DRAFT INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORSpdf.pdf

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

(a) Separate Technical and Cost Proposals

The Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal must be kept separate from each other. Technical Proposals must not make reference to pricing or cost data in order that the technical evaluation may be made strictly on the basis of technical merit.

(b) Government Obligation

The US Government is not obligated to make an award or to pay for any costs incurred by the Offeror in preparation of a proposal in response hereto.

(c) RFP Instructions

If an Offeror does not follow the submission instructions set forth herein, that Offeror’s proposal may be eliminated from further consideration for noncompliance. The Government may determine an offer to be technically unacceptable if the offer does not comply with all of the terms and conditions of the RFP and prospective contract:

(1) Completion of Standard Form 33, Blocks 12 through 18;

(2) Submission of proposed costs/prices and indirect cost information;

(3) Submission of information required by this section or any other section of this RFP

The submission of these items in accordance with these instructions will, if the Government accepts the offer, contractually bind the Government and the successful Offeror to the terms and conditions of the prospective contract. Offerors shall follow the instructions contained in this RFP and supply all information and signatures/certifications, as required.

(d) Accurate and Complete Information

Offerors must set forth full, accurate and complete information as required by this RFP. The penalty for making false statements to the Government is prescribed in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

(e) Questions and Answers

Any questions and/or requests for clarifications regarding this RFP should be received no later than the date and time indicated on the cover letter of this RFP, in writing, only via email to usaidtzco@usaid.gov. No questions will be accepted after this date. If substantive questions are received which affect the response to the solicitation, or if changes are made to the closing date and time, as well as other aspects of the RFP, this solicitation will be amended.

mailto:solicit-lusaka@usaid.gov mailto:solicit-lusaka@usaid.gov

DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

(a) Submission, Marking and Copies

The Offeror must submit the proposal through the following method:

Electronically - Internet email with a 25MB limit per email compatible with Microsoft Office 2003 WORD, PowerPoint, Excel or Adobe Acrobat portable document format (.pdf) in a Windows operating environment. Multiple emails may be sent to accommodate the proposal size and content, but each must contain very clear identification of the attachment and instructions for assembling the proposal. Zipped file attachments are not allowed. The subject line for every such email must include the following: “TUHIFADHI MALIASILI RFP 72062120R00003.”

(b) Closing Date and Time

All proposals in response to this RFP must be received at the below address, not later than 07:00 a.m. East Africa Time on the date indicated on the cover page of this RFP.

(c) Address

Proposals must be delivered electronically to usaidtzco@usaid.gov

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

General Technical Proposal Instructions

(a) The Technical Proposal in response to this solicitation must address and follow the technical evaluation factors listed in Section M.

(b) The Technical Proposal body is limited to 25 pages, excluding non-substantive items such as cover pages, executive summary, table of contents, acronym list and annexes. The Technical Proposal must be strictly limited to the page limitations noted. Information submitted over page limitation will not be evaluated.

(c) The proposal must be written in English and typed on standard 8.5” x 11” paper (216mm x 297mm), single spaced, Times New Roman font not less than 12 points in size, with margins no less than one inch of each border. Number each page consecutively. The text in any text boxes included within the technical proposal must not be less than 12 points in size. All graphs and charts must be included in the annexes. Text in graphs, maps, and charts may be less than 12 points in size but no less than 8 points and must be legible.

(d) The Technical Proposal must respond to all evaluation factors described below. 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. A page in the Technical Proposal that contains a table, chart, graph, etc. not otherwise excluded below is included within the stated page limitation for the Technical Proposal.

(e) The Technical Proposal must be organized in the following manner:

i. Cover Page

ii. Table of Contents

iii. Acronym List

iv. Executive Summary

v. Technical Approach

vi. Management Approach

vii. Past Performance

viii. Annexes:

• Annex A – Draft Activity MEL Plan (not to exceed 10 pages)

• Annex B - First Year Work Plan (not to exceed three pages)

• Annex C - Organizational Chart (not to exceed one page)

• Annex D - Key Personnel CVs (not to exceed three pages per position)

• Annex E - Contractor Past Performance Information (no page limitation)

Technical Proposal Format

(i) The Cover Page is not to exceed one (1) page. The Cover Page must indicate the following information:

• Title: Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity

• Solicitation Number: 72062120R00003

• Name of the Offeror

• Offeror DUNS number

• Offeror contact person, address, telephone number, and email address. Offerors are to acknowledge whether the contact person is the person with authority to contract for the offeror, and if not, that person should also be listed along with their contact information.

