RFP 72062321R00003 - LLS - Q_A.pdf

USAID Responses to Questions for Request for Proposal (RFP) Number (RFP) No.

72062321R00003 – Locally Legitimate Stabilization for USAID/Somalia

1. RFP page 119 states that “Any text boxes must also be in no less than 9-point font, as to not unduly interfere with readability.” Can USAID please confirm that tables, charts, and graphics may also use 9-point font?

Response: Confirmed

2. RFP page 47 states “indicators must align with the USAID Standard Foreign Assistance (F) indicators.” Can USAID clarify what is meant by alignment?

Response: USAID clarifies that the contractor must take into consideration USAID Foreign Assistance

Standard indicators and the activity theory of change and logical framework when selecting performance indicators. USAID expects that the AMELP will include a mix of Foreign Assistance Standard and custom indicators. Section F.6 (12) of the RFP has been amended accordingly.

3. RFP page 123 states in section 6. (a) “1. Using the Past Performance Information template

(Attachment J.2) provide an annex to the technical proposal …" RFP Attachment J.2. Contractor

Past Performance Information instructs offerors not to fill out the bottom half of the J.2. form “if

CPARS report(s) have been finalized in the CPARS system for the activity.” This portion of the form, not be filled out if CPARS are available, requests information on client Contact

Information, description of the performance, scope of work, location of work, period of performance, and dollar value. RFP page 123 subsequently states in section 6. (a) 2. “For each of the contracts listed above a list of contact names, job titles, mailing addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and a description of the performance to include: Scope of work or complexity/diversity of tasks, Primary location(s) of work, Term of performance, Skills/expertise required, Dollar value, and Contract type, i.e., fixed-price, cost reimbursement, etc.” Can USAID please confirm that for activities for which finalized CPARS are available, offerors should only submit J.2 with the top portion of the form completed along with a “copy of the most recently completed CPAR record for the referenced award” (per RFP page 124, 6 (a) 3.), and not include the information requested on RFP page 123 6. (a) 2.?

4. RFP page 119 states “(v) The Cover Page, Table of Contents, Acronym list, Executive Summary, Past Performance Forms and associated CPAR records, letters of commitment, and

CV’s/Resumes of Key Personnel including references do not count against the 45 page limitation and can be included as separate Annexes.” RFP page 119 subsequently states “L.6.1(2) Executive

Summary (not to exceed 3 pages): The executive summary describes the basic elements of the

Offeror’s proposal and does count towards the 45-page limit.” Can USAID please confirm that the Executive Summary does not count towards the 45-page limit?

Response: Confirmed.

5. Page 7 of the RFP, section B.4 Price Schedule. Please confirm if offerors are to include any applicable indirect costs associated with GUCs, Construction, Research Products, and Short-

Term Technical Assistance, under the line item for “Total Estimated Costs (exclusive of Grants

Under Contracts)”? If not, please indicate the alternative USAID wants to see.

Response: All plug figures are exclusive of indirect costs.

6. Page 7 of the RFP, section B.4 Price Schedule includes plug amounts for the following: GUCs, Construction, Research Products, and Short-Term Technical Assistance. Attachment J.1 Budget

Template only references GUCs and Construction. Please confirm if the Research Products and

Short-Term Technical Assistance plug amounts should fall under Subcontracts, b) Other

Subcontracts? If not, please advise on where they should be proposed in relation to the budget template.

Response: Attachment J.1 was a template to provide guidance. Nonetheless, for the purposes of clarity, the attachment J.1 “Budget Template” has now been updated to include all plug figures as required.

7. Attachment J.1 Budget Template does not define a consultant category as it is defined separately under Page 126, item (C) Consultants. Please confirm if this should be a separate category or if offerors are to incorporate any consultant costs under the cost category for

Subcontracts, (b) Other Subcontracts?

Response: Consultants are indicated in the budget as a separate category. See updated Section L.7 and

Budget template.

8. Section C.2, page 9 of RFP states that the average size of an LLS grant is between $70k and

$100k (total range is between $1k to $500k). However, section F.7, page 53, lists approximately

134 GUCs over the 5 years. With a plug of $9M, this comes out to an average of $67,164. Please confirm that the plug is sufficient based on the above?

