Questions and Responses - 72061720R00018 Amendment No.1-signed.pdf

(x)

72061720R00018 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

N/A

Not Applicable

720617

00000 USAID/Uganda

09/16/20200001

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

09/16/2020

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 first amendment to solicitation no72061720R00018 is to:

1) Post a revised solicitation (See separate attachments to this post)

2) Respond to questions asked by potential offerors. All answers refer to the revised solicitation Amendment 01.

3) Extend the submission deadline to 11/27/2020

Continued ...

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)

Jesse Gutierrez

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 .

11/02/2020

Questions and Responses received for Solicitation No72061720R00018

Questions and Responses

All deletions in the RFP are represented by a strikethrough while all additions are highlighted.

The RFP submission deadline has been extended to November 27, 2020; 4:00pm (EST)Washington, D.C.

1. Will USAID make the inception report for the Uganda Feed the Future Inclusive Agricultural Markets (IAM) activity available to ISS bidders?

USAID Response: This was not a requirement under the IAM Activity hence not available.

2. Section 8.1 of Attachment J-1 includes a list of mandatory performance indicators; Section F.5(d) of the RFP includes a list of minimum activity indicators and targets. Some indicators are in both lists while others are not; additionally, the targets for some indicators that appear in both sections differ. Could USAID confirm the list of mandatory indicators and minimum targets?

USAID Response:The discrepancy between the two tables have been harmonized. See changes in Section F.5(d) and SOO.

3. For indicator EG.3-2, the target provided on page 11 of the SOO document is 1,000, while the target provided on page 13 of the RFP document is 300,000 over the life of the activity. Would USAID please clarify which target bidders should use?

USAID Response: See response to question 2 above.

4. RFP Reference: Section F.5, part d; Attachment J.1 (SOO), Section 8.1 Page Number:13 (RFP), No page number in SOO Relevant RFP Language: “Number of Individuals participating in USG Food Security Programs [IM Level]| Indicator Number EG.3.2| Standard Target over Life of Activity 300,000” and “Number of individuals participating in USG Food Security Program (IM Level) (disaggregated by sex, age, type of individual)| Indicator Number EG.3.2| Target 1,000”

Question: In Section F.4 (5), Item d) on page 13 of the RFP the Target over Life of Activity for indicator EG.3-2 is 300,000 individuals. Also in Section 8.1 (b) of Attachment J.1 (SOO), the target for the same indicator is listed as 1,000. Please clarify which target should be used?

USAID Response: See response to question 2 above.

5. RFP Reference: Attachment J.1 (SOO), Section 8.1 Page Number: No page number in SOO Relevant RFP Language: Number of milestones in improved institutional architecture for food security policy achieved with USG support (disaggregated by level and institutional architecture policy element)

Question: In Section 8.1 of Attachment J.1 (SOO), the RFP references the GFSS indicator EG.3.1-d. The PIRS for that indicator reads “Operating Units (OUs) are the primary reporting unit for this indicator. OUs should report milestones achieved during the past fiscal year with USG funding. OUs are responsible for identifying the relevant milestones achieved working with their implementing partners, donor coordination groups, inter-agency committees, and other stakeholders.” Since the USAID Uganda Mission is the primary reporting unit for this indicator, how should the ISS Activity report against this indicator (and set targets)? For example, should the targets reflect how many milestones from Uganda’s institutional architecture for food security policy this project alone will meet?

USAID Response: While USAID Uganda is the primary reporting unit, in as far as, as consolidating (in various agency reports), the targets and milestones achieved by all IPs contributing towards the GFSS indicator, this however does not nullify the responsibility of the IP to report achievements against set targets for the specific Activity.

6. RFP Reference: Section L.6, Factor 1; Attachment J-1 (SOO) Page Number: 103; Attachment J-1 (SOO) Relevant RFP Language:

p. 103: “Describe the Offeror’s proposed impacts pathways, which demonstrates how interventions will be sequenced, monitored, measured, documented, and reported that will ensure results are achieved during and after the life of the intervention.

Attachment J-1 (SOO), Section 8.2: “Throughout the life of Activity the Contractor must develop, monitor, and revisit its results pathways and adjust interventions accordingly.”