• Proposed subcontractors listed separately, including subcontractor DUNS numbers.

(ii) Table of Contents: Include major sections and page numbers to easily cross-reference and identify evaluation factors.

(iii) Acronym list: The acronym list must include all acronyms included in the proposal and must be in alphabetical order.

(iv) The Executive Summary is not to exceed one (1) page. The Executive Summary must summarize the key elements of the Offeror’s approach and experience. The summary should highlight key points of the proposal; no information should be presented in the summary that is not in the body of the proposal.

(v) Technical Approach

In not more than 15 pages, the Offeror must present a compelling and convincing articulation of its technical approach that will permit USAID to distinguish and differentiate among proposals.

In the Technical Approach, the Offeror must explain how it plans to accomplish the objectives and meet the requirements in the statement of work. The Offeror must describe its strategy to conserving habitat connectivity through the three objectives. The technical approach must also concisely describe the Offeror’s approach to the implementation of a GUC program that will complement its other activities in achieving the outcomes outlined in the proposal.

As an annex, the Offeror must submit a draft first year work plan that covers mobilization and activities covering the period of October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021. The draft year one work plan must outline how the management and technical approach will be put into practice for this activity.

(vi) Management Approach

The Management Approach is limited to 10 pages. In the first five pages of the Management Approach, Offerors must describe the approach they will take to managing and administering a large and complex activity. The Offeror must describe how the organizational structure will be responsive to their proposed technical approach. The Offeror must describe the capacity of all subcontractors included in the proposal to implement this activity. Offerors must identify up to five “key personnel” positions, one of which must be the Chief of Party. The Offeror must provide the minimum qualifications for each key personnel position (relevant experience, education, and skills).

In the remaining five pages, Offerors must describe their approach to Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning, including how they will address Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) priorities.

Offerors must describe plans to ensure robust stakeholder engagement; identify and fill knowledge and learning gaps; ensure analysis and application of knowledge to improve adaptive management;

and capture and share results, lessons learned, and promising practices.

As an annex, in table format, the Offeror must submit a draft Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plan with indicators proposed for the goal, IR, and sub-levels of activity implementation.

Offerors must propose annual and life-of-activity targets for each indicator, means of verification, methods of data collection, and key assumptions for each indicator.

As an annex, the Offeror must include a one-page organizational chart that clearly shows a well-defined management structure showing all positions including where they are based, IR or other responsibilities, and reporting structures. Prime and subcontracts/partner roles must be clearly portrayed.

As an annex, for each Key Personnel Position, the Offeror must submit a two-page CV that clearly demonstrates how they meet the requirements for the respective positions. One a third page, Offerors must include contact details of three professional references including contact name, professional relationship, e-mail, and phone number. CVs must not contain salary information.

(vii) Past Performance

The Offeror (including all partners of a joint venture) must provide past performance information for itself and each major subcontractor. “Major subcontractors” are those subcontractors expected to perform at least 20% (as quantified by or calculated by level of effort for staff and/or total estimated direct expenditures) of the technical effort under the contract being solicited. The Offeror must provide a record of relevant past performance that demonstrates evidence of capacity and ability to successfully manage and implement a similar project. Performance information will be used for both the responsibility determination and best value decision.

USAID may use performance information obtained from other than the sources identified by the Offeror/Subcontractor. USAID will utilize existing databases of contractor performance information and solicit additional information from the references provided by the Offeror and from other sources if and when the Contracting Officer finds the existing databases to be insufficient for evaluating an Offeror’s performance.

The Offeror must provide the following information:

1. Fourteen calendar days prior to the due date for submission of the proposal, Offerors must submit a list of three of the most recent (within the last three years) and relevant awards for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal per Offeror and major subcontractor.

(a) For each of the awards listed, Offerors must complete and submit the Past Performance

Information Template provided in the solicitation.

USAID recommends that Offeror alerts the contacts that their names have been submitted and that they are authorized to provide past performance information concerning the listed contracts if and when USAID requests it.

(b) If extraordinary problems impacted any of the referenced contracts, provide a short explanation and the corrective actions taken (FAR 15.305(a) (2)).

(c) Offerors must also include information concerning retention of key personnel on these contracts.

2. Offerors must describe any quality awards or certifications that indicate exceptional capacity to provide the service or product described in the Statement of Work.

3. Performance in Using Small Business (SB) Concerns (as defined in FAR 19.001):

(a) This section is not applicable to Offers from small business concerns.

(b) In order for USAID to fully and fairly evaluate performance in this area, all Offerors who are not small business concerns must do the following:

(i) As an attachment to the Past Performance Information Data Sheets, provide a description of your organization's use of small business concerns over the past three years. Describe how you actually use small businesses—as subcontractors, as joint venture partners, through other teaming arrangements, etc. Explain the nature of the work small businesses performed--substantive technical professional services, administrative support, logistics support, etc. Describe the extent of your compliance with your SB subcontracting plan(s) or other similar SB incentive programs set out in your contract(s) and explain any mitigating circumstances if goals were not achieved.

(ii) As part of the past performance information to be submitted fourteen days prior to the due date for submission of the proposal:

• Provide a list of three (3) recent contracts for which you submitted subcontract reports to eSRS (FAR 52.219-9(d) (10) and a copy of any similarly recent subcontracting reports if they were not submitted to eSRS;

and

• Provide the names and addresses of three SB concerns for USAID to contact for their assessment of your performance in using SB concerns. Provide a brief summary of the type of work each SB concern provided to your organization, and the name of a contact person, his/her title, phone number, and e-mail address for each.

COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

The cost proposal shall be submitted under separate file from the technical proposal. The cost proposal shall be in Excel 2003 and compatible with a MS Windows XP operating environment.

All calculations and formulas must be visible and unlocked, and worksheets must be connected.

Times New Roman font size 12, text accessible. While there is no page limit, the Offerors are encouraged to be as concise as possible, but still provide the necessary detail to address the solicitation requirement. A budget format to be used by offerors is provided. For each Cost Element, the offerors shall provide a detailed budget (breakdown) with narratives explaining the basis for the estimate for each category of cost/input in sufficient detail to facilitate determination of cost reasonableness. The detailed budget must be rolled up in summary fashion into the line items.

a. Submission Requirements

(1) Standard Form (SF) 33: The Offeror must submit the cover page (Section A) of this solicitation [Standard Form (SF) 33, “Solicitation, Offer and Award”], with block 12 through 18 completed, with an original signature of a person authorized on behalf of the Offeror to sign the offer.

(2) Proposed Costs/Prices: The Offeror must submit a summary budget for the contract period in Excel format and in US dollars. The summary budget must reflect summary cost information for each of the major budget categories. The summary budget must reflect each of the years separately and then offer the activity total for the entire contract, item for item in the last column of the spreadsheet.

The Offeror must also submit a detailed version of its summary budget for the contract period in Excel format and in US dollars. The detailed budget must reflect every estimated cost item, broken out. The detailed budget must reflect these individual cost items for each of the years separately and then offer the activity total for the entire contract, item for item in the last column of the spreadsheet. The detailed budget must be submitted for the prime and all major subcontractors, proposed to have a total estimated cost of $2,000,000 and above.

Summary Budget Budget by Budget Category: For each budget category Offerors must include an itemized budget detail and justification/narrative explanation in support of these Budget Categories.

Following is the summary format for Budget Categories

Budget Category Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total Personnel and Wages Fringe Benefits Travel, Transportation and Per Diem

Equipment Supplies Contractual Other Direct Costs Total Direct Charges Indirect Charges Total Estimated Cost Fixed Fee Total Estimated Cost plus Fixed Fee

Budget Preparation Guidance

Offerors must submit a summary budget for the five (5) years of performance. The summary budget must reflect summary cost information for each of the major budget items for each of the contract years separately and then offer the activity total for the entire contract in the last column of the table.

Budget details and supporting information must be provided in sufficient detail to allow a complete and thorough analysis of cost. In addition to the overall detailed budget, breakdown of costs must be provided for each year of performance and for each budget category including individual cost elements. For each Cost Element, the Offerors must provide a detailed budget (breakdown) with narratives explaining the basis of estimate for each category of cost/input in sufficient detail to facilitate the determination of cost reasonableness. The detailed budget must be rolled up in summary fashion into the line items.