Response: Confirmed. Section C.2 of the RFP has been amended to reflect the average size of a LLS small grant is expected to be between $50,000 to $100,000.

9. RFP Section L, page 121 lists the Activity Cycle Chart as a subsection of the “Agility and

Flexibility” section of the Technical Approach. However, RFP page 120 requests that the “Small

Grant Activities (SGA) and database management” section of the Technical approach “should provide a chart (which will not count towards the page limit) and a narrative description to supplement the chart of the Small Grant Activity Cycle that demonstrates the Offeror’s understanding of an in-kind small grant activity cycle...” Could USAID please instead allow the

Activity Cycle Chart narrative to be a subsection under the requested “Small Grant Activities

(SGA) and database management” section of the Technical approach rather than under “Agility and Flexibility”?

Response: Offerors should consider the Activity Cycle chart as a subsection of the “Small Grant

Activities (SGA) and database management” and not part of the “Agility and Flexibility” section. Section

L.6.1 has been amended to remove the activity cycle chart.

10. Can USAID please confirm that the Activity Cycle Chart requested under both the “Small Grant

Activities (SGA) and database management” and “Agility and Flexibility” sections of the

Technical Approach (RFP pages 120-121) should be included in Annex A as part of the 5 page limit for that Annex, and that the narrative to accompany that graphic (requested under “Agility and Flexibility” and limited to 2 pages) should be included in the Technical Approach section of the proposal under the “Small Grant Activities (SGA) and database management” section?

[Please refer to prior question about the placement of the Activity Cycle Chart within the

Technical Approach.]

Response: The narrative for the Activity Cycle Chart should be included in the “Small Grant Activities

(SGA) and database management” section as should the Activity Cycle Chart. The Activity Cycle Chart will not count towards the overall page limit. Offerors should not include the Activity Cycle Chart in

Annex A The RFP has been modified, eliminating the language referencing the Activity Cycle Chart in the

“Agility and Flexibility” section. The chart does not count toward the page limit, but the accompanying narrative does.

11. Page 37 of the RFP states that one of the KP positions is the “Director of Analysis and Learning,” while page 121 of the RFP states that the position is the “Director of Analysis Research and

Learning.” Can USAID please clarify the correct position title for this KP?

Response: The correct title is Director of Analysis and Learning.

12. Page 23, Section C.5.12 Construction Activities: Could USAID please confirm the reference to

ADS 301_maw is supposed to be ADS 201_maw?

Response: Section C.5.12 has been modified significantly, citing correct ADS references and changing the

IBC used for this contract. Offerors should submit their proposals accordingly.

13. Page 64, section H12: ADS 548 has been archived. Could USAID please confirm that USAID Chief

Information Officer (CIO) analysis support is now longer required?

Response: Section H.12 has been removed from the RFP. Please refer to its replacement Section H.12

“LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DEVIATION NOS. M/OAA-DEV-FAR-18-

2C AND M/OAA-DEV-AIDAR-18-2C) (APRIL 2018)” for information on CIO support.

14. Page 65, section H13: Could USAID clarify what Information Technology would be considered

"incidental" to the contract?

Response: Equipment that is not required for the performance of this contract.

15. Page 65, section H13: Could USAID clarify what Information Technology would be considered used to a "significant extent in the performance of a service or the furnishing of a product"?

Response: Services or equipment that are necessary that are necessary to meet the requirements of this contract.

16. Page 66, section H14: ADS 201.5.10g does not exist. Could USAID please clarify the reference?

Response: This reference has been removed.

17. Page 80, section I.4: Can USAID please clarify if it anticipates issuing a letter contract?

Response: At this time USAID does not anticipate issuing a letter contract.

18. Page 130, Part 8--Information to Support Consent to Subcontractors. Could USAID please clarify if consent is required for ancillary services?

