RFP 72053823R00002 - Amendment 0001 - Caribbean Resilient Economies and Sectors Activity.pdf

(x)

72053823R00002 x x 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.

x

00000

720538

Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies Widey St. Michael Widey Business Park USAID/ESC (Barbados)

07/21/20230001

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, Items 8 and 15, and returning

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

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

07/21/2023

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 modification is to respond to questions received and make specific changes to the solicitation.

Specific changes to the solicitation can be found in the continuation pages.

Questions received can be found in Annex A to this amendment.

--- CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE ---

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)

Javier O. Castano

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 .

08/18/2023

RFTOP No. 72053823R00002

Amendment No. 0001 - Continuation Pages

Specific changes to the solicitation are as follows:

1. In section ‘B.5 Contract Budget’, DELETE the table in its entirety, and REPLACE it with the following:

Budget Category Total Amount Personnel: Salary & Wages $TBD Fringe Benefits $TBD Consultants $TBD Travel, Transportation, & Per Diem $TBD Equipment and Supplies $TBD

Subcontracts $TBD

Allowances $TBD

Other Direct Costs $TBD

Grants Under Contracts $TBD

Total Direct Charges $TBD

Indirect Costs $TBD

Total Estimated Cost (direct + indirect) $TBD

Fixed Fee $TBD

TOTAL Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee $TBD

2. In section ‘B.6 INDIRECT COSTS’,

a) First paragraph, DELETE “and their major subcontractors”.

b) DELETE the ‘Major Subcontractor(s) subsection in its entirety.

3. In Section ‘F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE’, Subsection ‘F.6 PLANS, REPORTS AND

DELIVERABLES’, under ‘F.6.1 Due Dates for Plans, Reports, and Deliverables’, REQUIRED

PLANS/DELIVERABLES table, DELETE the Due Date for item (1) Annual Work Plans in its entirety and REPLACE it with “First annual work plan due 90 calendar days after the effective date of the contract. Subsequent annual work plans due 30 calendar days before the beginning of the reporting period (fiscal year).”

4. In Section ‘J - ATTACHMENTS’, DELETE attachment ‘J.1 STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

(SOO)’, and REPLACE it with ‘J.1 STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES (SOO) - Amended’, which is attached to this amendment.

Note: a “tracked changes” version of the amended SOO is also available for convenience in the GPE. Should there be a discrepancy between attachment ‘J.1 STATEMENT OF

OBJECTIVES (SOO) - Amended’ and the “tracked changes” version of the document, ‘J.1

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES (SOO) - Amended’ supersedes all other versions.

5. In Section ‘J - ATTACHMENTS’, DELETE attachment ‘J.3.1 LOCAL COMPENSATION PLAN

FOR BARBADOS’, and REPLACE it with ‘J.3.1 LOCAL COMPENSATION PLAN FOR

BARBADOS - Updated version’, which is attached to this amendment.

6. In Section ‘J - ATTACHMENTS’, DELETE attachment ‘J.4 - QUALITY ASSURANCE

SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP) (TEMPLATE)’, and REPLACE it with ‘J.4 - QUALITY

ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP) (TEMPLATE) - Updated version’, which is attached to this amendment.

7. In Section ‘L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS’, subsection ‘L.6

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS’, DELETE item 9 in its entirety, and REPLACE it with

“Completion -by the Prime Offeror and major subcontractors - of the “Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors” in Section K is required as an annex to the cost proposal.”

8. In Section ‘L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS’, DELETE the sentence “Charts or exhibits may use a different font style and font size as long as they are legible without magnification.”, and REPLACE it with “Charts, tables, figures, textboxes and/or exhibits may use a different font style and font size as long as they are legible without magnification.”

9. In Section ‘L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS’, subsection ‘L.8

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL’, under the item

“Annexes”, DELETE the following bullet:

○ Annexes:

(1) Organizational Chart

(2) Branding Implementation and Marking Plan

(3) Quality Assurance and Surveillance Plan

(4) Past Performance Information and REPLACE it with the following bullet:

○ Annexes:

(1) Organizational Chart

(2) Branding Implementation and Marking Plan

(3) Quality Assurance and Surveillance Plan

(4) Past Performance Information

(5) Non-Key Personnel Positions Supporting Documentation (Roles, responsibilities, and the required educational and professional qualifications and experience)

(6) Bibliography (If applicable)

10. In Section ‘L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS’, subsection ‘L.8

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL’, Technical

Requirements bullet, DELETE the following bullet:

○ Technical Requirements

(1) Performance Work Statement

(2) Technical Approach and REPLACE it with the following bullet:

○ Technical Requirements

(1) Technical Approach

(2) Performance Work Statement

11. In Section ‘L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS’, subsection ‘L.8

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL’, under Specific

Information, DELETE point ‘2. Technical Requirements’ in its entirety and REPLACE it with:

