Amendment No.003_ RPAL RFP 72066321R00016.pdf

(x)

72066321R00016 x x copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

07/07/20210003

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

05/18/2021

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of Amendment Number 0003 to Request for Proposal (RFP) Number 72066321R00016 is, as specified in the letter attached to this Amendment, to:

1. Revise sections of the RFP to reflect changes in response to questions from offerors.

See Attachment 1 for the changes to the RFP, which serves as a continuation of this SF 30;

2. Provide formal responses to questions received from prospective offerors. See Attachment

2 for the answers to questions submitted by prospective offerors, which serves as a continuation of this SF 30; and

3. Provide records of pre-proposal conference. See Attachment 3, which serves as a continuation of this SF 30.

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Kevin Sampson

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

Date RFP Issued: May 18, 2021 Closing Date: July 19, 2021 (Revised) Closing Time: 08:00 hrs Ethiopia Time Date Amendment No. 03 Issued: July 7, 2021

Subject: Amendment 0002 to Request for Proposal (RFP) No. SOL-72066321R00016 - Highlands Resilience Platform Learning (R-PAL) Activity

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government (“USG”) represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID/Ethiopia) hereby amends the above-referenced RFP. The main purpose of Amendment 03 is to make necessary changes to the Solicitation and provide answers to the questions submitted in response to the subject RFP and the records of the Pre-proposal conference. The changes specified immediately below include:

(1) Changed Sections for the original RFP;

(2) Questions and Answers; and

(3) Pre-Proposal Conference Information.

The RFP is amended as set forth below in Attachment No. 1. Questions and answers are included in Attachment No. 2 and Attachment 3 has the Records of Pre-Proposal conference (Powerpoint presentation, Participants’ list and responses to questions).

Thank you for your consideration of this USAID initiative. We look forward to your organization's continued participation.

Sincerely, Kevin Sampson Contracting Officer

U.S. Agency for International Development Entoto Street Tel.: 251-111-306002 USA Address:

P.O.Box 1014 Fax: 251-111-242438 2030 Addis Ababa Place Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Website: www.usaidethiopia.org Washington, DC 20521-2030 http://www.usaidethiopia.org

Request for Proposal No.: SOL_72066321R00016 Amendment No. 0003

Attachment No. 1 - Changes to RFP

The Solicitation is hereby amended as set forth below:

SECTION B

1 Section B.3, ESTIMATED COST AND AWARD FEE (page6): Delete paragraph (c) in its entirety and replace it with the following:

“(c) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required for the base period and option period (five years) hereunder, exclusive of fee and base fee is $___________. The maximum base fee is $__________. The maximum award fee is $__________. The maximum fee (base plus award fee) is $__________. The total estimated cost-plus maximum fee, if any, is

2 Section B.4, AWARD BUDGET (page 7): With respect to GUCs amount in the budget table, Delete the GUCs plug in figures and replace it with the following.

“Year 1 - $300,000, Year 2 - $450,000, Year 3 - $450,000, Year 4 - $450,000 and Year 5 - $150,000” The total amount remains the same.

3 Section B.7, PAYMENT OF FEE (pages 8-10): Delete the Section in its entirety and replace it with the following:

“B.7 PAYMENT OF FEE

Payment of the base fee and award fee will be made as follows.

1. Base Fee Payment of the base fee will be made as follows. The Contractor’s base fee is tied to the accomplishment of the performance objectives and deliverables or outputs described in Sections C, D and F that are specified in Table 1 below, subject to inspection and acceptance by USAID/Ethiopia as specified in Section E, and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the contract and in accordance with work planning approved by USAID/Ethiopia. The contractor will be paid the amount of fee specified for each denoted performance objective, deliverable or output set forth in the table below upon acceptance by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Because of the clauses entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment” (FAR 52.216‐7) and “Award Fee” (AIDAR 752.216‐70) incorporated into this contract, the terms and conditions of these clauses apply after total payments of base fee reach eighty‐five percent (85%) of the total base fee.

Table 1 – Base Fee Payment Schedule [Amount of fee to be filled by offerors]

1. DELIVERABLES AND FEE SCHEDULE for Base Year 1

USAID will pay a portion of the fixed fee in accordance with the following delivery schedule:

[Deliverables and amount of fee to be filled by offerors and approved by USAID the agreed Fixed Fee for each deliverable will be incorporated in this section upon award.]

Iden tifier

Key Deliverable ** Contractor to propose meaningful deliverables

Reference Section

Sub missi on Date

Means of Verification

$ Amount

Objective 1 1 Viable pilot TIGER-OR activities scaled 2 A collaboration platform that is developed and managed throughout the life of the activity

Objective 2 1 Joint research and learning agendas developed and refreshed during the life of the activity

2 Targeted deep dive analysis or research of integration or scaling barriers or opportunities surfaced through TIGER partner activities and the TIGER-OR pilot, and in line with research and learning agendas

Objective 3 1 Capacity building activities in proactive and reactive adaptive management practices.

