Amendment__1_-_Recycling_in_Jordan.pdf

Request for Proposal (RFP) 72027819R00004-Amendment#1 USAID/Jordan Recycling in Jordan Activity

Attachment#1

The RFP is amended with key changes in bold as follows:

1. RFP Cover Letter, Second paragraph, pg. 1: DELETE in its entirety and REPLACE with:

“USAID anticipates awarding a cost-plus fixed-fee completion-type contract as a result of this solicitation, covering an estimated period of five years. The NAICS code is 541620 - Environmental Consulting Services. The authorized Geographic Code is 937. The total estimated cost for the resulting contract will range from $16-$19 million for the period of five years.

Although an anticipated range is provided, this does not mean that Offerors should necessarily strive to meet the maximum amount. Offerors must propose costs that they believe are realistic and reasonable for the work.”

2. Section B, B.6 pg. 9, DELETE “Fixed fee will be paid quarterly based on reasonable achievement of performance standards in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Work Plan.” and REPLACE with:

“TBD at time of award”

3. Section F

a. F.7(b), (f), and (j), pgs. 28, 31, and 33: DELETE “ usaidjordankmportal.com” and REPLACE with “jordankmportal.com”

b. Pg. 36, INSERT:

“F.10 Security Plan The contractor must prepare a Security Plan detailing an approach to safety and security for their personnel, facilities, partners, assets, information/data, and projects inside Jordan.”

4. Section G, G.8 Acceptance and Approval, pg. 40, DELETE in its entirety and REPLACE with:

“In order to receive final payment, all deliverables must be accepted and approved by the COR..”

5. Section H

a. H.19 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION, pg. 52 , DELETE in its entirety and REPLACE with:

“(a) Definitions. Base pay, or base salary, is defined as an employee’s basic compensation (salary) for services rendered. Income taxes are the responsibility, or liability, of the employee and are inclusive of, not additive to, base pay or salary. The base pay excludes benefits and allowances, bonuses, profit sharing arrangements, commissions, consultant fees, extra or overtime payments, overseas differential or quarters, cost of living or dependent education allowances.

(b) Setting Salaries. The reasonableness of proposed salaries will be evaluated applying the factors set forth in the applicable cost principles (FAR Part 31) and AIDAR 752.7007. In addition to these http://usaidjordankmportal.com/ http://jordankmportal.com/ factors, the Contracting Officer will consider the “market value” of each proposed position and the associated minimum qualifications as defined in the position description. The reasonableness of salaries or compensation will be determined by the Contracting Officer.

(c) Salaries and wages must be reflective of the “market value” for each position. Salaries and wages may not exceed the contractor’s established policy and practice, including the contractor’s established pay scale for equivalent classifications of employees.

(d) Initial Salaries. The initial starting salaries of all US national (USN), third country national (TCN), and cooperating country national (CCN) consultants or employees whose salaries are charged as a direct cost to this contract must be approved, in advance and in writing, by the Contracting Officer if the proposed salary is 3% higher than the employee’s current salary or wage, or the annual salary or wage received during the preceding year. Any initial starting salaries included in the final proposal revision and accepted during negotiations, are deemed approved upon contract execution.

(e) Replacement Staff. With the exception of key personnel, initial salaries of new staff replacing those previously approved in the contractor’s final proposal revision do not require prior approval by the Contracting Officer, provided that the following conditions are met: the position has been authorized in the contract; the proposed rate is reflective of the market value; and does not exceed the approved salary for the particular position in the final proposal revision. The contractor must obtain COR approval of the individual’s technical appropriateness to work on program activities.

(f) Salary Ceiling. A ceiling has been established for international and CCN staff on the reimbursable base salary or wage paid to personnel under the contract. For international staff, the ceiling is equivalent to the maximum annual salary of the established rate for agencies without a certified SES performance appraisal system (AWCPAS) referred to as the USAID Contractor Salary Threshold (USAID CST), published at http://www.opm.gov/oca/05tables/html/es.asp as amended from time to time, unless the Contracting Officer approves a higher amount in accordance with the Agency policy and procedures in ADS 302 “USAID Direct Contracting”.

Note: The contractor must retain any approvals issued pursuant to sections (a) through (f) above for audit purposes. Approvals issued pursuant to the above must be within the terms of this contract, and shall not serve to increase the total estimated cost or the obligated amount of this contract, whichever is less.

(g) Annual Salary Increases.

