MONITORING, EVALUATION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICE II (METSS II) PROJECT

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFPs)

Consulting Services to Translate a Survey Questionnaire in Support of the USAID Feed the Future Phase 1 Endline and Phase 2 Baseline Population-Based Surveys

SOLICITATION NUMBER METSS-2018-209

Background

• The U.S. Government Feed the Future (FTF) program seeks to reduce poverty, hunger, and undernutrition among women and children, and to increase income, resilience, women’s empowerment, dietary diversity and appropriate feeding practices, and hygienic environments. The Economic Growth (EG) Office of the United States Agency for International Development Ghana (USAID/Ghana), between 2012-2018 implemented interventions in the FTF Zone of Influence (ZOI) aimed at reducing poverty and malnutrition among children under five years and in women of reproductive age. Following approval of the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) Ghana Country Plan by the Bureau for Food Security (BFS) in Washington, USAID/Ghana will be implementing activities in the FTF Phase two ZOI (P2-ZOI) to achieve the GFSS goal of reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition through the three objectives of agriculture-led growth, resilience, and nutrition while positioning the country to become self-reliant.

• Progress in achieving FTF’s objectives is tracked using population-based performance indicators collected at baseline then periodically thereafter. A baseline survey was conducted in 2012 to establish the pre-implementation data for performance indicators. A mid-term survey was conducted in 2015 to estimate changes in outcomes at mid-term. An endline survey for Phase 1 (P1) and a baseline survey for Phase 2 (P2) are scheduled in the FTF ZOI for January through March, 2019. A key requirement prior to data collection for the survey, among others, is the translation and back-translation of the survey questionnaire into local (native) languagesspoken by 10% or more of the ZOI population.METSS II Project has identified four languages that meet this criterion: Dagbani, Dagari, Likpalkpa and Kusal.

METSS Profile

• The Monitoring, Evaluation and Technical Support Services II (METSS II) Project is an agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Ghana Mission and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The implementing partners of the project are Kansas States University (KSU) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC). METSS II Project’s role is to provide rigorous monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and other related support to the USAID/Ghana Mission’s efforts toward evidence-based planning and performance management. The Economic Growth Office (EGO) of the Mission is responsible for implementing programs and activities under the USAID/Ghana Country Development

• The USAID/Ghana current zone of influence (ZOI) constitute the area in the north above the 8th parallel degrees. This is made up of all the districts in Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions and nine districts in the Brong Ahafo region bounding the Northern Region. In all, there are 59 districts in the USAID/Ghana FTF ZOI.
The FTF Phase 2 ZOI is made up of a total of 17 Districts in Northern Region (8 Districts), Upper East Region (4 Districts) and Upper West Region (5 Districts).

• Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Development Objective (DO) 2: “Sustainable and broadly shared economic growth”. The EGO also participates in a number of sector groups such as private sector development, agriculture, finance, energy and, water and natural resources. In addition, the Office assists with preparation for official US Government events, such as visiting Congressional Delegations. METSS II mandate is to assist the USAID/Ghana EG Office to meet its responsibilities and achieve its development objectives in Ghana.

Terms of Services Sought

METSS II Project is seeking the services of a consulting firm, or a team of language experts to translate and back-translate the Feed the Future (FTF)Zone of Influence (ZOI)Population-Based Survey (PBS) 2019 questionnaire into the four Ghanaian languages meeting the specified criterion of being spoken by 10% or more of the ZOI population. As noted above these areDagbani, Dagari, Likpalkpa and Kusal. The successful firm or team will beexpected to use the translation approach called TRAPD model (Harkness 2003). The source document (the survey questionnaire) has been finalized and formatted for use in the field to collect the data. The contractor will be responsible for the following:

• Identifythe translation team for each language;
• Undertake the translation of the questionnaire following the TRAPD model into the four identified languages;
• Ensure that translation team members attend and participate in the questionnaire technical training thatMETSS will conduct for enumerators;
• Conduct oral back translation of the questionnaire to ascertain the fidelity of the translation
• Make the necessary changes as a result of the back translation and the questionnaire pre-testing
• Keep and maintain an error log emanating from the back translation and the questionnaire pre-testing. The error log will be organized in the following categories: (1)errors of meaning; (2) errors of form; and (3) errors of compliance. Additionally, the gravity of the error – defined as the potential effect of the error on understanding the question and responding to it accurately will also be captured and reported. Gravity shall be classified as follows: (1) Serious; and (2) Minor. The contractor shall provide along each captured error in the error log remarks about each error (source and cause of error) and the solution proffered by the team of translators.
• Deliver a certified accurate translated questionnaire in each of the identified languages by the agreed upon date.

