Amendment No. 0001 to RFP No. 72030624R00009 (WAMA).pdf

(x)

72030624R00009 x x copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 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 letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

N/A

Not Applicable

720306

00000 Office of Acquisition & Assistance USAID/Afghanistan

06/14/20240001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

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

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

06/14/2024

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

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

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

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

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

The purpose of Amendment Number 0001 to Request for Proposals (RFP) Solicitation Number 72030624R00009 are to:

1. extend the proposal due date from July 19, 2024, to July 26, 2024, at 7PM Eastern

Standard Time; and

2. provide responses to clarification questions received.

All other terms and conditions of the RFP, as amended, remain in full force and effect.

Please see the continuation pages for specific changes...

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

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

Eyole Luma

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

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

Amendment No.0001 - Solicitation No. 72030624R00009

Continuation pages:

Questions and USAID Responses

Amendment No. 0001 to Solicitation No. 72030624R00009

Women and Men in Agriculture (WAMA) Activity

General Comments

● The following Section J Attachments on Page 101 of the solicitation are updated as follows:

○ Attachment J.3 is renamed J.3 Past Performance Information Sheet

○ The correct document for Attachment J.14 Draft Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan Template has been provided.

○ Attachment J.15 is hereby deleted.

1. Can USAID please make available all the reports, including work plans and MECLA plans, for the programs and activities noted on page 2 of the SOO.

USAID Response: The reports can be accessed here.

● Following up on this, there are titles on the DEC; however, there are no reports.

Can USAID add the reports to the DEC?

https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/search/FusionSearchResults.aspx?q=Afghanistan+Value

+Chains

USAID Response: The reports can be accessed here.

2. Additionally, on page 2 of the SOO, USAID references “Annex 1 – Table 1 –

Conclusions and recommendations from Evaluations and Final Reports under these activities.” However, this is not available publicly or attached to the RFP. Can you kindly add this to the solicitation package on Sam.gov?

USAID Response: This was included by error. The sentence “Annex 1 – Table 1 –

Conclusions and recommendations from Evaluations and Final Reports under these activities.” is hereby deleted from page 2 of the SOO.

3. Section L.7, Annex C Past Performance Information Sheet refers to an annex J.15, however J.3 is labeled as the Past Performance Information that appears to require external contracting points of contact feedback. Pg. 136 includes language “ (USAID) in

Afghanistan by email to hramin@usaid.gov and copy eluma@usaid.gov by no later than

[TBD].”

o Can USAID confirm that Attachment J.3 Past Performance Information is what is required as defined by Section L?

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MKhLF_BLGxNeGtyaez-db2LlQSaepedd https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/search/FusionSearchResults.aspx?q=Afghanistan+Value+Chains https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/search/FusionSearchResults.aspx?q=Afghanistan+Value+Chains https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MKhLF_BLGxNeGtyaez-db2LlQSaepedd?usp=drive_link

USAID Response: USAID confirms that Attachment J.3 Past Performance

Information is what is required as defined by Section L.

o Can USAID confirm that if an Offeror has CPARs that completely only Section A of Attachment J.3 is required?

USAID Response: Yes.

o If the Offeror does not have CPARs, can USAID confirm that Section B of

Attachment J.3 will be completed by the reference and returned to USAID directly by the reference?

USAID Response: The Offeror is only required to complete Section A of the

Attachment J.3 and submit with the proposal.

● Can USAID confirm that if Section B of Attachment J.3 must be returned by the proposal submission date, and if so, would USAID consider an extension?

USAID Response: The Offeror must complete only Section A of the

Attachment J.3 and submit with the proposal.

4. Per page 13, B.5.2 and 141, Part 2 (a) (ii) third paragraph, would USAID please confirm that per page 135, Annex C that a major subcontractor is defined as having at least 20 percent of the Offeror’s total proposed cost and that this is reflected in Annex C – Past

Performance Information Sheet.

USAID Response: A major subcontractor is defined as having at least 10% of the

Offeror’s total proposed cost. The solicitation is hereby revised on Page 141 and Page 13 to say “10%”.

5. Per page 21, g. Periodic impact evaluations, would USAID please confirm impact evaluations should not be included in the Offeror's technical proposal or budget as the

Mission will use their third-party monitoring mechanism?

USAID Response: The solicitation is revised by deleting E.3.g. Periodic impact evaluations. Impact evaluations (mid and end of project) will be done by independent third-party monitors contracted by USAID.

6. Per page 15 and on page 142 the RFP states that "The Government’s liability for cancellation charges shall not exceed [$0.00]." Would USAID please replace "[$0.00]" with "[TBD]" on both pages to allow Offerors to propose their own cancellation ceilings?

USAID Response: Per FAR 17.106-1 (c) (1), “For each program year subject to cancellation, the contracting officer shall establish a cancellation ceiling”. The “[$0.00]” amount on pages 15 and 142 of the RFP are hereby revised to say “[TBD]”.

