Questions_and_Answers.pdf

USAID Learns Questions and Answers For Amendment 1 for RFP # 72044019R00006

1. On page 55, Section L.6.5 notes the Management and Staffing plan must include "the roles, responsibilities, and minimum qualifications of all key personnel additional key personnel positions..." Will the government kindly clarify for which positions roles, responsibilities, and qualifications are required?

Answer: The section has been revised.

2. On page 55, Section L.6, Preparation of the Technical Proposal, indicates the page limit for the technical proposal is 35 pages and that nothing is excluded from the page limit. Can you please confirm if the Cover Page, Table of Contents, Key Personnel CVs, Letters of Commitment, and the Acronyms list are included in the 35 pages?

Answer: Yes. The 35 page limit includes everything.

3. Given local law and assuming application of the framework bilateral agreement, which taxes, if any, should bidders assume will be exempted (Value Added Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Personal Income Tax for expats, Foreign Contractor Withholding Tax, Import Duties)?

Answer: Exemptions include the following:

(a) income taxes in connection with work performed under the award, including those imposed on staff under the award (to the extent they are working under the award);

(b) import taxes and duties on supplies, materials, equipment, goods, property, services or funds imported into or exported from Vietnam to implement the award; VAT on supplies, materials, equipment, goods and services acquired in Vietnam under the award;

(c) import duties, VAT, special sales tax, registration fees, public welfare, national defense and security contributions, in accordance with the applicable laws of Vietnam with respect to foreign experts taking part in the implementation of award (if the award is Official Development Assistance).

Note that these exemptions are limited to their work performance directly relating to the award;

Note that none of these exemptions apply to Vietnamese entities and persons, including citizens and permanent residents of Vietnam.

4. Page 54 of the RFP reads that “all questions and requests for clarification must be received in writing by the date and time and by the contacts indicated on the cover page of the RFP” (presumably March 6). On page 53 the same RFP under L.4. reads “If an offer does not understand the instructions in this solicitation, then it should write to the Contracting Officer for clarification sufficiently in advance of the deadline for the receipt of proposals in order to obtain an answer in time to meet the deadline.”

These two sections do not appear to be consistent. Would USAID please clarify If an offeror does not understand any aspect, that they ask questions of the after March 6, up until what date?

Answer: All questions and requests for clarification must be received in writing by the date and time indicated on the cover page of the RFP. We have revised Section L.4 accordingly.

5. Page 55 of the RFP specifies 12 point font for the technical narrative. Are tables, boxes and graphics permitted to use other font sizes, so long as they are readable?

Answer: No. Times New Roman point 12 font size is required for every part of the technical proposal.

6. Does USAID have a rough outline or page length for the requested Performance Work Statement?

Answer: No, as long as the technical proposal does not exceed 35 page limit.

7. The narrative for the Performance Work Statement (page 55) states: “The PWS will be inserted in its entirety into Section C of contract, so offerors must not include any language that is proposal-specific.”

a. Does this mean, for example, that the narrative in the PWS must not include references to other parts of the proposal, e.g., the Management and Staffing Plan?

Answer: The PWS needs to be a stand-alone document, it needs to be insular. It must not include references to other parts of the proposal.

b. Does this mean that offerors should repeat in their PWS information that is incorporated in the Management and Staffing Plan such as narrative on the process for identifying and fielding STTA?

Answer: It’s up to offerors to decide which information should be incorporated in the PWS to differentiate their proposals among others’.

8. Do the table of contents, cover letter, resumes, references, and letters of commitment count against the 35-page limit?

Answer: Please see answer to Question 2

9. Attachment 6. Job Orders will be issued without money. Would USAID please elaborate further what it expects the offeror to include with regard to the “language for the job order management system” as specified on page 55 of the RFP?

Answer: We’re not sure where the sentence “Job Orders will be issued without money” is extracted from. But in general, Job Order System is a cost and management measure that USAID is utilizing to have some type of control over what work you’re doing, when you’re doing it and how much it’s costing us. Offerors are required to come up with the system, that’s part of the PWS. We’ve given example of what it could look like in the Attachment 6, but you’re required to come up with what you think is best.

10. Could USAID kindly confirm whether the major subcontractors in relation to this award are those subcontractors whose proposed costs exceed 20% of the Offeror’s proposed total cost or perform a key element of the SOW?

Answer: Major subcontractors are considered those subcontractors whose proposed costs exceed 10% of the total cost. We’ve revised Section L and removed the requirement to submit information on major subcontractors for past performance.

