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

Active

Contract Opportunity

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:

1. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Pool
   
   
   
   • Performance monitoring, independent evaluations, learning agenda development, data collection/analysis, capacity building for MEL.
   
   
   
   


2. Technical Advisory & Sectoral Support Pool
   
   
   
   • Mining and minerals, infrastructure, environment, energy, sectoral assessments, feasibility studies, technical road mapping.
   
   
   
   


3. Capacity Building & Training Pool
   
   
   
   • Institutional strengthening, training/workshops, knowledge transfer, peer learning.
   
   
   
   


4. Data Management & Analytics Pool
   
   
   
   • Data collection/management, data analysis, data visualization, knowledge management systems.
   
   
   
   


5. Grant Administration & Commercial Diplomacy Pool
   
   
   
   • Grant deployment, grant monitoring, commercial facilitation, market intelligence, advocacy campaigns.
   
   
   
   


6. 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 12, 2026

to MELOS@state.gov.

Responses shall at a minimum address:

1. 
   

   Company name, office location(s), UEI, CAGE Code, and POC information (Name, Title, Phone Number, and email address).

   
   


2. 
   

   Based on your organization’s experience, how should the Department group service areas to best match industry expertise and promote fair competition?

   
   


3. 
   

   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.

   
   


4. 
   

   What qualifications, past performance, or certifications should be required for each pool?

   
   


5. 
   

   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?

   
   


6. 
   

   Are there best practices from other large, multi-service IDIQs that DOS should consider to avoid “all-vendor” competition for every task order?

   
   


7. 
   

   What challenges or risks do you foresee with a layered/pool approach, and how might they be mitigated?

   
   


8. 
   

   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.

   
   


9. 
   

   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

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 Logistics

Plan and manage logistics for events, workshops, site visits, and technical missions.

8.2 Field Operations Support

Provide operational support for field activities, including travel, safety, and compliance.

8.3 Subcontractor & Partner Management

Manage and coordinate subcontractors, local partners, and technical teams.

9. Learning and Knowledge Sharing

9.1 Knowledge capture

Capture knowledge using a variety of methods including after-action-learning, document synthesis, interview staff and implementers.

9.2 Facilitate knowledge sharing

Facilitate knowledge sharing through workshops, peer-to-peer, briefers, webinars, and other innovative active methods.

10. Strategic Infrastructure & Investment Development

10.1 Project Scoping & Opportunity Identification

Identify, scope, vet, and triage infrastructure and investment opportunities in line with strategic priorities. Develop master plans, gather market intelligence on project opportunities, and assess strategic acquisition opportunities for U.S. companies.

10.2 Pre-Feasibility & Feasibility Studies

Conduct investment-grade pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies, and environmental impact assessments to analyze economic, environmental, social, and technical considerations for infrastructure investments.

10.3 Engineering Studies & Design

Prepare detailed engineering studies, designs, and tender documents required to build infrastructure investments. Conduct geological surveys, geospatial surveys, and GIS assessments of infrastructure projects or corridors.

1.4 Financial & Economic Analysis

Conduct financial and economic studies to determine project bankability, debt sustainability analyses, and lifecycle cost assessments to make projects attractive to investors and financial institutions.

11. Transaction Advisory & Project Finance

11.1 Infrastructure Finance Structuring

Structure infrastructure investment opportunities, develop financing frameworks, and create viable public-private partnership (PPP) models. Provide infrastructure finance transaction advisory and pre-contract services.

11.2 Financial Due Diligence & Risk Mitigation

Deliver financial due diligence, market analysis, and risk mitigation strategies to support project bankability. Develop blended finance solutions coordinating U.S. government financing agencies.

11.3 Investment Pipeline Development

Build pipeline of bankable infrastructure projects that can successfully access financing. Support infrastructure investment structuring and prepare materials for investor outreach and tendering.

2.4 Financing Coordination

Coordinate with DFC, EXIM, MCC, USTDA, and multilateral development banks to maximize U.S. leverage and support for strategic projects. Identify financing options and structure risk mitigation instruments.

