USAID_Lebanon_WSC_Answers to Questions from Interested Offerors.pdf

Water Sanitation and Conservation (WSC) Project

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED

1. In reference to Section L.6 (d), would USAID please confirm that the cover letter referenced here is the same cover letter that is to be included in the technical proposal?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Each proposal, Technical and Cost, requires a separate cover letter of one page, which is not included in the page limitation. Please see amended RFP Section L.6 (d).

2. In reference to Section L.11 (a), Paragraph A, would USAID please confirm that the cover page referenced here is the same cover letter that is to be included in the technical proposal?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Each proposal, Technical and Cost, requires a separate cover letter of one page, which is not included in the page limitation. Please see amended RFP Section L.6 (d).

3. In reference to Section L.13.1, Paragraph 6, as with maps, charts, and exhibits, may offerors use 10-point

Times New Roman font for textboxes?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Use of smaller font or other page format may result in removal of application material provided to the evaluation panel. Maps, charts or exhibits may use a font size no smaller than 10-point Times New Roman font as long as they are legible without magnification. Please see amended

RFP Section L.13.1 (6).

4. In reference to Section L.13.2, may offerors include an Executive Summary that will not count toward the 15-page limit in order to introduce their solution before transitioning to the contractual language of the PWS?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: No. USAID will not accept an Executive Summary.

5. In reference to Section L.13.2, would USAID please confirm that offerors have three pages for each Key

Personnel Draft Statement of Qualifications?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed.

6. In reference to Section L.15.4, Paragraph B, could USAID please confirm that the font, margin, and page size requirements for the technical proposal do not apply to the Past Performance Matrix (Attachment J.5)?

7. In reference to Section L.15.4, Paragraph B, and L.16, for past performance references not available in

CPARS, offerors are to submit a past performance questionnaire (Attachment J.4). Section L.16 references a separate due date available in the cover letter of the RFP. Would USAID kindly confirm that offerors are to submit past performance references with the proposal submission on January 18, 2021?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. Completed past performance references must be submitted with the technical and cost proposal submission due date as indicated on the RFP Cover Letter.

8. In reference to Section L.17, the RFP states that offerors will submit the Past Performance Matrix “by the past performance due date specified on the Cover Page.” Would USAID please confirm that the Past

Performance Matrix can be submitted as an annex with the full proposal on January 18 th , 2021?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. The past performance matrix must be submitted with the technical and cost proposal submission due date as indicated on the RFP Cover Letter.

9. In reference to Section L.13.2, the RFP states: “Annex A: Draft Staffing Plan and

Organizational Chart (not to exceed 3 pages; not included in page limit)”. Would USAID please consider allowing additional pages for this annex considering the size and complex scope of this program and the amount of information requested for the Staffing Plan as outlined in Section F.9 III A. Staffing Plan?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Annex A page limit may be increased to five pages. Please see amended

RFP Section L.13.2.

10. Section L.16.3 Part 3 – Cost Proposal Annexes 3, 4, and 5 states that offerors must submit travel, procurement, and human resources/personnel policies and procedures. Section L.18.5 Part 5 states that, “If the Offeror does not have prior USAID contracting experience, it shall submit a copy of its personnel and travel policies, especially regarding salary and wage scales, fringe benefits, merit increases, promotions, leave, differentials, travel and per diem regulations, etc.” Would USAID please confirm that only offerors that do not have prior USAID contracting experience must submit travel, procurement, and HR policies and procedure documents?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: All Offerors must submit cost proposal annexes 3, 4 and 5. Please see amended RFP Section L.18.3.

11. In reference to L.18.A, the RFP states the total estimated cost plus fixed fee for Option 3 as

$30,000,000 - $40,000,000. Will USAID please confirm that the range for Option 3 is

$40,000,000 - $50,000,000, as stated in the cover letter?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: There is no Section L.18.A, however there is a Section L.18.3.A that includes the budget number for Option 3. Option 3 total estimated cost plus fixed fee is $40,000,000 -

$50,000,000. Please see amended RFP Section L.18.3.A.

12. In reference to Attachment J.1 –- Statement of Objectives, Section VII, would USAID please provide the link to the Year 2 Annual Report for CSP?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please see Attachment J.1d for the Year 2 Annual Report for CSP.