Objective 4 1 An innovation and learning platform 2 Innovative Interventions and/or approaches identified and tested that could potentially be scaled within the public and/or private sector

Other- Manuals or Reports 1 MEL Plan 2 1st year Work Plan 3 Quality Assurance

Surveillance Plan

(QASP)

4 Grants Under Contracts Manual

5 Gender Analysis 6 Annual Program Report ..etc

Table 2 – Option Periods Fee Payment Schedule [Amount of fee to be filled by offerors]

2. DELIVERABLES AND FEE SCHEDULE for Option Period 1 (Year 2)

USAID will pay a portion of the fixed fee in accordance with the following delivery schedule:

[Deliverables and amount of fee to be filled by offerors and approved by USAID the agreed Fixed Fee for each deliverable will be incorporated in this section upon award.]

Identif ier

Key Deliverable ** Contractor to propose meaningful deliverables 1

Reference Section

Submission Date Means of Verification

Amount

Objective 1 … etc Objective 2 … etc Objective 3

Objective 4 … etc Other- Manuals or Reports 1 Annual Work Plan 2 Annual Program Report … etc

Note: Repeat table for each option periods 2-4 (Year 3-5).

2. Award Fee

i. The determination of the award fee earned by the Contractor must be in accordance with Section G.9. The award decision will be made for each annual evaluation period and no interim payments of award fee will be made. Per FAR 16.401(e)(4), unearned award fee cannot rollover from one award fee increment to the next award fee increment.

ii. The award fee earned will be paid after the award fee decision has been made for each evaluation period pursuant to the procedures in Section G.9 and the Award Fee Determination Plan. No interim payments of award fee will be made.”

SECTION C

4 Section C.V Expected Results, Objective 3 Expected result (page 18), Delete 4th bullet "Local partners engaged in adaptive management processes valuation" in its entirety and replace it with "Local partners engaged in adaptive management processes evaluation."

SECTION F

5 Section F.9 Key personnel item 3. 3. Director of Research and Learning (page 37), Add a bullet in the list of or set of experience “15 years or more of progressively responsible work experience.”

6 Section F.9, DCOP Profile (page 37, Delete first bullet in its entirety and replace it with “Preferably a master’s degree in public administration, financing, economics, international development, accounting or a related field;” in its entirety.

7 Section F.7.j Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) (page 33), Delete “LEARN to Read Activity” from the first sentence and replace it with “R-PAL Activity”. All other requirements remain the same.

8 Section F.7.a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (page 28), Delete in its entirety and replace is with the following:

“F.7.a Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation (LME) Plans USAID has integrated Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) into all aspects of its operations and programming to achieve better development outcomes. This involves strategic collaboration, systematic and continuous learning, and adaptive management. CLA asks:

● Do you take the time to think critically about your work? (Learning)

● Are you strategic in who you collaborate with, what you’re learning? and (Collaborating)

● Do you use those learnings to change accordingly? (Adapting)

USAID expects the Contractor to have a robust LME Plan that is fit-for-purpose to enable evidence-driven adapting by both the Contractor and USAID. The LME Plan outlines the approaches and resources for learning opportunities for adaptation, measuring results and achievements of activity, collaborating, and adapting. Traditional monitoring and evaluation (M&E) approaches including indicator monitoring are included under the LME umbrella, specifically the learning section. The Contractor is also encouraged to apply other complexity-aware monitoring and learning approaches such as outcome harvesting, most significant change, etc.

The Contractor will work closely with their Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to establish fit-for-purpose learning tasks such as establish indicators, including baseline and performance targets.

The LME Plan is due within ninety (90) calendar days from the award start date. The Contractor shall submit an updated LME Plan thirty (30) calendar days before the beginning of each subsequent fiscal or agreement calendar year.

Required sections and brief instructions for the LME Plan include:

● Learning - Guides performance management planning by setting learning and information priorities. It helps in assessing the theory of change, identifies critical learning gaps important for successful program implementation; reviews the validity of assumptions; monitors the risks.

○ Key Learning Questions - Explain the strategic learning questions around the ToC and learning activities, tools and techniques to answer it and how the learning will be utilized. Learning activities are the means by which we generate, analyze, and synthesize learning to answer our priority learning questions. There are various types of learning activities, including situational analyses, performance and impact evaluations, performance monitoring data, context indicators, literature reviews or syntheses of existing research, generating and capturing tacit and experiential knowledge through facilitated dialogues and other participatory methods (Before Action Reviews, After Action Reviews, mid-course reviews, regular reflection exercises). Determine if a mix of learning activities could best help you answer learning questions. In determining priority learning activities, consider when learning is needed (and at what frequency) to inform key decisions.

○ Monitoring/Indicators - Includes performance indicators; supplemental information about each performance indicator including baseline data; targets; and Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS).

■ Note: geocoded indicator results will be collected where feasible and identified in the PIRS. See the GIS sub-section below.

○ Evaluation/Assessments/Studies plan - including purpose and expected use; type;

estimated budget; planned start and end dates; and expected level of USAID involvement.