7. Per page 28 8), the Branding and Marking Plan is due 30 days on award, would USAID consider changing page 132 and 138 in reference to this Plan to remove the requirement to have the Branding and Marking Plan as provided on the page 28 requirement? Please note the Attachment J.14 Template opens as a duplicate version of the subcontracting plan template.

USAID Response: The Offeror is required to submit a Draft Branding and Marking Plan with the proposal. The Final Branding and Marking Plan will be due 30 days after award.

The due date for the Final Branding and Marking Plan may be negotiated with the selected Awardee. Attachment J.14 has been updated.

8. Per page 31 e) and page 33, F.7.1 C. 18 the short-term consultants’ report, would USAID please consider removing this requirement as this is information that would be included in the monthly and quarterly reports required in Section F?

USAID Response: Some STTA reports may be needed by USAID. This section is hereby revised to require STTA reports upon request.

9. Per page 32 C. Reporting Matrix, would USAID please confirm for the line items within the reporting matrix that state in Due Date column “…from contract award” be revised to state “Within 30 calendar days of contract award?”

USAID Response: Yes, line items within the Due Date column are hereby revised to state “Within X calendar days of contract award”, as applicable. The number of calendar days remains unchanged.

10. Page 59, H.29 9. and per the Initial Environmental Examination, page 9, last row in table, can USAID please confirm that minor rehabilitation may be performed under this program?

USAID Response: Yes, minor rehabilitation may be performed under this program..

11. Per page 101, would USAID please provide the Registration and Tax Exemptions in

Afghanistan Attachment?

USAID Response: There is currently no Attachment available for “Registration and Tax

Exemptions in Afghanistan”. Section J is revised to remove this attachment.

12. Per page 101 per Annex J., would USAID please provide Annex J.15, the Past

Performance Questionnaire Sheet and confirm this is Annex C on page 131, Section L.7

(c)?

USAID Response: There are no Annexes on page 101 of the solicitation. Please see

USAID response to Question No. 3 regarding Attachment J.3.

13. Per Page 131, L.7 (c), Volume I - Technical Proposal: (30 pages maximum) Would

USAID please confirm the order of the Technical Proposal should be in the order that is outlined in this paragraph?

USAID Response: The order of the Technical Proposal must be according to Section L.7

(c).

14. Per page 134, 6.3, would USAID please consider the 6.3 Draft Year Work Plan to instead be in an annex on 11x14 paper, outside of the 30 page count requirement, in order to provide sufficient information for activities that are required in Year 1 to support

USAID’s understanding of the complex nature of this high profile program?

USAID Response: Yes. The Draft Year Work Plan may instead be submitted as an

Annex on 11x14 paper, outside the 30 page count requirement.

15. Per page 138 Annex G, would USAID, please consider allowing an 11"x14" paper size for the organization chart, key personnel plan, and LOE matrix?

USAID Response: Yes. 11”x14” paper size is also acceptable for other charts and figures submitted under Annex G.

16. Per page 135, Section L.7.7, second paragraph from the top, would USAID please consider allowing the Offeror to provide information from the last five years as provided with the Past Performance requirement?

USAID Response: Yes, the Offeror may provide information from the last five years as provided with the Past Performance requirement. Page 135 of the solicitation, second paragraph from the top, is hereby revised as follows:

“The summary must also include the three (3) most relevant contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements for both Prime and Sub-award(s) combined, etc. implemented by your organization in the last five (5) years”.

17. Per page 138, Section L.8, Preparation of the Cost/Business Proposal, would USAID please provide the list of equipment in the disposition plan of the previous activity that will be provided to the successful Offeror for WAMA?

USAID Response: A list of equipment is currently not available. Other USAID activities will be active for approximately one year and will need their equipment during that time.

18. On page 139, the RFP states that "And all files must be unprotected including any spreadsheets, which are to be provided as excel files with visible cell formulas intact and not exceeding 2MB in file size." Would USAID please confirm that the file size limitation is only associated with the Excel budget file?

USAID Response: The 2MB file size limitation is only associated with the Excel budget file.

19. Per page 140, Cost Proposal Annexes, Per Annex 1, “…and other technical specialists…” and in the requirement per page 126 L.6.4 unnecessarily elaborate proposals, would

USAID please confirm that Offerors are only required to provide Form 1420-17 for key personnel positions?

USAID Response: Form AID 1420-17 must be provided for all Key personnel and other named technical specialists.

20. On page 141, the RFP states that "for each major subcontractor…, the Offeror must include a full detailed budget worksheet…" Would USAID please confirm that only major subcontractors whose cost exceeds 20 percent of the Offeror’s total proposed cost are applicable to this requirement?

USAID Response: The Offeror must include a full detailed budget worksheet for major subcontractors. Please see USAID response to Question No. 4 for the definition of a major subcontractor.

21. Page 145, L.8.2 11. provides details for the Opportunity Response Mechanism, would

USAID please confirm that the $5 million figure includes all applicable indirect costs and fee?

USAID Response: No, the $5 million figure should not include all applicable indirect costs and fee.