12. Legal, Regulatory & Procurement Services

12.1 Legal Advisory Services

Provide legal advisory services to PPP units, government ministries, and procurement agencies. Support contract negotiation and revision for infrastructure transactions.

12.2 Regulatory Framework Development

Draft model legislation, develop legal authorities, and create regulatory frameworks for strategic sectors including advanced technologies (eVTOL, UAS, advanced air mobility), critical infrastructure, and transparent procurement.

12.3 Procurement Reform & Capacity Building

Advise on regulatory reform to create transparent, competitive procurement frameworks. Revise tender qualification criteria, technical specifications, and evaluation criteria to prioritize security, lifecycle costs, and performance.

12.4 Contract Document Preparation

Prepare contract documents including requests for proposals, memorandums of understanding, standard form contracts, and technical specifications that incorporate security requirements and lifecycle cost analysis.

12.5 Tender Process Management

Draft and manage tender processes for open, competitive procurement. Support bid evaluation using lifecycle cost analysis, security considerations, and technical merit rather than upfront price alone.

12.6 Suspension & Debarment Systems

Develop or enhance suspension and debarment systems to exclude untrusted suppliers based on national security criteria. Create legal authorities enabling partner governments to exclude suppliers on security grounds.

13. Grant Administration & Deployment

13.1 Strategic Grant Support to Companies

Deploy grants to address specific risks or costs that prevent U.S. private sector participation and/or project financial close. Analyze project risk profiles and identify targeted grant interventions.

13.2 Project Preparation Grants

Provide grants to partner governments for project preparation activities including market soundings, industry days, site visits for prospective bidders, and translation of tender documents.

13.3 Technical Advisor Grants

Fund partner governments to competitively hire U.S. firms as independent technical advisors for project development, feasibility studies, technical specifications, procurement strategy, and bid evaluation.

13.4 Public-Private Partnership Facilitation Grants

Provide small grants or seed funding to support feasibility studies, pilot projects, demonstration programs, and partnership development activities that catalyze partnerships between U.S. companies and foreign governments/operators.

13.5 Grant Monitoring & Documentation

Prepare documentation for grant disbursement and monitoring. Track grant performance and ensure compliance with grant conditions.

14. Commercial Diplomacy & Market Development

14.1 Commercial Facilitation & Matchmaking:

Identify and engage U.S. companies and investors for project participation. Organize deal matchmaking events connecting U.S. manufacturers with foreign buyers, operators, and investors.

14.2 Trade Missions & Promotional Events

Organize road shows, trade missions, reverse trade missions, aviation-themed trade promotion events, and investment roadshows to expand U.S. market share and influence in strategic sectors.

14.3 Market Intelligence & Opportunity Analysis:

Provide market intelligence to U.S. companies on project opportunities, regulatory environments, competition landscape, and strategic acquisition opportunities. Support business development missions.

14.4 U.S. Private Sector Mobilization:

Position U.S. companies and solutions as the preferred choice for foreign partners. Reduce barriers to U.S. company participation in strategic projects and convert advocacy into tangible business opportunities.

15. Advocacy Campaigns & Strategic Communications

15.1 Technology Advocacy Campaigns:

Develop and implement targeted advocacy campaigns to promote U.S. technologies, emphasizing safety, interoperability, and advantages over adversary alternatives.

15.2 Demonstration Programs & Pilot Projects:

Organize demonstration events, pilot programs, and stakeholder workshops showcasing U.S. technology advantages and real-world applications.

15.3 Public Trust & Brand Building:

Build public trust in U.S. brand and certifications. Develop case studies and success stories demonstrating superior long-term value of U.S. solutions.

15.4 Counter-Adversary Messaging

Highlight risks of adversary models including opaque certifications, predatory lending, vendor lock-in, safety concerns, and lack of transparency. Counter Chinese tactics for market penetration.

