72027818Q0005_-_Amendment_No._2.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development American Embassy P.O. Box 354 Amman 11118, Jordan

Tel: +962 (6) 5906000 Fax +962 (6) 5921535 www.usaid.gov/Jordan

U.S. Department of State 6050 Amman Place Washington, DC 20521-6050

January 4, 2018

Subject: Request for Quotation (RFQ) No. 72027818Q00005 – Amendment No. 2 Training for Employment Activity (TEA)

The purpose of this Amendment is to revise the evaluation criteria and extend the due date of submitting proposals.

Accordingly, the subject RFQ is being modified as follows:

1. Page 7, 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Items (Oct 2014), delete (a) and replace with the following:

“(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

- Technical Approach:

o A draft 1st Year Work Plan that demonstrates understanding of the labor market. The work plan must include the expected number of trainees, training program sectors, number of short-term and long-term programs and the expected number of job placements per sector.

o The number of students to be trained during the 3 years.

o The approach of selecting students.

o The mechanism of matching students with available jobs.

o The methodology of identifying job market needs and relevant sectors.

o The methodology and mechanism of providing training.

- Price

- Past performance:

o Relevant previous work in matching students with jobs.

o Demonstrated ability to achieve the above technical approach and proposed results.

Technical approach and past performance, when combined, are more important than price.”

2. Offers are due on January 21, 2018 at 16:30 local time.

3. Following are the Answers to all the questions that were received:

Training for Employment Activity (TEA) Request for Quotation No. 72027818Q00005

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Q1. What is the required format for the technical proposal?

Response: Offeror may use any format so long as it addresses all the components needed for evaluation. As per the RFQ, following are the evaluation factors:

- Technical Approach:

o A draft 1st Year Work Plan that demonstrates understanding of the labor market. The work plan must include the expected number of trainees, training program sectors, and the expected number of job placements per sector.

o The approach of selecting students.

o The mechanism of matching students with available jobs.

o The methodology of identifying job market needs and relevant sectors.

o The methodology and mechanism of providing training.

- Price

- Past performance:

o Relevant previous work in matching students with jobs.

o Demonstrated ability to achieve the above technical approach and proposed results.

Technical approach and past performance, when combined, are more important than price.”

Q2. Is this contract a fixed price contract?

Response: This is a Fixed-Price Contract.

Q3. Is this project exempted from sales tax?

Response: Yes

Q4. Is there an announced budget allocation for this project?

Response: In accordance with Local Competition Authority, awards must not exceed

$5,000,000.

Q5. As an annual project, for how many years is it expected to be implemented?

Response: Three years.

Q6. Is it possible to include other types of training (e.g. administrative, IT) among the offered programs in addition to tvet programs?

Response: Yes but as mentioned in the RFQ, your selection must be based on current labor market conditions and employer demand, with a greater focus on the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.

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Q7. Please define the long-term and short-term semesters in terms of duration and number of training hours.

Response: An academic semester is typically 6 months or less depending on the skill level.

In general, short-term training is anywhere between 2 and 6 months. Long-term training is up to two years. This depends on the training provider. Offerors must provide a conversion method if using training period other than semester.

Q8. What are the expected levels or qualifications of tvet training to be provided (semi-skilled, skilled, technician)?

Response: The goal is to train job-seekers according to market needs and to have 80% of trainees placed in jobs.

Q9. Regarding 2500 trainees, what is the expected graduation schedule over the year?

And what is the proportion of long-term semester trainees to short-term semester trainees?

Response: Please note that the 2500 is the number of semesters provided for all trainees. As for the proportion between long-term and short-term programs, offerors need to include it in their proposals. Please refer to Q8.

Q10. What is the preferred structure and qualifications of the team managing this project?

Response: There is no preferred structure. Each offeror must demonstrate their capabilities as requested by the evaluation criteria.

Q11. Regarding the information system, is it expected to be linked to any other system hosted by public or private entity?

