Revised Comp TA Q_A Document Amend 2.pdf

Revised Questions & Answers RFP 7200AA21R00009

No. Reference Questions Answer

1 B.2 Section B.2 of the RFP (p.12) states that a combination of task orders including T&M task orders will be issued under the resultant IDIQ. Please confirm that the fixed fee ceiling and the CDRs do not apply to T&M task orders. Neither section B.5 Fixed Fee Ceiling (p. 12) nor section B.8 Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates (p.14) reference T&M task orders.

The ceiling on fixed fee does not apply to any Fixed Price, CPIF, and CPAF task orders. Fees for CPIF or CPAF Task Orders will be negotiated by the Task Order Contracting Officer (TOCO) at the time of task order award. Task order labor rates must not exceed the ceiling daily rates (CDRs) set forth in the table below.

2 B.5(e) Section B.5(e) of the RFP prohibits fee on grants, but there is a risk and management burden associated with implementing grants under contract. Would USAID be willing to reconsider the possibility of allowing offerors to charge a reasonable fee on grants under contract?

Section B.5(e) remains unchanged and fee on grants is prohibited.

3 B.5(e) Given the risks associated with administering grants on behalf of USAID, we respectfully ask that USAID allow consideration of

GUCs costs in calculating the total fixed fee. In taking a structured approach consistent with FAR 15.404-4 when calculating the total proposed fixed fee, different weighted percentages are assigned to different types of cost. The different percentages represent the risks and difficulties in implementation associated with the types of budgeted costs. Once the fee is a fixed dollar amount (not percentage) in the contract, the total fixed fee would not fluctuate as a percentage of cost.

See answer to Question 2.

4 B.5(e) The solicitation states that “Fixed Fees must not be applied to Grants Under Contracts (GUCs). Contractors are permitted to apply burden to GUCs as permitted by their cost accounting

See answer to Question 2.

policy.” If a contractor’s cost accounting policy is to apply a modest fee to grants, is this an allowable cost?

5 B.5(e) We request that USAID remove Section B.5(e) (page 13), “Fixed Fee Ceiling,” which states that, “Fixed fees must not be applied to Grants under Contracts (GUCs).” This is inconsistent with FAR 15.404-4 and ADS 302.3.6.8, which state that pre-negotiation fee objectives must be determined according to a structured approach that considers contractor effort, risk, and other special factors. Grants require significant effort to administer and carry risks for the contractor. Additionally, the statutory underpinnings of fixed fees at 10 USC 2306(d) and 41 USC 254(b) discuss fee definitions and limitations in terms of total estimated cost, which would include grants in this case.

Given this, we request that USAID remove this section and allow for offerors to charge a fee on GUCs that is reasonable and consistent with federal regulations, or alternatively, allow for determinations regarding fees on grants to be made at the task-order level.

See answer to Question 2.

6 B.8 The RFP states, “Compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by USAID and consideration of the individual's education, work experience and recent relevant salary history.” Given the recent update to the 1420 bio-data form no longer requires salary history and only asks that a rationale for the salary proposed be provided, we respectfully request that the salary history requirement be removed.

Section B.8(g) remains unchanged as personnel compensation is not based on one factor but, a combination of factors such as education, work experience and relevant salary history.

7 B.8 Do all proposed personnel have to fall into Labor Category Groupings? If all personnel have to fall into Labor Category Groupings, please confirm that additional Labor Category

Groupings may be proposed for personnel whose experience and

No additional labor categories may be proposed at the IDIQ or TO level.

education requirements do not align with the Labor Category Groupings in the IDIQ Contract.

8 B.8 Section B.8(g), Page 14, states: “Salaries for individual locally-hired personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates under any task orders or resulting subcontracts under this IDIQ contract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007, Personnel Compensation

(July 2007), and should be based upon a combination of factors including the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by USAID and consideration of the individual's education, work experience and recent relevant salary history” (emphasis added). As the Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID-1420 EBD) no longer requires past salary history, would USAID please remove the language regarding salary history?

See answer to Question 6.

9 B.8 Under Section B.8 and Attachment J.8, USAID does not refer to “expatriates” while referring to the Ceiling Daily Rates (CDRs);

however, Section B.8(c) implies that CDRs are for expatriates.

Could USAID kindly clarify:

a. If all proposed CDRs in Section B.8 and Attachment J.8 are for expatriates?

b. If USAID’s description of the selected CDRs in the Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix means that they should be treated as expatriates as far as the application of Fringe and Indirects are concerned?

c. If the Offeror can include the rates for the international staff who are not American citizens or Green Card holders?

Yes, all CDRs are for expatriates.

Yes, they should be treated as expatriates as far as application of Fringe and Indirects are concerned.

10 B.8 Pertaining Section B - Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates (CDR), subsection B.8 (f), p. 14 of the solicitation; “CCN and TCN labor are governed by the local compensation plan limitations.” Can

Offerors are expected to adhere to their own policies and practices with respect to CCN and TCN compensation. However compensation for

USAID confirm that, since neither LCP nor applicable FSN scales are readily available or shared with implementing partners, that implementers are expected to instead adhere to its own policies and practices as aligned with section H2. A and B of the

RFP and the FAR cost principles to establish reasonable compensation which hold that “compensation for personal services will be considered reasonable if the total compensation conforms generally to compensation paid by other firms of the same size, in the same industry, or in the same geographic area for similar services or work performed”?