22. Per page 147, the fixed fee appears to be further divided as per, "The Cost Proposal must reflect a fixed-fee that is divided between fixed payments (25%) and payments based on the completed Fixed-fee Schedule (75%) found below. For the deliverables indicated in the Fixed-fee Schedule, twenty-five percent (25%) of the fee will be attributed to the

Activity Deliverables, and seventy-five percent (75%) of the fixed-fee will be based upon the completion of the Performance deliverables." Would USAID please confirm that the fee will be divided into fixed payments (25 percent) and of the remaining 75 percent and

25 percent will be attributed to activity deliverables (or 18.75 percent of total fee) and that 75 percent will be attributed to performance deliverables (56.25 percent of total fee)?

USAID Response: A response will be provided in a separate amendment.

23. Per page 152, Part 4, the Offeror is only required to submit policies and procedures with the cost proposal if the Offeror and/or major subcontractors do not have prior USAID contracting experience. Would USAID please confirm that the policies and procedures are required only for Offerors and/or major subcontractors that do not have prior USAID contracting experience and align this confirmation with provisions on page 140, Section

L.8.1, Annexes 1,2,6 through 9; page 155, Section L.10; and page 159, Section M, Part

4?

USAID Response: Policies and procedures are required only for Offerors and/or major subcontractors that do not have prior USAID contracting experience. Section L.10

(pg.155) is hereby updated with additional language requesting policies and procedures only from contractors and subcontractors that do not have prior USAID experience.

24. Per page 154, Part 9, would USAID please provide a copy of the waiver template for covered Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services and Equipment?

USAID Response: Please complete Section K.6 “REPRESENTATION REGARDING

CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR

EQUIPMENT (NOV 2021)” (d)(1). Based on Part 9 of L.8.2, “USAID will make a determination whether an existing waiver will be used”.

25. Per attachment J.10, Summary and Detailed Budget Template, the detailed budget tabs contain pre-populated line items under each category. Would USAID please confirm that these line items are illustrative, and that Offerors may propose alternative and/or additional line items?

USAID Response: These line items are illustrative. The Offerors may propose alternative and/or additional line items.

26. Section F (page 24) notes that the Initial Work Plan will “contain a performance monitoring plan for the activity.” Could USAID confirm that this performance monitoring plan is the same as the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation Plan (Activity MECLA Plan)?

USAID Response: Yes, the performance monitoring plan is the same as the Activity

MECLA Plan.

27. Section F (page 24) notes that the Initial Work Plan will contain information for “each task.” Page 25 notes that Annual Work Plans will have “clearly defined Tasks, Activities, Deliverables, Benchmarks, and Indicator Targets.” Page 25 also repeatedly mentions “interventions” in the context of the Annual Work Plan. Could USAID confirm that “tasks,” “activities,” and “interventions” are synonyms in this context (and refer to the same thing)?

USAID Response: They are at different levels. Activities and interventions are synonymous. Results are the same as deliverables. Targets are benchmarks. Tasks are objectives.

28. Section L.6.5 (pages 129 and 130) states that “Electronic submissions must be text accessible,” compatible with “MS Word (or PDF with Optical Character Recognition),” and “In both Adobe Acrobat PDF and MS Word (software versions 2003 or newer) for the technical proposal, budget narrative, and all other required documents.” The section also notes that “Pages containing signatures must be submitted in Adobe Acrobat PDF” and that “USAID prefers that the Offeror submit the technical and cost proposal each as single email attachments, respectively.” Would USAID please confirm that offerors may submit the entire technical proposal in a text-accessible Adobe Acrobat PDF file

(or files) and that offerors do not also need to submit the pieces of the technical proposal that do not contain signatures in MS Word? Only requiring offerors to submit the technical proposal in a text-accessible Adobe Acrobat PDF file (or files) will reduce the number of attachments and emails offerors must send to USAID.

USAID Response: Offerors may submit the entire technical proposal in a text-accessible PDF file or files. Offerors do not need to also submit the pieces of the technical proposal that does not contain signatures in MS Word.

29. Section L.7 (page 135) provides instructions on submitting past performance information and notes that a “major subcontractor” is “one whose proposed cost exceeds 10% of the Offeror’s total proposed cost.” Section L.8 (page 141) states that a major subcontractor is one “whose proposed cost exceeds twenty (20) percent of the

Offeror’s total proposed cost.” Could USAID clarify whether a major subcontractor is one whose cost exceeds 10% (per page 135) or 20% (per page 141) of the offeror’s total proposed costs?

USAID Response: Please see USAID response to question No.4.

30. Section L.7 (page 137) provides instructions for Annex D, Proposed Subcontractor

Signed Letters of Commitment, in the technical proposal. Section L.8 (page 153) also requires a letter of commitment “by an authorized representative of each Sub-

Contractor.” Could USAID clarify which volume should include these letters of commitment?

USAID Response: Proposed Subcontractor Signed Letters of Commitment should be included in the Cost volume only.