Response: Consent to subcontract is required in accordance with FAR 52.244-2

19. According to Huawei’s public blog, Huawei has built Somalia’s 3G, 4G, and 4.5G networks. Given the backhaul and interconnection challenges and considering that no locally available alternative telecommunications and data providers are available in Somalia, contractors will be required to rely on internet and telephone service providers that use prohibited equipment and services under Section 889. Can USAID please confirm that offerors should include costs related to VSAT (for internet) and satellite phones (for calls and text messages) in their budget to ensure compliance with Section 889, as per FAR 52.204-24? If not, should offerors expect that USAID’s existing waiver for internet and phone services will apply to the award through September 2022 and possible after? In addition, can USAID provide a list of cleared telecommunications service providers in Somalia, if any?

Response: The current waiver is in place up to September 2022. Contractors should therefore budget accordingly for any period past the deadline for the existing waiver. Should the waiver be extended, the contractor will be advised accordingly. USAID cannot provide a list of cleared telecommunications service providers in Somalia.

20. RFP page 16 references the ‘intermediate results for Objective 1 described in the 2021-2025

CDCS.’ Can USAID provide a copy of the 2021-2025 CDCS?

Response: the full public CDCS is expected to be released towards the end of March 2021. Until that time, please use information provided in the CDCS slide deck (Attachment J.8), which provides sufficient detail for the purposes of this proposal.

21. RFP page 21 references a ‘systems-based approach to countering violent extremism described in

Section C.5.4’. However, Section C.5.4 details strategic communications. Can USAID clarify or explain further?

Response: The systems based approach to countering violent extremism is described in Annex I of the

RFP not C.5.4. Please refer to Annex I for a more detailed explanation of a systems based approach to

Countering Violent Extremism.

22. RFP page 45, Deliverables: Plans, Point 10 states “draft grants manual must be submitted to CO and COR no later than 90 calendar days after contract awarded”. It later states “a finalized version of completed manual must be submitted to and approved by CO before the contractor is permitted to award the first grant.” Yet, on page 45, Deliverables: Plans, Point 9 states the

Rapid Mobilization Plan “shall include a plan for rapid start-up of activities covering the first 90 calendar days of the contract. The RMP must describe the Contractor plan to ensure timely establishment of its office(s). It shall also address benchmark technical requirements.” Could

USAID please confirm that no GUCs will be issued as part of any technical requirements in the

RMP phase until the CO signs off on the Grants Manual.

Response: Section F.6 is updated to reflect 30 days, not 90 days. No GUCs will be issued in the first 30 days.

23. RFP page 9, C.2. Bullet 1 states “support a management team capable of managing up to 300 small grant activities during the life of the activity. However, RFP Page 53, under Section F.7

Deliverables: Technical, lists Grants under Contract for Years 1-5 as reporting on a total of 134 grants. Can USAID please clarify or explain further?

Response: For calculation purposes, please use the 134 grants.

24. On page 24, Section C.6. the second paragraph, states "Within 30 days of award, the contractor will develop and submit for approval procedures for identifying, developing, managing, amplifying, and closing Small Grant Activities (SGAs), all in accordance with ADS 302.” However, page 45, Section F6 Reports and Deliverables, point 10 states the "draft Grants Manual must be submitted to the CO and COR no later than 90 calendar days after contract award." Can USAID clarify if the deliverable is due to the COR and CO 30 or 90 days after contract award?

Response: Section C.6 is correct. Section F.6 is updated to reflect 30 days, not 90 days.

25. On RFP page 10, Section C 2, it states "Conduct research and regular contextual analysis...Contractor will be expected to provide up to 16 reports per year.” However, page 52, Section F.7 Deliverables: Technical, states "Major Research and / or Analytical products will be 2 in year 1 and Rapid / Small Scale Research will be 6 per year.” The two combined equals 8 research products. Can USAID clarify the number of reports requested in year 1 and subsequently?

Response: Please use the quantities in Section F.7 to formulate the proposal. The discrepancy has been changed in the RFP.

26. Could USAID please clarify whether the line item in Table B.4 on page 7 of the RFP labeled “Total

Estimated Cost (exclusive of Grants Under Contract)” should read “Total Estimated Cost

(exclusive of Grants Under Contract, Construction, Research Products, and Short-Term Technical

Assistance)”?

Response: This is correct. The change has been made in the solicitation.