“2. Technical Requirements. The Offeror must prepare an innovative, evidence-based, and effective Performance Work Statement (PWS)/Technical Approach that will demonstrate an understanding of the problem and solutions. The page limitation for the

Technical Requirements section is 25 pages (not including the cover page, cover letter, table of contents, acronym list, and annexes) divided as follows:

Part 1 - Technical Approach:

Offerors must provide a Technical Approach section not to exceed 5 pages (within the overall 25-page limitation for this section). The purpose of this section is to substantiate, via data and/or evidence, how the Offeror's proposed activities will successfully achieve results. In this section, the Offerors must also identify the countries or groups of countries within the ESC region which will benefit from the proposed activities. Also, the

Offeror must clearly explain how the Grants Under Contract will be used to expand the application of locally appropriate solutions for climate resilience for businesses in the

(green-)blue economies.

In addition, the Offeror must develop and include a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

(QASP) (as part of the annexes, not counting towards the 5 page limitation) which outlines a surveillance schedule and clearly describes the surveillance methods to be used. The purpose of the QASP is for USAID to better understand the Offeror's internal monitoring system to ensure timely and quality products and services. The QASP is a demonstration of how the Offerors will manage their performance and risk through the life of the contract. The plan must include roles and responsibilities for surveillance throughout the duration of the contract. The QASP must align with the PWS and focus on the quality and timeliness of the output to be delivered and not just on the steps required or procedures used to provide the service. The plan must provide for prevention and ready detection of any challenges, and for timely and positive corrective action. Offerors are encouraged to review FAR Subpart 46.4. [See Section J -

ATTACHMENTS of the solicitation for the QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

(QASP) (TEMPLATE) that informs further the development of the QASP].

Part 2 - Performance Work Statement:

Offerors must provide a PWS not to exceed 20 pages (within the overall 25-page limitation for this section). The PWS will define in objective means how the Offerors intends to carry out the tasks and achieve the results described in the Statement of

Objectives (SOO) contained in Section J of the solicitation, and how the approach is informed by an understanding of the ESC context. The PWS of the successful Offerors will be included in Section C - Description of Products or Services of the resultant contract.

The Offeror must demonstrate their comparative advantage in achieving the results of the SOO, inclusive of a clear plan to leverage local expertise. The Offeror must propose feasible approaches to achieving objectives that are technically sound and well-defined.

The Offeror must demonstrate how the proposed technical approach is aligned with

Caribbean (regional) and country specific strategies; and leverages the relevant work of other donors and development partners.

The offer must demonstrate an understanding of the state of and challenges to public and private sector investment in climate and disaster risk financing in the ESC region.

The Offerors must also demonstrate an understanding of the barriers and opportunities to the transition to green(blue-) economies within the region as well as the technologies and practices that have potential to facilitate this transition.

The PWS must address the potential barriers to achievement of results and propose ways to overcome these barriers. It must also address the differential impacts of climate change and disasters on marginalized groups and propose meaningful actions to incorporate these groups.

The Offeror must demonstrate contribution to sustainable and impactful outcomes beyond the lifetime of the activity, including a credible rationale for how partnerships established or strengthened during the life of the activity will be maintained. The proposal shall illustrate commitment to collaboration and deep partnership with local organizations.”

12. In Section ‘L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS’, subsection ‘L.8

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL’, under Specific

Information, item 4.a, DELETE the following sentence “Notes: Major subcontractors are those that represent 25% or more of the total budget.”, and REPLACE it with the following “Notes: Major subcontractors are those that represent 20% or more of the total budget.”

13. In Section ‘L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS’, subsection ‘L.9

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL’, DELETE item 4.a. In its entirety and REPLACE it with the following:

“4. The Cost Proposal must be organized in the following manner:

a. In one (1) MS Word or PDF document:

i. Cover Page

ii. Cost Narrative

iii. Annex A: Contractor’s Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA)

iv. Representations, Certifications, and Other Statement of Offerors (Section K)

(for Prime Offerors and Major Subcontractors)

v. Additional Annexes as deemed necessary by the Offeror”

14. In Section ‘L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS’, subsection ‘L.9

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL’, item 6, DELETE

“The Offeror is required to provide full back-up documentation that details the labor categories to be used, labor hours proposed by category, salaries proposed for each position listed in the proposal, estimated salaries for unnamed positions listed in the proposal, fringe benefits, consultants, travel, transportation & per diem and transportation, equipment & supplies, subcontracts other direct costs, subcontracts (each proposed subcontractor must have a separate detail tab showing all costs), other direct costs, indirect costs, fixed fee, and all other costs associated with the proposed implementation of the contract.”

and REPLACE it with:

“The Offeror is required to provide full back-up documentation on all costs associated with the proposed implementation of the contract, detailing the estimated salaries and level of effort (LOE) proposed for each position listed in the proposal, fringe benefits, consultants, travel, transportation & per diem, equipment & supplies, subcontracts (each proposed subcontractor must have a separate detail tab showing all costs), allowances, other direct costs, grants under contracts, indirect costs and fixed fee.”