● Collaboration - Identify the approach and stakeholders who are most critical to achieving the desired development outcomes. In particular an emphasis on local stakeholders is desired to build local ownership and capacity.

● Adapting - Provide details on how learning and collaboration will be used to adaptively manage.

● Enabling Environment - Describe the culture, processes, and resources (including human and financial) need to operationalize the LME Plan.

● Data Management Plan - Describe appropriate data-management procedures to treat data as a strategic asset and to ensure that timely and high-quality monitoring, evaluation, research, and other data generated or acquired and are ready for analyses; accessible and usable for learning and adaptation (both now and in the future); sharable for accountability and transparency; and that the sharing and use of data come with strong privacy and security protections. Include also procedures for delivering USAID-funded data and information to USAID per award guidelines and Agency policies. The Data Management Plan may be developed and approved as a section of the Activity LME Plan or as a separate plan. Reference: ADS 579, USAID Development Data.

The Contractor is expected to coordinate and work with the Mission’s mission-wide CLA Platform contractor to share learning and coordinate learning, monitoring and evaluation processes including data collection. For the proposal submission, the offerer needs to only describe the overall approaches to learning, monitoring and evaluation.

Development Information Solution (DIS) In compliance with ADS 201 and ADS 579 regarding data reporting, once the Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan is approved, the Recipient must submit all performance management information into the Development Information Solution (DIS) at the required frequencies. Data that shall be submitted to DIS include:

1. Indicator results (baseline and targets will be entered by USAID based on the approved LME Plan)

2. Intervention locations (including status, start and end dates and approximate financial resources for each location).

3. Submission of reporting/ periodic progress reports/ including supplemental and supporting materials.

The COR will provide DIS system access instructions and training materials as necessary.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ADS 579 establishes the requirements governing USAID’s development data lifecycle from collecting data to making it accessible. To fulfill the requirements of ADS 579 and promote best practice geographic data collection and management, the following defines standards that apply to geographic data associated with planning, managing, and implementing USAID/Ethiopia development programming.

The Contractor must apply methods to support USAID/Ethiopia’s efforts to incorporate geographic data and analysis into USAID’s overall development planning, design, and CLA. The Contractor must include geographic data collection, analysis, and submission methods in the LME Plan and Work Plans https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/579.pdf as separate sections. There are four types of geographic data that the USAID/Ethiopia requires in a standardized manner:

1. Activity and Intervention Location Data: The Contractor must submit Activity and Intervention Location Data according to the Mission’s data requirements into DIS. Activity and Intervention Location Data refers to data that records a discrete point location for activity and intervention sites. When point data is not available, presence data of activities or intervention at the Woreda (Admin 3) level should be submitted into DIS. Reference: Activity Location Data (ADS 579mab)

2. Monitoring Data: Geographically disaggregated indicator data that are used to investigate the geographic variation in performance for improved monitoring, learning, and adapting. Indicator data should be collected at the smallest administrative unit or point location possible. The performance indicator reference sheet (PIRS) should denote the level of collection. Reference:

Monitoring Data Disaggregation by Geographic Location.

3. Thematic Data: This refers to data such as demographic and health indicators, land use, land cover, hydrology, and transportation infrastructure. When the Contractor creates or acquires such data sets using USAID funds, it must submit them to the COR.

4. Activity Specific Geographic Data: This refers to data such as the analytical output of a geographic analysis that is conducted while implementing an Activity. An example would be performing a geographic analysis of health facility access, when the Contractor creates or acquires such datasets and analysis using USAID funds it must submit them to the COR.

GIS Data Submission The Contractor must submit all geographic data to the COR and it will be reviewed in consultation with the Program Office or other technically qualified USAID staff to ensure that it meets the geographic data reporting requirements and minimizes risks. When possible, data should be submitted via DIS, for datasets that cannot be submitted to DIS, consult with the COR for submission options including possibly loading to the Data Development Data Library (DDL). The Contractor should not submit personally identifiable information (PII, i.e. identify individuals in data submissions).

All geographic data assets must be submitted in accordance with the special clause or provision Section H 16 “Submission of Datasets to the Development Data Library (DDL)”.

1. Geographic Data Files

a. Both primary and derived Geographic Data Files must be submitted.2

b. Geographic Data Files must be submitted in Shapefile (.shp), GeoTIFF (.tif), CSV (.csv), or GeoJSON (.geojson) file formats.

c. In addition to fulfilling the submission requirements noted above, Geographic Data Files that are stored in other file formats that may be useful to end users can be voluntarily

2 See the definition of “Complete” under the Open Data in section I. Definitions of OMB M-13-13:

https://project-open-data.cio.gov/policy-memo/#i-definitions https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/500/579mab https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/500/579mab https://usaidlearninglab.org/library/monitoring-data-disaggregation-geographic-location https://project-open-data.cio.gov/policy-memo/#i-definitions submitted in those file formats. For example, Geographic Data Files stored in a File Geodatabase (.gdb) or as a Web Map Service (WMS) can also be submitted.