Question: Section L.6 (c), Factor 1, p. 103 of the RFP asks Offerors to “Describe the Offeror’s proposed impacts pathways, which demonstrates how interventions will be sequenced, monitored, measured, documented, and reported that will ensure results are achieved during and after the life of the intervention.” Also, Section 8.2 Results pathways in Attachment J.1 Statement of Objectives references results pathways and states that “Throughout the life of Activity the Contractor must develop, monitor, and revisit its results pathways and adjust interventions accordingly.” Please confirm that the term impacts pathways as described in Section L.6 (c) Factor 1 of the RFP is meant to be the same as the results pathways described in Section 8.2 of the SOO.

USAID Response:Yes, the term impact pathways and results pathways mean the same thing within the context of this Activity and have been used interchangeably.

7. RFP Reference: Section L.6 (c), Factor 1 Page Number: 103 Relevant RFP Language: “For each proposed intervention, additional information as follows…An illustrative Work Plan for the intervention…”

Question: Section L.6 (c), Factor 1 on page 103 of the RFP states that “For each proposed intervention, additional information as follows…An illustrative Work Plan for the intervention…”. Please confirm that the illustrative Work Plan that is referenced is the Annex 2:

Draft First Year Annual Work Plan and that no other work plan is required to be submitted as part of the PWS/ Technical Approach for Factor 1.

USAID Response:Yes, no other is required to be submitted as part of the PWS.

8. RFP Reference: Section L, Factor 1; Attachment J-1 (SOO) Page Number: 103; Attachment J.1 (SOO) Relevant RFP Language: Section L: “The Offeror must take a holistic approach, demonstrating innovation and flexibility while including the crosscutting issues outlined in the SOO.”

Question: Section L (p 103), Factor 1 of the RFP states “The Offeror must take a holistic approach, demonstrating innovation and flexibility while including the crosscutting issues outlined in the SOO.” Attachment J.1, Statement of Objectives (SOO) does not reference any cross cutting issues. Please provide the cross cutting issues and clarify where in the SOO these issues are defined.

USAID Response: See changes to the RFP on Page 103. Cross Cutting issues has been deleted and replaced with guiding Principles that are found in Section 12 of the SOO.

9. Section L.6.c. Factor 1 (page 103) states, “The Offeror must take a holistic approach, demonstrating innovation and flexibility while including “*the cross cutting issues outlined in the SOO.*” Please confirm that this refers to the Guiding Principles listed in SOO Section 12.

USAID Response: Please see response to Question 8.

10. For budgeting purposes, can USAID provide an expected start date?

USAID Response: Expected award date is on or about May 2021.

11. Section L.5(c) of the RFP states: “Only 11-point Times New Roman font may be used, with each page numbered consecutively at the bottom of the page.” Can USAID confirm that consecutive numbering pertains to the narrative of the cost volume, and not the volume in full?

USAID Response: Consecutive numbering pertains to volume in full as this clearly identifies the submission. Every page (except the title page) of each volume will contain a page number.

12. Section L.5(d) of the RFP indicates a 4MB limit for the proposal submission by email. A compiled cost or technical proposal will likely significantly exceed this limit, requiring that proposals be split into a cumbersome number of parts. Additionally, it may not be possible to split or reduce certain files (such as spreadsheets) to be smaller than 4MB. As a result, to aid in reading/compiling the proposals, would USAID consider increasing the 4MB limit?

USAID Response: No.

13. Section L.5(d) states: “Offerors must provide proposals in compatible MS Word (or PDF with Optical Character Recognition),” while Section L.6 (b) states that the technical proposal “shall be written in English in MS Word (Word 2010 compatible).” Can USAID confirm that submission of the technical proposal in PDF format is acceptable?

USAID Response:Offerors must submit technical proposals in compatible MS Word and PDF with Optical Character Recognition. See RFP changes section L.6(b).

14. Section L.6(b) of the RFP indicates that the technical proposal should be on standard 8½×11″ paper. May we include fold-out graphics on 8½×17″ paper, counting as two pages?

15. Section L.7 (page 107) requires an original signature on the SF 33. Please confirm that an electronic signature is acceptable for this purpose

USAID Response: Electronic signatures are acceptable.

16. With regard to the instructions for Section L.6.c. Factor 3, Item d) (Past Performance in Using

Small Business) on page 106, please confirm that:

a. What is referred to in paragraph c) as “Attachment J-16 ESRS and Small Business Utilization” should read as “Attachment J-16 Small Business Subcontracting Plan.”

b. The information in response to the three bullets under paragraph (c) (narrative, eSRS submissions, and small business references) should be submitted as part of technical proposal Annex 8.

USAID Response:

a. USAID Response: Yes. See changes in the Section L.6.c Factor 3 Pg 106.

b. As mentioned in Factor 3 d), this information will be submitted as part of the cost proposals since it contains some cost information. Offerors are free to include information within technical proposals that address the three bullets without including any cost information.

17. RFP Reference: L.6 (c), Factor 3-Past Performance, d) Performance in using Small Business (SB) concerns Page Number: 106 Relevant RFP Language: “In order for USAID to fully and fairly evaluate performance in this area, all Offerors who are not small business concerns must utilize Attachment J-16 ESRS and Small Business Utilization to submit Small business concerns. This will be submitted as part of the cost proposal.”

Question: Section L.6 (c), Factor 3-Past Performance, d) on page 106 of the RFP states “In order for USAID to fully and fairly evaluate performance in this area, all Offerors who are not small business concerns must utilize Attachment J-16 ESRS and Small Business Utilization to submit Small business concerns. This will be submitted as part of the cost proposal.” Please confirm that all information submitted to meet the requirements listed under Factor 3-Past Performance are to be submitted in Annex 8 except Attachment J-16, which should be submitted with the cost proposal.

USAID Response: Yes.

18. RFP Reference: Section L.6 Page Number: 103; 104 Relevant RFP Language:

p. 103: “The Annexes must be submitted in the order listed under each respective Factor.

Annexes listed will provide supplementary information to the respective Factors. … The Annexes must be submitted in the order noted in below, but are described here as they will be evaluated as part of Factor 1: Performance Work Statement.”

p.104: “The Annexes must be submitted in the order noted in below, but are described here as they will be evaluated as part of Factor 2: Management Approach.”

Question: Section L.6 (c), point 7) Annexes on page 103 of the RFP states “The Annexes must be submitted in the order listed under each respective Factor. Annexes listed will provide supplementary information to the respective Factors.” Under Factor 1, the RFP further states that “The Annexes must be submitted in the order noted in below, but are described here as they will be evaluated as part of Factor 1: Performance Work Statement.” On page 104 under Factor 2, the RFP similarly states that “The Annexes must be submitted in the order noted in below, but are described here as they will be evaluated as part of Factor 2: Management Approach. Please confirm that the annexes should be submitted in one complete section after the technical proposal content (Factors 1 and 2).

USAID Response: Yes. See RFP changes on p.103 and p.104.

19. RFP Reference: Section L.6; Factor 2-Management Approach, Item c.; Annex 4: Staffing Plan Page Number: 104; 105 Relevant RFP Language:

p.104: “The Offeror must describe how a staffing plan with a mix of key personnel, technical specialists, short term technical assistance, and administrative staff; a realistic level of effort for proposed personnel; and clear lines of reporting among personnel that effectively support successful implementation of the proposed approach.”

p. 105: “The Offeror must propose a staffing plan with a mix of key personnel, technical specialists, short term technical assistance, and administrative staff; a realistic level of effort for proposed personnel; and clear lines of reporting among personnel that effectively support successful implementation of the proposed approach.”

Question: Section L.6 (c), Factor 2-Management Approach, item c on page 104 of the RFP states “The Offeror must describe how a staffing plan with a mix of key personnel, technical specialists, short term technical assistance, and administrative staff; a realistic level of effort for proposed personnel; and clear lines of reporting among personnel that effectively support successful implementation of the proposed approach.” Also in L.6 (c), Factor 2-Management Approach, Annex 4: Staffing Plan on page 105 the RFP states “The Offeror must propose a staffing plan with a mix of key personnel, technical specialists, short term technical assistance, and administrative staff; a realistic level of effort for proposed personnel; and clear lines of reporting among personnel that effectively support successful implementation of the proposed approach.”

The requirements for the above stated items for Factor 2, item c and Annex 4 appear to be the same. Please confirm which information is to be included in the PWS/Technical Approach narrative for Factor 2 and which separate information is to be included in Annex 4.

USAID Response: See revisions to RFP Section L.6 (c) Factor 2-Management Approach.

20. The RFP provides two definitions for “Major Subcontractor:”

One whose proposed cost exceeds 20% of the Offeror’s total proposed cost (L.6.c. Factor 3, page 105) One that is performing 20% or more of the contract or is deemed critical by the offeror in achieving the objectives and tasks in the contract (B.5, page 3) To allow Offerors to fully demonstrate partner qualifications and the rationale for their teaming arrangements, please confirm that the definition given in Section B.5 applies.

USAID Response: No, it doesn’t. See changes to the RFP Section B.5.

21. RFP Reference: Section L.6 (c), Factor 3—Past Performance, a) Page Number: 105 Relevant RFP Language: “The Offeror (including all partners of a joint venture) must provide performance information for itself, the teaming arrangements, if any, and each major subcontractor (one whose proposed cost exceeds 20% of the Offeror’s total proposed cost) in accordance with the following:

i) List in Annex 8 to the technical proposal up to five of the most recent and relevant contracts or agreements for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal. The most relevant indicators of performance are contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity.”

Question: Section L.6 (c), Factor 3-Past Performance, item a) on page 105 defines a major subcontractor as “one whose proposed cost exceeds 20% of the Offeror’s total proposed cost.”

This section further states that past performance references should only be submitted for the prime and major subcontractors. Would USAID consider allowing Offerors to submit past performance references for subcontractors who will perform a significant technical role on the project, even if they will not receive 20% of the total proposed cost.

22. RFP Reference: L.6 (c), Factor 3 – Past Performance, a) i)

Page Number: 106 Relevant RFP Language:

p. 106: “List in Annex 8 to the technical proposal up to five of the most the most recent and relevant contracts or agreements for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal. The most relevant indicators of performance are contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity.”

Question: Section L.6 (c), Factor 3-Past Performance, a) i) of the RFP on page 106 states “List in Annex 8 to the technical proposal up to five of the most the most recent and relevant contracts or agreements for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal. The most relevant indicators of performance are contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity.”

a. Please confirm that only the list of five of the most recent and relevant contracts or agreements for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal should be included in Annex 8

b. and that Past Performance Information sheets (Attachment J.) are only to be submitted for contracts not in the CPARs system and these should be submitted as part of Annex 8.

USAID Response:

a. Yes.

b. The Past Performance Information sheet is not required if the information is available in the Government past performance system (CPARS).

23. RFP Reference: Section L.6 (c), Factor 1 – Performance Work Statement (PWS)/ Technical Approach Page Number: 103 Relevant RFP Language: “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 and articulate: How the Offeror intends to achieve the objectives of the Activity as outlined in Attachment J-1, Statement of Objectives (SOO).”

Question: Section L.6 (c), Factor 1 requests that the Offeror “prepare an innovative, evidence-based, and effective Performance Work Statement (PWS)/ Technical Approach that will demonstrate an understanding of the problem and solutions.” This section further requests that the Offeror articulate “How the Offeror intends to achieve the objectives of the Activity as outlined in Attachment J-1, Statement of Objectives (SOO).”

Since offerors are required to define an approach or the “how” of the interventions, please confirm that offerors are to provide a Technical Approach and that the terms PWS and Technical Approach are being used interchangeably throughout the RFP.

USAID Response:Offerors should provide a Performance Work Statement. See revisions throughout the RFP to delete reference to Technical Approach.

24. RFP Reference: Section B.8, Payment of Fixed Fee, Delivery Schedule Table

Page Number: 4 Relevant RFP Language: “Pursuant to FAR 52.216-8 and upon receipt of a proper invoice, USAID will pay a portion of the fixed fee in accordance with the following delivery schedule:

a. Question: Section B.8 on page 4 states “Pursuant to FAR 52.216-8 and upon receipt of a proper invoice, USAID will pay a portion of the fixed fee in accordance with the following delivery schedule…” Please confirm that USAID does not want offerors to complete the table in Section B.8 as part of the Cost Proposal submission and, instead, it will be completed upon award.

USAID Response:This table will be completed upon award.

b. Question: If offerors are to complete the table in Section B.8 as part of the Cost Proposal submission, please confirm that it should be included as a separate tab in Attachment J.2.

USAID Response:See response to Question 24.a above.

c. Question: If offerors are to complete the table in Section B.8 as part of the Cost Proposal submission, please indicate what information is to be included in the “Reference Section” column in the table in Section B.8.

d. Question: If offerors are to complete the table in Section B.8 as part of the Cost Proposal submission, please indicate what information is to be included in the “Submission Date” column in the table in Section B.8.

e. Question: If offerors are to complete the table in Section B.8 as part of the Cost Proposal submission, please clarify what is meant by meaningful deliverables, and if there is a target for the number of deliverables/payments that USAID would like to include here (for example, no more than 4 per year, etc.)?

25. Section B.8 (Payment of Fixed Fee) indicates payment of fixed fee would be based on deliverables. However, the “Schedule and Deliverables” tab of the budget template breaks the price down by interventions and tasks. Further, Section G.7 states “The Contractor will submit invoices cover letters that estimate expenditures aligned with implementation by intervention and tasks as reflected in the final budget.” Per this template, fee would be included within the amounts listed for each intervention/task; therefore it seems contradictory for fee to be paid based on deliverables as well.

a. Payment of fixed fee based on deliverables has been shown to motivate contractor performance. Further, dividing every cost among numerous tasks and interventions would be administratively onerous and may not sufficiently inform analysis and decision-making given the work required. Therefore we request that the requirement to budget by interventions and tasks be removed.

USAID Response: See revised language in Section G.7 of the RFP. This request is denied. The Schedule and Deliverables tab is for evaluation purposes only.

b. If USAID retains the “Schedules and Deliverables” budget tab and confirms that invoices must show expenditures by interventions and tasks, we request that the Section B.8 fee based on deliverables schedule be removed, since fee payments would be included in the amounts for interventions and tasks.

USAID Response: See response to Section 25.a.

c. If USAID keeps the “Schedules and Deliverables” budget tab, we request that the name of this budget tab be changed to “Budget by Interventions” since this has interventions and tasks rather than deliverables.

USAID Response: See response to Section 25.a.

26. Regarding the Fixed Fee delivery schedule in Section B.8 (page 4), please clarify if a Payment of

Fixed Fee by Deliverables table should be proposed at this stage as it was not mentioned in the cost proposal instructions. If so, please provide guidance on *where* it should be placed in the cost proposal.

USAID Response: Section B.8 will be completed upon award.

27. Regarding the Fixed Fee delivery schedule in Section B.8 (page 4), please clarify what should be included in the columns titled “Identifier” and “Reference Section.”

USAID Response: "Identifier" is used for simple tracking purposes and indicates sequential numbers or letters (1, 2, 3 or a, b, c). The "Reference Section" refers to the section in the Proposal’s PWS where the deliverable/performance objective is located.

28. Regarding the Fixed Fee delivery schedule in Section B.8 (page 4), please confirm that if a deliverable is completed within a reasonable time after the date listed in the “submission date” column, the fixed fee for that deliverable will still be paid.

USAID Response:Deliverables must be submitted as specified in the award and AMELP.

29. Section L.7, Part 2 (1) on page 107 refers to Attachment J-5. Please confirm this should refer to Attachment J.2, the budget template.

USAID Response:The is no reference to Attachment J-5 on page 107. See RFP Changes on Page 108 to Attachment J-2.

30. Section L.7, Part 2 (4)(I) on page 109 states, “Offerors must provide information sufficient to determine reasonableness of costs proposed for each grantee.” Would USAID please confirm that “Grants under Contract” can be budgeted as a lump sum in the detailed budget, as costs for each prospective grantees cannot be determined at the proposal stage?

USAID Response: Yes. The budget narrative should provide a rationale for the proposed lumpsum amount.

31. Section L.5 (d) on page 101 states, “Each e-mail must be 4MB or less in size” and “Offerors must provide proposals in compatible MS Word (or PDF with Optical Character Recognition).” Would USAID please confirm that Optical Character Recognition applies only to the technical volume (considering that applying it to the cost volume would likely result in splitting the cost volume across numerous files, making review more difficult)?

USAID Response: No. Optical Recognition applies to any document in PDF.

32. In reference to the budget template (Attachment J.2) please confirm that it would be acceptable to remove the columns for “Unit Cost” and “Number of Units” from the summary tab (as these categories are not easily broken down into unit costs and numbers, on a summary basis) and instead include them in the detailed tab please confirm that unit costs and number of units do not need to be included on the summary tab and should instead be included on the budget detail tab.

