72052019R00001_-_Amendment_1_-_2.22.2019.pdf

3. Section h.17 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PESONNEL COMPENSATION, delete in its entirety and substitute as follows:

“H.17 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

(a) Limitations:

(1)Salary ranges for ALL the professional positions in this Contract will be established based on the market value of the position in the country of contract performance. The established range must be realistic and reasonable for the responsibilities of each position and must not be based on the salary history or the qualifications of the candidate selected. The salary ranges must be certified by the Contractor and submitted to the Contracting Officer with the proposal. Upon establishment of the salary ranges of the professional positions, an appropriate candidate must be selected based on the qualifications sought for that position and the Contractor’s personnel practices. That individual’s salary must be negotiated within the established range, based on his or her certified salary history and the conditions stated further in this paragraph. The Contractor must avoid “rank in person” salaries, which are in excess of the value and the responsibilities of the position. In addition, the salary ranges may not exceed the Contractor's established policy and practice, including the Contractor's established pay scale for equivalent classifications of employees. Nor may any individual salary or wage, without approval of the Contracting Officer, exceed more than a 5% increase over the candidate’s previous salary or wage with the exception of assigning the rate at the bottom of the applicable salary range. In order to create new (not included in the Activity budget) non-key professional (defined as those that require a four-year degree) and technical positions, the contractor must obtain prior written COR technical concurrence. Creation of new Administrative nonprofessional positions does not require USAID input. If the offeror proposes a salary that exceeds the 5% threshold over the candidate’s previous salary or wage, the offeror must explain the rationale for the proposed increase.

(2) In addition, there is a ceiling on the reimbursable base salary or wage paid to personnel under the contract equivalent to the maximum annual salary rate prescribed in ADS 302, unless the Contracting Officer approves a higher amount. For the Agency policy and procedures, refer to:

http://transition.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/302.pdf.

In accordance with AIDAR 722.170(b), all Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs) and Third Country Nationals (TCNs) salaries must not exceed the Local compensation Plan (LCP). Approval of the Contractor’s budget does not absolve the Contractor’s duty to request and receive Mission Director’s approval prior to hiring CCN and TCN personnel whose salaries are above the LCP."

(b) Salaries During Travel

Salaries and wages paid while in travel status will not be reimbursed for a travel period greater than the time required for travel by the most direct and expeditious air route.

(c) Return of Overseas Employees Salaries and wages paid to an employee serving overseas who is discharged by the Contractor for misconduct, inexcusable non- performance, or security reasons will in no event be reimbursed for a period which extends beyond the time required to return the employee promptly to the point of origin by the most direct and expeditious air route.

(d) Annual Salary Increases One annual salary increase not more than 5% (includes promotional increase) may be granted after the employee's completion of each twelve month period of satisfactory services under the contract. Annual salary increases of any kind exceeding these limitations or exceeding USAID maximum SES established rate (AWCPAS), may be granted only with the advance written approval of the Contracting Officer.

(e) Consultants No compensation for consultants will be reimbursed unless their use under the contract has advance written approval of the Cognizant Technical Officer; and if such provision has been made or approval given, compensation will not exceed: 1) the highest rate of annual compensation received by the consultant during any full year of the immediately preceding three years or 2) the USAID SES established rate (AWCPAS), whichever is less. Requests for waiver to this compensation guidance must be fully justified and will require the approval of the Contracting Officer.

(f) Initial Salaries For initial salaries for the resulting contract, guidance stated in FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees will be followed.

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CONTRACT NO. ORDER NO. MODIFICATION NO.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (CONTINUED)

STANDARD FORM 30 (CONTINUATION)

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

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72052019R00001 01

(g) Work Week

(1) Non-overseas Employees.

The length of the contractor's U.S., non-overseas employees workday will be in accordance with the contractor's established policies and practices and will not be less than 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.

(2) Overseas Employees.

The work week for the Contractor's overseas employees will not be less than 40 hours and will be scheduled to coincide with the work week for those employees of the USAID Mission and the Cooperating Country associated with the work of this contract.

