QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS_RFP_SOL_72065623R00006 AMENDMENT 1_ATTACHMENT 2_FINAL.pdf

AMENDMENT 01 ATTACHMENT 02 (RFP) SOL_72065623R00006

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q&As)

QUESTION 1: Section C.1, PURPOSE, page 5: Based on the purpose statement in RFP Section

C.1, “..enable IPs to share, understand, and use publicly available security information from across the country and improve their security posture and decision-making”, would USAID consider an AI-driven software that gathers open-source information from over 500,000 resources including social networks, blogs and news with a mapping capability to identify, in real-time, enough information to quickly report to IPs of incidents and situations?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 1:

USAID does not have any current restrictions that would negatively impact the offeror from proposing the use of AI-driven software as part of the project’s activities.

QUESTION 2: Section C.1, PURPOSE, page 5: Based on the purpose statement in RFP Section

C.1, “…enable IPs to share, understand, and use publicly available security information from across the country and improve their security posture and decision-making”, would the USG consider a capability that provides geospatial population data allowing users to zoom in on any community in Mozambique to assess local attributes, attitudes, and behaviors?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 2:

USAID has no issue with the offeror proposing the use of geospatial imaging as long as the offeror complies with USG policies (and restrictions) and does not break any local laws.

QUESTION 3: Section C.1, PURPOSE, page 5: Will the USAID provide a list and the locations of the IPs in Mozambique so that bidders can determine where to locate their resources/Field

Officers?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 3:

Yes, USAID will provide the winning offeror with the list of “customer” IPs to better plan for field locations. Please review the description and statement of work information in section C.

QUESTION 4: Section F.5.1, KEY PERSONNEL, pages 18 – 21. Is it very difficult to find individuals in Mozambique who meet the education requirements in Section F.5.1. Would

USAID consider waiving the bachelor’s degree requirements in lieu of a certain number of years of experience?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 4:

No.

QUESTION 5: Section F.5.1, KEY PERSONNEL, pages 18 – 21. Do the proposed Key

Personnel candidates need to live in Mozambique currently, or is it acceptable if they reside there upon award?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 5:

Key Personnel will be based in Mozambique for the duration of the contract.

QUESTION 6: Section F.5.1.2, Chief Security Officer, page 20: The role requirements and description provided for the “Chief Security Officer” is the same as that provided for the

“Operations Manager(s)” in F.5.1.3. Since it is likely that role requirements and description is incorrect, we ask that the USAID please extend the proposal deadline by two weeks to allow bidders sufficient time to recruit a Chief Security Officer who meets the correct requirements

(once we know what those requirements are).

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 6:

Closing date has been extended. Please refer to the amendment 1, attachment 1 - revised RFP.

QUESTION 7: Section F.7, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, (b) Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (MEL Plan), page 25: This section states that the first draft of the MEL Plan is due 60 days after the award, which conflicts with Section L.11. Please confirm that the draft MEL Plan is not required as part of the proposal submission?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 7:

Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (MEL Plan) is not required as part of the proposal submission. It will only be required after the award.

QUESTION 8: Section F.7, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS,(c) Security Plan, page 26: This section references a “Safety and Security Manager.” This position is not referenced elsewhere in the proposal. Is this different from the Chief Security Officer, or are they the same? If it is a different position, please provide the role description and required qualifications for that position.

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 8:

Safety and Security Manager is a standard requirement. However, the Chief Security Officer position may serve as the “ Safety and Security Manager”.

QUESTION 9: Section J, List of Attachments, Attachment J.2: The link provided on page 73 of the RFP to access and download the “Past Performance Matrix” does not work. When trying to access it, we get an error message saying “Page not found.” Will USAID please provide the correct link or file? Also, we request that USIAD extend the deadline to submit the Past

Performance by week, to June 30, to account for the fact that bidders did not have access to the file to use for submitting their information.

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 9:

The referenced document is hereby attached.

QUESTION 10: Section J, List of Attachments, Attachment J.5: The link provided on page 73 of the RFP to download the “Subcontracting Plan Template” takes you to two different files, one in Excel and one in Word. Which format should bidders use, or is either one acceptable?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 10:

The referenced document is hereby attached.

QUESTION 11:Section J, List of Attachments, Attachment J.8: The link provided on page 73 of the RFP to download the “Branding and Marking Plan guiding information” does not work.

When trying to access it, we get an error message saying “Page not found.” Will USAID please provide the correct link or file?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 11:

The link provided is working.