15. In Section ‘L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS’, subsection ‘L.9

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL’, item 7, DELETE the

Budget Category Table in its entirety, and REPLACE it with the following:

Budget Category Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total Personnel: Salary & Wages

$TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Fringe Benefits $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD Consultants Travel, Transportation & Per Diem

$TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Equipment & Supplies $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Subcontracts $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Allowances $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Other Direct Costs $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Grants Under Contracts $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Total Direct Charges $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Indirect Costs $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Total Estimated Cost (direct + indirect)

$TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

Fixed Fee $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

TOTAL Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee

$TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD $TBD

16. In Section ‘M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD’, subsection ‘M.4 COST PROPOSAL

EVALUATION CRITERIA’, DELETE the sentence “Proposed cost and prices will be evaluated based on cost realism, completeness, and reasonableness using the Highest Technically

Rated with Fair and Reasonable Price and Realistic Cost (HTR) approach, which is described in Appendix B.”, and REPLACE it with: “Proposed cost and prices will be evaluated based on cost realism, completeness, and reasonableness using the Highest

Technically Rated with Fair and Reasonable Price and Realistic Cost (HTR) approach, which is described in subsection M.2 of this RFP.”

Answers to questions received are included in Annex A.

[END OF AMENDMENT 0001]

ANNEX A

Amendment No. 0001

Request for Task Order Proposal (RFTOP) No. 72053823R00002 Questions and Answers

General Questions:

1) Will there be an industry day?

Answer: No.

2) Is there a Washington, DC program office responsible for this initiative? Who will be the

PM?

Answer: This procurement is being done on behalf of USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean’s (USAID/ESC) General Development Office. The Program Manager will be from the ESC operating unit.

3) Has a budget been proposed for these 11 projects? If so, what contract vehicle is being proposed? If not, will commercial pricing be acceptable?

Answer: Please refer to the applicable sections of the solicitation that contain this information.

4) Can you clarify what is meant by experience in the region? Is experience working in island communities, the technical offerings, or the expertise and where with all working with indigenous communities? Or is technical expertise being usurped by geographical experience? Is living within the community of a country or a collectively a requirement to participate in this solicitation?

Answer: See page J10 for the geographic focus of this activity. See Section H.4 for the authorized geographic code requirements.

5) There appears to be a bias in the presolicitation to the deployment of technology as an end all. Will the repurpose of existing tools and/or methods or means be acceptable as an alternative approach?

Answer: Offerors are invited to submit their approaches to achieving the objectives of the solicitation in accordance with Section L.8 of the RFP.

6) If technology is being proposed, who will be responsible for the total cost of ownership including sustainment?

Answer: These considerations are to be addressed by the Offeror.

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ANNEX A - Amendment No. 0001 - Q&A

7) Within the solicitation is there any discussion of continuity of operations? For example, solar panels in the US Virgin Islands were deployed as alternative fuel sources but unable to survive severe weather conditions or catastrophic events.

Answer: The deployment, operationalization, and maintenance of technologies are to be considered and addressed by the Offeror.

8) Can you clarify the remark about regional intervention?

Answer: It is unclear which section of the RFP this question is referring to.

9) Is this an initiative responding to China’s Belt and Roads Projects and EU Global Gateway $50B Caribbean and Latin America Enterprises?

Answer: No.

Are questions being publicly posted?

Answer: Yes, questions and answers are being publicly posted as an amendment to the solicitation at www.sam.gov.

10) Is USAID planning to buy into the Climate Finance Development Accelerator (CFDA) to support climate finance in the ESC? If so, could USAID share information with all bidders regarding any potential CFDA buy in?

Answer: USAID has bought into the CFDA to support the Caribbean Climate Investment Program (CCIP). This information is publicly available online. See here. This Activity was announced by Vice President Kamala Harris on June 08, 2023 at the U.S.-Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting in Nassau, Bahamas.

11) Would USAID please provide a travel plug for the Activity?

Answer: No.

12) Would a reply on one of the objectives be considered as well?

Answer: No.

Questions related to Section B

13) Section B.5, pages 9-10, and section L.9.7, page 98. The summary budget categories provided do not include a line item for Grants Under Contract. Could USAID please confirm that the Offeror should add a row for Grants Under Contract to the summary budget? If not, could USAID clarify which existing budget category should include the cost of Grants Under Contract?