d. Geographic Data Files that are stored in Shapefile (.shp) or GeoTIFF (.tif) formats will include metadata that follows ISO 19115 using the ISO 19139 XML implementation schema.3

e. Geographic Data Files that are stored in a CSV or GeoJSON format and contain latitude/longitude coordinates will include supplementary information regarding the:

1) Method used to create the latitude/longitude coordinates;

2) Spatial reference used to generate the latitude/longitude coordinates; and

3) Geographical precision of the latitude/longitude coordinates using the International

Aid Transparency Initiative standards.4 For example, a latitude/longitude coordinate may represent an exact location, the center of a populated place, or the center of a subnational administrative unit.5 This information must be included in addition to the actual CSV dataset.

f. Geographic Data Files that are stored in Shapefile (.shp), GeoTIFF (.tif), or GeoJSON (.geojson), JSON (.json) file formats will use the Geographic Coordinate System World Geodetic System 1984 (GCS WGS 1984) spatial reference. If the use of a different spatial reference was required for an analysis, the spatial reference that was used must be indicated elsewhere in the metadata.

References:

Geographic Data Collection and Submission Standards (ADS 579saa)

Non-Spatial Data and Software All data the Contractor creates, collects, purchases, or acquires that supports the objectives of the activity shall provide a copy of data to USAID through a system provided by USAID including the Development Data Library (DDL) per Section H 16 clause.

The Contractor shall provide USAID all processed intermediate and raw data when requested.

Software: If the Contractor develops software such as applications/apps to process activity-related data, the Contractor must provide such software, documentation of the software, and copy and source code of the software to USAID per the Federal Source Code Policy (M-16-21) . If the implementer develops an online repository of project-related information, then it is mandatory for the implementer to provide USAID/Ethiopia full access to this information, including the right to extract data. If the implementer buys software with significant resources, a mechanism must be worked out with USAID with regards to its use after the project closes out.”

5 See the definition of “Described” under the Open Data in section I. Definitions of OMB M-13-13:

https://project-open-data.cio.gov/policy-memo/#i-definitions

4 For example, see the International Aid Transparency Initiative Geographical Precision coding system:

http://iatistandard.org/201/codelists/GeographicalPrecision/

3 For example, see the instructions on changing the metadata style in Esri ArcGIS Desktop:

http://desktop.arcgis.com/en/desktop/latest/manage-data/metadata/choosing-a-metadata-style.htm https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/500/579saa https://project-open-data.cio.gov/policy-memo/#i-definitions http://iatistandard.org/201/codelists/GeographicalPrecision/ http://desktop.arcgis.com/en/desktop/latest/manage-data/metadata/choosing-a-metadata-style.htm

9 Section F.10 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK FOR (pages 38) : Delete in its entirety and replace it with the following:

“F.10 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK

No overtime or premium pay is authorized under this contract. A six‐day workweek is authorized for consultants and employees providing short-term (i.e., less than one year) technical assistance and non-professional or support staff level staff but no premium pay will be paid for the sixth day. Any other work week longer than five days is not allowed absent written approval from the Contracting Officer.”

SECTION H

10 Section H.20, Personnel Approvals, item (2)(b)(1)(ii)(page 58-59): Delete in first bullet the Mission Local Compensation Plan reference to “US Embassy Manila” and replace it with “U.S.

Embassy Ethiopia”.

11 Section H.31, AAPD 16-04 DEFENSE BASE ACT (DBA) INSURANCE FOR 2015-2020 (page 66):

1) Delete the heading “AAPD 16-04 DEFENSE BASE ACT (DBA) INSURANCE FOR 2015-2020” and replace it with “AAPD 17-01 Revision 3 DEFENSE BASE ACT (DBA)

INSURANCE FOR 2015-2021” :

2) Delete the table in Item A in its entirety and replace it with the following:

“A. RATES

Contract Year

Period of Performance

Services Construction Security

Base Period 12/1/15 – 11/30/17 $2.00 $4.50 $7.50 Option 1 12/1/17 – 11/30/18 $2.00 $4.50 $7.50 Option 2 12/1/18 – 11/30/19 $2.00 $4.50 $7.50 Option 3 12/1/19 – 11/30/20 $2.00 $4.50 $7.50 Extension

12/1/20– 5/31/21

$2.00 $4.50 $7.50

Extension 6/1/21– 11/30/21

$2.00 $4.50 $7.50 until further revised

All other terms remain the same.

SECTION J

12 Section J, List of Attachments (page 92): Delete in its entirety the link for J.7- Past Performance Report Template and replace it with the “Attached J.7 Revised Past Performance Questionnaire”

13 Section J, List of Attachments (page 92): Delete in its entirety the link for J.9- Contractor Employee Biographical Data SF 1420 and replace it with the “Attached J.9- Contractor Employee Biographical Data SF 1420”

SECTION L

14 Section L.9 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS, (pages 115): Delete the second paragraph in its entirety and replace with the following:

“The proposals should be prepared according to the structural format set forth in Section L.11 below.

