Attachment 1 - Questions and Answers_A0002.pdf

Market Systems & Resilience Activity Solicitation - Questions from Industry - Amendment 0002 # Question Answer 1 The responses provided to Questions 3 and 40 (provided below) appear to offer different guidance related to budgeting of travel costs. Question 3 allows offerors to present detailed travel cost information in the Detailed tab of the budget, rather than in a separate Travel tab, and Question 40 indicates the reverse. Can USAID please confirm that that either approach would be acceptable, as long as sufficient details are provided to allow for the determination of reasonableness and realism of the proposed costs?

Question #3, page 1 Section L.7.3.5(b) (page 135) states, “Offerors must propose travel costs as a unit cost per trip (or per day for Regional Travel) where the unit cost is inclusive of all appropriate travel cost elements (i.e., airfare, meals, lodging, and other miscellaneous travel expenses).” This section further states, “The Offeror must create a single separate Excel tab ‘Travel Detail’ that breaks down total proposed travel costs as specified in Attachment J-2, Budget Template, to allow the CO to determine the reasonableness and realism of the proposed costs.” However, in answers to questions on RFP No.:

72064120R00001, Offerors were given the option to bypass the “Travel Detail” tab, and just present all the detailed travel costs under the “Travel category” in the detailed tab. Can USAID please confirm that offerors may follow the same guidance for the preparation of this budget?

USAID Response to Question #3, page 1 Yes, this same procedure may be used if it contains adequate detail in order for the Contracting Officer to make a fair and reasonable price determination.

Question #40, page 9 RFP Reference: L.7.3.5(b), page Number: 135, Relevant RFP Language: “Offerors must propose travel costs as a unit cost per trip (or per day for Regional Travel) where the unit cost is inclusive of all appropriate travel cost elements (i.e., airfare, meals, lodging, and other miscellaneous travel expenses).” and “The Offeror must create a single separate Excel tab “Travel Detail” that breaks down total proposed travel costs as specified in Attachment J-2, Budget Template.”

Question: Can USAID clarify if offerors are to propose travel costs as a unit cost per trip, or if they are to break down total proposed travel costs and present it in a detailed fashion as specified in Attachment J-2 Budget Template? May Offerors instead present all the detailed travel costs under the "Travel” category in the detailed tab?

USAID Response to Question #40, page 9 Yes, the travel costs can be reflected as a unit cost per trip in the "Detailed" tab and be further broken down in the "Travel" tab. 2)

1) No. The Travel tab should account for detailed travel information and should feed into the "Detailed" tab.

It is advisable to follow the answer to question # 40.

# Question Answer 2 The guidance provided in response to question 82 (provided below), which encourages the submission of biodata sheets (which would contain the names of the proposed candidates), seems to contradict the instructions in Section L.7.3.2(b) of the RFP, (which indicates that names of proposed personnel should not be included in the budget). Can USAID please confirm that candidates’ names should not be included in the budget, and that biodata sheets are not required at the proposal stage?

Question #82, page 18: We note that on p.76, section I.2, AIDAR 752.7001 Biographical data is incorporated by reference. However, in Section L.7.3.2 (b) the RFP states “The Offeror must propose all direct labor costs by Position Title/experience/CCN level and not by named person. USAID does not require the names of personnel in the proposed budget spreadsheet.” Please confirm if biodata sheets are required or not as part of the cost volume. If they are required, kindly indicate which cost annex in which include them.

USAID Response to Question #82, page 18: Please review Section L.7.3.2, "Personnel," which encourages the submission of biodata sheets to support the Offeror's proposed rate. The RFP was updated to include the submission of biodata sheets in Annex N of the cost volume.

Section L.7.3.2(b), page 131 of revised RFP

(b) The Offeror must propose all direct labor costs by Position Title/experience/CCN level and not by named person.

USAID does not require the names of personnel in the proposed budget spreadsheet.

The instructions still stand, as per Section L.7.3.2 Personnel. You may submit biodata sheets as per the instructions. In the detailed budget, offerors are not required to (however, they may)-- list the names of candidates there. USAID anticipates that the Staffing and Management Plan submission (Annex A) would contain the names of candidates, especially for Key Personnel, if identified.

USAID also anticipates that the Budget Narrative will also contain names, especially if the Offeror is justifying the realism and reasonableness of a proposed professional position and/or rate.

Could you please tell me if this is a new requirement, or if there is a current or previous contractor who has performed similar services? If available, can you please send along the incumbent contract or task order number?

This is a new requirement for USAID.

Please review SOO Annex 3 to learn more about prior and current activities that were related to this requirement.

Amendment No. 0002