72044223R00002_USAID CONSERVE_RFP_Amendment 01.pdf

(x)

72044223R00002 x x x

N/A

Not Applicable

720442

USAID/Cambodia Office of Acquisition and Assistance #1 Street 96 Khan Daun Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia

01/30/2023

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, 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 _____1______ 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.

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

01/30/2023

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 this amendment is to provide responses to the potential offerors' questions. Please see Annex 1 for Questions and Answers.

(Continued on p.2)

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)

Francis Hall

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 .

REQ-442-23-000008

To All Potential Offerors

RFP No. 72044223R00002 - Amendment No. 01

USAID CONSERVE

ANNEX 1: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1) Question: In Section F.5 on pages 20-23, the RFP provides position titles for the five key personnel required by USAID. Two of the positions are designated as Specialist positions and one position is designated as a Manager position. This type of designation implies where the positions would be situated within the organizational structure of a Cambodian development assistance activity where the traditional hierarchy from least to most senior staff is Assistant, Officer, Specialist, Manager, Director. To ensure responsiveness to the requirements of Section L.10 (b) (pages 124-125) may offerors change the designation of these three positions so that they correspond to the proposed organizational structure of the offeror and align with the position hierarchy of a Cambodian office environment?

Answer: Offerors are required to follow the position titles specified for the five key personnel outlined in Section F.5 of the solicitation. However, offerors may determine their own organizational structure and designate office locations, with clearly defined lines of authority and responsibilities for each position title outlined in Section L.10(b).

2) Question: In Section H.26 (7), page 66, the RFP states, “Each grant issued under this Contract is expected to follow a pay-for-results structure in support of the development objectives of this activity. Payments will be made after completion of agreed-upon milestones/results.” The pay-for-results grant structure is also mentioned in Attachment J.1, Section 2.5, page 149. Could USAID please confirm that while fixed amount awards will be the expected award mechanism, that the contract allows other grants, such as standard, simplified and/or in-kind grants, to be awarded, dependent on the scope of the proposal, capacity of the organization, etc.?

Answer: Grants issued under this Contract are expected to follow a pay-for-results structure, as USAID strongly recommends this mechanism. Any alternative structure will require consultation with USAID before being implemented.

3) Question: In Section L.10, page 124, the proposal requires three references for each key personnel candidate, “with name, position title, valid email addresses and telephone number, and the relationship to the proposed candidate.” Could USAID please confirm that these references do not count towards the two-page limit per CV?

Answer: The references in Section L.10 (a) will not be counted toward the two-page limit per CV.

4) Question: In Section L.13, Part 2(9) on page 128, the RFP states, “In order for USAID to assess the reasonableness of the proposed GUCs, the Offeror must provide the basis for estimates under this component,” which implies the $8M figure is a ceiling that may be updated to reflect each Offeror’s technical approach. Could USAID please confirm that the $8M figure for GUCs is a ceiling, and Offerors may amend it to align with their proposed technical approach?

Answer: No. The Offeror must allocate $8 million for Grants Under Contract component.

5) Question: In Section L.13, Part 2(13) on page 132, USAID requests a Prime and Major Subcontractor Percentage of Work Overview. As this information typically is requested as part of an IDIQ cost proposal and a template is provided, could USAID please clarify what level of detail is required or provide a template? Further, kindly confirm that this element is not required for Offerors that do not propose a major subcontractor.

Answer: There is no set format for this requirement, and it is only applicable for Offerors who are proposing major subcontractors. The information required consists of the names of the prime contractor and any major subcontractors, the technical tasks they will undertake, and the respective percentages of work each will be responsible for.

6) Question: In Attachment J.1, Section 2.3, page 145, Geographic Locations states that, “Blue carbon development will concern the coastal areas of the K2 provinces and Tonle Sap flooded forests.” Expected Result 1.7 on page 146 is, “Increased carbon storage by preventing the degradation of existing mangrove forests along the coast and restoring as needed degraded mangroves.” Can USAID please clarify if offerors may interpret ER 1.7 to also include increasing carbon storage in Tonle Sap flooded forests in addition to coastal mangroves?

Answer: Yes, the offerors’ interpretation is correct that the Blue carbon storage includes both coastal mangroves and Tonle Sap’s flooded forests. The offerors must provide their technical approaches to achieve this expected result.

7) Question: Could USAID please clarify whether the major subcontractor threshold (20% of a prime’s total estimated cost-plus fixed fee) is inclusive or exclusive of the amount set aside for GUCs?

Answer: It is inclusive of the amount for GUCs.

8) Question: Would USAID please provide an exchange rate for this Activity?

Answer: Offerors have the flexibility to choose the exchange rate that they deem most suitable based on their market research. It is important to note that all proposals submitted in response to this solicitation must be in U.S. dollars, as per the guidelines stated in FAR 52.214-35.

9) Question: Please confirm that the Past Performance Information template provided in Attachment J.4 is only required for projects that are not in CPARS.

Answer: Offerors are required to utilize the Past Performance Information template provided in Attachment J.4 of this solicitation, including for contracts that are captured in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).

10) Question: Regarding Annex E of the Technical Proposal submission, Past Performance Information, please confirm that projects that are available in CPARS can be listed in the annex with a brief description of relevance.

Answer: All past performance information must be submitted in compliance with the instructions outlined in Section L.12 of the solicitation.

[END OF ANNEX 1]