(h) Short-term technical advisors (STTA): 6-day work-week is authorized for STTA, without overtime or premium pay.

(i) Definitions:

As used in this contract, the terms “salaries” and “wages” mean the periodic remuneration received for professional or technical personal services rendered. Unless the contract states otherwise, these terms do not include any other elements of personal compensation described in the cost principle in FAR 31.205-6 "Compensation for Personal Services," such as (but not limited to) the differentials or allowances defined in the clause of this contract entitled "Differentials and Allowances" (AIDAR 752.7028). The term "compensation" is defined in FAR 31.205-6(a) and includes fees and honoraria related to the personal services provided under this contract, but excludes earnings from sources other than the individual's professional or technical work, overhead, or other charges.

(j) Additional requirements for unanticipated Long Term Technical Assistance (LTTA)

(a) USAID requires technical concurrence by the COR for technical LTTA positions that were not previously proposed in the original budget or in an approved annual work plan. In order to obtain that concurrence, the Contractor must submit a written request to the COR explaining the rationale for the new positions and attaching the Terms of Reference (position descriptions) for the proposed positions. The Contractor must not submit a CV or resume as USAID is not responsible for the Contractor’s hiring decisions.

(b) USAID requires technical concurrence by the COR for all technical Short Term Technical Assistance (STTA) positions not proposed in the final negotiated budget or approved in an annual work plan. In order to obtain that concurrence, the Contractor must submit a written request to the COR explaining the rationale, providing the estimated Level of Effort, and attaching the Terms of Reference (scope of work) and the technical consultant’s CV or resume.

4. Section L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL, modify as follows:

4.1) Delete Section A entitled GENERAL in its entirety and substitute as follows:

“A. General:

Offerors must organize the Technical Proposal to follow the technical evaluation criteria specified in Section M. The Technical proposal must be specific, complete and presented concisely and demonstrate the Offeror’s capabilities and expertise with respect to achieving the goals of this project. Proposals must be written in English and typed on standard 8 1/2” x 11” paper, single spaced, Times New Roman size 12 font (offerors may use smaller font in text boxes, tables, and graphics as long as it is legible), one inch margins on all sides. The Technical proposal must not exceed 30 pages, excluding cover page, acronyms list, table of contents and annexes. A proposal that exceeds this page limit will only be evaluated through the page limit (plus annexes) and the remaining pages will not be evaluated. Proposals that do not comply with the required format specified in this section may not be considered.

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The Technical proposal shall include a cover page that includes the information required in section L.2, additionally offeror must include the following information:

a. Title of the project; and

b. Partnerships

The Technical proposal must be organized as follows:

I. Technical Approach

II. Management Plan and Staffing III. Past Performance IV. Annexes

A. Illustrative timeline for year 1 activities (2 pages) B. Illustrative monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan (3 pages) C. CVs for proposed key personnel (maximum of 3 pages each) D. Key Individual Certifications per ADS 206 for all key personnel proposed E. Past performance summary chart (5 pages) F. Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan

4.2) Section B entitled CONTENT, Sub Factor 2.2 Staffing, delete TECHNICAL DIRECTOR FOR BASIC EDUCATION in its entirety and substitute as follows:

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR FOR BASIC EDUCATION

Education:

● Required - Master’s Degree in education or a social science field. A specialty in early grade reading, curriculum development, and/or reading instruction is preferred.

● Experience substitution - A Bachelor’s Degree in education or a social science field and eight years of early grade reading experience may be substituted for the Master’s Degree requirement.

Skills and Experience:

● Required - Minimum eight years of combined experience in technical support for programs in Latin America that work specifically to improve learning in early grade reading and policy management reforms required.

● Required – Demonstrated expertise in the design and delivery of early grade reading programs, reading materials, teacher training programs, classroom monitoring protocols, and tests and assessments.

● Required - Language: The candidate must be demonstrably proficient in (oral, writing and reading) Spanish and English.

● Desirable - Demonstrated project management experience.

● Desirable- Demonstrated experience in policy dialogue and education reform.

● Desirable - Ability to communicate (orally) in one of the Mayan languages, or experience working in a multicultural and multilingual context.