**When estimating the cost/price of delivering the required services, Offerors should assume that the Government of Tanzania will not exempt or reimburse value –added taxes for in-country purchases of goods and services.**

Budget Line Item Definitions

a. Personnel (Salaries and Wages) Direct labor salary and wages should be proposed in accordance with the Offeror's personnel policies and must meet the regulatory requirements. Unit costs for each proposed position, key or not, should be expressed in an amount per work day with the corresponding level of effort required for the position (number of work days) and then calculated for a total cost for each cost period where the salary would be applicable. Position descriptions briefly explaining what role each proposed person will perform on the activity must be included.

No unburdened base daily rate may exceed the current USAID Contractor Salary Threshold (CST), as described in ADS 302.3.6.10. The total number of days in a year, which should be no more than 260 days, may not exceed the annual salary of $181,500, as prescribed by the current CST as of January 2020. Additionally, per AIDAR 722.170(b), compensation paid to Third Country Nationals (TCN) and Cooperating Country Nationals (CCN) may not exceed the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by the USAID Mission, without prior approval of the Mission Director or the Assistant Administrator having program responsibility of the activity. Offerors should submit a request for a waiver with the cost proposal for any proposed TCN Long Term Technical Assistance (LTTA) employees.

NOTE: Guidance including the benefits and allowances authorized for Tanzania US Mission local staff will be provided to Offerors.

Narratives must provide a discussion of the estimated annual escalation of all salaries where applicable. Salaries proposed in excess of maximum annual salary rate “Contractor’s Salary Threshold (CST), must be thoroughly justified in a request for approval submitted with the cost proposal.

b. Fringe Benefits FAR 31.205-6 provides for allowances and services provided by the Contractor to its employees as compensation in addition to regular wages and salaries. If the contractor has a fringe benefit rate that has been approved by an agency of the Government, such rate should be used and evidence of its approval should be provided. If a fringe benefit rate has not been so approved, the proposal should propose a rate and explain how the rate was determined. If the latter is used, the narrative should include a detailed breakdown comprised of all items of fringe benefits (e.g., unemployment insurance, workers compensation, health and life insurance, retirement, FICA, etc.) and the costs of each, expressed in dollars and as a percentage of salaries.

c. Consultants Consultants are members of a particular profession or possess a special skill and who are not officers or employees of the Offeror. Unit costs for each proposed position, should be expressed in an amount per workday with the corresponding level of effort required for the position (number of workdays) and then calculated to a total cost for each cost period.

Additionally, it must be clearly stated as to why the hiring of a consultant is considered more appropriate than utilizing LTTA.

d. Travel, Transportation and Per diem Cost principles in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provide for costs for transportation, lodging, meals and other related travel costs. Costs should be broken down by the number of trips, domestic and international must be separate, and the estimated cost per trip, including airfare, per diem in accordance with State Department Per Diem Rates.

The origin and destination, purpose for each proposed trip, duration of travel, and number of individuals traveling must be specified. For known trips, the budget narrative must identify the name/position of traveler, purpose of trip, origin/destination (and intervening stops), and dates of travel. The narrative must also include a description of the source of that particular cost estimate (historical experience with the cost item, catalogue price, vendor price quotes, etc.). Per Diem should be based on the Offeror's normal travel policies (Offerors may choose to refer to the Federal Standardized Travel Regulations for cost estimates); however, the rates cannot exceed those of the Federal Standardized Travel Regulations for cost estimates. Offerors must review all regulations related to Business Class Travel for Contractor’s Employees and base cost/business proposals on current regulations. Blended per diem rates are unallowable.

Should the Offeror propose expatriate long-term personnel, the Offeror should assume the Government of Tanzania will not approve the work permit and/or residency permit application within the first 90 days of the employee’s relocation to Tanzania. Offerors should expect to send the employee and his/her dependents to a third country at least once while waiting for the permit requests to be processed. The USAID/Tanzania guidance regarding costs associated with visa travel is attached to this RFP.

e. Equipment and Supplies A list of proposed non-expendable property purchases. Specify all equipment to be purchased, including the type of equipment, the manufacturer, the unit cost, the number of units to be purchased and the expected geographic source. Goods and services provided by the Offerors under this USAID-financed award are expected to be subject to the 935 Geographic Code.

