7200AA20R00043_Amendment 002_A-E III IDIQ.pdf

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7200AA20R00043

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1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 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.

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N/A

Not Applicable

7200AA

Washington DC 20523-1000 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, UA Office of Acquisition & Assistance

USAID M/OAA

08/17/20200002

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

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

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

06/01/2020

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this modification is to provide relevant additional Questions and Answers which were prompted by Amendment 001.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Matthew Courtad

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

USAID Responses to Follow-up Questions Received from Offerors Regarding Amendment 0001

1. Answer 1 on page 2 of Amendment 001 states, “Only the prime and major subcontractors will be required to complete an SF330 Part II,” however Answer 34 states, “SF330 Part II must be completed for all firms expected to be involved, not just major subcontractors.” Will USAID please confirm that only the prime and major subcontractors should complete an SF330 Part II?

USAID Response: The RFQ states that “the Offeror shall list all employees by discipline by completing Part II of SF 330 for each firm that will be part of the team proposed in Part I Section C”. This includes all prime firm(s) (in case of joint ventures), participating branches (if any), major subcontractors (if any), and small business expected to be a recurring resource (if any).

2. Ref: 5.1.1 Planning Services (p.9/54). With regard to the noted reference to the ADS -construction and risk mgmt policies (mandatory reference 301maw and 201maw). Did USAID intend to refer to 303maw USAID Implementation of Construction Activities instead of 301maw?

USAID Response: Correct, the references are 303maw and 201maw.

3. Ref: 5.1.1 Planning Services (p.10/54), Item c (bottom of page): "For a wide range of infrastructure matters, provide expert technical opinion that carries professional responsibility by means of signing or stamping documents prepared or reviewed by licensed professionals." Please confirm that these actions are limited to those documents prepared by the Prime Contractor and/or its sub consultants and not third parties, and will be determined at the task order level?

USAID Response: Correct, contractors may be required to sign/stamp their own opinions on technical reviews for third party designs; but not the designs themselves.

These requirements would be determined at the task order level.

4. Ref: 5.1.2 Design Services (p.12/54) "The Contractor shall stamp/certify all drawings and specifications to confirm compliance with the applicable building codes and accessibility requirements." US professional licensing is applicable within the jurisdiction in which it is issued. Therefore, can we assume that USAID is referring to professional stamps and certifications by local subconsultants?

USAID Response: Correct. Also, these requirements would be determined at the task order level. Not all task orders involve A-E designs.

5. Ref: Attachment 2 - 1. General Contract Information (p.28/54), Item h, Eligibility. "USAID will only accept offerors that are: (1) Registered under the North American Industry

Classification System (NAICS) code 541310 – Architectural Services or 541330 – Engineering Services". Please confirm that this will only apply to the Prime Contractor as there are additional scope items that are outside of this classification which could potentially be performed by sub-consultants and Small Businesses?

USAID Response: Confirm, this applies to the prime contractor as well as each contractor that is part of a Joint Venture.

6. Ref: Attachment 2 - 2. Professional Qualifications (p. 32/54) TIER 2. For A&E services there is a significant distinction between the roles and skillsets of Agricultural Specialists and Irrigation Specialists. Therefore, would USAID consider changing the combined "Agricultural/irrigation specialist" function to "Agricultural specialist and Irrigation Specialist" as individual disciplines? This would allow us to select individuals with a stronger skill set in each of these separate areas. If yes, would USAID consider adding an additional page to the page limitation in this section to allow for the inclusion of an additional Section E?

USAID Response: The focus of the IDIQ is infrastructure-related services, therefore the requirement is for an irrigation professional with experience in agriculture. At the IDIQ level, USAID does not see the need for a separate agricultural engineer; however, that may be identified at the task order level.

7. We respectfully request that USAID allow offerors to use a publishing software to recreate the SF330 form template, while retaining the content, data, and structure of the original form. We cite FAR clauses 53.111 and 52.253-1 Computer Generated Forms as relevant points of reference.

USAID Response: Per FAR 52.253-1, the SF 330 “may be submitted on a computer generated version of the form, provided there is no change to the name, content, or sequence of data elements on the form, and provided the form carries the Standard or Optional Form number and edition date.” This is to include font type and size.

8. If USAID allows offerors to use software generated SF330 templates, will USAID consider allowing the removal of any unused rows in Block 25 of the Section F form?

The default form includes 6 rows that take up nearly a half of the page.

USAID Response: No; even if edited, the structure and format of the form must be maintained. Please see response to question #144.

9. Per Q #73: The use of the Part II Performance Assessment part of the Past Performance

Short Form appears to be a new requirement, compared to prior USAID solicitations, requesting former clients to actively engage in submitting the forms directly to USAID.