International Staff: Project staff may be granted a one-time annual increase after their completion of twelve months of satisfactory service. The annual salary increase may not exceed 3% per employee regardless of the annual escalation pool in the budget, if any. Annual salary increases of any kind exceeding these limitations, or exceeding the maximum SES established rate (AWCPAS) or the USAID CST, require the advance written approval of the Contracting Officer.

CCN Staff: Project staff may be granted a one-time annual increase after their completion of twelve months of satisfactory service under the contract. The annual salary increase may not exceed 3% per employee regardless of the annual escalation pool in the budget, if any.

(h) Short-Term Employees and Consultants:

Short-term employee means a Contractor employee appointed to serve less than one year in the Cooperating Country. Consultant means any especially well qualified person who is engaged, on a temporary or intermittent basis to advise the Contractor and who is not an officer or employee of the Contractor who performs other duties for the Contractor.

Compensation for international short-term employees or consultants must be reasonable under the terms of the contract. Any initial starting salaries for named International Consultants/Short-Term employees included in the final proposal revision and accepted during negotiations, are deemed approved upon contract execution. Contracting Officer’s approval is required when the proposed salary for consultants/short-term employees exceeds: (1) the annual compensation received by the consultant during the preceding year by 3%; or (2) the SES established rate (AWCPAS).

Compensation for local consultants must be reasonable under the terms of the contract. Any initial starting salaries for named local consultants/short-term employees included in the final proposal revision and accepted during negotiations, are deemed approved upon contract execution.

Contracting Officer’s approval is required when the proposed salary for local consultants/short-term employees exceeds: (1) the annual compensation received by the consultant during the preceding year by 3%.

(i) Salaries During Travel

Salaries and wages paid while in travel status will not be reimbursed for a travel period greater than the time required for travel by the most direct and expeditious route possible.

(j) Return of Overseas Employees

Salaries and wages paid to an employee serving overseas who is discharged by the contractor for misconduct, inexcusable non-performance, or security reasons will in no event be reimbursed for a period which extends beyond the time required to return him/her promptly to his/her point of origin by the most direct and expeditious air route.

(k) Work Week

Non-overseas Employees - The length of the contractor's U.S., non-overseas employees workday shall be in accordance with the contractor's established policies and practices and shall not be less than 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.

Overseas Employees - The work week for the contractor's overseas employees shall not be less than 40 hours and shall be scheduled to coincide with the work week for those employees of the USAID Mission. Holidays taken by contractor’s overseas employees may not exceed those of the U.S.

Mission, as published annually.”

b. H.20 EMPLOYMENT COSTS OF THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (TCNs) AND COOPERATING COUNTRY NATIONALS (CCNs), pg. 55, DELETE in its entirety.

6. Section J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS, pg. 76, DELETE Attachment#1 in its entirety and REPLACE with:

“Attachment #1 – Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17), OMB Control No:

0412-0520; Expiration Date: 3/31/2021”

7. Section K

a. K.2 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (OCT

2018), pg. 77, paragraph (a)(1) INSERT:541620 - Environmental Consulting Services”

b. Pg. 94, INSERT:

“SIGNATURE

By signature hereon, or on an offer incorporating these Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors, the offeror certifies that they are accurate, current, and complete, and that the offeror is aware of the penalty prescribed in 18 U.S. C. 1001 for making false statements in offers.

Solicitation No. ___________________________________ Date of Offer _____________________________________ Name of Offeror __________________________________ Typed Name and Title______________________________ Signature_____________________ Date_______________”

8. Section L

a. L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL,

i. (1)(a), table on pg. 104, Annex G, INSERT: “Offerors who are not small business concerns will submit with Annex G a 2 page attachment with information related to Using U.S. Small Business Concerns.”

ii. (1)(b), pg. 105, Annex G, INSERT: “and Using U.S. Small Business Concerns attachment”

iii. (1)(b) Annexes, pg. 105, first sentence INSERT: “all annexes are excluded from 25-page limit.”

iv. (1) Section 3: Past Performance, pg. 107, DELETE paragraph (d)(3)(b) in its entirety and REPLACE with:

“b) To supplement the narrative summary in (A), provide a list of three recent contracts for which offeror submitted subcontract reports to eSRS (FAR 52.219-9(d)(10)) and a copy of any similarly recent subcontracting reports if they were not submitted to eSRS.”

b. L.9 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL, Paragraph 4, Pg. 108, DELETE “(include Draft Security Plan - Annex I).”

i. Part 2 - Proposed Costs/Prices, pg. 110 Standard Cost Elements (1) Personnel, DELETE in its entirety and REPLACE with:

“(1) Personnel - FAR 31.205-6 and AIDAR 752.7007 provide for compensation for personal services. Direct salaries and wages must be proposed in accordance with the Offeror’s proposed personnel policies. Unit costs for each proposed position, key or not, must be expressed in an amount per work day with the corresponding level of effort required for the position (number of workdays) and then calculated to a total cost for each cost period where the salary would be applicable. Biographical Data Sheets are required for 1) all individuals to be sent outside the United States, and 2) all key personnel being proposed. Biographical Data Sheets must be properly completed, certified and signed by both employee and the contractor in the appropriate spaces with all blocks completed, as appropriate. Narratives must provide a discussion of the estimated annual escalation of all salaries where applicable.”

c. L.11 Security Plan, pg. 116, DELETE in its entirety.

