Amendment__01_Q&A's_document.pdf

72016919Q00003 Amendment # 01, Q&A’s

1.Q. In Request for Quote (RFQ), Attachment A, page 4, under the A.5.2 OBJECTIVES, it is stated that “This project will not address charges, only fees.” However, on page 5, under CLIN#001, (3) Web-based Registry and Recommendations, it is stated: “The contractor must update the existing web-based registry of charges and add all fees classified as per criteria elaborated under the first set of activities above (Analysis and Recommendations)”. Having in mind the above, could you please clarify how the project should deal with updating of charges, if it has to address only fees?

1.A. As stated, one of the key results of the previous project is a web-based registry of all non-tax levies, which is ready to be used by the Ministry of Finance as an instrument for the regulation, monitoring, and management of non-tax levies. By requesting the update of the registry, we primarily focused on adding all fees classified as per criteria elaborated under the first set of activities (Analysis and Recommendations). Only fees will be added to the registry. Charges are already there. However, through this update, we also request that the Contractor identifies and implements improvements to the registry so that it can best serve the Ministry to monitor both charges and fees independently and effectively after the project’s conclusion.

When it comes to the analysis of the existing grounds for establishing and collecting fees, and developing a classification system to efficiently capture all relevant descriptive data, the project will address only fees since this work has already been completed for charges.

2.Q. In the Attachment A, page 6, it is stated: “The contractor is responsible for all logistical and IT needs to perform the activities”. Could you please clarify what is meant by “all IT needs”, i.e. what does it involve?

2.A. “All IT needs” refers to any foreseen IT services or equipment that may be required to successfully implement the activities as defined and anticipated under CLIN#002. This will be the responsibility of the Contractor to budget for and provide this support, not a responsibility of any other party involved in this project.

3.Q. In Request for Quote (RFQ) it is stated that “USAID/Serbia anticipates awarding a firm fixed price contract” while in the Attachment A – Continuation of contract form is stated “The contract type is hybrid: Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Fixed Price, Level of Effort (FP LOE)”. Could you please clarify what type of contract will be awarded, fixed price contract or hybrid type as described in the Attachment A?

3.A. The contract type is hybrid: Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Fixed Price, Level of Effort (FP LOE).

That means the CLIN 1 must be budgeted as firm fixed price service to include all costs needed for full delivery of requested services/deliverables. CLIN 2 by its nature represents a service type more difficult to be priced due to coordination with MoF; training component to unknown number of trainees etc.

Therefore, USAID estimates that 200 (revised from 150) work-days for CLIN 2, level of effort should be sufficient for completion of requested work. The pricing basis is still a lump sum fixed price including all costs to complete the work. No costs will be reimbursed outside of the CLIN 2 lump sum.

4.Q. In the Attachment A, page 6, it is stated the following: “The contractor is eligible to invoice after each deliverable has been completed and accepted by USAID for deliverables 1 – 3. Contractor is entitled to invoice after completion of TBD workdays of LOE for Activity under CLIN#2 “(1) Assistance”. The amount invoiced must reflect TBD% of the total deliverable price. The total paid under CLIN#2 may not exceed the amount listed under “Deliverables” above.”

4.A. For CLIN 1, payment is after each deliverable is accepted per the terms of the award.; For CLIN 2, TBD means that Bidder must propose payment increments of the lump sum fixed price for CLIN 2 with payments being the equivalent %s of the total lump sum for CLIN 2 based on the negotiated %s between USAID and the successful bidder. For example, if a bidder proposed payments of 25% of the CLIN 2 lump sum, then incremental payment will be eligible after each 25% of estimated LOE is used for activities under CLIN 2. This is just an example, not a requirement or suggestion to use 25%.

a) Could you please clarify what kind of contract exactly is “hybrid type” and how it works in implementation?

A.a) See 3.A and 4.A.

b) Could you please clarify how exactly the budget should be presented (breakdown) between CLIN#1 and CLIN#2 – in technical, not financial terms?

A.b) Bidders must use and complete the format in A.6. For CLIN 1 it should indicate the cost of each deliverable, while for CLIN 2 it should indicate the lump sum totaling the overall LOE price.

USAID has revised the estimate to is 200 LOE work days, which bidders shall use as a basis to propose a lump sum price for CLIN 2.

“Deliverable Inspection and Acceptance Criteria” under A.6 will be negotiated with the awardee.

c) Could you please clarify how workdays from CLIN#2 are connected to deliverables from

CLIN#1?

A.c) There is no connection. These are separate services.

d) Could you please clarify whether LOE workdays from CLIN#2 are only meant to be used in completing deliverables as specified in CLIN#1 or those days are meant for some additional support to the Ministry, other than deliverables listed under CLIN#1?

A.d) LOE under CLIN 2 is included in order for each Bidder to estimate how many work days are requested for the services under CLIN 2 and to be able to price it based on it. Services under CLIN 1 may not be applied to LOE for CLIN 2.

5.Q. In the Attachment A, page 6, it is stated the following: “The estimated requirement is 150 work days of LOE by the end of period of performance. All staff engaged under this Activity must be qualified – possessing necessary linguistic, education, qualifications and expertise – to perform the technical aspects of the Assistance” Could you please clarify whether USAID limitations for maximum international and local compensation plans do apply for working days envisaged under this LOE or contractors are free to propose expert daily rates?

5.A. This is not applicable. Bidders must propose a lump sum based on 200 LOE (revised from 150). We do not require daily rates. The LOE estimate is there to indicate Government’s estimate of LOE for the work requested.

6.Q. In RFQ, Attachment C, page 17, it is stated: “Technical proposals are limited to 12 pages. Any pages beyond this will NOT be evaluated.” In the same paragraph, it is also stated: “Pages that contain a table, chart, graph, etc. are subject to the 10-page limitation”.

6A. Amended to indicate 12 page limit.