Issue Date: October 8th, 2024

Proposal Due Date: October 23, 2024

Anticipated Award Date: November 8th, 2024

To Whom It May Concern:

IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board) is seeking bids from qualified respondents to support IREX’s need to submit a disclosure statement to bid on CAS-covered contracts. The anticipated award will be a time and materials (T&M) contract with a not-to-exceed ceiling for task 1 and T&M contracts for optional tasks 2 and 3. IREX reserves the right to withdrawal this request for proposal at any time up to the award of the contract. 

Background

The International Research & Exchanges Board, Inc. (IREX or the Organization), is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge. Central to its mission is the empowering of individuals and institutions to participate meaningfully in civil society. IREX contributes to the development of students, scholars, policymakers, business leaders, journalists, and other professionals; strengthens independent media, academic, public, and nongovernmental institutions; and makes the knowledge and skills developed through its programs available to universities, foundations, policymakers, and the corporate sector. IREX administers programs between the United States and the countries of Eastern Europe, Asia, the Near East, Latin America and Africa. A significant portion of IREX’s operations is carried out in foreign countries. IREX receives funds from the U.S. Department of State (DOS), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), other Federal agencies, and private-sector sources. Approximately 84 percent and 81 percent of the funds received in 2023 and 2022 including cost share, respectively, were through awards from the U.S. government.

IREX has made the strategic decision to bid on contracts (i.e., solicitations governed by FAR 15) that would exceed the ceiling for full CAS coverage. As such, IREX must prepare a disclosure statement to be in compliance with Sec. K.  

Proposal Requirements

Organizations interested in providing this service must submit a proposal that demonstrates the organizations’ capacity to provide the services outlined below: 

Required Task 1. CAS Compliance. The selected firm will review IREX’s existing cost accounting policies and engage IREX stakeholders to understand the organization’s accounting practices to complete a disclosure statement based on existing structure as well as note areas where IREX must implement changes necessary to comply with FAR and CAS. 

Task 1 shall be priced using T&M rate with a NTE ceiling. 

Optional Task 2. The selected firm will, after discussions with stakeholders and establishing an understanding of IREX’s strategy, propose changes to IREX’s cost-accounting practices. Examples include, but are not limited to, full application and recovery of G&A on subawards, creation of a “foundation” segment, etc. Should IREX exercise this option, a deliverable will include a disclosure statement and changes necessary to comply with the updates as well as FAR and CAS. 

Task 2 shall be T&M with hours and scope discussed prior to the firm’s commencing work. 

Optional Task 3. The selected firm will, after completing the disclosure statement and noting changes necessary to comply with FAR and CAS, assist IREX in updating its policies (e.g., IREX’s accounting policy manual), standard operating procedures, and internal controls. 

Task 3 shall be T&M with hours and scope discussed prior to the firm’s commencing work. 

Bidders should provide the following documents:

• Quality of project approach, proposed strategy and required resources
• Technical experience: Past performance narratives shall include a description of the firm’s work with not-for-profit organizations seeking to bid on and implement FAR 15 contracts. Please limit the proposal to 10 pages. 
• Resumes of key personnel 
• 3 references for similar work. IREX prefers references from not-for-profit organizations working with USAID or the Department of State.
• Budget: T&M rate card

Proposal Submission

If you are interested in furnishing this service, please e-mail a proposal to jblumberg@irex.org Attn: Josephina Blumberg. If you decide to submit a proposal, it must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date indicated above.  Late submissions will only be considered if in the best interests of the project, and then at IREX’s sole discretion.  

All proposals submitted must be valid for a period of not less than sixty (60) calendar days from the closing date indicated above. 

Proposal Evaluation

The criteria are listed in descending order starting with the most important factors to be evaluated.

• Technical approach to assignment (30%)
• Technical experience, past performance and references (20%)
• Qualifications of key personnel (20%)
• Overall Price Competitiveness (30%)

Evaluation and ranking of proposals will be done based on best value approach. IREX may at its discretion ask for additional information and clarifications.

IREX reserves the right to reject any and/ or all proposals and modify any element of the solicitation at any time without prior notification and without any liability or obligation of any kind. This request for proposal (RFP) does not IREX to enter a contract nor to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of submission of any proposal or response.

Renewal

IREX reserves the right, based on availability of funding and vendor performance, to enter into subsequent contractual agreements with the winning vendor for a period of up to three years without issuing a new RFP. 

Contact Information

Name: Josephina Blumberg

Title: Compliance Officer

IREX

1275 K Street, NW, Suite 600

Washington, D.C. 20037