CCNs and TCNs cannot exceed the ceiling of the LCP without a Mission Director waiver..

11 B.8 Page 14, Section B.8. Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates (CDR),

(g) Locally Hired National Personnel or Other Non-U.S.

Expatriate Rates. The factors noted for consideration in determining salaries for individual locally hired personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates under this Contract and any resulting subcontract notes the inclusion of and recent relevant salary history as a determining factor. Since USAID officially changed its approach to establishing compensation, as of October 2019, to a market-based approach, can USAID clarify the appropriate combination of factors for determining salaries?

Salary is not the only factor for consideration, but one of the factors. Please see AIDAR 752.7007.

12 B.8 Section B.8 (h), Page 15, states that CDRs apply to all task orders awarded under this IDIQ contract, with the exception of Fixed- Price task orders. Could USAID please confirm that for Times and Materials task orders that Contractors will need to show the rates before and after burdening, and only the unburdened rates will be measured for compliance against the CDRs and that this will apply to prime and subcontractor levels?

Correct, CDRs apply to ask task orders awarded under this IDIQ contract, with the exception of Fixed-Price task orders. T&M task orders will need to show the rates before and after burdening.

13 B.8 P.14-23, B.8.(d)-(e), B.11. There appears to be a conflict in the treatment of subcontractor rates between these clauses:

● B.8(d) states that CDRs “apply to all subcontractors set forth in clause 52.244-2 in

Section I. If a new subcontractor is proposed for a

CDRs apply to all subcontractors. If a new subcontractor is proposed for a specific task order on other than a fixed-price basis then yes, the CDRs will apply to both new and approved subcontractor.

specific task order on other than a fixed-price basis the CDRs set forth below will apply…” This seems to be stating that CDRs apply to approved subcontractors and new subcontractors except for fixed price subcontractors.

● B.8(e) states that “unburdened CDRs apply to all labor costs, including prime Contractor and subcontractors labor.” This makes no exception for new, fixed price subcontract labor as B.8(d) does.

● B.11(a) and (b) make the unburdened CDRs applicable to approved subcontractors and “a new subcontractor not yet approved.” B.11(c) then sets out a process for new subcontractors “that may or may not have a different cost accounting system that only processes fully burdened rates.” B.11 appears to be stating that CDRs apply to all approved subcontractors and all new subcontractors with the only exception being when a new subcontractor meets the exception in (c).

As written, it appears that the CDRs apply to "approved" subcontractors. But do the CDRs apply to new fixed-price subcontractors? Is a named but not "approved" subcontractor considered "new"?

B.8(e) does not state that, that is B.8(f). The language remains unchanged as it clearly refers to labor costs and not fixed price.

CDRs apply to all task order awards under this

IDIQ contract with the exception of Fixed-Priced task orders. Please see B.8(h).

14 B.8(h) P.15, B.8(h):

a) The text indicates that CDRs don't apply to fixed price task orders, but P.64, F.6.2.2.a, “Fixed-price or Fixed-price with Cost Reimbursement Combination Type”, refers to proposing labor rates that don’t exceed labor ceilings established in Section B (i.e. the CDRs). Could USAID clarify if the CDRs apply to fixed-price Task Orders?

CDRs apply to all task order awards under this task orders.

b) Can USAID confirm how the CDRs apply to T&M, FFP and commercial item subcontractors?

As T&M, FFP and commercial item subcontractors are evaluated on the basis of price, not cost, how would the CDR be applicable in the course of response to an RFTOP?

All task orders will be negotiated at the time of award.

15 B.9 For LCAT 008-Construction Specialist, does USAID expect the Construction Specialist to lead and implement the construction?

This will depend on the requirements of the construction activity.

16 B.9 In Section B.9 of the RFP (p. 19), the labor categories of 004 –

Medical Doctor and 005 Pharmacist reference M.D. and Pharmacy degrees in their definitions. As these academic degrees are not reflected in the Minimum Qualifications table referenced in section B.10 (p. 22), please provide guidance on how we should align minimum education and experience requirements for these labor categories.

Please use years of relevant work experience to support the level qualification within each labor category.

17 B.10 In section B.10 of the RFP (p.22), the minimum qualifications for junior level positions are not defined. Please provide guidance on the basis that should be applied to substantiate junior-level rates at the IDIQ stage.

Junior level positions will be set at the task order level. Junior level positions will be any education and/or experience which falls below the description for senior and mid level.

18 B.10 Section B.10 (page 22), “Minimum Qualifications,” establishes a junior-level ceiling daily rate (CDR), but notes that “Junior level qualifications, if any, will be set at the TO level.” USAID later requests that offerors include proposed CDRs for junior-level staff in Attachment J.8, “Ceiling Daily Rates (CDR) Matrix,” and

Attachment J.9, “Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix.” It is not feasible for offerors to determine appropriate, junior-level CDRs without established minimum qualifications; even at the TO level, implementers and USAID will require flexibility to hire entry-level personnel for unskilled and lower-level administrative and technical positions. Therefore, we request that USAID remove the junior-level CDR from Section B.10 and replace it with a requirement that junior-level personnel who are recommended to

See answer to Question 17.

work on task orders be proposed at rates below the mid-level, unburdened CDRs and remove entirely the junior-level CDR category from attachments J.8 and J.9.

