USAID FAB LABS 2.0 Amendment Attachment 1_ Questions and Answers.pdf

Amendment #1 to Solicitation Number: RFQ #72026324Q00005

Attachment 1: Questions and Answers

Question #1: Thank you for the update about this RFQ. Before we take a closer look, I wanted to confirm if the USAID Fab Lab 2.0. RFQ is the same as this RFI?

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/352920 Attached is the RFI we initially submitted so just wanted to be sure I was looking at the correct opportunity since the lab equipment purchase and storage seems a bit different from what we initially looked at.

USAID Response: The referenced RFI was issued to gather industry feedback (market research) so USAID/Egypt can learn more as it designs an upcoming STEM education activity. It is not directly related to the subject RFQ.

While we expect all our activities to work collaboratively, note that this RFQ #72026324Q00005 is distinct from the upcoming STEM education activity.

Question #2: Can we pay vendors in Egypt in US Dollars?

USAID Response: Payment to local vendors will be made in Egyptian Pounds.

Question #3:The budget template is designed around procurement. Is there a budget line for personnel costs such as procurement manager, finance manager, trainers, and other administrative costs?

USAID Response: Offerors are free to include all costs (including the personnel and other administrative costs) they deem necessary to accomplish the work effort described in the SOW.

However, note that this is a Firm-Fixed Price Purchase Order. Also, be sure to follow the instructions in Section L.3.2 BUDGET/PRICE PROPOSAL.

Question #4: How detailed do you want the items priced in the quotation as there are hundreds of items? Do you want a price quote for each item in the spreadsheet or a summary quote for all Fab Lab items, all biology lab equipment, for example?

USAID Response: USAID requests detailed items priced in the quotation.

Question #5: Can we charge for other direct costs such as storage or warehouse rent, and travel costs?

USAID Response: Offerors are free to include all costs (including other direct costs and travel costs) they deem necessary to accomplish the work effort described in the SOW. However, note that this is a Firm-Fixed Price Purchase Order. Also, be sure to follow the instructions in Section

L.3.2 BUDGET/PRICE PROPOSAL.

Question #6: Are we permitted to charge a fee?

USAID Response: Offerors are free to include all costs (including fees) they deem necessary to accomplish the work effort described in the SOW. However, note that this is a Firm-Fixed Price Purchase Order. Also, be sure to follow the instructions in Section L.3.2 BUDGET/PRICE

PROPOSAL.

Question #7: Is indirect permitted?

USAID Response: Offerors are free to include all costs (including indirect costs) they deem necessary to accomplish the work effort described in the SOW. However, note that this is a Firm-Fixed Price Purchase Order. Also, be sure to follow the instructions in Section L.3.2

BUDGET/PRICE PROPOSAL.

Question #8: Does 100% of the lab equipment need to be delivered and installed in a given school to receive the 3%? What if 90% of the equipment is delivered and installed but the other 10% is on hold because of supply chain issues? What if lab items for Earth Science, for example, is not delivered but everything else is delivered to the school? Will payment be held up until 100% of the lab items for a school are purchased and delivered? The total number of items to be purchased for each Fab Lab alone is over 200 items.

USAID Response: As stated in Section L.3.2 BUDGET/PRICE PROPOSAL e., “...offerors are free to propose milestone/deliverable payments that are appropriate (B.3 lists estimates).”

Question #9: Delivery time: Based on previous experience, the delivery time for the lab equipment and materials takes not less than six months. Given that the proposed award date is August 30, 2024. The time between the award date and the start of the school year is almost two months. Accordingly, is there a possibility of proposing a different time frame for the first school?

USAID Response: Offerors are free to propose a different time frame along with the corresponding justification/rationale. USAID/Egypt will make a decision if such justification is acceptable or not.

Question #10: Warranty and Maintenance Period: In C.4.a Contract Administration section, point number 5 indicates that the contractor should provide an extended five-year warranty after delivery, while in C.5 Other Considerations section, it’s mentioned that the contract will include a two-year involvement for maintenance, service, and repairs as detailed in the task section. Is the two years part of the five-year warranty after delivery?

