SF-30 Amendment 2 app hw.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

PAGE OF PAGES

1 7

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 2 3. EFFECTIVE DATE

See Block 16.C

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO

REQ-388-20-000063

5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE 72000 7. ADMINISTERED BY (IF OTHER THAN ITEM 6) CODE

Office of Acquisition and Assistance

USAID/Bangladesh

Madani Avenue, Baridhara

Dhaka, 1212 - Bangladesh

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

All ENERGY IDIQ II holders

USAID Energy IDIQ ll # 7200AA19D00021-29

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

Amendment 2 of 72038820R00006

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

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.

The purpose of this amendment is to 1) make changes in the solicitation, and 2) provide answers to questions received from offeror in response to the solicitation identitied in Block 9.A.

Specific changes to the solicitation are made on the following 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

Howard Weston, Contracting Officer

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) 53.24

Amendment 2, RFTOP Number: 72038820R00006

Bangladesh Advancing Development and Growth through Energy (BADGE) activity

CONTINUATION PAGE

Part I. of the amendment incorporates changes to the solicitation RFTOP Number:

72038820R00006 issued on December 3, 2020, and Part II. provides USAID’s response to the questions received.

Part I:

On RFTOP Page 17, Section F.7 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES OR OUTPUTS IONS:

Grants Manual:

DELETE “60 days” and REPLACE with “90 days”.

On RFTOP Page 21, Section F.10 AUTHORIZED WORKDAY / WEEK: DELETE in its entirety and REPLACE with the following:

“No overtime or premium pay is authorized under this Task Order. A six-day workweek may be approved by the cognizant TOCO on a case-by-case basis for short-term assignments during the performance of the contract. The work week in Bangladesh is Sunday to Thursday. The contractor is expected to work during the regular Bangladeshi work week.”

On RFTOP Page 52-53, Section L.7 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: c.: DELETE in its entirety and REPLACE with the following:

“c. Offerors may submit proposals in multiple emails containing multiple attachments. Every email should not be more than 25MB in size. Technical and Cost Proposals should not be mixed, and the subject of every emails should be clearly marked.”

On RFTOP Page 53, Section L.7 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: e.: DELETE in its entirety and REPLACE with the following:

“e. Attachments must not exceed 10MB and must be compatible with Windows MS Word or adobe acrobat PDF; Spreadsheets must be in MS Excel. No Zipped or Encrypted file attachments of any kind will be accepted as part of the Technical or Cost Proposal.”

On RFTOP Page 58, Section L.9 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF COST PROPOSALS: DELETE in its entirety and REPLACE with the following:

“Offerors must submit a Cost Proposal that will be reviewed as part of the overall evaluation as indicated in Section M. The Offeror must provide a complete budget using Microsoft Excel as explained in Section L by cost element. All cost elements must roll into Contract Line-Item Numbers (CLINs) to be included in Section B.4 of the contract.”

On RFTOP Page 59, Section L.9. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF COST PROPOSALS, 2. Proposed Costs: b. Budget Line-Item Headings: DELETE in its entirety the following:

“Line Item 0002”

Part II:

Below is the set of questions received from the applicants followed by USAID’s response in red color texts.

1 Section F.7 requires that the workplan and grants manual both be submitted within 60 days of award.

Given that the activities identified in the workplan and our overall implementation approach will feed into the development of the grant’s manual, will USAID consider requiring the draft grants manual to be due 90 days after award?

Draft grants manual will be due 90 days after award. The RFTOP will be amended accordingly.

2 Section F.10, page 21 states “A six-day workweek may be approved by the cognizant TOCO on a case-by-case basis for short-term assignments during the first 75 days following the post-award conference.” Does this mean that 6-day workweek will not be approved at all, even on a case-by-case basis, for short-term assignments once 75 days from the post award conference have passed?

At the discretion of the TOCO a six-day workweek may be approved for short-term assignments during performance of the contract.

3 RFTOP Reference: L.7, Page Numbers: 52-53. USAID states on page 52 that offerors are to submit exactly two emails- one for the Technical Proposal, and 1 email for the Cost Proposal. Then, USAID states on page 53 that attachments must not exceed 2 MB. To ensure the offeror's ability to meet USAID’s content requirements, could USAID increase the limit for each email to 10 MB? Alternatively, would USAID allow offerors to submit more than one email for each volume so that we can keep the attachments in each individual email to less than 2 MB?

There will be no restrictions on the number of emails. Every email should not be more than 25MB in size. The RFTOP will be amended accordingly.

4 Section L.7 of the RFTOP indicates a 2MB attachment limit for each email containing the technical and cost proposals. A compiled cost or technical proposal is likely to significantly exceed this limit, thereby requiring proposals to be split into a cumbersome number of parts. Additionally, it may not be possible to split or reduce certain files such as spreadsheets to be smaller than 2MB. As a result, to aid in reading and compiling the proposals, would USAID consider increasing the 2MB attachment limit to a 10MB attachment limit?