11. Are the Cooperating Country National (CCN) staff expected to fall under the local compensation plan (LCP) of the country they work in? If they are, would USAID kindly provide the local compensation plan (LCP / FSN) for Vietnam?

Answer: Yes. The ceiling salary rate for USAID/Vietnam local staff working 40 hours a week is $60,127.

12. Section F.4 Level of Effort: Is the LOE table on page 12 only for or about professional technical labor? Or does the LOE table also include the administrative and Home Office support positions, as well?

Answer: It includes all direct charged labor at the prime and subcontractor levels.

13. How many Past Performance Report do they expect the awardees to provide (that are not in the

PPIRS system)? Is there a requirement? Do these count against the 35-page page limit?

Answer: No. USAID doesn’t have such limitation or requirement, as long as offerors follow instructions on Section L.7, Part 5 Past Performance. The 35 page limit applies to technical proposal.

Past Performance is part of the business proposal.

14. Could USAID kindly provide a ceiling amount for this RFP?

Answer: No.

15. RFP page 59, Section L.7 (Part 5) states that for contracts not in the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), offerors (including all partners of a joint venture) must use the “Past Performance Information Sheet” (included as Attachment 3) to list in an annex to the cost proposal, past performance information for itself and each major subcontractor. How many past performance information sheets that are not in PPIRS are required from the prime and each major sub?

Answer: As many that meet the requirements in Section L.7 Part 5.

16. RFP page 55, Section L.6 states that proposals must adhere to the page limit of 35 pages total and that nothing is excluded from the page limitation. It appears that the Cover Page and the Table of Contents are part of the page limitation. Can USAID please consider excluding those from the page limitation?

17. RFP page 32, Section H.16 states that all deliverables must be produced in English. RFP page 59, Section F.7.f , Short-Term Consultant Reports, Technical Reports, Developed Materials, mentions situations in which some reports and materials will be produced in Vietnamese. Can the Mission please provide examples of the kinds of deliverables expected to be produced in Vietnamese, and the frequency with which such deliverables might be required?

Answer: We have amended the relevant sections.

18. Can USAID, please, provide the Local Compensation Plan (LCP) for Vietnam if it is available?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 11.

19. RFP page 12, Section F.4 states that the Government estimates thirty-four thousand seven hundred sixty-four (34,764) days level of effort. Is there a total cost ceiling for the period of performance?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 14.

20. RFP page 12, Section F.4 states that the Contractor must provide the level of effort of all direct charged employee and subcontractor labor for the contract period. Should consultants budgeted by the Prime and Subcontractor be included in the Offeror’s calculation of the total proposed level of effort?

Answer: Consultants are either employees or subcontractors per the RFP. If they are direct charged labor, they have to be in the LOE calculation.

21. RFP page 59, Section L.7 (Part 8) states that the offerors must submit those portions of Section K not available online. Please confirm that Offerors do not have to submit Section K with the proposal if all portions are available online.

Answer: Confirmed.

22. Will USAID please confirm past performance information is a component of the Business Proposal and not of the Technical Proposal?

23. H14.(e) Consultants, on page 31: Since consultants will be considered subcontractors, do they need to be included in the list under H.17 Consent to Subcontract?

Answer: Please refer to the FAR clause 52.244-2 to see if consent to subcontract is required to a particular subcontract. The subcontract can be included here or if it is to be determined during the course of contract implementation, you can submit the information required by the aforementioned clause and request Contracting Officer consent at that point of time.

24. Section L6.1 and L6.2, can USAID confirm that the Cover Page and Table of Contents are not included in the 35-page limit of the technical proposal?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 2

25. Section L6.3, on page 55, of the RFP notes that the PWS should include measurable quality standards for all work performed and what the offeror will do to ensure the quality standards are met. Typically, quality standards are included in the QASP. Can USAID confirm that offerors do not need to include quality standards in the PWS, but should include them in the QASP?

Answer: No, please follow the instructions in Section L.

26. Section L6.5, Management and Staffing Plan, on page 55: Can USAID please confirm that the following Key Personnel documents do not count against the 35-page limit of the technical proposal:

CVs, Letters of Commitment, and three references?

Answer: Everything counts against the 35 page limitation.

27. Can USAID please provide the local compensation plan?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 11.

28. Can USAID provide the budget ceiling?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 14.

29. Section L.7, Part 5 - Past Performance, on page 59 – Can USAID please confirm that Past

Performance should be included in the technical proposal?

