AMENDMENT 00001- 1131PL24RDM31083 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ASA.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

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER 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

1131PL24RDM31083 A00001

1131PL

N/A

AFUA SERWAH-ASIBEY, CONTRACTING OFFICER

The purpose of this Amendment 00001 is to provide Answers (in BOLD) to Questions received under solicitation number:

1131PL24RDM31083.

1131PL

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

SAME AS BLOCK 6

2024083

1131PL24RDM31083

1 3

See Block 31c.

02/08/2024

Solicitation Number: 1131PL24RDM31083 Title: Indo-Pacific Region: Definitional Mission for Digital Infrastructure Opportunities Amendment 00001

Continuation Page of SF30 Block 14.

Reference: Solicitation Number: 1131PL24RDM31083 // Amendment 00001 for Indo- Pacific: Definitional Mission Digital Infrastructure Opportunities

Questions and Answers (BOLD)

1. Can the Government please clarify how solicitation 1131PL24RDM31083 is related to solicitation 1131PL24RDM31009? It appears that both solicitations have nearly the same scope of work and terms.

Answer: The referenced solicitations involve similar requirements. USTDA seeks redundancy in the consulting resources to meet program demand.

2. Is the Government intending that both DM contracts would run in parallel?

Answer: Yes.

3. Would the awardee for solicitation 1131PL24RDM31009 be eligible to bid on solicitation

1131PL24RDM31083?

Answer: Yes.

4. While I had done some work for the USTDA as a contractor a few years ago (for reviewing feasibility study proposal as a SME), I am not familiar with the Definitional Mission. I am wondering if you could please point me to some additional details on DM project purpose and requirements?

Answer: All contract requirements and purpose of the Definitional Mission are included in the solicitation.

5. My company’s primary NAICS code is 541715 (Research and Development). But the solicitation is listed as: 541690. Would that be a problem for applying?

Answer: The Required NAICS code for this solicitation is 541690.

6. If we apply for DM and get selected and later would like to propose a feasibility study project at one of the host countries, would it create a conflict of interest situation? That is, can a DM awardee also can perform the feasibility study project on the same topic, in a host country?

Answer: Please see PWS Section D.1.11. IMPARTIALITY that states:

It is essential that the DM be conducted with complete impartiality and objectivity and that the DM Contractor, and its subcontractors do not obtain an unfair competitive advantage in USTDA-funded activities resulting from this Contract. In

Solicitation Number: 1131PL24RDM31083 Title: Indo-Pacific Region: Definitional Mission for Digital Infrastructure Opportunities Amendment 00001 accordance with the principles of FAR Subpart 9.5 and USTDA policy, the DM Contractor and its subcontractors, if any, for this Contract shall be ineligible to compete for, as a prime or subcontractor or otherwise, USTDA-funded activities that result from this Contract, unless USTDA through its Office of Acquisition Management, shall have granted a waiver, based upon FAR 9.503, that preclusion of the DM Contractor or its subcontractors from the follow-on activity would not be in the Government’s interest. This restriction shall remain in effect for three (3) years from the termination of this Contract or until the awarding of a USTDA-funded activity resulting from this contract. The Contractor is responsible for including this restriction in all subcontracts under the Contract.

7. Contractor previously submitted last Dec 2023 a proposal for solicitation # 1131PL24RDM31009 // Title: Regional Indo-Pacific Definitional Mission for Digital Infrastructure Opportunities that is very similar on paper to this new proposal – some requirements have changed slightly, and the request and deadlines for submission are different, but the tasks to perform are very similar.

o Does it replace the old RFP or this is additional to the previous one?

Answer: This solicitation is for a second DM contract that will run in parallel.

o If it’s a replacement, is there a particular aspect that disqualified all the previous submissions/ candidates?

Answer: All eligible U.S. firms that participated in the prior RFP may also submit proposals for new solicitation without limitation.

8. Do you have any benchmarks or expectations based on previous submissions regarding the number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) and hours needed to complete each Preliminary Assessment Report to the required depth?

Answer: The Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCE) assumption that the Estimated Level of Effort (days) for this requirement is 40. However, The Level of Effort (LOE) is up to the Offeror to determine the time necessary to complete the requirements.