# Solicitation Reference Section/Exhibit Question Answer

1 Section M/ 52.212-2 The evaluation factors appear to be incomplete or inconsistent with Section L. Are they correct as written? No, Section M evaluation factors have been corrected. See Amendment 0001

2 Volume II In Volume II Technical Proposal, are you wanting resumes of all auditors?

Yes, offerors shall provide resumes for all proposed visiting committee auditors. The resumes must demonstrate that the proposed auditors meet the qualifications and experience requirements described in the section 5. Performance Requirements of the SOW. Additional language and resume formatting requirements have been revised in Section L. Resumes shall not exceed 1 single page each and 5 must be provided. Resumes do not count against page limitations.

3 ACA Certification Requirements

ACA has added in contracts since 2023, that to maintain accreditation, a facility/agency has a required "Performance Monitoring Visit" (PMV). It is conducted between the 18th and 24th month following the audit to ensure the facility/agency is maintaining accreditation and to assist the facility. Do we add it as a task or separately in the description of the services provided.

Yes. Include the "Performance Monitoring Visit" (PMV) as a task included in the pricing provided for the Audit Line Items X001. Facility Audits And Accreditation.

4 VAT

Can the Embassy provide documentation to exempt contractors from paying VAT under US Embassy Contracts that incur VAT in Mexico?

No, US Mission Mexico does not have a mechanism to waive the contractor's payment of VAT at the time it is incurred. The USG in Mexico will reimburse contractors in accordance with Section C.2 of the solicitation. All of the necessary documentation required by this Section must be provided by the contractor in order to receive reimbursement via the contract for VAT costs. In turn, tThe U.S. Embassy Mexico City needs these documents in order to receive reimbursement for VAT expenditures directly from the Mexican tax authority.

There is no existing process to waive VAT at the time of transaction, so the procedures in Section C.2 must be followed in order for VAT to be reimbursed.

Change #4(b) of Amendment 001 to the RFQ which states in pertinent part:

“…Note that Audits (Task 001) should include the Performance Monitoring Visit (PMV) in alignment with ACA standards.”

We respectfully request that the Government consider breaking out the PMV costs from CLIN X001 (Facility Audits and Accreditations) for the following reasons:

1. Potential Misalignment of Period of Performance and Payment Timing. As the Government is well aware, PMVs are typically conducted approximately 18 to 24 months following the initial audit. Including PMVs within the price of CLIN X001 would result in the Government compensating the contractor for services that may not occur within the contract’s period of performance, or potentially not at all.

For example, if a new prison audit is conducted in the final option year (e.g., Option Year 3), the associated PMVs would fall outside the contract term. In such cases, the contractor would be compensated for PMVs that cannot be performed, creating a disconnect between payment and actual service delivery.

2. Inability to Capture PMVs for Previously Audited Facilities. The requirement anticipates that the successful contractor will inherit a portfolio of facilities that have undergone audits within the prior 18 to 24 months. As a result, PMVs for these facilities may be required during the Base Year of performance. Under the current pricing construct, there is no mechanism to account for these PMVs unless CLIN X001 is utilized in its entirety, which would not accurately reflect the discrete nature of PMV services and could lead to pricing inefficiencies or misalignment with actual work performed.

Approach for Consideration (Respectfully). To ensure alignment between pricing, performance, and contract execution, the USG could consider PMV services be performed and priced under CLIN X002 (Technical Assistance Visits (TAVs)), or alternatively, under a separate, clearly defined CLIN specific to PMVs. We believe this approach would: (1) Align payment with actual execution of PMV services; (2) Provide the Government with greater flexibility in ordering PMVs based on need and timing; (3) Ensure accurate accounting for both newly audited facilities and inherited facilities requiring follow-on monitoring; (4) Maintain consistency with the broader structure of the Statement of Work, which distinguishes between audits, TAVs, etc.

PMVs for previously audited facilities are not in the scope of this contract. PMVs are only required for audits that are also purchased via this contemplated contract. Therefore, the number of PMVs is estimated to be equivalent to the number of audits. However, only facilities that actually receive accreditation will require a PMV. In order to permit PMVs to occur 18-24 months following the time of accreditation, PMVs have been separated to be priced via separate CLINs with extended periods of performance. Q&A #3 is now overcome by events and is therefore stricken out in this version of the Q&A and should be disregarded.

See the solicitation amendment A0003 and updated Attachment 2 which include revisions to separate the PMVs into independent line items.

19AQMM26Q0109 Prison Audit & Accreditation (INL Mexico): Solicitation Q&A

# SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

A0003