Answer: No. Past Performance is part of the Business Proposal.

30. Section M.2, on page 61 – Could USAID advice which SOO objective the first criteria refers to?

Answer: The language in M.2 has been updated.

31. On page 55 of the RFP, USAID notes that the “PWS will be inserted in its entirely into Section C of contract, so Offerors must not include any language that is proposal specific.” Can USAID clarify what is meant by “Offerors must not include any language that is proposal-specific”?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 7

32. On page 55 of the RFP, USAID notes that “the QASP should indicate recommended consequences for both negative performance and positive performance monitoring findings.” Can USAID provide more information regarding what types of consequences are expected?

Answer: This is up to the offeror to propose.

33. On page 55 of the RFP, USAID requests a Performance Work Statement (PWS). Can USAID elaborate on the desired format for the Performance Work Statement?

Answer: We do not have a specific format for the PWS.

34. On page 55 of the RFP, USAID notes under the Management and Staffing Plan section that Offerors must submit signed Letters of Commitment (LOCs) for each key personnel. The LOCs requirement is also mentioned on page 59, under Part 9 – Employee Biographical Data Sheets for Key Personnel.

Can USAID confirm that LOCs should be included only in the Business and not the Technical Proposal?

Answer: We’ve removed the LOC requirement for the technical proposal. LOCs are only required in the business proposal per Section L.7.

35. On page 2 of Attachment 1, USAID notes “this contract will be structured using a job order system.”

a. Will job orders be required for all activities, including for management and core staff?

Answer: Yes.

b. If yes, will there be a separate job order for management that includes costs incurred for work planning, planning consultations with USAID, developing the scope and details of job orders, and discussions and planning regarding the work prior to the formal approval of job orders, etc.?

36. On page 8 of the RFP, in Section B.8, USAID notes “payment of fixed fee shall be allocated based upon the proportion of the LOE specified…in the period covering covered by the invoice.”

a. Will the allocation of fixed fee by LOE be determined by USAID?

Answer: Your fixed fee will be paid as portion of the LOE provided for that invoice. And contractor must calculate fixed fee in the invoice.

b. Is LOE allocation based on type of labor (i.e. professional vs. non-professional) or on total labor days used irrespective of labor category?

Answer: Total, irrespective of labor category.

37. On page 13 of the RFP, USAID notes 34,764 days of LOE.

a. Is this inclusive of all proposed staff, including administrative or support staff such as drivers and subcontractor staff? As the level of effort days is noted to be an estimate, is it acceptable for a bidder to proposed more or fewer days based on their scope of work?

Answer: Please refer to the answer to Question 12

b. As the level of effort days is noted to be an estimate, is it acceptable for a bidder to proposed more or fewer days based on their scope of work?

Answer: We have defined the number of LOE days and have revised Section F.

38. On page 13, in Section F.6, USAID notes “the standard work week is from Monday through Friday.”

a. Will USAID accept a six-day work week for short term travel under the contract?

Answer: A six-day work week may be authorized on a case by case basis with the prior written approval of the designated Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

b. As it is noted that it will be determined on a case by case basis, can Offerors reasonably budget with the assumption that a six-day work week will be acceptable?

Answer: No

39. On page 17 of the RFP, USAID notes the “Chief of Party must be able to speak for and bind the contractor.” Does this mean the COP must have the authority to sign contractual modifications to the contract?

Answer: No. However, he/ she must be able to make commitments with regards to implementation and management of the contract.

40. On page 59, the RFP states, “Offerors must not submit past performance information for contracts in

PPIRS.” Can Offerors provide a matrix or list naming relevant contracts in the PPIRS?

41. Can USAID provide the local compensation plan?

Answer: Please refer to Question 11.

42. Page 56, Section L.7, Instructions for the Preparation of the Business Proposal: Can a sealed package be provided for Companies and/or subcontractors that do not have a NICRA?

Answer: We are only accepting electronic submissions.

43. Page 59, Section L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Business Proposal, Part 8 Portions of

Section K Not Available Online: The RFP states “Offerors must submit those portions of Section K not available online in this section.” Will the government please indicate which portions of Section K should be included in the Business Proposal?

Answer: It’s up to offerors to determine which portions of Section K are not available online that they have to submit.

44. How are these services currently being performed? Under contract? In-house?

Answer: The Mission is currently managing a support contract, USAID/Vietnam Evaluation, Monitoring and Survey Services (VEMSS). Learns activity is expected to expand both in term of types of services and scope of services.