13. Would USAID please confirm that offerors should include J.3 SF LLL - Disclosure of Lobbying

Activities as annex of the Cost Proposal?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. It may be included as Cost Proposal Annex 11.

14. In light of the ongoing financial crisis and continued divergence of the official and unofficial market rates of exchange, would USAID consider specifying the rate of exchange to be used in budgeting, for purposes of cost realism and comparative analysis?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: All costs must be presented in U.S. Dollars. For exchange rates, USAID only authorizes conversion of USD in accordance with the official Lebanese Government Mid Rate as set by the Central Bank, as currently set at LBP 1,507.5. USAID/Lebanon will not reimburse as allowable any project costs exchanged at a rate other than the USAID-authorized rate.

15. Section L.4, page 124: Section L.4(c)(1) states that proposals should be submitted in hard copies, but

L.6 says that only electronic proposals will be accepted. Will USAID please confirm that offerors need only submit electronic copies of the proposals and not hard Copies?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: USAID confirms that offerors must only submit electronic copies of the proposal. Please see the amended RFP Section L.4.

16. Section L.6, page 147: L.6(d) states, “The proposal must be accompanied by a cover letter typed on official organizational letterhead and signed by a person who has signatory authority for the organization.”

Will USAID confirm that electronic signatures are acceptable for the cover letter?

17. Section L.15.1.A, page 152: Under “Results” the instructions state, “This section provides a brief statement of what USAID expects to accomplish as a result of successfully completing this activity and how USAID will measure success. (Specific deliverables, and tasks should not be included here. They will be presented in the Services/Tasks Required section later in the document.)” Can USAID clarify whether this section should include the numerical “Required results” included in Section V of the SOO?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: This section must include the ‘‘required results’’ included in Section V of the SOO, or the Contractor’s proposed maximised results beyond those included in Section V of the SOO.

Please see amended RFP Section L.15.1.A.

18. Section L.15.1.A, page 152: Services/Tasks Required states, “This section must include the proposed actual tasks that the Contractor will complete under each of the three (3) objectives described in the SOO for the Base Period, Option 1 (Year 4), Option 2 (Year

5), and Option 3 for Increased Quantity Objective. The tasks proposed must be clearly linked to successful performance of the contract. This section must include the proposed deliverables and numerical results to be achieved under each service/task along with the deadline for completion. The proposed deliverables must be measurable, and attributable to WSC’s required results.” For clarification:

a) Can USAID clarify whether this section should include the numerical “Required results” included in Section V the SOO?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: This section must include for each Service/Task, the respective ‘‘required result(s)’’ included in Section V of the SOO, that the Service/Task attributes to, or the Contractor’s proposed maximised result(s) beyond that included in Section V of the SOO. Please see amended RFP

Section L.15.1.A.

b) Further, can USAID clarify the relationship between the “Required results” as stated in the first column of the tables and the required minimum indicators listed below the tables?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The ‘required results’ constitute the ultimate output/outcome/impact of

WSC. The ‘minimum indicators’ are specific Contractor/Stakeholders performance indices that USAID will monitor in relationship to WSC’s fulfillment of the ‘required results’.

19. Section L.13.2., page 150: Can USAID please confirm that the Draft MEL Plan is to be included in Annex D and has a page limitation separate from the body of the technical proposal. The listing of the organization of the technical proposal is inconsistent with the remainder of the instructions to include the Draft MEL Plan in Annex D.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Yes, the Draft MEL Plan is to be included in Annex D and has a page limitation separate from the body of the technical proposal. Please refer to amended RFP Section L.13.2.

20. Please confirm that a summary of the offeror’s management approach is all that is required in the body of the technical proposal. Please confirm that USAID will utilize

Annex A and Annex B to evaluate our staffing and organizational structure, the selection of Key

Personnel and justification for additional Key Personnel, and that USAID will utilize Annex D to evaluate our MEL approach.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Yes, USAID confirms that a summary of the offeror’s management approach is all that is required as part of the body of the technical proposal. USAID will utilize Annexes

A, B, C, and D in support of that summary to evaluate the proposed management approach.

21. Section L.13.2, page 150: The RFP notes the following for Annex B: “Draft Statements of Qualification

(SOQ) (For Key Personnel only; not to exceed 3 pages; not included in page limit).” Will USAID please confirm that the page limit is 3 pages per Key Personnel SOQ?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please see response to Question 5 above.