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http://www.sam.gov https://www.climatelinks.org/ccip

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

14) Section B.5, pages 9-10, and section L.9.7, page 98. Given the lack of a line item for Grants Under Contract in the summary budget, would USAID please confirm if the up to $3.5 million Grants Under Contract amount is intended to be in addition to, rather than included in, the $15-20 Million budget range provided in the solicitation?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001. The $3.5 million for Grants Under Contracts are included in the budget range provided in the solicitation.

15) Section B.6, page 10 - Indirect cost rates are proprietary to each organization.

Additionally, not all subcontractors will have an approved rate agreement or subcontract type that requires indirect rate monitoring. Therefore, we request the indirect cost rates for major subcontractors be removed from Section B.6 of the anticipated Prime Contract clauses.

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

Questions related to Section F

16) Section F.5, Page 18 - Please confirm offerors can propose less than 5 Key Personnel. Is it required that proposed Key Personnel serve for full 5 years of Period of Performance, or the proposed duration of Key Personnel can be less than the full 5 years Performance.

Answer: See Section L.8 for Key Personnel requirements. The proposed duration of Key Personnel may be less than the full 5 years of period of performance.

17) F.5. May offerors provide an illustrative CV for the Chief of Party position as an annex to the technical?

Answer: No.

18) Section F.6.1 of the RFP (page 19) indicates that the first Annual Work Plan is due 30 calendar days after the effective date of the contract. However, for greatest effectiveness, RESET should coordinate closely with country governments, regional institutions, other donor projects, and the private sector. In order to facilitate stakeholder consultation, would USAID please consider revising the due date of the first-year work plan to Day 90? In place of the original deliverable and timeline, would USAID consider requiring submission of a Startup Plan to inform the first three months of Activity interventions by Day 30?

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Questions related to Section H

19) H.4 Authorized Geographic Code, Page 35: “The authorized geographic code for procurement of goods and services under this Contract is 937.” In the event of a discrepancy between the World Bank income classification of a country and the ADS 310, can USAID please confirm which should take precedence?

Answer: Offerors should comply with ADS 310. Please note that Geographic Code 937 authorizes procurement of commodities and services in, among others, “the recipient country.” Thus, the authorized geographic code authorizes procurements in all countries listed in Section F.3. of the RFP.

20) Section H.5, Page 35 - Will USAID confirm that Offerors with an approved purchasing system may provide information to adhere with Advance notification of intent to subcontract procedures outlined in FAR 52.244-2(e)(2) of Alternate I instead of seeking consent in accordance with FAR § 44.202-2.?

Answer: Confirmed.

Questions related to Section J

21) The SOO for the RESET Activity has evolved since the initial draft SOO that was released in 2022. Are there any public assessments or studies that informed the final design of the SOO that USAID would be willing to share with offerors?

Answer: No.

22) In Attachment J.1, SOO (pages J1–J2), the second "if” statement in the theory of change appears to be incomplete (“IF private sector investment in resilience approaches and technologies”). Could USAID please provide the full statement for offerors?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

23) Our query relates specifically to the objectives noted on pages J6 to J9 (PDF pages 108 to 111/144) therein. For legal reasons, we are unable to propose on contracts where the success of our engagement is evaluated based on the achievement of specific results from external parties that are outside of our direct control (e.g. an increase in the use of financing instruments for climate resilience by governments, where this may be dependent on country-specific factors; the issuance of a debt swap instrument; etc.).

However, we are able to propose on contracts where we undertake specific activities that aim to create an ecosystem that may allow for enhanced awareness of climate resilience opportunities, among others. We are happy to provide further details on how this may be achieved, if desired.

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Can you kindly confirm whether the above limitation would disqualify us from consideration in relation to the referenced RFP? While we note that the deadline for questions is August 9, 2023, we are hopeful that you can provide clarity on this point at your earliest convenience, as responses will directly impact our ability to propose.

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

24) To ensure compliance with USAID’s intended results in the Statement of Objectives, could USAID please clarify the definition of result, subtarget, indicator, and activity?

Answer: Result means “A significant, intended, measurable change in a development condition affecting people, systems or institutions”. Sub-target means “A specific, planned level of result to be achieved within an explicit time frame with a given level of resources which contributes to a larger target”. Indicator means “A qualitative or quantitative metric for measuring progress or performance. Types of indicators include input indicators, output indicators, outcome indicators, process indicators, impact indicators and performance indicators.” Activity means “A component of a project that contributes to a project purpose. It may refer to an award in its entirety, or a component of a project that contributes to the project’s desired objective.”