Attachment#2

Technical Questions and Clarifications

Questions:

1. Given the complexity of the project and the time required to prepare a fully responsive proposal, we would like to respectfully request a two-week deadline extension.

2. Given the extensive list of annexes that offerors must provide as part of the Technical Proposal, would USAID kindly consider extending the proposal submission deadline to November 7, 2019 to allow offerors additional time to prepare bids with the highest possible value to the Government?

Answer: USAID will not extend the deadline for proposal submission.

Question:

3. Would USAID consider sharing the most recent results framework for

USAID/Jordan Country Development Cooperation Strategy, including details of “Development Objective (DO) 3 Water Resources and Environment Results framework” and other relevant DOs?

Answer:

The current Country Development Cooperation Strategy can be accessed here:

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1883/Amended_Jordan_Country_D evelopment_Strategy_November_2016_1.pdf

Question:

4. Would USAID consider describing the sub-intermediate results and the relevant indicators to which the Recycling in Jordan Activity is expected to contribute?

Answer: Offerors should propose appropriate indicators for the activity.

Question:

5. What is the anticipated award date for the Activity? Should offerors assume the

April 22, 2020 award date listed in the Business Forecast?

Answer: Offerors should check the Business Forecast website on a regular basis for the most recent estimated date of award.

Question:

6. The RFP states that the NAICS code for this procurement is 924110 – however, our understanding is that this is a Public Administration sector code and that it is not available to private sector entities. Could USAID please verify the code and advise accordingly?

Answer: NAICS code is 541620 - Environmental Consulting Services. See amendment.

Question:

7. Can USAID please provide the anticipated range/government cost estimate for the

Activity, to which the cover letter refers? The anticipated range would enable offerors to scale their proposed activities and targets for the Recycling in Jordan Activity to meet the budget range.

8. Regarding the cover page, USAID states an anticipated range is provided; however, a range does not appear anywhere within the solicitation. Would USAID please confirm the budget range for the Recycling in Jordan Activity?

9. In the cover letter from the Contracting Officer, dated October 1, 2019, paragraph 2 notes that “an anticipated range is provided.” However, Section B.3 notes that “the estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is TBD.” The USAID Forecast notes a Total Estimated Cost/Amount Range of $10M - $24.99M. Could USAID clarify whether the USAID Forecast is the anticipated range to which the cover letter is referring?

10. The cover letter states, “Although an anticipated range is provided, this does not mean that Offerors should necessarily strive to meet the maximum amount.” Can USAID kindly provide the anticipated cost range for this activity?

Answer: The range for this activity is $16-$19 million. See amendment.

Question:

11. Would USAID consider amending Section B.6 to allow for fixed fee to be paid monthly rather than quarterly, due to the cost responsibility and associated risk in taking on this contract?

12. Section B.6 on page 9 states, “The fixed fee will be paid quarterly based on reasonable achievement of performance standards in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Work Plan.” Section L.9, Part 2e(12) on page 113 states, “In addition, Offerors must submit a fixed fee payment schedule that assigns fixed fee payments to specific deliverables consistent with the proposed performance standards.” Section B.6 seems to describe a routine quarterly review of performance after which fee may be billed; whereas, Section L.9 seems to require a more structured approach to fee payments with specific amounts tied to specific deliverables (which could be billed as deliverables are achieved). Could USAID please clarify how fee will be paid for this project?

Answer: Language removed from B.6. Offerors should propose a fixed fee payment schedule as instructed in Section L.9, Part2, Standard Cost Elements, (12) Fixed Fee on page 112.

13. Section C does not discuss small-scale infrastructure activities. Please confirm that offerors may propose small-scale infrastructure activities as part of their Technical Approach/PWS and kindly clarify if the contract will set a maximum value for such activities and what that value would be.

Answer: This activity is for technical assistance and does not include small-scale infrastructure.