Proposals must be received at the place designated and by the date specified in the Cover Letter of this RFP, and the validity period is as shown in solicitation cover SF# 33 block 12, which is 210 calendar days from the solicitation closing date.”

15 Section L.10 DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS (page 115-116): Delete the Online application website “http://orca.bpn.gov” and replace it with “https://beta.SAM.gov ”.

16 Section L.11(A), first paragraph (page 117): Delete the word “pitch” referring to the font sizes and replace it with “point”.

17 Section L.11 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: Add the following order and lettering for each annexes in the Content of item A. ORGANIZATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL (page 118):

Annex A: Key Personnel Justifications

Annex B: Other Personnel Plan, organizational structure and LOE matrix

Annex C: Annual Work Plan (Draft)

Annex D: Key Personnel Position Descriptions

Annex E: Key Personnel CVs and References

Annex F: Letters of Commitment

Annex G: AMELP (Draft)

Annex H: QASP (Draft)

Annex I - Mobilization Plan

Annex J - Past Performance Reports and Matrix

Annex K – List of eSRS

Annex L – Past Performance - Small Business Concerns

18 Section L.11.B(b) Part 2.1(a)(1) KEY PERSONNEL (page 120): Delete the sentence “Offerors may propose up to three additional key personnel roles” and replace it with “Offerors may propose up to two additional key personnel roles.

19 Section L.12(b)(1) INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL, under item 1. Detailed Budget Preparation Guidance (page 124): Delete the “Subparts v&vi; and Subparts vii & viii.”

20 Section L.12(b)(1) INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL, under 2. Budget Line Headings (page 125) item A. Direct Costs, 6.

Contractual (a): Delete the reference to “L.16(b)(2)” and replace with “L.12(b) (2)”

21 Section L.12(b)(1) INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL, under item 3. Budget Line-Item Definitions (page 126): Delete the “15%” COLA and replace it with “0%”.

22 Section L.12(b) Part 7. Supporting Documents, first paragraph (page 128): With respect to submission of biographical data sheets, Delete the “submitted for each position” and replace it with “submitted for any individual specifically identified position and all key personnel”

23 Section L.12(j) (page 130): Delete the paragraph in its entirety and replace with the following:

“(j) A Categorical Exclusion Request (CER) was developed for the R-PAL activity and the AFR/BEO gave a Categorical Exclusion determination. This means that all interventions under the R-PAL activity don’t have the potential for adverse environmental impact. Accordingly, no further environmental assessment is required for the R-PAL activity and Offerors to the RFP do not need to include it as part of their cost proposal.”

SECTION M

24 Section M.2.b Factor 2, Sub-Factor 2.1 Key Personnel (page 138), Delete the paragraph in its entirety and replace it with the following:

“Sub Factor 2.1 Key Personnel (See Sec. L.11.B.b.2.1 and Annex A): The Key Personnel will be evaluated on their academic qualification, skills and experience and their appropriateness and suitability to successfully manage the technical and administrative aspects of the contract to achieve the proposed results. This evaluation will include Key Personnel’s past performance to be conducted through reference checks.”

EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY AMENDED HEREIN, ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF

SOL-72066321R00016 REMAIN UNCHANGED AND IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.

Attachment No. 2 - Questions and Answers

RFP No. SOL # 72066321R00016

Highlands Resilience Platform for Adaptive Learning (R-PAL) Activity

1. It is our understanding that the national infrastructure in Ethiopia is built on technology from prohibited sources. Given the backhaul and interconnection challenges and considering that no locally available alternative telecommunications and data providers are available in Ethiopia, contractors will be required to rely on internet and telephone service providers that use prohibited equipment and services under Section 889. Can USAID 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, can USAID please advise offerors on how to budget for compliance with 889 such that cost proposals across implementers can be based on the same understanding?

Response: USAID is currently operating under a waiver from Section 889 through September 2022. Its very likely this waiver will be extended. Cost proposals should use current traditional costs of telecommunications equipment. In terms of on premise equipment like telephones and routers, offerors should avoid restricted technology.

2. Given local law and assuming application of the framework bilateral agreement, which taxes, if any, should bidders assume will be exempted (Value Added Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Personal Income Tax for expats, Foreign Contractor Withholding Tax, Import Duties)? Also, Legal registration in Ethiopia requires a $200k Security Deposit, should bidders assume will be exempted from Registration Security Deposit cost?

Response: USAID/Ethiopia confirms that its expectation that Contractors/IPs will be able to effectively recover VAT, after the Implementing partner and the Activity is registered by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and/or Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in Ethiopia. USAID/Ethiopia will provide support with Activity registration after award and registration fee is allowable. Ultimately it's the offeror’s responsibility to be aware of the operating rules and requirements in Ethiopia.

3. Section B.3 (c), page 6, asks for the total estimated cost “exclusive of fixed fee, if any” and the “total fixed fee for the base period four one-year option period, if any.” Could USAID confirm that the word “fixed” should be removed, and that the total fee includes the Base Fee and maximum award fee?