● Desirable - Experience working to incorporate issues of equity including gender, ethnicity, and disability inclusion in education programs.”

5. Section L.9 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF COST PROPOSAL, modify as follows:

5.1) Section A, delete second paragraph in its entirety and substitute as follows:

“Offerors must submit a summary budget for the five (5) years of performance. The summary budget must reflect summary cost information for each of the major budget items for each of the contract years separately and then offer the program total for the entire contract in the last column of the table as follows:”

5.2) Section B.1, delete third paragraph in its entirety and substitute as follows:

No unburdened base daily rate may exceed the current USAID Contractor Salary Threshold (CST), as described in ADS 302.3.6.10. The total number of days in a year, which should be no more than 260 days, may not exceed the annual salary of $174,500, as prescribed by the current CST. Additionally, per AIDAR 722.170(b), compensation paid to Third Country Nationals (TCN) and Cooperating Country Nationals (CCN) may not exceed the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by the USAID Mission, without prior approval of the Mission Director or the Assistant Administrator having program responsibility of the project. Offerors should submit a request for a waiver with the cost proposal for any proposed TCN LTTA employees, if applicable.

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72052019R00001 Amendment No. 1

Attachment No. 1

Education and Youth Policy Project Questions and Answers

GENERAL

1. Is this RFP open to Guatemalan NGOs to apply?

USAID Response: No, this RFP is set-aside for US small business in accordance with FAR 19.502-1.

2. Guatemalan organizations in process to be legally constituted are allowed to apply to this RFP? What is the process to send our proposal.

USAID Response: No, this RFP is set-aside for US small business in accordance with FAR 19.502-1.

The instructions to send the proposals are detailed under Section L of the RFP.

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF WORK

3. The table of acronyms seems to be missing. Kindly provide the table.

USAID Response: An updated table of acronyms has been provided.

4. Is there a specific percentage of funds to be allocated to each component?

USAID Response: There is no specific percentage to be allocated. USAID considers both components as equally relevant, and necessary to obtain desired results.

5. Page 12: The SOW states that “public universities … are not eligible for small grants,” does this mean that Universidad de San Carlos is not eligible for any award under this project, such as a sub-contract?

USAID Response: This question is not clear. Small grants and sub-contracts have different objectives.

6. Page 16, last paragraph. The SOW states that the project “will support implementation of the MOE’s in-service teacher training program (PADEP-D) and teacher coaching system (SINAE).” Given that implementation of these programs is already being fully funded by the GoG, does it mean that the project must allocate additional funds for their operation?

USAID Response: Yes. USAID Technical Assistance will be critical to accompany successful implementation.

7. Page 21 makes reference to “…standardized certifications…” Given the local regulatory environment, it is not clear if this refers to the direct regulatory mechanism, to indirect regulatory mechanisms, or both. Please expand.

USAID Response: USAID seeks to support GoG to provide youth with market relevant certifications that lead to increased employability and secured economic opportunities. In this context “standardized certifications” refers to this outcome, either the certifications are recognized by a public local regulatory entity, a private (corporations or chambers of commerce), or within the SINAFOL structure.

8. Page 23, second paragraph; Attachment J.1: The SOW states that “the project will have the opportunity to link with these other USG-funded youth activities to collaborate on themes of youth education and training…” Attachment J.1 lists 13 USAID on-going projects working on youth-related topics. Page 23 refers to seven projects. Is there any existing or planned coordination mechanism led by the Mission to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure proper collaboration among said projects?

USAID Response: No.

9. Component 2, page 24, Expected Results. Expected results are output-based. Some of these indicators might require close collaboration with local stakeholders, given the social capital context in the sector. Would it be possible to discuss output indicators after conducting preliminary work during the start-up phase?

USAID Response: Yes.

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

10. What is the anticipated start date of the project?

USAID Response: August 2019

11. Please provide the anticipated period of performance for the preparation of the budget. (gvt fiscal year, calendar year, other fiscal year).

USAID Response: The anticipated period of performance is August 2019 - 2024. Budgets must be prepared by contract years, not fiscal year.

