ART_RFP_Questions_&_Answers_20190801.pdf

Amendment No. Three (3) RFP Solicitation No. 72027819R00008

Accountability and Research Team (ART) Appendix I-Questions and Answers

Q.1: Page 7, C.1. Activity Purpose. Can USAID confirm that “all USAID/MEB stabilization activities” refers to all stabilization activities within Syria only?

Answer 1: This is confirmed.

Q.2: Will Syria ART overlap with the MELP that will be tendered in the future and then also with USAID Jordan MEL facility to be awarded soon, given that programming related to both facilities could likely overlap with that under ART?

Answer 2: No. The USAID Jordan MEL covers Jordan activities, while ART covers activities implemented in Syria specifically.

Q.3: Does USAID have a preference for the knowledge management/data management tool used for managing monitoring data that is collected by the IPs?

What system/tool is currently being used for monitoring data related to Syrian Essential Services II and other USAID programs and will the contractor be provided access to it upon award?

Answer 3: USAID has no preference. It needs to be a sound and effective system that is capable of collecting and analyzing data to help in decision making.

The ART Contractor needs to have a separate system that combines primary data collected from different MEB Syria activities. The required system should allow the Contractor’s staff based in Jordan to provide their field staff in Syria with data collection tools (forms) electronically, updating and revising when necessary based on feedback.

Q.4: Can USAID provide the locations of current programs and also any locations of new/forecasted USAID-funded programs that could arise over the course of ART?

Answer 4: Currently, USAID MEB programs are implemented in areas outside regime control in northeast Syria. If the political, legal, and security situation permits, ART may expand program efforts to other parts of Syria.

Q.5: Given the short deadline and necessary time to answer pertinent questions to the proposal, can USAID consider an extension of the deadline?

Answer 5: The closing date specified in the RFP is hereby changed to August 16, 2019. Please see amendment to the RFP.

Q.6: Because of the increasing political complexity in Syria, we believe that local partners will need to undergo extensive vetting and anti-terrorism tracking. Can USAID clarify their position on local partners or bidders with offices located in Damascus, who might have necessary interactions with the currently sanctioned regime?

Answer 6: As outlined in the special provision H.6.1 “Vetting” under the RFP, Contractors and sub-contractors working on Syria will be subject to USAID Partner Vetting procedures referenced in AIDAR Subpart 704.70. In furtherance of the mandatory AIDAR clauses included herein, USAID will apply the procedures described in the Syria Vetting Standard Operating Procedures, effective as of May 25, 2016, a copy of which [may be found at the following hyperlink:

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/USAID_Syria_Vetting_Pr ocedures_04-25-2016.pdf ].

The Contractor will incorporate any vetting guidance provided by USAID into its management systems and will maintain responsibility for gathering the information of individuals to be vetted. USAID does not provide support to activities in regime-held areas.

Q.7: Can USAID define any other operating unit, as included on p. 9 under section C 2.2?

Answer 7: USAID/MEB manages projects in Syria from different locations: the Southern Syria Assistance Platform (SSAP) in Jordan, Syria Transition Assistance Response Team (START) in Turkey, USAID/MEB in Washington, DC, and USAID Middle East Regional Platform (MERP) in Germany.

Q.8: Page 10, C.4.1. Support Services to USAID/MEB. Can USAID provide more detail on the expectations for the development of a “reporting system,” i.e., is the expectation that it would be built upon a platform currently in use by MEB or any of its operating units, or is it to be developed from scratch?

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/USAID_Syria_Vetting_Procedures_04-25-2016.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/USAID_Syria_Vetting_Procedures_04-25-2016.pdf

Answer 8: The ART Contractor should build a reporting system to collect primary data from USAID/MEB activities collected from within Syria. The reporting system should endeavor to provide primary data and analysis to USAID in a succinct and reader-friendly format.

Q.9: Page 10, C.4.1. Support Services to USAID/MEB. Can USAID clarify that when it refers to PMPs, the reference is to activity (IP)-level developed PMPs, or country-level PMPs?

Answer 9: IP PMPs do not currently exist in the USAID Program Cycle. IP PMPs are currently referred to as IP activity-level MEL plans. Please see Amendment to the RFP.

