Background:

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, governance, and post-crisis stabilization. Based in Chevy Chase, MD (metro DC area) Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Creative is soliciting offers for technical expertise in accordance with the Scope of Work below and Creative’s Renewable Consultant Agreement Terms and Conditions available here. Creative intends to award one or more Work Orders with accompanying Renewable Consultant Agreement(s) (RCA(s)) under which work may be negotiated and awarded as ad hoc level of effort (LOE) or one-time LOE or fixed-price performance-based activities. Creative reserves the right to make multiple awards or no award as a result of this solicitation.

Summary:

Creative is seeking Consultants with the skills, qualifications, experience, education, and general expertise necessary to provide proposal management support to Creative’s growing business development portfolio.

RFQ closing date: September 30, 2024 at 5PM EST (applications reviewed on a rolling basis)

Reporting: The consultant will report to  the Vice President of Business Development Operations.

Travel Anticipated? No.

If yes, travel to Danger Pay locations anticipated? NA

This RFQ is for a ___One-time Work Order _X__Ad Hoc Work Order

(check which one applies)

*One-off work orders constitute one-time assignments with a finite beginning and end.

*Ad hoc work orders constitute an arrangement in which work will be authorized as needed by Creative for a prolonged period of time not to exceed one year.

Tasks To Be Performed:

• Serve as Proposal Manager on priority bid(s), working with the Creative proposal team on business development efforts;
• Organize and facilitate regular team check-in meetings;
• Work with Proposal Coordinator to ensure meeting notes for each team meeting (including check-ins, color reviews, etc.)
• Lead capture efforts, including facilitating capture strategy and activities, e.g., focus group discussions with targeted groups, technical and/or operational assessments, surveys and/or other capture-related approaches and methods;
• Organize and lead the solicitation review;
• Organize and lead the Kick-Off Meeting for the live proposal effort;
• Work with the Proposal Coordinator to develop the Proposal Development Packet, including proposal calendar, compliance matrix and the technical proposal outline (in coordination with relevant proposal team members);
  • Ensure calendar includes critical milestones and color reviews and is kept up to date;
• Arranges and manages/facilitates the colored reviews, including but not limited to, Blue, Red, and Gold Reviews; assembles relevant documents for the reviews;
• In collaboration with Coach and TLW, make individual assignments to the members of the Proposal Development team;
• Co-lead technical design sessions with internal staff, partners and potential partners;
• In collaboration with Coach and Technical Lead Writer (TLW), develop technical and cost volume outlines, writing assignments and layout and style protocols (in adherence with Creative’s Proposal Writing Style Guide);
• In collaboration with the Coach and TLW, develop design session(s) agenda; facilitates design sessions that result in responsive and compliant design;
• Collects and submits proposal team questions to the Client;
• Formalize agreements with partner / resource organizations under BDD supervision (agreements must be reviewed by BDD before sent to potential partners);
• Hold regular checkpoint meetings with proposal team to ensure adherence to schedule, check quality and compliance of response, surface potential problems early;
• Conduct iterative and final compliance and responsiveness review of Technical and Cost Volumes prior to the White Glove Review (flip); performs final corrections to the Technical and Cost Volumes in coordination with the Coach and TLW, as appropriate; and
• Oversees preparation of the proposal for production and delivery.
• Develop the Proposal Development Packet, including proposal calendar, compliance matrix, and the technical proposal outline (in coordination with relevant proposal team members);
• Maintain and share a weekly proposal development team check-in agenda;
• Develop the proposal kick-off presentation;
• Draft and distribute the Questions Document for the proposal’s Q&A session;
• Draft and share the partnering agreements and inputs with the team for review;
• Provide regular updates to proposal team abreast of iterative drafts, design questions and input needs; and
• Participate in proposal development team meeting check-ins, design meetings, review meetings, and other requested meetings.
• Other similar tasks to be mutually agreed between Creative and the Consultant.

Other Matters

Code Approver. The Code Approver will be determined at each individual Work Order.

Special Terms. Oversight of day-to-day activities will be determined at each individual Work Order.

Invoicing. Consultant may include incidental costs incurred while working on the assignment (e.g., phone credit). All proposed costs, if approved, will be reimbursable only upon submission and Creative acceptance of receipts/supporting documentation.

An overarching Renewable Consultant Agreement will be issued based on the capabilities and qualifications listed below as well as those listed in the individual’s submitted CV.

General Capabilities

The Consultant is expected to serve as Proposal Manager on business development opportunities Creative pursues. They are expected to have the skills and experience necessary to perform the full life-cycle proposal development process.

Required Qualifications

1. At least five years of relevant professional experience, with a minimum three years leading successful business development efforts for funding from bilateral agencies such as USAID and other donor-funded programs;
2. Familiarity with USAID requirements for proposal compliance and responsiveness;
3. Ability to conceptualize programmatic frameworks in response to donor requirements and develop technical and cost solutions;
4. Strong technical writing, editing, capture, and/or design skills; and
5. Strong organizational management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, adhere to tight deadlines, and respond with flexibility in a fast-paced environment.

Desired Qualifications

1. Familiarity with submitting proposals to and working with USG agencies such as Dept of State, USAID, Dept of Agriculture, Millenium Challenge Corporation
2. Familiarity with submitting proposals to and working with multi-laterals organizations such as the World Bank
3. Knowledge of conflict programming and policy frameworks guiding USAID work;
4. Expertise in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, or stabilization;
5. Knowledge of economic growth programming and policy frameworks guiding USAID work;
6. Expertise in economic growth, workforce development, or youth programming;
7. Knowledge of education programming and policy frameworks guiding USAID work; and/or
8. Expertise in education systems, early grade reading, or education-related training and capacity building.
9. Experience and/or familiarity with USAID/OTI proposals.
10. Previous experience or familiarity with Creative business development preferred.
11. Experience and/or familiarity with proposals in relevant geographic locations.

Work Assignment:

Consultants with the requisite qualifications will be given a work order with accompanying renewable consulting agreement (RCA) which contains Creative’s general terms and conditions and which establishes a consultant’s rate for a one-year period, after which rate increases may be negotiated when this agreement renews. Subsequent work orders may be issued under the RCA with consultants being required to compete against other similarly qualified consultants in order to receive additional work orders.

 Additional Information:

Please click on the links to download the Terms and Conditions, Annex A (Reps, Certs and Consents form) and W-8; W-9; and Vendor Information form, as applicable. The forms are provided for your information at this stage in the solicitation process. Completed forms will be required only if you have been selected for the consulting opportunity. However, you may complete, sign, and submit the forms as part of your response to this request.

Application Requirements:

Consultant should submit:

• Their daily rate
• A budget inclusive of estimated LOE and all required Other Direct Costs, such as travel, materials, etc. A budget template can be downloaded here.
• Up-to-date CV
• Optional: Forms linked under the “Additional Information Section” above

 Selection will be made on the basis of technical capability and overall best value. Modifications to this solicitation, including closing date extensions, will be posted on the Creative website. Please check the website for updates. Please note that RCAs lock in a consultant’s rate for one full year and this rate may not be re-negotiated again until the point of renewal.

NOTE:

*LOE-based Work Orders utilize a ceiling price which may not be exceeded without negotiation.

*Fixed-price based Work Orders lock in a total price to be paid in portions upon completion of deliverables which may not be altered without negotiation. This type of WO may only be used for one-off opportunities.