45. If these requirements are currently being performed under a contract,

a. Who is the Contractor?

Answer: Management Systems International, Inc. (MSI)

b. What is the contract number?

Answer: AID-440-C-14-00003

c. When does the contract expire?

Answer: August 2019

d. What is the current contract value?

Answer: About 5 million dollars

46. What is the anticipated RFP release date?

Answer: RFP was released on March 01, 2019

47. Could you please tell me if the Pre-solicitation posted as solicitation number 72044019R00006 on

FBO contains requirements similar to any work performed currently or in the past, or will this be a new requirement? If possible, can you please provide the most recent contract or task order number?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 44 & 45.

48. Can you tell me if there is an incumbent contractor currently performing work for this requirement? If so, could you please provide their company name and contract number?

49. I am wondering if an incumbent exists for the potential requirement: USAID/Vietnam Learns

Program outlined under 72044019R00006. If so, could you please provide the following information:

• Vendor name

• Contract number

• Value

• Date of award

• Expiration date

50. If an organization is currently implementing one of the USAID projects in Vietnam, are they eligible to apply?

51. Attachment 1 - Statement of Objectives: For purposes of parity, will the government please provide assumptions regarding the number and complexity of the anticipated evaluation activities:

evaluations, assessments, surveys, data support, technical assistance and training?

Answer: With the Mission's new Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) currently under development, the Mission cannot provide an estimate of the number of evaluations, assessments, surveys, data support, technical assistance or training it will require over the next five years. The Contractor will be required to at least perform the minimum number of required evaluations referenced in ADS 201. For historical context, over the past five years, the Mission has conducted over 10 evaluations, over 10 surveys, and approximately 30 MEL training sessions. The specific contract type was chosen due to the uncertain nature of the work. However, we have defined the number of days of LOE to order along with the breakout by category to provide more clarity.

Please see the revised Section F. Please refer to Section L regarding assumptions when preparing the business proposal.

52. Attachment 1 - Statement of Objectives: For purposes of parity, will the government please provide assumptions regarding the number of evaluation reports and/or other deliverables that will need to be printed for wide-spread distribution?

Answer: No printing of evaluations and/or deliverable for wide-spread distribution is anticipated.

53. Attachment 1 – Statement of Objectives: For purposes of parity, will the government please provide assumptions regarding the number of participant trainings, number of participants, location, etc.?

Answer: USAID is providing a plug figure of $728,500 for the purposes of budgeting. Offerors must use this figure in the business proposal. As a reminder, the specific contract type was chosen due to the uncertain nature or the work (see answer to Question 51). Please refer to Section L regarding assumptions when preparing the business proposal.

54. We understand that USAID/Vietnam uses a comprehensive online platform to manage data and track performance. Will contractors have access to this system? If so, what is the system?

Answer: The Mission intends to use the new Development Information Solution (DIS) system, which is planned to be rolled out in FY 2020. At a minimum, contractors will have access to their information in the system.

55. For budgeting purposes, does USAID expect the awardee to conduct direct monitoring at all of progress of programs or activities, and/or to support the quality of the process of IP submission of data to the Mission?

Answer: The Contractor will not conduct direct monitoring of activities. The Contractor will provide technical support to AORs/CORs and IPs to ensure that data submitted to USAID meets data quality requirements. As a reminder, the specific contract type was chosen due to the uncertain nature of the work (see answer to Question 51. Please refer to Section L regarding assumptions when preparing the business proposal.

56. For budgeting purposes, would USAID suggest an indicative number of data quality assessments it expects the awardee to perform during the life of the contract?

Answer: No. As a reminder, the specific contract type was chosen due to the uncertain nature of the work (see answer to Question 51). Please refer to Section L regarding assumptions when preparing the business proposal.

57. For budgeting purposes, would USAID please suggest how many performance evaluations it envisions to be conducted under the life of this contract?

Answer: Please refer to Question 51.

58. Does USAID anticipate any monitoring or evaluation under this contract to address HIV programming, PEPFAR, pandemic preparedness, or related health programs, or whether these may be managed via another vehicle?

Answer: Yes, the Contract is expected to provide support to the entire USAID/Vietnam portfolio.

59. Does USAID expect that evaluation of regional trade activities supported by USAID through regional or central contracts will be evaluated under Learns?

60. For proposal budgeting purposes, how many impact evaluations are anticipated to be requested during the life of the project?

61. For budget purposes, how many large baseline surveys should the offeror budget for?

62. Does USAID have more information on the type of MEL support it would like to provide to Vietnamese government ministries or other levels of government?

Answer: The Contractor may be requested to provide support to key Government of Vietnam ministries or entities based on the Mission's strategic collaboration approach and opportunities. The type of support will therefore be context and situation dependent. As a reminder, the specific contract type was chosen due to the uncertain nature of the work (please see Question 51). Please refer to Section L regarding assumptions when preparing the business proposal.

63. For budgeting purposes, would USAID either propose a plug figure for the expenses associated with the “Participants Training”, or provide indicative numbers of the quantity of Training events and which kind that are anticipated?

Answer: Please refer to Question 53.

64. Are there any particular areas inside the Mission that are felt to be priority gaps in need of capacity support for monitoring, or evaluation, or learning, or decision making?

Answer: The Mission has identified strengthening both CLA practices and the monitoring system, especially the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) plans, and fostering data use across the Mission and Implementing Partners as key areas. However, this may change over time as the needs and capacity of the Mission evolves.

65. Attachment 1, Statement of Objectives, page 2 states that in addition to providing core M&E and CLA services to the Mission, the Contractor will also support Participant Training coordination for the Mission. Can the Mission provide details on the number of anticipated events/meetings to support the Participant Training and the minimum and the maximum number of participants in those events/meetings?

Answer: Please refer to Question 53. We have also revised the SOO.

66. Can the Mission please clarify where in the process of developing a new CDCS the Mission intends to be upon award of the contract?

Answer: The Mission aims to have a completed CDCS by October 2019. By mid-July 2019, the Mission anticipates to be in Phase 2 (Results Framework) or Phase 3 (CDCS Review) of the CDCS development process.

67. Purpose – Could USAID provide additional information on how it envisions the offeror supporting use of performance management techniques?

Answer: This is up to offerors to propose, should they choose to in their Performance Work Statement.

68. What is the anticipated breakdown or ratio of work between offeror-led evaluation/analyses and capacity-building efforts?

Answer: We do not know at this time, though we have provided a defined breakdown of LOE requirements in Section F. As a reminder, the specific contract type was chosen due to the uncertain nature of the work. Please refer to Section L regarding assumptions when preparing the business proposal.

69. What are the projects annual or whole-project targets for: a) performance evaluations; b) other assessments & analyses; and c) impact evaluations?

70. Can USAID confirm that the contractor will be expected to provide evaluations, assessments, and other studies? As written, the objectives are not clear in this regard.

71. Can USAID confirm that the contractor will be expected to provide monitoring support during project design?

Answer: Confirmed. The Contractor will be expected to provide monitoring support throughout the Program Cycle, including project design.

72. Performance Objective 1 notes that the contractor will be expected to strengthen institutional capacity of implementing partners and local entities, particularly in monitoring, evaluation, learning, collaboration, and adaptive management. Can USAID clarify whether it expects the contractor to provide institutional/organizational support outside of what is noted in this objective statement? And if so, what kinds of institutional support would be expected?

Answer: The Contractor is not expected to provide organizational support outside of what is noted.

As a reminder, the specific contract type was chosen due to the uncertain nature of the work. Please refer to Section L regarding assumptions when preparing the business proposal.

73. Performance Objective 2 notes the requirement to deepen the use of data to support learning and improve performance at all levels. Can USAID clarify what it means by ‘levels’?

Answer: This refers to the different levels, or phases, of the Program Cycle: Strategic planning;

Project design and implementation; and Activity design and implementation; and M&E.

74. Performance Objectives – USAID notes that the contractor will be expected to support ‘participant training coordination’. Can USAID clarify what this means, including whether these activities would be linked only to the performance objectives in this SOO? If training activities are anticipated to support other programs, could USAID specify which ones?

Answer: We have adjusted this in the SOO. Please also see Question 53.

75. Performance Objectives – Does USAID expect event facilitation to take place outside of Hanoi?

Answer: Yes, it is possible that event facilitation will take place outside of Hanoi. Please also note that USAID has a satellite office based in Ho Chi Minh City. As a reminder, the specific contract type was chosen due to the uncertain nature of the work. Please refer to Section L regarding assumptions when preparing the business proposal.

76. Performance Objectives – Could USAID share perspectives on who is included as key stakeholders for the Learns project (in reference to the 3rd performance objective)?

Answer: Key stakeholders include any organization or entity identified by the Mission, including but not limited to: local organizations and civil society, private sector partners, and other donors.