22. The Draft Staffing Plan and Organizational Chart (Annex A) are limited to three pages, however, given the size and scale of the WSC activity, it is not possible to provide the required information within the page limitations, if USAID expects offerors to present the “technical required qualifications and job descriptions of the position” for each Key Personnel and technical project personnel as specified in

Section F.9.III on page 22. Would USAID kindly consider expanding the length of Annex A to allow offerors to meet these requirements?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Annex A page limit may be increased to five pages. Please see amended

RFP Section L.13.2.

23. Annex D [Draft Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MEL Plan)] requires offerors to present a methodology and approach, a results framework/logical framework, and anticipated indicators and targets, and satisfy QASP requirements within a total page limitation of three pages. Will USAID kindly consider expanding the length of Annex D

[Draft Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MEL Plan)] or consider excluding the results framework/logical framework from the page limit (similar to the example

Performance Indicator Reference Sheet)?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The results framework/logical framework may be excluded from the page limit. Please see amended RFP Section L.13.2.

24. Can USAID clarify the reference to the QASP in RFP section L.15.3.B Draft Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan, specifically if offerors are expected to 1) include a complete QASP or 2) simply should describe the approach to quality assurance offerors will build into the Draft MEL plan submitted upon award?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The offerors are expected to describe the approach to quality assurance and quality assurance surveillance proposed into the Draft MEL Plan as submitted in the offer in accordance with RFP Section L.15.3.B.

25. Can USAID please clarify what is expected in Annex F (PWS Annex:

Technical/Performance Deliverables) and how the content differs from what is required in the body of the PWS and in the Draft MEL Plan?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Annex F constitutes the set of specific deliverables/outputs the Contractor will deliver under WSC and upon which the Contractor will be reimbursed the fixed fee. Completion of these deliverables, individually and/or collectively, fulfill completion of the “required results”. Each of the Services/Tasks under the PWS is expected to be defined/quantified in one or more ‘deliverable’, that are compiled into Annex F. Annex F will become an integral part of the contract and will be incorporated prior to award under RFP Section F.9.I.

The draft MEL Plan, as defined under RFP Section L.15.3B, serves the purpose of monitoring, measuring, and evaluating WSC’s progress towards the achievement of the deliverables/outputs and the

‘required results’, in addition to the Contractor’s approach to assure the ‘quality’ of the deliverables/outputs.

26. At the bottom of SOO page six, USAID notes that the contact must include the standard indicator HL.8.2-3 (“Number of people gaining access to safely managed sanitation services as a result of USG assistance”) with a footnote marker numbered “3.”

Unfortunately, there is no such footnote. Could USAID update the SOO to include the footnote, or provide any information or hyperlink included in the footnote?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The SOO is corrected to show footnote number ‘4’ in lieu of ‘3’ for indicator HL.8.2-3 (“Number of people gaining access to safely managed sanitation services as a result of

USG assistance”). Please see revised Attachment J.1 SOO.

27. Section L.16 and L.17, page 155: Both sections L.16 and L.17 mention that the past performance questionnaires and past performance matrix should be submitted “by the past performance due date specified on the Cover Page.” The cover page does not include a past performance due date. Will USAID please clarify if past performance information should be submitted ahead of the proposal due date, and if so, provide this date?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please see responses to Questions 7 and 8 above.

28. Please clarify if three relevant projects should be presented in Attachment J.6 Past Performance Matrix for projects within the past 3 years or 5 years. There are inconsistent instructions in sections L.15.4 Past

Performance b) (page 153) and L.17 Instructions for the Past Performance Matrix page 155).

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Each Offeror must submit the completed past performance matrix

(Attachment J.5) for itself and any proposed major subcontractors for the three (3) most relevant contracts and/or assistance agreements each in the past five (5) years. Section L.15.4 (b) was revised accordingly in

Amendment No. 1 to the WSC RFP.

29. Please clarify the following items related to the Increased Quantity Option:

a) The budget template shows the Increased Quantity Option as a separate single column in the summary and detailed budget tabs without year designations. In several RFP sections, it states that the Increased

Quantity Option may be exercised between Project Year 1 and Project Year 4.5. Section L.18.3, A, Summary Budget, on page 157 states, “…and the increased quantity option will be exercised each year of performance (5 years) in the base and option years.” If exercised, would the Increased Quantity Option be implemented within a single year, or would the costs extend over multiple years? If over multiple years, could USAID please clarify the period of performance for the Increased Quantity Option?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The increased Quantity Option is dependent on the availability of funds.