Response: Yes. Section B.3(c)wll be amended accordingly. Please see amendment to the RFP.

4. Section B.4 Contract Budget, page 7, provides a set of plug figures for Grants Under Contract (GUCs) as follows: Year 1 - $200,000, Year 2 - $450,000, Year 3 - $550,000, Year 4 - $600,000 and

Year 5 - $100,000, which sum to a total of $1,900,000. However, the Total provided in this chart is $1,800,000. Would USAID kindly confirm that the total amount of GUCs to be budgeted is $1,900,000 and not $1,800,000?

Response: GUCs amount is as follows: Year 1 - $300,000, Year 2 - $450,000, Year 3 - $450,000, Year 4

- $450,000 and Year 5 - $150,000, which totals to $1,800,000. Section B.4 has been amended accordingly. Please see amendment to the RFP.

5. Section B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET, CONTRACT LINE-ITEM SCHEDULE, page 9, it states:

[*This amount is exclusively reserved for (GUCs) that Offeror must set aside to provide Grants Under Contracts. This amount does not include any relevant management or administrative expenses incurred by the Contractor]. Are Base Fee and Maximum Award Fee allowed on GUCs plug dollar figures?

Response: A Fee is not allowed to be paid under assistance awards or grants under contract (GUC).

Therefore, grants proposed under the resulting contract must not include a fee as part of the cost.

6. Should USAID opt to exercise the option years, could you please confirm if funds (excluding fee) remaining from the previous option can be rolled over to the exercised option year? (see page 7, B.4(d))

Response: Yes, obligated funds will be applied to the overall period of performance.

7. Section B.7 Payment of Fee, Table 1 Deliverables and Fee Schedule for Base Year 1 on page 9 contains a list of Key Deliverables in the table. Thereafter, the Key Deliverables column is blank in the Option Years 2 through 5 tables that follow. However, the Key Deliverable column in the Base Year table contains a yellow highlight that notes "Contractor to propose meaningful deliverables," despite then listing specific deliverables. Are the deliverables detailed in the Base Year table mandatory or illustrative? Can the offeror replace the Base Year deliverables with ones based on its proposed PWS Intermediate Results and interventions?

Response: Yes. Please see RFP Section L.11.B and Section F.7 item X (page 34). Offerors can propose a different deliverable plan based on its proposed PWS Intermediate Results and Interventions, and technical approach/understanding. There is no maximum number of deliverables.

8. Section B.7 (2)(ii) states that “Payment of any award fee earned by the Contractor must not be subject to the withholding provisions of the clause of this contract entitled "Allowable Cost and Payment" (FAR 52.216-7) clause. (emphasis added). The withholding in FAR 52.217-7 (h)(1) refers to withholding of fees until the final indirect cost rates have been finalized. However, Section G.10(b) refers to withholding of both base and award fees, which is contradictory to the B.7 (2)(ii) statement that no withholding will be made against award fee. Should this be changed to “base fee” only?

Response: This has been corrected to be consistent with Section G.10. Please see amendment to the RFP for correction.

9. For budgeting purposes, can USAID confirm the anticipated start date for the R-PAL activity?

Response: The anticipated start date is November 1, 2021.

10. Pp.8-10, Deliverables and Fee Schedule. Can USAID provide further guidance on the presentation of the fee schedule in the proposal in light of the anticipated co-design component? It would be hard to state all deliverables, especially beyond Year 1, at this time as some will only be confirmed after co-creation.

Response: Offerors are required to provide deliverables and fee schedule for the base year and option years.

11. On page 33, the RFP states that the contractor must submit a QASP that "outlines a surveillance schedule and clearly describes the surveillance methods to be used through the implementation of the LEARN to Read Activity." Could USAID clarify that "LEARN to Read Activity" should be replaced by "R-PAL" and that all other aspects of the QASP requirements contained on page 33 remain the same?

Response: Yes, this was an error. Please see amendment to the RFP for correction.

12. Section F.10 notes “The Selected Contractor is authorized to work five days in a week up to 40 hours of work in a week. However, a 6-day workweek may be allowed for the short-term Expat consultants not exceeding 120 days with prior written approval of the CO but no premium pay will be paid for the sixth day.” Please confirm drivers may be excepted from this clause as long as they are paid in alignment with the human resource manual. Given the security situation, IPs may require drivers to accompany short-term assistants or others to allow timely implementation.

Response: Please see amendment to the RFP. This paragraph has been revised to say, “No overtime or premium pay is authorized under this contract. A six‐day workweek is authorized for consultants and employees providing short-term (i.e., less than one year) technical assistance and non-professional or support staff level staff but no premium pay will be paid for the sixth day. Any other work week longer than five days is not allowed absent written approval from the Contracting Officer.”. Please consult with the contracting officer for any exceptions for all personnel.