Question:

14. Page 27, Section F.7 states “The COR will provide a list of Mission PMP indicators required for the activity. The Activity MEL Plan must include the required Mission PMP indicators along with any others being proposed by the Contractor that are deemed necessary or useful in measuring progress against the overall goal and project objective(s).” Can USAID kindly provide the list of Mission PMP indicators and any associated targets at this proposal stage to inform offerors’ development of the draft Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan required by Section L of the RFP?

Answer: At this time there are no PMP indicators for this activity. Offerors should propose illustrative indicators from their own experience relevant to the outcomes in Section C (SOO).

Question:

15. Pages 28 and 31 reference the usaidjordankmportal.com website for accessing various plan and report templates. After numerous trials, the website could not be reached. Alternatively, the jordankmportal.com site referenced on page 30 is functioning. Should the two references on page 28 and page 31 be to the jordankmportal.com site?

Answer: See amendment.

Question:

16. Page 40, Section G.8 ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL, states “In order to receive payment, all deliverables must be accepted and approved by the COR.” Could USAID please clarify if this clause refers to the last invoice or to each invoice submitted by the Contractor? If the latter, how are “all deliverables” defined?

Answer: This clause refers to the final invoice. See amended language.

Question:

17. Section H.19(f) on page 53 references a Local Compensation Plan (LCP) in

Attachment J5 as a market analysis tool; however, this attachment is not listed in Section J or included as an attachment in the package published on Fedbizopps.gov.

Would USAID please provide the LCP for Jordan?

18. Would USAID kindly provide the Local Compensation Plan (LCP) for Jordan?

http://usaidjordankmportal.com/ http://jordankmportal.com/

19. Can USAID kindly attach the Local Compensation Plan (Attachment J5) referenced in Section H.19(f)?

Answer: This text has been removed from the document. USAID will not provide a copy of the LCP. See amendments to relevant sections of the RFP.

Question:

20. In Section H.2, on page 41, USAID states that VAT and customs duties are to be excluded from the price of the contract and that USAID will provide the Contractor with assistance in obtaining these exemptions from the Government of Jordan. Do such exemptions and assistance extend to the subcontractors funded under this project?

Answer: Yes.

Question:

21. If grants are anticipated under this activity, can USAID kindly incorporate the

Grants under Contract authorizing language from ADS 302 into Section H of the RFP (ADS 302.3.5.6 and ADS 302.3.4.13)?

22. If grants are permitted under this activity, can USAID please provide a plug figure for the Grants line item?

23. The RFP does not discuss or mention the possible use of Grants under Contract (GUCs) to achieve the performance objectives. Please confirm that offerors may propose GUCs as part of their Technical Approach/Performance Work Statement (PWS). If so, kindly include the applicable contractual clauses for GUCs.

24. To the extent that GUCs are allowed, would USAID specify a plug figure for GUCs, at least overall if not by CLIN? Or would that be left to the Offeror to determine, consistent with its proposed technical approach?

Answer: Grants Under Contracts is not contemplated for this activity.

Question:

25. The FAR (19.202-3 Equal low bids) provides for the possibility that two offerors may submit equivalent (low) bids, and in that event, gives preference to small business offerors. Would USAID kindly consider incorporating a similar “tie-breaking” mechanism for this procurement, wherein all things being equal (i.e., when two or more offers are of comparable/equal value to the government), preference would be given to the small business offeror?

Answer: FAR 19.202-3 refers to “FAR 14.408-6 -- Equal Low Bids” under Sealed bidding procedures Part 14. This procurement is conducted under FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation.

26. Per Sections L.8.1(a) and (b), could USAID kindly confirm that Annexes A, B, C, D, E, and H are not included in the 25-page limit for the technical proposal?

Answer: Annexes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are not included in the 25-page limit for the technical proposal. See amendment.

Question:

27. Please confirm that it is permissible to include annexes immediately after relevant sections of the technical proposal (for example, assembling the PDF so that Annex D and Annex E immediately follow Section 2: Staffing and Management Plan), rather than placing all annexes together after the 25-page technical proposal.

Answer: All annexes should be submitted in alphabetical order as a separate single PDF document.

Question:

28. In Section L.8.1, on page 104, the RFP states “The Technical Proposal must be submitted both in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) and Microsoft (MS) Word format.” Please confirm that only Section 1: Technical Approach, Section 2: Staffing and Management Plan, and Section 3: Past Performance sections of the Technical Proposal are to be submitted together in a Word document, and that it is permissible to submit all other components (e.g., TOC, CVs, Annexes) within the PDF compilation only.