USAID has no information at this stage in which year(s) these additional funds may be available, if any, thus USAID reserves the right to exercise the option at any time between Project Year 1 and Project Year

4.5. For this RFP only, Offeror is to assume that Option 1 and Option 2 will be exercised, and the increased quantity option will be exercised each year of performance (5 years) in the base and option years.

b) If the Increased Quantity Option would be implemented over multiple years, could USAID please confirm that offerors may present it as a separate detailed budget tab to accommodate the presentation of costs with relevant escalation over multiple years?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Offerors are required to present the IQO as a separate detailed budget tab.

Please see amended Attachment J.7.

c) In Section L.18.3, A, Summary Budget, on page 159, the budget range is listed as $30-50M; whereas, in all other sections, it is listed as $40-50M. Could USAID please confirm the budget range for the Increased

Quantity Option?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Option 3 total estimated cost plus fixed fee is $40,000,000 - $50,000,000.

Please see amended RFP Section L.18.3.A.

30. Regarding Section J.3, could USAID please clarify whether the SF-LLL is a required cost proposal element? If yes, please confirm whether it is required only of offerors or also of (major) subcontractors, as well as in which annex of the cost proposal it should be included.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. The SF-LLL is a required cost proposal element which needs to be completed by the Offerors and each subcontractor and may be included as Cost Proposal Annex 11.

Reference to this newly-added annex is now included under section “L.16.3 Part 3 - Cost Proposal Annexes” of Amendment No. 1 to WSC RFP.

31. Section L.18.3, Part 3, on pages 157-158 states that cost proposal annexes are limited to the list that follows; however, there are several discrepancies and mismatches between it and the cost proposal parts that follow. Could USAID please clarify the following requirements:

a) Annexes 3-5 relate to offeror policies and procedures. Section L.18.5, Part 5, on page 164 states that only offerors without prior USAID contracting experience are required to submit copies of their policies and procedures. Could USAID please confirm that only offerors without prior USAID contracting experience are required to submit Annexes 3-5?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 10 above.

b) The cost proposal annex list does not include the Evidence of Responsibility discussed in Section L.18.7 on pages 164-165. Could USAID please clarify whether Part 7 is required and, if so, where it should be presented in the cost proposal?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Part 7 may be presented as an additional annex to the cost proposal.

c) The cost proposal annex list does not include several items discussed in Section L.18.8 on page 165— specifically items (1), (3), and (4)—Part 7 for subcontractors. Could USAID please clarify whether items

(1), (3), and (4)—Part 7 for subcontractors under Part 8 are required and, if so, where they should be presented in the cost proposal?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Items (1), (3), (4) - Part 7 are required for major subcontractors under Part

8. These items may be presented as additional annexes to the cost proposal.

d) The cost proposal annex list does not include Information Concerning Workday, Work-Week, and Paid

Absences discussed in Section L.18.9 on page 165. Could USAID please clarify whether Part 9 is required and, if so, where it should be presented in the cost proposal?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 10 above.

e) The cost proposal annex list does not include Joint Venture or Partnership information discussed in

Section L.18.10 on page 165. Could USAID please clarify whether Part 10 is required and, if so, where it should be presented in the cost Proposal?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Part 10 is required, and may be included as an additional annex to the cost proposal.

32. Section L.18.3, C, on page 159 states that proposed CCN salaries must be within the market value of the position and the salary scale for Rwanda. Could USAID please confirm that this is a typo and the relevant salary scale is USAID/Lebanon’s?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. This is incorrect, and the correct scale is Lebanon. Section

L.18.3, C on page 159 was revised accordingly.

33. Section L.18.3, C, on page 161 outlines requirements for CCN salary values in Blocks 6, 14, and 15 of

AID Form 1420-17. Could USAID please confirm that offerors should use the most current version of the form, which does not require candidates to disclose salary or rate history in Blocks 14 and 15?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. Offerors must use the most current version of the form, which does not require candidates to disclose salary or rate history.

34. The budget template tab for Subcontractor Costs indicates that it is required only for major subcontractors; however, Section L.18.8(4) on page 165 seems to indicate that Part 2 – Proposed

Costs/Prices is required for all subcontractors. Could USAID please confirm that detailed budgets are required only for major subcontractors?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed - detailed budgets are only required for major subcontractors.