25) J.1. Would USAID consider allowing for targets to be agreed upon post-award in conjunction with USAID during the submission of the AMELP and workplan? Indicators will be appropriate to include in the PWS and can be shifted from there to the formal contract directly, but targets may shift based on post-award conversations or baseline assessments and may be better included in the AMELP than the contract itself.

Answer: Offers must provide targets in their PWS in response to this RFP as noted on page J8/J9.

26) Under Objective 1 of Section IV of the SOO (page J6), USAID notes that one measure of success will be “at least one debt swap instrument is advanced.” Can USAID define what is meant by “advancement” of a debt swap?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

27) J.1. Can USAID please confirm that the GUC fund may be used across all objectives?

Answer: No. The GUC mechanism will only apply to Objective 2.

28) Section J.1 references under Objective 2 the usage of a grants under contract (GUC) program. Could USAID confirm that the GUC program can also be used to support partnerships under Objective 3?

Answer: No. The GUC mechanism will only apply to Objective 2.

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29) RFP Section Attachment J.1 - Page J14 - Is the GUC Program meant to be used only under Objective 2? Kindly Clarify.

Answer: Yes.

30) Regarding grants under contract eligibility, the RFP references “private sector entities” in the SOO (under Objective 2 and in Section VI). Please confirm that USAID’s definition for this term here is that of USAID’s Private Sector Engagement Policy: “For-profit, commercial entities and their affiliated foundations; financial institutions, investors and intermediaries; business associations and cooperatives; micro, small, medium and large enterprises that operate in the formal and informal sectors; American, local, regional, and multi-national businesses; and for-profit approaches that generate sustainable income (e.g., a venture fund run by a non-governmental organization (NGO) or a social enterprise)”?

Answer: Confirmed.

31) In Relation to the Grants Under Contract Component of the RFP

a) Please can you clarify if the expectation is that the contractor will engage directly with potential grantees (i.e. execute contracts in the contractor’s own name, rather than execution by USAID)?

Answer: Yes.

b) Please can you likewise clarify the expectations of the contractor in relation to assessing prospective grantees? Namely, is the contractor expected to identify prospective grantees and distribute funding on behalf of USAID; is the role of the contractor to support USAID in understanding the suitability of identified grantees (i.e. prospective grantees’ capacity to accept funding, due diligence including credibility and alignment with program objectives, etc.)?

Answer: The Contractor is expected to execute grants with local and U.S. and international private entities. The Contractor will be required to develop guidelines, subject to the Contracting Officer's Representative review and Contracting Officer’s approval. The Contractor will also be responsible for announcing and competing grant opportunities, establishing specific eligibility criteria and categories, and developing procedures for the review and approval of grants. The Contractor will also develop procedures to monitor and evaluate the funded activities and report results.

c) At the point in time, is there an expectation on the number of grants that will be made per year and/or indication of envisaged target grant size and grant term?

Answer: As per section F.6.2 Required, Plans, item 7, of the RFP, the Grants Under Contract component will not exceed $3,500,000.00. At this point, there is

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not an expectation on the number of grants that will be made per year, nor of the envisaged target grant size and grant term.

32) J.1. Would USAID please confirm the source of funding for the RESET activity?

Answer: This activity will receive funds from multiple sources over its period of performance. The source of funds will be reflected in the contract actions.

33) RFP section Attachment J.1 - Page J8 -Can USAID clarify the role of embedded experts in Objective 3? Please confirm if the embedded experts role and responsibility is meant to advance capacity building as described in Objective 1 and 2, or whether the experts are meant to directly enable the formation of relationships to support Objective 3 results?

Answer: The purpose of the embedded experts is clearly stated under Objective 3. The envisioned roles and responsibilities of the embedded experts should be identified in the offeror’s technical proposal.

34) J.1. Under Objective 3, USAID states that the work must produce embedded experts within national institutions. Would USAID also allow the embedding of experts within regional institutions?

Answer: See specific changes in amendment 0001.

35) Can USAID confirm that the embedded experts mentioned under Objective 3 may focus on any technical areas relevant to this Activity?

Answer: The purpose of the embedded experts is clearly stated under Objective 3. The envisioned roles and responsibilities of the embedded experts should be identified in the offeror’s technical proposal.

36) Under Objective 3 in the SOO (page J8), USAID notes that the offeror must produce the following results, “Embedded experts within national institutions for the purposes of building institutional capacity to plan, use technology, or implement management or financial approaches which build resilience to climate change in key sectors.” Can USAID define the term “national institution” here for the purpose of RESET interventions?

Answer: “National Institutions” can also be read as “governmental entities” which includes (i) a department of government, (ii) a statutory body and (iii) an institution enterprise which, in whole or in part, is funded or owned by the government.

37) Section J.1 states under Objective 3 that the activity must track and measure “engagement with U.S. strategic partners in the region”. Could USAID provide a definition of a “U.S. strategic partner in the region”?

