Amendment_01_Q&A_SOL_72016718R00017_Up_to_Youth.pdf

Question and answers:

Questions 1: On page 77, USAID states that the Table of Contents count against the technical proposal’s thirty page limit. We respectfully request that the Table of Contents be excluded from counting toward the thirty page limit.

Answer 1: USAID confirms that Table of Contents will not be counted toward page limitation.

See amendment 1.

Question 2: On page 77, USAID states that, “the Management and Mobilization Plan, including CVs for Key Personnel (Limited to five pages and does not count against the page limit).” Can you please confirm that the five page limit is for the Management and Mobilization Plan and does not include Key Personnel CVs?

Answer 2: USAID confirms that the 5 page limitation is for only the Management and Mobilization Plan and does not include the two page limitation for CVs.

Question 3: Can USAID please provide greater clarity on the age range of target youth for the Up to Youth activity?

Answer 3: Offerors should propose a definition of youth they feel is appropriate for the activity, providing a brief explanation on what the definition is based on and why it is appropriate for the activity to achieve its objectives.

Question 4: Can USAID please explain if the offeror is expected to explain the potential for control groups in the program’s target areas that may be necessary for the impact evaluation?

Answer 4: The impact evaluation is to be determined at the time of award. If utilized, the impact evaluation will be conducted by a third party impact evaluator. The contractor will be required to collaborate closely with the impact evaluator during the life of the activity.

Question 5: On page 81 under Part 4- Past Performance, USAID requests that contractors provide past performance information for contracts not in PPIRS that the prime or major sub-contractor has implemented in the last five years with a cost of $5,000,000 to $15,000,000 and involving similar work as in Section C. Can USAID please confirm that it does not want past performance information related to projects implemented under cooperative agreements that meet this criterion?

Answer 5: USAID confirms that relevant past performance of other mechanisms are acceptable.

Questions 6: To allow offers to provide more detailed costs, would USAID allow offerors to submit their own excel budget templates if they include the cost categories provided by USAID?

Answer 6: Offerors will not be allowed to submit their own EXCEL budget templates.

Question 7: Can USAID please provide a plug figure amount for branding and marketing?

Answer 7: A plug figure for branding and marketing is not available.

Question 8: Can USAID please provide a plug figure amount for website costs?

Answer 8: A plug figure for website costs is not available.

Question 9. In order for budget consistency across offerors, can USAID please provide an exact period of performance (project start and end dates)?

Answer 9: The anticipated award date is March 2019 with a period of performance of five years.

Question 10: On page 39, section H.11, paragraph (d), USAID states that “One annual increase salary increase not more than 3% percent may be granted after the employee’s completion of each twelve-month period of satisfactory services under the contract.” Would USAID please remove restraints on annual salary increases in order for offerors to adhere to their organization’s policy on annual employee merit increases?

Answer 10: The ceiling on salary annual increases will not be removed. Subsequent to contract award the contractor may seek approval from the Contracts Officer to grant a salary increase in excess of the 3% ceiling.

Question 11: On page 17, USAID describes an impact evaluation that will be conducted and completed by a third party evaluator. Can USAID please confirm that the Contractor is not required to budget for the impact evaluation in its cost application?

Answer 11: Correct, the Offeror is not required to budget for the impact evaluation.

Question 12: Page 18, Section C.8 “Monitoring, Evaluating, and Learning”, Subsection “Positive Youth Development” states “The Contractor must apply youth-led, positive youth development (found key domains: assets, agency, contribution, and enabling environment) approaches in achievement of the activity’s objectives” and references the PYD Framework.

As “Youth” is identified in accordance with the Positive Youth Development Framework as “individuals between the ages of 10 and 29” (http://www.youthpower.org/positive-youth-development-pyd-glossary), can USAID please provide clarification as to the age range of the target beneficiaries for this activity?

Answer 12: See answer 3.

Question 13: Page 36, Section H.4, “Insurance and Services”, Table A “Rates” appears to have been copied from a previous procurement, as it includes a base period beginning 12/1/2015.

http://www.youthpower.org/positive-youth-development-pyd-glossary http://www.youthpower.org/positive-youth-development-pyd-glossary

Question 13a: Can USAID confirm if the rates included in Table A and the referenced option periods apply to this procurement?

Answer 13a: USAID confirms that Section H.4. A is applicable to this contract and refers specifically to DBA insurance.

Question 13b: If yes, could USAID please provide the revised period of performance for the base and option periods?

Answer 13b:The requested information is not available at this time.

Question 14: Page 39, Section H.11 “Additional Requirements for Personnel Compensation”, Subsection (d) states “One annual increase salary increase not more than 3% percent may be granted after the employee’s completion of each twelve-month period of satisfactory services under the contract.”

Question 14a: Would USAID confirm if the 3% annual salary ceiling cap applies to all proposed staff (U.S. Expatriate, Third Country National (TCN) AND Local Staff) or, only to U.S.

Expatriate and Third Country National?

Answer 14.a: USAID confirms that this applies to all contractor employees

Question 14b: If the 3% annual increase applies only the U.S. Expatriate and Third Country Nationals, is there a separate annual ceiling for local staff?