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

12. Section H.9: Subcontracting Plan (page 46). Please clarify if this clause applies to this contract since this is a small business set aside.

USAID Response: This clause is has been removed.

13. Section H.17 (a) (1) on Page 48 states that the salary range must not be based on salary history.

However, this section also states that any individual salary or wage may not exceed more than a 5% increase over the candidate’s previous salary or wage over the candidate’s previous salary. This appears to contradict that the salary range must not be based on salary history. Can you please clarify the requirements?

USAID Response: Offerors are expected to establish a salary range for a position based on the local market. The salary history of a prospective candidate is only a factor when negotiating a salary with the prospective candidate. It is expected that the negotiated proposed salaries will fall within the established salary range as established by the offeror for the position in question. If the offeror proposes a salary that exceeds the 5% threshold over the candidate’s previous salary or wage, the offeror must explain the rationale for the proposed increase.

14. Section H. 17 (h) requires that employee contracts of CCN/TCNs must reflect a fixed monthly or annual salary denominated in local currency; Section L.9 B. 1) states that unit costs for each proposed position … should be expressed in an amount per work day. These appear to be in conflict since a monthly salary will include varying days depending upon the month, and daily rates will vary depending upon the number of work days in each month. Please clarify.

USAID Response: Section H.17 has been modified.

SECTION J – ATTACHMENTS

15. Empresarios por la Education is listed as part of the Civil Society Organizations (page 134 ATTACHMENT J.3: List of Key Stakeholders and Organizations Consulted). Please provide instructions on how to proceed.

USAID Response: This list has been included for the reference of the interested offerors as education stakeholders in Guatemala. No further action is needed from the organizations included in this list. However, Guatemalan stakeholders are encouraged to partner with US Small Businesses to participate on this project.

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

16. Would USAID please share the Local Compensation Plan (LCP) set for Guatemala?

USAID Response: As indicated in section H. 17 proposed salaries should be established based on the market value of the position in the country of contract performance. A spread of the Local Compensation Plan for Guatemala is found below for reference but should not be the sole basis for determining market value of proposed positions:

Professional level Minimum annual basic rate Maximum annual basic rate

Clerical staff Q34,703 Q147,407

Administrative staff Q133,375 Q301,125

Professional [low level] Q230,914 Q357,922

Professional [mid level] Q310,769 Q481,697

Professional [high level] Q354,093 Q548,841

17. Can USAID provide the most recent LCEP for Guatemala.

USAID Response: Please refer to the answer in question 16.

18. Could USAID please provide the most current Local Compensation Plan.

USAID Response: Please refer to the answer in question 16.

19. If the offeror is a Joint Venture (JV) (a small and a large business partnership; small business has majority ownership): a) Will each partner submit their DUNs and TIN #. b)Will each partner separately submit Certifications, and representations, and Lobbying certificate. c) If JV does not have its own NICRA, can each partner use its own established indirect rates? Or alternatively, can JV directly charge its indirect costs? d) Similarly, if JV does not have audited statements, can partners submit their NICRA and/or statements?

USAID Response: Small Business firms that establish a joint venture with a large business are not eligible to participate under this procurement, unless it meets the 8(a) mentor protege requirements.

Please also see question 30.

20. Section L.2.(c)(2), page 101, specifies the content for “the first page of the proposal”. Section L.8.A, page 107, includes similar but slightly different instructions for what is referred to as “cover page” of the Technical Proposal. Can USAID confirm that these two pages are one and the same, and if so, specify what information should be included? Alternatively, if these are meant to be two different pages, is the first page of the proposal referenced on page 102 to be included in both the Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal and counted towards the 30-page limit of the Technical Proposal?

USAID Response: This section of the RFP has been modified.

21. Section L.6, Page 105 states that the proposal needs to be valid for 260 days from the date of submission. Please confirm that this is correct.

USAID Response: This information is correct.

22. Section L.8.A, page 107, instructs that proposals must use Times New Roman size 12 font. Is it acceptable to use smaller font in text boxes, tables, and graphics as long as it is still easily legible?

