whole or in part, to award multiple contracts, and/or to enter into negotiations with any party, in the best interests of the Institute.
Evaluation Criteria |
Weight |
Overall Approach |
15% |
Proposed Outline |
15% |
Focus on P/CVE-Relevance in Preferred Countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and/or Senegal) |
10% |
Focus on research using quantitative data and statistical analysis. |
5% |
Past Experience |
20% |
Key Personnel, Staffing, and Specific Expertise |
10% |
Budget |
25% |
Certification Page
(Please submit with the proposal)
1) The Offeror certifies that: (1) Prices in the offer have been arrived at independently without consultation, communication, or agreement with any other competitor; (2) Prices in the offer have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed by the offeror, directly or indirectly, to any other competitor before bid opening or contract award unless otherwise required by law; and (3) No attempt has been made or will be made by the offeror to induce any other competitor to/not to submit an offer for the purpose of restricting competition. 2) Has the offeror received funding from USIP? Yes/NO |
On Behalf of Offeror:
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Name of Organization or Independent Contractor
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Signature of Authorized Official |
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Printed Name of Authorized Official |
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Title |
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Date
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See job description
Watermark Risk Management |
Allyon |
Wells Fargo |