Amendment No.1 Cover letter BREB RFP.pdf

Amendment No. One (1) issuance Date: April 7, 2022

Solicitation Issuance Date: March 28, 2022

Proposals Due: Unchanged

Subject: Amendment No. One (1) to Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 72029422R00001

The purpose of this Amendment to the subject RFP is to respond to questions received, Attachment One (1), and to amend the affected sections of the RFP as follows:

1. Under Section C, DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK, make the following changes:

A. Under section C.4, STATEMENT OF WORK, subsection Description of Objectives/Components, add the following as paragraph after paragraph two

(2) :

“BREB’s Expected Results

• Strengthened regional economic relationships through a $350 million increase in exports by BREB assisted firms over five years; and

• Enhance commercial technological exchanges, and knowledge sharing between the WBG, Israel, other regional companies, and/or the U.S., defined by 75 partnerships/alliances.

• Five new national level markets opened to businesses.1

• Five research partnerships/alliances established among Palestinian and

Israeli and/or U.S. institutions: and

• Business associations develop or improve 10 services to support cross-border exchanges.

• 1,500 Palestinian graduates receive internships with at least 10 Israeli or other international firms; and

• Firms and universities establish 25 recurring exchange programs.

• 50 businesses or joint ventures export to new national level markets over a prolonged period of time.

• Report on barriers to regional partnerships/alliances and present USAID with an action plan of mitigating those barriers; and

• 25 Palestinian firms increase profitability and regional and global linkages.

• Develop a $50 million pipeline of projects that meet the technical requirements for DFC’s potential investment in the WBG;

• Assist a minimum of 50 firms to meet the technical requirements for DFC or other finance institution support; and

1 For the purpose of this document, the term “businesses” refers to Palestinian firms, or joint Israeli/U.S. and Palestinian ventures.

• Assist a minimum of 10 firms with aftercare services after reaching financial close with DFC or other finance institution support.”

B. Under Sub-Objective/Component 1.1: Support Technology Transfer from Israel and United States to West Bank and Gaza, delete the following two paragraphs in their entirety:

1. “The Contractor must utilize a Grants Under Contract (GUC) mechanism to help fund activities under this sub-component.”

2. “ Expected Results

● Strengthened regional economic relationships through a $350 million increase in exports by BREB assisted firms over five years;

and

● Enhance commercial technological exchanges, and knowledge sharing between the WBG, Israel, other regional companies, and/or the U.S., defined by 75 partnerships/alliances.”

C. Sub-Objective/Component 1.2: Partnerships on Research and Development and Business Associations, delete the following two paragraphs in their entirety:

1. “The Contractor must utilize a Grants Under Contract (GUC) mechanism to help fund activities under this sub-component.”

2. “Expected Results

● Five research partnerships/alliances established among Palestinian and Israeli and/or U.S. institutions: and

● Business associations develop or improve 10 services to support cross-border exchanges.”

D. Sub-Objective/Component 1.3: Strengthen Internship and Professional Development/Mentorship Programs, delete the following paragraph in its entirety:

“Expected Results

● 1,500 Palestinian graduates receive internships with at least 10 Israeli or other international firms; and

● Firms and universities establish 25 recurring exchange programs.”

E. Under Sub-Objective/Component 2.1 Increase Access to Regional and

International Markets, delete the following three paragraphs in their entirety:

1. “The Contractor may utilize a Grants Under Contract (GUC) mechanism to help fund activities under this sub-component.”

2. “Expected Results

● Five new markets opened to businesses.”

3. Footnote: “1 For the purpose of this document, the term “businesses” refers to Palestinian firms, or joint Israeli/U.S. and Palestinian ventures.”

F. Under Sub-Objective/Component 2.2 Export Support Services, delete the following two paragraphs in their entirety:

1. “The Contractor may utilize a GUC mechanism to support this sub-component.”

2. “Expected Results

● 50 businesses or joint ventures export to a new market over a prolonged period of time.”