27. On page 28, in Section C.9.2., the RFP states, “The Contractor and USAID will hold regular deep dives into the operational context and review programmatic effectiveness, no less than twice a year.” Can USAID please clarify if these deep dives are different from the Pause and Reflect

Sessions mentioned on page 10 (C.2), “Conduct regular pause and reflect sessions that reassess the program’s operating context and progress towards the program’s objectives and identify areas of possible program adaptation. At least one pause and reflect session will be conducted during each year of implementation”?

- If these are not different, can USAID please clarify if the Pause and Reflect Sessions should be held once or twice a year?

Response: Pause and reflect sessions and deep dives are the same thing. The section has been amended

“The Contractor and USAID will hold regular pause and reflect sessions into the operational context and review programmatic effectiveness, no less than once a year.”

28. Would USAID consider adjusting the J1. Budget Template on page 93 to include Major Line Item categories for 1) Consultants and 2) Training and Conferences to maintain consistency with

Section L.7 Part 2 – Proposed Costs/Prices?

Response: Attachment J.1 “Budget Template” has been updated in accordance with Section L.7 Part 2.

29. On page 119, in section L.6 (iii), the RFP states, “All required aspects of the technical proposal as noted below must be combined into a single PDF, and the page limitation (45) will be calculated by the total number of pages of the entire PDF. Number each page consecutively.” However, since the Technical Proposal includes sections and annexes that are not included in the 45-page limitation, the total PDF will be longer than 45 pages. Please can USAID clarify if the Annexes, including the Cover Page, Table of Contents, Acronym List, and Executive Summary, should be submitted as a separate document or if the total PDF can be longer than 45 pages?

Response: The cover page, table of contents, acronym list, and executive summary can be included as front matter to the proposal and will not be included in the 45 page limitation.

30. On page 120, in section L.6.1 (4) a), the RFP states that, “Offerors should provide a chart (which will not count towards the page limit) and a narrative description to supplement the chart of the

Small Grant Activity Cycle.” However, this is not included in the list of items that will not be included in the 45-page limit on pg. 119 or in the list of technical proposal annexes on pg. 125.

Can USAID please clarify if this chart counts towards the 45-page limit or if it is part of the 5 pages allotted to Illustrative Charts and Graphs on pg. 125?

Response: The narrative for the Activity Cycle Chart should be included in the “Small Grant Activities

(SGA) and database management” section as should the Activity Cycle Chart. The Activity Cycle Chart will not count towards the overall page limit. Offerors should not include the Activity Cycle Chart in

Annex A.

31. On page 120, section L.6.1 (4) a) the RFP requests a Small Grant Activity Cycle Chart and on page

121 the RFP requests an Activity Cycle Chart.

- Can USAID please clarify if these are the same chart?

- If they are different, can USAID please explain what should be included in each chart?

Response: Yes, these are the same charts. For clarity, Offerors should consider the Activity Cycle chart as a subsection of the “Small Grant Activities (SGA) and database management” and not part of the “Agility and Flexibility” section.

32. Could USAID please confirm that subcontractors are not required to submit Evidence of

Responsibility documentation as noted on page 130, section L.7?

Response: Confirmed, however this section does not preclude subcontractors from submitting evidence of responsibility documentation.

33. Section B.4. on the Price Schedule. Please confirm that the amount in the first row of the table for Total Estimated Cost (exclusive of Grants Under Contracts) should be exclusive of the plug figures for Construction, Research Products, and Short-Term Technical Assistance.

Response: This is correct. The table has been modified in the solicitation.

34. Section L.7, Part 2 on Proposed Costs/Prices does not list or describe Research Products or

Short-Term Technical Assistance. Will USAID consider providing specific instructions regarding these two plug figures?

Response: Section L.7 has been updated to provide additional information.

35. Section C.5.12 on Construction Activities. Please confirm the accurate ADS reference to construction should be ADS303_maw, instead of ADS301_maw.

Response: Construction under Assistance shall comply with ADS Reference is ADS 303_maw. Section

C.5.12 has been modified significantly, citing correct ADS references and changing the IBC used for this contract. Offerors should submit their proposals accordingly.