31. Section L.7 (page 137) provides instructions on drafting Annex E, Abbreviated Draft

Activity MECLA Plan. The RFP notes that the “activity-level logical-framework” should be “clearly connected to the USAID/Afghanistan result framework.” Could

USAID confirm that by “USAID/Afghanistan result framework,” USAID means the

USAID/Afghanistan mission Strategic Framework referenced on page 1 of the

Statement of Objectives (SOO) in Attachment J.1?

USAID Response: Page 137 of the solicitation is hereby revised to delete the first bullet point from the page: “Includes the activity-level logical-framework clearly connected to the USAID/ “Afghanistan result framework;”

32. Section L.7 (page 137) notes that Annex E, Abbreviated Draft Activity MECLA Plan, should “include an evaluation plan that aims to assess activity results at the impact level and schedule and tools for periodic evaluation/re-evaluation and revision of approach as necessary.” A third-party evaluator typically performs this type of evaluation. Could

USAID clarify whether a third-party evaluator will perform this evaluation for WAMA and, if so, delete this sentence from the RFP? If USAID would like offerors to perform this evaluation, could USAID provide a budget estimate for this work? Assessing results at the impact level and conducting periodic re-evaluations can be costly.

USAID Response: Evaluations will be performed by a third-party evaluator contracted by USAID. The solicitation is hereby revised to delete the following statement from

Annex E (page 137): “The abbreviated draft Activity MECLA Plan must also include an evaluation plan that aims to assess activity results at the impact level and schedule and tools for periodic evaluation/reevaluation and revision of approach as necessary.”.

33. Section L.7 (page 137) instructs offerors to include a description of the monitoring and evaluation systems, data collection, and the logical framework, as well as a list of indicators with results and targets, among other things, in Annex E, Abbreviated Draft

Activity MECLA Plan. Given the extent of this information, would USAID consider permitting the Abbreviated Draft Activity MECLA Plan to be four pages?

USAID Response: USAID permits the Abbreviated Draft Activity MECLA Plan to be up to four pages.

34. Section L.8 (p.140) requires the offeror to submit annexes to the cost proposal as separate attachments. Section L.6.5 (page 130) states that “USAID prefers that the

Offeror submit the technical and cost proposal each as single email attachments, respectively.” Could USAID clarify whether offerors should also include these annexes within the cost proposal or as separate documents in the submission email?

USAID Response: USAID prefers that the Offeror include these Annexes within the cost proposal. Submitting the Annexes as separate documents will also be accepted.

35. Section L.8 (page 140) provides instructions for the cost proposal’s Annex 3, Copy of

Travel Policies and Procedures; Annex 4, Copy Procurement Policies and Procedures;

and Annex 5, Copy of Human Resource/Personnel Policies and Procedures. Could

USAID confirm that these annexes should only be submitted if the major subcontractors and the offeror have no prior USAID experience?

USAID Response: Yes, these annexes should only be submitted if the major subcontractors and the offeror have no prior USAID experience. Please see L.8.2 Part 4

(page 152) of the solicitation for more information.

36. Section L.8.2 (page 145) requests that sub-awardees provide their latest NICRA in the cost proposal. Page 146 only states that “the offeror and each proposed major subcontractor shall include a complete copy of its most current Negotiated Indirect

Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).” Could USAID clarify whether all subcontractors or only major subcontractors should include their most current NICRA in the cost proposal?

USAID Response: Please include NICRA for proposed major subcontractors. See

L.8.2 (12) (i) and (ii) for more information (page 145 - 146).

37. Attachment J.1 (page 2) references “Annex 1 – Table 1 – Conclusions and recommendations from Evaluations and Final Reports.” This annex is not included in the RFP package. Could USAID please provide this annex?

USAID Response: See USAID response to Question No. 2

38. Attachment J.1 (page 2) indicates that offerors’ approach should “combine and transition the best practices, successes and lessons learned of select activities from

USAID’s' ' programs. Could USAID make available all the reports, including work plans and MECLA plans, for the programs and activities noted on page 2 of the SOO?

Currently, only a few are available on the DEC.

USAID Response: See USAID response to Question No. 1.

39. Attachment J.1 (page 3) lists one of the “End of Activity Results” as “$6,000,000 million in new USG commitments and private sector investment leveraged by the USG in the agricultural sector to support food security and nutrition.” Is USAID referring to indicator EG.3.1-15, “Value of new private sector investment leveraged by the USG to support food security and nutrition”? If so, could USAID revise this result to align with the indicator?

USAID Response: A response will be provided in a separate amendment.

40. Attachment J.12, the Asia Bureau’s Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), indicates that the contractor will deliver seeds and fertilizer to support rural women. In the

Afghanistan − Value Chains Program (AVCP), significant amounts of seeds, animal feed, and other inputs were procured and distributed to beneficiaries. Could USAID provide a plug figure for the WAMA budget for these items?

USAID Response: No, the budget will be determined by the needs assessment.

41. Could USAID clarify whether construction is allowed in this contract?

USAID Response: Construction will not be allowed under the contract. Minor rehabilitation and cleaning of existing community water infrastructure will be permitted. .

42. Would USAID consider extending the proposal deadline, considering the Eid holiday in Afghanistan, to allow offerors more time?

