Amendment A0001 - 1131PL24RCP91077 Questions and Answers.pdf

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended. is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15C. DATE SIGNED

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

PAGE OF PAGES

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

Previous edition unusable

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

1131PL24RCP91077A0001

1131PL

TYRONE W. JOHNSON

The purpose of this amendment is to provide responses to questions received in reference to this combined synopsis/ solicitation number: 1131PL24RCP91077. Please see continuation pages attached.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

1131PL

United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Office of Acquisition Management 1101Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100 Arlington, Virginia 22209 (USA)

United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Office of Acquisition Management 1101Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100 Arlington, Virginia 22209 (USA)

1131PL24CP91077

1 7

01/05/2024

12/20/2023

Questions and Answers

1131PL24RCP91077

Amendment A0001 Research and Analysis Program Services

1. In order to properly resource the team, will the government please provide the approximate size, scope, and length of the 40-60 grants per year for M&E services?

Answer: If the Government understands the question correctly, it relates to the following section of the RFP:

“D.1.3.2.1. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) – USTDA completes approximately 40-60 grant activities a year either by reviewing final report deliverables per grant agreement terms or closes them out prior to grant funding completion. The M&E Office works with contractors and grantees to review work product, check compliance with the terms of agreement, and communicate Agency actions and settlements to parties to reach equitable agreement or seek funding repayment. The closeout-stage compliance review of these complex deliverables takes approximately 1 to 3 days. Each final report may require multiple resubmissions prior to closeout and reviews for resubmitted final reports take approximately 0.5 to 1 day.”

To clarify, the review of one (1) grant deliverable takes approximately 1 to 3 days, and USTDA completes approximately 40-60 grant activities per year. Therefore, the question is regarding the review final reports and work products for non-traditional closeouts.

Among the services required are those relating to closeout-stage compliance review of grant deliverables. These grant deliverables encompass USTDA’s grants in its priority sectors (energy and power, digital, transportation, and healthcare) that contain some standard administrative and formatting requirements to be checked, as well as technical terms of reference obligations that are specific to each grant activity funded. Each grant deliverable can range from one hundred pages long to thousands of pages long, depending on the amount of work completed prior to closeout and the technical terms of reference requirements. Services are required to support the review of these grant deliverables to confirm completion of and compliance with the grant terms. USTDA does require that grant deliverables be accompanied by a detailed cross-walk demonstrating where completion of each terms of reference element can be found in the deliverable(s), which expedites the review process.

2. The solicitation requires facility clearance at the SECRET level, however solicitation indicates all work will be performed at the USTDA offices. If work is performed at USTDA offices, requiring contractor to hold facility clearance appears to place a high and undue burden on small business that may be qualified to do the work.

D.1.5.2. A facility security clearance at the Secret level is required for contract performance in accordance with the DD Form 254, Department of Defense Contract

Security Classification Specification, attached to this contract. USTDA will not serve as a facility clearance sponsor for this contract.

The services required by this procurement shall be performed primarily at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency Office at 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100, Arlington, VA 22209.

Answer: If personnel working for a contractor require access to classified information in the performance of their duties, the contractor must have a Facility Clearance and the personnel must have personnel security clearances regardless of location of performance.

3. Can CPARS be submitted in lieu of a Past Performance Survey sent to the customer?

Answer: Yes. However, recency and relevancy requirement as noted in the RFP must be met for completed CPARS being submitted to be evaluated.

4. Section D.1.1.4.2. Page 29, Para 1. Question: What is the purpose of the Comprehensive and Bodily Injury Liability Insurance? There are no driving requirements on this contract.

Answer: Insurance requirement contained in the RFP is in compliance with FAR 28.307-2.

5. Section E.2.1, Page 34, Under Past Performance, Para b. Question: Can CPARS be submitted in lieu of a Past Performance Survey sent to the customer?

Answer: Please see response to Question #3

6. Section E.4.2, Page 34/35, The workload data provided in the PWS is too vague to develop an accurate staffing requirement. Question: Is the Estimated Staffing table in Section E.4.2 of the solicitation to be used as an accurate staffing guide for this effort?

Answer: As noted in the RFP, the staffing mix provided is an estimate of the number of personnel the Government believes it will take to successfully perform the requirement. However, each Offeror must review the requirements of the solicitation and provide a staffing plan that will ensure successful performance of the requirements contained in the PWS.

7. Reference: Section D.1.5. Security Requirements, Page 25, Paragraph D.1.5.1.

Question: Could USTDA please confirm if individual personnel security clearances are required prior to implementation? Could USTDA also confirm if all personnel on the contract must obtain a secret clearance?

Answer: Please see Section D.1.5.1 of the RFP.

8. Reference: Section D.1.5. Security Requirements, Page 25, Paragraph D.1.5.2.

Question: Would USTDA please confirm that the Offeror is not required to get a security clearance at the proposal stage but after the contract award?