36. Section, C.9.2 “Reflection and Assessment”, makes reference to twice yearly SRS’s (“deep dives”). In Section C.2, the RFP refers to annual “pause and reflect” sessions. Would USAID consider one SRS and two Pause & Reflect sessions a year to amplify continuous learning, and focus annual strategy reviews?

Response: Pause and reflect sessions and deep dives are the same thing. The section should read “The

Contractor and USAID will hold regular pause and reflect sessions into the operational context and review programmatic effectiveness, no less than once a year.”

37. Section L.6 confirms text boxes may be in size 9 font. Please confirm if offerors may also use a 9-point font for tables and graphics?

38. Section L.6(v) states that “The Cover Page, Table of Contents, Acronym list, Executive Summary, Past Performance Forms and associated CPAR records, letters of commitment, and

CV’s/Resumes of Key Personnel including references do not count against the 45 page limitation and can be included as separate Annexes.” Please confirm that the cover page, table of contents, acronym list, and executive summary are to be included as front matter to the proposal, and not as annexes.

39. Section L.6(iii) of the RFP states that “All required aspects of the technical proposal as noted below must be combined into a single PDF, and the page limitation will be calculated by the total number of pages of the entire PDF….” Given that there will be front matter and annexes included in the PDF, please confirm that the total number of pages will NOT be calculated by the total number of pages of the entire PDF.

https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/303maw

40. Section L.6(v) ofthe RFP states that “The Cover Page, Table of Contents, Acronym list, Executive

Summary, Past Performance Forms and associated CPAR records, letters of commitment, and

CV’s/Resumes of Key Personnel including references do not count against the 45 page limitation and can be included as separate Annexes.” However, Section L.6.1(2) states that “The executive summary describes the basic elements of the Offeror’s proposal and does count towards the 45-page limit.” Please confirm that the executive summary does not count against the 45-page limit.

Response: The executive summary does not count against the 45-page limit.

41. The acronym list that is allowed as a non-counting page in L.6 (v) is not listed under L.6.1 on the

Organization of Technical Proposal. Please confirm that offerors may include an acronym list that does not count toward the 45-page limit.

Response: Confirmed. The solicitation has been updated to reflect the acronym list under Section L.6.1

42. Section L.6.1.(4)a). Please confirm that offerors may present the two-page activity cycle and accompanying narrative as an annex.

Response: Offerors may present the two-page small grant activity cycle as an annex. The accompanying narrative for the activity cycle chart will count towards the 45-page limit.

43. Section L.6.1. (5) regarding Management Plan and Key Personnel. Please confirm CVs are required for only the COP and DCOP?

44. In Section L.6.1(6)(d)(3)(B), the RFP requests a “copy [of] no more than 10 relevant, recent SF

294 ‘Subcontracting Reports for Individual Contracts’ for each contract [that offerors were] required to report for the past 2 years.” Please confirm if an offeror can list those contracts in lieu of providing copies of the full reports housed in the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting

System.

45. In Attachment J.4 (p.96), the RFP provides an LCP range with just a grade 3 low and a grade 12 high from an LCP approved in 2020. Will USAID provide a complete Local Compensation Plan to accurately capture the complete salary scale for all local positions?

Response: The full Somalia LCP is not a publically available document. Offerors should use the range provided as a baseline to establish their own, reasonable compensation plan in accordance with local labor law.

46. Please confirm offerors must submit past performance information as an annex to the technical approach

47. Section L.6.1 (5) b Key Personnel on page 123 states, “USAID discourages the use of exclusivity agreements with key personnel as this limits USAID’s ability to receive the best services.”

- Could USAID please confirm that it encourages COP and DCOP candidates to bid non-exclusively, and potentially bid with more than one offeror?

Response: USAID discourages the use of exclusivity agreements with Key Personnel.

48. Section B.4 Price Schedule on page 7 provides the Price Schedule table and lists Research

Products $1,320,000 and Short-Term Technical Assistance $1,009,500.

- Can USAID please confirm if values listed for Research Products and Short-Term

Technical Assistance are amounts that are ceiling figures for these line items?

Response: Confirmed, these amounts are ceiling figures

49. Section L.6.1 Organization of Technical Proposal on page 125 states Annex A must include

“Illustrative Charts and Graph (not to exceed 5 pages). This must include an organizational chart.”