As per amended RFP, “major subcontractors” are those subcontractors whose proposed total cost exceeds

20% of the offeror’s total proposed cost.

35. Will USAID please confirm that CCN staff salaries and local subcontracts may be denominated and paid in US dollars until the local currency stabilizes? Will USAID be providing a waiver to pay staff in US dollars?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 14 above.

36. Sections L.16 and L.17: The RFP references the “Past performance due date specified on the Cover

Page”, however, no separate due date is listed on the cover page of the RFP for past performance. Confirm that the due date is the same as the Proposal Submission Due Date and that both completed versions of

Attachment J.4 and Attachment J.5 shall be submitted separately from the Technical Proposal? If the past performance matrix is to be submitted to USAID prior to January 18, shall the Offeror also include the matrix (Attachment J.5) in its full Technical Proposal?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Questions 7 and 8 above.

37. RFP section L.17: (page 155) (Attachment J.5 Past Performance Matrix): indicates that relevant contracts/assistance agreements completed within the past five (5) years should be included in Attachment

J.5, while RFP section L.15.4.b (page 153) indicates contracts performed within the past three (3) years shall be included. Please confirm number.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 28 above.

38. Section L.15.3.B: Can USAID confirm that a graphic for an Offeror’s proposed results framework or logical framework (to be included in the Draft MEL Plan as part of Annex D) may be excluded from the

3-page limit for the Draft MEL Plan?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The results framework/logical framework may be excluded from the page limit. Please see amended RFP Section L.13.2.

39. Section L.13.2:The RFP indicates that Technical Proposal Annex F should consist of PWS

Technical/Performance Deliverables with a 5-page limit that is excluded from the overall page count. Can USAID please elaborate on what may be included in this annex?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please see the response to Question 25 above.

40. Attachment J.1 SOO: SOO section IV.M indicates that the maximum total value of grants may be up to US $13 million. Can USAID provide a breakdown of the $13 million grants fund between the base period, option years, and IQO?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: USAID will not provide a breakdown and this is up to the offeror to propose based on their technical approach.

41. Section L.13.2: Annex A, Staffing Plan and Organizational Chart is limited to 3 pages. The RFP also states that all pages are to be 8 ½ X 11. In Annex A, is it permissible to include an 11X17 organizational chart if 8 ½ X 11 would be inadequate to include the entire organization? If an 11X17 organizational chart is allowed, will it count as 1 or 2 pages?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Offerors must use an 8 ½ X 11 page size. Annex A page limit may be increased to five pages. Please see amended RFP Section L.13.2.

42. Section L.13.2: calls for Annex A: Draft Staffing Plan and Organizational Chart not to exceed three pages. We are concerned that this is not enough space. The organizational chart will take one page, which only leaves two pages for the staffing plan. Would USAID increase the page limit to 5 pages?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please see response to Question 41 above.

43. Attachment J.1 SOO: In the Attachment J.1 Statement of Objectives (SOO), USAID states: “The purpose of the WSC activity is to enhance the conservation and protection of Lebanon’s water resources through: (1.) expanding the capacity of wastewater and sanitation management; (2.) increasing the efficiency of public water utilities to manage water resources; and, (3.) enhancing citizens water stewardship.” The SOO then goes on to provide required results for each objective. However, USAID does not define the required results for the overall purpose: “to enhance the conservation and protection of

Lebanon’s water resources.” Can USAID please provide its expected results related to WSC’s purpose?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The ‘required results’ of the three objectives collectively achieve WSC’s purpose. Offerors, to their discretion, may propose additional results dedicated to capture WSC’s purpose in line with RFP Section L.15 “Offerors may not propose replacing any of the results but may expand on them”.

44. RFP Section F.10: The Reporting and Deliverable Matrix on page 26-28 skips from #4 to #8; please confirm that this gap in numbering does not constitute missing deliverables from the list.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. Please see amended RFP Section F.10.

45. RFP Section H.30: refers to vetting requirements in sections H.31 and H.32. We assume that this is a heading renumbering error and that it should refer to Sections H.28 and H.29. Please confirm.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. Please see amended RFP Sections H.28 and H.29.

46. RFP Section H.41: Child Labor refers to the “Government of Congo” and its laws. We assume that this is an oversight error and should refer to the “Government of Lebanon” and its laws. Please confirm.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. Please see amended RFP Section H.41.

