Description
The U.S. Government, represented by the Agency for International Development (USAID) in Mali intends to do a two-year, up to $10 million cost-extension of the Mali Justice Project (MJP) Task Order AID-688-TO-16-00002 implemented by Checchi and Company Consulting (CHECCHI), and contracted under the International Rule of Law Technical Assistance Services Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) AID-OAA-I-13-00034. The purpose of MJP is to support the Government of Mali’s (GOM) goal for more efficient, effective, and competent Malian justice sector institutions that are accountable and responsive to the needs of Malians. The project works with the formal and informal justice sector and civil society to achieve results. Mali is an extremely fragile country, lacking the capacity to provide security, implement its peace accord, combat violent extremism, and mitigate deadly communal conflict. To date, this multidimensional crisis internally displaced nearly 240,000 people and continues to escalate despite the Government of Mali’s (GOM) efforts. Addressing this critical security need, the U.S. Presidential Initiative, SGI, serves as a bilateral effort between the U.S. Government’s Departments of Defense and Justice and USAID and the Malian government’s Ministries of Defense, Interior and Justice respectively. Concurrently on March 19, the global pandemic Corona Virus (COVID-19) first cases appeared in West Africa and the GOM decreed to suspend all public meetings, including trainings, seminars, and colloquiums. The unfortunate events resulted in limiting USAID’s ability to implement a lot of its activities through the Mali Justice Project. Given the delayed activity schedule and Mali’s anticipated July COVID-19 peak caseload, USAID expects that activities would be further hampered for months to come. The intended contract extension to Checchi is expected to be awarded in August 2020 for two additional years of implementation. The project will provide technical assistance and other resources necessary to implement the activity through the following: 1) Enhancement of the Justice Service Delivery and Efficiency of Justice Sector Institutions in Mali and 2) Increase Immediate Access to Justice in Mali. Note : The above mentioned 2-year extension period of performance will be final. The Mission will fully compete any subsequent acquisition for these services. Also, the approximate $10 million estimated cost will not be increased. The Contractor will achieve the performance objectives and provide all deliverables during the 2-year period of performance and within the above mentioned ceiling. USAID intends to use a Full and Open Competition after the 2 years if it is determined that the services are still needed, and funds are available. The Statutory authority for permitting other than full and open competition is ADS 302.3.4.5, Limiting Competition and FAR 16.505(b)(2), Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity. The exception for the cost extension was approved by USAID Acting Administrator on July 13, 2020. The award of this contract is planned on or before August 7, 2020. Interested organizations may signify interest and capability to respond to the requirements. However, this notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals.