Amendment 01 RFP No. 72061222R00005 SEED Rural Group 2.pdf

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 or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication 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 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.

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

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.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, 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)

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.

15C. DATE SIGNED

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

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

PAGE OF PAGES

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

Previous edition unusable

USAID/Malawi - Questions RFP No: 72061222R00005

SEED, Rural Group 2 Construction Services Questions & Responses

1. Question:

On SF 1442 (Section 13b) it is written that an offer guarantee is required.

Please clarify, which form of offer guarantee shall be provided.

USAID response:

Offer Guarantee is not required. Section 13b has been updated accordingly through RFP Amendment No. 1.

2. Question:

IAW the RFP-Section L.7 a surety form (Template 1.C) shall be provided in the technical proposal. Please clarify, whether or not a Bank Letter of Assurance or Bank Reference Letter would be acceptable to USAID.

USAID response:

A Bank Letter of Assurance citing the amount of the surety would be acceptable to USAID.

3. Question:

According to the RFP-Section G.3.1 a performance surety bond is required.

Please clarify whether or not a Bank Performance Guarantee Letter would be acceptable to USAID. If yes, at what percentage.

USAID response:

A Performance Bond Bank Performance Guarantee is acceptable. The percentage is 25% as stated in Section G.3.1.

RFP No.: 72061221R00002, SEED, Rural Group 1 Construction Services

4. Question:

IAW RFP-Section M.1, Page 148, NCIC registration, only offerors who are registered under the NCIC Unlimited Category will be considered for this bid. Please clarify whether or not would it be acceptable to USAID, if a foreign offeror, which is not registered in Malawi and intends to offer for Lot A1 and/or A2, provides thorough description as to what steps will be taken to register the company in Malawi and provides the registration under NCIC Unlimited Category after receiving the contract award.

USAID response:

Refer NCI Act Refer Part VI Registration Sections 20(1), and 20(2), and 21(4). The award will not be made until the registration process is complete.

5. Question:

IAW RFP-Section M.1 the offerors shall request their Client/Owner or Supplier complete Template 3.B, Past Performance Questionnaire. Please clarify whether or not Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) evaluations can be submitted instead of questionnaires.

USAID response:

Offerors can submit Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) evaluations instead of questionnaires.

6. Question:

Each key personnel must have a USAID bio-data sheet, CV/resume and at least two (2) references (including name, title/position, telephone, and email contact for each reference), and must meet the minimum requirements for key personnel as specified in Section H.

Should CV/resume and references be transferred/incorporated to/in the USAID bio-data sheet, or are two separate documents required for submittal per individual?

USAID response:

Both the USAID biodata sheet and the CV/resume must be submitted per individual.

7. Question:

Past Performance Questionnaires must be completed by three (3) Client/owners and two (2) Suppliers of the Offeror.

Kindly clarify whether the PPQs must be completed by both the clients and the suppliers, or either can work.

USAID response:

The PPQs must be completed by both clients and suppliers as stated in the

RFP.

8. Question:

Specific information is required in the submission regarding credit lines and liquidity. What are the challenges to be considered?

USAID response:

Maintaining cash flow is a challenge. In responding to this requirement the bidder must satisfy the evaluators that cash flow over the duration of the project has been closely considered. ‘Tell us a story: How are you going to keep the project moving?’ Note that an advance payment of 20% can be granted and also note the repayment period indicated in the RFP.

9. Question:

When the period of time for past performance is considered will allowance be made for the downturn in construction over the Covid-19 period?

USAID response:

In principle, yes. USAID is fully aware of the effects of Covid-19 over several months, and will take it into account. Show us a complete picture of your company, both during and extending back before Covid-19.

10. Question:

What is meant by ‘similar works’? Is it works of similar value or similar types of construction?

USAID response:

Both. Works of similar value prove that the contractor has the cash-flow to support this project. ‘Similar works’ also cover works with similar requirements such as rural locations, concurrent construction on multiple sites, structural steelwork, etc.

11. Question:

What special provisions have been made for Malawian contractors?

USAID response:

Both the Malawi Government and USAID are very interested in providing work for Malawian contractors. Accordingly, 2 Lots have been set aside for ‘Malawian Firms’ as defined in the NCI Act. Evaluations will not be made on a preferential margin basis.

12. Question:

How long before payments are made?

USAID response:

Payments will be made within thirty (30) days after the paying office receives a proper payment request, based on the COR approval, of the estimated amount and value of work or services performed, in accordance with FAR Clause 52.232-27 – Prompt Payment for Construction Contracts (Jan 2017).

13. Question:

Is the project VAT free?

SEED Rural contracts are exempt from Malawi import duty and VAT for goods and services.Specifics on VAT reimbursement will be discussed during the Post-Award Conference or Kickoff Meeting.

14. Question:

Does the project pay the NCIC levy?

USAID response:

Typically, USAID does not pay taxes on its development work and it is unallowable. However, if the contractor and USAID are unable to recoup the taxes with the host country, then the CO would authorize that they are allowable.

15. Question:

What are Key Personnel?

USAID response:

The 3 Key Personnel listed are contractually required to be named in the proposal and will require formal modification of contract if later substitution is to be made.

USAID also expects that the proposal Project Management Plan will detail all of the critical personnel being fielded. This is critical to the PMP, and is up to the bidder.

16. Question:

Templates 2.B and 2.C are missing.

USAID response:

For Template 2.B, refer to the Project Management Plan template under Section J.8. Section J.8 is Template 2.B.

For Template 2.C, Offeror shall disregard Template 2.C. Offeror’s information on resource availability should be part of the Project Management Plan. The Project Management Plan template is found in Section J.8. Information requested under L.7.2.C shall be incorporated in the Project Management Plan.

For Factor 2 evaluation (RFP page 145), the evaluation of resource availability will be evaluated in the Project Management Plan.

17. Question:

Would USAID consider extending the proposal due date.

USAID response:

NOTE: The new closing date is Monday, July 18, 2022 at 10:00 am Malawi time.

NOTE: Please also look out for Amendment No. 2 which will be published on www.sam.gov soon. This will include changes to Section J2 drawings.

The Facility Package and Site Package will be replaced with the revised drawings. Changes to the site package drawings will include re-positioning of student and staff latrines and re-orientation of teacher houses in accordance with recent discussions with the Ministry of Education. Changes to the Facility Package will include clarification and enhancement of select architectural and structural drawings. Finally, the BOQ will be updated to reflect the changes and re-issued under Amendment 2. All changes will be made known in Amendment 2.

18. Question:

In the price proposal - BQs, Roof has been quantified as an item which requires drawings in order to price it effectively. We can not find the required drawings in section J.2.

http://www.sam.gov/

Bidders should refer to the Facility Package drawings, found under J.2 of the RFP. The facility package drawings include roof details. There are architectural details, for example C-A-501 to C-A- 503 for the classroom roof, and structural details, C-S-301 to C-S-505 for the classroom roof.

There are detailed roof drawings for each building, the classroom, science classroom, teacher houses, and latrines. The bidder must review all drawings while completing the Bill of Quantities, including the standard details that are included in Section J.2 of the RFP. Roof details in the standard drawings include, but not limited to, D-S-506 to D-S-510. It is the bidder’s responsibility to confirm the quantities when pricing the work in the Bill of Quantities.

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1. Extend the proposal due date from June 13, 2022 to Monday, July 18,2022 at 10:00am, Malawi time.

2. Provide answers to questions that were received during the pre-bid meeting on May 17,2022 and questions submitted under the subject RFP.

(All other terms and conditions in the RFP remain unchanged)

USAID/Malawi NICO House P O Box 30455, Lilongwe 3, Malawi Tel: +265 1 772 455 Fax: +265 1 773 181