19 B.10 Section B. 10 Minimum Qualifications, Page 22, states “junior level qualifications, if any, will be set at the TO level.” Per J.9.a, the Cost Price Evaluation Matrix, a junior long-term home office CDR is requested. Without the qualifications provided as is for senior- and mid-level CDR categories, can USAID confirm how the evaluation of the junior home office CDR will be applied consistently across all bidders?

See response to Question 17.

20 B.10 In order to recruit personnel for Task Orders that is as diverse as possible by expanding the pool of qualified candidates, might USAID kindly consider the possibility of reducing the years of relevant work experience required?

No.

21 B.10 Section B.10 Minimum Qualifications, Page 22, states: “These minimum qualifications for mid-level and senior personnel correspond to the Ceiling Daily Rates above.” However, the table below includes junior level personnel. Would USAID please revise this language to include junior level personnel as well?

See response to Question 17.

22 B.11a Section B.11a on page 22 states unburdened CDR's apply to approved subcontractors. If we're working with an approved partner under a T&M or FFP type agreement, do the CDR's still apply to those subs?

CDRs apply to all task order awards under this task orders.

23 B.11 On page 23, B.11 (c) states: “In the instance where the Prime subcontracts with a new subcontractor not yet approved and may or may not have a different cost accounting system that only processes fully burdened rates and when the subcontractor proposes fully burdened subcontractor rates that are “above” the prime IDIQ rates, the Prime may then include in its TO proposal,

(i) the fully burdened rate proposed to the Prime by the

Subcontractor, (ii) allocation of the Prime’s indirect costs in

See response to Question 9 & Question 13.

accordance with established accounting practices, and (iii) a reasonable profit. If the rates proposed to USAID, inclusive of the Prime’s allocable indirect costs and a reasonable profit are above the Prime’s unburdened CDRs, the Prime must disclose the amount of the indirect costs, and the amount of the proposed profit that were added to the Subcontractor’s proposed rates. A reasonable profit will be negotiated by the TOCO for the specific TO. The CDRs of the subcontractor must not exceed the prime’s

CDRs in the IDIQ contract.” This outlines a process by which the prime can include fully burdened subcontractor rates “that are ‘above’ the prime IDIQ rates”, but concludes by stating that the CDRs of the subcontractor must not exceed the prime’s CDRs.

Could USAID clarify whether these subcontractors may propose fully burdened rates that exceed the IDIQ unburdened CDRs?

Could USAID clarify whether the prime indirect costs and fee applied to a subcontract would be part of the evaluation of the subcontractor rate to the IDIQ ceiling rates? Would any fully burdened subcontractor rate need to be fully broken out by the proposed subcontractor? Is there any additional clarity that USAID can offer on this section?

24 B.11 Section B.11 Subcontractor Rates (section c), Page 23 states: “If the rates proposed to USAID, inclusive of the Prime’s allocable indirect costs and a reasonable profit are above the Prime’s unburdened CDRs, the Prime must disclose the amount of the indirect costs, and the amount of the proposed profit that were added to the Subcontractor’s proposed rates…. The CDRs of the subcontractor must not exceed the prime’s CDRs in the IDIQ contract” (emphasis added). The text in bold seems contradictory to the guidance at the beginning of this section regarding what to do when a subcontractor’s burdened rates exceed the prime’s

CDRs. Would USAID please rephrase this sentence to clarify?

CDRs are ceilings for unburdened rates, therefore there is no contradiction.

25 B.11(c) P.22, B.11(c). The text indicates that when a new sub has fully burdened rates that are “above the prime IDIQ rates”, the Prime

See response to Question 24.

may include those rates in a TO proposal. Then if the rates proposed are “above the Prime’s unburdened CDRs”, the Prime must disclose the amount of indirect costs and proposed profit applied. Finally, it says that sub CDRs must not exceed the

“prime CDRs in the IDIQ contract”.

This last sentence seems to contradict the paragraph’s previous references to subcontractor rates that are “above the prime IDIQ rates” and “above the Prime’s unburdened CDRs”. Can USAID please clarify this paragraph? Does it mean that the unburdened component of the subcontractor’s fully burdened rate cannot exceed the unburdened CDRs?

26 B.12 Please confirm that Offerors may propose escalation of labor rates on an annual basis.

A single annual escalation rate may be applied beginning in Year 2.

27 B.13 Please confirm that the indirect costs rates table in Section B.13 is only illustrative and offerors are allowed to propose indirect rates based on their approved NICRA.

Yes, this table may be modified to be consistent with a current approved provisional NICRA.

28 C.3 Are there pre-existing quantifiable targets and timelines for the three goals outlined in section C.3 or will they be established during project kickoff?

The 3 goals outlined in section C.3 represent the overall objectives of the IDIQ; specific targets and timelines related to implementation will be addressed at the task order-level.

29 C.4.1.1 Please provide clarification for statement in Forecasting and

Supply Planning Forecasting. Statement stipulates that Contractors supporting in country FASP activities may be required to provide "procurement ready supply plans and orders to the NextGen Control Tower. "

Our interpretation is that Comp TA sub-contractor role could include generation of both Demand Forecasts and associated Supply Plans and then convert Supply Plans into actionable

Purchase Orders for direct transmission to NextGen Control Tower.

