1131PL26R0002- A0001 Questions and Answers.pdf

1131PL26R0002

Regional Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Infrastructure Dest Study Series Amendment A0001 Questions and Answers Part I

1. The solicitation identifies up to 10 Preliminary Review Reports (CLIN 0001/0002) and up to 15 Project Reports (CLIN 0004/0005). Are the 15 Project Reports expected to be sourced exclusively from the pool of 10 preliminary proposals reviewed, or may USTDA direct the contractor to evaluate additional project opportunities identified through independent market research?

Answer: No. Not all preliminary reports will move to the full project report stage.

2. Will USTDA provide an initial pipeline of project proposals at kickoff, or will the contractor independently identify candidate projects through direct engagement with project sponsors, U.S. Embassy country teams, and regional stakeholders? Understanding the sourcing expectation will allow our team to appropriately scope our regional outreach methodology from contract inception.

Answer: USTDA will develop its own project pipeline. Contractors should only have engagement with project sponsors as directed by USTDA under the terms of the contract.

3. Does USTDA have a prioritized list of target countries or sub-regions in Sub-Saharan

Africa for this desk study series, or will country selection be driven by the project pipeline? Our team has direct operational familiarity with multiple Sub-Saharan African markets and would benefit from understanding any geographic prioritization early in the performance period.

Answer: USTDA does not have a prioritized list of target countries or sub-regions in Sub-Saharan Africa for this desk study series.

4. Are there page length expectations or a standardized template for the Preliminary Review

Reports under CLIN 0001/0002? The solicitation provides a detailed outline for the Full Project Reports but does not specify a format or length expectation for the preliminary deliverables.

Answer: A template will be provided.

5. The Project Report outline requires a thorough assessment of the project sponsor’s capabilities, commitment, structure, and decision-making authority. Does USTDA expect the contractor to conduct independent beneficial ownership and organizational vetting of foreign project sponsors as part of this assessment, or is the contractor expected to rely primarily on sponsor-provided documentation and open-source research? Understanding the depth of due diligence expected will allow our team to appropriately scope the analytical methodology for each sponsor assessment.

Answer: The Project Report should contain a thorough description of the host country Project sponsor, including its structure, capabilities, operations, and decision-making ability pursuant to the Project to the extent required by USTDA to understand the experience of the Project sponsor and any previous work undertaken by the Project sponsor in the sector.

6. For project sponsors or U.S. firms operating in markets with elevated foreign competitive pressure — particularly in digital infrastructure sectors where state-backed foreign entities are active — does USTDA expect the contractor’s foreign competition analysis to include an assessment of the foreign entity’s financing structure and government support mechanisms, or is this analysis scoped only to the commercial competitive landscape?

Answer: The Contractor shall provide a discussion of the foreign competition for goods and services likely to be procured for Project implementation by category. The Contractor shall include a discussion of U.S. industry competitiveness in each category, considering geographic factors, host country industry capabilities, technology and licensee issues, past procurement tendencies of the Project sponsor, and how the procurement is likely to be conducted. Where relevant, the Contractor shall discuss the extent to which market entry issues impede exports and trade and how the activity will help overcome these obstacles.

7. How many rounds of government review and revision are anticipated between initial submission and government acceptance for each Project Report? Understanding the revision cycle will help the contractor accurately scope level of effort.

Answer: There is no minimum or maximum number of revisions.

8. Our team’s analytical methodology incorporates commercial market intelligence platforms and open-source research tools specifically relevant to African digital infrastructure markets and foreign entity due diligence. Are subscription costs for such research platforms allowable and reimbursable as Other Direct Costs under this contract, and should they be itemized in the price proposal?

Answer: This requirement does not require Reimbursable/Other Direct Costs. Any commercial market intelligence platform requires prior review and approval by USTDA.

9. In the event USTDA determines a project is non-viable after substantial analytical work has been performed on a Project Report, will the government consider partial payment for documented work completed, or is payment strictly contingent on full government acceptance of a completed report?

Answer: Payment is contingent on government acceptance of the completed report.

10. Can the contracting officer confirm whether an Independent Government Cost Estimate

(IGCE) has been established for this effort, and if so, whether there is a maximum ceiling price above which proposals will be considered unacceptable?

Answer: USTDA does not share the Independent Government Cost Estimate.

11. For offerors whose principals have extensive analytical experience producing complex assessments of foreign infrastructure projects, project sponsor capabilities, and market entry conditions in Sub-Saharan African markets — developed through direct engagement with regional stakeholders in a professional capacity — will this experience be evaluated equivalently to formal government contracting past performance, or will the offeror receive a Neutral/Unknown Confidence rating absent prior federal contract awards?

Answer: Contractor past performance is not exclusive to formal government contracting.

Please refer to page 39 of the solicitation.

Past Performance Information: Offerors shall submit a list of no more than three (3) most recent Government and/or commercial contracts in performance at any point during the three (3) years prior to the proposal submission date, which are relevant to the efforts required by this solicitation. A brief description of the effort, name of the Agency/organization the contract is/was with, contract period of performance, total contract value, point of contact for each submitted effort, and contact information (name and phone number/email) must also be provided.

12. The Past Performance Questionnaire attached to the solicitation references solicitation number 1131PL25RDS21120, which appears to be a prior solicitation number rather than the current solicitation number 1131PL26R0002. Please confirm the correct solicitation number that references should cite on the questionnaire and confirm the submission deadline for past performance questionnaires.

Answer: This has been corrected.

13. Is this desk study series a continuation or re-compete of a prior USTDA contract covering

Sub-Saharan Africa digital infrastructure opportunities? If so, who is the incumbent contractor, and are they eligible to compete for this award? Understanding the program history will help our team build on any existing analytical baseline USTDA has already established.

Answer: This desk study series is not a continuation or a re-compete of a prior USTDA contract.

14. The solicitation includes an option to extend services up to 6 additional months per FAR

52.217-8. Is the government’s intent to exercise this option likely, and will the price proposal be evaluated, including the option period?

Answer: Price proposal should not include the 6-month extension. If necessary, the Government may extend the period of performance to 6 months and rates may be adjusted.

15. For digital infrastructure projects such as data centers, subsea cable systems, and 5G networks, are there sector-specific infrastructure risk screening considerations that USTDA recommends beyond Attachment VII—particularly regarding supply chain dependencies, foreign equipment sourcing risks, or cybersecurity vulnerabilities that may affect project financeability?

Answer: There are no requirements in addition to Attachment VII.

16. Will USTDA provide the contractor with access to prior desk study reports or internal sector analyses for Sub-Saharan Africa digital infrastructure to establish an analytical baseline, or will the contractor be expected to develop all assessments independently?

Our team is prepared to operate from open-source and proprietary research, but understanding USTDA’s existing knowledge base will allow us to focus analytical resources on genuine gaps rather than duplicating prior work.

Answer: The contractor will have access to public versions of prior desk study reports.

17. Can you confirm whether on-the-ground presence in the region of study will be evaluated as a positive differentiator under the technical evaluation criteria?

Answer: Please refer to the technical evaluation criteria.

18. What is the anticipated period of performance for this contract?

Answer: The anticipated period of performance for this requirement is 24 months from date of award.

19. Is there a page limit for the technical proposal submission?

Answer: Technical proposal shall not exceed 10 pages.

20. Is this desk study series a continuation or re-compete of a prior USTDA contract covering Sub-Saharan Africa digital infrastructure opportunities? If so, who is the incumbent contractor, and are they eligible to compete for this award? Understanding the program history will help our team build on any existing analytical baseline USTDA has already established.

Answer: This is a new requirement.