Answer 14b: See answer 14a.

Question 15: To ensure that we are classifying costs correctly using the budget template provided by USAID as Addendum V to the solicitation, we seek clarification on the following item: Page 40, Section H.11 “Additional Requirements for Personnel Compensation”, Subsection (e), states “Unless the consultant is an employee of the contractor, they are considered subcontractors”, which infers that consultants should be included in subcontractor costs. However, the budget template (Addendum V to the RFP) provided by USAID has subcontractors and consultants as separate cost line items.

Question 15a: Can USAID confirm that they would like Offerors to price subcontracts and consultants separate, as shown in the budget template provided in Addendum V?

Answer 15a: USAID considers consultants to be subcontractors. As a result, offerors should price consultants and subcontractors in one line item. The budget template has been changed accordingly.

Question 15b: Furthermore, would USAID also confirm that they wish Subcontractors and Consultants to be included as “Other Direct Costs” versus a budget section all to themselves?

Answer 15b: USAID confirms that subcontractors and Consultants should be considered as part of “Other Direct Cost.

Question 16: Page 40, Section, H.11 “Additional Requirements for Personnel Compensation”, Subsection (g) states “…it is USAID policy that TCN/CCNs who are hired as local employees and whose salaries are 100% financed under an acquisition instrument be compensated in local currency, and their salaries must not exceed those under the USAID Local Compensation Plan (LCP) for comparable positions”.

Question 16a: Can USAID please provide the most recent LCP for Kosovo?

Answer 16a: The salary range for employees governed by the LCP ranges from a minimum of Euro 11,700 to Euro 38,803 (gross).

Question 17: Page 77, Section L.6 “Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal”, the 5th bullet indicates that the Preliminary MEL Plan counts against the 30 page limit.

As Monitoring and Evaluation is critical to the implementation of this project and requires a substantial narrative, would USAID consider allowing the Preliminary MEL Plan to not count against the 30 page limit?

Answer 17: The preliminary MEL plan will count toward page limitation.

Question 18: Page 77, Section L.6 “Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal”, the final bullet refers to the “Management and Mobilization Plan, including CVs for Key Personnel (Limited to five pages and does not count against page limit)”. Page 79, Section L.6 “Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal”, Subsection 2 “Management and Mobilization Plan”, states that “The Contractor must provide for all key personnel the Curriculum Vitae (CV) including three reference contacts, and must not exceed 2 pages”.

Question 18a: Can USAID confirm that each CV is limited to 2 pages?

Answers 18a: USAID confirms that each CV is limited to 2 pages and it does not count against page limitation for Management and Mobilization Plan.

Question 18b: Can USAID confirm that the CVs for the Key Personnel do not count towards the 5 page limit for the Management and Mobilization plan annex, as referenced on page 77?

Answer 18b: See response to 18a.

Question 19: Page 77, Section L.6 “Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal” includes a bulleted list of items that do and do not count towards the 30 page limit.

Can USAID confirm that an offeror can include a cover page and an acronym list that will not count towards the 30 page limit?

Answer 19: USAID confirms that cover page and acronym list do not count toward page limitation.

Question 20: Page 81, Section L.7 “Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal”, Subsection (d) “Part 4 – Past Performance” states “For contracts not in the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), offerors (including all partners of a joint venture) must use the “Past Performance Information Sheet” (included as Addendum 6) to list past performance information for itself and each major subcontractor (one whose proposed cost exceeds 10% of the Offeror’s total proposed cost), with a cost between $5,000,000 and $15,000,000, with a period of performance falling within the last five years, and involving similar work as in Section C.”

Question 20a: Can USAID confirm that all contracting mechanisms (such as cooperative agreements and contracts) can be submitted in response to this requirement?

Answer 20a: See answer 5.

Question 20b: In order to allow organizations to provide relevant experience, would USAID consider increasing the ceiling cost amount from $15,000,000 to $25,000,000?

Answer 20b. USAID will consider a ceiling increase to $25,000,000 of the relevant past performance. See amendment #1 to the solicitation.

Question 21: Page 85, Section M.4 “Cost Proposal Evaluation” states “For offeror’s submitting a cost proposal in State 2, each cost proposal will be evaluated, but will not be assigned a rating”.

Question 21a: Can USAID clarify if this reference to “Stage 2” is an oversight?

Answer 21a: USAID confirms that it is an administrative error.

Question 21b: Does USAID contemplate a 2-stage evaluation process? If yes, could USAID please provide further details?

Answer 21b: See answer 21a.

Question 22: Can USAID please confirm that the target group for the Up to Youth Activity is young people between the ages of 15-24 as per the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports?

Answer 22: See answer 3.

Question 23: What is the anticipated start date for this program?

Answer 23: See answer 9.

Question 24: According to the instructions for the preparations of the technical proposal on Section L.6 on pages 77 and 78, the Management and Mobilization Plan is limited to 5 pages including CVs for Key Personnel. However on page 79, it states CVs can be 2 pages for each of the 5 key personnel and would thus take 10 pages for CVs. Would USAID please confirm that the Management and Mobilization Plan may be 5 pages PLUS the CVs, that is, a maximum of 15 pages?