The Comprehensive TA role includes generation of both Demand Forecasts and Supply Plans and submission to the NextGen Control Tower.

Comprehensive TA is anticipated to use the online ordering module of the NextGen Control Tower to directly enter requisition orders that are actionable by the PSAs. “Procurement ready” orders provide all the information required to enable fulfillment by PSA contracts.

Please clarify whether this interpretation is accurate and if so, would PSA need to review and approve any Supply Plans and Purchase Orders generated by Comp TA sub-contractors prior to transmission to Next Gen Control Tower.

30 C.4.1.1 “Contractors supporting in country FASP activities may be required to provide procurement ready supply plans and orders to the NextGen Control Tower.”

a. Would the Procurement Ready Supply Plans and Orders need to be generated by Comp TA Coalition Contractors?

b. Would Comp TA Coalition Contractors submit

Procurement Ready Supply Plans and Orders directly to the NextGen Control Tower or do they need to be submitted to PSA?

Comprehensive TA Contractors are expected to work with country counterparts and stakeholders to develop and submit supply plans and requisition orders.

USAID anticipates that supply plans and orders will be submitted through the Control Tower. PSAs will only be able to process procurement-ready orders.

31 C.4.1.4 “Warehousing support may include non-construction assistance for minor infrastructure activities”

a. Would Comp TA contractors be expected to directly select and engage in-country construction companies to perform actual construction and building tasks?

b. If affirmative, would Comp TA contractors be directly or indirectly responsible to manage in-country construction companies and monitor performance and compliance with local and national construction protocols?

If a task order is requested to provide infrastructure or construction support within the scope of this IDIQ, the Contractor implementing the task order would be expected to select, directly manage and monitor the company performing the work.

32 C.4.3.5 Section C.4.3.5 Workforce Development and Institutional Capacity Building, Pages 35-36, includes reference to the workforce pipeline – “including youth engagement and higher education for both the public and private sectors.” Could USAID clarify how extensive these types of TA are envisioned, i.e.

engagement around developing human capital through institutions (universities), long-term training program, and supporting research implementation to meet the demands of

Extent of the engagement and level of effort will be task order and country-specific and will be determined at the task order level.

changing contexts and new approaches and technologies in LMICs?

33 C.4.3.9 “Procurement of stand-alone, off-the-shelf equipment for newly constructed or refurbished sites will be considered outside the cost of construction, unless otherwise specified in the task order”.

a. Who would be responsible for the sourcing, procurement, delivery, and installation of any stand-alone off-the-shelf equipment for construction project:

• Comp TA Contractor(s)

• PSA

If and when required under Comprehensive TA task orders, Contractors should be capable and ready to perform procurement of equipment for newly constructed or refurbished sites.

34 C.4.4 RFP Section “C.4.4, Other Support Services,” states “Consistent with FAR 19.502-4, the task orders that are predominantly for technical assistance in any of the technical areas below (4.4.1 - 4.4.3) will be set aside for small business but Section F.6.1 (a) (2) also states “unless invoking an exception, the TOCO must issue the RFTOP to all IDIQ holders.” Can USAID confirm that sections 4.4.1, 4.4.2, and 4.4.3 should be addressed by all applicants?

Yes, all offerors should address 4.4.1, 4.4.2, and

4.4.3 as only task orders that are predominantly for technical assistance in the areas covered by 4.4.1-

4.4.3 are set aside for small business concerns and non-set aside task orders may contain elements of the technical areas covered in 4.4.1-4.4.3.

35 C.5 Section C.5 Gender, Page 40 and Section F.5.2, Page 55, The

RFP states, "Contractors may be required to: prepare a task order-wide gender quality strategy, vision, or action plan, with specific actions to operationalize it." The use of "may" suggests this is a potential requirement; is this potential strategy different than the required gender strategy mentioned under Task Order Deliverables in F.5.2 and outlined on Page 55?

These are the same.

There are limited instances where a gender equality strategy, vision, or action plan may not be required for a given task order. In such a case, an exception would be provided by the IDIQ COR and TOCOR, as indicated in F.5.2.

Note that the sentence from Section C.5 quoted had an error and should read “Contractors may be required to: prepare a task order-wide gender equality strategy, vision, or action plan…”

36 C.5 Section C.5 Gender, Page 40, states "Contractors may be required to: prepare a task order-wide gender quality strategy, vision, or action plan, with specific actions to operationalize it." Could USAID please clarify if Contractors may be required to produce a

NextGen-wide gender strategy that may result from a task order under this Comprehensive TA IDIQ, or will the strategy be limited to a single task order? If the latter, can USAID clarify how the gender quality strategy, vision, and action will collaborate with other task orders under the Comprehensive TA

IDIQ?

The gender equality (see correction under Question

35) strategy, vision, or action plan will be for a single task order.

Collaboration with other task orders is addressed under Sections C.4.4.3 and C.7, with specific requirements to be addressed at the task order level.

37 C.7 Section C.7, “Relationship to Other NextGen Activities and Redundancies,” (page 42) states that, “In some cases, Comprehensive TA task order(s) and the TA Marketplace may work in the same country. Comprehensive TA task orders will be required to coordinate, collaborate and share lessons learned with the TA Marketplace award, as requested by USAID.” Would USAID provide additional information on the expected relationship between Comprehensive TA and the TA Marketplace and expected collaboration?