Answer: “U.S. Strategic partners in the region” are national-, regional- and international-scale governmental entities, private sector, civil society organizations that

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operate in the 11 ESC countries, and who engage with the U.S. government towards climate resilience and (green-)blue economic development.

38) Section J1, page J9, states that USAID is planning three new activities in addition to RESET to build climate resilience in ESC countries. Are there additional details or information about these three new activities that USAID can provide to allow offerors to further hone their approach for RESET and foster close collaboration with these three new activities?

Answer: The three new activities have been approved and announced since the preparation of this SOO. These are:

● The Program for Accelerating Climate Change Adaptation (PACCA).

This was publicly announced on June 08 by USAID’s Climate Chief, Gillian Caldwell at the Caribbean Water Conference. The PACCA will be implemented by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC). It will support the acceleration of climate action through increased information and understanding of climate responses required to be made by key decision makers, and greater international climate financial flows to ESC countries. Key expected outputs will include: (i) an updated central climate data and information management system; (ii) web-based climate knowledge and information portals; (iii) storm surge and climate risk atlas for management of climate change and disaster risks;

(iv) increased private sector involvement in climate action; and (v) increased international climate financial flows to the region from the Green Climate Fund and private sources.

● The Advancing Community Climate Resilience Planning (ACCRP) Activity.

This was publicly announced (Caribbean Islands Higher Education Resilience Consortium) on June 07 by VP Kamala Harris at the U.S.-Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting in Nassau, Bahamas. The ACCRP will be implemented by Global Resilience Institute of Northeastern University and the Caribbean Islands Higher Education Resilience Consortium (CIHERC). The Activity supports community-driven climate and economic resilience planning among three (3) vulnerable communities in Barbados and Dominica. It aims to (i) facilitate bottom-up community engagement efforts that are calibrated to local contexts while addressing systemic inequities, and (ii) build the capacity of the CIHERC so that they can replicate and scale climate resilience interventions throughout the region and globally. By leveraging the convening power and depth of knowledge of universities, the program aims to develop and empower local groups to plan against climate risks.

● The Caribbean Climate Investment Program (CCIP).

This was publicly announced on June 07 by VP Kamala Harris at the U.S.-Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting in Nassau, Bahamas. The CCIP will

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https://bb.usembassy.gov/climate-change-adaptation-in-the-caribbean-gets-a-boost-from-the-united-states-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/08/fact-sheet-vice-president-harris-announces-new-initiatives-to-strengthen-u-s-caribbean-partnership/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/08/fact-sheet-vice-president-harris-announces-new-initiatives-to-strengthen-u-s-caribbean-partnership/ be implemented by Chemonics International, and is a buy-in into USAID’s Climate Finance Development Accelerator (CFDA). The CCIP covers 10+ Caribbean countries and businesses engaged in clean energy, energy efficiency and climate resilience technologies by providing them with (i) grant financing, (ii) technical assistance, and (iii) investor match-making through a project preparation facility.

39) Guidance in Attachment J.1, Section V, of the SOO indicates that the Activity should coordinate with USAID’s Policy and Regulatory Reform for Resilience (PROSE) Activity.

However, it appears that no Activity reports are publicly available to inform coordination mechanisms. Could USAID please share the first year Annual Work Plan, any policy assessments, or any other Activity report to facilitate coordination?

Answer: No. Sufficient information exists online to conceptualize a coordination mechanism between Contractors. Project information can be found on https://usaidprose.org/

40) In addition to implementing the Climate Finance for Development Accelerator, Chemonics is conducting the Caribbean Climate Investment Program (CCIP) to mobilize private sector financing for technologies that advance mitigation and adaptation goals across the Caribbean region. Section V of SOO does not reference this program. Can USAID share additional information about CCIP so that offerors may appropriately consider how to align and collaborate for RESET?

Answer: This information is publicly available online. See here. This Activity was announced by VP Kamala Harris on June 08, 2023 at the U.S.-Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting in Nassau, Bahamas.

41) In Section J.3, USAID provided the LCP for Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Does USAID anticipate that project staff will only be employed in these locales and not in other places of performance listed in Sections F.3. and J.1.II?

Answer: USAID does not anticipate that project staff will only be employed in Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The LCPs for Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago were shared because they are the only LCPs available in the ESC Region.

42) Thank you for providing in Section J.3. the US Embassies’ Local Compensation Plans (LCP) and Lists of Benefits (Fringe) for Barbados, Guayana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. There are no specific instructions in Section L on how Offerors are to use the LCPS and Fringe information. Can USAID please confirm that these rates are provided for guidance purposes only?

Answer: Confirmed.

43) In the Local Compensation Plan for Barbados (J.3.1), would USAID please provide an explanation of the column called WGI?

