1131PL25RDS21133 - Amendment 00002 - Questions AND Responses.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

1131PL25RDS21133 A00002

1131PL

N/A

TYRONE W. JOHNSON, CONTRACTING OFFICER

The purpose of this Amendment 00002 is to provide Responses (in Bold) to Questions received for solicitation number:

1131PL25RDS21133. All Else Remain Unchanged.

1131PL

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

SAME AS BLOCK 6

2025133

1131PL25RDS21133

1 7

See Block 31c.

07/11/2025

Solicitation Number: 1131PL25RDS21133 Amendment Number: A00002 Title: Regional MENA-EE: Natural Gas and Refining Technologies Desk Study

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CONTINUATION PAGE FROM SF 30 BLOCK 14

Reference: Regional MENA-EE: Natural Gas and Refining Technologies Desk Study

Solicitation Number: 1131PL25RDS21133

Amendment 00002 (A00002)

Questions listed Below:

1. What is the due date for the Past Performance Questionnaires? Page 53 says the due date is July 28. This is not enough time for clients to respond. Could you make the due date the same as the proposal due date, August 12, 2025?

Answer: Questionnaires’ due date is the same as closing date: Tuesday, 26th August 2025.

2. Does USTDA anticipate that the 8 Preliminary Assessments and 6 Project Reports will cover up to 14 distinct project proposals, or is it possible that the Contractor will be asked to prepare a Preliminary Assessment as well as Project Report covering the same proposal?

Answer: A project may be designated for either a Preliminary Assessment or a full Project Report initially, depending on the strength of the project and the previous preparation work completed. If a Preliminary Assessment is requested, this could result in a subsequent request for a full Project Report for the same project or it could result in USTDA deciding not to pursue the project further.

3. Will USTDA pre-select all eight project proposals for preliminary assessment, or is the

Contractor expected to actively identify some of these opportunities?

Answer: USTDA will direct the contractor to potential activities. Such activities come to USTDA directly from potential project sponsors or contractors or from business development. If travel is authorized, the contractor would be expected to meet with potential project sponsors to identify potential activities. If the contractor is requested to join a reverse trade mission, the contractor would be expected to engage with the delegates in order to identify potential activities.

4. If one or more of the eight project proposals are found to be nonviable, will the Contractor be permitted or required to substitute with alternative proposals?

Answer: If a preliminary assessment does not recommend the activity for USTDA support, the contractor will not be required to find an alternative proposal. USTDA would not continue to develop the project, and the contractor would no longer spend time on that proposal.

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5. Can USTDA clarify whether the Final Report is required to include all eight Preliminary

Assessments and six Project Reports regardless of their outcome (i.e., including those not recommended for funding)?

Answer: Yes. All deliverables – all eight Preliminary Assessments and all six Project Reports must be included in the Final Report, whether or not the projects are advanced for funding.

6. What are the expected roles and deliverables of the Contractor’s representative accompanying USTDA delegations on reverse trade missions (RTMs)?

Answer: Should a contractor’s representative be asked to accompany an RTM delegation, the representative would be expected to attend the RTM business briefing and discuss potential projects with the delegates. A USTDA representative typically travels with RTM delegations and would provide direction if required.

7. For Preliminary and Project Reports submitted on a rolling basis, what turnaround time can the Contractor expect for feedback/approval from USTDA?

Answer: This would depend on the individual project proposal, the country in which the project would be located in, and general workflow. USTDA will discuss timing with the contractor for each request.

8. Over what timeframe should “projected future conditions” be assessed — 10, 20, or 30 years? Would USTDA prefer this to be aligned with the anticipated lifespan of the infrastructure?

Answer: This question is answered in the PWS, Attachment V-II, page 2, Section (1, which states, “Screening should consider current and projected future conditions, bearing in mind the expected timeframe and lifetime of the Project.” The Project is the resultant infrastructure that is proposed.

9. Are supply chains and upstream/downstream infrastructure (e.g., pipelines, access roads, port facilities) to be included in the screening if relevant?

Answer: Yes. For example, if a project needs access to a port as part of its operations, that access would be examined as part of the study and would therefore need to be part of the terms of reference developed as part of the Project Report.

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10. Can USTDA explain the differences between clause 5 (“Review individual potential projects in MENA-EE countries as directed by USTDA”) and clause 7 (“Evaluate up to eight (8) project proposals and develop preliminary assessment reports in coordination with USTDA”)? In other words, will the Contractor be asked to review additional potential projects which do not result in one of the 8 evaluations and preliminary assessment reports?

Answer: No. This requirement is for eight Preliminary Assessments and 6 Project Reports.

11. Development Impact Measures

For Project Reports requiring Development Impact Measures or Indicators, will USTDA provide its current Development Impact Guide upon award, or should proposals assume use of prior USTDA development impact categories (exports, jobs supported, emissions reduction, etc.)?

Answer: The current version of the Development Impact Guide is from 2022. Per H.

Developmental Impact in Attachment I, the Contractor is not expected to identify any indicators. Thus, USTDA will not provide its current Development Impact Guide upon award. Per H. Developmental Impact in Attachment I, the COR shall identify at least one indicator (and associated measure), and the Contractor shall provide the specified information for each indicator identified by the COR.

12. Regarding the “up to ten (10) hours of consulting and research support”, can USTDA provide any guidance on the expected qualifications or years of experience for the staff providing this support which should be used to correctly characterize the hourly labor rate?