The other form (not requiring client feedback), removes the burden from USAID of receiving and aligning numerous forms to various offerors. Will USAID consider reverting to the previous Past Performance Short Form, given it contains client contact information, and USAID intends to use SAMS-based CPARS as well to review past performance?

USAID Response: No. USAID prefers direct opinion from previous clients.

10. Per Q #73: If USAID does decide to require the client to fill out a Past Performance Short

Form, please specify instructions for submission – email address, date due and any other instructions we need to share with the former clients.

USAID Response: Forms must be submitted via e-mail to Matthew Courtad mcourtad@usaid.gov, Ayla-Rebeka Brooks aybrooks@usaid.gov, and Elizabeth Surette esurette@usaid.gov, with a subject line referencing the Past Performance Form and the offeror’s name. Due date is the same as the RFQ due date (Sep. 28, 2020).

11. In the event a Past Performance Short Form is not received on time by USAID, will USAID disregard the project in the evaluations, or rate the project as neutral in past performance?

USAID Response: Whether or not forms are received, USAID reserves the right to research past performance on all offerors. In the unlikely case that past performance information does not exist, it would be assumed to be neutral.

12. Per Q #5: Can USAID confirm that, regardless of the mix of projects from the prime and from each major subcontractor, that the overall maximum number of Past Performance Short Forms is 5?

USAID Response: See the following examples:

a) Single offeror - up to 5 PP forms => total = 5 PP forms.

b) Joint venture of 3 firms: up to 3 PP per JV member => total = 9 PP forms .

c) Prime + 2 major subcontractors: up to 5PP forms (prime) + 3 PP forms per each major subcontractor => total = 11 PP forms.

d) Joint venture of 2 firms + 2 major subcontractors: up to 3pp for per JV member +

3 PP forms per each major subcontractor => total = 12 PP forms.

13. The Small Business Subcontracting Plan references FAR 19.704 and 52.219-9 which require goals to be expressed as a percentage of subcontracting dollars and, if requested by the agency, total contract dollars. Will USAID confirm that goals should be listed as both percentage of total contract dollars and subcontracting dollars?

USAID Response: Just percentage of work, not dollar amount.

14. Is the Attachment A “FY20 Attachment Small Business Subcontracting Plan” excluded from the 9-page limit stated for Subcontracting Plan?

USAID Response: The Small Business Subcontracting Plan is the 9-page document.

15. Answers to #1 and #34 have conflicting instructions. Please confirm that the SF330 instructions for Part IIs are to include all firms listed in Part I Section C.

USAID Response: Please see response to question #138.

16. Answer #53b states that no graphics are allowed in the SF330. In order to succinctly provide supplemental information that is allowed in the one-page Section H, please confirm graphics are acceptable in Section H.

USAID Response: Please see answer to question #144. Graphics may be now included in section H.

17. Since the official SF330 web-based PDF form does not include an Annex, please confirm that smaller fonts and graphics are allowed in the Annex (reference Q&A #54).

USAID Response: Yes, graphics are allowed in the documents listed for the Annex (see Section 4(d) table), Small fonts are acceptable only as part of graphics or illustrative tables, not in narratives or descriptions.

18. 1. Section 5. Proposal Structure, Past Performance the RFQ (page 34 of Amended RFQ with tracked changes) states “Describe any quality awards or certifications that indicate exceptional capacity to provide the service or product described in the Statement of Work Description of Design/Engineering Services. This information is not included in the page limitation and should be included in the Technical Proposal.” Please confirm that information describing the Offeror’s awards and certifications should be included as a separate Annex to the SF330 Part I and Part II.

USAID Response: As stated, this information is part of the Technical Proposal, not the Annex. Therefore, a very succinct explanation of the award(s) must be submitted along with the Past Performance information.

19. Section 5. Proposal Structure, Past Performance the RFQ (page 34 of Amended RFQ with tracked changes) states” “As part of the evaluation of performance of this solicitation, USAID will evaluate the extent that Offerors used and promoted the use of small business concerns under current and prior contracts... …For USAID to fully and fairly evaluate performance in this area, all Offerors who are not small business concerns must do the following:

i. Provide a Narrative summary of your organization's use of small business concerns over the past three five years in an annex to the technical proposal.