Q.10: Page 10, C.4.1. Support Services to USAID/MEB. For costing purposes, can USAID provide an estimate number of DQAs to be completed on an annual basis?

Answer 10: The number of DQAs is estimated to be 1-3 per year

Q.11: In C.4.1(3), the RFP says, “Review IP Performance Monitoring Plans (PMP);

PMP learning agendas; evaluation scopes of work; MEL task calendars; and other MEL and R&A tasks.” Our understanding of ADS 201 is that PMPs are a Mission level tool and IP MEL plans are now what were formally IP PMPs (and that IP PMPs do not currently exist in the USAID Program Cycle). Does “review IP PMP” reference a Mission level PMP or results framework, a project level MEL plan or the IP activity-level MEL plans?

Answer 11: Please see answer No. 9 above.

Q.12: In reference to RFP page 10, section C.4.1 (3), “Review IP performance monitoring plan(s) (PMPs); PMP learning agendas; evaluation scopes of work; MEL task calendars; and other MEL and R&A tasks;” would USAID/MEB please clarify if this is requesting support for a Mission-level or Mission-prepared Performance Management Plan as referenced in the USAID ADS section 201.3.2.16, or if this is requesting activity-level, implementing partner-prepared MEL plans as referenced in C.4.1, 4.?

Answer 12: Please see answer No. 9 above.

Q.13: In C.4.1(3), the RFP says, “Review … PMP learning agendas.” Is this PMP learning agenda at the Mission level, project level or activity level?

Answer 13: The PMP learning agenda is at the activity level.

Q.14: In C.4.1(5), the RFP says, “Collect and analyze context monitoring data.” Is this expected to be primary data collection? If so, and because this could potentially be expansive, can USAID provide more information about the scope of this activity, for budgeting purposes?

Answer 14: The activity requires both primary and secondary context monitoring data. The data collected should cover areas where USAID/MEB activities are implemented in Syria and should help USAID and IPs take proper decisions with regards to implementing work. This data should include community atmospherics, economic, political, security and other kinds of data.

Q.15: Page 11, C.4.2. Third Party Monitoring of USAID/MEB Activities. For costing purposes, can USAID provide an estimate number of site visits to be completed on a monthly basis?

Answer 15: Site visits are estimated at 12-18 per month.

Q.16: On page 11 of the RFP, under Section C.4.2, USAID includes “Establish a TPM system capable of regularly and accurately gather verifiable data on USAID/MEB activities implemented in Syria.” Could USAID please clarify whether the Contractor will be asked to develop a new system or whether it will be asked to apply and maintain a system USAID has already developed? If the former, does

USAID currently have or expect to receive approval for budget under this activity for system development?

Answer 16: The Contractor is expected to develop this system. Offerors must propose costs that are realistic and reasonable for the implementation of the proposed activities.

Q.17: For C.4.5 Capacity Building, for budgeting purposes, can USAID provide more detail on venue location for training and capacity building events, and how many are expected in outside venues.

Answer 17: It is up to the Contractor to identify the venue and locations for training and capacity building events. Such locations should be convenient for IPs. It can be in an outside rented venue, the Contractor’s office or in one of the IPs offices.

Q.18: As the ART activity will be asked to perform tasks in support of activities, projects and programs, could USAID clarify if the Missions, USAID MEB, USAID SSAP or both, are working against a logical framework? If so, would USAID be able to provide these to potential bidders?

Answer 18: SSAP and the other Syria operating units are not missions per se; they are not connected to a CDCS, and as such do not work against a logical framework.

Q.19: On page 12 of the RFP, under Section C.4.3, USAID indicates that brief ad-hoc studies will be “no more than 5 pages and not more than twice per month.”

On page 20, under Section F.6, USAID indicates the delivery schedule for Special and Ad-Hoc Reports as, “As may be requested by the COR.” For the purposes of work planning, could USAID clarify how often the Contractor may be requested to provide ad-hoc research studies and other special reports?

Answer 19 : Ad hoc reports are estimated to be 1-2 per month (not more than twice per month). Further details on the required reports and deliverables are listed under section F.6.

Q.20: Page 11, C.4.3. Research and Analysis. For costing purposes, can USAID provide an estimate number of baseline studies to be completed on an annual basis?

