Attachment_No._1_Q&A_to_Amendment_2.pdf

Attachment No. One (1)

Questions and Answers to RFP 72027819R00011

1. Section B.6.1 and Section B.6.2 (page 8-11): In Table 1, Ceiling Daily Rates for Junior

Subject Matter Experts and Senior Support Specialists are TBD. However, in Table 3 (page 10-

11), the Minimum Qualifications for Labor Categories Table lists “N/A” for those two categories. Please confirm that offerors should propose CDRs for Junior Subject Matter Experts and Senior Support Specialists, that bidders are permitted to hire candidates for these two positions, and that USAID has left the category qualifications (years of experience) to the discretion of the offeror.

Answer: No CDR should be proposed for a Junior Subject Matter Expert or a Senior Support

Specialist.

2. While Section B.6.5 states that the “Contractors will not be authorized to bill USAID directly for IDIQ management costs under this IDIQ or under task orders”, should the Offeror identify an IDIQ manager to be the point of contact upon award, and if yes, what would USAID would like the Offeror to include (Resume, 1420, References).

Answer: It is at the sole discretion of the offeror if they choose to designate an individual to fill this role. However, Section B.6.5 still applies.

3. Section B.7, - note under table 4 reads “The unshaded Columns in Table 3 are the current approved indirect cost rates for the prime contractor” can USAID Please confirm that the reference is made to table 4 not 3.

Answer: Yes, the correct reference is Table 4. Corrected version is attached.

4. B.6 Labor, Table 1 lists “N/A” for mid and junior-level Chief of Party and Component Leader unburdened ceiling daily rates. However, in Attachment J.2, the plug figures in the presented table for evaluation purposes lists daily rates for these categories. Will USAID please confirm that CDRs for mid and junior-level Chief of Party and Component Leader categories should be proposed?

Answer: No Mid and Junior level for the Chief of Party and Component Leader categories shall be proposed. Attachment J.2 has been updated and is attached.

5. Section(e) of B.6.1 Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates/page 8 of the SOL says that “The

CDRs set forth in Table 1 apply to Year 1 of the IDIQ’s period of performance. An escalation rate of [Offeror proposes escalation rate] % per year applies to those CDRs.” However, B.6.4

Unburdened CDR Rate Changes indicates/page 12 of the SOL indicates that the labor rates are fixed for all contract years; however, the Contractor may submit a proposal reducing the labor rates and/or indirect rates at any time during the life of this contract.

The Government will review these proposals and determine if the revised rates are realistic and in the best interests of the Government. If the rates are accepted, the Government will modify the contract by incorporating the new rates into the contract.

It is interpreted from the above B.6 clauses of the SOL that the labor rates are fixed for all contract years for year 1 of the IDIQ’s period of performance and proposed offerors labor rate escalation % will apply for labor rates year 2 to year 5. Are we correct in our interpretation of the

SOL B.6 clauses?

Answer: We see no issue with your interpretation.

6. Section B.7 -Page 12 - (Reference: B.7 Indirect Costs and Advanced Understanding of

Ceilings) - For large contractors with hundreds of active cost-type contracts with the Federal

Government, it would be impractical to seek approval for changes to established methods of classifying or allocating indirect costs. We suggest that such changes be permitted if the net result is a re-balancing of costs from one indirect cost type to another, as long as the overall total costs to the government is at or below what the cost would have been under the approved ceilings. IDIQ Contracting Officer approval can then be limited to cases where re-classification does result in higher costs.

Answer: Revised version is attached.

7. There appears to be a discrepancy between table in B.6.1 and Attachment J.2. Could USAID please clarify:

a. Should Offerors propose Unburdened CDRs for the mid- and junior- level for the

Chief or Party labor category?

Answer: Offerors should not propose Unburdened CDRs for the mid- and junior- level for the Chief of Party labor category. Attachment J.2 has been adjusted to align fully with

B.6.1 and B.6.2, and is attached.

b. Should Offerors propose Unburdened CDRs for the mid- and junior- level for the

Component Leader Labor Category?

Answer: Offerors should not propose Unburdened CDRs for the mid- and junior- level for the Component Leader Labor Category. Attachment J.2 has been adjusted to align fully with B.6.1 and B.6.2, and is attached.

8. There appears to be a discrepancy between table in B.6.1 and B.6.2. Could USAID please clarify if Offerors are to propose Unburdened CDRs for the senior- level for the Support

Specialist labor category?

Answer: Offerors should not propose Unburdened CDRs for the senior- level for the Support

Specialist. The discrepancy has been reconciled and is attached.

9. There appears to be a discrepancy between table in B.6.1, table B.6.2, and Attachment

J.2. Could USAID please clarify if Offerors are to propose Unburdened CDRs for the junior-level for the Subject Matter Expert labor category?

Answer: Offerors should not propose Unburdened CDRs for the junior- level for the Subject

Matter Expert labor category. The discrepancy has been reconciled and is attached.

10. The CDR table on page 2 of attachment J.2 differs from the table found in B.6.1. Would

USAID prefer Offerors to complete the table as presented in J.2 or the table as presented in

B.6.1?