Answer 24: See answer 18a. A maximum of 15 pages is permitted for the Management and Mobilization Plan and CVs.

Question 25: May references be provided on a separate page, beyond the 2 page limit for the CVs?

Answer 25:References may not be provided on a separate page.

Question 26: Does USAID have a salary scale that they recommend be used for Kosovo? If so, would USAID kindly provide it?

Answer 26: See answer 16 a.

Question 27: On page 25, USAID states under F.5 (g) “USAID reserves the right to adjust the level of key personnel during the performance of this contract.” Can USAID please clarify what it means to adjust the level of key personnel?

Answer 27: A final decision on the number of target areas may lead to adjustments in the requirements for key personnel during project implementation.

Question 28: On page 39, Section H.11 (e) outlines that compensation for consultants will not exceed “the highest rate of annual compensation received by the consultant during any full year of the immediately preceding three years or the USAID SES established rate, whichever is less.”

This does not allow offerors to take a consultant’s past consultancy rates into consideration to determine their remuneration. Would USAID consider changing this guidance to allow Offerors to take past consultancy work into consideration when determining consultants’ rates?

Answer 28: This clause is deleted because consultants are treated as sub-contractors.

Question 29: Our organization operates under the understanding that consultants are “Nonpersonal services contractors” subject to the requirements of FAR Part 37, not subcontractors subject to the requirements of FAR Part 44. Could you provide more information as to why individual consultants would be subject to FAR clause 52.244-2 as referenced on page 40, including consent to subcontract, certified cost or pricing data, and Cost Accounting Standards requirements therein?

Answer 29 – USAID/Kosovo requires that all consultants be treated as subcontractors and are therefore subject to the requirements at FAR Part 44. Offerors must take this requirement into consideration when deciding to participate in this procurement.

Question 30: May offerors submit past performance on projects larger than $15M and/or Cooperative Agreements?

Answer 30: USAID confirms that offerors may submit past performance on projects with a dollar amount up to $25 million. See answer 20b.

Question 31: Section L.6 (p.77) states that offerors may use 10-point font in charts and graphs.

May offerors use a 10-point font in tables?

Answer 31: USAID confirms that Offerors may use 10-point font in tables.

Question 32: May offerors include a proposal cover/title page (in addition to the cover letter) that does not count toward the page limit?

Answer 32: See answer 19.

Question 33: May offerors include a list of abbreviations and acronyms that does not count toward the page limit?

Answer 33: See answer 19

Question 34: Would USAID please clarify the process for the evaluation of cost proposals? The RFP on p. 85 states “For offeror’s submitting a cost proposal in Stage 2, each cost proposal will be evaluated…”. Does this mean that cost proposals will be evaluated only at the Competitive Range stage described in section M.5? This seems to be in conflict with this statement on p. 83:

“For overall evaluation purposes of the RFP non-cost criteria…when combined are considered significantly more important than cost factors.”

Answer 34: - See response to 21a.

Question 35: Is there a VAT tax exemption?

Answer 35: Yes, USAID/Kosovo has procedures in place for VAT tax exemptions.

Question 36: Would USAID please clarify what types of costs should be captured under the “Support Funds” line item in the budget template?

Answer 36: The budget template has been revised to remove the budget line item for Support Funds.

Question 37: Regarding the page limits listed in Section L.6, page 77 for the management and mobilization plan, could USAID confirm that the five-page limit refers to the management and mobilization plan itself and not the CVs?

Answer 37: See answer 2.

Question 38: Regarding the page limits as specified in Section L.6 on page 77, could USAID clarify whether the CVs, which are limited to 2 pages each (p. 79), count toward the overall 30-page limit for the technical proposal?

Answer 38: CVs do not count toward the 30 page limitation for the technical proposal. See answer 2.

Question 39: Could USAID clarify whether the Management and Mobilization Plan counts against the 30- page limit of the technical proposal?

Answer 39: The Management and Mobilization Plan does not count against the 30 page limit of the technical proposal. The Management and Mobilization Plan has a 5 page limitation exclusive of the technical proposal 30 page limitation.

Question 40: May offerors submit CVs as an annex to the main technical sections or shall the CVs be placed within the Management and Mobilization section?

Answer 40: CVs may be incorporated as an annex to the technical sections.

Question 41: Would USAID consider excluding the table of contents from the page count of the technical proposal (L.6, page 77)?

Answer 41: See answer 1.

Question 42: Section L.6 does not mention an acronym list. Could USAID clarify whether an acronym list may be included and if so, whether it would count against the 30-page limit?

Answer 42: See answer 19.

Question 43:. On page 78 of the RFP, USAID provides five guiding questions to inform the design of the technical approach. Would USAID like offerors to provide point-by-point answers to these questions or is it sufficient to integrate their responses to those questions in the technical approach?

Answer 43: Offerors should have integrated responses to those questions in the technical approach. In addition, they must provide condensed point-by-point answers to guiding questions to describe the technical approach.

