SOL72016718R00017_Amendment_2_-_Q&A.pdf

Questions and answers

Question 1: Answer 89 in the Q&A document confirms that “only large organizations are required to submit small business utilization plans”. However, this requirement is not presently in the solicitation document. Please kindly provide guidance on this requirement.

Answer 1: A small business subcontracting plan is not required. Large businesses are required to submit a small business utilization plan per the last bullet in M.3 (4).

Question 2: Could USAID kindly provide guidance in regard to the submission criteria for Section K? According to Section L.7, “offerors must submit those portions of Section K not available online in this section.” Please indicate which clauses of Section K must be provided in addition to what is included in the solicitation.

Answer 2: Offerors should carefully review section K to identify any that must be included.

Question 3: In Amendment #1, the USAID Response to Question 80 indicates that Letters of Commitment from Personnel are required. Would USAID kindly confirm that Letters of Commitment for Key Personnel may be included as an annex to the Technical Proposal that does not count against the page limit?

Answer 3: Letters of commitment for key personnel must be included with the cost proposal.

Question 4: In Section L.6, page 78, the revised instructions state, “CVs for Key Personnel (Limited to two pages and does not count against page limitations for Technical Proposal or Management and Mobilization Plan)”. Can USAID confirm that it is two pages per CV?

Answer 4: USAID confirms that it is two pages per CV.

Question 5: Is USAID expecting to see an illustrative indicator table in the preliminary MEL plan?

Answer 5: No, but the successful offeror will prepare an indicator table as part of the MEL Plan after award.

Question 6: In Amendment #1 of the RFP, USAID states in Answer 89 that only large organizations are required to submit small business utilization plans. Can USAID clarify whether the plan is required at the proposal stage or upon award?

Answer 6: See answer to question 1.

Question 7: In Amendment # 1, in response to question 54, USAID states that, “Targeted areas will be proposed by the successful offeror.” Can USAID please confirm that the offeror does not need to identify proposed target areas at the proposal stage?

Answer 7: USAID confirms that offerors do not need to identify proposed targeted areas at the proposal stage.

Question 8: Could USAID please define the labor categories in the budget template: Direct Long Term Labor, Direct Short Term Labor, Local Office, and Home Office?

Answer 8: The labor categories are self-explanatory, but offerors are reminded of answer 52 in Amendment #1.

Question 9: Per question 31 of the questions and answers provided by USAID with Amendment #1, offerors may use 10 point font for tables. May text boxes also be in 10-point font?

Answer 9: Yes.

Question 10: Per question 80 of the questions and answers provided by USAID with Amendment #1, key personnel letters of commitment are required. The revised RFP does not show where the key personnel letters of commitment should be included. Should these be provided as an additional technical annex after the key personnel CVs?

Answer 10: See answer to question 1.

Question 11: Instructions for the cost proposal include Part 7 Portions of Section K not Available Online. Can USAID please clarify which portions should be provided?

Answer 11: See answer to question 2.

Question 12: On page 41 of the RFP under Section H.14 Consent to Subcontracts, it is stated “In accordance with Contract FAR clause 52.244-2, Subcontracts, the Contracting Officer consents to award of subcontracts as proposed in the Contractor’s proposal which resulted in the award of this Contract to the following firms for the products or services specified here:” Will USAID please confirm if inclusion of subcontractors within the technical and cost proposals is sufficient? Or are prime bidders expected to include an annex for Information to Support Consent to Subcontract for each proposed subcontractor?

Answer 12: Information currently requested is sufficient. The CO may, at his discretion, require additional information in accordance with FAR 52.244-2 after award before issuing consent to subcontract.

Question 13: Per question 89 of the questions and answers provided by USAID with Amendment #1, large business offerors are required to include a small business utilization plan.

Question 13.a.: Will USAID confirm that the requirement is for a USAID Small Business Subcontracting Plan?

Answer 13.a.: See answer to question 1.

Question 13.b.: Is the template last modified in December 2016 and found at this link (https://www.usaid.gov/partnership-opportunities/small-business/subcontracting-template) the template that offerors should use?

Answer 13.b.: Not applicable.

Question 13.c.: Where within the cost proposal should this plan be included?

Answer 13.c.: Not applicable.

Question 14: On October 4th, USAID updated the primary point of contact for the Up to Youth RFP on www.fbo.gov. However, the revised RFP with Amendment #1 states “Offerors must submit their proposals via email to Urime Abdyli at uabdyli@usaid.gov and Nadeem Shah at: nshah@usaid.gov no later than submission due date as specified in the cover page.” Will USAID please provide any relevant changes to the submission instructions or confirm that the instructions in Amendment #1 are correct?

Answer 14: The RFP has been revised accordingly.

Question 15: The revised budget template includes a “Procurements” category within the summary budget. Could USAID please clarify which costs should be included in this category?

Answer 15: Per answer 52 of Amendment #1, offerors may modify the budget template.

Question 16: RFP section L.7 (e) Letters of Commitment, pg. 81, “Cost Proposal must include a letter, on subcontractor letterhead, and signed by an authorized representative of each subcontractor” Would USAID also like the applicant to supply the letters of commitment from its proposed personnel?

Answer 16: See answer to question 3.

Question 17: Does the Geographic Code 937 apply to GUC non U.S entities (registered in Europe) potentially selected by a PRIME during the contract implementation?

Answer 17: Generally yes, in accordance with ADS 310.3.1.1. Offerors that propose a grants under contract program will have to comply with ADS 302.3.4.13 and have to follow requirements from

ADS 302.3.5.6.

Question 18: What Indirect costs rate should be considered for GUC entities that do not have a NICRA (Negotiated Indirect Cost Recovery Agreement)?

Answer 18: As different policies are applicable to U.S. and non-U.S. NGOs and without knowing more details, USAID cannot provide a specific answer.

Question 19: Which are the standard provisions and procedures applicable to GUC non U.S entities potentially selected by a PRIME during the contract implementation?

Answer 19: See answer to question 18.

Question 20: Are DUNs and SAM registration required also to GUC non U.S entities potentially selected by a PRIME during the contract implementation? If not, which Audit requirements would be applying for the concerned entity? If yes, how Audit requirements would be applying to the concerned entity?

Answer 20: See answer to question 18.

Question 21: In the event of GUC non U.S entity would be a NGO federation, are there specific requirements and administrative documents requested to proof the relation between the GUC entity and its affiliated?

Answer 21: See answer to question 18.