Response: The system is expected to provide USAID with real-time information regarding student information, enrollment, progress, internship or on-the-job training, and employment status. Please refer to p.2 of the RFQ.

Q12. Regarding the information system, is it required to deliver the source code of the system as part of the deliverables?

Response: No.

Q13. Is it preferred to focus project activities on one governorate, or open it for several governorates / areas? Is there any geographic preference for the project in Jordan?

Response: It is preferred to focus on more than one geographic area. The goal is to place people in jobs according to RFQ requirements.

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Q14. For the employment component, is wage subsidy mechanism acceptable to be utilized in this project? If yes, what is the allowed subsidy proportion?

Response: Job-seekers should be trained based on job vacancies available to be filled. Wage subsidy is not part of this solicitation.

Q15. Is transportation allowance for trainees and employees acceptable? If yes, what are the acceptable transportation compensation fees?

Response: Transportation allowance is acceptable for trainees only as needed. Offerors who already have their own transportation methods, should provide the actual cost.

Otherwise, offerors need to quote based on using the most feasible available transportation.

Q16. Is internship opportunity for few months considered employment?

Response: No, employment is a full-time job for at least 6 months with the same employer.

Q17. It is mentioned that “At least 80% of the beneficiary students will have secured employment, guaranteed by the offerors from their own funding”. what does “own funding” refer to?

Response: Own funding means that offerors need to place students in jobs as part of this activity without incurring additional cost to USAID. If the offerors are not able to place 80% of the students in jobs, then they should train an additional number of students, at their own expense/own funding, to bring the percentage of employed students to 80%.

Q18. It is mentioned “At least 60% of the beneficiary students will still have secured employment after 6 months of employment”. Does this mean that they will continue in their current jobs/employers after 6 months of employment? And for how many months?

Response: The goal for this activity is to secure long-term employment for trained students.

After finishing the training program, students should remain with the same employer for at least six months.

Q19. What are the requirements for verification of employment to supplied by the partner?

Response: This should be part of your proposal.

Q20. Is it possible to extend proposals submission deadline for another week?

Response: The deadline has been extended to 16:30, January 21, 2018.

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Q21. I need the budget form.

Response: There is no extra budget form. You are required to use the SF 1449 Form to enter your cost.

Q22. I need to know which type of training are you targeting?

Response: As per the evaluation criteria, offerors should have a clear understanding of job market information and employment needs in order to design training programs with the end goal of placing students in jobs.

Q23. What is the no to exceed budget for the services required per student or for the contract overall?

Response: The question is not clear.

Q24. Are U.S. organizations eligible for contract award?

Response: No, this RFQ is limited to local entities.

Q25. Page 3 of the solicitation states that "At least 80% of the beneficiary students will have secured employment, guaranteed by the offerors from their own funding."

Does this mean that the offeror will be responsible for paying student wages or that offeror is responsible for securing employment for the students?

Response: Offeror is responsible for securing employment for the students.

Q26. Also, regarding the statement from page 3, "At least 80% of the beneficiary students will have secured employment, guaranteed by the offerors from their own funding." Are students required to have employment in Jordan?

Response: Yes.

Q27. Will employment opportunities outside of Jordan and/or in the U.S. meet the student employment requirement?

Response: Please refer to Q26.

Q28. Will the selected contractor be required to provide each student that completes the training with credentials of any kind?

Response: Yes. Students should receive an end-of-training certificate.

Q29. The solicitation provided some demographic detail about the students. Can you provide details on the age range and range of highest level of education for the students?

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Response: There is no restriction on age and level of education. Training should be linked to market demand and should result in employment.

Q30. Will the contractor be responsible for the recruitment of students?

Response: Yes.

Q31. Has the USAID identified or completed research on job markets and job opportunities in Jordan or specific to this contract need? If so, please identify the source of the research.