It is expected that the successful contractor will be engaged by the 6thof November, 2018 to begin work on 12thof November and complete the pre-test and questionnaire review process by the 12th of December, 2018. It is anticipated that the total duration of this assignment will be approximately 26 days.

METSS II is requesting proposals from a consulting firm, or a team of language experts with the following eligibility capabilities to send in their proposals to this request:

The TRAPD model is an acronym for five interrelated procedures required for optimal translation and it stands for: Translation, Review, Adjudication, Pretesting, and Documentation

• Translators must be native speakers of the target languages(Dagaari, Dagbani, Kussal and Konkomba (Likpalkpa);
• Must have obtained an advanced degree in linguistics, and/or teaching any of the four Gur languages stated above in an accredited tertiary institution in Ghana;
• Excellent knowledge about coining words and phrases for terminologies that do not have perfect substitutes in the target Ghanaian languages stated above.
• Experience translating documents into the four Gur languages
• Experience collecting survey data using the local languages based on complex structured questionnaires
• Ability and willingness to operate in rural and remote areas
• Experience with typesetting the questionnaire into the various languages with the aid of appropriate computer software packages.
• Effective organizational control systems to assure performance quality and on-time on-budget delivery of contracted services
• Evidence of previous translation work done in any of the four target languages
• Working knowledge and application of the TRAPD model
• Contact information on at most three previous or current clients for whom you have performed similar work

The successful firm or team will submit the translated questionnaires to METSS II Project Chief of Operations, in addition to a report detailing the translation processes and the translation error log described in the Feed the Future Survey Implementation Document: Questionnaire Translation Protocol.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

This RFP includes both Technical and Financial Proposals. In the technical proposal the applicant firm/team of translation experts will be required among others, to show proof of their demonstrated abilities in carrying out this assignment by addressing each of the criteria presented above along with evidence.

In terms of the financial proposal, contract award will be made on a best value basis, where all non-cost (technical) factors will be significantly more important than cost. The applicant firm/team of translation experts should have the structure that will allow it to provide the best value and greatest results at the lowest cost. The price proposal of the contract period shall be evaluated in terms of reasonableness and realism to determine the appropriate cost for the work including the applicant firm/team of translation experts’ understanding of the work, and their ability to perform the work.

Applicant(s) must include a completed Technical Proposal Submission Sheet which should be requested alongside the Survey Questionnaire and the Questionnaire Translation Protocol by sending an email to

procurement@metssghana.org

Subject:FTF ZOI PBS 2019 Questionnaire Translation Solicitation # METSS-2018-209.

Questions and/or enquiries concerning this RFPshould be sent by no later than October 23, 2018 at 16:00 hours via email to: Subject:

procurement@metssghana.org; FTF ZOI PBS 2019 Questionnaire Translation Solicitation # METSS-2018-209.No phone calls, please. Any information given to one Applicant concerning this RFP will be furnished to all others who have also applied for this assignment.

Proposals are due on October 30, 2018, 11:59pm GMT.Proposals in response to this RFP must be sent to:

procurement@metssghana.org

Subject: FTF ZOI PBS 2019 Questionnaire Translation Solicitation # METSS-2018-209.

METSS II complies with U.S. Sanctions and Embargo laws and Regulations including Executive Order 13224 on Terrorist Financing, which effectively prohibits transactions with persons or entities that commit, threaten to commit or support terrorism. Any person or entity that participates in this SOW process, either as a consulting firm, or a team of evaluation experts, must certify as part of the bid that they are not on the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List and is eligible to participate. METSS II shall disqualify any Proposal received from any individual or entity that is found to be on the List or otherwise ineligible.

Applicant(s) are expected to examine the specifications and all instructions contained in this document including the terms and conditions of the resulting contract. Failure to do so will be at the Applicant(s) risk. Applicants are responsible for all costs associated with preparation and submission of their bid package. METSS II will not reimburse bidders for costs of preparing bids.