29. Per Section L.8.1(a), “The Technical Proposal must be submitted both in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) and Microsoft (MS) Word format.” Please kindly confirm that the 25-page main technical proposal body should be submitted in Microsoft Word, while the full technical volume including annexes, signatures, and scans should be submitted in Adobe Acrobat

Answer: The offeror should submit Section 1: Technical Approach, Section 2: Staffing and Management Plan, and Section 3: Past Performance of the Technical Proposal together in Word and PDF formats. All annexes should be organized in alphabetical order and submitted as a separate single PDF document.

Question:

30. Please clarify whether Key Personnel must be committed exclusively to the team proposing them.

Answer: In accordance with ADS 302.3.5.4 the offeror must include as part of its proposal a statement signed by all individuals proposed as key personnel, confirming their present intention to serve in the stated position and their present availability to serve for the term of the proposed contract.

31. Regarding “Section 2: Staffing and Management Plan” in Section L.8.1 on page 106 of the RFP, please clarify whether USAID intends for the offeror to use Section 2 of the Technical Proposal to present a brief summary (subject to the 25 page count) of the information included in Annex E, or if this section will consist only of Annex E (exempt from 25 page count)

32. Page 105, Section L.8, lists Annex E – Staffing and Management Plan, as one of the required annexes to the Technical Proposal. Please clarify what should be included in this annex since the 25-page Technical Proposal narrative also includes a section on Staffing and Management Plan.

Could USAID kindly confirm that Offerors should include a narrative Staffing and Management Plan section in the main body of the technical proposal, and that Annex E may include supplemental information such as an organizational chart?

33. Do Annexes D, E, and F constitute the “Staffing and Management Plan” (Section L.8 (1), page 106), or should offerors describe their staffing and management plan in the body of the main text as well?

Answer: The offeror should include in the technical proposal - within the 25 page limit

- a narrative for “Section L.8.1 Section 2: Staffing and Management Plan,” in accordance with the instructions on Page 106 of the RFP. The offerors will follow the instructions on page 105 of the RFP to prepare the annexes.

Question:

34. Page 106, Section L.8, Section 2: Staffing and Management Plan, states “The Plan must include a description of the roles and responsibilities of the team (including but not limited to key personnel, managers, technical staff, short- and long-term consultants, and subcontractors). To help offerors best categorize their proposed positions, please provide a definition for “managers” versus “technical staff.” Also, please confirm that “short-term consultants” are the same as what USAID typically refers to as Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) / Consultants. Lastly, what does “long-term consultants” refer to?

Answer: “Short-term consultants” refers to Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA).

“Long-Term consultants” refers to Long-Term Technical Assistance (LTTA).

Question:

35. Regarding “Section 3: Past Performance” in Section L.8.1 on page 107 of the RFP, please clarify whether Section 3 should contain a narrative summary of the team’s past performance and qualifications (subject to the 25-page count), or if this section will consist only of Annex G and other attachments (exempt from page count).

Answer: Please refer to Section L.8.1 on Page 107 of the RFP.

Question:

36. Page 107, Section L.8, Section 3: Past Performance, asks offerors to “list in Annex G

‘Past Performance Matrix’ to the technical proposal up to three (each for the prime and major subcontractor) of the most recent (the last three years) and relevant contracts for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal.”

36.a. Would USAID kindly consider expanding the period for recent contracts from three years to six years to afford offerors a wider range of relevant contract to select from?

Answer: In accordance with “ADS 302mbh, Policy Guide for Assessment and Use of Contractor Performance and Integrity Information,” offerors may include recent contracts completed within the past five years.

36.b. Please clarify what should be addressed/included in Section 3: Past Performance of the Technical Proposal, given that Annex G will present past performance references.

Answer: Please refer to Section L.8.1 on Page 107 of the RFP.

36.c. Please clarify if offerors should submit Contractor Performance Reports (CPRs) for past performance contracts, perhaps as part of Annex G, and if so, which form to use the present the CPRs.

Answer: The offeror must only submit a completed Past Performance Matrix as Annex G, using the template in Attachment#2. Offerors should not submit full length Contractor Performance Assessment Reports (CPARS).

Question:

37. Page 105, Section L.8, Section 1: Technical Approach, states “The Offeror must submit a Performance Work Statement (PWS) that describes in detail specific feasible and tailored interventions necessary to complete the outcomes and objectives outlined in the statement of objectives (SOO) contained in Section C of this RFP. The Offeror must demonstrate how the key activities and methodologies it will use will increase commercial sector utilization of recycling services in Greater Amman.” Per ADS-Chapter 104, a PWS is defined as “A statement in the solicitation that identifies the technical, functional, and performance characteristics of the agency's requirements. The PWS is performance-based and describes the agency's needs (the what), not specific methods for meeting those needs (the how).”