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https://www.climatelinks.org/ccip https://usaidprose.org/ https://www.climatelinks.org/ccip

44) The Local Compensation Plan for Suriname (J.3.3.) is denoted in USD. Could USAID please confirm if Suriname salaries are denoted and paid in USD or in SRD?

Answer: USG Employees in Suriname are paid in USD. The LCP is denoted in USD.

45) J.3.5. The LCPs for Guyana and Suriname do not include exchange rates. Could USAID provide the rates as they have done with the other countries’ LCPs?

Answer: Offerors may use the publicly available exchange rates for the preparation of their Cost Proposals.

46) J.4, Appendix 1, page J38. The Surveillance Matrix template asks for a “Statement” to be included with each “Deliverables” line. Could USAID please clarify what is meant by “Statement” in the Surveillance Matrix?

Answer: “Statement” refers to “objective”. See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

Questions related to Section L

47) Section L.1 52.222.46 - Kindly clarify if Offerors are required to submit a Total Compensation plan pursuant to FAR 52.222-46, Section L.1 or if the total compensation plan is only required to be submitted post award by the successful Offeror.

Answer: This provision requires that offerors submit for evaluation a total compensation plan setting forth proposed salaries and fringe benefits for professional employees working on the contract. This would be submitted as part of the cost proposal.

48) Section L.1, 52.252-1 “SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)”: “This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available.” Could USAID please provide offerors with the full text?

Answer: Full text of all referenced provisions can be found in this website:

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52.

49) Section L.6.9, Page 89 - RFP provides instructions for completion of “Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors” in Section K without specifying if this is required only for Offerors or for both offerors and subcontractors or only for offerors and major subcontractors. Can USAID please clarify?

Answer: The requirement to complete Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors applies to the prime offeror and major subcontractors.

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https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52

50) Per Section L.6.9 of the General Instructions, Completion of Section K is required;

however, section L.9.4 does not include the requirement to submit Section K. Please confirm that Offerors should include Section K as an Annex to the cost proposal.

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

51) Would USAID please allow the offeror to include a 2-page Executive Summary, not to be included in the page limitation of the Technical Proposal?

Answer: No.

52) L.8. USAID requires that offerors “demonstrate their comparative advantage in achieving the results of the SOO” (p. 90). Would USAID consider allowing for a non-page counting 2-page Executive Summary so that offerors may best detail their comparative advantage? The PWS format precludes offerors from discussing their unique value add to USAID.

Answer: No.

53) Please confirm that offerors may include a two-page Executive Summary with their technical proposals that will not count against the page limit.

Answer: No.

54) Per L.8, page 90, “Charts or exhibits may use a different font style and font size as long as they are legible without magnification.” Could USAID confirm that this applies to textboxes?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

55) Section L.8 (page 90) states that offerors are to use Calibri 12-point font but that “charts or exhibits may use a different font style and font size …” Please confirm that tables, figures, and text boxes are included in the “charts or exhibits” category.”

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

56) To substantiate the activities of the Technical Approach via data and/or evidence, would USAID please allow the Offeror to include a bibliography as an annex?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

57) L.8. Would USAID consider allowing offerors to use non-contract language in the PWS, so they may best highlight their unique value add to USAID.

Answer: Language that will not be incorporated in the resulting contract may only be included in the Technical Approach section.

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58) L.8. The solicitation states that “the page limitation for the Technical Proposal is 25 pages” (p. 92). Can USAID confirm that this is in reference to Part 1 and Part 2 (Technical Requirements), but that the technical proposal itself is instead 30 pages?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

59) To allow offerors to introduce key technical proposal elements of their approach before presenting the Performance Work Statement, would USAID consider reordering the Technical Requirements elements in Section L.8 (to begin with Technical Approach)?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

60) L.8, Page 91: Will USAID please allow structuring the Technical Requirements in the following order?

● Technical Requirements

1. Technical Approach

2. Performance Work Statement

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

61) To be able to address the Technical Approach requirements listed in the RFP sufficiently, would USAID consider reallocating page assignments to allow 8 pages for the Technical Approach and 17 for the Performance Work Statement?

Answer: No.

62) Given the complexity and diversity of technical themes covered by this activity, would USAID consider allowing offerors to add a list of technical definitions to the non-counting pages for acronyms? We believe this would promote a common understanding of terms between the offeror and the technical evaluation committee.

Answer: No.