Question 44: Would USAID permit offerors to propose grants under contract (GUC) as part of their strategy to carry out the SOW? If so, we request that USAID incorporate GUC authorizing language as per ADS 302.3.4.13 into the RFP.

Answer 44: Yes, the offerors can propose grants under contract (GUC) as part of their strategy to carry out the SOW. It is not USAID’s intent to prescribe GUCs but if offeror proposes a viable GUC program the GUC authority will be finalized at the time of award.

Question 45: Section H.11(d) (page 39) limits annual salary increases to not more than 3 percent.

We respectfully request that this restriction for salary increases of not more than 3 percent be removed from the RFP as it appears to be inconsistent with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation, incorporated in the contract under Section H.10 (page 38), which stipulates that personnel compensation be in accordance with the contractor’s established policies, procedures, and practices, with reimbursement subject only to the USAID Contractor Salary Threshold. The limitation on salary increases may preclude contractors from following their established policies, procedures, and practices, as required by AIDAR 752.700.

Answer 45: See answer 10.

Question 46: Would USAID permit offerors to combine the role of an objective lead and another key personnel position such as chief of party or deputy chief of party? In other words, is it required to put forth five key personnel positions?

Answer 46: Offerors may combine the role of an objective lead and another key personnel position. Offerors are not required to put forth five key personnel positions, that said offerors should ensure that proposed candidates have the expertise and qualifications needed to successfully carry out the required duties and responsibilities.

Question 47: Page 2 11. Section M.4 on page 85 mentions a Stage 2 for cost proposal submission. Could USAID please confirm that the reference to Stage 2 is an error?

Answer 47: See answer 21a.

Question 48: Could USAID clarify what age range is denoted by the classification “youth”?

Answer 48: See Answer 3.

Question 49. Could USAID please clarify as to whether the third-party impact evaluation contractor is responsible for collecting baseline data for the impact evaluation?

Answer 49: The impact evaluation will be determined at the time of award. Should there be a need for an impact evaluation, it will be conducted by a third party evaluator. The third party evaluator will work closely with the implementer to collect the baseline data.

Question 50: The RFP states that the impact evaluation will be conducted by a third-party evaluation contractor. Could USAID advise when it anticipates awarding this contract, as the impact evaluation design and sample frame for the Up to Youth Activity should be designed at project startup?

Answer 50: Tentative start date of the Impact Evaluation will be synchronized with the date of the project startup. Also, see answer 9.

Question 51: Because Kosovo Up to Youth is a five-year program, can USAID please explain why the impact evaluation is scheduled for the end of Year 3?

Answer 51: See answer 50.

Question 52: Would USAID permit offerors to modify the budget template provided in Addendum V? For example, may an offeror add line items or alter certain line item names to match its corporate cost accounting standards?

Answer 52: USAID has revised the budget template. Offerors may modify budget template if necessary.

Question 53: Would USAID provide the most up-to-date local compensation plan for Kosovo as an attachment to this RFP?

Answer 53: See answer 16a

Question 54: RFP Section C.6 Activity Implementation Geographic Focus, Pg. 13, “Before starting Activity implementation, the Contractor will recommend between 5 to 12 target areas with a significant opportunity for impact and provide an accompanying rationale. A target area can be a community at the municipal or national level. Target areas with greater potential for impact will likely have a population of youth vulnerable to social exclusion and/or existing youth networks and with the potential for and/or existing resilience actors. “Please confirm that the 5- 12 target areas will be defined upon award, not at the proposal stage.

Answers 54: Correct. Targeted areas will be proposed by the successful offeror.

Question 55: RFP Section C.6 Activity Implementation, Objective Two Implementation Details, Pg. 15, “Economic interventions may include: self-employment and entrepreneurship programs, grant-making programs, incentive funds, development of new sectors, the facilitation of public and private alliances, and establishment of linkages private sector funding such as angel investors or venture capital firms.”

Can USAID confirm its definition of, and elaborate on, an incentive fund in this context?

Answer 55: Incentive funds may be used for economic empowerment interventions, if proposed interventions ensure achievement of the objective.

Question 56: Please confirm that the offeror may award grants under the planned contract. If yes, please confirm whether there is a ceiling for the budget amount that may be allocated to grants.

Answer 56: Yes, the offerors can propose grants under contract (GUC) as part of their strategy to carry out the SOW. USAID/Kosovo is not mandating the use of GUCs and as a result there is no ceiling amount for GUCs.

Question 57: RFP Section C.7 Guiding Principles P.16, “The Contractor must explore opportunities to leverage resources with other key stakeholders as part of its implementation approach. Co-investment and co-design of interventions is not only critical to maximizing the impact of USAID and Kosovo resources already available but can also serve as a valuable indicator of the alignment of Activity interventions with government, private sector, and international priorities and interests.”

Can USAID please elaborate on leveraging resources? Does “co-investment” and “co-design” refer to bringing financial contributions by other stakeholders? If yes, how does USAID wish offerors to demonstrate evidence of financial contributions?