USAID Response: The proposal deadline is extended to July 26, 2024. (7:00pm)

43. Given the Eid Al Adha holiday in Afghanistan the public holidays in the U.S. on June 19 and July 4, would USAID consider granting an extension to the proposal submission date to ensure adequate time for communicating and collaborating with host country entities?

USAID Response: The proposal deadline is extended to July 26, 2024. (7:00pm)

44. E.3 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) (p.20-21):

o The RFP notes that "the QASP proposed by the winning Offeror will be incorporated in this section after award. The QASP may require revision after selection for award to reflect the Contractor’s known strengths and weaknesses." In addition, on page

27, the RFP notes that the Activity MECLA Plan will include a Quality Assurance

Surveillance Plan (QASP). However, in Section L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, c) Organization, 8) Annexes (p. 137), the RFP does not specify that a QASP is required for Annex E - Abbreviated Draft Activity MECLA

Plan. Could USAID please clarify if Offerors are required to include a QASP as part of the technical proposal? If yes, could USAID confirm if the QASP should be included in Annex E - Abbreviated Draft Activity MECLA Plan?

USAID Response: Yes, Offerors should include a QASP as part of the Technical

Proposal. The QASP should not be included in Annex E. Offerors may submit the

QASP as a new Annex K: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). The QASP template is provided as Attachment J.2.

Page 27 of the solicitation is hereby revised to delete language requiring that a

QASP be submitted as part of the Draft MECLA Plan. Section L.7(c)8 , (page 132) of the solicitation is revised to add “Annex K: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

(QASP)”.

o The RFP states that “a variety of mechanisms may be used to monitor the progress/success of the activity and the Contractor’s performance…” The monitoring methods suggested on p. 20-21 differ from those listed in the “Methods of Surveillance” in Attachment J.2 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) template. Does USAID have a preference as to which list to use?

USAID Response: A response will be provided in a separate amendment.

45. F.7.1 Plans and Reports (p. 24-33): In addition to the plans and reports deliverables listed in the RFP, could USAID confirm that Offerors are able to propose additional deliverables as part of the Performance Work Statement (PWS)?

USAID Response: Yes, additional deliverables may be proposed.

o If yes, could USAID also confirm that additional deliverables proposed by

Offerors may be included as fee-bearing deliverables in the fixed-fee schedule?

USAID Response: Yes they can.

46. F.7.1 Plans and Reports, A. Plans, 5) Annual Work Plans (p. 25): USAID notes that the

"contractor must submit subsequent annual work plan(s) to USAID for review and approval no later than 75 days prior to the end of the USG fiscal year." However, under

"C. Reporting Matrix" on page 32, USAID lists the due date for Annual Work Plans as "a minimum of 45 calendar days prior to the start of subsequent year of implementation."

Can USAID please confirm which is the correct due date?

USAID Response: 75 days after the award for the initial work plan and 45 days before the end of the fiscal years for annual work plans.

The relevant wording is hereby revised to say: Annual Work Plans; "...Contractor must submit the initial work plan 75 days after the award and all subsequent annual work plan(s) to USAID for review and approval no later than 45 days prior to the end of the

USG fiscal year."

47. F.7.1 Plans and Reports, A. Plans, 7) Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation Plan (Activity MECLA Plan) (p. 26-27): The RFP notes that

“this plan must establish clear criteria and indicators for monitoring and evaluating the impact of interventions … The Activity MECLA Plan will provide detailed methodology for how all outcome indicators and the underlying theories of change will be accurately reported based on baselines, control, and treatment data.”

o Would USAID please clarify if this implies a requirement for a formal impact evaluation involving control and treatment groups?

USAID Response:The contractor is not expected to conduct impact evaluations.

This will be managed by USAID.

▪ If yes, is the intention for such an evaluation to be conducted internally or externally?

USAID Response: External evaluation.

o Impact evaluations require a degree of implementation fidelity that assumes stability, allowing for consistent execution without major changes to implementation strategies. Given the challenging operating environment in

Afghanistan, would USAID consider removing the reference to control and treatment data as well as any requirements for an impact evaluation?

USAID Response: The reference to evaluations in the RFP is hereby deleted and replaced with monitoring results of interventions.

48. F.7.1 Plans and Reports, B. Reports (p. 31):

Gender Analysis and Report: The RFP states that “the Contractor must submit a report examining the different roles, rights, and opportunities of men and women and relations between them within 210 calendar days from contract award. The report also identifies disparities, examines why such disparities exist, determines whether they are a potential impediment to achieving results, and looks at how they can be addressed. The gender analysis must include the collection of sex disaggregated and gender‐sensitive data.”

However, in Attachment J.1 Statement of Objectives under Objective 3: Women

Economic Empowerment Strengthened (p. 7), the RFP states that: “Conducting comprehensive initial needs assessments to understand the context and assess the needs, which are crucial for developing effective livelihood interventions aligned with women’s needs, capacities, cultural norms, market demand and the environmental conditions will be required.” Would USAID please clarify if the “initial needs assessment” described in

Attachment J.1 is a separate and different report from the Gender Analysis and report described in Section F of the RFP?