77. Operating Constraints – USAID notes that plans are underway to prepare a new CDCS. Can USAID provide information on the kinds of support that will be needed from the contractor during the CDCS development process?

Answer: This is up to offerors to propose, should they choose to in their Performance Work Statement.

78. Operating Constraints – Can USAID advise on an anticipated schedule of job orders (or general number per year)?

79. On page 2 of Attachment 1, USAID notes that “in addition to providing core M&E and CLA services to the Mission, the Contractor will also support Participant Training coordination for the Mission.” a.

Can USAID elaborate on what is meant by Participant Training coordination? b. Can USAID clarify whether Participant Training coordination covers all of the Mission’s Participant Training activities or only those directly related to purpose and objectives of USAID Learns?

Answer: Please refer to the Question 74.

80. On page 2 of Attachment 1, the second key performance objective states: “Deepen use of monitoring, evaluation and other types of data to support learning and improve performance at all levels." Can USAID clarify whether USAID Learns is envisioned to include job orders for monitoring, evaluations and other types of data collection activities?

Answer: Yes, job orders are envisioned for those activities.

81. I am writing in request of information regarding this pre-solicitation. Would USAID be interested in automated Learning Management Systems with this solution? Our company is a software developer with tools such as learning management, Inventory management and lifecycle maintenance management tools that we can customize to meet specific customer needs.

Answer: USAID is open to receiving all proposals that can address the requirements of the solicitation.

82. Page 14, Section F.7, Reports and Deliverables, says "For reports and materials in Vietnamese, the

Contractor must provide a detailed summary in English." However, page 32 says "All deliverables must be produced in English." Will the government please clarify?

Answer: We have amended the language in the relevant sections.

83. What is USAID’s view of the contractor’s role in country in terms of the difficult challenge of registration? Does USAID see the awardee as being “within Mission” or other solution to allow Learns to proceed without complications or delays?

Answer: The Contractor is not considered “within Mission” and is responsible for registration.

84. Does the Mission have measures to facilitate work permits for expatriates under this contract?

85. Can USAID please provide any relevant documents from the incumbent USAID/Vietnam Evaluation, Monitoring and Survey Services (VEMSS) activity? Those may include, but are not limited to, Annual and/or Quarterly Reports or any evaluations conducted of the activity.

Answer: All relevant documents produced under VEMSS are available to the public on the Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC).

86. Does USAID expect the implementer to produce M&E deliverables (evaluations, assessments, DQAs, etc.) under objective 2, or does the Mission simply want the implementer to deepen the use of such deliverables that are produced externally to the contract? If being conducted under this contract, could the Mission kindly provide estimated numbers of deliverables anticipated on an annual basis?

Answer: Refer to Question 51 and Question 70.

87. Section F.7.d, page 14 – Would USAID consider increasing the timeframe to submit the draft AMELP from within 45 days of the award of the contract instead of within 30 days?

88. Section F.7.f, page 14 – The RFP states, “For reports and materials in Vietnamese, the Contractor must provide a detailed summary in English, including key recommendations and findings.” Will USAID require English reports to be accompanied by a Vietnamese summary?

Answer: Section F has been updated. .

89. Section H.8, page 26 – The RFP notes a requirement that all raw qualitative data be submitted to

USAID. Raw qualitative data often contains sensitive and identifying information, and sharing it breaches anonymity that is often given to data collection participants as part of informed consent. Can USAID confirm that it does not expect raw qualitative data to be submitted?

Answer: We have removed the requirement in H.8.

90. Will any equipment from the current contracts be transferred to the new contract (i.e. vehicles, IT equipment, office furnishings) or should the offeror budget for all new office-related items, including project vehicles, IT equipment and office furnishings?

Answer: No equipment will be transferred.

91. On page 26 of the RFP, USAID notes that “the Contractor must submit all quantitative and qualitative data collected for the purposes of any work undertaken as part of this contract, including raw data, to the COR on a CD, DVD, external hard drive, or online shared drive such as Google Drive.” DDL guidance includes a clause protecting respondents from re-identification in submitted datasets. This is presented on page 25 of the RFP as follows, “The contractors must ensure that any Dataset submitted to DDL does not contain any proprietary or personally identifiable information, such as social security 2 numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth. Such information must be removed prior to submission.” Can USAID clarify that this the same respondent protection clause would govern submission of datasets to the COR?

Answer: Please refer to Question 89.