G. Under Sub-Objective/Component 3.1: Firm level assistance to achieve sustainability partnership, Delete the following sentence in its entirety:

“ Expected Results

● Report on barriers to regional partnerships/alliances and present USAID with an action plan of mitigating those barriers; and

● 25 Palestinian firms increase profitability and regional and global linkages.”

H. Under Sub-Objective/Component 3.2: Develop a pipeline of bankable projects to support the DFC, delete the following paragraph in its entirety:

“Expected Results

● Develop a $50 million pipeline of projects that meet the technical requirements for DFC’s potential investment in the WBG;

● Assist a minimum of 50 firms to meet the technical requirements for DFC or other finance institution support; and

● Assist a minimum of 10 firms with aftercare services after reaching financial close with DFC or other finance institution support.”

I. Under section C.5, GUIDING PRINCIPLES, subsection Adaptive

Management, delete the number “30” in its entirety and replace it with “60” in lieu thereof.

J. Under section C.7, Grants under Contracts, make the following two changes:

1. Add the following sentence to paragraph one (1):

“GUCs may be utilized under all sub-components included in the statement of work”

2. Delete the last paragraph in its entirety and replace it with the following in lieu thereof:

“The GUCs component is $20M of the total contract value over the Period of Performance. See section H.8 for the GUC provision.”

2. Under Section F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE, Subsection F.7, Reports, make the following changes:

A. Delete the table in its entirety and replace it with the following in lieu thereof:

“No. Representative Contract Reporting Requirements

Submission Date

i. Mobilization Plan 20 calendar days after the effective date of the contract.

ii. Annual Work Plan 90 calendar days from the start of the contract.

Subsequent Annual Work Plan: September 1 of each USG fiscal year.

iii. Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan

(AMELP)

90 calendar days from the effective date of the contract Annual AMELP Revisions: In consultation with the COR and the relevant Mission MEL team, the contractor will undertake revisions as needed to synchronize the AMELP with the Annual Work Plan and the Mission AMELP. Revisions are due October 31 of each year.

iv. Change Management Plan

60 calendar days from the effective date of the contract.

v. Political Economy Analysis

60 calendar days from the effective date of the contract and updated annually.

vi. Gender Strategy 120 calendar days from the effective date of the contract.

vii. Professional Development and Mentorship Plan

180 calendar days from the effective date of the contract.

Developed as part of Component 1.3: Strengthen Internship and Professional Development/Mentorship Programs

viii. Export Support Services Plan

180 calendar days from the effective date of the contract.

Developed as part of Component 2.2 Export Support Services

ix. Sustainable Partnership Action Plan

180 calendar days from the effective date of the contract and update every 6 months.

Developed as part of Component 3.1: Firm level assistance to achieve sustainability partnership

x. Firm Identification Action Plan

90 calendar days from the effective date of the contract and update every 6 months.

Developed as part of Component 3.2: Develop a pipeline of bankable projects to support the DFC

xi. Special Reports At the request of the Mission

X. Quarterly Reports Within fifteen (15) working days after the end of each fiscal year quarter

XX. Financial Reports No later than 30 calendar days after the end of 12 months of implementation.

XXX. Annual Progress Reports

Within fifteen (15) working days after the end of the first full USAID fiscal year and annually thereafter for each authorized year of performance

XL. Final Project Report

Due thirty (30) working days prior to completion of the award and a final version within 30 working days of the expiration of the award

L. Close-Out Plan and Equipment Disposition

Ninety (90) working days prior to the end of the Contract”

B. Delete sub items 2. Change Management Plan and 3. Political Economy

Analysis in their entirety and replace them with the following in lieu thereof:

“2. Change Management Plan:

Within sixty (60) days of the Activity Start Date, the Contractor must submit a Change Management plan. This includes the activities that the team will follow to apply the change in order to drive the transitions and ensure the Activity meets its intended outcomes.