Describe how you use small businesses—as subcontractors, as joint venture partners, through other teaming arrangements, etc. Explain the nature of the work small businesses performed—substantive technical professional services, administrative support, logistics support, etc. Describe the extent of your compliance with your SB subcontracting plan(s) or other similar SB incentive programs set out in your contract(s) and explain any mitigating circumstances if goals were not achieved.

ii. To supplement the Narrative summary in 3(i) above(A), provide a list of the recent (within the last three (3)five (5) years) contracts for which you submitted subcontract reports to eSRS (FAR 52.219-9(d)(10) and a copy of any similarly recent subcontracting reports if they were not submitted to eSRS.

iii. Provide the names and addresses of three SB concerns for us to contact for their assessment of your performance in using SB concerns. Provide a brief summary of the type of work each SB concern provided to your organization, and the name of a contact person, his/her title, phone number, and email address for each.”

Please confirm that this requirement should be removed from the Past Performance Requirement and Offerors should include address this requirement in a separate “Small Business Utilization and References” Annex.

USAID Response: This is related to Past Performance in Using Small Business (SB) Concerns - Section 5(e).

Subsection 5(e)(3) requires several items (accidentally omitted on section 4(d) Table), to be submitted in the Annex, with the following page limitations:

Subsection 5(e)(3)(i) - Narrative: 1 page Subsection 5(e)(3)(ii) - List of the recent subcontracts submitted reports to eSRS: 2 pages + as-needed if copies of non-eSRS information is provided.

Subsection 5(e)(3)(iii): Information of three SB for USAID to contact, with brief summary of work: 2 pages

20. Answer 117 of Amendment 1 directs Offerors to place the SF 330 Part IIs under the Professional Qualifications section of the Technical Proposal, as indicated in Section 4(d) table. However, Answer 44 instructs Offerors to use the SF 330 with no alterations.

Please clarify where Offerors should place SF330 Part IIs within their submittal. Per Question 73 of Amendment 1, USAID notes that “Offerors must coordinate with their respective clients to complete the form and submit directly to the Contracting Officer for this RFQ. Language has been updated in Proposal Structure Section 5.5, Past Performance.” Can USAID please confirm this requirement and confirm the deadline for clients to submit the completed Contractor Performance Report directly to USAID on behalf of the Offeror?

USAID Response: a) USAID has agreed to allow the form to be edited, therefore sections may be split and submitted under the corresponding sections of the technical proposal.

b) Please see answer to question # 147

21. Under Section 4. Instructions for Preparation of the Technical Proposal of the RFQ

(page 31 of Amended RFQ with tracked changes), the Evidence of Responsibility requirement has been modified to state “Evidence of Responsibility Narrative & Supporting Documents”. Can USAID please clarify what supporting documents they require Offerors to include in their proposal submission?

USAID Response: Please provide any statements and supporting documents that support the Offeror’s or Joint Venture’s Evidence of Responsibility in accordance with the FAR Part 9.104-1 or FAR Part 19.6. It is up to the Offeror to determine the format for this information.

22. 1. Do Offerors need to complete and return the SF30 with the proposal to acknowledge the amendment?

USAID Response: Yes.

23. Response to Q1 says “Only the prime and major subcontractors will be required to complete an SF330 Part II.” Response to Q34 says “SF330 Part II must be completed for all firms expected to be involved, not just major subcontractors.” Also Q117 says we are to submit a Part II for each firm involved. Would USAID confirm whether Part IIs are to be submitted for each firm involved or only for the prime and major subcontractors?

24. Section G of the fillable GSA SF-330 pdf form only accommodates 20 personnel, yet the

RFP requires 21 personnel. Will USAID allow us to add an additional continuation page for the full personnel listing?

USAID Response: Yes. Also see response to question 144.

25. As note in the response to Q3, USAID has added a requirement to “specify the proposed small-business partners that are expected to be a recurring technical resource during the performance of the IDIQ contract.” Is that intended to be an instruction as to what firms to include in Section C, or is that intended to be a separate narrative as an Attachment to Section C?

USAID Response: Section C must include any small-business expected to be a recurring technical resource. Also, please see answer to question #138.

26. Regarding Q73, please confirm the 2-page limit refers only to Part I of the Contractor

Performance Report. Is USAID intending that our clients' responses be subject to this limitation for Part II?

USAID Response: The entire form (parts I and II) is limited to 2 pages. Past performance language must be factual and relevant to the topic.

27. Regarding Q73, since the client response to the Contractor Performance Report is submitted directly to the Contracting Officer, please confirm that offerors' submissions should only include Part I in the Technical Proposal?

USAID Response: Yes, the technical proposal may include only Part I of the form filled out.

28. Regarding Q73, if the Contractor Performance Report is submitted directly to USAID, can USAID provide further instructions for us to provide to our clients with our request.

E.g., who should our clients e-mail their responses to, of the three contacts listed in page 29? Given that clients could be returning reports from the prime, JV partners, or major subcontractors are there any requirements for subject line for these submittals so that USAID will be able to effectively match the e-mails with the correct proposal? What is the due date for these reports?