- Will USAID please allow Offeror’s to use 11x17 sized paper for improved readability for the organizational chart and all other graphs and charts as described in Annex A in L.6.1

(7) a.?

Response: Oversized paper will not be accepted. Offerors can shift from portrait to landscape formatting for charts and graphs if that assists in their visual representation. Offerors can use a font no less than 9 point for charts, graphics, and graphs as needed.

50. Section L.6.1 on page 121 states, “Activity Cycle Chart: Offeror should submit an illustrative

Activity Cycle Chart and narrative that demonstrates the Offeror’s understanding of a rapid in-kind grant activity cycle consistent with the LLS Scope of Work, including but not limited to grant development, responsibilities, and procurement of in-kind grants and subcontracts. This is limited to two pages.”

- Will USAID please confirm that the Activity Cycle chart can be submitted as part of

Annex A?

- Can USAID please confirm that the 2-page limit is regarding the chart only and the narrative can be included in the 45-page technical approach?

- Will USAID please confirm the Small Grant Activity Cycle provided on page 120 in L.6.1

(4) a) is the same as the Activity Cycle Chart provided on page 121, L.6.1 (4) a).

Response: The Activity Cycle Chart can be submitted as an Annex. The 2-page limit is only for the

Activity Cycle Chart. The narrative can be included in the 45-page technical approach and will count towards the 45-page limit. The Small Grant Activity Cycle on page 120 and the Activity Cycle Chart on page 121 are the same chart.

51. Section L.6 on page 119 states, “the Cover Page, Table of Contents, Acronym list, Executive

CV’s/Resumes of Key Personnel including references do not count against the 45 page limitation and can be included as separate Annexes.” However, Section L.6.1 on page 119 states, “The executive summary describes the basic elements of the Offeror’s proposal and does count towards the 45-page limit.”

- Will USAID please confirm that the Executive Summary does not count towards the technical proposal 45-page limit?

52. Section L.6 on page 119 states, “Any text boxes must also be in no less than 9-point font, as to not unduly interfere with readability.”

- Will USAID allow Offeror’s to also use a font no less than 9-point for all charts, tables, and graphics as well?

Response: Offerors may use a font no less than 9-point for tables and graphics.

53. Section L.6.1 on page 124 instructs Offerors to submit information on Performance in Using

Small Business Concerns.

- Will USAID please confirm that Offeror’s should submit this information (i.e. narrative summary, no more than 10 SF 294s and SB references) as part of Annex C?

54. Section F.7 Delivery Schedule for Reports and Deliverables on page 53 states, “Frequency and cost per line item are project estimates over the life of a five-year project, assuming a Total

Estimated Cost no more than $50 million.” However, the Cover Page states, “USAID anticipates awarding one CPFF type form contract with a period of performance of 5 years at an estimated cost range of between $44 million and $49 million.”

- Will USAID please clarify whether the estimated cost range is between $44 million and

$50 million or $44 million and $49 million?

Response: The estimated cost range is $44 million to $49 million.

55. Section F.7 Delivery Schedule for Reports and Deliverables on page 53 lists number of GUCs broken out per year. Section L.7 on page 172 states, “Rather, USAID will accept lump-sum amounts, at least indicating the estimated number of grants per year and total estimated amount for each grant.”

- Will USAID please confirm if Offeror should use the number of GUCs listed in Section F.7 as the estimated number of grants per year? Or should Offeror propose their own estimated number of grants per year?

Response: Offerors should use Section F.7 for budget formulation.

56. Section M.2.3 Contractor Past Performance Information on page 135 states, “However, prior to assigning a "neutral" past performance rating, the contracting officer may take into account a broad range of information related to an offeror's performance.”

- Can USAID please clarify what additional information related to an offeror’s performance that they may consider?

Response: Additional information may include, but is not limited to, CPAR records and soliciting performance information from other sources.

57. Section H.14, page 66 The link does not allow the contractor to access

Somalia_TO2_Education_Improved Service Delivery_IEE_021618. Can USAID please provide

Offerors with this document as an attachment?