63) L.8.3 (a), Page 94: "The Offeror should identify professional non-key personnel positions with requisite roles and responsibilities and the required educational and professional qualifications and experience deemed necessary to effectively implement the duties and responsibilities." Would USAID allow the non-key personnel positions and requisite roles and responsibilities to be included in an Annex?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

64) Section L.8.3, Page 94 - Relevant RFP Language: “The Offeror should identify professional non-key personnel positions with requisite roles and responsibilities and the required educational and professional qualifications and experience deemed necessary to

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effectively implement the duties and responsibilities. The Offerors should also discuss how it may employ consultants and in what technical areas.” We kindly request that USAID allow offerors to include the non-key personnel roles and responsibilities and the required educational and professional qualifications and experience matrix as an annex (not included in the 30-page limit) as opposed to including it in the Management Approach section.

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

65) L.8. The RFP states that “Offeror should identify professional non-key personnel positions with requisite roles and responsibilities and the required educational and professional qualifications and experience deemed necessary to effectively implement the duties and responsibilities” (p. 92). Given that elaborating these qualifications and experience will take considerable space, would USAID allow offerors to add this information to Annex 1 – Organizational Chart?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

66) Please confirm that Annex A includes an organizational chart and staffing table and that the offerors are to include roles, responsibilities, and minimum qualifications mentioned in Section L.8 of the RFP in that annex.

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

67) Section L.8.3.a, Personnel (page 94), states that “offerors will identify no more than five key personnel positions, and non-key personnel positions deemed necessary to implement the proposed technical approach.” Can USAID confirm at which stage in the award process it expects the contractor to propose specific candidates for key personnel positions?

Answer: USAID expects the contractor to propose specific candidates for key personnel positions after the award is fully executed.

68) Section L.8 (pages 90–91) states, “All critical information from appendices/annexes must be summarized in the Technical Proposal. All relevant annexes, charts, tables, figures, etc., must be referenced in the proposal content.” The RFP does not list Past Performance as a section of the technical proposal narrative. Can USAID please confirm that offerors do not need to reference past performance information in the technical proposal?

Answer: Confirmed.

69) Technical Proposal preparation section L.8 provides instructions to offerors to include Branding and Marking strategy plan in its Technical Volume consistent with RFP attachment J.2. Please confirm that estimated costs associated with the Branding &

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Marking budget as referenced in attachment J.2. under 1.8 is to be included in the offeror’s Cost Volume rather than the offeror’s Technical Volume?

Answer: Confirmed.

70) Section L.8.4.a, Past Performance (page 95), states, “Major subcontractors are those that represent 25% or more of the total budget.”

a. Since USAID typically sets the threshold for defining major subcontractors as 20%, would USAID consider revising the language on page 95 to read: “Major subcontractors are those that represent 20% or more of the total budget”?

Answer: See specific changes in amendment 0001.

b. Can USAID confirm whether the budgetary threshold that defines a major subcontractor includes non-labor costs and grants under contract as a percentage of the total budget?

Answer: Confirmed.

71) Section L.8.4., Page 95 - Will USAID consider a major subcontractor defined as a subcontractor that represents 25% or more of the total budget, or is deemed critical by the offeror in achieving the objectives and tasks in the contract?

Answer: See specific changes in amendment 0001. USAID will only consider major subcontractors per the percentage threshold as defined in the RFP.

72) Section L.8, Page 95 - Can USAID confirm that if Offeror does not have a major subcontractor, what is the total number of contracts Offeror should provide to Annex 4, Past Performance?

Answer: See section L.8.4.a.i. of the RFP.

73) Section L.8.4.d, Performance in Using Small Business Concerns (page 95), states that USAID will evaluate the extent to which offerors use and promote the use of small business concerns under current and prior contracts. Could USAID please confirm that offerors may use their own templates to address small business concerns?

Answer: No.

74) L.9. Please confirm that the font requirement of Calibri 12 for the Cost Proposal is limited to the Cost Narrative.

Answer: Confirmed.

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75) L.9. Per our usual practice, in addition to submitting the Cost Summary and Cost Detail as an Excel document, may offerors include those sections in the consolidated PDF of the full Cost Proposal?

Answer: Yes.

76) L.9. May offerors provide consent to subcontract for any proposed subcontractors as an annex to the cost volume?

Answer: Per FAR 52.244-2 Subcontracts, the Contracting Officer provides written consent for the Contractor to enter into a particular subcontract. Accordingly, the question is unclear as the offeror does not provide consent to subcontract.

77) L.9. Can USAID confirm whether offerors should submit Reps and Certs as an annex to the cost volume? Should these also be included for any proposed subcontractors?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

78) Section L.9.6, page 98: “The Offeror is required to provide full back-up documentation that details the labor categories to be used, labor hours proposed by category…” Could USAID confirm that no labor categories are required for the budget and that Offerors may present level of effort in days rather than hours?

Answer: See specific changes in Amendment 0001.

79) Section L.9.6, Instructions for Preparation of the Cost Proposal (page 97), states that “each proposed subcontractor must have a separate detail tab…