Specify all equipment, materials and supplies expected to be purchased, including type, unit cost, and number of units for each category.

f. Subcontracts This provides for any contract entered into by a sub-contractor to furnish supplies or services for performance of a prime contract. Information sufficient to determine the reasonableness of the cost/price of each specific subcontract must be included. Subcontract costs shall be proposed for each year. Additionally, Offerors shall identify each subcontractor’s effort in relation to Section C. Separate budgets (with the same level of details as the prime budget) must be submitted for each subcontractor proposed to have a total estimated cost of $2,000,000 and above.

g. Other Direct Costs

This includes costs such as report preparation costs, passports and visas fees, medical exams and inoculations, insurance (other than insurance included in the Offeror's fringe benefits), as well as any other miscellaneous costs, which directly benefit the technical approach proposed by the Offeror. The narrative must provide a breakdown and support for all other direct costs.

For seminars, workshops and conferences, if any, the Offeror must indicate the purpose, venue and duration of proposed conferences and seminars, their relationship to the contract objectives, along with estimates of costs. Offerors must consider any normal security costs (such as for security-related equipment, communications and guards) required for contract implementation.

h. Allowances Allowances must be broken down by specific type and by person. Allowances must be in accordance with the Offeror’s policies and the applicable regulations and policies established by the U.S. Department of State.

i. Communications Specific information regarding the type of communication cost at issue (i.e. mail, telephone, cellular phones, internet etc.) must be included in order to allow an assessment of the realism and reasonableness of these costs.

j. Office Rent Specific information regarding the cost of any facilities needed to perform contract activities must be provided. The information must identify the location, the unit cost (rent), the time period the facilities are needed and the number of facilities. Only facilities that directly benefit the contract activities must be included in this category; all other facility costs must be included in the indirect cost category. The Offeror must also provide information related to square footage of the office space.

k. Grants Under Contract At the time of grant award, Offeror must provide information sufficient to determine reasonableness of costs proposed for each grantee. Detailed information documenting basis for proposed costs (including Indirect Costs) must be provided in the budget narrative. This section is exclusively for the cost of the grant and must not include costs related to management or oversight of the grant. Offerors must include a Plug-in figure of $7,500,000 for Grants under Contracts as part of their Total Estimated Cost. While the total dollar amount is fixed, the break down by year may vary based on the annual work plan.

l. Indirect Costs FAR 31.203 and FAR 42.700 provides for those remaining costs (indirect) that are to be allocated to the contract. The Offeror must support the proposed indirect cost rate with a letter from a cognizant U.S. Government audit agency or with sufficient information for USAID to determine the reasonableness of the rates. See below for additional information regarding indirect cost submission requirements.

Offerors must propose ceilings for all indirect costs for the prime and all major subcontractors.

The Offeror and each proposed major subcontractor must include a complete copy of its most current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) or other documentation from its cognizant Government Audit Agency, if any, stating the most recent final indirect cost rates.

The proposal must also include the name and address of the Government Audit Agency, and the name and telephone number of the auditor.

If the Offeror or any major subcontractor does not have a cognizant Government Audit Agency, the proposal must include:

(i) Audited balance sheets and profit and loss statements for the last two complete years, and the current year-to-date statements (or such lesser period of time if the Offeror is a newly formed organization). The profit and loss statements must include detail of the total cost of goods and services sold, including a listing of the various indirect administrative costs, and be supplemented by information on the prime Contractor’s customary indirect cost allocation method, together with supporting computations of the basis for the indirect cost rate(s) proposed; and

(ii) The most recent two fiscal year pool and base cost compositions along with derived rates, the bases of allocation of these rates and an independent certified audit by a certified accounting firm of these rates.

(iii)Multipliers: When proposing Time and Material subcontracts, the Offeror shall provide the multiplier and its costs breakdown.

m. Demobilization Costs:

The Offeror should identify demobilization costs for the completion of the contract.

n. Fee:

The Offeror must propose and substantiate a reasonable fixed fee. The proposed fee must be justified based upon the following factors: technical, management, support for Federal socioeconomic programs, and cost control. Any additional factors must be discussed as a basis for fee. A narrative for each fixed fee factor which explains the basis for the fixed fee proposal and supports the technical proposal must be submitted.

Supporting Documents

The Offeror must provide additional supporting budget documentation to substantiate any proposed costs. Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) must be included in the Cost Proposal.