16. Market & Competitive Intelligence

16.1 Strategic Market Assessments

Conduct comprehensive market assessments identifying opportunities, regulatory gaps, competitive threats, and demand signals in strategic markets.

16.2 Adversary Competition Analysis

Assess competition from China and other adversaries including tactics employed (financing arrangements, technology transfer requirements, regulatory shortcuts), market penetration strategies, and vulnerabilities.

16.3 Legal & Regulatory Environment Analysis

Analyze legal and regulatory frameworks, procurement environments, and policy landscapes to identify barriers and opportunities for U.S. companies.

16.4 Transaction Vetting & Triage

Vet and triage infrastructure and investment transactions based on strategic importance, commercial viability, implementation readiness, and alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives.

17. Technical Assistance for Regulatory & Standards Development

17.1 Standards Alignment & Harmonization

Provide technical assistance to align partner country policies and procedures with international best practices and U.S. safety standards. Support bilateral agreements facilitating mutual recognition of certifications.

17.2 Certification & Licensing Framework Development

Develop regulatory frameworks for certification processes, licensing standards, airworthiness procedures, and maintenance oversight systems aligned with U.S. and international standards.

17.3 Sector-Specific Regulatory Development

Develop regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies (eVTOL, UAS, advanced air mobility), critical infrastructure security, transparent procurement, and exclusion of untrusted suppliers.

17.4 Technical Input on Procurement Reforms

Provide technical input on regulatory and procurement reforms to support U.S. bids in foreign procurements. Advise on technical specifications and evaluation criteria.

18. Technical Assistance for Operational Implementation

18.1 Infrastructure Systems Design & Planning

Provide systems design and planning for air traffic management modernization, port operations, airport operations, integrated transportation security platforms, and critical infrastructure systems.

18.2 Equipment Installation & Maintenance Protocols

Develop equipment installation and maintenance protocols aligned with international standards. Provide guidance on lifecycle budgeting and maintenance planning.

18.3 Cybersecurity & Resilience

Conduct cybersecurity vulnerability assessments and develop protocols for aviation systems, port infrastructure, and critical transportation networks. Support implementation of protective systems and GNSS interference mitigation.

18.4 Infrastructure Planning & Development

Support vertiport planning, UAS traffic management system design, airport modernization planning, and integrated transportation infrastructure development.

19. Equipment Procurement & Installation

19.1 Critical Safety Equipment Procurement

Purchase or repair equipment for critical safety systems including screening equipment, cargo inspection systems, air traffic control systems, and navigational aids.

19.2 Security Technology Deployment

Procure and deploy cybersecurity solutions, port management software, integrated security platforms, and counter-UAS solutions.

19.3 Equipment Lifecycle Management

Ensure conditions apply for host governments to appropriately budget for maintenance, parts, and lifecycle costs of procured equipment.

20. Export Financing & Risk Mitigation

20.1 EXIM Financing Coordination

Coordinate EXIM Bank financing support through insurance, guarantees, and loans for U.S. exports related to strategic infrastructure and transportation security.

20.2 DFC Political Risk Insurance

Coordinate with DFC to provide expedited political risk insurance, feasibility study support, and project finance for projects where U.S. companies are bidding.

20.3 Risk Mitigation Instruments

Develop risk mitigation instruments to encourage U.S. private sector investment in priority projects. Address perceived political risk and high upfront costs.

21. Interagency Agreement Management

21.1 Legal & Regulatory Interagency Agreements

Execute and manage interagency agreements with Commerce/CLDP for legal advisory services, regulatory reform, and procurement capacity building.

21.2 Technical Assistance Interagency Agreements

Execute and manage interagency agreements with USTDA for feasibility studies, FAA for aviation technical assistance, and DOT for transportation sector support.

21.3 Financing Interagency Agreements

Execute and manage interagency agreements with EXIM for export financing and DFC for political risk insurance and project finance.

21.4 Security & Counter-Threat Coordination

Coordinate with EXBS program to provide awareness training and counter adversary deployment of untrusted technologies.

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