QUESTION 12:Section J, List of Attachments, Attachment J.9: The link provided on page 73 of the RFP to download the “SF LLL - DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES” form does not work. When trying to access it, we get an error message saying “Page not found.”

Will USAID please provide the correct link or file?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 12:

The reference document is hereby attached.

QUESTION 13: Section L.1 page 81: The links provided in the RFP to access the

“SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE” –

http://www.usaid.gov/pubs/ads/300/aidar.pdf and http://www.usaid.gov/pubs/ads/300) – do not work. They take you to a page that says “Page not found” and says it might have been removed. Can the USAID please provide the correct links?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 13:

The link has been updated. Please refer to the amendment 1, attachment 1 - revised RFP.

QUESTION 14:Section L.4 (h), page 83. – There is a bullet that says “(1)CS.” What does this mean?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 14:

The referenced bullet “(1)CS.” does not exist in the RFP Solicitation.

QUESTION 15: Section L.4 (i), pages 83 – 84. This section states that “The successful offeror will provide a draft Security Plan as part of the proposal submission and a finalized plan from the winning offeror no later than 45 days after award.” However, nowhere in Section L.11 does it say where the draft Security Plan should go or what the page limit is. Further, RFP Section

F.6 (DELIVERY SCHEDULE) states that the Security Plan is due 44 days after award. Will

USAID please clarify whether offerors must include the draft Security Plan in their proposal submission, or whether or should instead be submitted after award? If it is required in the proposal, where should it go in the technical volume and what is the page limit for the Plan?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 15:

The security plan will provide 45 days after the award based on Section F.6 (DELIVERY

SCHEDULE). Please refer to the amendment 1, attachment 1 - revised RFP.

QUESTION 16:Section L.4 (j) – Is the “Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment & Mitigation” plan supposed to be included in the proposal submission or is it due after award? If it is required in the proposal, where should it go in the technical volume and what is the page limit for the

Plan?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 16:

http://www.usaid.gov/pubs/ads/300/aidar.pdf http://www.usaid.gov/pubs/ads/300)

Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment & Mitigation is not a separate report, it is part of the offeror’s technical proposal. The Offeror must outline how its employees will be vetted to ensure no current or former IS-M affiliation.

QUESTION 17:Section L.6, Technical Proposal (Volume 1) The first paragraph states “…A page is defined as one side of a sheet, 8-1/2" x 11", with at least one-inch margins on all sides, using not smaller than 12-point type…” But the second paragraph states “Pages shall be written in English, using Microsoft Word, Times New Roman, 11-point font…” Can the government please clarify which font size is correct?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 17:

The correct font size is 12-point. Please refer to the amendment 1, attachment 1 - revised RFP.

QUESTION 18:L.6.1, Past Performance, pages 88-89: If the offeror is a JV, are separate references required for each JV partner. If so, how many references are required for each partner?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 18:

Past performance is required for each separate JV partner up to ( four) 4 projects.

QUESTION 19:Past Performance Information: Are bidders only required to submit their Past

Performance Information by June 23 if they have CPARS?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 19:

No changes to this section.

QUESTION 20: L.6.1, Past Performance (see Section M.2.3), pages 88-89: Is all of the information in Section L.6.1 required to be submitted by June 23?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 20:

Past performance information will now be submitted at the closing date for proposal submission.

QUESTION 21:L.6.1, Past Performance (see Section M.2.3), (2), pages 88-89: Is this information required to be submitted IN ADDITION TO Attachment J.2? A lot of the information is required in both places.

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 21:

They are the same information.

QUESTION 22:L.6.1, Past Performance (see Section M.2.3), (5), page 89, List of Past

Performance Information: Is this required for each JV partner and subcontractor?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 22:

Yes.

QUESTION 23: (f) Authorized Annexes, page 89: Are these Annexes required to be submitted with the Past Performance, or as annexes to the Technical Proposal?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 23:

Yes, since Past performance information will now be submitted at the closing date for proposal submission.

QUESTION 24: (f) Authorized Annexes, page 89: Are these Annexes excluded from the page count?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 24:

Yes.

QUESTION 25: L.6.1, Past Performance (see Section M.2.3), (2), pages 88-89: This states

“·Point of contact information for the CO, COR, or Project Manager of the five (5) largest federally awarded contracts or task orders over the last three (3) years.” Is this required for the offeror’s 5 largest contracts, or just for the contracts we are using as Past Performance references?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 25:

There is no change to the referenced section of the RFP. It is the offeror's determination.

QUESTION 26: L.6.1 f (1) Past Performance – is there a template for the Draft Activity

Monitoring and evacuation Plan? What information should be included in this?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 26:

No. The content should be based on the offeror’s technical proposal.