Response: As per the evaluation criteria, offerors should have a clear understanding of job market information and employment needs in order to design training programs with the end goal of placing students in jobs.

Q32. It is understood that this contract will be valid for at least one (1) year. Will there be any options years as well? If so, please identify how many and the number of students to be served each year.

Response: The contract is expected to be valid for 3 years.

Q33. Page 1 of the solicitation, schedule/supplies and services mentions students semester of career and technical education programs. How long is one semester and how many semesters should each students be required to complete per program? Is the length and number of semesters for the contractor to decide?

Response: An academic semester is typically 6 months or less depending on the skill level.

The length and number of semesters should be part of your proposal.

Q34. Is this a new requirement? If no, what is the contact number and contract award amount for the last contract for this requirement? Who is/was the current/last contactor?

Response: This is a new requirement.

Q35. What is the anticipated contract award for this requirement?

Response: Please refer to Q4.

Q36. Please confirm that proposal packages should be submitted via email.

Response: This is to confirm that proposal packages should be submitted via email.

Q37. Is it acceptable to submit our proposal to address only university and college graduates and not to involve failed Tawjihi graduates in the design of the program to address up-skilling and employability, while meeting requirements in regard to

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Response: According to the RFQ requirements, at least 50% of beneficiaries should be students who have failed Tawjihi.

Q38. Is it acceptable to design and submit programs for males only and programs for females only in which at the end 30% of the total programs participants are females (as required in the RFQ)?

Response: No, your proposal should address all the RFQ requirements.

Q39. Is there any restriction/preference for the sectors or is the choice totally dependent on employer demand - evidenced in the submission?

Response: There are no restrictions.

Q40. Is the duration of the programmes also dependent on market demand?

Response: This should be part of your proposal.

Q41. What is the expected project length? Is there a minimum or maximum implementation period?

Response: This activity has a duration of three years.

Q42. What is the definition of “semester” as used on pages 1 and 2 of the RFQ?

Response: Please refer to Q7.

Q43. Please clarify the meaning of the first point under “Conditions” on p.3: “At least 80% of the beneficiary students will have secured employment, guaranteed by the offerors from their own funding.” Please clarify to whom the term “offeror” refers in this point – the employer of the beneficiary, or the contractor? If the employment must be guaranteed by offerors “from their own funding,” are costs associated with job matching considered allowable under this contract?

Response: The offeror is the contractor. TEA allows for demand-driven training to job-seekers to fill available jobs. Recruitment costs and wage subsidies are not allowed. If the offerors are not able to place 80% of the students in jobs, then they should train an additional number of students, at their own expense/own funding, to bring the percentage of employed students to 80%.

Q44. Please clarify the meaning of the second point under “Conditions” on p.3: “At least 60% of the beneficiary students will still have secured employment after 6 months of employment.” Is this referring to job retention, meaning that at least

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60% of beneficiary students who secure employment remain employed for at least 6 months? Must employed beneficiaries remain in the same job for a period of 6 months or longer, or would beneficiaries remain eligible under this indicator if they switched to a different job within that time period but remained continuously employed?

Response: Please refer to Q18.

Q45. Please confirm the expected form of submission – electronic, in person, etc?

Response: Submission must be electronic via email.

Q46. What is the extension of the project?

Response: This activity has a duration of three years.

Q47. What specialties are required for training?

Response: Training should be linked to market demand and should result in employment.

Q48. What areas are covered by the training or project?

Response: Training should be linked to market demand and should result in employment.

Q49. What are the conditions of acceptance of the training providers to submit the project?

Response: Please refer to the RFQ requirements.

Q50. Are there any benefits required for advanced training providers?

Response: Training should be linked to market demand and should result in employment.

Q51. What are the cost limits to be met for training purposes from USAID?

Response: This should be part of your proposal.

Q52. Time frame and duration for executing the activities?

Response: This activity has a duration of three years. Market-demand training and employment targets should be set annually (or more frequently if needed) and agreed on with USAID.