USAID Response: The Gender Analysis which is due 210 days after award and the

Women’s Integration Strategy Plan which is due in 75 days after award are two separate reports.

● If yes, would USAID please clarify if there is an expected deadline for the completion of the “initial needs assessment?”

USAID Response: The expected due date is 75 days after award.

49. F.7.1 Plans and Reports, C. Reporting Matrix (p. 32):

● The reporting matrix includes a "Final Amendment to the Initial Environmental

Examination" (IEE) as a required deliverable, due within 30 calendar days from contract award. However, the RFP does not reference an "initial" amendment to the IEE and does not provide details on what is expected of this deliverable.

Could USAID please clarify if the Contractors is also expected to provide an initial amendment to the IEE and clarify what is expected for this deliverable?

USAID Response: The Contractor is not expected to provide an initial amendment to the IEE. The IEE amendment is hereby deleted from the matrix.

● Value Chain Analysis Report and the Gender Analysis and Report: will USAID consider allowing the Contractor to determine the final due dates for the Value

Chain Analysis Report and Gender Analysis Report in the Initial Work Plan (and any subsequent amendments) to allow for maximum flexibility and any unforeseeable constraints, instead of listing fixed due dates of “210 calendar days from contract award” in the Contract?

USAID Response: No. USAID needs a clear time frame for these deliverables.

● The Initial Work Plan includes the Women’s Integration Strategy Plan and is due within 75 days of award, though the Gender Analysis Report is not due until 210 days of award. Will USAID consider removing the Women’s Integration Strategy from the Initial Work Plan and making it part of the Gender Analysis Report as information from the latter will be needed to finalize integration plans?

USAID Response: No, the initial needs assessment is the women’s integration strategy plan required in the initial work plan 75 days after award. Please see response to question No. 48.

50. Attachment J.1 Statement of Objective (SOO) WAMA Activity:

o Purpose (p. 2): The RFP states “(see Annex 1 – Table 1 - Conclusions and recommendations from Evaluations and Final Reports under these activities).”

However, there is not an Annex 1 attachment to the SOO, nor the files provided.

Could USAID please provide this annex?

USAID Response: See USAID response to Question 2.

o Scope (p. 2): the RFP states that “Objective IV: Selected Emerging Agricultural or Economic Growth Issues and Challenges are Addressed Across Afghanistan

(this is an Opportunity Response Mechanism (ORM) and Offerors are not expected to propose activities for this objective at this stage).” Can USAID confirm that Objective IV is not considered in any part of the technical evaluation criteria for any section of the Contractor’s proposal?

USAID Response: Objective IV is not considered in any part of the technical evaluation criteria.

o Contact Length and Place of Performance, b) Place of Performance (p.3): the RFP states that the “geographic focus of this activity will be between 10-14 provinces across Afghanistan.”

▪ Is USAID open to expanding the number of provinces beyond the 10-14?

USAID Response: USAID is not open to expanding the number of provinces beyond 10-14 at this stage. USAID may be interested in expanding beyond 10-14 provinces during implementation.

▪ If the number of provinces are limited to 10-14, is USAID open to the

Contractor working with lead firms and organizations headquartered outside of those provinces but that are willing to work with beneficiaries within those provinces?

USAID Response: Yes.

o Operating Constraints and General Cross-cutting Requirements, h. Gender

Integration and Inclusive Participation (p. 9): The RFP states that “the Contractor must incorporate a detailed Gender Analysis and Gender Action Plan into the annual Work Plan that will demonstrate a gender assessment of each intervention and how it has the potential to affect men and women differently.” Can USAID confirm if the Gender Action Plan is the same as the Women’s Integration

Strategy Plan? If yes, could USAID please confirm that the correct title is

“Women’s Integration Strategy Plan” and not “Gender Action Plan?”

USAID Response: The Gender Analysis and Report is a more comprehensive effort that is due 210 days after award. The Women’s Integration

Strategy Plan is a different effort that is included in the initial work plan and is due 75 days after the award.

51. Attachment J.2: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) Template: Could USAID please provide guidance on what is expected in the “Section No. for Req. Service” and

“Required Service” columns of the “Women and Men in Agriculture (WAMA)

Surveillance Activity Summary” table on p. 3 of the QASP template?

USAID Response: The QASP will be based on the PWS. The required performance standards and/or quality will be included in the PWS. The QASP may be further revised after the award.

52. Attachment J.3: The RFP lists Attachment J.3 as the "Registration and Tax Exemptions in

Afghanistan," but the attachment J.3 included in the RFP package is the "Past

Performance Information Sheet." Could USAID please confirm which document is considered "Attachment J.3" and provide the "Registration and Tax Exemptions in

Afghanistan" document?

USAID Response: Attachment J.3 is considered the “Past Performance Information

Sheet”. Please see USAID response to Question No. 3.