Answer 57: Offerors are encouraged to consider and propose ways on how they would leverage resources during implementation. Quantification is not necessary; offerors are not required to demonstrate evidence of financial contributions as part of the proposal. Instead, offerors may select to name organizations with similar objectives where resources can be leveraged by joining efforts.

Question 58: RFP Section F.5 (a) Key Personnel Pg. 24-25, “The contractor must furnish the following positions deemed for the performance of this contract. “Can USAID please confirm that five Key Personnel positions are required for this contract? (Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Objective 1 Team Lead, Objective 2 Team Lead, and Objective 3 Team Lead)

Answer 58: See answer 46.

Question 59: RFP Section L.6 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, Pg. 77 “Management and Mobilization Plan, including CVs for Key Personnel (Limited to five pages and does not count against page limit).” RFP Section L.6.2 Management and Mobilization Plan, Pg. 78, “The Contractor must provide for all key personnel the Curriculum Vitae (CV) including three reference contracts and must not exceed 2 pages.”

Question 59a: Can USAID confirm that the five-page limit for the Management and Mobilization Plan is in addition to the 30-page limit for the other elements of the technical proposal?

Answer 59a: See answer 39.

Question 59b:Can USAID please confirm that CVs for Key Personnel, which alone will total 10 pages (5 key staff x 2 pages per CV), are excluded from the five-page limit for the Management and Mobilization Plan? If so, may CVs for Key Personnel be provided as an annex to the technical proposal?

Answer 59 b: See answers 18a and 24.

Question 60: RFP Section L.7 (b)(1)(i) Proposed Costs Pg. 79, “The Offeror must provide a complete budget, including the budgets for each subcontractor, by cost element utilizing the provided budget template in Addendum V.”

Can USAID please clarify if the offeror can modify the “DETAIL Prime” and “DETAIL Subcontractor” worksheets to insert additional line items under each category? May offerors also include additional worksheets that link to the “DETAIL Prime” worksheet in order to provide an additional level of detail?

Answer 60: See answer 52.

Question 61: RFP Section M.4 Cost Proposal Evaluation Pg.85, “For offeror’s submitting a cost proposal in Stage 2, each cost proposal will be evaluated, but will not be assigned a rating.”

The reference to a “Stage 2” does not appear elsewhere in the RFP; can USAID clarify whether this reference is applicable to the evaluation of proposals submitted in response to this RFP.

Answer 61: See answer 21a.

Question 62: Addendum IV Section 1.1 Purpose and Scope of RCE Pg.2, “The primary beneficiaries of this activity are youth who are out of school and aged 18-29 or as defined by the Government of Kosovo.”

Question 62a: The Government of Kosovo appears to define youth as those aged 15-24. Based on this guidance, is it acceptable to target youth aged 15-29, covering both USAID’s and Government of Kosovo’s definition for youth?

Answer 62a: See answer 3. References to target youth ages and out of school youth in the RCE are not valid for this solicitation. The RCE will be revised.

Question 62b: Can USAID clarify it expects primary beneficiaries to be both out of school and within USAID’s specified age range. If yes, what minimum percentage of beneficiaries does USAID expect to fall within this category?

Answer 62b: See answer 62a.

Question 62c: Can USAID please provide a specific definition for “out of school”?

Answer 62c: See answer 62a.

Question 62d: Are youth attending madrassas (religious schools) considered to be out of school or in school?

Answer 62d: See answer 62a.

Question 63: Page 14: USAID states that target areas should be proposed based on "opportunity for the contractor to build upon prior USAID investments". Can USAID please clarify the following?

Question 63a: Does every proposed target area need to be one that has received USAID investments?

Answer 63a: If such opportunity arises it should be noted. Proposed target areas are not required to be in areas that have received USAID investment.

Question 63b: Does USAID want to include those areas covered by its current investments/ projects (e.g. Empower, E4E?, and ASSET,), as well as areas covered by its prior projects?

Answer 63b: See answer 63a.

Question 63c: Are there specific prior projects or other USAID investments that USAID would like for Offerors to consider in their geographic selection?

Answer 63c: No.

Question 64: Can USAID please confirm that Up To Youth will be using the USAID definition of youth (aged 10-29) for this project? Please clarify whether, and to what extent, the younger cohorts (e.g. 10-14 and 15-19) should be targeted with Up to Youth activities.

Answer 64: See answer 3.

Question 65: Page 10: The Up To Youth goal includes “youth resilience to social exclusion, and consequently violent extremism, will be increased.” To support the Contractor in being able to measure impact at the goal level, can USAID please provide Offerors with the definition of “resilience” and the definition of “resilience to social exclusion” that should be used for this project?

Answer 65: Definition for resilience: Resilience is the ability of people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth.

Social exclusion: Process by which individuals or groups of people are systematically denied access to rights, opportunities, and/or services.

Social inclusion: The process of improving the terms on which individuals and groups take part in society – improving the ability, opportunity, and dignity of those disadvantaged.

Question 66: Page 13: USAID states that “a target area can be a community at the municipal or national level”. Can USAID please clarify what it means by a “community at the national level”;

is this referring to ethnic minority communities?

