Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Other Special Services (MELOS) Sources Sought

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Other Special Services (MELOS) A. Purpose: The Department of State (DOS) is conducting market research to inform the structure of a forthcoming Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Other Special Services (MELOS). The Department seeks feedback from industry on the best way to group service areas ( layers or pools ) by expertise to ensure effective competition and high-quality task order performance. B. Background: The MELOS IDIQ will provide a broad range of services, including but not limited to: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Technical advisory and subject matter expertise (e.g., mining, infrastructure, environment) Capacity building and training Data management, analysis, and visualization Grant administration and deployment Commercial diplomacy and market development Operational and logistical support The Department is considering grouping service areas into layers or pools by technical expertise to ensure that vendors compete only for task orders aligned with their core capabilities, rather than all vendors competing for every task order. C. Objectives: Receive industry comments?on the overarching?Capability Areas,?Attachment 1 (MELOS Capability Matrix below in description): Draft?Capability Areas. Identify the most effective way to group service areas as outlined in Section D below to match industry expertise. Ensure robust, fair competition for each task order. Minimize administrative burden for both the government and industry. D. Proposed Structure (for Industry Feedback): The Department is considering the following initial groupings. Please comment on these or suggest alternatives: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Pool Performance monitoring, independent evaluations, learning agenda development, data collection/analysis, capacity building for MEL. Technical Advisory & Sectoral Support Pool Mining and minerals, infrastructure, environment, energy, sectoral assessments, feasibility studies, technical road mapping. Capacity Building & Training Pool Institutional strengthening, training/workshops, knowledge transfer, peer learning. Data Management & Analytics Pool Data collection/management, data analysis, data visualization, knowledge management systems. Grant Administration & Commercial Diplomacy Pool Grant deployment, grant monitoring, commercial facilitation, market intelligence, advocacy campaigns. Operational & Logistical Support Pool Event/workshop logistics, field operations, partner management, operational support. Vendors may propose to participate in one or more pools based on their core competencies. E. Industry Feedback: Interested companies?are invited to provide feedback?to?the questions below and provide a brief?capabilities package?consisting of?no more than 10 pages in length.?Late responses will not be accepted.?? Submit responses electronically by 1 PM Eastern Time on June 22, 2026 to: 1. RautenbachJ@state.gov 2. LongoriaRR@state.gov 3. TaliaferroDT@state.gov 4. dominguej@state.gov Responses shall at a minimum address: Company name, office location(s), UEI, CAGE Code, and POC information (Name, Title, Phone Number, and email address).?? Based on your organization s experience, how should the Department group service areas to best match industry expertise and promote fair competition? Are the proposed pools above appropriate? Would you recommend different groupings, additional pools, or alternative structures? Please propose any edits or alternative approaches to the pool structure. What qualifications, past performance, or certifications should be required for each pool? How can the Department structure the IDIQ and task order competition process to ensure the right vendors compete for the right work, while minimizing administrative burden? Are there best practices from other large, multi-service IDIQs that DOS should consider to avoid all-vendor competition for every task order? What challenges or risks do you foresee with a layered/pool approach, and how might they be mitigated? Process Improvement:?What changes or improvements would you recommend to the Department s proposed processes for pool assignment, task order competition, or vendor qualification? Please suggest any innovative approaches or lessons learned from other IDIQs. List relevant experience within the last five years. All?examples?must be listed in the?table format below?and limited to no more than 5 entries. Please note, text that is bold and in italics is illustrative and should be deleted. Contract Number: 19AQMM36C1234 Agency Name: Department of State Customer POC: John Smith, Contracting Officer John.Smith@state.gov Location of Performance: CONUS/OCONUS Total Contract Value: $1,000,000,000.00 Period of Performance: 5-years Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Prime/Sub-contractor: Prime Brief Description: Brief description no more than 100 words MELOS CAPABILITY MATRIX 1. Strategic Planning & Design 1.1 Strategic Planning Support Support development and implementation of strategic, sectoral, or organizational plans aligned with USG priorities. Conduct analyses for new strategies and/or other strategic frameworks to inform program design and management decisions. 1.2 Program/Project Design Facilitate evidence-based program and project design, including logic models, theories of change, and design docs. 1.3 Stakeholder Engagement Conduct participatory design processes and facilitate stakeholder consultations and technical working groups. 1.4 Technical Road-mapping Develop sectoral or technical roadmaps, master plans, or policy frameworks to guide reform and investment. 2. Performance Management 2.1 Performance Monitoring Develop and implement monitoring systems, with a focus on developing monitoring frameworks, indicator selection, data collection tools, and Performance Management Plans (PMPs). 2.2 Third Party Monitoring Provide third party monitoring services in non-permissive environment to strengthen US Government oversight and accountability of foreign assistance including site visits, monitoring surveys, and data quality assessments. 2.3 Data Quality Assurance Conduct Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and ensure data quality control and compliance with standards. 2.4 Technical/ Operational Monitoring Monitor technical, operational, or sectoral activities and outputs (e.g., site visits, technical audits, compliance). 3. Evaluation, Assessment & Research 3.1 Program/Project Evaluation Design and conduct evaluations (performance, impact, technical, sectoral, portfolio wide) to assess effectiveness and outcomes. 3.2 Technical Assessments Conduct technical, economic, cost-effectiveness, environmental, sectoral, or humanitarian needs assessments and feasibility studies. 3.3 Research & Analysis Perform research, studies, and analysis to inform policy, program, or technical decision-making. 4. Capacity Building & Training 4.1 Training & Workshops Design and deliver training, workshops, and technical assistance on different topics of program cycle management for staff, partners, and stakeholders. 4.2 Institutional Strengthening Build organizational, technical, and management capacity of government, SOEs, or other entities. 4.3 Knowledge Transfer Facilitate knowledge sharing, peer learning, and communities of practice. 5. Data Management & Utilization 5.1 Data Collection & Management Design and implement data collection, management, and storage systems (including technical and sectoral data). 5.2 Data Analysis & Visualization Analyze and visualize quantitative and qualitative data for reporting, dashboards, and decision support. 5.3 Data Quality & Security Design and implement a system that ensures data quality, privacy, and security throughout the collection, transcription, analysis, storage, and transfer of data in accordance with USG and international standards. 6. Technical Advisory & Subject Matter Expertise 6.1 Technical Advisory Services Provide subject matter expertise and technical advisory in relevant sectors (e.g., energy, mining, environment, etc.). 6.2 Policy, Legal, and Regulatory Support Advise on policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks and compliance. 6.3 Environmental & Social Safeguards Advise on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and impact mitigation. 6.4 Short term technical support Provide subject matter expertise in program cycle management to fill internal capacity gaps as and when necessary (e.g. 7. Reporting, Learning & 7.1 Reporting & Compliance Prepare technical, financial, and compliance reports in line with USG and international standards. Knowledge Management 7.2 Learning & Adaptive Management Facilitate learning, after-action reviews, and adaptive management processes and products. 7.3 Knowledge Management Systems Develop and maintain knowledge management platforms and documentation. 8. Operational & Logistical Support 8.1 Event & Workshop…