47. RFP Section I.13: FAR 52.229-8 TAXES –FOREIGN COST-REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS

(MAR 1990) refers to the “Government of Serbia” and its laws. We assume that this is oversight error and should refer to the “Government of Lebanon” and its laws. Please confirm.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. Please see amended RFP Section I.13.

48. In RFP Section L.13.2: Annex B, Draft Statement of Qualifications of Key Personnel indicates a maximum of 3 pages. Can USAID confirm that this is a maximum of 3 pages per SoQ for each Key

Personnel and not 3 pages for the entire annex.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 21 above.

49. RFP Section L.18.2: Part 2 - Proposed Costs/Prices, subsection C. Budget Line Item Definitions and

Illustrations states “proposed salaries for CCNs must be within the market value of the position in and salary scale for Rwanda.” We assume that this is a cut and paste oversight and should refer to the “salary scale for Lebanon”. Please confirm.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to question no. 32 above.

50. Please confirm that any references in the RFP to any country other than Lebanon should be considered references to Lebanon.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: USAID will not confirm this requirement, as references to other countries may be valid.

51. Section 19: What is the threshold for Partner Vetting? Is the threshold cumulative for all subawards or for each award action? What is the duration of vetting approval?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please see Attachment J.11 for USAID/Lebanon Mission Notice on Partner

Vetting.

52. Section 19: Does the USAID Lebanon Mission Office utilize the PVS portal for vetting or is it a manual process where the forms are submitted via email with emailed responses?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: USAID Lebanon Mission uses the PVS portal with the successful contractor, but all vetting requests prior to contract execution must be submitted via email through a manual process. Also, please refer to Sections H.28-H.30, and the newly-added Attachment J.11 USAID Lebanon

Vetting Mission Order for further information.

53. RFP Attachment J.6: Can USAID confirm that Offerors are able to utilize their own Subcontracting

Plan format rather than the template provided as RFP Attachment J.6, as long as the “essential information” from USAID’s template is included?

54. RFP Attachment J.6: Section 2 of the Subcontracting Plan Template requests the completion of a Small

Business Participation Plan (Attachment A) which is different than a Subcontracting Plan. Can USAID clarify whether this form should be submitted as a stand-alone document? Are both large and small business

Offerors required to complete this form?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The Small Business Participation Plan is required for large business offerors only. For large business offerors, this information may be incorporated into the Subcontracting

Plan Template.

55. I.17, I.18, I.19 (Pages 113-118) Does the prohibition on provision and use of covered telecommunications equipment and its associated reporting as referenced apply only to US-based team subcontractors and consultants or to all subcontractors and consultants including local (i.e., Lebanese)?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The prohibition applies to all subcontractors and consultants in the global supply chain, including Lebanon and world-wide.

56. SOO: III. Purpose (Page 1) states “WSC will also promote Private Sector Engagement (PSE) as a cross-cutting objective for this activity.” Is PSE a ‘fourth’ Objective or a cross-cutting issue to be integrated across proposed programming? Please clarify expectations for PSE.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: PSE is not a separate ‘fourth’ objective of WSC. PSE is a cross-cutting operating parameter for WSC to be integrated across the proposed PWS. PLease check revised Section III of the SOO.

57. SOO: V. Activity Objectives (Pages 6-9) expresses many results in the ‘required results’ tables under each objective as a combination of a result and an indicator. Please clarify any preference USAID may have for how to structure these in the activity results framework.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: USAID has no preference. It is left to the discretion of the offerors to propose the results framework in the draft MEL Plan (Annex D) with the structure they deem appropriate and relevant.

Further, may Offerors propose clarifying language to the stated results, e.g. “Decrease in overall public water utilities’ operational and maintenance cost for water supplied and/or wastewater managed in areas of intervention” may not be realistic given new facilities and infrastructure being implemented, while a reduction of the O&M costs per unit of water supplied and wastewater collected and treated would be realistic.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: The offeror may not independently and individually propose clarification to the results within their own proposal. Nonetheless, USAID took into consideration the suggestion and revised Section V. of the SOO accordingly. Please see revised Section J.1 SOO.

58. Budget / Budget Template: Please confirm the budget template provided is a sample only and that offerors may submit budgets using a similar template that complies with the layout and structure outlined.

59. Budget / Budget Template: The title in the Subcontractor Costs (US$) tab refers to BUDGET

SUMMARY SPREADSHEET: MAJOR SUBCONTRACTOR COSTS (US$), so it is not clear if the offeror needs to submit budgets of non-major subcontractors. Please clarify.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Offerors must submit detailed budgets for major subcontractors only.

Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 34 above.

60. L.13.1.4 Will USAID allow a condensed font, e.g. Myriad Pro Condensed or Arial Narrow, instead of

Times New Roman in tables, charts, graphics, exhibits, etc.? Will USAID allow 11x17 paper for the organization chart and draft staffing plan?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 3 above.

61. L.13.2.5 Personnel, Management, and Monitoring Approach is part of the 15-page limit for the

Technical Proposal with contents including ii. Draft Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plan while Annex D allows for a three-page draft Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MEL Plan) and two-page draft Construction Quality Control Plan (CQCP), plus a sample Performance Indicator Reference

Sheet (PIRS). Please confirm that the draft MEL Plan is to appear in Annex D only. Further:

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Yes, the Draft MEL Plan is to be included in Annex D and has a three page limitation that is separate from the page limitation of the technical proposal of 15 pages. In addition, the results framework/logical framework may be excluded from the draft MEL Plan page limit. Please see amended RFP Section L.13.2.

a. F.9.III.E Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Plan (Page 24) indicates the MEL Plan must include a results framework or logical framework that aligns with the USAID/Lebanon

Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and references the current CDCS

(2014-2020) while noting that WSC must align in the future with the forthcoming CDCS

(2020-2025). Is WSC considered part of an existing Mission program and, if so, which one?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: WSC is not part of an existing Mission program.

62. L.13.2.5 Annex B specifies a three-page limit for Draft Statements of Qualification (SOQ) for Key

Personnel only, which appears to mean a three-page SOQ for Chief of Party, a three-page SOQ for

Construction Manager, and so on for up to five Key Personnel. Please confirm a three-page limit for each

SOQ.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 21 above.

63. L.15.2.A Management Approach Summary is part of the 15-page limit for the Technical Proposal and requires the associated three-page Annex A to include Organization Chart(s) identifying contractual relationships and defining the roles and responsibilities of individual team members, and a Staffing Plan.

Please consider allowing a five-page limit for Annex A.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 9 above.

64. L.15.4.b specifies provision of “a total of three (3) of the most relevant contracts and/or assistance agreements in terms of size, scope and complexity performed over the past three (3) years by the Offeror and major subcontractors in Attachment J.6 Past Performance Matrix.” Please confirm the intent is three

(3) such references for the prime and 3 references for each major subcontractor.

65. L.16 requires references, if and as applicable, to complete questionnaires (Attachment J.4) and for the

Offeror to then submit the completed past performance questionnaires to

WSCLebanonProposals@usaid.gov by the due date on the RFP cover page. Please clarify as the RFP cover page does not include a “past performance due date”. The same query applies to L.17, which also requires the Offeror and each major subcontractor to submit a completed past performance matrix (Attachment J.5) directly to the Contracting Officer by the past performance due date specified on the Cover Page.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s responses to Questions 7 and 8 above.

66. L.17 requires the completed past performance matrix for itself and any proposed major subcontractors to contain the three (3) most relevant contracts and/or assistance agreements each in the past five (5) years whereas L.15.4.b specifies “the most relevant contracts and/or assistance agreements in terms of size, scope and complexity performed over the past three (3) years”. Please confirm past performance includes contracts and/or assistance agreements in the past five (5) years.

67. L.18.8 - Part 8 (Page 165) states that the following information shall be provided for each subcontractor:

(4) The information requested above in Parts (2), (3), (4), and (7) for each Sub-Contractor. Please clarify whether the following annexes in Part 3 are required from all subcontractors or major subcontractors only for the Cost Proposal: Annex 3 Copy of Travel policies and procedures, Annex 4 Procurement policies and procedures, Annex 5 Copy of Human Resource/ Personnel policies and procedures, Annex 6 The fixed fee schedule for base and option periods, and, Annex 10 Offeror’s Compensation Plan.