USAID Response: All purchased equipment is expected to be new and with manufacturer’s warranty. However, the expectation is that the Contractor will be involved in warranty matters (two-year involvement for maintenance, service, and repairs as detailed in the task section) two years after installation at a given school. Contractors' involvement will be only during the period of performance of the anticipated purchase order.

Question #11: The Contract Payment Schedule. On page 2, the payment schedule states that 3% of the contact will be paid when “the equipment is ordered.” But on page 23 of the RFQ it states: (i) Payment.- (1) Items accepted. Payment shall be made for items accepted by the Government that have been delivered to the delivery destinations set forth in this contract. So, there would appear to be a contradiction. Payment for an order would only be reimbursed after all of the items for a school have been ordered, delivered to the school, and accepted by a government official. Also, the installation component is not mentioned here (page 23) but is on page 2.

USAID Response: Note that the Payment Schedule on Page 2 is illustrative. As stated in Section L.3.2 BUDGET/PRICE PROPOSAL e., “...offerors are free to propose milestone/deliverable payments that are appropriate (B.3 lists estimates).” The final Firm-Fixed Price Purchase Order will include a payment schedule acceptable to both parties.

Question #12: On page 2 of the RFQ, the order, delivery, and installation of the labs for schools 2-9 are listed as “TBD.” But on page 3, the RFQ states that “All nine schools are anticipated to open in September 2025,” If USAID wants all of the labs purchased and ready to be installed by September 2025, we will need to purchase all of the items for the nine schools by September 2025. If none of them are ready to open by September 2025, we cannot deliver the items to them. So, we would have to warehouse the items, but we could not get paid for them. Also, would we have to get a single warehouse for all of the schools in Cairo or nine different warehouses, one warehouse for each school?

USAID Response: Offerors should assume that one school will open in September 2024 and the remaining 8 schools will open in September 2025 when preparing their quotes. Offerors are free to include all costs (including warehousing costs) they deem necessary to accomplish the work effort described in the SOW. However, note that this is a Firm-Fixed Price Purchase Order. Also, be sure to follow the instructions in Section L.3.2 BUDGET/PRICE PROPOSAL.

Question #13: On page 61, L.3.2 BUDGET/PRICE PROPOSAL, says that offerors are free to propose milestone/deliverable payments that are appropriate (B.3 lists estimates). Does this mean we propose a more flexible purchase timeline for the nine schools based on conditions in the ground over 4 years and an order, delivery, and installation payment schedule that still adds up 100%?

USAID Response: This approach is acceptable. Offerors should follow the instructions in Section

L.3.2 BUDGET/PRICE PROPOSAL.

Question #14: Is this contract opportunity funded and likely to be published as a solicitation?

USAID Response: This is a funded contract opportunity. This is a solicitation for goods and services. Please read Solicitation #72026324Q00005 in its entirety, including this Questions and Answers amendment, prior to responding.

Question #15: Is there a list of brand names or specified country of origin the material are preferred?

USAID Response: No brand name is specified in the RFQ unless otherwise specified in the equipment list. All equipment should follow Geographic code 937.

Question #16: Is this a new contract opportunity?

USAID Response: Yes.

Question #17: If so, would you please inform us of the previous contract award number?

USAID Response: This is not a follow on contract. However, the Mission purchased similar items under previous/expired contract number 72026318C00001.

Question #18: No Geographic Code is provided, please indicate what Geographic Code is required for this PO, is it 937?

USAID Response: The default Geographic Code of 937 applies to this procurement.

Question #19: It is understood that all invoices will be presented to USAID in $US and paid to the contractor in $US against invoices submitted, please confirm.

USAID Response: It is confirmed that billing under the USAID Fab Labs 2.0 will be in USD and payment will be made in USD for US firms.