Q53. Details of the required training in terms of subjects, sectors, on-job training, etc..

Response: As per the evaluation criteria, offerors should have a clear understanding of job market information and employment needs in order to design training programs with the end goal of placing students in jobs.

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Q54. The possibility of extending the submission deadline?

Response: Please refer to Q20.

Q55. The possibility of applying within a consortium?

Response: Yes provided that the proposal describes the services to be provided by each member of the consortium in reasonable detail.

Q56. Is it required to provide a proposal in addition to the filled form, if yes what contents are obligatory and is there a specific template?

Response: There isn’t a specific template; offerors need to submit the filled form in addition to a document that supports the evaluation criteria.

Q57. Can you please clarify the target group age?

Response: There is no age restriction.

Q58. What do you mean by beneficiary students with limited financial resources and above average academic standings? Are they university / schools students? Drop-outs?

Response: This refers to students who have acquired above-average academic achievements but who are not able, financially, to pursue the education needed to find employment.

Q59. The timeframe of the project (starting and ending years) - duration?

Response: This activity has a duration of three years.

Q60. Any special budget limit?

Response: Please refer to Q4.

Q61. Elaborate what do you mean (student semester of career and technical education programs)? University students?

Response: Student semester means the number of semesters provided for all trainees in order to acquire the skills needed to get employed. This varies depending on the program length and skill level. A semester may be addressed in months or credit hours depending on the training program. Also refer to Q33.

Q62. Where can we find more technical information about the project?

Response: The RFQ and amendments provide all needed information.

Q63. In the RFQ statement "multiple awards", would you consider an offer for a sub-item within the main item. For example, could an organization bid independently for the employment of 30% women (targeting 750 women- (80%) Jordanian and

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(20%) Syrian women) under Item 1, given the specificity of the gender barriers to women entry into the workforce in Jordan?

Response: No, your proposal should address all the RFQ requirements. Multiple awards mean that USAID might consider awarding more than one contract.

Q64. Is there the need to conduct a training need assessment (TNA)?

Response: As per the evaluation criteria, offerors should have a clear understanding of job market information and employment needs in order to design training programs with the end goal of placing students in jobs.

Q65. Will we be assuming the responsibility to provide the beneficiaries with premises for their vocational training?

Response: Yes.

Q66. What is the definition of a student semester? Will it be defined in terms of months or credit hours undertaken?

Response: Please refer to Q61.

Q67. Do the trainings require a need for certain certificates?

Response: Students should receive an end-of-training certificate.

Q68. What do you mean by short and long-term programs, what is the differences?

Response: Please refer to Q7.

Q69. Are the trainings going to take place in several places all over Jordan?

Response: It is preferred to focus on more than one geographic area. The goal is to place people in jobs.

Q70. Are there any available training materials or specific topics that are prerequisites for the training program overall?

Response: As per the evaluation criteria, offerors should have a clear understanding of job market information and employment needs in order to design training programs with the end goal of placing students in jobs.

Q71. We can develop, design, and implement an information system, but who will we be delegating the ownership of it to?

Response: Please note that your proposal should address all the RFQ requirements, not only the Information System portion.

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Q72. What knowledge management solutions (e.g. document management, data mining, blogging, or community forums.) will the focus of the knowledge management program be focusing on?

Response: Please refer to the RFQ requirement.

Q73. Regarding transportation, is it going to be set in budget to commute beneficiaries back and forth?

Response: Please refer to Q15.

Q74. Does the budget also include meals?

Response: No.

Q75. What is the overall project timeline from inception till transition?

Response: This activity has a duration of three years.

Q76. Will there be the opportunity for further assistance and clarifications during the proposal development phase, and if so, is there a contact person we can address?

Response: No.

Q77. Is there a page limit for the technical proposal?

Response: Yes, the technical proposal should not exceed 15 pages.