Answer 66: No, USAID is not referring specifically to ethnic minority communities. However, there might be opportunities to form partnerships and/or networks at the national level utilizing an inclusive approach (meaning not exclude any group that might potentially benefit, including ethnic)

Question 67: Please clarify whether Offerors will be expected by USAID to measure the link between youth resilience to social exclusion, and susceptibility to violent extremism.

Answer 67: Yes, but not only limited to violent extremism. It should also include the social exclusion aspect at large. This linkage would test and validate the Theory of Change for the activity: “IF youth in Kosovo vulnerable to social exclusion are mobilized and empowered to effect positive change, AND resilient networks are supported to create meaningful engagement for youth, THEN youth resilience to social exclusion and extremism will be increased.”

Question 68: Page 25: Per the list of key personnel described in the RFP, can USAID please confirm that the total number of key personnel should be three: one of the Objective Team Leads, Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party?

Answer 68: See answer 46.

Question 69: Page 77: In Section L/6, the instructions specify font size but not a margin size.

Can USAID please provide this?

Answer 69: A margin size no greater than 1 inch is acceptable.

Question70: The instructions do not mention an acronym list or whether this would count against page limits. Can USAID please clarify whether an acronym list is desired and whether this will count against page limits?

Answer 70: See answer 19

Question 71: Does USAID expect offerors to include an organization chart as part of their technical proposals in the Management and Mobilization Plan (MMP)? If so, would USAID consider increasing the five-page limit for the MMP annex?

Answer 71: An organization chart is not required.

Question 72: Page 77 & 79: Can USAID please confirm that the five-page limit for the Management and Mobilization Plan (MMP) described on p. 77 does not include the two-page key personnel CVs required to be included in the MMP. With these CVs, please confirm that the total page limit for the MMP section would be 15 pages.

Answer 72: See answers 18a and 24.

Question 73: Page 81: Will USAID accept past performance information on relevant cooperative agreements and grants if they otherwise meet the requirements for the past performance list described in Section L.7 (d)?

Answer 73: See answer 5.

Question 74: Page 81: Per Section L.7 (f), can USAID please confirm that Offerors are not required to submit a branding and marking plan as part of their cost proposals.

Answer 74: A Branding and Marking Plan is not required for submission with Cost Proposals.

Question 75: Page 83: Section M4 on cost proposal evaluation, the RFP refers to requiring a cost proposal “in Stage 2”. Can USAID please clarify this reference to Stage 2?

Answer 75: See Answer 21a.

Question 76: Page 79: The RFP states “The budget narrative must explain the cost element breakdown for the proposed interventions and program activities under each objective of the SOW.” Can USAID please confirm that this means a table must be included in the budget narrative that breaks down the budget ($9,000,000 award ceiling) across the three program objectives by budgetary line item (labor, fringe, allowances, travel, etc.)?

Answer 76: The RFP is revised and the language has been deleted.

Question 77: Addendum V includes a line for “Support Funds”. Can USAID please clarify what Offerors should budget in this line?

Answer 77: The budget template has been revised.

Question 78: Page 9: The RFP states “The Activity supports the USAID/Kosovo’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) 2014-2019 Democracy and Governance assistance Objectives.” However, the CDCS reference provided is for a period of 2014-2018. If there is an updated document extending the period through 2019, would USAID please provide Offerors this document?

Answer 78: An updated document is not available.

Question 79: Subcontractors: Do all subcontractors need to provide standard documentation (Section K, Evidence of Responsibility, Standard Form 33)?

Answer 79: There is no requirement for this documentation.

Question 80: Does USAID require Letters of Commitment from Key Personnel?

Answer 80: Yes, Letters of Commitment are required.

Question 81: Page 17: Could USAID please explain what it means that the external impact evaluation for the activity is scheduled for the third year? Typically impact evaluation involves baseline data collection prior to the launch of activities, followed by end-line data collection in the final year of the program. Could USAID please provide more information regarding the expected schedule and design of the external impact evaluation in case it should be considered in the design of the activity itself?

Answer 81: See answer 50.

Question 82: Page 18: Regarding the impact evaluation, the RFP says, “The evaluation design will be finalized in consultation with the Contractor, and will need to align with the project work plan so as to ensure that the project implementation timing and geographic targeting for the components under evaluation is conducive to rigorous impact evaluation methodology, particularly as needed to ensure validity.” Does this mean that USAID recommends a phased implementation schedule, with activities introduced gradually in selected target areas over the course of five years? Or are activities expected to start at the same time in all areas, with intervention and control groups formed among equivalent groups of youth living within the same areas?

Answer 82: As stated in the RFP: “...USAID/Kosovo recognizes target areas will likely be at varying stages. For this reason, it is possible that Objective One, Two and Three are implemented simultaneously in some target areas. It is also possible that some target areas will not be ready, in the duration of this Activity, to achieve all three Objectives. The Contractor is expected to tailor the approach to the specific target area. USAID/Kosovo will approve final selection of target areas….” Also, see answers 49 and 50.

Question 83: Does USAID have a specific age range or definition of youth for the purposes of this activity? Which ages should the Offeror target?