Question #20: Under C.4.a.5 Contract Administration it is stated that the contractor shall “provide extended warranty coverage beyond manufacturer warranty that includes maintenance service, repairs, and spare parts as needed for a period of no less than 5 years after delivery”. While under C.5 Other Considerations it states that the “contract will include a two-year involvement for maintenance, service, and repairs as detailed in the task section”. Is it five or two years and what is the difference between the two requirements. Also, will the involvement of the contractor be required beyond the project end date of August 2028, or service providers and vendors can do that.

USAID Response: All purchased equipment is expected to be new and with manufacturer’s warranty. However, the expectation is that the Contractor will be involved in warranty matters (two-year involvement for maintenance, service, and repairs as detailed in the task section) two years after installation at a given school. Contractors' involvement will be only during the period of performance of the anticipated purchase order.

Question #21: Are bidders required to bid on all items? Will the award be as a complete package or individual items?

USAID Response: Yes, bidders are required to bid on all items. This solicitation will result in the issuance of one Purchase Order.

Question #22: Please confirm that locally purchased items as well as imported goods are exempted from all applicable taxes and customs duties against letters that will be issued by USAID to facilitate that.

USAID Response: We confirm that all goods purchased under the contemplated Firm-Fixed Price Purchase Order will be exempt from all applicable taxes and customs duties.

Question #23: Chemistry Lab Glassware Item 73 (Stands): please provide more details about what is needed in this item.

USAID Response: A stand to hold a burette. We have included pictures of similar items below.

Offerors are not required to provide the exact same item as in the picture or the brand name.

Question #24: Biology Lab Chemicals Item 62 (Catalase – 1kg): This item is used in grams or even milligrams but not kgs. Kindly confirm quantity and unit.

USAID Response: Quantity per school is 50-100 Milliliter (ml) .

Question #25: Biology Lab Chemicals item 63 (Cell Lysis Solution): This item is usually supplied in containers of 20 or 30 ml. Kindly confirm the required quantity and unit.

USAID Response: Quantity per school is a bottle of one liter.

Question #26: Biology Lab Chemicals item 72 (Lipase – 1kg): This item is used in milligrams and not kgs.

USAID Response: Quantity per school is 50-100 Milliliter (ml).

Question #27: Biology Lab Chemicals item 73 (Lipase tablets – 500g): Does this item refer to Digestive Enzymes?

USAID Response: Yes, this item refers to the Digestive Enzymes.

Question #28: Biology Lab Equipment item 7 (Refrigerator): Tender documents specify the temp. to be “up to -40C” which is a freezer not a refrigerator. Kindly confirm whether a freezer or refrigerator is required and the temperature range needed. What is the required capacity (size) for this apparatus?

USAID Response: A fridge with a freezer in the range of 12 feet at a minimum. Offerors are at liberty to suggest a different/bigger size.

Question #29: Physics Lab Equipment item 23 (Electric Heater): It is not clear what is required under this item. Kindly provide required specifications.

USAID Response: Electric heater with hot plate and the plate is isolated electrically from the inside coil.

We have included a picture of a similar item (see picture below). Offerors are not required to provide the exact same item as in the picture or the brand name.

Question #30: Physics Lab Equipment item 34 (Optical Bench): The name of the required item is "optical bench", while the mentioned specification for this item is part of the specification for item 32. Please send us the required length of the optical bench and what accessories will be used with it.

USAID Response: See link below for an example of this requirement:

https://www.sordalab.com/EN/catalogue/physics/high-school-optical-bench,BOLYC2,.php

Note that offerors are not required to provide the exact same item as in the link nor the brand name.

Question #31: Fab Lab Equipment item 1 (7 PCs and Windows): Kindly provide detailed specification of the required PCs. Should these PCs need to have any licensed software other than Windows?

USAID Response: Below are two sets of specs that would be acceptable:

Intel core. I7 or. I5 NVIDIA GeForce 4 G

16 GB DDR4

512 or 1T SSD

_ Corel DRAW

_ ARTCAM

_ SOLIDWORKS

_ SketchUp