FASTRAC_RFP_72029418R00003_Amendment_One.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

PAGE OF PAGES

1 9

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO.

One (1)

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

4/17/2018

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO

N/A

5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (IF OTHER THAN ITEM 6) CODE

Office of Contracts Management, USAID/West Bank and Gaza

9700 Tel-Aviv Place, Washington D.C. 20521-9700

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., Street, County, State, and Zip Code)

To all Prospective Offerors

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO. SOL:

72029418R00003

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11) 3/29/2018

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

CODE:

FACILITY CODE:

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered, solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers, FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If Required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO., AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify Authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43,103 (b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is NOT is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.

To all Prosepective Offerors:

The purpose of this Amendment No. One (1) to RFP No. SOL 72029418R00003 is to:

1. Provide answers to questions received from prospective Offerors (See Appendix I to this modification).

2. Amend section C.6 of the RFP (See Continuation Pages).

3. Amend Section H.15 of the RFP (See Continuation Page)

4. Amend Section I.1 of the RFP (See Continuation Page).

5. Amend Section L.6 of the RFP (See Continuation Pages).

6. Amend Section L.7 of the RFP (See Continuation Pages).

The answers provided under Appendix I should in no way be construed as an alteration of the RFP.

[See Continuation Pages]

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

Dana H. Rose

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15C. DATE

SIGNED

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

16C. DATE

SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Previous Edition Unusable Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Amendment No. One (1) to RFP Solicitation No. 72029418R00003 Facilitating Access for Sustainable Trade, Revenue Mobilization, and Commerce (FASTRAC)

I. RFP SECTION C.6 “KEY PERSONNEL”, DELETE in its entirety.

II. RFP SECTION H.15 “ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL

COMPENSATION”, sub-section (d), “Annual Salary Increases”, DELETE in its entirety and INSERT the following in lieu thereof:

“(d) Annual Salary Increases:

One annual increase salary increase not more than 5% percent (includes promotional increase) may be granted after the employee’s completion of each twelve-month period of satisfactory services under the Contract. Annual salary increases of any kind exceeding these limitations or exceeding the USAID Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) specified under AIDAR 752.7007 may be granted only with the advance written approval of the Contracting Officer. Automatic salary increases to the maximum salary rate for those approved at the current maximum salary rate are not authorized without prior written approval by the Contracting Officer.

CCN Staff: Annual salary increases of any kind exceeding these limitations, or exceeding the maximum salary under the USAID/West Bank and Gaza salary survey scale for CCNs, may be granted only with the advance written approval of the Contracting Officer.”

III. RFP SECTION I.1 “NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES

INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE”, SUSTAIN FAR CLAUSE 52.222-50

“COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS MAR 2015” and DELETE “Alternate I” under this Clause.

IV. RFP SECTION L.6 “INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL”:

DELETE the contents of paragraph (b) in its entirety and INSERT the following in lieu thereof:

“(b) The written Technical Proposal is limited to twenty five (25) pages, and must be written in English using Font 12 point/Times New Roman, single-spaced, standard margins, and text accessible (electronic versions). USAID will not evaluate information submitted beyond this page limit. Pages must be numbered consecutively. Information submitted beyond the 25 pages limit and beyond the Annexes specified above will not be evaluated.

Note: A page in the Technical Proposal that contains a table, chart, graph, etc., not otherwise listed below, is subject to the page limitation.

Amendment No. One (1) to RFP Solicitation No. 72029418R00003 Facilitating Access for Sustainable Trade, Revenue Mobilization, and Commerce (FASTRAC)

The following are not included in this page limitation:

• Cover Page (limited to one page)

• Table of Contents

• Dividers

• List of Acronyms.

• Annexes as specified in (a) above only”

V. RFP SECTION L.7 “INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST

PROPOSAL, Part 2 – “Proposed Costs/Prices”, sub-section (J), DELETE in its entirety and INSERT the following in lieu of:

“(J) Construction Activities: The total amount of construction activities line item should equal the total amount of construction activities given in the table above.”

VI. RFP SECTION L.7 “INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST

PROPOSAL, Part 3 – “Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors”, DELETE in its entirety and INSERT the following in lieu of:

“(3) Part 3 - Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors

The Offeror and each proposed subcontractor must complete and submit all "Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offeror" as required in Section K.”

[End of RFP Amendment No. One]

Annex 1 – Questions and Answers

Amendment No. One (1) to RFP Solicitation No. 72029418R00003 Facilitating Access for Sustainable Trade, Revenue Mobilization, and Commerce

(FASTRAC)

Question 1: Can USAID please confirm whether this is a new effort; or if there is a current incumbent, share name and contract number if there is any.

Answer 1: USAID confirms the anticipated contract is a new effort building on past work as described in RFP document, there is no current incumbent implementing a similar scope.

Question 2: Please advise on the anticipated contract start date and award time frame.