53. Attachment J.3: Past Performance Information Sheet: the "Past Performance Information

Sheet" included as Attachment J.3 seems to be the "Past Performance Questionnaire

Sheet." Could USAID please confirm if this is the correct document Offerors should use for their Past Performance Information?

USAID Response: Yes, Offerors should use the updated “Attachment J.3 Past

Performance Information Sheet” to submit their Past Performance Information.

Attachment “J.15 Past Performance Questionnaire” is deleted. Please see the “General

Comments” above..

o If yes, can USAID please confirm that Offerors are to fill out only Section A of the questionnaire?

USAID Response: Yes, Offerors are to fill out only Section A.

o If no, would USAID please provide the correct Past Performance Information

Sheet template?

USAID Response: Please see USAID Response to Question No. 3.

54. Attachment J.10 Summary and Detailed Budget Template:

o Can USAID please confirm whether Offerors may edit the provided budget template as needed to adjust formulas, add rows and columns, and modify the structure to align with their specific Cost Accounting Standards, provided

Offerors continue to follow the line-item structure identified in the first tab of

Attachment J.10 which is labeled “Summary Budget?”

USAID Response: Yes, Offerors may edit the provided budget template.

55. Attachment J.14: Draft Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan Template: the template provided in the RFP package opens to another copy of the Subcontracting Plan

Template instead of the Branding and Marking Template. Can USAID please send a copy of Attachment J.14 Draft Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan with the correct file attached?

USAID Response: Attachment J.14 Branding and Marking Plan Template has been updated. Please see USAID response to Question No. 7 and the General Comments above.

o Given the length of a Branding and Marking Plan typically exceeds 3 pages, would USAID consider increasing the page allowances for the Draft Branding

Implementation Plan and Marking Plan?

USAID Response: The template for the Draft Branding Implementation Plan and

Marking Plan template has been uploaded. The page limitation remains the same.

56. L.6.2 Offeror's Responsibilities (p. 128):

o The RFP notes that Offerors should include on the cover page of both the technical and the cost proposals. However, in section L.7 Instructions for the

Preparation of the Technical Proposal, c) Organization (p. 131), the RFP does not include the cover page as part of the technical proposal organization. Could

USAID please confirm if a cover page is to be included in addition to a cover letter? If yes, could USAID please confirm that the cover page is not inclusive of the 30-page maximum page count limit?

USAID Response: Cover Letter is hereby revised to say Cover Page in section

L.7 (b) and (c) on page 131 and also in Section 1 on page 132. Offerors are to provide a cover page only and it is not inclusive of the 30-page maximum page count limit.

o The RFP states that “Proposals signed by an agent shall be accompanied by evidence of that agent's authority, unless that evidence has been previously furnished to the issuing office.” Can USAID please clarify what would be accepted as “evidence” of the agent’s authority?

USAID Response: The evidence for an authorized agent signing the Offer could be an authorization letter from the President/CEO or other high ranking member of the entity.

57. L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, 5.1. Performance Work

Statement with Results (p. 133):

o The RFP notes that the PWS must “clearly describe the deliverables associated with each Objective along with the deadline for completion and method of verification.”

▪ Can USAID clarify what is meant by “deliverables?” Are these technical and/or grantee reports; indicators and targets; and/or process-related deliverables (such as those that would be found in a QASP)?

USAID Response: Performance indicators and targets.

▪ Are the deliverables to be associated with specific proposed interventions or are they to be associated only at the Objective level?

USAID Response: Only at the Objective level.

▪ If Offerors are expected to provide a QASP as part of the technical proposal (see Question 44), would USAID allow the Contractor to include a description of the deliverables, deadlines, and method of verification separately in the QASP instead of stating them under the PWS Objectives?

USAID Response: Yes, but the Offeror should put indicators and targets under objectives in the PWS.

o The RFP states that the PWS must include a “Partnership Approach for the implementation and management of grants under contract (GUC), which demonstrates an effective and market-driven based approach. The Offeror should define clear criteria and objectives for small grant awards that would require the grants: i) to have financial cost-sharing from recipients (or in-kind contribution from vulnerable recipients), ii) to be performance-based (paid based on performance), and iii) to be directly linked to one or more of the corresponding objectives in the SOO.”

▪ Will USAID consider allowing the Contractor to offer in-kind grants in addition to “performance based” grants, assuming the latter means fixed amount awards (FAAs), to accommodate recipients with less advanced financial management and procurement systems and processes? In-kind grants will also reduce fraud and the risk of recipient procurement of sub-par quality, restricted, prohibited, and/or ineligible goods and equipment.

USAID Response: Yes, in-kind grants are allowed.

▪ The description states that the grants must have “cost-sharing” and that they also must be “performance based.” The term “cost-share” has a very specific accounting and auditing requirements for the recipient; 2 CFR

200.201 contains language stating that FAAs, i.e., performance-based awards, should not be used when there are cost-share requirements; and

FAA agreements do not officially contain budgets since payments are based on milestones. Would USAID allow the Contractor to use the term

“leverage” instead? All costs, including those counted as a recipient’s leverage, would still be verified in the recipient’s program budget prior to establishing and finalizing the milestones.