13. Section F.10 Authorized Work Week, page 38 authorizes a five-day work week of up to 40 hours.

As some offerors may follow total time accounting policies that allow staff to record more than 40 hours in a five-day week at no additional cost to the government, would USAID please consider removing the hours limitation on the five-day work week?

Response: No, post award the contractor may consult with the contracting officer for an exception.

Section H

14. Given limitations for digital platforms due to restrictions and approval processes with USAID’s CIO, please could USAID provide a list of the platforms that are pre-approved or do not require further approvals.

Response: Please see RFP Section H.8 LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. There is no pre-approved platform or one that does not require further approvals.

15. Section H.20 Personnel Approvals, (2) Additional Requirements for Personnel Compensation,

(b) Limitations, page 58, states: “If, during contract performance, the Contractor proposes salary or wages for any individual (s) that exceeds 5% percent of the individual’s current salary or wage or the highest rate of annual salary or wage received during any full year of the immediately preceding three (3) years, the cognizant Contracting Officer’s approval is required”. This instruction appears contrary to USAID’s adoption of a biodata form that does not require salary history. Would USAID please consider removing this requirement?

Response: These clauses applies to annual salary increases after an employee is hired. This is not related to the bio data. Contractors are required to use for 1420 which was issued on 03/31/2021 date which does not include salary history.

16. Section H.20.2(e) Annual Salary Increases, page 59 states: “One annual salary increase, including merit or promotional increases, in accordance with the Contractor’s policies and procedures may be granted after the employee’s completion of each twelve-month period of satisfactory services under the Contract”. Since some contractors may have an annual employee performance evaluation cycle that does not necessarily align with the award start date, would USAID consider revising the language as follows: “One annual salary increase, including merit or promotional increases, in accordance with the Contractor’s policies and procedures may be granted” and removing: “after the employee’s completion of each twelve month period of satisfactory services under the Contract”?

Response: No , this is a standard clause.

17. Section H.20 Personnel Approvals, (2) Additional Requirements for Personnel Compensation,

(b) Limitations, (ii) Professional and technical Personnel (non-Key), page 59. States: “Initial salaries of non-key personnel must be within the salary range (based on market value determination) for each position and must be within the following thresholds (whichever is applicable): Mission Local Compensation Plan (LCP) of the U.S. Embassy Manila, for third country nationals (TCNs) and cooperating country nationals (CCNs). We have the following questions regarding this instruction:

1. Could USAID please confirm that the referenced Mission Local Compensation Plan would be for the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia?

Response: Yes, Mission Local Compensation Plan is for the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia. Please see amendment to the RFP for correction.

2. Would USAID kindly provide this Mission Local Compensation Plan to enable offerors to comply with this requirement?

Response: The Mission Local Compensation Plan is a sensitive document that cannot be shared.

For contractor budgetary purpose please see a summary for various categories of locally employed professionals, who are subject to the Local Compensation Plan (LCP). The figures noted are stated as gross annual pay and based on a 40 hour work weeks/80 hour pay periods, 2080 hours per year.

The LCP is subject to the annual adjustments and the contractor is requested to seek/consult with the CO for updates if any.

Category of Employees Annual Salary Range

Driver/Attendants/runners $ 2,625 - $ 9,117

Reproduction Clerk/Junior Clerk $ 6,820 - $12,268

Junior Assistant $ 8,412 - $21,829

Senior Assistant $14,033 - $25,253

Accountant/Officer Manager $18,740 - $41,263

Professional/Senior Professional $27,642 - $49,770

18. Section H.20, part 2(b) on RFP page 58 says that “The salary ranges of the compensation plan must be certified by the Contractor and submitted to the Contracting Officer for approval.” Could USAID clarify if offerors should submit the compensation plan with salary ranges as part of the cost proposal?

Response: Yes, the plan should provide salary/rate bands for specific categories of labor. The plan should provide descriptions of these labor categories. The salaries/rates should correspond to market rates. The approved plan will be used in the cost evaluation and to minimize USAID salary/rate approval requirements for contractor staff, post award. The format of the compensation plan is dependent upon the Offeror’s policies and structure. As identified in Section H.20, CCN and TCN (without an approved waiver) salaries must not exceed the thresholds in the Ethiopia’s Mission local employee compensation plan (LCP) at $49,770/year. Offerors are expected to conduct their own market research and use their established policies to propose justified CCN salaries.

19. Section H.20, Part 2(b) on page 58 notes that Contracting Officer approval is required for any salaries exceeding “5% percent of the individual’s current salary or wage or the highest rate of annual salary or wage received during any full year of the immediately preceding three (3) years,” and that an individual’s salary must be “based on his or her certified salary history.” Given the removal of prior salary information from the 1420 biodata form and industry shift to not basing salaries on previous salary to encourage equity, can USAID please remove this language and replace with a clause requiring that salaries are determined in accordance with the market value of the position and the contractor’s established policy and practice?