Other supporting documentation may be submitted if the Offeror believes that it is necessary to substantiate, or support costs proposed by the Offeror.

(3) Biographical Data Sheets/Local Compensation Plan.

The Offeror must submit USAID Form 1420-17, “Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet”, biographical information on the individuals to be employed in the performance of the contract: (1) All individuals to be sent outside the United States, and (2) any employees designated as “key personnel”. USAID interprets all individuals to include contractor employees and consultants.

Offeror must submit a compensation plan covering all proposed initial salaries and salary ranges for all positions for the Contracting Officer’s review. The salary scale must reflect the Offeror’s proposed staffing plan covering all planned positions together with the Offeror's compensation policies. The compensation plan must also include the Contractor’s fringe benefit package along with a description of how cost of living and/or merit-based increases are calculated.

(4) Policies and Procedures. Offerors must submit a copy of personnel policies, especially regarding salary and wage scales, fringe benefits, merit increases, promotions, leave, differentials, travel and per diem regulations, etc.

(5) Subcontracting Plan. Unless the Offeror is a small business concern, the Offeror must include its small business and small disadvantaged business subcontracting plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9 entitled “Small Business and Small Disadvantaged Business Subcontracting Plan.”

(6) Letters of Commitment (Subcontractors). The Cost/Business proposal must include a letter on subcontractor letterhead, and signed by an authorized representative of each subcontractor, which specifically indicates the subcontractor’s agreement to be included in the Offeror’s proposed teaming arrangement.

(7) Joint Venture Information. If two or more parties have formed a partnership or joint venture (see FAR Subpart 9.6), for the purposes of submitting a proposal under this solicitation and, if selected, would perform the contract as a single entity, they must submit, as an attachment to the Cost/Business Proposal, the Corporate Charter, By-Laws, or Joint Venture or Partnership Agreement. In addition, the teaming arrangements must be identified, company relationships must be fully disclosed, and respective responsibilities and method of work must be expressly stipulated. The joint venture or partnership agreement must include a full discussion of the relationship between the organizations, including identification of the organization, which will have responsibility for negotiation of contract, which organization will have accounting responsibility, how work will be allocated, and profit or fee, if any, shared. In addition, the principles to the joint venture or partnership agreement must agree to be jointly and severally liable for the acts or omissions of the other.

(8) Evidence of Responsibility. The Offeror and each partner/subcontractor must submit evidence of responsibility for the Contracting Officer to consider when making a responsibility determination pursuant to the requirements of FAR Subsection 9.104-1. However, in the case of a small business Offeror, the Contracting Officer will comply with FAR 19.6. Accordingly, prime Offerors must address each element of responsibility.

To be determined responsible, a prospective contractor must:

(i) Have adequate financial resources to perform the contract, or the ability to obtain them (see FAR 9.104-3(a));

(ii) Be able to comply with the required or proposed delivery or performance schedule, taking into consideration all existing commercial and governmental commitments;

(iii) Have a satisfactory performance record (See FAR 9.104-3(b) and Subpart 42.15). A prospective contractor shall not be determined responsible or non-responsible solely on the basis of a lack of relevant performance history, except as provided in FAR 9.104-2;

(iv) Have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics;

(v) Have the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills, or the ability to obtain them (including, as appropriate, such elements as production control procedures, property control systems, quality assurance measures, and safety programs applicable to materials to be produced or services to be performed by the prospective contractor and subcontractors). (See FAR 9.104-3(a));

(vi) Have the necessary production, construction, and technical equipment and facilities, or the ability to obtain them (See FAR 9.104-3(a)); and

(vii) Be otherwise qualified and eligible to receive an award under applicable laws and regulations (e.g., Equal Opportunity, Clean Air and Water, etc.).

(9) Information to Support Consent to Subcontractors. The Offeror must provide the information required in FAR 52.244-2(e)(1) for all identified proposed subcontractors regardless of dollar value in order for proposed subcontractors to be considered by the Contracting Officer for consent of subcontractors to be granted with the initial award.

(10) Information Concerning Work-Day, Work-Week, and Paid Absences.

(i) The Offeror and each proposed partner/subcontractor must indicate the number of hours and days in its normal work-day and its normal work-week, both domestically and overseas, for employees and consultants. In addition, the Offeror and each proposed partner/subcontractor must indicate how paid absences (US holidays, local holidays, vacation and sick) will be recovered.

