Q_&_A_SOL_72016718R00003_Justice_Matters.pdf

Amendment 01_Q & A_ RFP No: 72016718R00003 Justice Matters activity in Kosovo

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q & A) SOL #72016718R00003

Q.1 Please clarify whether USAID expects two key personnel or it is up to the offeror to determine the number of key personnel.

A.1 Up to the offeror, but offeror should explain the reasoning for their management structure in the Management Structure Plan.

Q.2 At the bottom of page 68, was USAID’s intention to describe further the Technical

Approach requirements or just continue with the Management Structure Plan requirements on page 69?

A.2 On the bottom of page 68, USAID describes the requirements for the submission of the entire proposal. This also includes instructions on the technical proposal body, including the a) Technical Approach and b) Management Structure Plan. On page 69, it describes these as two of the evaluation factors.

Q.3 Regarding the first expected result under Objective 1: while the Justice Matters Activity will certainly strive to achieve an increased budget for the Legal Aid Agency, there are multiple significant factors beyond the Activity’s control that affect budget allocations.

Therefore, the Activity cannot be held responsible for budget allocations and we respectfully request that USAID revise or remove this expected result.

A.3 While the Contractor cannot be held directly responsible for budget allocations, USAID strongly believes that better performance and budget planning ultimately will lead to more budget allocation. This remains a goal of the activity. But, if issues arise, the Contractor can work with USAID to determine what current political and economic context may ultimately influence results.

Q.4 The third result under Objective 2 (page 13) calls for fully operational legal aid offices around Kosovo. Does this refer to the seven currently active Agency offices or to something else?

A.4 It refers to the Regional Offices for Free Legal Aid established, funded, and operated by the Free Legal Aid Agency.

Q.5 The fourth result under Objective 3 (page 13) refers to Rights Advocacy Networks, though the Objective 3 description on the same page refers to the Contractor working with "a local CSO, or consortium of local organizations." Is supporting the creation of Rights Advocacy Networks a requirement under Objective 3 and, if so, has any relevant work been done yet?

A.5 Creating a specific network is not a requirement of the contract. The way to go about increasing improved legal literacy and empowerment of rights organizations is up to the offeror based on their research and expertise.

Q.6 Is the internship program described on pp.13-14 intended to be separate from the existing internship program run through the Legal Aid Agency?

A.6 It is up to the offeror to decide based on their research and expertise.

Q.7 Please clarify whether the internship program should include current law students or recent law school graduates, or this is up to the offeror.

A.7 This is up to the offeror to decide based on their expertise.

Q.8 Please confirm that it is not USAID’s intention to include legal aid advocates (advocates being defined in Kosovo as KBA members licensed to practice law) as interns.

A.8 It is not USAID’s intent to engage Advocates, as defined by the Law on the Bar as interns.

Q.9 Is the "Annual Strategy Review" (page 16, fourth paragraph) a current Mission platform used by other activities, or will it be unique to Justice Matters? If the former, could the Mission provide further information on how the process works?

A.9 An “Annual Strategy Review” is an opportunity for the Contractor of Justice Matters and USAID to review the workplan and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan. The structure of this review will be determined by USAID and the Contractor.

Q.10 Please clarify what is meant by “the entire Contractor team” (page 16, fourth paragraph).

A.10 All team members included in the Management Structure Plan.

Q.11 Section L.5, pages 67-68, could USAID confirm that the technical and cost proposals should be submitted as two separate emails?

A.11 Yes.

Q.12 Section L.6, page 68, excludes the cover page and the table of content from the page limit.

If a list of acronyms is included in the proposal for readability, could this list also be excluded from the page limit?

A.12 List of acronyms does count against page limit.

Q.13 Section L.6, pages 68-69, could USAID clarify whether additional annexes may be included (in addition to the mobilization plan, organizational chart, and key personnel CVs) and whether they will count against the page limit?

A.13 Annexes do count against page limit.

Q.14 Section L.7, page 70, for budgeting purposes, could USAID provide the CLE Program

Inventory Sheet to determine the office furniture that will be provided to the Activity?

A.14 See Attachment 5, Inventory list of available equipment.

Q.15 What is the anticipated start date of the Activity?

A.15 The expected start date of the activity is on or about the end of May 2018.

Q.16 Will this award be solely for international organizations - or - are local organizations eligible to apply as well?

A.16 Local organizations are eligible to apply as well, but they must comply with the requirements in Section K of the RFP.

Q.17 Can a local company be the lead of the consortium?

A.17 Yes, also see Answer 16.

Q.18 Can COP be local or has to be international?

A.18 COP can be local.

Q.19 Can US NGO be subcontracted for certain activities?

A.19 Yes.

Q.20 Can USAID provide more detailed information on the scope of this award?

A.20 All of the information detailing the scope of the award is included in the RFP in various sections (background, scope of work, etc.)

Q.21 Can a local company apply and subcontract a Kosovo legal Institution?

A.21 All eligible local companies are encouraged to apply, and they can subcontract with other local companies, NGO’s, excluding government institutions.

Q.22 It is not clear to us whether or not the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning plan should be included within the 30 pages for the technical approach, and if so what section of this section it should be included within. Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

A.22 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan is not required to be part of the

Technical Proposal. Prospective contractor shall provide a MEL as part of the annual work plan as specified in section F.6 of the RFP.