There will be no restrictions on the number of emails. Every email should not be more than 25MB in size. The RFTOP will be amended accordingly.

5 Per Section L.7, Submission Instructions, page 52. Can USAID verify if the data limitation for each of the two emails is 2MB per message or is 2MB the size limit for each file attachment?

There will be no restrictions on the number of emails. Every email should not be more than 25MB in size. The RFTOP will be amended accordingly.

6 Section L.9, page 59 states that the “Offeror must provide a complete budget using the Microsoft Excel as explained in Section L by cost element utilizing the provided budget template Attachment in Section J”. There was no Budget Template in Section J. Could USAID please provide the Budget Template?

All necessary budget formats/templates are provided under Section L.9. No additional template will be provided under Section J. The RFTOP will be amended accordingly.

7 RFTOP Reference: L.9.2, Page Number: 59. On page 59 of the RFTOP, under 2.b. USAID has a budget format for offerors to use that as Line Item 0001, the cost elements below it, and then Line Item 0002 as the last row but nothing below it. Can USAID clarify what the Line Item 0001 and then Line Item 0002 refer to? Or should offerors just remove these headings?

The RFTOP will be amended to remove Line item 0002.

8 Section L.9.2.b, Budget Line-Item Headings, page 59. The bottom of the table refers to Line Item 0002, while Section B.6 indicates that only a Line Item 0001 is authorized, which is the head of said table. Could USAID provide an explanation on the offeror’s intent for what should be included in Line Item 0002?

The RFTOP will be amended to remove Line item 0002.

9 Section C.4.6 says that the ‘the value of the fund is not to exceed the amount provided by USAID in the project budget’. Could USAID please advise on the innovation fund budget?

The offeror must propose an amount and provide detailed justification how it will be used and the expected results.

10 Section B.9 10. Could USAID provide some examples of the type of energy or utility support activities they envision that contract funds could be redirected towards for the Crisis Modifier/Emergency Response? In addition, could USAID specify an amount for this fund?

Offerors need not include crisis intervention information anywhere in their proposal. Should the crisis modifier be activated under this award, USAID and the Contractor will jointly define the scope, deliverables and interventions to address the crisis.

11 RFTOP Reference: F.6, Page Number: 14. USAID states on page 14 of the RFTOP, “The number of key personnel must not be more than five percent of the total number of employees working under the contract.” Can USAID confirm that offering 3-5 Key Positions will meet or negate this requirement? In other words, our key personnel percentage will not need to be less than or equal to 5% of the overall staffing?

The number of key staff must not, under any circumstances, exceed 5 or 5% of total staff. If 3 key staff would be more than 5% of total staff, then the number of key staff must be less than 3. If 2 key staff would be more than 5% of total staff, then the number of key staff must be 1.

12 Section F.6 states that “the Contractor must propose three to five Key Personnel to successfully implement the program activities under this Task Order. The number of key personnel must not be more than five percent of the total number of employees working under the contract.” We respectfully request that the requirement for key personnel to not exceed 5 percent of the total number of employees working under the contract be removed, as the employment of 60 to 100 staff under this contract will not allow sufficient funding for implementation to meet activity objectives.

The number of key staff must not, under any circumstances, exceed 5 or 5% of total staff. If 3 key staff would be more than 5% of total staff, then the number of key staff must be less than 3. If 2 key staff would be more than 5% of total staff, then the number of key staff must be 1.

13 Per Section F.6 (p. 14), “The number of key personnel must not be more than five percent of the total number of employees working under the contract.” Given the number of key personnel permitted, may USAID consider removing the requirement that key personnel not exceed five percent of the total number of employees and provide the contractor with flexibility to propose efficient organization structures that align with its PWS?

The number of key staff must not, under any circumstances, exceed 5 or 5% of total staff. If 3 key staff would be more than 5% of total staff, then the number of key staff must be less than 3. If 2 key staff would be more than 5% of total staff, then the number of key staff must be 1.

14 IDCOL is a Government of Bangladesh (GoB) owned development financial institution that has been operating with GoB’s various development agenda mandates focusing on investment in private sector infrastructure, renewable energy and energy efficient projects. IDCOL also provides advisory services in the mentioned sectors. We have been approached by multiple firms regarding the BADGE RFTOP to participate as a local partner/sub-contractor. Can you please clarify whether there are any restrictions to participate in this RFTOP for an entity owned by the GoB?

Subcontracting to GoB entities is not prohibited, but it is extremely regulated and subject to many approval requirements that are not easily met. Please see USAID ADS 302.3.3.

15 RFTOP Reference: H.12, Page Number: 29. Can USAID kindly confirm that offerors are permitted to use their own local pay scale in lieu of a Local Compensation Plan for Bangladesh? An LCP was not provided by USAID.