USAID Response: The “Unit Cost” and “Number of Units” columns have been removed from the summary tab. The Unit Cost and Number of Unit must be maintained in the detail tab. If they are not applicable then they should be left blank. Offerors should ensure at a minimum the level of detail required by the cost narrative in the RFP is provided. A revised Attachment J-2 Budget Template has been uploaded.

33. The detail tab of the budget template (Attachment J.2) mentions including a by line item explanation and the subcontract tab includes a column for notes. Please confirm that detailed notes should be provided in the budget narrative rather than in the excel budget.

USAID Response: Budget Notes column on the subcontractor tab has been deleted. All Subcontractor cost explanations must be within the budget narrative not excel sheet. A revised Attachment J-2 Budget Template has been uploaded.

34. With regard to Section M.3(c) on page 117, can USAID please confirm that Offerors may propose indirect cost rate ceilings based on the guidance in the Best Practices Guide for Indirect Costing, within which USAID indicates that ceiling indirect cost rates should be “realistic and equitable”? Considering the five-year period of performance of this project, may Offerors have the flexibility to propose ceiling rates that are realistic and reasonable, rather than capped at two points or 10%?

USAID Response: As stated in the RFP the two points of 10% is an illustrative example. Offerors should propose realistic indirect cost rate ceilings.

35. RFP Reference: L.7 Part 3; Schedule and Deliverables tab of Attachment J.2

Page Number: 111; Attachment J.2 Relevant RFP Language: “The contractor must propose price breakdown by proposed interventions and tasks using tab ‘Schedule and Deliverables’ within the budget template.”

Question: When completing the Schedule and Deliverables tab of Attachment J.2, should offerors express the estimated cost of each task by year as fully-burdened costs (inclusive of applicable indirect costs and fixed fee) or as unburdened costs?

USAID Response:Offerors should express costs are fully burdened costs.

36. RFP Reference: Section G.7 Page Number: 27 Relevant RFP Language: “The Contractor will submit invoices cover letters that estimate expenditures aligned with implementation by intervention and tasks as reflected in the final budget.”

Question: Section G.7 on page 27 of the RFP states “The Contractor will submit invoices cover letters that estimate expenditures aligned with implementation by intervention and tasks as reflected in the final budget.” Please confirm that only fixed fee will be tied to deliverables, in accordance with Section B.8 of the RFP, and that invoices will be submitted reflecting actual costs plus fee and reimbursed in accordance with FAR 52.216-7 Allowable Cost and Payment?

USAID Response:Yes

37. RFP Reference: L.7 Part 2 (2) Page Number: 107 Relevant RFP Language: “The Offeror must provide a breakdown of the prices of all proposed interventions and tasks that will form the basis for the determination schedule of values and payments.”

Question: Section L.7, Part 2 (2) on page 107 of the RFP, in reference to the detailed budget, states “The Offeror must provide a breakdown of the prices of all proposed interventions and tasks that will form the basis for the determination schedule of values and payments.” Please confirm that only fixed fee will be tied to deliverables, in accordance with Section B.8 of the RFP, and that invoices will be submitted reflecting actual costs plus fee and reimbursed in accordance with FAR 52.216-7 Allowable Cost and Payment?

USAID Response:Yes.

38. RFP Reference: L.7 Part 3; Schedule and Deliverables tab of Attachment J.2, and M.3(a) Page Number: 111; 117; Schedule and Deliverables tab of Attachment J.2 Relevant RFP Language: “The contractor must propose price breakdown by proposed interventions and tasks using tab “Schedule and Deliverables” within the budget template.

Question: Section L.7, Part 3: Schedule of deliverables on page 111 states “The contractor must propose price breakdown by proposed interventions and tasks using tab “Schedule and Deliverables” within the budget template” (Attachment J.2). Section M.3(a) on page 117 also states “The schedule of deliverables will inform the cost realism determination.” Please confirm that estimated prices per task per year requested in Attachment J.2 will be used in evaluating cost realism, as indicated in Section M.3(a), but will not be used in establishing invoice payment amounts or timing, given that a CPFF contract is anticipated?

USAID Response:Yes, USAID confirms that it is for evaluation purposes.

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