USAID Response: Yes, this section is modified to allow offerors to use smaller font in text boxes, tables, and graphics as long as it is legible.

23. Section L.8.A.2, page 109, lists the requirements for the key personnel position of Technical Director for Basic Education. The proposed candidate is required to have at least eight years of experience for programs in Latin America that work specifically to improve learning in early grades. While we understand the importance of early grade learning, Objective 1 also has a strong focus on teacher professional development, policy and management reform, and analysis on new models for pre-primary education. Given this, would USAID accept eight years of combined experience in these areas (in addition to early grade learning) as opposed to eight years of experience solely focused on improving early grade learning? This will ensure that the individual has expertise in these broader skills sets that will be critical to accomplishing expected results in IRs 1.1. and 1.2.

USAID Response: The candidate will be required to have eight years of combined experience in early grade reading and policy management reform. Section L.8 is modified to change this requirement.

24. Section L.9.a, page 111, states that “Offerors must submit a summary budget for the three (3) years of performance.” Can USAID confirm that this should say “five (5) years of performance”?

USAID Response: This section is modified to correct this mistake.

25. Section L. 9. A. states that offerors must submit a summary budget for three (3) years of performance.

The period of performance is for five years. Please clarify whether a summary budget for all five (5) years should be submitted instead of the summary budget for three (3) years.

USAID Response: Please refer to the answer in question 24.

26. Page 111 L.9 A. states ‘Offerors must submit a summary budget for the three (3) years of performance’. Please confirm that summary budgets should be for 5 years of performance.

USAID Response: Please refer to the answer in question 24.

27. Section L.9 B 1) Page 113 states that no unburdened base daily rate may exceed the current USAID

Contractor Salary Threshold (CST), as described in ADS 302.3.6.10. The total number of days in a year, which should be no more than 260 days, may not exceed the annual salary of $172,100, as prescribed by the current CST. The 2019 CST provides for a maximum annual salary of $174,500.

Please clarify which maximum rate should apply.

USAID Response: This section is being modified to correct this mistake.

28. Page 113 L.13 1) Salaries and Wages states the total number of days in a year, which should be no more than 260 days, may not exceed the annual salary of $172,100, as prescribed by the current CST.

Please confirm annual salary cap for 2018/2019 should be $174,500.

USAID Response: Please refer to the answer in question 27.

29. Section L.9- B. 9) states that indirect costs cannot be higher than rates established in the offeror’s

NICRA. The section also goes on to state that offerors may propose a single ceiling rate covering the term of the award or a ceiling rate in each applicable contract year. Can the offeror propose a ceiling rate that exceeds its current NICRA, giving consideration of its average NICRA over the previous five years?

USAID Response: yes

30. For a mentor-protégé Joint Venture 13 CFR 125.8 (d) states ‘Certification of compliance. Prior to the performance of any contract set aside or reserved for small business by a joint venture between a protégé small business and a mentor authorized by §125.9, the small business partner to the joint venture must submit a written certification to the contracting officer and SBA, signed by an authorized official of each partner to the joint venture.’ Please confirm if the Partnership Agreement should be submitted with as an attachment to the Cost/Business Proposal (Page 115 D. Joint Venture Information) or the Certification of compliance will be submitted later prior to the performance of the contract.

USAID Response: This certification must be attached to the cost proposal. Please also see question

Attachment No. 2

Acronym List - Education and Youth Policy Project

APPEDIBIMI Association for Integral and Multidisciplinary Development

(Spanish acronym) CENACEP Centros de Aprestamiento Comunitario de Educación Preescolar

(Spanish acronym) CCR-EBI Consejo Consultivo Regional de Educación Bilingüe

Intercultural (Spanish acronym) CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy CLA Collaborating, Learning and Adapting CONJUVE National Youth Council (Spanish acronym) CTA Coordinador Técnico Administrativo (Spanish acronym) DIDEDUC Departmental education offices (Spanish acronym) DIGEESP Ministry of Education directorate in charge of special education