Answer: The discrepancy has been reconciled and is attached.

11. Can USAID confirm that per the tables in Sections B.6.1 and B.6.2 of the RFP that offerors are not expected to provide CDRs for the chief of party or component leader positions at the mid- and junior- levels? Additionally, given the discrepancy between the two tables, can USAID clarify whether it expects a proposed CDR for the subject matter expert at the junior-level?

Answer: USAID reconciled the relevant tables and the Chief of Party position and Component

Leader positions are now consistently labeled as N/A at the mid and junior levels. The Subject

Matter Expert category has been revised per the attached, and Offerors should not propose a

CDR for subject matter experts at the junior level.

12. Section B, Table 1. Labor Categories (page 9), lists “N/A” for both the Mid-Level and

Junior-Level categories for two positions: Chief of Party and Component Leader. However, Table 3. Minimum Qualifications for Labor Categories, page 10 of Section B, also includes

“N/A” for the Junior-Level, Subject Matter Expert Labor Category and “N/A” for the Senior-

Level, Support Specialist. Do CDRs have to be presented for the Junior-Level, Subject Matter

Expert and Senior-Level, Support Specialist Labor Category positions?

Answer: Please refer to Question No. 11

13. Section B.6.4, page 12. The RFP states, “The labor rates are fixed for all contract years.”

Section B.6.1, page 8 states, “The CDRs set forth in Table 1 apply to Year 1 of the IDIQ’s period of performance. An escalation rate of [Offeror proposes escalation rate]% per year applies to those CDRs.” Can USAID kindly confirm that the rates listed in Table 1. Labor Categories should be for year 1 and that CDRs/rates for subsequent project years may exceed the rates in the table based on the Offeror’s escalation percentage?

Answer: Confirmed.

14. Within Table 1. Labor Categories on page 8 of the RFP, only Mid and Junior level for the

Chief of Party and Mid and Junior level for Component Leader are listed as “N/A.” In Table 3:

Minimum Qualifications for Labor Categories “N/A” is also listed for SME Junior and Support

Specialist Senior, however Table 1 does not have “N/A” for these categories. Please confirm offerors may propose Relevant Work Experience (years) for the Junior Subject Matter Expert and Senior Support Specialist labor categories?

Answer: Please refer to Question No. 11. Offerors must maintain to the categories as classified in the RFP.

15. Within Table 1. Labor Categories on page 8 of the RFP, Mid and Junior level for the Chief of

Party and Mid and Junior level for Component Leader are listed as “N/A.” Within the labor category chart in J.2, (page 2) USAID has not include the same N/As as Table 1 on page 8 of the

RFP. Please confirm in the CDR table in J.2 Cost Study and Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix, offerors are not required to submit rates for mid and junior level Chief of Party, as well as mid and junior level Component Leader categories?

Answer: Please refer to Question No. 11

16. When compared to Section B.6.1 (page 8), Table 1. Labor Categories, Attachment J.2 appears to be missing two positions (Officer and Support Specialist). Attachment J.2 also requests ceiling daily rates (CDRs) at the mid- and junior levels for the chief of party and component leader categories, listed as N/A in B.6.1. Could USAID kindly confirm that offerors use the table from Section B.6.1, which includes five positions and does not request CDRs for the mid- and junior-level chief of party and component leader?

Answer: It is anticipated that the Officer and Support Specialist positions will be filled by local staff and not expatriate staff, and therefore are not relevant for the cost matrix. Otherwise, please refer to the response to question 11 and the attached amended RFP and J.2.

17. Security Plan. Section H.6.1 of the RFP states that the “Contractor shall develop a security plan to safeguard all project operations and comply with all United States Government

Regulations. The plan is to be implemented and maintained by all subcontractors (and/or grantees). Please advise if this plan should be submitted as part of the proposal or if it is envisioned that it would be submitted post-award.

Answer: The plan should be submitted post-award to the TOCOR.

18. Section I.6 52.216-18 (page 143) indicates that task orders may be issued from September

2018 through September 2023. Could USAID kindly update these dates based on the estimated award date of the IDIQ or change this reference to “TBD upon award”?

Answer: The clause is updated in the attachment.

19. Attachment J.2: The instructions for the Cost/Price Matrix state: “The Offeror will use the proposed Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates (CDRs) for Senior, Mid, and Junior-level labor categories, as well as the proposed escalation rate, included in Section B to complete the table below.” Can USAID please confirm that the CDRs in Section A Labor should be the CDRs proposed for the first year of the contract?

Answer: Confirmed.

20. Section J mentions Attachment J.3 – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, however it was not mentioned in any other part of the RFP. Can USAID confirm if: a) this is a requirement. b) if, so where to include it and c) if is it necessary for major and/or all subcontractors?

Answer: FAR 52.203-11 is specifically cited in section K of the RFP and FAR 52.203-12 is in section I of the RFP. The form is required in accordance with FAR 52.203-11. The form is to be attached to the Cost Proposal Narrative and does not count against the allocated page numbers.