38.a. Could you please confirm that USAID is requiring offerors to provide a combined Technical Approach (the how) and PWS (the what)?

Answer: Confirmed.

38.b. Would USAID kindly provide additional guidance on this requirement, with a possible suggested format for the PWS requested for offerors and more detailed instructions for what it should entail?

Answer: Please refer to L.8.1 Section 1 Technical approach on page 105.

Question:

38. Regarding instructions for Annex G in Section L.8.1 on page 107 of the RFP, please confirm:

39.a. That ongoing projects are permitted for inclusion in Annex G.

Answer: Confirmed.

39.b. That no further information/project descriptions are required if the contracts listed in Annex G are contained within the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).

Answer: Confirmed.

39.c. If a project is not contained within the CPARS, the required additional project information should be included as an attachment to Annex G, and will not count toward the 25-page limit.

Answer: Offerors should use the Past Performance Matrix template provided in Attachment#2 to present all information requested in Section 3: Past Performance Paragraph (a) for CPARS and non-CPARS projects.

39.d. That the use of small business concerns information requested on Page 108 should be included as an annex or attachment, exempt from the 25-page limit.

Answer: Confirmed. Offerors will submit information related to Using U.S.

Small Business Concerns as an attachment to Annex G. The attachment should be limited to 2 pages only.

Question:

39. Cost Proposal: In order to ensure comparable technical and cost proposals amongst

Offerors, woulD USAID consider establishing an indicator of the expected level of effort?

Answer: USAID will not provide an indicator of level of effort.

Question:

40. Could USAID please confirm whether the Security Plan should be included as

Annex I in the technical proposal, rather than presented in the cost proposal?

Answer: The selected offeror will prepare the Security Plan post-award. However, offerors should consider security costs in their cost proposal. See question 42..

41. Per Item 3b (page 108), “To supplement the narrative summary, provide a list of the recent contracts (past three years) for which you submitted subcontract reports to electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS) (FAR 52.219-9(d)(10)), and a copy of any similarly recent subcontracting reports if they were not submitted to eSRS.” Our list of eSRS reporting for the past three years contains more than 360 project submissions. Could USAID please confirm that offerors may submit a sample list of 10 recent projects for which offerors submitted subcontract reports to eSRS and a copy of any similarly recent subcontracting reports if they were not submitted to eSRS?

Answer: Offerors are requested to submit three recent contracts only. See amendment.

Question:

42. Page 116, Section L.11, Security Plan, states “The selected offeror will prepare a

Security Plan detailing an approach to safety and security for their personnel and facilities. The Security Plan must at a minimum contain the Offerors’ processes and what the Offeror envisions will be necessary to secure the contractor staff in the performance of this project.” Please clarify if offerors need to include anticipated security expenses in their cost proposals.

Answer: Confirmed. See amendment for section L.11 and F.10.

Question:

43. Section L.9, Part 2, (e)(1)(Personnel) on page 110 requires consultants to be treated as subcontractors unless they are employees of the contractor. This language presents significant issues for many Offerors, particularly related to NICRAs and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS). NICRAs are approved by USAID’s Overhead, Special Cost, and Closeout Branch Division and require many Offerors to treat consultants as short-term personnel and apply applicable indirect costs. Should an Offeror begin to treat consultants as subcontractors and apply subcontractor-related indirect costs, this would be viewed as inconsistent treatment of direct costs across USG-funded contracts and would be in violation of the terms of an Offeror’s NICRA and CAS. Further, it is industry standard to treat consultants as short-term personnel, which is supported in this RFP with guidance for consultant compensation under Section H.19, Additional Requirements for Personnel Compensation. Based on the above, we respectfully request the removal of language requiring the treatment of consultants as subcontractors so each Offeror may classify consultants according to its own NICRA and CAS.

44. Page 110, Section L.9, Part 2 – Proposed Costs/Prices, (1) Personnel, states “Consultants are to be treated as subcontractors and information to support consent to subcontract must be submitted if applicable per FAR 44.101.” This appears to contradict page 54, Section H.19 (h) regarding short-term employees and consultants, which contains references to compensation (as well as use of salary histories) – and indicates that the rates of these individuals named in the proposal are deemed approved upon contract award – without any reference to a requirement for submission of consent requests in accordance with FAR 52.244-2, as is required elsewhere in reference to subcontracts.