(ii) A normal work-year, including paid absences (holidays, vacations, and sick leave) is 2,080 hours (260 days x 8 hours per day). However, some organizations do not have an 8-hour workday, and some accounting systems normally provide for direct recovery of paid absences by using a work-year of less than 2,080 hours to compute individuals' unburdened daily rates. The Offeror and partners/subcontractors must describe their work day and work week policies.

(iii)The work day and work week policies and the method of accounting for paid absences for the Offeror and partners/subcontractors in effect at time of award must remain in force throughout the period of the award.

(11) The Offeror must propose costs that are realistic and reasonable for the work in accordance with the Offeror’s technical approach. Cost proposals shall be evaluated as part of best value determination.

(12) Cancellation ceiling In accordance with FAR 17.1, Multi-year Contracting, the cancellation ceiling established for this contract is $800,000. This amount, which is negotiable, will be reduced at the conclusion of each program year to reflect the contractor's recovery of non-recurring costs as performance progresses.

The first program year is not subject to cancellation. Cancellation dates for each succeeding program year will be included in the resultant contract and will indicate the specific calendar date by which funding for these requirements will be established. The cancellation dates will generally be the first day of each program year.

Offeror must propose detailed estimates, by activity year as well as for the total multi-year requirement, for any pre-production or startup, labor learning, and other non-recurring costs that will be incurred in the execution of the proposed contract (see FAR 17.106-1). This information shall be provided in the format provided below and shall be included in a clearly identified section of the cost proposal. The Government may use the Offeror's proposed estimates to revise the cancellation ceiling established by the Government. The cancellation ceiling will not be an evaluation factor for award.

FORMAT FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSED CANCELLATION CEILING

The total proposed cancellation ceiling for this contract is $[to be inserted by offeror].

Contract Year Date Cancellation Ceilings 2 Date, 2021 $ 3 Date, 2022 $ 4 Date, 2023 $ 5 Date, 2024 $

COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

In a separate MS Excel Worksheet, Offerors must identify highlight all anticipated environmental compliance costs. The costs identified in this spreadsheet should not include calculations that affect the summary or detailed budget. This information is being requested to enable the evaluation team to determine whether an adequate amount of funding for environmental compliance related activities is captured.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND

MARKING PLAN (BIP AND MP)

Offerors in the competitive range must submit a draft branding implementation plan and marking plan that responds to the branding strategy outlined in Section D of this RFP. Offerors should only submit this plan upon receiving notification from the Contracting Officer.

Branding Implementation Plan (BIP): It must describe how the program will be communicated to the beneficiaries and promoted to host-country citizens. It will outline the events and materials the Contractor will use to deliver the message that the assistance is from the American people. More specifically, Branding Implementation Plan must address the following:

1. How to incorporate the message, “This assistance is from the American people jointly sponsored by USAID and the Government of Tanzania,” in communications and materials directed to beneficiaries, or provide an explanation if this message is not appropriate or possible.

2. How to publicize the program, project, or activity in Tanzania and a description of the communications tools to be used. Such tools may include the following: press releases, press conferences, media interviews, site visits, success stories, beneficiary testimonials, professional photography, videos, web casts, e-invitations, or other emails sent to group lists, such as participants for a training session, blast emails, or other Internet activities, etc.

3. The key milestones or opportunities anticipated to generate awareness that the program, project, or activity is from the American people and is jointly sponsored by USAID and the Government of Tanzania, or an explanation if this is not appropriate or possible. Such milestones may be linked to specific points in time, such as the beginning or end of a program, or to an opportunity to showcase publications or other materials, research findings, or program success. These include, but are not limited to, the following: launching the program, announcing research findings, publishing reports or studies, spotlighting trends, highlighting success stories, featuring beneficiaries as spokespeople, securing endorsements from partner municipalities, ministry or local organizations, promoting final or interim reports, and communicating activity impact/overall results.

Marking Plan (MP): The Offeror must develop a MP to enumerate the public communications, commodities, and program materials and other items that visibly bear or must be marked with the USAID Standard Graphic identity.

Cost: Offeror should propose costs associated with the implementation of its branding strategy and marking plan.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MARKING PLAN (BIP AND MP)