Offerors are required to follow their established policies, procedures and practices regarding compensation but must not exceed the USAID/Bangladesh LCP of comparable positions for employees. Compensation exceeding the LCP must be approved in advance by the Contracting Officer and the Mission Director. A copy of the LCP is attached with the RFTOP Amendment-2.

16 Per Section H.12 of the RFTOP, “Compensation and other applicable Allowances and Differentials for

CCN and TCN staff may not exceed the U.S. Embassy Local Compensation Plan (LCP) for positions of comparable work, if applicable.” We respectfully request that the above-mentioned salary restriction be removed from the RFTOP, as it appears to be inconsistent with AIDAR 752.7007, incorporated in the contract under Section H.12 (page 28), which stipulates that personnel compensation be in accordance with the contractor’s established policies, procedures, and practices, with reimbursement subject only to the USAID Contractor Salary Threshold. The salary restriction above may preclude contractors from following their established policies, procedures, and practices as required by AIDAR 752.7007.

Offerors are required to follow their established policies, procedures and practices regarding compensation but must not exceed the USAID/Bangladesh LCP or the CST of comparable positions for employees. Compensation exceeding the LCP or CST must be approved in advance by the Contracting Officer and the Mission Director. A copy of the LCP is attached with the RFTOP Amendment-2.

17 RFTOP Reference: I.1, Page Number: None. Will USAID Bangladesh provide a protocol to help secure VAT and local taxes exceptions or refunds? If not, should we budget for local taxes?

All USAID funded activities are exempt from VAT and local taxes. The winning offeror will be provided VAT and local taxes exemptions details.

18 RFTOP Reference: L.8, Page Number: 53. May USAID kindly consider excluding the cover page, table of contents, and abbreviation list from the page count for the Technical proposal?

No.

19 Section L.8 (p. 53): Could USAID exclude the Cover Page, Table of Contents, and Abbreviation List from the 35-page limit for Technical Proposals?

No.

20 Per Section L.8, Submission Instructions, page 53. Could USAID consider excluding Sections 1 through 3 (Cover Page, Acronym List and Table of Contents) from the 35-page limitation to allow Contractors to provide a more thorough response to the requirements of the RFTOP without having to significantly limit the content of the above-mentioned sections?

No.

21 RFTOP Reference: L.8, Page Number: 56. Can USAID please confirm that they are looking for the 6-month mobilization plan to be in Gantt chart form? Given the amount of information the mobilization plan should include, may USAID kindly consider having this requirement be an annex?

The Offeror is free to present its mobilization plan in any manner that is consistent with the instructions. Gantt charts are not prohibited. Only the four annexes listed in the instructions are permitted.

22 RFTOP Reference: L.9.2, Page Number: 59. What content would USAID like offerors to include in the Cover Page tab in the excel budget spreadsheet?

The cover page of the cost proposal should be identical to the cover page of the technical proposal except Technical Proposal should be replaced by Cost Proposal.

23 RFTOP Reference: L.8, Page Number: 56. Would USAID kindly consider permitting offerors to include qualifications, responsibilities, and descriptions of key staff positions within the broader management and staffing plan, and exclude this information from the mobilization plan?

No.

24 Per Section L.8 (p. 56), the management and staffing plan requires offerors to “describe the role of all technical and relevant operational staff, especially Key Staff.” However, “it is imperative the mobilization plan describe the qualifications and responsibilities of Key Staff.” May USAID confirm whether the description of Key Staff roles, responsibilities, and qualifications are required in one or both sections?

Key Staff roles, responsibilities, and qualifications must be in the mobilization plan within the staffing and management plan. Key Staff roles, responsibilities or qualifications may appear in other parts of the staffing and management plan but is not required.

25 RFTOP Reference: L.8, Page Number: 57. Does USAID have a preferred matrix for Annex D? If so, can USAID please provide it?

No.

26 RFTOP References: L.8, M.2, Page Numbers: 58, 66. In the proposal’s prescribed outline included on pages 53 and 54, past performance information is to be included as Section VIII, and Section IX, Annex D. Is USAID looking for different sets of information to be included in these two sections? If so, could USAID kindly clarify? Or would USAID prefer that all past performance information be located in Section IX, Annex D?

All Past Performance information must be presented only in Annex D. Section Vlll in the proposal may state “See Annex D,” or be omitted from the proposal.

27 Could USAID clarify its preferred format for Annex D, the past performance matrix?

There is no preferred matrix as long as all the required information is presented.

28 RFTOP Reference: L.8, Page Number: 54. On page 54, in the provided Performance Work Statement example table, the first column’s title is “SL#”. Could USAID kindly define “SL”?

SL stands for Serial number.