Answer 20: Approximately 3-5 baseline studies are estimated to be completed over the life of the Contract.

Q.21: Can USAID specify what work stream is envisaged prior to the awarding of task orders under BRICC for the ART contract?

Answer 21: ART will support all USAID/MEB activities implemented in Syria including the current and any future activities during its period of performance. For details on the current and planned activities ART will support, please refer to section C.2.2. “Ongoing and Planned Activities ART will Support” under the RFP.

Q.22: Does USAID have plans for an independent evaluation of Syria ART?

Answer 22: This decision will be made by USAID during implementation.

Q.23: On pages 31-32 of the RFP, USAID gives guidance to implementers should the Mission provide local currency. Please confirm whether USAID intends to do so in the course of the project, so that offerors can budget for the cost of bonding project personnel.

Answer 23: USAID is not planning to provide local currency under this activity.

Payment requests by the prime contractor and reimbursement payments by USAID will be made in U.S. Dollars.

Q.24: On page 17 of the RFP, USAID lists Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, and Germany as the currently identified places of performance. Please provide the

Mission Compensation Plan for Jordan as well as for the countries of the field and home offices of the current implementers of projects that will be evaluated by the ART project.

Answer 24: It is the responsibility of each implementing partner to develop their local compensation plan(s) (LCPs), with sufficient justification based upon relevant labor market conditions. Information regarding current implementers is considered proprietary and can’t be shared.

Q.25: On page 20 of the RFP, under Section F.6, USAID indicates that Quarterly Opinion Polling would follow a delivery schedule of “Every quarter; exact date TBD with the COR.” At this stage, would USAID be able to clarify when quarterly opinion polling would be expected to start after award?

Answer 25: Quarterly opinion polling would be expected to start in the 3rd or 4th quarter of year 1.

Q.26: Section F.6.a, vi. Procurement Plan requires that the source and nationality of all non-expendable supplies and equipment to be purchased be provided in the Procurement Plan. Considering that the selected Offeror is required to purchase all goods and services in accordance with its procurement guidelines and USG requirements, would USAID confirm that the selected Offeror is not required to provide the source and nationality for supplies and equipment that have yet to be purchased?

Answer 26: The procurement plan is requested as an element of the start up report listed under section F.6.a in the RFP. This report is to be submitted by the contractor within 21 working days from the award date. The procurement plan should list the source and nationality of the equipment to be bought during the contract performance period. This should be based on the contractor’s market research efforts at the time of submission.

Q.27: Page 25, F.6.i Monthly Atmospheric Reports. For costing purposes, can USAID provide the expectations on scope, geographic distributions and sectors for the monthly atmospheric reports?

Answer 27: The contractor must develop, maintain, and expand its knowledge and understanding of the complex dynamics within Syria (specifically in areas where USAID/MEB activities are implemented). The Contractor must continuously gather and assess political, economic, social, and cultural information relevant to USAID/MEB program implementation. This includes, but is not limited to, political dynamics within and between local, provincial, and national governance structures;

and emerging conflict, political, and economic trends. The Contractor may use varied means of collecting this information, including traditional and social media, partners and their networks inside Syria, and quantitative and qualitative research methods. The monthly atmospheric reports should also include comprehensive maps showing current USAID activities, planned activities, areas of influence among various groups, security incidents, and other relevant data.

Q.28: Per the RFP Section H.20(b), p. 49, the maximum prevailing compensation for Third Country and Cooperating Country Nationals may not exceed the maximum salary under the Local Compensation Plan. For cost purposes, can USAID please provide the Mission Local Compensation Plan/FSN scale?

Answer 28: See Answer No. 24.

Q.29: In reference to RFP page 97 L.6 2., a Cover Letter is referred; on page 99, L.7 (a) I., a cover page is referred; on page 100 L.7 (b), a Cover Page is referred, and on page 100 L.7 (c), the section is titled Cover Page, but refers to a Cover Letter.

Would USAID/MEB clarify if a separate cover page and a separate cover letter may be provided in the proposal not included in the 20 page count?

Answer 29: USAID confirms that the cover letter is the same as the cover page.