USAID Response: Please see response to question #147.

29. The revised instructions for Past Performance, on pages 34-35 include 5 major items (a-e). Please confirm that items b and c are subheadings of a, to be addressed in Part I of the Contractor Performance Report, and that items d and e are separate attachments not associated with the form.

USAID Response: Correct, that information is to be provided in the Contractor Performance Report form.

30. Page 41 lists elements for Evaluation Factor 6, Small Business Utilization, to include, if applicable, past performance of Offerors in complying with subcontracting plan goals.

Our understanding, based on the response to Q76, was that performance in using SB concerns was to be presented as part of Past Performance (Factor 5). Why is it being evaluated both in Factor 5 and in Factor 6?

USAID Response: Evaluation Factor 6 - Small Business Utilization, subsection 4 is not necessary and will not be evaluated in this section. Consider subsection 4 removed.

31. Regarding the response to Q44, does this apply only to Part I or also SF330 Part II forms?

USAID Response: Please see answer to question #144.

32. Regarding Q22 and 44, if the required information does not fit in the block provided for in the fillable SF330 form, will USAID allow the inclusion of continuation pages? E.g. block 23.a. Or block 17.

USAID Response: Please see answer to question #144.

33. Team Narrative In the responses to questions document, Question #56, page 15, USAID

Response: "The team narrative must be concise, and not repeat information already provided somewhere else (i.e. in SF330 section E, and/or Organizational Chart.)" Question #103, page 23, “In addition to the SF 330, the Offeror shall also provide a Team Narrative that elaborates/supplements the qualifications provided in Section F of the SF330 form.” Is the intent to elaborate on the 6 project descriptions in Section F since they can only be one (1) page long? Not all the criteria in 4.a – h can be provided in these descriptions. Can other relevant project examples be introduced in this section?

USAID Response: "The Team’s Qualifications Narrative must be submitted in the Annex (See section 4(d) table), and include items a-h. No other projects should be submitted in the narrative." Question: Can the Team Narrative include a discussion of capabilities in projects that are not presented in Section F?

USAID Response: a) The team narrative is not to supplement the projects in section F, but rather to address items in Section 4(a)-(h). This information in 4(a)-(h) would have to be consistent, to the extent possible, with the projects in section F.

b) No, the team narrative is not intended for additional projects.

c) Yes, the team narrative can explain experience on other types of projects not mentioned in section F, as long as it addresses items (a)-(h).

34. Annex I: Contractor Performance Report Please confirm that a Contractor Performance

Report with CPARs that can be accessed by USAID are in lieu of Part II, such that Part II will not need to be completed by the client.

USAID Response: Correct, USAID will verify CPARS. If there is no CPARS for a particular project (a commercial project, for example), Part II must be completed by the client.

35. Past Performance Page 34 of the amended RFQ states: In accordance with the Past

Performance Form (see Attachment 3) The Offeror (including all partners of a joint venture) must provide performance information for itself and each major subcontractor (those identified in the Proposed Team) in accordance with the following: a) Offerors are to use the Past Performance Form provided to list, in an annex to the technical proposal, up to five (5) of the most recent and relevant contracts for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal (these projects can be the same or different from the projects identified in SF 330 Section F). In the case of a joint venture or utilization of major subcontractors, each partner and/or major subcontractor must submit up to three (3) past performance forms. In all cases, one Past Performance Form must be used for each project, and no more than two pages per Past Performance Form. The most relevant indicators of performance are contracts of similar type of work and skills/ expertise required. Recent contracts are those performed within the last five (5) years.

Clarification requested: Please confirm that in the case of a Prime with major subcontractors, the Prime must submit up to 5 past performance forms and each major subcontractor must submit up to 3 past performance forms

USAID Response: Please see response to question #149.

36. Would USAID please confirm that only the prime and major subcontractors will be required to complete a SF330 Part II? We see this answered in Question 1 and Question 34 of the responses to questions but are requesting additional clarification.

37. Would USAID please clarify the minimum and maximum number of Past Performance

Forms that should be provided from the prime contractor and joint venture/major subcontractor(s)?

USAID Response: Please see response to question #149.

38. The revised version of the RFQ states that firms should fill out the PPQ form with the client information, attach it as part of the Annex, and advise the clients that their name has been submitted. This implies that USAID will follow up with the clients directly to complete the form. However, the response to question #73 states that firms should work with clients to fill out the PPQ form and have clients submit directly to "the Contracting Officer for this RFQ." This implies that clients complete the form and email the forms to USAID directly. Please clarify.

USAID Response: Please see responses to questions #147 and #164.