No additional information is available at this time.

38 C.7 Section C.7 Relationship to Other NextGen Activities, Pages 40- 41, "Procurement Service Agent (PSA) Awards states that the PSAs will provide order and shipment status to the control tower contractor and shipping documents required for customs clearance to the TA and/or ICL contractors. Original shipping documents will be shared with the TA and/or ICL contractors when required." The language in this section on the PSAs seems to refer more fully to the relationship between the PSA

Contractors, rather than the relationship of the PSAs to the Comprehensive TA. Could USAID please update this language to provide that clarity?

Section C.7 provides general information around the relationships among NextGen activities.

Additional information regarding the relationship of Comprehensive TA to PSAs is also provided in other sections. For example, Section C.4.1.3 states that "Comprehensive TA task orders may also be expected to coordinate with the PSAs to monitor and track commodity orders. Comprehensive TA task orders may also be required to coordinate with other donors who are procuring health commodities."

Further details regarding Comprehensive TA’s relationship and interactions with PSAs will be provided at the task order level.

39 C.7 Section C.7 Relationship to Other NextGen Activities, Pages 40-

42, the RFP states that in some cases Comprehensive TA task orders and the TA Marketplace may work in the same country.

Could USAID provide more clarity on the scope of the TA Marketplace, such as a Request for Information as has been developed for all other NextGen awards? Can USAID provide more detail on the distinction between the scope of Comprehensive TA and TA Marketplace should they be working in a same country?

Refer to the USAID business forecast and the

NextGen webpage for information on TA Marketplace.

40 C.7 [Offeror] is requesting a statement from USAID describing the distinction between PSA and Comp TA roles with regards to Procurement.

Current roles for PSA and Comp TA with regards to Procurement are not clearly defined as currently stated in RFPs and may have some overlaps which need to be identified to facilitate synergy between contractors working in different NEXT GEN projects and coalitions.

Our interpretation of Comprehensive TA RFP as currently stated is that Comp TA Prime & Sub-Contractors roles would include sourcing, procuring, and distributing commodities, products, & services to meet their responsibilities and obligations to “build capacity to procure best value and quality-assured products, manage supplier performance” while meeting/exceeding project KPIs.

Comprehensive TA Contractors will not source or procure health commodities. Refer to Section C.4 of the Comprehensive TA IDIQ RFP for more information on the scope of Comprehensive TA.

41 C.10 Section C.10 Management of Grants Under Contract (GUCs), Page 43, states: “The contractor must coordinate with the TOCOR with the grants management tasks that include the following:

This is mandatory USAID requirement for IDIQ

RFPs.

Pre-Solicitation Phase: Develop the solicitation Solicitation Phase: Issue/advertise opportunity, hold solicitation conferences Evaluation Phase: Screen potential grantee partners, evaluate proposals consistent with USAID policies at ADS 303 and procedures and document the proposed awardee selection. The TOCO must first approve grants unless otherwise stated in the task order. The process for approving grants will be specified in individual task orders.

Award Phase: Establish grants in accordance with USAID policies.

Post-Award Phase: Monitor implementation and deliverables and grant close-out as directed in the task order.”

ADS 302.3.4.13.c(2) requires that USAID “must be significantly involved in establishing the selection criteria and provide prior written approval of the recipients.” USAID involvement as described above seems to be much greater than what is required by ADS 302. Would USAID please clarify the purpose of this “coordination” or rephrase?

42 C Human Workforce Developmental and Institutional Capacity Building 4.3.5 - Are there current mechanisms/technology to evaluate workforce data across the GHSC for skill gaps/location/equity considerations?

USAID would look to Comprehensive TA Contractors to provide such information, as required, under relevant task orders.

43 C Analytics platform/general - Does USAID envision use of a central/singular SCIS/software platform across the NexGen suite of programs?

Please see the description of the NextGen Control Tower in the RFP and the NextGen webpage.

44 C Analytics platform/general - What information systems/software is currently in use with regard to Global Healthcare Supply

Chain?

A wide variety of information systems are currently used to support national public supply chain systems. These information systems are often owned by the host country and vary from one country to another.

45 C Analytics platform/general - Will USAID be able to leverage awardees of TA IDIQ in order to procure software tools?

As part of a specific task order, USAID may request Comprehensive TA Contractors to procure and/or support implementation of software tools/systems, particularly for host countries.

46 C Distribution and Transportation 4.1.5 - Are there current, route optimization techniques in place common across the system of supply chains/leveraging analytics?

Various route optimization technologies and methodologies, as well as the development of best practice, have been used across USAID-supported countries.

47 C Data Analytics and Performance Management 4.1.8 - Are current/anticipated systems for SCIS sufficient to support timely, scalable aggregation of data across local actors and in order to make intelligent decisions?

Current SCIS vary by country and in their capabilities.

48 F.5.1 Per the clause below found on page 51 (a)(1), for the small business set-aside, does the 50% subcontracting limit held by the small business prime contractor refer to the total IDIQ, or to each task order? Or in other words, is it acceptable for the small business concern to exceed this amount on a particular task order but remain in overall compliance under the overall IDIQ through compensating on other task orders?