Q.30: RFP Section L.7.II.3, pg. 102 states, “The key personnel must be employees of the prime Contractor and not of a subcontractor.” As the solicitation is a small business set-aside, would USAID please remove this requirement as to ensure that Offerors are best able to leverage the expertise of the full proposed consortium?

Answer 30: This requirement remain unchanged; key personnel must be employees of the prime contractor and not of a subcontractor.

Q.31 : Page 103, L.7, II.3 - Key Personnel. To successfully utilize technical expertise from subcontractors to achieve the objectives of the SOW, would USAID consider allowing one key person to be an employee of a major subcontractor?

Answer 31: Please see answer No. 30 above.

Q.32: In terms of Key Personnel as listed on page 20 of the RFP, can USAID clarify why it states only TBD?

Answer 32 : The key personnel positions and individuals’ names will be listed in the award document once the award is made, based on the successful offeror’s information.

Q.33: Can bidders include non-key personnel in addition to the key personnel?

Answer 33: Offerors may include non-key personnel in their proposal. However, non-key personnel won’t be subject to evaluation. Offerors must adhere to the page limitations of the technical proposals as outlined in the RFP.

Q.34: In L.7 (d)(I), the RFP says, “The technical approach must include Summary Start Up Plan and a Summary Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan.

These summary plans must be included in the 20 page limit and must not be submitted as separate annexes.” In Section M.3 (I) says, “Extent to which the Offeror demonstrates an understanding of the operational context, the associated complexities, and the SOW (Section C), by proposing a realistic, convincing, effective and flexible, technical approach. This includes a summary year-1 work plan and a summary quality assurance plan, addressing all the activity requirements under the SOW including monitoring, evaluating, learning, research, analysis, capacity building, and knowledge management in non-permissive environments that will achieve the activity objectives in the SOW.” Can USAID confirm the Summary

Year-1 Workplan and Summary Quality Assurance Plan are in the annexes and not part of the technical approach?

Answer 34: This is to confirm that the Summary Year 1 Work Plan must be submitted in Annex A, and the Summary Quality Assurance Plan must be submitted in Annex B. Please refer to section L.7 (a) VIII. “Annexes (A through E)” for accurate description of the annexes, including Annex A & Annex B.

Note: Critical Information from the annexes must be summarized in the Technical narrative.

Q.35: Is there a preferred template for the Summary Start Up Plan?

Answer 35: There is no preferred template for the summary start up plan.

Q.36: On page 35 of the RFP, USAID limits compensation for international consultants to the highest rate within the last three years or the current AWCPAS, whichever is lower. This is not aligned with USAID policies that allow for reasonable increases in rates that have been established for a period of a year or more and will thus make it more difficult to engage top tier consultants. Please consider modifying the guidelines for setting rates for international consultants.

Answer 36: This is consistent with the Agency policies whereby the contractor must ensure that compensation does not exceed: (1) the highest rate of annual compensation received by the consultant during any full year of the immediately preceding three years or (2) the USAID Senior Executive Service (SES) established rate for (Agencies without a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System (AWCPAS), whichever is less.

Q.37: On page 47 of the RFP, USAID addresses salary increases of international project staff and CCN staff. Please confirm that such personnel who work on the project for a period exceeding two years are eligible for increases on a year-to-year basis, not just for a single salary increase for what could be a period of five years.

Answer 37: USAID confirms that international staff and CCN staff may be granted a salary increase on an annual basis during the period of performance subject to the limitations in section H.19, and consistent with the firm’s established personnel policies, procedures. and practices.

Q.38: Page 99, L.7. Would USAID consider excluding the executive summary from the 20 page count? This will allow offerors to provide an appropriate level of explanation across all requested point for the technical approach.

Answer 38: Consistent with section L.7 the executive summary must be included in the 20-page limitation for the technical proposal.

Q.39: Page 101, I. Technical Approach. Can USAID confirm that they would like to see a summary of the MEL plan for the ART activity, or would USAID like to receive a summary of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Analysis, and Reporting Plan referenced in section F6.b?

Answer 39: This is to confirm that Offerors must submit a summary Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and a summary Research and Analysis (R&A) plans for the ART activity. Please see Amendment to RFP.

Q.40: Can USAID provide bidders with the Contractor Performance Information and CPI Past Performance Questionnaire as referenced in the RFP for Annex E?

