19KZ1025Q0014_Alumni Advisory Boards Kazakhstan_Questions and Answers List 09252025.pdf

19KZ1025Q0014 – Alumni Advisory Boards Kazakhstan Questions & Answers List

Q 1. How many personnel does the Government expect the contractor to dedicate to each of the five regional Alumni Advisory Boards?

A 1. The Government does not prescribe a specific number of personnel per region. The contractor is expected to propose staffing sufficient to meet the requirements and ensure successful delivery of quarterly meetings and reports in all five regions.

Q 2. Are there specific language requirements (Kazakh, Russian, English) for all staff, or only for key personnel?

A 2. Key personnel must be able to conduct professional communication in English.

Operational staff should have proficiency in Kazakh and/or Russian as appropriate to the region, to ensure effective engagement with alumni.

Q 3. How many in-person trips per quarter does the Government anticipate for each region?

A 3. At a minimum, the Government anticipates one in-person meeting per region per quarter, accompanied by the required report. Contractors may propose additional engagement methods as appropriate.

Q 4. Does the Government provide office space or meeting space, or must the contractor source and rent local venues?

A 4. The Government does not provide permanent office or meeting space. The contractor is responsible for securing suitable local venues for quarterly meetings.

Q 5. Will the contractor have access to alumni contact lists, or must these be compiled independently?

A 5. The Government maintains alumni contact information; however, due to data protection and privacy requirements, the Government will not release bulk lists of personally identifiable information (PII) to the contractor. The Government will facilitate communication with alumni as appropriate for program activities. The contractor may also develop and maintain supplemental contact information gathered through official program engagement, consistent with applicable privacy regulations.

Q 6. Can the contractor propose additional labor categories (e.g., Logistics Coordinator, Administrative Support) beyond the three listed if it strengthens performance?

A 6. Yes. Contractors may propose additional labor categories if they clearly demonstrate how the roles will enhance performance and delivery of the required services.

Q 7. Will the Government require signed Letters of Commitment for key personnel?

A 7. The Government requires contractors to demonstrate the availability of proposed key personnel. Signed Letters of Commitment are preferred but not mandatory at this stage. At a minimum, the contractor must provide CVs and confirmation that proposed key personnel are available for contract performance.

Q 8. Whether a U.S.-based firm with the above experience and expertise would be considered for this requirement.

A 8. As local expertise is essential to this contract and the services will include organization of in-person meetings in Kazakhstan, at least one of the key personnel must be physically present and legally able to work in Kazakhstan prior to and during performance of the contract.

Q 9. Please elaborate on the Discount Terms mentioned in Block 12 SF 1449.

A 9. A discount is optional. Please only fill in if applicable.

Q 10. Work plan: Please provide more information about expected workload and coordination effort Is.

The contractor should plan staffing and hours sufficient to convene the advisory councils and produce the reports described in the solicitation. Quotations that show efficient use of person hours to maximize cost-effectiveness of the contract will be viewed favorably.

Q 11. Any specific requirements from the Issuer regarding equipment, supplies, and materials?

A 11. The contractor should specify equipment, supplies, and materials to be procured if the contractor determines that they are needed to fulfill the contract. The contractor will need to justify the use of equipment, supplies, and materials and explain how their use will be cost-effective.