Request for Proposal: Deputy Project Director for Interorganizational Global Forum (IGF) 2022 Deputy Project Director for Interorganizational Global Forum (IGF) 2022 Washington, DC Release Date: 11 March, 2022 RFP Due Date: 11:59 pm EST on 1 April, 2022 Refer Questions to: Submit Proposals to: Pertinent responses will be made available to all offerors by e-mail. No inquiries will be accepted after specified time and date. The response must be submitted by time and date listed above to be considered. Proposal Submission Requirements: Any proposal that does not contain all items listed in the Submission Requirements section below may be considered nonresponsive. For more detail including corresponding evaluation criteria, please see "Evaluation Criteria and Submission Requirements" section below. Technical Narrative/Proposal CVs Cost proposal Certification Page Introduction and Background 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 the US 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 . The US Government Partnerships, Policy, and Strategy (USG-PPS) team supports USIP"s mission by advancing the Institute"s ongoing partnerships with the Executive Branch and its agencies. The team ensures that USIP is operating in partnership with those working for sustainable peace across the US government and helps to raise the profile and relevance of the Institute on key foreign policy challenges. Internally, USG-PPS works closely with centers and programs to foster effective collaboration and enable coordination on Interagency Agreements (IAAs) and cross-Institute policy initiatives to maximize the Institute"s relevance and impact. Purpose of the RFP The Deputy Project Director for the Interorganizational Global Forum (IGF) works in close partnership with the USG-PPS team and Asia Center to effectively plan and implement the 2022 Interorganizational Global Forum. This high-profile, multi-stakeholder event is part of a partnership with the Department of Defense"s Joint Staff J7 Directorate. This specific event will examine great power competition in the context of a notional major humanitarian crisis in the Indo-Pacific with the aim to provide concrete recommendations to the US government as well as identify potential areas of inter-organizational collaboration in response to the scenario. This 3-day event will be held in mid-September 2022. Scope of Work Background The IGF is a signature feature of USIP's partnership with the US Department of Defense. In partnership with the Joint Staff J-7, USIP brings together representatives from the US Government (USG), international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, academia, think tanks, and the private sector to focus on a complex global challenge of key importance to US and global peace and security. The IGF builds on USIP"s Interorganizational Tabletop Exercise (ITX) project series, hosted in partnership with the Department of Defense"s Joint Staff J-7, which in the past examined complex crises in Somalia, the Philippines, the Lake Chad geographic area, and the Red Sea Region. The most recent convening, IGF 2020, examined global power competition in the context of state fragility in Venezuela. The event produced concrete recommendations for how the USG and its partners can manage threats to peace and stability emanating from Russian and Chinese activities in Venezuela, while also identifying opportunities for collaboration on issues of shared concern. It also provided a conceptual framework for understanding the intersection of state fragility and global power competition that can be used in other country cases. Scope Project Goals To provide the US government and its partners with an enhanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities for collaboration in managing great power competition in the context of a notional major humanitarian crisis in the Indo-Pacific. Identify tangible steps the US government and its partners can take to reduce risks from great power competition in the region. Provide a conceptual framework for understanding the intersection between humanitarian crises and great power competition that can be used in other country cases. Contractor Responsibilities Manages the concept note development between USIP and the Joint Staff J7 to include the development of the conference discussion scenario(s). Designs agenda for the event. Provides a detailed work plan within four weeks of the start date, utilizing discovery meetings with USIP staff, J7, INDOPACOM, and other relevant stakeholders. Supports USIP"s Project Director in outreach to all potential participants, both US government and non-governmental. Manages an event budget in coordination with the Director of USG-PPS. Organizes regular meetings with Department of Defense funding partner: Joint Staff J7. Works with USIP Events Staff to organize and run the three-day Interorganizational Global Forum event. Works with USIP"s Project Director to produce a written final report covering the assumptions, recommendations, and key judgments from the event. Organizes a roundtable discussion with senior leadership from the US government on the findings and recommendations of the IGF. Ensures that all project activities are implemented within program timelines in a manner that meets project standards and objectives. Ensures communication and coordination among key external stakeholders, the J7, and relevant USIP teams on the IGF. Works with the Project Director, USIP"s USG-PPS team and the Joint Staff J7 to develop the budget for the event. Tentative Timeline April 18, 2022 Initial Participant List and Draft Full Agenda May 9, 2022 Final Participant List and Full Agenda July 11, 2022 Interorganizational Global Forum Event September 1-2, 2022 Senior Leader"s Roundtable September 12, 2022 Final Event Report September 30, 2022 Level of effort The requirements outlined in this RFP are for a full-time equivalent position throughout the period of performance. Expected Type of Contract: Firm fixed price Submission Requirements To be considered under this RFP, please submit the following: Technical/Narrative Proposal (no more than two pages) The narrative proposal should include the following section: Past Experience: Describe at least two projects of similar scope and complexity the offeror has worked on previously. Provide a point of contact with a telephone number and email address for each of the described projects. Also, include whether the offeror and/or essential personnelA' have received funding from USIP in the past and if so, include aA' short description of the project, the name of the USIP main point of contact, and the grant or contract number, as applicable. Curriculum Vitae:A' Please provide a CV of no more than three pages. CVs will not count as part of the 2 pages of the technical proposal. Qualifications A Master"s degree or equivalent experience in social sciences, humanities, or international relations/conflict management. Minimum of four (4) years of experience, preferably working on China and East Asia. Demonstrated familiarity with issues pertaining to China and the East and Southeast Asia region Strong research and analytical skills. Excellent representation and communication skills (oral and written), including cross-cultural skills, and the ability to engage counterparts from the US government (including the Department of Defense), civil society, and international institutions. Experience convening high-profile events with a demonstrated ability to coordinate among multiple stakeholders. Strong organizational capacity. Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines. Fluency in Mandarin is highly desired. Cost Proposal The cost proposal for the applicant"s labor and incidental costs shall include a budget in US dollars and in a spreadsheet format (eg, Excel). Please provide your total cost proposal based on full-time work for the period of performance estimated in the tentative project timeline. If you are providing costs based on a daily or hourly rate, please provide that rate. USIP allows organizations to include up to 12% indirect cost recovery on total direct costs for contracts. Certification Page:A' Complete and sign the Certification Page below and submit with the proposal Selection Process Proposed Schedule March 11, 2022 RFP issued March 23, 2022 Questions concerning RFP and project emailed to no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. March 25, 2022 Answers to questions will be made available to all offerors. April 1, 2022 Proposals are due no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Late submissions may not be accepted. April 8, 2022 Notification to selected offeror May 2, 2022 Estimated project commencement date The USIP Selection Committee will review all proposals received on time using the selection criteria established in this RFP 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. The Institute may cancel this RFP at any time prior to contract award. Selection Criteria Proposals will be evaluated as follows. For more detail on each submission requirement, see the Submission Requirements section of this RFP. Evaluation criteria Corresponding Submission Requirement Weight Detailed technical proposal References 35% Cost Cost Proposal 35% Specific Expertise CV 30% General Instructions and Terms Complete proposals must be submitted by email to by 11:59PM on 1 April, 2022. The Institute is not liable for any costs incurred by offerors prior to issuance of an executed contract with the Institute. Submissions must be typed and submitted electronically and must include all submission requirements outlined in the Submission of Requirements section of this RFP. No changes or corrections to a response will be allowed after the deadline. All submissions should be in English and US dollars. Any questions concerning this RFP should be directed to Kirk Randolph at . Pertinent responses will be made available to all offerors by email. No inquiries will be accepted after specified time and date. Any proposal not addressing all RPF requirements may be considered non-responsive. Late proposals may be rejected as non-responsive. This RFP is not an offer to enter into an agreement with any party, but rather a request to receive proposals from offerors (organizations or persons) interested in providing the services outlined herein. Such proposals shall be considered and treated by USIP as offers to enter into a contract. USIP shall not be obligated for the payment of any sums whatsoever to any recipient of this RFP until and unless a written contract between the parties is executed. Unless stated otherwise within this RFP, the selected Contractor shall be responsible for providing all equipment and/or supplies required to perform the services. The selected Contractor shall not discriminate against any person in accordance with Federal, state, or local law. The submission of any materials to USIP in response to this RFP will constitute (i) a representation that the Offeror 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 a contract with any party. Offeror will commit to adhering to the attached USIP Terms & Conditions, else risk removal from consideration. Exceptions to these terms must be clearly outlined in an annex to the Technical Proposal. Certification Page (Please submit with the proposal) 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. On Behalf of Offeror: Name of Organization or Independent Contractor