Answer 40: The questionnaire is provided in the RFP. Please refer to Attachment J.1 under the RFP.

Q.41: Page 104, L.7. Can USAID confirm that the Past Performance information is to be included in the Technical Proposal only as Annex E and there is no past performance narrative part of the 20 page count?

Answer 41: Consistent with section L.7 (d) III. “Past Performance Information”, Offerors shall summarize recent and relevant past performance information for itself and each major subcontractor under the activity in the past performance section of the technical proposals. The detailed past performance information and questionnaire shall be included in Annex E.

Q.42: Page 99 L.7. Would USAID explain how section VII of the technical outline, “Contractor Performance Information” differs from information that will be provided in Annex E?

Answer 42: Please see answer No.41 above.

Q.43: Page 104, L.7. Can USAID confirm that projects that are in the CPARS are not listed in Attachment J-1? Is J-1 the only requirement for Offerors who do not have any CPARS?

Answer 43: Attachment J-1 (questionnaire) and the detailed Contractor Performance Information (CPI), both to be submitted under Annex E, may include all contracts whether it has a CPAR or it does not have a CPAR. Please refer to section L.7 (d) (III) (a) (1) and (2) for details.

Q.44: Could USAID please confirm that the salaries for Cooperating Country National (CCN) staff will be approved based on the prevailing market conditions, not on the LCP. If not, would USAID kindly provide the local compensation plan(s) (LCP / FSN) for the related countries?

Answer 44: See Answer No. 24.

Q.45 The amount forecasted for this award is still listed as TBD. Can USAID clarify a more specific dollar value range? Can USAID provide any guidance on the budget range they are expecting from contractors?

Answer 45: The dollar range for this procurement is $10M-$24.9M.

Q.46: Does USAID have a ceiling amount identified for the ART activity?

Answer 46: Please see answer No. 45 above.

Q.47: Does USAID/MEB intend to publicize and make available to potential offerors in advance of the proposal due date, a budget for RFP 72027819R00008, Accountability and Research Team Activity?

Answer 47: USAID will not publicize a budget for this RFP. Each Offeror must propose costs that it believes are realistic and reasonable for the work in accordance with the Offeror’s technical approach. Please refer to section L.8 “Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal”.

Q.48: In reference to RFP page 99, L.7 (a) V., "...a summary monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan," would USAID/MEB clarify if there is a standard template or format the Contractor shall be required to use in preparing this plan, and if yes, would USAID/MEB make available to potential offerors in advance of the proposal due date the template or format?

Answer 48: Offerors are not required to follow any specific template for the summary monitoring, evaluation and learning plan outlined under section L.7 (a)V.

Q.49: In reference to RFP page 99, L.7 (b), would USAID/MEB clarify the phrase "standard margins" in the last sentence on this page?

Answer 49: “Standard margins” would be equivalent to the term “normal margins” in Microsoft MS Word, i.e., 1 inch distance from each side; top, bottom, left and right.

Q.50.a : In reference to RFP page 104, L.7 III. (a) 1., "Projects implemented under assistance mechanisms will not be considered for past performance evaluation," would USAID/MEB provide a definition for the phrase "assistance mechanisms" as it relates to this reference?

Answer 50.a: See the definition of assistance in ADS 300 and ADS 303.

Q.50.b: Can USAID confirm that the following RFP text (Past Performance Section, page 104), “Projects implemented under assistance mechanisms will not be considered for past performance evaluation" means that only contracts can be used for past performance?

Answer 50.b: Yes, USAID confirms that projects implemented under assistance awards will not be considered for past performance evaluation.

Q.51: Page 112, L.8. Could USAID kindly confirm that SECTION K -

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF

CONTRACTORS, Evidence of Responsibility, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, Information Concerning Work-day, Work-week, and Paid Absences are not required from subcontractors?

Answer 51: Offerors must submit the requirements outlined under Section K - “Representations, Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors” for the prime Offeror and all proposed subcontractors.

Q.52: Section L.8 (b) (2) (J) states: “The Offeror must also submit the following supportive information: personnel, travel and procurement organization policies, upon request.” Can USAID confirm that Offerors are not required to include the said policies in the Cost Proposal?

Answer 52: This is to confirm that Offerors are not required to submit the personnel, travel, and procurement policies in the cost and/or the technical proposals.