QUESTION 27: General question: Where should the Key Personnel Bio Data Sheets go in the proposal?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 27:

Annexes.

QUESTION 28 L.6.1 f (3) Past Performance – Key Personnel Letters of Commitment – is there a template for this? What information should be included?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 28:

No. A formal letter, the details of which are determined by the offeror.

QUESTION 29: L.7.2 c - Part 2 Proposed Costs – states “The supporting cost information should be provided in sufficient detail to allow complete cost realism, allowability, and reasonableness analyses of the proposal. “ What specifically is required as supporting documentation?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 29:

No change to the RFP. It is the offeror’s determination regarding what documentation to provide/submit as supporting document to its cost proposal.

QUESTION 30: L.7.2 c - Part 2 Proposed Costs – states “Daily rates for all proposed positions should be based on the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country, as opposed to applying negotiated daily rates of an actual or illustrative candidate. Specifically, 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 project. Offerors should submit a request for a waiver with the cost proposal for any proposed TCN LTTA employees, if applicable.” The Minimum provided is $141,022 and the maximum is $195,000. Does this mean we have to offer AT LEAST $141,022? Or only not exceed the maximum?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 30:

There is no change to the referenced RFP section. This is a guide and offerors are required to adhere to their compensation plan.

QUESTION 31: L.7.2 (1): Will the USAID please provide these CSTs and “prevailing compensation” levels?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 31:

See the response to question No. 30 above.

QUESTION 32: L.7.3, Part 3, Representations, Certificates and other Statement of Contractor:

If the Offeror is a JV, does the JV need to be registered in SAM, or is it acceptable if the prime

JV contractor is registered in SAM?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 32:

All entities/organizations receiving USAID funding must be registered in SAM.gov.

QUESTION 33: L.7.3, Part 4 Policies and Procedures: Are these required if the prime JV contractor has prior USAID experience, but the other JV partner does not?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 33:

No change to the referenced RFP section. All entities/organizations without USAID contracting experience are to provide the required policies.

QUESTION 34: L.7.6, Part 6 Evidence of Responsibility: This section states: “Be able to comply with the required or proposed delivery or performance schedule, taking into consideration all existing commercial and governmental commitments”; and “Have a satisfactory performance record (See FAR 9.104-3(b) and Subpart 42.15). A prospective Contractor must 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. What is considered sufficient “proof” for these two points?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 34:

There is no change to the referenced RFP section. Offerors are to review the cited regulations and respond accordingly.

QUESTION 35: L.8, Small Business Subcontracting Plan Instructions, page 97: This section states “Offerors must submit a Small Business (SB) Subcontracting Plan as an Annex to the

Technical Proposal”; however, is not listed as one of the “authorized annexes” for the technical proposal on page 89. Please confirm that the Small Business Subcontracting Plan is required as part of the technical proposal. If so, is it excluded from the page count? Should it be submitted as a separate Excel file?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 35:

There is no change to the referenced RFP section. The Small Business Subcontracting Plan is to be submitted as an annex to the technical proposal.

QUESTION 36: USAID requires the ability for the selected prime contractor to be able to address gender gaps and to empower women and girls. Can USAID please clarify further what they expect from the prime contractor given the scope of this award?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 36:

Activities implementation must be gender sensitive. Please refer to the USAID gender policy in attachment J.10

QUESTION 37: Can USAID please clarify whether the selected prime contractor needs to showcase their ability to address gender gaps and empower women and girls in Annex 5 in addition to in the technical volume?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 37:

There is no change to the referenced RFP section. The response or feedback is based on the offeror's understanding and experience.

QUESTION 38: Does USAID consider the ability to address gender gaps and to empower women and girls as a “key element of the scope of work requiring a major contractor status”?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 38:

Offerors are to review the whole RFP solicitation document and to respond to all aspects/elements.

QUESTION 39: General question: Can JVs utilize subcontractors?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 39:

This is the offeror's determination.

QUESTION 40: Is this considered a new requirement or is there an incumbent? If there is an incumbent, would you be able to share the vendor and contract number so that I can identify it in FPDS?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 40:

This is a new requirement for USAID/Mozambique.

QUESTION 41: We are wondering if 72065623R00006 (Mozambique) RFP is an 8a set aside? In the solicitation it says open but on Sam.gov it says 8a.

RESPONSE TO QUESTION 41:

This solicitation is not an 8a set aside.

[END OF ATTACHMENT 02 OF AMENDMENT 01]