The CTO for the activity will submit an NMS request to the Contracting Officer (or Modified Acquisition and Assistance Document (MAARD) in Missions without NMS capability). MAARD Forms are available in a Word form from the USAID forms section of the http://tcoweb.usaid.gov/forms/ web page. Requests will contain a statement of work, funding data, justification, waivers and independent government cost estimate. CTOs should not discuss potential Task Orders with individual contractors until the TPR has been issued. According to the contract, at Section F.8.(b), Request for Task Order Proposals (RTOP), Task Proposal Request (TPR) should contain the following information:

A. The Contract number: GHS-I-00-03-000XX-00.  (The Xs will be filled in based on the contractor who is awarded the Task Order).

B. A description of the work to be performed, and the contract type: Identify the services requested defining, to the extent possible, desired results of outcomes. The scope of work may include the individuals required by functional labor category; e.g., Health Policy Specialist. The functional labor categories should be consistent with those listed in the Basic Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC). While individuals may not be specified by name, CTOs can make the requirement description very specific. Task Orders awarded under TASC2 may be either Firm-Fixed Price, or Cost Plus Fixed-Fee Types.

C. The desired period of performance or required completion date: The USAID lead time for issuance of Task Orders will be in accordance with the TPR after NMS entry to obtain proposals from Contractors, and to negotiate and issue the Task Order. However, Missions may substantially reduce that time in practice. Under no circumstances may the CTO authorize the Contractor to commence work before the Contracting Officer has authorized commencement of the work.

D. Reporting Requirements and Deliverables:
1. Task Order reporting requirements should focus on substance and relate progress against Benchmarks and Tangible Results in each Task Order. Contractors should not be burdened with unnecessary or duplicative reporting such as trip reports, etc. Reports must indicate the progress against the Task Order budget and U.S. Expatriate Level of Effort. All reports must be in writing.

As a minimum, Contractor reports shall consist of the following:
a. Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports - This report is based on the quarterly report described in Section F.9 of the TASC2 IQC. A sample format is attached hereto as Attachment B. The major innovation in the report is that it requires the CTO to add written comments within five working days on the Contractor's version of events and on the Contractor's management, technical performance and progress in achieving Benchmarks and Tangible Results. The Contracting Officer, if he or she wishes, may add comments on any area of concern or identify actions to correct, support or improve Contractor's performance.

b. Completion Report - At the end of each Task Order, the Contractor shall prepare a completion report which highlights accomplishments against workplans, gives the final status of Benchmarks and Tangible Results, addresses lessons learned during implementation and suggests ways to resolve constraints identified. The report may provide recommendations for follow-on work that might complement the completed Task Order work. All reports must be submitted, in hard copy or electronically, to the CTO, CO and to the TASC2 IQC CTO at following address:

Elizabeth Fox
U.S. Agency for International Development
BGH/HN/CS
3.07-036, 3rd Floor RRB
Washington D.C. 20523-3700
Tel: (202) 712-5777
Fax: (202) 216-3702
efox@usaid.gov

A copy of each annual report and deliverable must be provided to CDIE (For information on what is required by CDIE and how to send it, see their www page at http://www.dec.org/submit/ ).

In addition to the two mandatory Task Order reports described above, there are Financial and Progress reporting requirements established in the TASC2 IQC. The Contract Quarterly Financial Report discussed in Section F.9.(f) of the contract will provide essential contract accrual and expenditure information to BGH/HN. Also, there are further suggestions in the contract relating to Task Order reporting.

2. Deliverables: This section of the Task Order must also clearly define the activities/tasks to be undertaken by the contractor. Each Task Order should specify "Tangible Results" and "Benchmarks" as defined below.

Tangible Results/Benchmarks: "Tangible Results" are quantified achievements that USAID expects to result from the Contractor's work at the completion of the Task Order.

"Benchmarks" are quantified, periodic achievements that USAID expects to result from the Contractor's work at various stages of Task Order implementation.

USAID uses Tangible Results and Benchmarks to gauge achievement of Task Order objectives and as a guideline in determining which Contractors shall receive new Task Orders under TASC.

The term "deliverable" is no longer favored in Task Order usage. A recurring problem is that deliverables are often used to refer to a tangible report or document that is physically "delivered" to USAID and not to the Tangible Results of a Task Order. This can lead to a Contractor meeting its "deliverables" by providing expensive paper and reports to USAID that do not go to the essence of the Task Order but create the illusion that the Contractor has been fully successful. Imperfectly-crafted deliverables can defeat USAID's intent behind the issuance of a Task Order. Some of the items previously designated as "deliverables" should be included as Benchmarks or Tangible Results while others more appropriately should be designated as reports.

E. The date and time the Contractor's response is due: TASC2 is designed to provide as rapid response to the Mission or bureau as possible, the Contracts specify that proposals may be due in five working days from receipt of the TPR, unless otherwise specified in the TPR. CTOs are cautioned that Contractors will require more time to prepare proposals for complex Task Orders. TPRs may specify that an intention to propose, with preliminary information, be received in five working days, with additional time allotted for the final proposal.

F. Task Order evaluation factors, if any: Clearly defined and weighted technical evaluation criteria for Contractor selection may include past performance, quality of deliverables, cost control, price, cost, or other relevant factors (F.8.(b), in addition to usual factors of quality of proposed approach and personnel.