“For small business prime contractors only, the small business prime must report the percentage of the amount paid by the Government for work performed by the prime and similarly situated entities. The contractor must inform the IDIQ CO if the percentage of cost attributable to performance by the small business and similarly situated entities falls below the 50 percent requirement in FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting.”

The 50% subcontracting limit applies to each individual task order.

49 F.5.1 Section F.5.1, “IDIQ Reports,” (page 50) indicates that a grants manual is due at the IDIQ level. However, given that the IDIQ does not include a central management structure and that the

The language in F.5.1 remains unchanged.

scope and requirements of each task order may be different, we request that USAID remove the requirement of an IDIQ-level grants manual and instead require that a grants manual be submitted at the task-order level only. This will enable offerors to tailor the manual to the task order’s specific activities, tasks, staffing, and operating environment.

50 F.5.2 Reporting to Control Tower - Would USAID please consider revising F.5.2 to exclude financial reporting requirements?

Sensitive salary and other proprietary information could be included in standard financial reports. This data should be protected from direct sharing to 3rd party organizations such as the Control Tower implementing organization.

F.5.2(3) states that the task order-level Data Sharing & Use Agreement that each task order must establish with the Control Tower contractor will specify the data elements the Contractor will supply to the NextGen Control Tower. All data in the Control Tower will be protected and safeguarded and access will be controlled in accordance to the Data Sharing & Use agreement

51 F.6.2 This Section specifies that task orders issued under the IDIQ may be either Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) (term or completion), Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF), Cost-Plus Incentive-Fee (CPIF) or any Fixed-Priced type. However, Section B.2 lists Time and Material (T&M) Task Order types as well. Please clarify if the

Government contemplates awarding T&M TOs as well.

F.6.2 has been updated to include T&M TOs.

52 F.6.2 Section B.2 on page 12 and section L.2 page 151 state that the task order contract types could be CPFF, CPAF, CPIF, T&M, or Fixed Price, but section F.6.2 on page 61 states that the task order contract types may be either CPFF, CPAF, CPIF or Fixed Price.

Can USAID please confirm whether T&M type task orders could be awarded under this IDIQ?

See answer to Question 51.

53 F.6.3.2 P.65, F.6.2.3 allows a "special authorization" for subcontractor rates above CDRs. This “special authorization” is not mentioned elsewhere; does this authorization apply only to non-competitive task orders?

Yes, this only applies to non-competitive task orders.

54 H.3(a)(1) In section H.3 (a) (1), USAID states that “If, during contract performance, the Contractor proposes salary or wages for a new individual(s) that exceeds five (5) percent ceiling of the individual’s current salary or wage or the highest rate of annual salary or wage received during any full year of the immediately preceding three (3) years, the Cognizant Contracting Officer’s approval is required.” In recent years, many employers have moved away from capturing, recording, and using historical salary as a basis for new salary in hiring processes (due to biases associated with this as a data). This is mirrored by USAID’s removal of historical salary information from the USAID 1420 Biodata form. Instead, most companies offer compensation commensurate to the position and required qualifications. As such, neither USAID’s forms, nor most contractors established practice require collection of historical salary. Without historical salary such a request would not be feasible. Would USAID consider removing this term in the RFP and resulting contract?

The language in Section H.3(a)(1) remains unchanged as it does not prohibit the Contracting Officer from approving an annual salary or wage exceeding the five (5) percent ceiling.

55 H.3(a)(1) The RFP states, “If, during contract performance, the Contractor proposes salary or wages for a new individual(s) that exceeds five

(5) percent ceiling of the individual’s current salary or wage or the highest rate of annual salary or wage received during any full year of the immediately preceding three (3) years, the Cognizant Contracting Officer’s approval is required.” Given the recent update to the 1420 bio-data form no longer requires salary history and only asks that a rationale for the salary proposed be provided, we respectfully request that this language be deleted.

See response to Question 54.

56 H.3(a)(1) Pertaining Section H - Special Contract Requirements p. 74 of the solicitation, USAID states the following: “If, during contract performance, the Contractor proposes salary or wages for a new individual(s) that exceeds five (5) percent ceiling of the individual’s current salary or wage or the highest rate of annual salary or wage received during any full year of the immediately

See response to Question 54.

preceding three (3) years, the Cognizant Contracting Officer’s approval is required.”; As part of the submission, applicants are required to adhere to applicable federal, state, and/or local cooperating country laws as it relates to implementing the IDIQ, and based on findings by the Department of Labor (including the EEOC and OFCCP), the use of salary history has disproportionately and negatively impacted compensation for minorities and women. As a result, currently in the US, there are over 37 cities and states that now mandate that state employers or employers in a given jurisdiction can no longer use salary history to establish a pay rate, and employers are prohibited from making such requests in these locations. As such, will USAID consider removing using salary history to establish pay? Additionally, section B.8 (g) refers to using salary history to determine pay.

Can USAID also revise this section?

57 H.3(a)(1) Section H.3(a)(1) of the RFP places a limit on the salary proposed for new employees based on their prior salary history, but this appears to contradict USAID’s current practice of offering compensation consistent with market rates for the role performed. Could USAID please confirm that the Offerors should observe the salary limitations outlined in this Section?

See response to Question 54.