29 In Section L.8, page 54, the RFTOP includes an example table to be included in the Performance Work Statement. In the example, USAID included a column labeled “SL#.” Could USAID kindly clarify the meaning of the abbreviation “SL”?

SL stands for Serial number.

30 For greater clarity, would USAID consider replacing the sentence in Section B.9 of the RFTOP:

“Because the clauses entitled ‘Allowable Cost of Payment’ (FAR 52.216-7) and ‘Fixed Fee’ (FAR 52.216-8) are incorporated into this contract, the terms and conditions of these clauses apply after total payments of fixed fee reach eighty-five percent (85%) of the total fixed fee” with the full FAR 52.216-8 Fixed Fee language of: “Payment of the fixed fee shall be made as specified in the Schedule; provided that the Contracting Officer withholds a reserve not to exceed 15 percent of the total fixed fee or $100,000, whichever is less, to protect the Government’s interest”?

No.

31 Section I.2 requires an additional response from the offeror regarding Section 889. As this has previously been responded to in Section K, can USAID please confirm that we may include our response to clauses 52.204-24 and 52.204-26 in Cost Proposal Part 4, “Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors”?

No.

32 In Section L.8, page 57, the RFTOP states, “The offeror (including all partners of a joint venture) must provide performance information for itself, the contractor teaming arrangements, if any, and each major subcontractor.” Could USAID clarify what specific information about contractor teaming arrangements the offeror should include?

The offerors are asked to provide teaming information necessary to understand the extent to which the team members will participate and function while performing the contract.

33 Section L.8, Management and Staffing Plan, page 56, USAID states that “Potential partners in the implementation of the award and the services to be provided by each partner institution or organization shall be described”. Can USAID clarify if Offerors are allowed to name and specify the services to be provided by subcontractors that have been identified to support the BADGE implementation team?

Offerors are allowed to name and specify the services to be provided by subcontractors that have been identified to support the BADGE implementation team?

34 Section H.10 requests Offerors to request consent to subcontract. Can USAID clarify if this only applies to subcontractors not previously provided subcontracting consent under the Energy II IDIQ?

If applicable, Consent to subcontracts will be required for all subcontractors under the BADGE Task Order.

35 Section H.10, page 25. Could USAID please confirm that those Subcontractors approved in the Energy II IDIQ are not subject to TOCO approval and consent to subcontract?

If applicable, Consent to subcontracts will be required for all subcontractors under the BADGE Task Order.

36 Section H.4 – Could USAID clarify that the items listed under H.4 are billable?

Costs for reimbursement must be reasonable, allocable, allowable and necessary.

37 Section H12. (ii) says that the “Compensation and other applicable Allowances and Differentials for CCN and TCN staff may not exceed the U.S. Embassy Local Compensation Plan (LCP) for positions of comparable work, if applicable.” Can USAID please share the LCP for Bangladesh?

Yes. A copy of the LCP is attached with the RFTOP Amendment-2.

38 Per Section L (p. 58), “The Offeror must provide a complete budget using Microsoft Excel as explained in Section L by cost element utilizing the provided budget template Attachment in Section J.” As there was no Budget Template provided with the RFTOP delivery, could USAID please provide the referenced budget template within Section J?

All necessary budget formats/templates are provided under Section L.9. No additional template will be provided under Section J. The RFTOP will be amended accordingly.

39 Per Section L.8 (p. 57), a major subcontractor classifies as “one whose proposed cost exceeds 20% of the offeror’s total proposed cost.” Could USAID please amend the RFTOP to define Major Subcontractors as those whose proposed cost exceeds 20% of the offeror’s total proposed cost or who is otherwise viewed as critical to program implementation?

No.

40 Section L.9.2.b (p. 59): Could USAID please remove the Budgetary Line Item for ‘Indirect Costs’ given the individualized breakdown of Indirect Costs into Overhead and G&A in subsequent lines in the Budget format provided?

Indirect costs can be the sum of Overhead, G&A or any other relevant costs.

41 Section L.9.2 (p. 59): Could USAID please clarify that consortium subcontract partners whose budgets do not exceed 10% of the total proposal costs, and thus would not be included in the Budget Workbook, are also not required to present a budget narrative?

As stated in Section L.9.e, a budget narrative will be required for all proposed cost line items.

42 Section L.9.2 (p. 59): Could USAID please clarify that consortium subcontract partners whose budgets do not exceed 10% of the total proposed cost, and thus would not be included in the Budget Workbook, are also not required to provide a signed Section K?

That is correct.

43 Section L.9.5(c) (p. 62): A discussion and arrangement on type(s) of subcontract(s) to be used, and approximate percentage of each type of work to be subcontracted. Could USAID please clarify the meaning of “each type of work to be subcontracted?”

The Offeror needs to describe the interventions, expected results and approximate percent of the total work of the Activity each subcontractor will be responsible for.

End of Amendment 2