Answer: Personnel security clearance is required at the performance stage. Please see Section D.1.5.1 of the RFP.

9. Reference: Section E.2.1 Explanation of Evaluation Criteria, Page 33, Technical Approach Question: Would USTDA please clarify the page limit of the technical proposal?

Answer: There are no page limits noted in the RFP.

10. Reference: Section E.2.1 Explanation of Evaluation Criteria, Page 33, Paragraph a.

Management and Staffing Plan states, “Names and resume of specific proposed individuals must be submitted as part of the proposal.”

Question: Would USTDA please confirm the page limit of each resume of key personnel in the technical proposal?

11. Reference: Section E.2.1 Past performance, Page 34, Paragraph b.

Question: Could USTDA please confirm whether past performance references sent by our POCs must be returned to USTDA by the closing date?

Answer: Past performance surveys shall be sent directly back to the Government by the POC completing the survey by the closing date and time noted in the RFP.

12. Reference: Section D.1.16. PHASE IN AND PHASE OUT PERIODS, Page 29, Paragraph D.1.16.1. Phase-In Period Question: Is there an incumbent contractor, and if so, can the Government provide the name of the contractor and the contract number?

Answer: Yes, the incumbent contractor is Ascendant Program Services, LLC.

Contract number 1131PL18CCP91173.

13. Reference: Section E.1.7. QUOTE CONTENTS, Page 32, Paragraph N/A Question: Are there page limitations for the Proposal Volumes/Sections?

14. Reference: Section E.2.1. EXPLANATION OF EVALUATION CRITERIA, Page 33, Paragraph Volume I a. Management and Staffing Plan Question: Do we need all 23 personnel names and resumes or just Key Personnel names and resumes?

Answer: Please see Section E.2.1, Volume 1, Technical Approach, (a) Management and Staffing Plan (page 33).

15. Reference: Section D.1.3.1.2 (also E.4.2.), Page 18-19 (also 38-39), Paragraph 1-2 (also Table) Question: Does the Government expect that the Administrative work can be performed by the Research Analysts? If not, would the Government please include this role in the Estimated Staffing table provided (pages 38/39)?

Answer: The Government expects that the Administrative requirements in this PWS can and shall be performed by the Research Analysts. All Administrative requirements directly relate and support the project/program related research conducted under this PWS.

16. Reference: Section D.1.4. (also E.4.1), Page 24 (also 38/39), Paragraph 1 (also Table) Question: Will the Government please provide the Government equivalency (GS level) of each estimated position (listed on pages 38/39)?

Answer: This is not a Service Contract Act covered RFP, therefore the FAR

52.222.42 Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires is not required.

17. Reference: Section D.1.16.2., Page 30, Paragraph 1 Question: Is the incumbent eligible for recompete?

Answer: Yes, all eligible offerors may submit a proposal.

18. Reference: Section E.2.1., Page 33, Paragraph 2 (Management and Staffing Plan) Question: Does the Government require resumes to be submitted in the proposal for all positions included in the Contractor Staffing Plan?

Answer: See response to Question 14.

19. Reference: Section E.2.1., Page 33, Paragraph 2 (Management and Staffing Plan) Question: What is the structure of the incumbent team? Is the Government satisfied with that structure?

Answer: The incumbent’s staffing plan is proprietary. The previous award was made to an offeror who was deemed responsible in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and whose proposal conforms to the solicitations requirements and was determined, based on the evaluation factors, to represent the best value to the Government.

20. Reference: Section E.2.1., Page 33, Paragraph 2 (Management and Staffing Plan) Questions: Which positions does the Government expect to be part-time?

Answer: Please see Section D.1.10.6. Each position is required to comply with Section D.1.10.6 of the RFP. However, offerors may propose a staffing plan with a mix of full time and part time required to successfully meet the requirements in the

PWS.

21. Reference: Section E.4.1., Page 38, Paragraph 1, Historical Workload Question: What is the breakdown of the 370-400 project activities by sector (Climate, Clean Energy, Transportation, Digital Infrastructure, Healthcare Infrastructure) per region (five geographic programmatic regions)?

Answer: The breakdown of USTDA investments by sector and region varies from year to year. A full breakdown of USTDA’s investments by sector and region may be found in USTDA’s Annual Reports for the last several fiscal years at:

https://www.ustda.gov/reports-and-resources/

USTDA’s 2023 Annual Report summarizes the Agency’s investments in economic sectors for the last three fiscal years beginning on page 47 and may be found at the link above.

A full list of project investments by region is contained in each year’s Annual Report available at the link listed above.

22. Reference: Section E.1.2., Page 31, Paragraph 1 Questions: Will the Government please grant a one-week extension for the Contractors to adjust to Government to questions?

Answer: The proposal due date remains unchanged.

https://www.ustda.gov/reports-and-resources/