Amendment One to RFQ 72052722Q00004.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

PAGE OF PAGES

1 5

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

See block 16c

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO

5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

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

Regional Contracting Office USAID/Peru Encalada Avenue, Block 17 Lima 33

Regional Contracting Office USAID/Peru Encalada Avenue, Block 17 Lima 33

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

To All Offerors

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

RFQ # 72052722Q00004

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

September 4, 2020

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER.

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) N/A

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 copy to the issuing office.

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

The purposes of Amendment No. 01 are to: (1) Incorporate Attachment 5 – Questions and Responses.

The RFQ is therefore modified as follows:

See continuation 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

Andre Guy Soh, Regional 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) 53.243

RFQ No. 72052722Q00004 Amendment No. 0001

I. ATTACHMENT 5 – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. At the end of the RFQ include the following:

“ATTACHMENT 5 - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Request for Quotations (RFQ) No. 72052722Q00004 Political Economy Analysis (PEA) for palm oil agro-commodity driven deforestation

Questions I.Technical

Question 1: Are there specific territories (Amazon jurisdictions) that USAID wants to address/prioritize?

Response 1: No, USAID has not prioritized Amazon jurisdictions. Nevertheless, as spelled out in Attachment No. 1 of the RFQ, the analysis should provide a general overview and understanding of palm oil driven deforestation in Colombia and Peru.

Question 2: Specify how to present the proposal in the technical part?

Response 2: Please refer to Attachment 2: Instructions for Quote Preparation, Section A:

Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Quote.

Question 3: What is your strategic and technical approach?

Response 3: It is the responsibility of the offeror to propose a strategy and an approach to performing the required analysis.

Question 4: What do you want this consultancy for, what kind of USAID programs, projects, or policies will it help?

Response 4: The objectives of the contemplated PEA are clearly stated in Attachment 1 of the

RFQ.

Question 5: Is it possible to carry out the in-country workshops and field research for the country that you are not based in by contracting a firm as a subcontractor?

Response 5: Yes.

Question 6: Does the subcontractor need to hold a SAM registration?

Response 6: Subcontractors must not have an active SAM registration. They must have a Unique Entity Identifier.

Question 7: The scope of work covers preparing a PEA analysis for Peru and Colombia: i) Should the PEA be prepared for both countries as a single “sector” in terms of the PEA`s framework; or should each country have its own PEA for the palm sector?

Response 7: As the sectors and their political economies are distinct in each country, they should be analyzed separately. However, the offeror can elect how to present the results.

Question 8: In the Illustrative Quality Standards section, deliverable 1 – Presentation of rapid analysis is included as a tentative section for the deliverable to develop the methodology to be used. Question: Does the methodology for this specific deliverable refer mainly to the guidelines that USAID has for the application of the PEA, or does it refer to the specific methodological framework that will be used for the development of deliverable 1, such as the literature review, news mapping, stakeholders, etc.?

Response 8: It refers to the methodology the contractor will use to conduct the PEA. USAID’s Applied PEA Guide and Framework should be considered in the development of this methodology. https://usaidlearninglab.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/applied_pea_framework .pdf

Question 9: In the Illustrative Quality Standards section, deliverable 2 – Presentation of Work Plan, proposing strategies for the development of Workshops is included as a tentative section for the deliverable. Question: Is the development of Workshops considered through virtual meeting platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, or is it imperative that exploratory, in-depth interviews and workshops be carried out in person?

Response 9: USAID assumes that a combination of virtual and in-presence workshops are necessary to successfully conduct the required analysis.

Question 10: In the Illustrative Quality Standards section, deliverable 4 – Preliminary draft report is included as a tentative section for the deliverable to develop the methodology to be used.

Question: In the methodology section, what is mainly required is the development of how it is intended to approach the application of the PEA analysis in the countries of Peru and Colombia?

Response 10: The answer is yes.

Question 11: Regarding the mapping of actors and agents involved in the value chain of Palm Oil.

Question: Will USAID provide, should they have it, information related to diagnoses, evaluations and/or references of the main actors involved in the oil palm value chain in both countries (Colombia and Peru)?

Response 11: No, this initial research is the responsibility of the contractor.

II.Administrative and cost questions

Question 12: As for the institutional experience in fund management, is it required to be specifically in the palm sector or can it be justified with the experience in other projects of equal or greater amount, and / or can the experience of the two institutions be added?

Response 12: There is no requirement for specific experience in the palm sector. This requirement can be met with experience in other sectors or projects. They should nevertheless be of the same size, scope and complexity as the contemplated contract (see Attachment No. 2, Section A).

Question 13: As for the institutional experience, do you take into account as experience projects that are currently active, or should they be projects that have necessarily already been completed?

Response 13: Current experience is acceptable.

Question 14: In the bidder's experience requirements, USAID requests proof of experience in at least two projects of similar size, scope and complexity that have been implemented in the last five

(5) years. Question: Is it possible to extend the experience range of the bidder to 10 years considering that in the last two years there were restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Response 14: No.

Budget/financial

Question 15: If the economic proposal will present a general breakdown of the expenses or, as indicated, only a lump sum amount?

Response 15: There is no need to provide a cost breakdown. Offerors must only provide a single price quote.

Question 16: Is the financial report general or does it require an accounting report?