Response: The referenced attachment was erroneous. The corrected IEE, dated November 4, 2020 is now included as attachment J.9

58. Section I.1, page 79, 52.246-2, 52.246-2 INSPECTION OF SUPPLIES-FIXED-PRICE,

- Would USAID please consider removing this clause, considering the CPFF nature of this contract?

Response: This clause has been replaced with 52.246-3 - Inspection of Supplies - Cost-Reimbursement

59. Section K.1, page 97 includes 52.237-8 RESTRICTION ON SEVERANCE PAYMENTS TO FOREIGN

NATIONALS.

- To facilitate Contractor compliance with local labor law, would USAID please consider including 52.237-9 Waiver of Limitation on Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals?

Response: This is included in Section I.1

60. Section L.7, Part 7, page 130 Letters of Commitment states “The Cost Proposal must include a letter, on subcontractor letterhead, and signed by an authorized representative of each subcontractor.”

- Can USAID please confirm that the Letters of Commitment required in part 7 are for major subcontractors only?

61. Section L.7, Part 2.(3)(L) page 127 Indirect Costs: The RFP notes that Indirect rates proposed cannot be higher than the rates established in the Offeror’s NICRA and requires the Offeror and each major subcontractor to include a complete copy of its most current NICRA or other documentation from its Cognizant Government Audit Agency, if any, stating the most recent provisional indirect cost rates.

- In a case where an Offeror has both an approved provisional indirect rates package and another, more current package that has been submitted but still under review by their cognizant Government Audit Agency, should the Offeror use their approved or submitted rates package?

Response: The offeror must use their approved rates

62. Section L.6.1.6.a.1 pg.123 States that for the Past Performance section the Offeror is to “provide an annex to the technical proposal 5 of the most recent (active or ended no more than 3 years ago) and relevant contracts/agreements for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal.”

- Can USAID confirm that the Offeror is expected to provide up to 5 recent and relevant contracts/agreements?

63. Section L.6.1.6.a page 123 states that “(a) The Offeror (including all partners of a joint venture) must provide performance information for itself and each major subcontractor (defined as having a value of $5 million or greater).” It is our understanding that wholly owned affiliates may be considered as part of the Offeror for past performance.

- Can USAID confirm this understanding and consider revising the language in Section

L.6.1(6)(a) to read “(a) The Offeror (including all partners of a joint venture and affiliates) must provide performance information for itself and each major subcontractor (defined as having a value of $5 million or greater) in accordance with the following” in order to allow for organizational arrangements that may provide USAID with best value offers?

Response: USAID declines to revise this language.

64. Section C.5.12 page 23 states, “When incorporating construction into its community engagement, the contractor will: [second bullet] Ensure all construction or engineering and architectural activities under grants adhere to ADS 301_maw.” However, section C.6 (pg.25) states, “Per USAID regulations, any construction costs cannot be administered under a grant and must be subcontracts.”

- Can USAID confirm that all construction activities can only be subcontracted and not awarded or issued under any grant activity?

Response: Confirmed. Construction can only be awarded under subcontracts. Non-Construction complementary grants that support the holistic approach to the community engagement would be implemented as small grants. Section C.5.12 has been modified significantly, citing correct ADS references and changing the IBC used for this contract. Offerors must submit their proposals accordingly.

65. Section B.4, Price Schedule, p. 7, includes estimates for Research Products and Short-Term

Technical Assistance (STTA); those categories, however, are not listed or defined in Section L.7.

Instructions for the Cost Proposal Attachment J.1 Budget Template. Would USAID please clarify what comprises the estimated figures for Research Products and STTA, or consider removing these line items from Section B.4?

Response: The relevant Sections of the RFP have been updated accordingly.

66. According to Section C.5.12, pp. 22-24, all grants related to construction must adhere to ADS

301_maw. Would USAID please confirm that offerors should instead reference ADS 303, USAID

Implementation of Construction Activities?

Response: Section C.5.12 has been modified significantly, citing correct ADS references and changing the

IBC used for this contract. Offerors should review to ensure proposals follow this guidance.