Answer 2: USAID anticipates a 5 year contract starting on or about September 30, 2018.

Question 3: Please confirm that submission in MS Word format only applies to the Technical Proposal, and that the cost proposal may be submitted in PDF, accompanied by a budget in MS Excel.

Answer 3: All submissions must be in MS word or Excel (for budgets) accessible format, in addition to a PDF separate version of each; the complete technical and cost proposals as instructed in section L.5 (2) on page 119 of the RFP.

Question 4: Please confirm that the Cover Page does not count toward the 25-page limit for the Technical Proposal.

Answer 4: USAID confirms the cover page does not count towards the 25-page limit of the technical proposal. Please see amended RFP, section L.6, page 118.

Question 5: The table on Page 126, section L.7(2), lists a $5M plug figure for Grants and a $3.5M plug figure for Construction Activities. Item (J) on Page 129 then states that, “the total amount of construction activities line item should equal the total amount of grants given in the table above.” Please clarify whether offerors should budget $5M for grants inclusive of construction activities, or $5M grants plus $3.5M for construction activities.

Answer 5: Offerors are requested to budget $5 million for grants and $3.5 million for construction activities. Please see amended RFP.

Question 6: Page 123, Section II, states that “offerors should not provide references from the candidate’s own employer but rather from individuals external to the candidate’s own organization.” Would USAID allow offerors to include at least one of the three references from a current employer with the understanding that bidders should seek external references to the greatest extent possible? In the event a candidate has been with his or her current employer for an extended period of time this will ensure offerors are able to provide relevant references that speak to recent performance.

Answer 6: “Candidate’s own organization” refers to an organization that is submitting a proposal and the candidate is also their current employee and is proposed as key personnel under that proposal. In such cases, offerors must not be the reference for their proposed candidate for the specific key personnel position.

Question 7: Would USAID kindly provide the Mission’s current Local Compensation Plan? On page 128, there is a link to the local salary scale that does not seem to work.

Answer 7: Local salary scale can be found at the below link https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1883/2011-WBG-10.pdf

Question 8: Would USAID kindly confirm whether the Mission’s salary scale is in USD and, if not, is there a specific exchange rate that offerors should use for budgeting purposes?

Answer 8: The provided local salary scale is in U.S Dollars.

Question 9: Section L. 7 (M) on page 129 states: “The Offeror must also submit the following supportive information: personnel, travel and procurement organization policies.” Per page 132 (4)(1), offerors with no prior Federal contracting experience shall submit a copy of its personnel policies. Please confirm that offerors with prior federal contracting experience shall not be required to submit personnel policies.

Answer 9: All offerors are requested to submit their personnel policies as part of their Cost Proposal Submission.

Question 10: Regarding H.36 AAPD 2016-02 CLOUD COMPUTING, it is our understanding that this clause will not be applicable to the contractor based on the RFP scope of work. Would USAID kindly confirm?

Answer 10: Per AAPD 16-02 this clause is required in all USAID solicitations and contracts that include, the use of programs, storage and access of data hosted on a third party’s https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1883/2011-WBG-10.pdf

IT network. Third party storage is very common which makes this clause applicable should this occur.

Question 11: C.4 states that Component 1 represents 60 percent of level of effort (LOE), Component 2 represents 20 percent of LOE, and Component 3 also 20 percent of LOE. Could USAID please confirm if these are estimated percentages or fixed amounts?

Answer 11: USAID confirms that these percentages are estimated, Offerors are to maintain the range of the estimation to the best of their abilities and as their proposed technical approach allows.

Question 12: F.4 states that a six-day workweek may be applied to expatriate short-term consultants but does not mention third-country national short-term consultants. However, H.15(f)(3) states that a six-day workweek may be applied to short-term technical assistance. May offerors assume a six-day workweek for third-country national short-term technical assistance?

Answer 12: The term “expatriate” is not limited in meaning to U.S national as it also covers in its definition Third Country Nationals. Thus, a six-day workweek may be applied to all expatriate short-term technical assistance including both U.S and Third Country Nationals.

Question 13: Section H.15(c) states that “For CCN staff, the ceiling is the maximum salary under the USAID/West Bank and Gaza salary survey scale for CCNs which is currently at $89,927 as amended from time to time.” Requiring offerors to follow a CCN salary ceiling may preclude offerors from complying with AIDAR 752.7007, incorporated in section H.14, which states that “direct compensation of the contractor’s personnel will be in accordance with the contractor’s established policies, procedures, and practices, and the cost principles applicable to this contract.”

Would USAID consider removing this language from H.15(c) of the solicitation, thereby allowing offerors to establish salaries in accordance with their established policies, procedures, and practice?