Answer 83: See answer 3.

Question 84: Page 77, Section L.6 states that Offerors should provide a 1-page “Cover Letter.”

May applicants also include a 1-page, non-counting, “Cover Page” in addition to the Letter?

Answer 84: Yes. Submission of a Cover Page will not count against the 30 page limitation for technical proposals.

Question 85: Page 13, Section C.6, notes that “Before starting Activity implementation, the Contractor will recommend between 5 to 12 target areas with a significant opportunity for impact and provide an accompanying rationale.” Can USAID clarify whether Offerors should specify 5- 12 potential target areas at the proposal stage, or whether the target areas will be proposed after award is made?

Answer 85: See answer 54.

Question 86: In section C.3 Development Challenge, USAID mentions the UNDP Public Pulse Analysis on Youth entitled “Challenges and Perspectives of Youth in Kosovo”. Will this study be available to interested offerors during the proposal period?

Answer 86: Yes. .

Question 87: Section L.6.2, on page 79, states “The Contractor must provide for all key personnel the Curriculum Vitae (CV) including three reference contacts, and must not exceed 2 pages.” However, in Section L.6, USAID also noted that the Management and Mobilization Plan should include CVs for Key Personnel, yet that section is limited to 5 pages. Can USAID confirm that each CV is limited to 2-pages and is NOT included in the page count for the Management and Mobilization Plan?

Answer 87: See answers 18a and 24

Question 88: May applicants include additional Annexes (for example, an Organizational Chart) in the proposal?

Answer 88: Any additional annexes submitted will count against the specified page limitations for the technical proposal and the Management and Mobilization Plan.

Question 89: Can USAID clarify whether all types of eligible organizations are required to submit a small business utilization plan with their proposals?

Answer 89: Only large organizations are required to submit small business utilization plans.

Question 90: Can USAID confirm that the Contractor will be expected to implement Grants Under Contract (GUC) for this activity? Will USAID also provide GUC Authority for this activity?

Answer 90: See answer 44.

Question 91: Section L.7 (d), page 81, states that Offerors must use the “Past Performance Information Sheet” to list past performance information. Can USAID clarify how many past performance references the applicant should provide, and is there a page limit for each?

Answer 91: There are no limitations on the number of past performance references, nor are there page limitations. However, past performance information must meet requirements specified at L.7(d)1.

Question 92: Section M.4, page 85, states “For offeror’s submitting a cost proposal in Stage 2, ...” This is the first reference to multiple stages of evaluation, but there is no other mention of multiple stages of RFP evaluation. Can USAID confirm how many stages will be part of the application process for the Up to Youth Activity?

Answer 92: See answer 21a.

Question 93: Section C.6, Geographic Focus, of the RFP (page 14) indicates the Contractor should “conduct assessments to identify youth leaders, youth capacities and needs.” Further down, under Objective One Implementation Details: Inception Phase, it states the Contractor must “Conduct a rapid assessment to determine the needs and capacities of each target area.”

Question 93a: Would USAID please clarify that the solicitation is referring to the same assessment under two separate headings?

Answer 93a: Yes, the references are to the same assessment. The RFP will be revised.

Question 94: Section C.8 of the RFP, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, page 17, states that the Impact Evaluation will “be conducted and completed by a third party evaluation contractor.”

Would USAID kindly confirm that the costs for the impact evaluation should not be included in offerors’ budgets?

Answer 94: USAID confirms that costs for the impact evaluation are not to be included in Offerors’ budgets.

Question 95: Section C.6 of the RFP, Objective One Implementation Details: Inception Phase, page 14, requires the Contractor to conduct a rapid assessment. Although described under Objective One Implementation Details, it would seem that an understanding of the needs and capacities of each target area should inform all three Objectives, not only Objective One. The rapid assessment, in addition to the assessments and surveys listed under Geographic Focus also detailed on page 14, should seemingly inform all Up to Youth results. We have the following related questions:

Question 95.a Would USAID kindly confirm that all assessments and surveys, including the rapid assessment required in the Inception Phase, should apply to the implementation of all three Objectives, and not only Objective One?

Answer 95.a: Yes, USAID confirms that all assessments and surveys apply to all three implementation objectives.

Question 95.b Would USAID also kindly confirm that USAID envisions the inception phase (first 6 months of the program) to include Objective 2 and 3 activities, in addition to Objective 1 activities?

Answer 95.b: Yes.

Question 96: Section C.8 of the RFP, page 18, states: “We also recognize the particular importance of being able to show attributable results in USAID democracy and governance programming, and see evaluation of this project as an opportunity to try to prove intervention efficacy…the impact evaluation will also play an important formative assessment role for democracy and governance portfolio.” Section G.3, page 32, states: “The Office of Economic Growth (EG) shall provide technical oversight to the Contractor through the designated COR.”

Would USAID kindly clarify through which USAID office the Up to Youth be funded?

Answer 96: This is not relevant for the proposal.