Q. 53: L.8 (b) Part 2 (2) (A) Page 107 states, "Fully executed Biographical Data Sheets are required for each identified position." Does this apply only to positions where a named candidate is provided in the budget or do all positions in the budget have to have a named candidate?

Answer 53: Fully executed biographical data sheets are required to support a proposed salary rate for each position where a named candidate is identified.

Q.54: There is no cost template currently included in the solicitation, can USAID more clearly label its specified costing requests or provide a template for bidders in accordance with requirements provided in Section B and the cost proposal instructions in Section L.

Answer 54: Please refer to section L.8 “Instructions for the preparation of the cost proposal” for detailed guidance as well as section L.8 (b) (3) for guidance on the cost elements.

Q.55: RFP Section M.3.II.1, pg. 115 states “Extent to which the Offeror, including its major sub-contractors (if any), convincingly demonstrates its institutional capacity to successfully implement the SOW and technical approach. Offerors and their proposed significant/major subcontractors (if any) will be evaluated on the depth of their corporate experience ….” Will USAID please confirm that Offerors may include institutional capacity information pertaining to the prime and all subcontractors and not solely that of the prime and major subcontractors?

Answer 55: It is up to the Offeror whether to include the information for all their proposed subcontractors. However, only the information of the Offeror and their proposed major subcontractors will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria as specified in section M.3. II.1 of the RFP.

Q.56: For a given team of four significant personnel for the project, would the rating for the key personnel section be higher if only one of these personnel were designated as key personnel or if all of them were designated as key personnel?

Answer 56: Consistent with section L.7 (d) II.3, Offerors are invited to propose at least one and at most four key positions. The Key Personnel will be evaluated and rated in accordance with section M.3 II.3.

Q.57: Some of the software products we may propose to use for monitoring and evaluation within Syria is controlled by US Export Controls. In order to proceed with the project and collect data with mobile device software used within the country of Syria, we would need to pursue and request an Export License for this specific application. Would USAID be supportive of this Export License request and would this be an acceptable schedule delay for the project while the Export License is requested?

Answer 57: USAID expects compliance with all US laws and regulations, including export license requirements, in the implementation of its programs. USAID would support such license requests, if needed. The acceptability of schedule delays resulting from compliance with export license requirements would be considered by USAID in view of the circumstances and the programmatic need for the items.

However, all appropriate and diverse means should be developed to ensure minimal delays while project implementation continues.

Q.58: The solicitation is very clear when referring to “Institutional Capacity” in that two of the five past performances must come from the prime contractor. We interpret that to be the company serving as the prime for this particular effort. However, the solicitation is not clear as to whether or not USAID will accept past performances from the prime for this effort that were performed as a subcontractor. Please clarify if USAID is willing to accept subcontract past performance to satisfy the Institutional Capacity factor.

Answer 58: Offerors may include past performance information for efforts they implemented as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor.

Q.59: What is the anticipated award date for this opportunity? Can USAID clarify the Period of Performance?

Answer 59: Please refer to section F.2 for the period of performance anticipated for this contract. Subject to availability of funds, the award date for this activity is anticipated o/a January 15, 2020.

Q.60: Page 12, C.4.3. Research and Analysis. For costing purposes, can USAID provide an estimate number of special studies and assessments to be completed on an annual basis?

Answer 60: Please see above Answer No. 20.

Q.61: Page 12, C.4.3. Research and Analysis. USAID states that the offer will “conduct brief ad-hoc studies (no more than 5 pages and not more than twice per month).” On page 24, F.6.e. Special and Ad-hoc reports, USAID states, “the contractor must prepare special and ad-hoc reports (maximum one per week).” For costing purposes, can USAID confirm the estimated number of ad-hoc studies to be completed on a monthly basis?

Answer 61: Please see above Answer No. 19.

Q.62: Page 14, C.4.5. Capacity Building. For costing purposes, can USAID provide an estimate number of organized structured learning events to be conducted on an annual basis? Are all learning events anticipated to take place in Jordan?

Answer 62: The organized learning events are estimated as follows:

Training and networking seminars for USAID/MEB IPs: once every quarter;

capacity building workshops: once per year; annual MEL conference: 3-5 over the life of the contract.