68. Please consider a two-week extension to the deadline for proposal submission.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: USAID has agreed to extend the submission of the proposals by two weeks until February 1, 2021. Please see the amended RFP Cover Letter.

mailto:WSCLebanonProposals@usaid.gov

69. RFP Section F.9 (page 26) lists a cost share requirement. We request that USAID remove the requirement for cost share as part of eligibility/selection criteria for grants under contract, as stated in clause

F.9.G.IV.C. As outlined in ADS 303.3.10.1 and 2, the inclusion of cost share should be flexible and case specific. The inclusion of mandatory cost share may inadvertently lead to the exclusion of technically capable partners, and hinder implementation of the overall grants program. For these reasons, we request the removal of this requirement in the above referenced section.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: USAID will not remove this requirement, as cost share need not be only monetary - cost share may also be in kind, volunteer time, valuation of donated supplies, equipment, and other property, and use of unrecovered indirect costs.

70. RFP Section H.50 (Page 83) Will USAID please confirm if a 611(e) is already in place, and if there are any 611(e) requirements that could inform our response to the RFP because there will be a large amount of renovation/construction under this effort.

USAID Lebanon’s Response: USAID has a 611(e) in place for this procurement, but it is an internal document that will not be shared publicly at this time.

71. For greater clarity, would USAID please consider replacing the following sentence in Section B.7:

“Pursuant to FAR 52.216-8 Fixed Fee, after payment of 85 percent of the fixed fee, further payment of the fee will be withheld" with the full FAR 52.216-8 Fixed Fee language, “Payment of the fixed fee shall be made as specified in the Schedule; provided that the Contracting Officer withholds a reserve not to exceed

15 percent of the total fixed fee or $100,000, whichever is less, to protect the Government’s interest.”?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Confirmed. Please see amended RFP Section B.7.

72. RFP Section L.15.4, page 153, states, “Provide a total of three (3) of the most relevant contracts and/or assistance agreements in terms of size, scope and complexity performed over the past three (3) years by the

Offeror and major subcontractors in Attachment J.6 Past Performance Matrix.” However the instructions to the matrix on RFP Section L.17 page 155 states “Offerors will submit the completed past performance matrix (Attachment J.5) for itself and any proposed major subcontractors for the three (3) most relevant contracts and/or assistance agreements each in the past five (5) years.” Will USAID please confirm that the project timeframe for eligibility is the past five years.

73. RFP Section L.15 Page 154 states “ The Offeror shall indicate which past performances are listed in

CPARS, and if the contracts are not in CPARS, the Offeror shall submit Attachment J.4 Past Performance

Questionnaire in accordance with the date and time specified on the RFP Cover Page.” This request contradicts instructions in RFP Section L.16 Page 155 “Offerors will forward the past performance questionnaires (Attachment J.4) for itself and any proposed major subcontractors to three (3) references.

Will USAID please confirm that offerors are only required to submit Attachment J.4 Past Performance

Questionnaire for those projects that are not listed in the Past Performance Information Retrieval System

(PPIRS)?

74. RFP Section L.16, page 155, states that “Offerors will then submit the completed past performance questionnaires to WSCLebanonProposals@usaid.gov by the due date as indicated on the RFP cover page.”

Below that, the RFP states that “Offerors will submit the completed past performance matrix … by the past performance due date specified on the Cover Page.” Will USAID clarify the due date for the questionnaires and the matrix?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please see responses to Questions 7 and 8 above.

Also, will USAID clarify if the small business and quality awards sections should be submitted with the past performance questionnaires and the matrix in advance of the full proposal submission, and if not, will

USAID please specify an annex for this material in the technical volume?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Small business and quality awards sections should be submitted with the full proposal submission under Technical Proposal Annex G. Please see amended RFP section L.13.2 -

Annexes.

75. RFP Section VI.M of the Statement of Objectives states that the total value of grants may be up to $13 million. Will USAID please confirm that this total ceiling value for grants under contract covers the base plus option periods of the contract?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Yes, the $13 million total value is the ceiling value for grants under contract that covers the base, option periods, and IQO of the contract.

76. RFP Section L13.1, page 150, states that “maps, charts, or exhibits may use a font size of 10-point font in Times New Roman.” Will USAID please confirm that text boxes and tables are included in this requirement? Also, will USAID consider allowing a 10-point size font style other than Times New Roman for his requirement for ease of readability?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please refer to USAID Lebanon’s response to Question no. 3 above.

77. Would USAID kindly provide an amended Section K with a signature and date block?

USAID Lebanon’s Response: Please see amended RFP Section K.

mailto:WSCLebanonProposals@usaid.gov