58 H.3 Section H.3, “Additional Requirements for Personnel Compensation,” (page 74) states, “If, during contract performance, the Contractor proposes salary or wages for a new individual(s) that exceeds five (5) percent ceiling of the individual’s current salary or wage or the highest rate of annual salary or wage received during any full year of the immediately preceding three (3) years, the Cognizant Contracting Officer’s approval is required.” We request that USAID remove this restriction for compensation because it does not align with the updated contractor employee biographical data sheet, which no longer includes salary history or requires its collection. The

See response to Question 54.

limitation on compensation may also preclude contractors from following their established policies, procedures, and practices, as required by AIDAR 752.7007.

59 H.3 Section H.3 Additional Requirements for Personnel

Compensation (a), Page 74, states: “(1) If, during contract performance, the Contractor proposes salary or wages for a new individual(s) that exceeds five (5) percent ceiling of the individual’s current salary or wage or the highest rate of annual salary or wage received during any full year of the immediately preceding three (3) years, the Cognizant Contracting Officer’s approval is required.” As the AID-1420 biodata form no longer requires reporting of salary history, would USAID please remove this requirement?

See response to Question 54.

60 H.3 Section H.3 (page 74) sets personnel compensation limitations of 5% above an individual’s current salary for proposed new salaries and of 3% annual salary increases for the current labor pool, except when based on US Mission adjustments to the LCP.

Please consider removing these limitations from the RFP, as it appears to be inconsistent with AIDAR 752.7007, Personnel

Compensation, and may preclude Contractors from following their established policies, procedures, and practices, with reimbursement subject only to the USAID Contractor Salary Threshold.

See response to Question 6.

61 H.3 Pertaining Section H - Special Contract Requirements p. 74, “Annual salary increases (e.g., cost of living and merit increases and other) of three (3) percent ceiling of the current labor pool may be granted once a year. Salary adjustments additional to salary increases for local staff may be implemented out of cycle, if the adjustments are made in response to U.S. Mission adjustments to the local compensation plan (LCP). Annual salary increases of any kind exceeding these limitations or exceeding the maximum salary in Section H.2(b) may be granted only with

Offerors are not prohibited in proposing a higher percentage for non-US based positions.

the advance written approval of the Contracting Officer.”; can USAID clarify if the 3% ceiling is of the total labor pool or per individual? Capping the annual salary increase rate at 3% will have an administrative burden on countries that have cost of living and inflation rates above 3%, and will impact the ability of implementers to attract and retain staff. Would USAID consider a higher percentage for non-US based positions or allowing contractors to propose increases in line with their policies?

62 H.3(d) Section H.3(d) on page 75 of the RFP states that there is an annual increase ceiling of a 3% pool of current labor. In many countries, the contractor’s current market data reflects economic adjustments (annual cost of living adjustments, consumer price index, etc.) in the local labor markets in many of the potential countries of implementation that require more than the 3% annual increase. To ensure a competitive talent pool and help with retention, would USAID please consider increasing the ceiling for CCNs increases to reflect implementor’s market data?

See response to Question 61.

63 H.5 Do we need the AON DBA Insurance prior to submitting any proposals for TOs or can we wait until we know if we were awarded?

DBA Insurance can be obtains at time of award for each task order.

64 H.12 Section H.12 (g)(3), Page 82, states the Contractor must ensure “sufficient time for the Contractor to complete its review of the grantee and provide a final report to the government before

Contract or Contract close-out.” Would USAID please correct the typo towards the end of the sentence?

There is no typo, it is Contract close-out.

65 H.19 H.19 SHARING OF OPERATIONAL DATA WITH THE

NEXTGEN CONTROL TOWER

“A. The Contractor must supply the NextGen Control Tower platform with operational data generated during contract performance. The operational data must be submitted to the NextGen Control Tower platform through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), unless otherwise approved by USAID.”

F.5.2(3) states that the task order-level Data Sharing & Use Agreement with the NextGen Control Tower will include a detailed description of all the data that will be shared with the Control Tower, including format, frequency, and the mechanisms for data quality assurance and data sharing.

Would operational data needed to be directly to NEXTGEN CONTROL TOWER immediately after generated or would it initially need to transmitted to sub-contractor for review and rationalization prior to transmission to NEXTGEN CONTROL

TOWER. e.g., Country inventory status

Would In-Country Inventory data (physical movement of goods) be transmitted to NEXTGEN CONTROL TOWER in real time or would it be initially transmitted to sub-contractor for management review and rationalization and then transmitted to NEXTGEN CONTROL TOWER as a batch job in EDI Format?

Note that Section F incorrectly referred to “Section H.20 Sharing of GHSC Operational Data with the NextGen Control Tower”, whereas this is actually Section H.19.

66 H.20 “Contractor must submit to USAID ’s Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC)”

a. Will all operational data need to be first transmitted to an EDI Clearinghouse who would then transit operational data in EDI format to NEXTGEN

CONTROL TOWER?

b. If affirmative, what is the name of the EDI Clearinghouse?

c. Will USAID provide list of all EDI Transaction Sets that will be used for data transmission to NEXTGEN

CONTROL TOWER?

There was a mistake in references to Section H.20.

Note that Section H.19 SHARING OF

OPERATIONAL DATA WITH THE NEXTGEN

CONTROL TOWER provides discussion of the Control Tower whereas Section H. 20 AIDAR

752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR

DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS

discusses submission to the DEC.

The Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) is entirely separate from the Control Tower, and the requirements described under H.19 are separate from those under H.20.

a) All operational data need to be transmitted first to NextGen Control Tower.

c) The EDI translation sets and/or any data sharing mechanism will be identified and mutually agreed upon between Comprehensive TA Contractors and NextGen Control Tower as part of the data sharing agreement deliverable.

67 n/a Could USAID please consider adding FAR 52.237-9, Waiver of Limitation on Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals, to the solicitation and resulting contracts?

This clause does not need to be added as USAID is not responsible for the severance payments. That is a responsibility of the Contractor’s company policy.

68 I.2 I.2 52.216-18 ORDERING (AUG 2020)

“Any supplies and services to be furnished under this contract shall be ordered by issuance of delivery orders or task orders by the individuals or activities designated in the Schedule”

a. Can Contractor and/or Sub-Contractors in Comp TA coalition (if they are designated in the Schedule) issue Delivery Orders?

USAID is only responsible for the prime contractor.

We have no privy to activities done by subcontractors.

69 J.7 The RFP lists J.7 Small Business Subcontracting Plan Template as an attachment, however J.7 is not included as an attachment as part of the solicitation package. Please confirm that small business offerors do not need to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan

The listing of attachments includes a link to J.7 Small Business Subcontracting Plan template:

http://www.usaid.gov/business/small_business/subcontracting-program

USAID confirms that small business offerors do not have to submit a small business subcontracting plan.

70 J.7 Can USAID please upload Attachment J.7 to the sam.gov solicitation?

See answer to Question 70.

71 J.9b In Attachment J.9.b, the template on Page 4 of the “J.9.b. Cost

Price Evaluation Matrix – Unrestricted” has a line called “U.

Fixed Fee (Ceiling Percentage and Resulting Fixed Fee): $ ________/_____%”. Can USAID clarify what it means by “Resulting Fixed Fee”?

In this instance what is meant by “Resulting Fixed

Fee” is the dollar amount that results from a fixed fee ceiling percentage of X% as proposed by the offeror.

72 J.9.a-d In Attachments J9a to d, USAID states that only Year 1 CDRs are selected in the Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix? Could USAID kindly clarify how it plans to evaluate the CDRs for the other years through Year 8?

Offerors must provide CDRs for Years 1-10 in Attachment J.8.

73 J.9.a-d The Cost/Prices Evaluation Matrices (Attachments J.9A & J.9B respectively) reference positions that are different from the CDR

The price matrices in J.9a and J.9.b do not list labor categories, they list position (home office, long term expatriate, etc). Subpoint A (pg 1) in Attachment http://www.usaid.gov/business/small_business/subcontracting-program http://www.usaid.gov/business/small_business/subcontracting-program labor categories (Attachment 8). Please confirm that the positions in the matrix should be aligned as follows to the CDR labor category/experience:

Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix Positions

CDR Labor Category/Experience

Senior, long-term expatriate

Technical

Leadership/Management Senior

Senior, long-term expatriate

Finance & Compliance

Staff Senior

Mid, long-term expatriate

Subject Matter Expert-

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

Mid

Senior, long-term home office 008 Construction Specialist Senior

Mid, short-term expatriate consultant

Subject Matter Expert –

Supply Chain Mid

Senior, short-term expatriate consultant

Subject Matter Expert- General

Senior

Junior, long-term home office

Administrative and

Operational Staff Junior

J.9.a provides the instruction on which labor categories to use to fill in the matrices contained within J.9a and J.9b. It is up to the offeror to determine which labor category from the table on page 1 of J.9.a to use for the various positions in the price matrices in J9a and J.9.b.

74 J.9a Attachment J.9a Section A on page 1 states that the number of days specified in the template shall not be altered. For Offerors whose paid absences are included in their Fringe

The Cost/Price Matrix remains unchanged.

pool, those paid absences will be included in both the salary section and the Fringe section. This will result in an unrealistic price. Could USAID please reconsider the directions for the Cost/Price Matrix to allow for the number of days to be adjusted for any paid absences covered in the Offerors Fringe?

75 J.9.a USAID provides Attachment J.9a for the preparation of labor categories. Please confirm:

• If the Offeror includes the number of paid absences in column F, they will be added to LOE (column D) for evaluation purposes.

• That Offerors whose Indirects consist of overhead and G&A can include additional lines for overhead in the matrix.

• That formula in Cell E34 for Total Direct Costs +

Applicable Indirect Costs should be SUM (E24:E33) instead of SUM (E14:E33). It seems that the direct costs are double counted.

Column F is for informational purposes only and not added to Column D.

Please provide cost for Indirect rates as listed in the Cost/Price Matrix. No additional lines are requested at this time.

The formula has been corrected on a revised

Cost/Price Matrix.

76 J.9.b Attachment J.9b - Would USAID please confirm that offerors are allowed to add indirect rows to the spreadsheet as needed to match relevant NICRA categories?

No. Do not add additional rows for indirect costs.

Add them into the existing cells for indirect costs on each individual line item.

77 J.9.b In Attachment J.9b, if Offerors do not direct bill fringe benefits for local labor, should the plug figure be removed or should the Offeror reduce their Corporate Fringe by the plug figure provided to ensure that those costs are not included in the Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix twice?

Offeror may reduce their Corporate Fringe by the plug figure to reduce cost.

78 J.9.b In Attachment J.b should Offerors add a green highlight to…