Answer 13: Sub-section H.15 (c), complements the requirements set forth under AIDAR 722.170 “Employment of third country nationals (TCN's) and cooperating country nationals (CCN's)” as follows:

“(b) Compensation. Compensation, including merit or promotion increases paid to TCN's and CCN's may not, without the approval of the Mission Director or the Assistant Administrator having program responsibility for the project, exceed the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by the USAID Mission. Unless otherwise authorized by the Mission Director or the Assistant Administrator having program responsibility for the project, the compensation of such TCN and CCN employees shall be paid in the currency of the cooperating country.” That being said, Contactors are still required to adhere to AIDAR

752.7007 within the limitations prescribed under AIDAR 722.170.

Question 14: Section H.15(d) holds international and CCN staff to an annual salary increase of not more than 3 percent (including promotional increase). Stipulating the annual salary increase in the RFP may preclude offerors from complying with AIDAR 752.7007, incorporated in section H.14(a) of the RFP, which states that “direct compensation of the contractor’s personnel will be in accordance with the contractor’s established policies, procedures, and practices, and the cost principles applicable to this contract.” Specifying the maximum annual salary increases offerors can provide their staff may result in offerors deviating from AIDAR 752.7007. Would USAID consider removing these salary-increase restrictions, thereby allowing offerors to submit cost proposals in accordance with their established policies, procedures, and practices?

Answer 14: See answer to question No. 13 above. In addition, section H.15 (d) has been amended to reflect a an annual salary increase of not more than 5 percent (including promotional increase) in lieu of 3 percent. Please see amended RFP section H.15 (d).

Question 15: H.32.1 states that grants will be competitively awarded and H.32.3 states that grants must follow all requirements of ADS 303, which includes the ability to award grants using restrictions to eligibility. Can USAID please confirm that under select circumstances the contractor is authorized to use applicable restrictions to eligibility?

Answer 15: The Contractor is required to adhere to ADS 303 guidance when awarding Grants under Contracts as well as the limitations set forth in section 32. Accordingly, the selected Offeror must establish, in close coordination with the COR and subject to his/her approval, the eligibility and selection criteria for the grantees, the competition requirements as well as any restrictions to eligibility. Any deviation is subject to the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

Question 16: According to I.1, FAR 52.222-50, combating trafficking in persons is included with Alternate I. According to Alternate I, USAID has a specific directive/notice that the contractor will be required to follow. No such directive/notice is included in the list of Section J attachments. Would USAID please provide this information to offerors?

Answer 16: Please note that the basic FAR Clause 52.222-50 is applicable without its Alternate I. Please see amended RFP.

Question 17: L.6.IV(c) states that offerors are to “describe any quality awards or certifications that indicate exceptional capacity” and that “this information is not included in the page limitation.” Could USAID confirm that this information should be included in Annex D?

Answer 17: USAID Confirms.

Question 18: L.6.IV(d)(A) states that offerors who are not small business concerns must provide a narrative summary of our small business concerns. Could USAID please clarify whether this information should be included in Annex D?

Answer 18: Information must be included under section IV of the technical proposal under “Past Performance Information”.

Question 19: L.6.IV(d)(C) states that offerors that are not small business concerns must provide the names and addresses of three small business concerns. Could USAID please clarify in what annex this information should be included?

Answer 19: This information may be included under Annex D.

Question 20: L.7(2)(2)(J) states the following: “Construction Activities: The total amount of construction activities line item should equal the total amount of grants given in the table above.”

The total amount of grants in the table is $5 million; however, the table includes $3.5 million for construction activities. Could USAID please clarify how much offerors should budget for grants and construction activities?

Answer 20: Please see answer to Question No. 5, Offerors are requested to budget $5 million for grants and $3.5 million for construction activities.

Question 21: L.7 (3) states that the preferred method of completing the “Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors” is registration in the Online Representation and Certification Application (ORCA), and that offerors must also register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), and that printouts of both registrations must be submitted as an annex to the cost proposal. Since the CCR and ORCA were migrated to the System for Award Management (SAM) and are no longer accessible, can offerors simply submit the certifications in Section K and a certification that they are registered in the SAM in Part 3 of the cost volume?

Answer 21: USAID affirms, offerors must submit the certifications in Section K, in addition to a certification that they are registered in the SAM in Part 3 of the cost volume.

Question 22: According to M.2.IV(d), the contractor performance information determined to be relevant will be evaluated in accordance with quality, cost control, schedule, management, regulatory compliance, and unitization of small business. However, L.6. IV(a) indicates that offerors are to use attachment J.13 to present past performance information. Could USAID please clarify where the offerors can address these points, and whether this should be included in the technical narrative or could these columns be added to attachment J.13?

Answer 22: Offerors (and their major subs) are only required to list ongoing or completed contracts that are deemed relevant based on the relevance indicators in section M.2 IV (a) (1), Contractor Performance Assessment Reports (CPARs) will be obtained by USAID from the system, if those have been already finalized, or from relevant point of contacts provided by the offerors if in draft format. Offerors do not need to include assessment information or reports.