Learning events can take place in Jordan or in other countries where USAID/MEB IPs are located. Location should be convenient for IPs, and is subject to COR’s approval.

Q.63: Page 100, L.7. USAID states, “offerors must provide in their Cover Letter a small business statement of self-certification of business size and socio-economic status of the organization/firm.” As this is the only mention of “Cover Letter” in the RFP, can USAID confirm that the Cover Letter requested is the same document as the requested Cover Page? If they are different, does the “cover letter” count against the page limit or is it excluded similar to the “cover page” ?

Answer 63: See response to Question #29, above.

Q.64: Page 113 states “Part 7 – Portions of Section K not Available Online.” What portions are required to be completed beyond the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.

Are those the same certifications and representations on page 76?

Answer 64: Please refer to Section K for a detailed listing of all representations, certifications, and other statements. Offerors must complete the required certifications at the System for Award Management (SAM) accessed via www.sam.gov. In addition, Offerors must submit copies of all the representations, certifications, and other statements in their cost proposals. Please see amendment to the RFP.

Q.65: The Technical proposal requires “VI Contractor Performance Information”.

In addition, Annex E must include “Contractor Performance Information (CPI) and CPI Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment J-1) for the Offeror and each major subcontractor.” Page 104 provides information that must be included as part of the “Past Performance Information” including 9 numbered items that must be provided for each past performance. Is the information required there supposed to be included in Annex E or in “VI Contractor Performance Information; of the technical narrative? If part of the technical narrative, does this count against the page limit?

Answer 65: The Contractor Performance Information, including the nine numbered items listed on page 102 as well as Attachment J, should be included in Annex E. In addition, please see answer No. 41 above.

Q.66: Is the four page limit for personnel information as described on page 99 inclusive of the individual’s job description, CV and other relevant information for Annex D?

Answer 66: The page limitation is for each proposed key personnel position, please refer to section L.7 (a) VIII, Annex D for details. The number of pages for Annex D is hereby amended to six pages. Please see amendment to the RFP.

Q.67: In terms of the 4 page limits for Key Personnel’s’ materials in the proposal, can USAID clarify if the 4 pages is the limit for the CV only, not for all materials/items required for the Key Personnel in the proposal?

Answer 67: Please see above Answer No. 66.

Q.68: On page 51, section H.27 Language Requirements, USAID states that “At all times when any performance of the work at the site(s) is being conducted by any member of the Contractor or its sub-contractors, the Contractor must have at least one of its Contract key personnel present on the site capable of explaining the work operations, receiving instructions and effecting necessary documentation and reporting in the English language.” Does this include the performance of data collection and any other tasks that are specifically and exclusively conducted inside Syria? As USAID does not anticipate permanent U.S. Citizens to be based in Syria, would USAID consider removing this requirement for work inside Syria?

Answer 68: Yes. This requirement will be removed.

Q.69: On pg 97, Section L, the solicitation states: "The format for the technical proposal must be in MS Word version (word version 2010) and PDF/Optical Character Recognition (OCR).” Can you please confirm that you would like versions of the proposal in both MS Word and in PDF?

Answer 69: USAID confirms that technical proposals must be submitted in both versions: MS Word and in PDF.

Q.70: As the bid is a set aside for a US Small Business according to the size standard, how would USAID consider a US small business subsidiary that has a foreign owner for the purposes of past performance and meeting the size standard?

For example, are past performance references allowed if they come from the foreign owned subsidiary?

Answer 70: When determining eligibility, USAID reviews the registration of the legal entity applying, particularly with the System for Award Management (SAM).

To be an eligible entity under this procurement, the Offeror must be a U.S. small business, per section L.7.

Q.71: Does bidding on ART (RFQ 72027819R00008) preclude offerors from bidding on BRICC due to OCI issues (M&E related)?

Answer 71: Please refer to section H.5 “Organizational Conflicts of Interest;

Preclusion from furnishing certain services and restrictions on use of information (September 2018). Offerors may submit proposals in response to both solicitations:

ART and BRICC. However, the ART prime contractor and any sub-contractors will be required to submit an organizational conflict of interest mitigation plan before ART implementation, should they also become a prime or a sub-contractor under

BRICC.