This plan identifies many elements such as; communication management, stakeholders analysis, resistance management, project reviews, readiness assessments, culture and history assessments, etc.

3. Political Economy Analysis (PEA):

Within sixty (60) days of the Activity Start Date, the implementer of this activity will conduct a Political Economy Analysis focused on regional economic cooperation. The PEA will consider in particular the systematic, non-technical and political constraints to achieving the objectives of this activity. It will consider if there are other counterparts that the activity should consider engaging with in order to achieve its objectives. This analysis will be reviewed and updated annually.”

1. Under Section H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS, make the following changes:

a. Delete clause H.2, AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE, in its entirety and replace it with the following in lieu thereof:

“The authorized geographic code for procurement of goods and services under this contract is 937 for the prime contract and its subcontractors. Code 937 is defined as the United States, the cooperating/country (Israel, West Bank and Gaza), and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, and excluding prohibited sources.”

b. Under clause H.6, GRANTS UNDER CONTRACTS (GUCs), delete subitem

(e) in its entirety and replace it with the following in lieu thereof:

“(e) The total value of an individual grant to a U.S. NGO must not exceed $250,000.”

1. Under Section L, INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS, make the following changes:

a. Under subsection L.7, INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL, make the following changes:

1. Sub item A, General Instructions, delete the second bullet “Standard Form 33 (SF 33)” in its entirety.

2. Sub item B, Specific Instructions, make the following changes:

A. Delete bullet 4, “Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)” in its entirety and replace it with the following in lieu thereof:

“Offeror Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)”

B. Delete the paragraph labelled “Standard Form 33” in its entirety.

C. Under Factor I. Technical Approach, delete paragraph four (4) in its entirety and replace it with the following in lieu thereof:

“In addition to the above technical approach narrative, Offerors must propose four (4) additional activities per sub-objective/component in Section C that are appropriate and well defined. These activities will be incorporated into the final SOW and Contractors will be held accountable for them during implementation. For Offerors’ consideration, the following are illustrative activities that may be considered, among others, when developing the four (4) required activities per sub-objective/component:”

b. Under subsection L.8, INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL, make the following changes:

1. Delete paragraph (d) in its entirety and replace with the following in lieu thereof:

“(d) The Offeror must prepare the cost proposal in Microsoft Excel 2010, compatible with a MS Windows operating environment, making all calculations and formulas visible. Invisible formulas will render the Offeror’s proposal invalid. As long as the files are compatible with a Microsoft Windows operating environment and are text accessible, the Offeror may use an Excel version higher than 2010, if necessary.”

2. Delete paragraph (j) in its entirety and replace it with the following in lieu thereof:

“(j) The Offeror must provide Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) numbers for the prime Offeror and major subcontractors in the Cost Proposal.”

3. Under Part 2 - Proposed Costs/Prices, subpart (3), Major and non-major subcontractors, add the following:

“Should long-term project personnel be proposed under non-major subcontractors, the “Personnel Proposed” spreadsheet within Attachment J-7, Budget Template, shall include them”

4. Under Part 8, Evidence of responsibility, delete paragraph one (1) in its entirety and replace it with the following in lieu thereof:

“The Prime Contractor must submit sufficient evidence of responsibility for the Contracting Officer to make an affirmative determination of responsibility pursuant to the requirements of FAR Subsection 9.104-1. To be determined responsible, a prospective contractor must address FAR 9.104, as detailed below. A simple reiteration of each part with a reassurance that the Offeror is compliant will be considered insufficient. “

There are no other changes to the RFP.

A track change version of the RFP is attached, Attachment Two (2), for ease of reference purposes.

This RFP in no way obligates USAID to award a contract nor does it commit USAID to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Award of a Contract under this RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal USAID approvals.

This RFP and subsequent amendments can be viewed and downloaded from www.sam.gov.

USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. USAID advises to regularly check the above website for amendments.

Sincerely, /S/

Daniel Harter Contracting Officer USAID/West Bank & Gaza http://www.fbo.gov/