67. Section C.5.12, Construction Activities, p. 23, states that the contractor is to “solicit USAID direction in the event an activity or group of activities prompt FAA section 611(e) if a single project site or collection of project sites with one occupant and/or owner and/or funder exceeds

$1 million.” Would USAID please confirm that there is a 611(e) in place for this project and whether there are 611(e) requirements to which offerors should respond in the proposal?

- Further, would USAID please clarify what is meant by “a collection of project sites with one occupant or owner and exceeds $1M?” For example, if several schools and the ministry of education building are constructed/renovated within one school district, and the value exceeds $1 million, would a 611(e) be required?

Response: There is not a 611(e) for this award, nor previous stabilization activities (TIS+ and TIS). The contractor, in conjunction with the COR, should carefully monitor the beneficiaries to determine if the totality of USG funding for a single beneficiary would trigger a 611(e).

68. In Section F.5, Key Personnel and Required Positions, p. 39, USAID lists the qualifications for the chief of party as a “Minimum of ten years working in countries similar to Somalia, incorporating elements of stabilization, P/CVE, local governance, justice, peacebuilding, or other programming relevant to the Statement of Work.” Considering that many senior management staff on stabilization programs in countries similar to Somalia have worked in remote management operational arrangements and not in country (e.g., Somalia via Kenya, Libya via Tunisia, Syria via

Turkey), as well as the importance of remote management to the Somalia LLS program, would

USAID consider adjusting the qualifications for the chief of party as follows: “Minimum of ten years of relevant experience working on projects for countries similar to Somalia, either in country or remotely, incorporating elements of stabilization, P/CVE, local governance, justice, peacebuilding, or other programming relevant to the Statement of Work,” or to allow contractors to recommend minimum qualifications for key personnel?

Response: Contractors will not recommend minimum qualifications for key personnel and must adhere to the minimum qualifications in the solicitation.

USAID has modified the language in the minimum requirements of all key personnel to include allowing for remote work. If remote work is counted towards the minimum qualifications, their CV must explicitly say from where they performed the remote work (country) and an estimated percentage of time spent in-country (defined in weeks per year).

69. Section H.12, p. 64, requires the contractor to seek ADS 548 approval for non-expendable property. In 2016, the USAID’s Ombudsman’s office confirmed that ADS Chapter 548 was archived and is no longer being used. We respectfully request that H.12. and the reference to

ADS 548 be removed from the RFP.

Response: This has been removed.

70. Section H.13, p. 65, requires the contractor to request approval for information technology (IT) that is used by the agency or a contractor under a contract with the agency that requires the equipment to a significant extent in the performance of the contract. The RFP does not require the use of specific IT equipment for the performance of the contract and, thus, the IT supplied under the contract will be incidental to the contract. We respectfully request, therefore, that

USAID remove Section H.13.

Response: Denied. This clause remains in the RFP.

71. Would USAID please share the Initial Environmental Examination prepared for the program titled “Somalia_TO2_Education_Improved Service Delivery_IEE_021618” that is referenced in

Section H.14, p. 66?

Response: The referenced attachment was erroneous. The corrected IEE, dated November 4, 2020 is now included as attachment J.9

72. Section I.3, p. 80, includes the Limitation of Government Liability. This clause is included in solicitations only when a Letter Contract is contemplated. Considering that a Letter Contract is not contemplated under this solicitation, we respectfully ask USAID to remove Section I.3 from the RFP.

Response: This has been removed.

73. Attachment J.4. includes a brief overview of the 2020 Somalia Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

Would USAID please share the full LCP with offerors?

Response: The full Somalia LCP is not a publically available document. Offerors should use the range provided as a baseline to establish their own, reasonable compensation plan in accordance with local labor law.

74. Section L.6.(v), p. 119, states that “the Cover Page, Table of Contents, Acronym list, Executive

CV’s/Resumes of Key Personnel including references do not count towards the 45-page page limit per instructions and can be included as separate Annexes,” and Section L.6.1(2), p. 119, states that “the executive summary describes the basic elements of the Offeror’s proposal and does count towards the 45-page limit.” Would USAID please confirm that the Cover Page, Table of Contents, Acronym list, Executive Summary, Past Performance Forms and associated CPAR records, letters of commitment, CV’s/Resumes of Key Personnel including references, and the

Annexes do not count toward the 45-page limit?