Response: The contract language will not be changed. First of all, there is no restriction on salary levels more than 5% in this provision. This provision provides a safe harbor where, among other things, the salary level is not increased by more than 5%. If this is not the case, the Contractor can still request approval of the salary; however, the safe harbor does not apply and the salary needs explicit Contracting Officer approval. Secondly, while AIDAR 752.7007 does require that compensation be in accordance with the Contractor’s policies, etc., this is not the only requirement. Compensation levels must also be reasonable, among other things.

20. Sec. J.1, List of Attachments, page 92: Form J.10 (Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet SF 1420-17). The link is to a version of the form dated 2/28/2014. With the ADS Chapter 309 updated regulations reflecting market-based values to determine salaries, can the Offeror use the updated USAID SF 1420-17 form dated 3/31/2021?

Response: Yes. This has been corrected. Please see amendment to the RFP for correction.

21. Section H.20, Part 2(f) on RFP page 60 states that consultant compensation shall not exceed “the highest rate of annual compensation received by the consultant during any full year of the immediately preceding three years.” As with the question above concerning equity, would USAID consider removing this requirement if consultant rates are determined in accordance with the market value of the position and the contractor’s established policy and practice?

Response: This is a standard clause. USAID will not remove this requirement.

22. Can USAID confirm, for budgeting purposes, if the rates provided in Section H.31, AAPD 16-04 DEFENSE BASE ACT (DBA) INSURANCE FOR 2015-2020, are still valid for 2021?

Response: Please see amendment to the RFP, it is amended to reflect AAPD 17-01 – Revision 2 Defense Base Act (DBA) Insurance for 2015-2021.

23. With regards to Section I.2, page 76, which incorporates FAR 52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment, and Section L.16, which discusses waivers under FAR Part 4.2101 Prohibition on Covered Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services and Equipment, page 133, we have the following questions:

1. Does USAID have any additional information or instruction related to the Section 889 Foreign Assistance Waiver that USAID received from the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which expires on September 30, 2022?

Response: No.

2. USAID, through its own efforts as well as a recipient of information provided by many implementing partners in-country is in the position of having more information than any one Offeror is likely to have. Specifically related to basic services of cellular telephone and internet service providers (ISPs) that all offerors will need to use in the implementation of this project, if it is already known by USAID that providers in-country use covered technologies, could USAID please provide this information to Offerors?

Response: USAID is operating under a waiver from DNI through Sept 30, 2022. Offerors are encouraged to conduct their own research on this matter.

24. AttachmentJ.9-Past Performance Matrix – Can USAID please confirm that offerors can adjust the format of the matrix so that it can fit into Word document format so long as all of the requested information is provided in order?

Response: Yes, Offerors can adjust the format as long as the required information is provided in order.

25. Section J.1 List of Attachments on page 92 contains two past performance formats: Attachment J.7 past performance report form template and Attachment J.9 past performance matrix. Section L does not appear to specify which of the two formats that offerors should use when submitting past performance information (page 122). If offerors use Attachment J.7 for their “up to five (5) most recent and relevant contracts or task orders,” do those same offerors also need to complete the J.9 matrix (which contains the same information)? Or is the J.9 matrix an illustrative alternative to the J.7 presentation? (Note that the J.9 matrix contains a USAID/Zambia logo.)

Response: Yes, offerors also need to complete the J.9 matrix. Since it is a template please use the RFP references such as Solicitation/RFP number, Activity name and Ethiopia is the country of performance.

26. Section J.1 List of Attachments (page 92) - Can USAID please confirm that offerors can adjust the J.7 Past Performance Report Form Template provided in the link?

(https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Ethiopia_Attachment-J-7_Contractor-Perf ormance-Report-Short-Form.pdf)? For example, the template currently includes a section “to be completed by Agency.”

Response: This form has been corrected. Please see amendment to the RFP for correction.

27. Can USAID clarify in which currency it anticipates issuing the contract? USD or Birr? And can USAID clarify in which currency the contractor should invoice the government?

Response: Currency of proposal and contract is in US Dollars. Please see RFP Section L.1 FAR

52.214.35 Submission of Offers in U.S. Currency, Section I Contract clause incorporate by reference AIDAR 752.7010 CONVERSION OF U.S. DOLLARS TO LOCAL CURRENCY, and Section G.6

AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT.

28. Will USAID be prescribing an exchange rate to be used consistently throughout the course of the award?

Response: The exchange rate to be used for the cost proposal is US$1=BIRR 43.025. As provided on Saturday, June 04, 2021 by the Commercial Banks’ Exchange rate of National Bank Ethiopia (https://nbebank.com/commercial-banks-exchange-rate/).

29. Can USAID clarify if the requested validity of proposals be 210 calendar days from the RFP closing date (as noted on the cover page of RFP) or 180 calendar days from solicitation closing date (as noted in section L.9, Instructions to Offerors)?

Response: The correct period of validity is 210 days as stated in the RFP cover SF 33 block 12. Section L.9 has been corrected in the RFP amendment.

30. Section L.11 (A) Organization of the Technical Proposal on page 117 says "do not use a smaller font…