Would USAID kindly consider removing this requirement since, per FAR 31.205-33 and AIDAR 752.202-1(e), consultants are defined as “ any especially well qualified person who is engaged, on a temporary or intermittent basis to advise the Contractor and who is not an officer or employee of the Contractor who performs other duties for the Contractor,” and thus are typically hired through consultant labor agreements and not through FFP, T&M or cost-reimbursement subcontracts?

Answer: Language removed from RFP. See amendment.

Question:

45. Please confirm that offerors may use the acronym “RJA” to refer to the Recycling in

Jordan activity in their proposals.

Answer: The offeror must refer to the activity throughout the proposal as the “Recycling in Jordan activity.”

Question:

46. Page 104, Section L.8, lists the items that are not included in the 25-page limitation.

While Annexes F and G are listed in the table, the remaining annexes (A, B, C, D, E and H), are not listed as being excluded from the 25-page limitation. Please confirm that Annexes A, B, C, D, E and H are excluded from the 25-page limitation.

47. Section L.8 (1) on pages 103-105 provide specific page limits for the technical proposal including the table with items NOT included in the 25-page limit. We respectfully request that USAID remove all annexes listed in Section L.8 (1) b (Annexes) from the 25-page limit.

Answer: Annexes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are not included in the 25-page limit for the technical proposal. See amendment.

Question:

48. Page 104, Section L.8, indicates page limits for Annexes F and G. Page limits are not provided for any other annex. Please confirm that Annexes A, B, C, D, E and H do not have any page limits

Answer: All annexes do not have a page limit.

Question:

49. Page 106, Section L.8, Section 1: Technical Approach, would USAID kindly consider providing a sample entry in the table/exhibit for the Draft Quality Control Plan, like the sample entry included in the preceding table/exhibit for performance standards?

Answer:

50. Are offerors permitted to discuss past performance within the body of Section 3 of the technical proposal (Section L.8 (1), page 107) beyond what is included in Annex G?

Answer: Yes.

Question:

51. Section L.8 (1) page 105 presents a template for the presentation of performance standards in the PWS. Is the template included in the RFP mandatory or should offerors provide their own template?

Answer: Offerors should use the template provided in the RFP.

Question:

52. Section L.8 (1) page 106 presents a template for the Draft Quality Control Plan. Is the template included in the RFP mandatory or should offerors provide their own template?

Answer: Offerors should use the template provided in the RFP.

Question:

53. Section L.9, Part 1 on page 109 specifically requires an original signature on the

SF-33. Could USAID please confirm that the statement in Section L.7(b) on page 103 regarding the acceptability of electronic signatures also applies to the SF-33?

Answer: Electronic signatures are acceptable.

Question:

54. Section L.9, Part 2c on page 109 states, “The budget must include a separate tab that provides the budget breakdown by Outcome.” Would USAID please confirm that the requested budget breakdown by Outcome is a summary budget similar to that in Section B.4 on page 9?

Answer: Confirmed.

Question:

55. Section L.9, Part 3 on page 113 requires the Offeror to submit a signed and dated

Section K; however, there is no signature block in Section K within the RFP. Could USAID please revise Section K to include a signature block?

Answer: See amendment.

Question:

56. Section L.9, Part 4 on page 113 requires the Offeror to submit a copy of its personnel policies and procedures. Would USAID please confirm that Offerors with prior Federal contracting experience do not need to submit a copy of their personnel policies and procedures?

Answer: All offerors regardless of prior Federal contracting experience must submit a copy of their personnel policies and procedures.

Question:

57. Page 53, Section H.19 (g) Annual Salary Increases, states “International Staff:

Project staff may be granted a one-time annual increase after their completion of twelve months of satisfactory service.” Could USAD please confirm that this clause applies only to staff working full-time on the project in Jordan, and not to Contractor’s Home Office management support staff, who typically work on several projects and receive raises on different dates (e.g., on the anniversary of hiring) in accordance with the Contractor’s corporate policies for Home Office employees?

Answer:This only applies to staff when staff time is directly charged to the contract.

For all other staff, please follow company policy.

Question:

58. In Section H.19, Paragraphs (b) and (e), on pages 52-53, USAID states that salary reasonableness will be based in part upon “salary history” as evidence in the Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (Form AID 1420-17). The revised Form AID 1420-17 issued in September of this year no longer includes this data.

Will these paragraphs be revised to reflect that salary history has been removed from the current Form AID 1420-17 or are salaries to be supported by the use of the prior version of the form?

59. Could USAID please confirm whether Offerors should include salary history information on candidates’ biographical data forms, using the version of the biographical data form that was included as RFP Attachment 1, and as referenced in Section H.19(b)? Alternatively, should bidders use the biographical data form linked in Section L.9 (page 110), which does not include a section for salary history information?