(Spanish acronym) DO Development Objective DPO Disabled people’s organizations EGR Early grade reading FID National pre-service teacher training initiative (Spanish acronym) GOG Government of Guatemala GUC Grants under contracts ICT Information and Communication Technology IR Intermediate result MOE Ministry of Education MCC Millennium Challenge Corporation MIDES Ministry of Social Development (Spanish acronym) MINECO Ministry of Economy (Spanish acronym) MOL Ministry of Labor NYP National Youth Policy 2012-2020 NQF National Qualifications Framework OGA Open Government Alliance OSY Out-of-school youth PADEP-D National in-service teacher training program (Spanish acronym) PNC National Policy of Competitiveness (Spanish acronym) PNED National Policy for Decent Work 2017-2032 (Spanish acronym) PRONACOM National Competitiveness Program (Spanish acronym) PRONADE National Educational Self-Management Program (Spanish acronym) PRONEA National Alternative Education Program PYD Positive Youth Development RDCS Regional Development Cooperation Strategy SBCC Social and Behavior Change Communication SBS Secretariat for Social Welfare SCEP Secretariat of the Presidency for Executive Coordination (Spanish acronym)

SEGEPLAN Secretariat of the Presidency for Planning and Programming (Spanish acronym)

SEPREM Secretariat of the Presidency for Women (Spanish acronym) SINAE National teacher coaching system (Spanish acronym) SINAFOL National system for workforce training (Spanish acronym) SINAFORHE Proposed national professional development and career ladder system for the education sector (Spanish acronym) STIP Science, technology, innovation and partnerships TA Technical assistance USAID/CAM USAID Centro América USAC/EFPEM San Carlos University’s teacher training department (Spanish

WH Guatemala’s Western Highlands

Acronym List - Education and Youth Policy Project APPEDIBIMI Association for Integral and Multidisciplinary Development

(Spanish acronym)

CENACEP Centros de Aprestamiento Comunitario de Educación Preescolar

(Spanish acronym)

CCR-EBI Consejo Consultivo Regional de Educación Bilingüe

Intercultural (Spanish acronym)

CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy CLA Collaborating, Learning and Adapting CONJUVE National Youth Council (Spanish acronym) CTA Coordinador Técnico Administrativo (Spanish acronym) DIDEDUC Departmental education offices (Spanish acronym) DIGEESP Ministry of Education directorate in charge of special education

(Spanish acronym) DO Development Objective DPO Disabled people’s organizations EGR Early grade reading FID National pre-service teacher training initiative (Spanish acronym) GOG Government of Guatemala GUC Grants under contracts ICT Information and Communication Technology IR Intermediate result MOE Ministry of Education MCC Millennium Challenge Corporation MIDES Ministry of Social Development (Spanish acronym) MINECO Ministry of Economy (Spanish acronym) MOL Ministry of Labor NYP National Youth Policy 2012-2020 NQF National Qualifications Framework OGA Open Government Alliance OSY Out-of-school youth PADEP-D National in-service teacher training program (Spanish acronym) PNC National Policy of Competitiveness (Spanish acronym) PNED National Policy for Decent Work 2017-2032 (Spanish acronym) PRONACOM National Competitiveness Program (Spanish acronym) PRONADE National Educational Self-Management Program (Spanish acronym)

PRONEA National Alternative Education Program PYD Positive Youth Development RDCS Regional Development Cooperation Strategy SBCC Social and Behavior Change Communication

SBS Secretariat for Social Welfare SCEP Secretariat of the Presidency for Executive Coordination (Spanish acronym)

SEGEPLAN Secretariat of the Presidency for Planning and Programming

(Spanish acronym)

SEPREM Secretariat of the Presidency for Women (Spanish acronym) SINAE National teacher coaching system (Spanish acronym) SINAFOL National system for workforce training (Spanish acronym) SINAFORHE Proposed national professional development and career ladder system for the education sector (Spanish acronym) STIP Science, technology, innovation and partnerships TA Technical assistance USAID/CAM USAID Centro América USAC/EFPEM San Carlos University’s teacher training department (Spanish

WH Guatemala’s Western Highlands