Attachment_1_-_S2S_Round_2_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

Solicitation Number: 72062018R00004 State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity

STATE2STATE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (ROUND TWO)

1. Thank you for answering questions submitted in response to the subject solicitation.

Chemonics International would like to raise a concern related these answers, particularly regarding contractor performance information. Namely, the answers to questions seem to indicate that all contractor performance information in section L.5.5.e. be counted against the 40-page limit. Because 5 PPRs are required for the prime contractor, and each major subcontractor, and because the required attachment J.8 takes up at least a page per reference, this implies that offerors utilizing one or more major subcontractors would have relatively less room to respond to other parts of the evaluation criteria. In addition, because #4 in the same section (page 174 of the amended RFP) is not applicable to small business offerors, this would provide those concerns additional space to respond to other evaluation criteria in Section M.

USAID Response: USAID agrees to count only a brief contractor performance summary narrative against the 40-page limit. Past performance short forms and other contractor performance information may be included in an annex.

2. We are concerned these unequal requirements may affect a full and fair evaluation of proposals, as businesses who are not small and who may be utilizing major subcontractors would have relatively less space to all the evaluation criteria within the 40-page limit. As such, would USAID consider allowing offerors to put past performance short forms and other contractor performance information in an annex, or only count contractor performance narrative information towards the 40 page limit? This would also remain in line with page 173 of the amended RFP, which currently states that PPRs are to be included in an attachment, and page 174, which states that #3, awards and certifications, do not count against the page limit

3. In order to be fully responsive to the requirements in section L.5.5 (e) for Contractor Performance Information and keep within the allotted page limit for the technical proposal, may we include Attachment J.8 and our Past Performance in Using Small Business Concerns in an annex that will not count against the page limit? Please note that including all the required information in the body of the technical will limit our ability to be fully responsive to Section C as our standard small business narrative alone is eight pages in length."

4. Per Amendment 3 and 4, Section L.11.2(3)(i) states that CLINs 1-7 and CLINs 10-15 are now to be included in the Base Contract (TEC range of $62-$72M). This contradicts the original and revised RFPs where optional services (CLINs 10-15) are outside of the base contract. Would USAID confirm that the optional services (CLINs 10-15) are not part of the base contract and therefore should not be included in the TEC range of $62-$72M (but should rather be included in the overall cost of $74-$84M?).

USAID Response: The optional services in CLINs 10-15 must be included in the TEC range of $62-$72 million. Thus the only difference between the TEC range of $62-$72 million and the potential overall cost of $74-$84 million is the optional services in CLINs 8-9.

5. The answer provided to Question #70 directing Offerors that Key Personnel resumes are “inclusive of the 40 page limit for the entire technical proposal” is contradictory with the instructions provided in Section L.5.(c) and reiterated in Section L.5.5 (c) of the Amended RFP which clearly instruct Offerors that “Resumes or CVs of key personnel must be included as an annex to the technical proposal” and that “Resumes or CVs are not counted in the page limit, but are limited to 2 pages for each key personnel.” Please confirm that CVs may be included in an annex to the technical and will not count against the page limit. Please also confirm that the page limit for CVs is increased to 4 pages and, if so, amend Section L.5.5 (c) of the RFP accordingly

USAID Response: USAID confirms that the page limit for Key Personnel CVs is increased to four pages, and agrees that these CVs may be included in an annex and thus will not count against the 40-page limit.

6. Page 167, Section L.5 (c)Lists Personnel Resumes and Letters of Commitment as an annex to the technical proposal and page 171, section L.5.5 (c)(1) states, “Resumes of proposed key personnel must be included as an annex to the technical proposal”, yet question 70 of the Q&A states, “Yes, each Key Personnel resume may be up to four (4) pages. However, this is inclusive of the 40-page limit for the entire technical proposal.”

Can USAID confirm that the page limit for Key Personnel resumes is increased to 4 and these Resumes are to be an annex to the technical proposal?

7. Page 173, section L.5.5 on Contractor Performance Information states, “List as an attachment to the technical proposal up to 5 of the most recent and relevant contracts for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal. The past performance reports (PPRs) will be 5 for the Prime and 5 additional PPRs for each major subcontractor…”. However, in response to question 88 requesting confirmation of whether this information is meant to be included as an annex, USAID states, “Contractor Performance Information is part of the technical proposal and counts towards the 40- page limitation, not to be included as an annex”. Further, the answer to question 90 confirms that the Contractor Performance Reports Short Forms “(Attachment J.8) is to be completed for all projects being submitted as past performance”.

Can USAID confirm how it is defining the Contractor Performance Information requested as part of the 40-page technical proposal? Is this meant to include Attachment J.8 – Short Forms as referenced in the answer to question 90 of the Q&A? Given that prime and major subcontractors’ Contractor Performances Reports (short forms) combined could account for multiple pages of the technical proposal, would USAID consider accepting the Contractor Performance Report Short Forms as an annex referenced in the 40-page technical proposal?

8. The answers provided by USAID in response to question numbers 85, 88 and 89 indicate that the “Contractor Performance Information is part of the technical proposal and counts towards the 40 page limitation, not to be included as an Annex.” However, Section L.5.5(e)(ii) in the amended RFP states, “List in an attachment to the technical proposal up to 5 of the most recent and relevant contracts for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal…The Contractor Performance Report – Short Form (Attachment J.8) must be utilized to document past performance information” (page 173).

Will USAID kindly confirm that 1) a narrative discussion of past performance is to be included in the technical body (as part of the 40 pages) and 2), Contractor Performance Reports (Attachment J.8) are to be submitted as part of an annex?

9. The answer provided by USAID in response to question 70 states, “Yes, each Key Personnel resume may be up to four (4) pages. However, this is inclusive of the 40 page limit for the entire technical proposal.” However, Section L.5.5.c in the amended RFP states “Please note that resumes or CVs are not counted against the page limit” (page 171).

Will USAID kindly confirm that Resumes or CVs remain in an annex and do not count against the 40 page limitation?

10. Since Monday, January 21st is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday when USAID is scheduled to be closed, please clarify instructions as to where and to whom hand copy deliveries should be given on that day.

USAID Response: USAID extends the closing date for proposals to Tuesday, January 22, by 4:00pm Abuja time to the USAID/Nigeria physical address specified in the solicitation for hard copies and by 4:00pm DC time to the email address specified in the solicitation for electronic copies.

11. Please note that, at time of posting responses to offeror questions, the USAID/Nigeria LEAD project reports have not been posted on the U.S. Government Development Experience Clearinghouse website. Will USAID either ensure they are posted, or provide them to all offerors?

USAID Response: The LEAD activity fourth quarter reports (which also served as fiscal year annual reports) for 2010 to 2017, as well as the LEAD midterm performance evaluation report, have been posted on the DEC. As of January 8, 2019, a search on the DEC for “Leadership empowerment advocacy development LEAD Nigeria” brings up these reports as the first nine search results.

12. Please confirm whether MOUs are expected to be signed with the remaining states in addition to Sokoto and Bauchi by the time of award. If not, please confirm that the contractor will be permitted to begin implementation of activities upon award, even if the remaining MOUs are not signed, or whether adjustments to the offeror’s work plan will be necessary?

USAID Response: In addition to Sokoto and Bauchi, USAID has also signed an MOU with Ebonyi State. USAID confirms that if any partner state does not have a relevant MOU with USAID in place by the time of award, the contractor will be permitted to begin implementation of activities upon award while the remaining MOUs are being negotiated and signed.

13. In the answer to Question 70 of the Q&A, USAID says that “each Key Personnel resume may be up to four (4) pages. However, this is inclusive of the 40 page limit for the entire technical proposal.” In Question 71, in reference to the location of the personnel matrix, USAID responds that it “may be included in the annex ‘Personnel Resumes and Letter of Commitment,’ and thus does not count against the 40 page limit.” This guidance is in contradiction with USAID’s instructions on L.5.5(c), page 171 of the revised RFP issued on January 3, 2019, which states that “resumes or CVs of proposed key personnel must be included as an annex to the technical proposal,” and are “not counted in the page limit.” Please confirm that the personnel resumes belong in the “Personnel and Letters of Commitment” Annex, along with the Personnel Matrix and are not subject to the 40 page limit for the main body of the technical proposal.