Amendment 00001 - 1131PL26R0049 - 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

1131PL26R0049A00001

1131PL

N/A

TYRONE W. JOHNSON, CONTRACTING OFFICER

The purpose of this Amendment 00001 is to Provide Responses (in BOLD) to Sixteen(16) Questions received under solicitation number: 1131PL26R0049. 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

1131PL26R0049

1 5

See Block 31c.

06/18/2026

Solicitation number: 1131PL26R0049 A0001 Title: Indo-Pacific Digital Infrastructure Project Scoping Services

CONTINUATION PAGE FROM SF 30 BLOCK 14

Amendment 00001

Questions and Responses (BOLD):

1. Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past.

Response: No.

2. Are you willing to accept proposals for the full number of preliminary assessments (8), project reports (30), scoping mission reports (6), and amendment reviews (4) or are you only willing to accept proposals for half those amounts, assuming that two contracts will be awarded? Is there a scenario in which only one contract is awarded for the full number of deliverables, or that both contracts are awarded to the same contractor?

Response: Up to two contracts will be awarded. Each contract would include up to four (4) preliminary assessments, fifteen (15) project reports, three (3) scoping missions, and two (2) amendment reviews.

3. The Section D.1.7 table states that there are 6 scoping mission trips to the Indo- Pacific Region, which are estimated five (5) business days each. Given the significant travel times involved in traveling to/from and within the Indo-Pac region, would it be appropriate for a bidder to propose a different number of business days per scoping mission?

Response: No. It is possible for two scoping missions to be combined, but that would need to be determined after contract award.

4. With two awardees and no guaranteed quantities, how does USTDA plan to split assignments between the two firms? Is there a minimum number of deliverables each awardee can count on?

Response: As stated in the performance work statement (PWS) please read Section

D.1.5:

D.1.5. PROGRAM CONTEXT AND PRIORITIES

This section provides the program context and priorities relevant to the performance of this contract. Due to high interest and a large number of prospective digital infrastructure activities across the Indo-Pacific, the Regional Team recommended funding this DM with the potential to permit two awards for up to four (4) preliminary reviews, fifteen (15) project reports, three (3) scoping mission reports, and two (2) activity amendment reviews to two separate bidders for a total of eight (8) preliminary reviews, thirty (30) project reports, six (6) scoping mission reports, and four (4) activity amendment reviews in order to more effectively manage bandwidth given the high volume of proposals.

5. CLIN 0006 is cost-reimbursable, but E.6 says you'll add every CLIN into the evaluated price. Will you give all offerors a common travel figure to price against, or do we estimate our own? If we estimate, what trip and traveler count should we assume?

Response: Please estimate based on an average price for major markets in South, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The Offeror should suggest the number of travelers required for a scoping mission.

6. Attachment 5 Required Budget Format states that ”All budgets must comply with USTDA Nationality, Source and Origin Requirements, including the 30% host country labor maximum.” We interpret this to mean that local personnel are permitted as local experts as well. Could USTDA please clarify?

Response: Correct. Local personnel are permitted as local experts as well. Also, please read Attachment IV - USTDA Nationality, Source and Origin Requirements

7. Can we list a current USTDA DM contract as one of our three past performance references? If so, who completes the questionnaire for a USTDA contract?

Response: Yes, please request that the COR completes the past performance questionnaire.

8. Is a UEI acceptable in place of the DUNS number referenced in E.5(a)?

Response: Yes.

9. E.5(e) refers to "healthcare infrastructure sector projects." We're reading that as a carryover from another template and assuming the relevant sector is digital infrastructure. Is that correct?

Response: Yes, it should read “digital” instead of “healthcare”.

10. Please clarify whether Offerors may propose personnel and CVs for local experts based in countries of interest across the Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Pacific Islands regions who are not U.S. Citizens or U.S. permanent residents in order to reduce the cost of travel, as long as the contract award is led by a U.S.-based firm with U.S. citizen employees and subject to final contracting officer (CO) approval upon award.

Response: All proposed staff must comply with USTDA’s Nationality, Source, and Origin Requirements.

11. Will USTDA allow for a 1-page Acronym List excluded from the 10-page limitation?

Response: No, please define acronyms within the 10 pages.

12. Past Performance Questionnaire: Would it be acceptable to submit a CPAR in lieu of a Past Performance Questionnaire? Due to government reductions in force, many CFO/CFORs are no longer available.

Response: Yes.

13. Section E.6 Technical Evaluation: Could you please clarify whether proposed staffing and technical qualifications/professional experience of key experts should be discussed under Subfactor 1 – Technical Approach or Subfactor 2 – Technical Expertise?

Response: Please refer to the definitions of Subfactor 1 and Subfactor 2:

Technical Approach. USTDA will evaluate the firm’s technical approach, including, without limitation, products and methods, to assess the degree of understanding of the work and feasibility of the solution proposed to complete each of the requirements of this solicitation. USTDA will evaluate the proposed staffing based on the quality and availability of resources to support the services identified in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). This will include the adequacy of proposed methodology and work plan. Offerors shall propose a clear rationale for the proposed methodology and work plan and describe how the requirement will be completed successfully. This may include a strategy for a staffing approach inclusive

Title: Indo-Pacific Digital Infrastructure Project Scoping Services of level of effort, travel, timing, risk assessment, etc. The Offeror is encouraged to use specific examples, as applicable, to illustrate technical capabilities as it relates to the Performance Work Statement (PWS), as well as experience developing successful digital infrastructure sector projects.

Technical Expertise. USTDA will evaluate the offeror’s qualifications and experience necessary to provide the services required in this solicitation.

Demonstrated technical qualifications and professional experience performing activities of relevant similar scope and complexity to the requirement (experience in emerging markets and quality of proposed technical expert(s)) as it relates to the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

14. Volume II: Price, Price Proposal: Please confirm that Offerors should provide UEI numbers instead of DUNS Numbers in their Price Proposal submission.

Response: Yes, See response to question #8.

15. The number of reports and reviews listed under page 2 of the SF form to be completed appear as “a total of eight (8) preliminary reviews, thirty (30) project reports, six (6) scoping mission reports, and four (4) activity amendment reviews”, while Section D.1.5. provides the following information: “up to four (4) preliminary reviews, fifteen (15) project reports, three (3) scoping mission reports, and two (2) activity amendment reviews” Could USTDA please clarify / provide an updated SF template with which figures Offerors should use?

Response: Please use SF 1449 Template.

16. We are planning to work on and bid for TDA supported projects in countries as defined below. Would doing these projects exclude us from being eligible for the subject RFP?

a. Sole source projects: Paraguay (technical review complete) and Vietnam (technical review not yet begun)

b. RFP project (expected in late summer): Thailand

Response: The Offeror may not assess projects it is directly involved in and may not bid for projects it assesses through the subject requirement. However, as long as the projects the Offeror is planning to work on/bid for are assessed under another contract, the Offeror would not be excluded from being eligible for the subject requirement.