Answer: The years of experience should be the same or similar as to those required for the DS staff by the PWS. As we are not able to determine the exact questions we will need to ask, we are unable to specify. Questions could include such things as the implementation of a nascent technology and market success, a list of companies working in a particular sector, sub-sector, or area of research, or a discussion of general nature on the gas industry.

13. Under the section “To execute this requirement, the Contractor shall:” number 3. States

“Travel, at the discretion of USTDA and in consultation with the MENA-EE Regional Team, to the MENA-EE region to meet with prospective grantees, U.S. companies, and relevant U.S. stakeholders, including the U.S. Commercial Service and other U.S.

Embassy stakeholders, for up to two trips of up to six (6) days each to identify potential projects for USTDA support;” Please clarify if this task is part of one of the firm-fixed price CLINs or an additional task that the contractor will be asked to complete. If it is an additional task, would USTDA be open to adding another CLIN for this task?

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Answer: Travel costs are part of the reimbursable costs for this requirement.

Should travel be requested, a post-travel trip report should be submitted to the regional team. A separate CLIN could be added for this.

15. Under the section “To execute this requirement, the Contractor shall:” number 4. States

“Travel of one (1) person designated by the DS Contractor’s Project Manager to accompany delegations on up to two (2) relevant USTDA reverse trade missions (“RTM”) for up to three (3) days as directed by the MENA-EE Regional Team.” Please clarify if this task is part of one of the firm-fixed price CLINs or an additional task that the contractor will be asked to complete. If it is an additional task, would USTDA be open to adding another CLIN for this task?

Answer: Travel costs are part of the reimbursable costs for this requirement.

Should travel be requested, a post-travel trip report should be submitted to the regional team. A separate CLIN could be added for this.

16. In this section it states “After signing the Non-Disclosure Agreement, the Contractor shall contact USTDA’s COR to schedule a meeting or call to discuss details of the Contract assignment. The COR shall provide the Contractor with names and addresses of the potential project sponsor(s), other pertinent entities to contact in the United States and overseas, and any other relevant details or proposals that may impact the design and/or evaluation of the proposed activity(ies).

After reviewing these materials, contact the COR at (703) 875-4357 to discuss initial observations and raise any questions or concerns about the proposal and the Project. At this time, USTDA will provide the Contractor with additional guidance on the Agency’s requirements for the preparation of TOR and budget”

Please clarify if this task is part of one of the firm-fixed price CLINs or an additional task that the contractor will be asked to complete. If it is an additional task, would USTDA be open to adding another CLIN for this task?

Answer: This is part of the firm fixed price and is a basic kick-off meeting and part of the usual communication is expected to perform the requirements of the contract.

17. Under Sub-Factor 3: Language Proficiency it states that “The Offeror shall have at least one (1) employee proficient (i.e. speaking and reading) in Arabic and one (1) employee proficient (i.e., speaking and reading) in Russian at the advanced professional proficiency level.” Please clarify if Offerors can also propose consultants for this requirement as well as employees.

Answer: Consultants/subcontractors may be used for this requirement.

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18. In Section E: Instructions to Offerors, Volume II: Price, under (c) the solicitation states “Offeror(s) shall complete and submit the Price Proposal spreadsheet workbook enclosed in this solicitation.” Please confirm that the price proposal spreadsheet workbook is Attachment II – Sample Desk Study Price Sheet attached to the SAM.gov Notice ID

1131PL25RDS21133.

In Section E: Instructions to Offerors, Volume II: Price, under (c) the solicitation states “Offeror(s) shall complete and submit the Price Proposal spreadsheet workbook enclosed in this solicitation.”, but in (d) it states “Offeror may follow the USTDA’s sample pricing spreadsheet or independently estimate theirs…” Can USTDA clarify if offers must use the Price Proposal spreadsheet workbook or if they are allowed to use their own similar spreadsheet if it contains the same information.

Answer: The price proposal spreadsheet provided serves as an example. Offeror may provide their own spreadsheet.

19. In Section E: Instructions to Offerors, Volume II: Price, under (d) the RFP states “Offeror may follow the USTDA’s sample pricing spreadsheet or independently estimate theirs (accompanied with narratives) to include their total proposed mix of labor categories, labor rates (fully loaded), and labor days needed to meet all the requirements contained in the PWS.” Attachment II – Sample Desk Study Price Sheet is the only pricing spreadsheet attached to the solicitation and does not have a way to display the mix of labor categories, rates, and days. If an offeror uses Attachment II – Sample Desk Study Price Sheet does that mean they do not have to provide further details on the mix of labor categories, rates, and days?

Answer: Offerors are still required to provide further details on the mix of labor categories, rates, and days as it pertains to your price proposal.

20. In Section E: Instructions to Offerors, Volume II: Price, under (d) the RFP states “Offeror may follow the USTDA’s sample pricing spreadsheet or independently estimate theirs (accompanied with narratives) to include their total proposed mix of labor categories, labor rates (fully loaded), and labor days needed to meet all the requirements contained in the PWS.” If offerors use Attachment II – Sample Desk Study Price Sheet do they need to include a narrative? If so, what information should be included in the narrative?

a. Can you provide two (2) weeks extension for the closing date of this solicitation and revise the due date of proposals to be 26 August 2025?

Answer: Yes, this solicitation has been extended to: Tuesday, 26th August 2025.

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b. Some of our federal clients are not allowed to give references and may not be able to fill the Past Performance Survey document. Can we send our CPAR evaluation in lieu of a Past Performance Survey?

Answer: Yes.

c. We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

Answer: This solicitation is a new requirement