60. Sections H.19(g) and (h) state that annual salary increase may not exceed 35 percent.

We respectfully request the entirety of Sections H.19(g) and (h) be removed from the RFP as they appear to be inconsistent with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation, incorporated in the contract under Section H.18, which stipulates that personnel compensation be in accordance with the contractor’s established policies, procedures, and practices, with reimbursement subject only to the USAID Contractor Salary Threshold. The limitation on salary increases may preclude contractors from following their established policies, procedures, and practices, as required by

AIDAR 752.7007.

61. Section L.9(Part 2)(1) on page 110 states salaries and wages for long-term staff must be based on the requirements of the positions proposed and the market value of the position, and should NOT be based on the proposed individuals’ salary histories. In addition, the link to the biographical data sheet required for all personnel proposed under the RFP is to the updated version, which does not include salary history (https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17). Regarding these requirements, would USAID please clarify the following items:

61.a. Section H.19(b) on page 52 states that the reasonableness of proposed salaries will be evaluated applying applicable cost principles, the “market value” of each proposed position and the associated minimum qualifications as defined in the position description, as well as the salary history as evidenced in USAID Form “Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet” (Attachment J4). Please confirm salary history should not be a factor in determining proposed personnel salaries and wages.

61.b. Section H.19(c) on page 52 states salaries and wages must be reflective of the “market value” for each position along with salary history. Please confirm salary history should not be a factor in determining proposed personnel salaries and wages.

61.c. Section H.19(d) on page 52 states, “The initial starting salaries of all US national, third country national (TCN), and cooperating country (CCN) consultants or employees whose salaries are charged as a direct cost to this contract must be approved in advance and in writing by the Contracting Officer if the proposed salary is 5% higher than the employee’s current salary or wage, or the annual salary or wage received during the preceding year.” Please confirm proposed initial salaries should be based on market value and are not limited to a 5% increase on a candidate’s wage or salary in his/her salary history.

61.d. Section H.19(e) on pages 52-53 states replacement staff do not need approval from the Contracting Officer as long as the initial salary does not exceed either the individual’s recent long-term salary by 5%. Please confirm proposed initial salaries for replacement staff should be based on market value and are not limited to a 5% https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17 increase on a wage or salary in their salary histories.

61.e. Would USAID please revise section H.19 to eliminate all reference to salaries and wages being limited by salary history?

62. Page 110, Section L.9, Part 2 - Proposed Costs/Prices, (1) Personnel, states “Salaries and wages for long-term staff must be based on the requirements of the positions proposed and the market value of the position, and should NOT be based on the proposed individuals' salary histories.” However, this appears to conflict with Section H.19 (b), (c) and (d), which refer to salary history. Could USAID please clarify and advise accordingly?

Answer: Salary increases remain with this amendment at 3%. See amendment for revised language of Section H.19.

Question:

63. Should offerors use the 1420 form referenced/accessed by the link https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17 in Section L.9 on page 110 of the RFP, or the old 1420 form included as Attachment 1 to the RFP?

64. Attachment #1 – Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17) as included in the solicitation release is the form that includes salary history requirements. Please confirm the required version of the biodata form to be submitted in the cost proposal is the version linked above (https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17), from Section L.9, which does not have salary history as part of the form.

Answer: Offerors should use the new form. See amendment.

65. Referencing the new Contract Employee Biographical Data Sheet – AID 1420 (expires 3/31/2021), will USAID/Jordan kindly provide guidance on what “Rationale for Proposed Salary” factors are deemed reasonable and allowable? [In September 2019, the usaid.gov site featured a new Contract Employee Biographical Data Sheet

– AID 1420 (expires 3/31/2021) which excluded the salary history, but included a new section to provide “Rationale for Proposed Salary” (Field 16).]

Answer: The only guidance available at this time is on the form.

Question:

66. Section H.20 states that “compensation, including merit or promotion increases, that exceeds the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country” and “unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer, the maximum prevailing compensation will be the same as the maximum salary under the Mission Local Compensation Plan” are unallowable. We respectfully request these clauses be removed from the RFP as it appears to be inconsistent with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation, incorporated in the https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17 contract under Section H.18, which stipulates that personnel compensation be in accordance with the contractor’s established policies, procedures, and practices, with reimbursement subject only to the USAID Contractor Salary Threshold. The rate restriction above may preclude contractors from following their established policies, procedures, and practices, as required by AIDAR 752.7007, which governs all USAID cost-reimbursement contracts.

Answer: Section H.20 removed in its entirety. See amendment.