USAID Response: Yes, the term “leverage” may be used instead.

58. L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, b) Page Limitation (p.

131):

o As with graphs, maps, and charts, may Offerors use smaller than 12-point font for text boxes and tables?

USAID Response: Yes.

o May Offerors use a font other than Times New Roman for graphics, textboxes, and tables?

USAID Response: Yes

59. L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, 5.1 Performance Work

Statement with Results (p. 133): The RFP notes that Offerors must "Address the operating constraints and cross-cutting requirements indicated in the SOO (i.e., security, budget, ...)." Given the instructions on p. 130 stating that "Technical Proposals must not make reference to pricing data in order that the technical evaluation may be made strictly on the basis of technical merit," can USAID please confirm that Offerors will not be expected to refer to the contract budget when in the Technical Proposal?

USAID Response: Yes. Offerors will not be expected to refer to the contract budget or costs in the Technical Proposal.

60. L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, 6.2 Organizational

Structure (p. 134): The RFP asks Offerors to "describe organizational experience in agricultural growth activities, gender and private sector support, ability to mobilize and retain staff, and capability to execute interventions and implement a program of this scope and size in conflict-prone environments, especially the Afghanistan context at the national and sub-national levels." However, in 7.1 Institutional Capacity (p. 134-135) also asks Offerors to provide "summary of experience implementing activities of similar size, technical nature and complexity." To avoid the potential for redundancy of content in these sections, would USAID please consider revising 6.2 Organizational Structure to remove the requirement to describe institutional capabilities?

USAID Response: 6.2 Organizational Structure is hereby revised to remove the requirement to describe institutional capabilities.

61. L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, 7.1 Institutional Capacity

(p. 135): The RFP states that the Institutional Capacity section must include “include the three (3) most relevant contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements for both Prime and

Sub-award(s) combined, etc. implemented by your organization in the last three (3) years.” Given that this information will be discussed in 7.2 Past Performance, would

USAID please consider removing this requirement from 7.1 Institutional Capacity?

USAID Response: Please see USAID response to question 16. Both should be consistent to include 3 most relevant contracts, grants, or Cooperative Agreements in the last five (5) years.

62. L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, 8. Annexes, Annex C –

Past Performance Information Sheet (p. 136-137): The RFP asks that “The Offeror must use the Past Performance Information (PPI) Sheet (See Attachment J.15) to present the above requested information. If all of the applicable contracts are in PPIRS, please note this on the sheet with the contract number, amount and short description of the scope.”

Could USAID please clarify if this system is different from the Contractor Performance

Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)? If yes, would USAID please consider also applying this guidance for contracts included in CPARS?

USAID Response: USAID will apply this guidance for contracts included in CPARS as the information in PPIRS has been merged into CPARS.

63. L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, 8. Annexes, Annex E –

Abbreviated Draft Activity MECLA Plan (p. 137):

a. The RFP states that “Offerors must propose indicators that will allow USAID to measure the Contractor’s performance in implementing the program.” However, in

Attachment J.1 (p. 3), the “End of Activity Results” provides a list of 17 indicators and targets that are mandatory. Can USAID clarify if it is expected that the Offeror proposes any additional indicators or if the Offeror is restricted to those that are listed in Attachment J.1? If the Offeror would like to propose additional indicators, will the

Offeror be required to provide life of project targets in the proposal for those additional indicators?

USAID Response: Yes, the Offeror may propose additional indicators with targets.

b. The RFP states that “the abbreviated draft Activity MECLA plan should be no longer than three pages.” If Offerors are required to include the QASP as part of Annex E

(see Question 44), would USAID consider extending the page limitation for Annex E to allow for sufficient space to include the QASP? Alternatively, would USAID allow

Offerors to submit the QASP as a separate annex to the technical proposal?

USAID Response: Please see USAID response to Question No. 44. The QASP

Template is provided as Attachment J.2

64. L.8 Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost/Business Proposal (p. 139):

a. The RFP states that “(e) The cost proposal will be in Microsoft Excel (2010 version or newer) and compatible with a MS Windows operating environment.” Can USAID please confirm this is only related to the excel budget document? and that Offeror may provide the full cost proposal in PDF? L.6.5(a)(1): Please confirm that the budget narrative is the only document required in Word format for the cost proposal and that all other required elements can be submitted in Excel (the budget) and PDF

(all additional required elements).

USAID Response: The Microsoft Excel document is only related to the excel budget. The Offeror may provide the full cost proposal in PDF. The Offeror may provide the budget narrative in PDF.

b. The RFP states that “Offerors shall submit the Cost Proposal via electronic mail (see

L.6.5) and shall include the following information. All pages must be sequentially numbered, and each part shall be separated by a tab.” Given that this proposal is to be submitted electronically, may Offerors use divider pages rather than tabs or colored paper to separate sections of the cost proposal?

USAID Response: Yes.

c. The RFP notes that “all files must be unprotected including any spreadsheets, which are to be provided as Excel files with visible cell formulas…