Response 16: A financial report is not required under this activity nor stated in the RFQ.

Question 17: In Attachment 2 of the reference document (page 12) a FFP purchase order is mentioned. Is there any specific format for the presentation of the economic proposal?

Response 17: No specific format is required for the presentation of the price quote.

Question 18: Please indicate whether or not the final price of the consultancy must include taxes (18%) according to Peruvian tax law.

Response 18: The final quote must be a one-amount price that includes all costs.

Question 19: Should the technical and price quotes be submitted by us on separate files/emails?

Response 19: They can be submitted in the same email.

Forms

Question 20: The document RFQ 72052722Q00004, does not contain the SF 1449 form mentioned in Attachment 2. Could you please indicate where we can find the correct version of the SF 1449 form?

Response 20: USAID inadvertently omitted the SF 1449 in the original RFQ. Please find the form here: https://www.gsa.gov/Forms/TrackForm/32875.

Question 21: In attachment 4 – SOLICITATION PROVISIONS. Please indicate if the forms mentioned need to be completed and attached.

Response 21: The offer must copy the following text, adapt it with its name, sign and send it as part of its quote:

__NAME OF COMPANY________has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically in SAM accessed through http://www.sam.gov.

After reviewing SAM information, __NAME OF COMPANY_________ verifies by submission of this offer that the representations and certifications currently posted electronically at FAR 52.212- 3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, have been entered or updated in the last 12 months, are current, accurate, complete, and applicable to this solicitation (including the business size standard(s) applicable to the NAICS code(s) referenced for this solicitation), at the time this offer is submitted.

Signature of Company Representative and date

Question 22: Should the consortium document be legalized, or can it be by an agreement between us?

Response 22: Consortiums can be a simple arrangement or agreement between your organization and others.

Question 23: During the consulting process do you recommend or require that personnel have risk insurance for the duration of the contract?

Response 23: You should follow your organization's policy on risk.

Question 24: What does Attachment 4 - Solicitation Provisions refer to?

Response 24: Solicitation provisions are terms and conditions that are only applicable to a solicitation and before contract award. Please review them carefully.

Question 25: Regarding the requirements that the bidder must meet; among others, it is mentioned that the Local Entity (bidder) must be administered by a "governing body" and that the majority of which are citizens or legal permanent residents of the country that receives assistance from USAID. Question: Is it possible to clarify what you mean by “governing body”? Are you referring to a board of directors, board of directors? If so, is it possible to form a consortium between consulting companies, and as a result of this, a directory is formed with the members?

Response 25: “Governing body” can be a Board of Directors or any other body that makes strategic and business decisions at the highest level of a company. A governing body must https://www.gsa.gov/Forms/TrackForm/32875 already exist within your institution. USAID does not make awards to consortia. The contract will be signed with one institution referred to as the prime, and the prime will in turn manage relationships with other partners as they see fit. USAID will not have a privity of relationship with any sub partners you propose in your approach.

Question 26: Regarding registration in the System for Awards Management (SAM). Question: Is it possible for bidding consulting companies to submit their technical and economic proposals while they are in the process of registering on the SAM platform?

Response 26: No. According to the terms of this RFQ (cover page of the document), “All offerors must have an active System for Award’s Management (SAM) registration.” Therefore, USAID will not entertain any quotation if the organization does not have an active SAM registration.

Question 27: We would like to participate in said RFQ. But before developing our proposal I would like to ask you if any consulting firm can send an offer? Or if this is a closed RFQ?

Response 27: This is restricted to Local Entities per AIDAR 706.302-70(B)(2). Please review the following link Local Competition Authority Pilot Program and see the definition of local entities to see if your organization fits within that definition. Also see answer to question No. 26 below. Your consulting firm can also participate as a sub partner. The prime recipient must be a Local Entity.

Question 28: Our organization is a consulting firm based in Colombia that complies with USAID´s local entities definition for Colombia but not for Peru. Although RFQ No. 72052722Q00004 is a project from USAID-Peru, this project scope is in both Peru and Colombia. Considering the international scope of the project, is Colombia also considered as a country receiving assistance?

Or is Peru the only country that is considered to be receiving assistance?

Response 28: Given the information you just shared; it looks like your organization is eligible. Please ensure that you meet the following criteria:

"an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:

a. is legally organized under the laws of;

b. has as its principal place of business or operations in;

c. is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of a country receiving assistance from funds appropriated under title III of the Consolidated Appropriations Act."

For purposes of this section, “majority-owned’ and “managed by” include, without limitation, beneficiary interests and the power, either directly or indirectly, whether exercised or exercisable, to control the election, appointment, or tenure of the organization's managers or a majority of the organization's governing body by any means.”

A company that meets the above listed requirements and operates in any of the countries covered by a program funding area and/or benefits from the particular program is considered a local entity under this procurement. For example, a Local Entity based in Ecuador carrying or planning to carry out programs in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia is a Local Entity for the purposes of this procurement.

Question 29: For the submission of bids, is it possible to apply as a consortium and that the partner is non-domiciled?

Response 29: USAID does not sign contracts with consortia. You work with partners located in other countries. They will be considered sub partners or subcontractors. USAID will only sign an award with the main offeror also referred to as the Prime. Also see question No. 25.

END OF AMENDMENT No. 0001 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/302mbe_0.pdf