Question 97: The RFP refers to grants in specific instances, detailed below:

Question 97.a: Section C.6, Objective Two Implementation Details states: “Economic interventions may include: self-employment and entrepreneurship programs, grant-making programs “Section F.6.j, Final Report, page 28 states: “Both the illustrative and final Property Disposition Plans shall include the inventory schedule required by FAR 52.245-5, a plan for the disposition of property to eligible parties and a timeline for the disposition of such property and closeout of Grant activities.” However, no other indication is provided in the RFP that authority has been provided for Grants under Contracts, as required by ADS 302 and 303 and 2 CFR

200. As such, we have the following questions in this regard:

Would USAID kindly confirm that Offerors can propose Grants under Contract (GUC) as part of their technical approach and cost proposals?

Answer 97 a: See answer 44.

Question 98: Section L.5, Submission/Delivery Instructions, page 76 states: “Total email size cannot exceed 5 MB.”

Would USAID kindly consider allowing Offerors to submit emails of a size larger than 5 MB, to facilitate the electronic submission of both the technical and cost volumes, which can be sizable documents and typically in excess of 5 MB?

Answer 98: Yes, emails up to 25 MB are acceptable, however offerors are fully responsible for successful transmission of electronic documents.

Question 99: Section L.6, Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, page 77 states: “Technical proposals shall be typed using 12-point font size (can be 10-point in charts and graphs)”. We have the following questions in this regard:

Question 99 a: Would USAID consider allowing Offerors to have tables, textboxes and figures adhere to the same font size requirements as charts and graphs?

Answer 99a: See answer 31.

Question 99b. Would USAID consider allowing Offerors to use a font size smaller than 10, but still legible, for graphs, tables, charts, textboxes and figures?

Answer 98b: No, a smaller font size is not acceptable.

Question 100: Section L.6, Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, page 77, details the required sections.

Would USAID consider allowing Offerors to submit an Acronyms List, that does not count toward the 30-page limitation, after the Table of Contents?

Answer 100: See answer 19.

Question 101: Section L.6, Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, page 77 states: “Table of Content (Does count against page limit).”

Given that the Table of Contents will be the same for all Offerors and not contain any content that will be scored or evaluated, would USAID kindly consider allowing Offerors not to count the Table of Contents towards the 30-page limitation?

Answer 101:See answer 1.

Question 102: Section L.6, Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, page 77 states: “Preliminary MEL Plan (Does count against page limit)”.

Given that a Preliminary MEL Plan will be extremely detailed and require between 2-4 pages of text, would USAID consider allowing Offerors to submit the MEL Plan as an annex to the proposal, and not count toward the 30-page limitation?

Answer 102: The preliminary MEL Plan counts against the 30 page limitation.

Question 103: Section L.6, Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, page 77, states: “Management and Mobilization Plan, including CVs for Key Personnel (Limited to five pages and does not count against page limit)”. We have the following related questions:

Question 103a: Would USAID please confirm that the Management and Mobilization Plan is included in the 30-page limitation?

Answer 103a: See answer 39.

Question 103b: Would USAID please confirm that CVs are not included in the 30-page limitation, and that they may be submitted as an annex to the technical proposal?

Answer 103b: See answers 18a and 24.

Question 103c: Would USAID allow for Offerors to submit CVs of up to five pages in length per each Key Personnel candidate (a total of up to 20 pages)?

Answer 103c: CVs are limited to two pages.

Question 104: Section L.7.d, Past Performance, page 81, includes instructions for the past performance information. We have the following related questions:

Question 104a: The past performance is included in Section L.7, under the heading of Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal. Would USAID kindly consider allowing

Offerors to submit their past performance as an annex to the Technical Proposal, that does not count against the page limitation?

Answer 104a: Past performance information must be submitted with the Cost Proposal.

Question 104b: Would USAID consider allowing Offerors to submit past performance information for contracts that are in the PPIRS?

Answer 104b: USAID will not accept past performance information for contracts that are in the

PPIRS.

Question 104c: Section L.7.d.1 states that offerors should submit past performance information for contracts “with a cost between $5,000,000 and $15,000,000.” Would USAID consider allowing Offerors to submit past performance information for contracts with costs that exceed $15,000,000 if the period of performance falls within the last five years and involves similar work as in Section C?

Answer 104c: See answer 20b.

Question 105: Section 1.1, Addendum IV, Request for Categorical Exclusion, page 2, states:

“The primary beneficiaries of this activity are youth who are out of school and aged 18-29 or as defined by the Government of Kosovo.” In Addendum 1: Resources, by following the link for item 11 “Law on Empowerment and Participation of Youth, Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (2009),” under Article 3 Definitions, 1.1, states: “Youth age – the age group of young people between fifteen (15) and twenty-four (24) years.”

Would USAID kindly clarify the age range of out of school youth who are the primary beneficiaries of the Up to Youth activity?

Answer 105: See answers 3 and 62a.

Question 106: To facilitate the preparation of the cost proposals, and to assist offerors to comply with Section L.7,(b) Part 2 –Proposed Costs, (1.ii) with limitations on personnel compensation for local staff, would USAID kindly provide the current Local Compensation Plan for Kosovo?

Answer 106: See answer 16a.