Past Performance Q&A - Part 2.pdf

December 9, 2019

Subject: Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 7200AA19R00019, Past Performance

Questions and Answers – Part 2

Title: EVAL ME II – Monitoring Evaluation Learning Services

Dear Potential Offerors, Attached are clarifications to USAID’s responses regarding Past Performance Information that were provided with Amendment #1. USAID’s guidance is written in red. Please note the following:

• No additional questions regarding past performance will be accepted or answered.

• The due date for Past Performance Information remains unchanged: Friday, December 13, 2019, 12:00 pm Eastern Time.

• If Past Performance Information is not submitted by the due date and time listed above, the offeror’s proposal will not be considered for evaluation.

Responses to offeror questions regarding Volumes 2 and 3 are forthcoming. USAID advises offerors to regularly check beta.sam.gov for future amendments.

Sincerely, /s/

Roderick Watson, Contracting Officer http://beta.sam.gov/

Past Performance Questions and Answers – Part 2

1. Could you please clarify USAID’s response to Question 7.a. from Amendment 1 of the above referenced RFP? We are uncertain of some of the details in the response “Yes, copies of teaming arrangements should be provided.” Specifically:

a. Should Offerors submit the teaming arrangements as past of the part performance volume that is due on December 13th or as part of the Cost volume?

If a Contractor Teaming Arrangement is anticipated, past performance references should be provided for all contractors by the specified due date.

b. Are teaming arrangements required for all subcontractors or only for major subcontractors (those performing 25% or more of the work)?

Past performance references are required for:

• Subcontractors whose proposed costs exceed 25% of the offeror’s total proposed cost

• Contractor Teaming Arrangements, which is when two or more contractors team together and are equal partners

• Joint venture partners

Please see the response to #2 below as well as the responses to previously answered past performance questions.

c. Will a Letter of Commitment for each subcontractor be acceptable, or does USAID require a full teaming agreement to be submitted?

A Letter of Commitment from subcontractors will be acceptable. However, if the subcontractor is a major subcontractor, past performance references will need to be submitted as a part of Volume 1 in accordance with the solicitation and Amendment #1 by the past performance due date.

2. Section L.8 states "The offeror (including all partners of a joint venture) must provide performance information for itself, the contractor teaming arrangements, if any, and each major subcontractor (one whose proposed cost exceeds 25% of the offeror’s total proposed cost) in accordance with the following.." Can USAID please clarify its definition of "contractor teaming arrangements?

A Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA) is an arrangement in which two or more contractors team together to provide a total solution to meet USAID’s needs. The CTA differs from a partnership between a prime contractor and subcontractor in that all members of the team are equal parties to the contract. Each member of the team maintains privity of contract and is responsible for their portion of the work per the terms and conditions set forth in their contract.

A major subcontractor for this RFP is one whose proposed costs exceed 25% of the prime contractor’s total cost under the entire IDIQ.

3. FAR 9.601 (2) definition of "Contractor Teaming Arrangements" is as follows:

“Contractor team arrangement,” as used in this subpart, means an arrangement in which

(1) Two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime contractor; or

(2) A potential prime contractor agrees with one or more other companies to have them act as its subcontractors under a specified Government contract or acquisition program.”

The above definition suggests that contractor teaming agreements include all subcontractors. Can USAID confirm that past performance references are NOT required for non-major subcontractors?

USAID confirms. Past Performance references should be provided for major subcontractors.

4. Would the IDIQ CO provide approval of major subcontractors after contract award?

Major subcontractors can be considered for approval after award; however, the same past performance information will be required and reviewed before the contract is modified to include them.

5. What is the level of detail expected in providing teaming arrangements? Is USAID requiring Letters of Commitment (LOC)? Must the bidder provide teaming arrangements and LOCs for all sub-contractors (major or not) as well as resource partners? Do teaming arrangements have to be exclusive for major subcontractors?

Letters of Commitment are acceptable for major subcontractors and teaming arrangements in conjunction with the submission of past performance information. Please see responses to questions #2 and #6 for definitions. Past performance references for non-major subcontractors will be reviewed at the task order level.

6. Can USAID clarify if the 25% threshold for major subcontractors apply to the total

EVAL-ME II contract or if it applies at the task order level?

The 25% threshold for major subcontractors applies to the total IDIQ contract.

7. Can the government clarify since the task orders values and scopes of work are unknown, how bound is the prime contractor to meet the 25% threshold for a major subcontractor?

While task order values and scopes are unknown at this time, the offeror should submit past performance information for any major subcontractor who may have costs that meet the 25% threshold.