In terms of its application to subcontractors, please see FAR 52.203-12(g).

21. Would USAID please confirm if the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (attachment J.3) is required from Subcontractors as well as the Prime

Answer: Please refer to Question 20

22. Attachment J.6, past performance report, the form is missing bullet point no 8 – can USAID please confirm that this is a typo

Yes, that is a typo. The revised form is attached

23. For the purposes of attachment J.2, should Offerors assume that the short-term expatriate labor is labor provided from the Offeror’s home office staff (i.e., employee) or as consultant labor?

Answer: What labor source is proposed is at the discretion of the offeror.

24. Attachment J.2 Case Study. The case study states offerors should include “Indirect Costs

(as applicable, using ceiling rates).” If indirect ceiling rates proposed exceed Offeror’s current

NICRA rates, can offerors include current NICRA rates in the case in order to show more realistic implementation costs.

Answer: Please see Section L, Part 2, Section on Indirect Costs. The point of the case study is to conduct a cost proposal evaluation. It is expected that an offerors proposal would use current approved NICRA rates in accordance with the instructions provided in Section L.

25. Please confirm that Attachment J.2 Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix is the only basis for

Cost Proposal Evaluation and that only prime contractors are required to submit it.

Answer: Confirmed.

26. Under Section A.1 of J.2 Cost Study and Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix, could USAID please confirm:

a. If “Category 1 (Senior)” is senior level Chief of Party labor category?

b. If “Category 2 (Senior)” is senior level Component Leader labor category?

c. If “Category 3 (Mid)” is mid-level Subject Matter Expert labor category?

Answer: Confirmed

27. In August 2019 USAID issued a revision to ADS Chapter 225, which delineates Program

Principles for Trade and Investment Activities and the “Impact on U.S. Jobs” and “Workers’

Rights”. The revised policy includes more detailed and stringent restrictions on support to investment promotion agencies (IPAs), including a specific restriction on support “if the US receives more than 10 percent of a host country's total exports.” Given that the US receives considerably more than 10% of Jordanian exports, and recognizing that USAID’s expected results explicitly include improvements to Jordan’s institutional capacity for investment promotion, can USAID confirm that activities under this IDIQ will be granted an exception to the ADS 225 prohibition on support to IPAs?

Answer: Offerors may not assume an exception to ADS 225 will be granted. The required ADS

225 analysis will be conducted at the Task Order level and if an exception is requested, it will be considered at that time.

The condition referenced in the question, regarding assistance to Investment Promotion

Agencies, as Jordan exports more than 10% of their total exports to the US, and the implied suggestion that an exception is required, does not require an advance exception.

28. Section L.7.3.c and L.8.1.a. (page 183-183): Please confirm that the text in tables, text boxes, and graphics can be a font other than Times New Roman.

Answer: Please maintain to Times New Roman

29. Budget Narrative: Can USAID clarify which Subcontractors and/or IDIQ Members are required to submit Budget Narratives?

Answer: The budget narrative must include supporting information for all budget line items represented in the budget.

30. Does USAID expect contractors to include past performance references for all subcontractors, or only major subcontractors?

Answer: Only Major Subcontractors

31. Section L states that the cover page must include “name of proposed team members involved in the proposal” (p. 184). Please confirm that USAID means the name of proposed consortium team members and not personnel.

Answer: Confirmed

32. Do Offerors and subcontractors who already have a record of working with USAID need to provide a copy of their policies and procedures?

Answer: Offerors are to provide a copy of their policies and procedures as required by the RFP.

It is the expectation that Offerors review the policies and procedures of their proposed prime subcontractors as applicable to the type of proposed subcontract.

33. Section L.9.(g): Please confirm that a proposed budget for subcontractors are not required at the IDIQ RFP stage.

Answer: At the IDIQ RFP stage, a proposed budget for major subcontractor(s) is expected if subcontractor(s) are identified to perform work under the case study.

34. Section L.9.(j): Offeror must provide a DUNS number for the Prime Offeror, and Major

Subcontractor in the Cost Proposal. Where in the proposal should offerors include these numbers?

Answer: It can be provided in the Cost Narrative

35. Section L.9.Part 2 – Proposed Costs/ Labor Costs (1). Please confirm that Major

Subcontractors must propose Ceiling Indirect Cost Rates.

Answer: Confirmed. The subject section is specified clearly as applicable to “prime and all major subcontractors…’

36. Can USAID please confirm that fonts other than Times New Roman are acceptable for graphics, text boxes, and tables, provided the font size is 9?

Answer: Please see response to question 28.

37. Will USAID please confirm that if an offeror has prior USAID contracting experience, a copy of policies and procedures is not required to be submitted in Part 4 – Policies and

Procedures as part of the cost proposal?

Answer: Please refer to question 32.

38. Section J, Attachment J.3 Self-disclosure of lobbying activities, page 157: There doesn't seem to be any reference to this in section L. Can USAID please indicate if and where to include in this proposal?

Answer: Please refer to Question No. 20