Responses to ASPIRE Questions.pdf

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS:

1. Have there been any changes to the list of facilities provided in Attachment J.23 “Current

PEPFAR-Supported sites in Hhohho and Shiselweni Regions”? If so, can USAID please provide a revised list of supported sites?

Answer: Yes there are changes to the list of facilities. Attachment J.23 List of Current

PEPFAR-Supported Sites in Hhohho and Shiselweni Regions has been revised to reflect the updated list. The revised Attachment J.23 is attached to this amendment.

2. Can USAID please confirm that the period of performance is September 30, 2020 –

October 1, 2025?

Answer: The anticipated period of performance is January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025.

3. The budget categories shown in Sections B.4 and L.9 (Cost Proposal Instructions), Part 2, Section (4) do not match the categories in the budget template provided in Attachment J.3, which are stated as the required categories per Section L.9 (Cost Proposal Instructions), Part 2, Section (1). Can USAID please kindly confirm which format takes precedence?

Answer: Section B.4 and Attachment J.3 has been revised to reflect the correct budget categories. The revised Attachment J.3, Budget Template is attached to this amendment.

4. Can USAID please confirm that the revised Grants Under Contract amount ($1.5M) is a

“minimum” amount, as noted on page 150 of Amendment 3?

Answer: USAID confirms the GUCs amount is $1,500,000 minimum. The minimum amount on Page 150 has been revised.

5. Can USAID please confirm that the ANNEX A: Draft Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and

Learning Plan page limit is 15 pages?

Answer: USAID confirms the Draft Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan limit is 15 pages.

6. The Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet – Form No. AID 1420-17 in

Attachment J.6 (page 106), includes annual salary under employment history. However, the link provided on page 86 under “List of Attachments” redirects to the current Form

1420-17 on USAID’s website which does not include salary information. Can USAID confirm that the current 1420-17 Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet on

USAID’s website should be used in the cost proposal (accessed via this link:

https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17)?

Answer: Attachment J.6 on Page 106 has been deleted. The correct Contractor

Biographical Data Sheet can be downloaded from the USAID website https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17 . This link is also provided on page 86 of the RFP.

https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17 https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17

7. Could USAID kindly confirm the page limit for Annex A. Draft Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (AMELP)? Page 142 of the RFP mentions a 15-page limit, while page 147 of the RFP mentions a 10-page limit.

Answer: USAID confirms the Draft Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan page limit is

15 pages. The information on Page 147 has been revised.

8. Could USAID kindly confirm the page limit for Annex B Draft Year One Workplan? Page

143 of the RFP mentions a 5-page limit, while page 147 of the RFP mentions a 2-page limit.

Answer: USAID confirms the 5-page limit for Draft Year One work plan. The information on page 147 has been revised.

9. Could USAID kindly confirm that the minimum GUCS budget is $1,500,000 as stipulated on page 9 of the RFP and not $4,650,000 as stipulated on page 150 of the RFP?

Answer: USAID confirms the GUCs amount is $1,500,000 minimum. The minimum amount on Page 150 has been revised.

10. Will USAID consider allowing offerors to include letters of support for proposed collaborations that will take place during the project period?

Answer: Yes.

11. Would USAID share an estimated project start date to use for budgeting purposes?

Answer: See Answer to Question No. 2.

12. Could USAID provide the approved COP20 targets for all indicators for Hhohho and

Shiselweni?

Answer: Attachment J. 25 ASPIRE Required PEPFAR Indicators and COP19 ASPIRE

Targets has been revised to reflect the COP 20 targets. The revised Attachment J.25 is attached to this amendment.

13. Could USAID confirm if nurses will be allowed to perform the VMMC surgical procedure starting in COP20?

Answer: To date, MoH has approved midwives to perform VMMC procedures, but not for nurses. However, USAID is still awaiting an official communication/document to that effect.

14. When does USAID anticipate the ASPIRE program to begin implementation? This will allow offerors to incorporate clear dates and milestones into the Year 1 work plan.

Answer: See Answer to Question No. 2.

15. In Section F, as approval for disposition is not required for grants under contract, could

USAID remove the requirement to include a property disposition plan for grantees from the overall Closeout and Disposition Plan listed on page 21?

Answer: USAID has removed the term “grantees” from Closeout Disposition Plan on

Page 21.

16. In Section H.16(2) on page 42 notes that: “Pursuant to the IEE detailed in Attachment J.9, the activity has been identified under Categorical Exclusion and with a Negative

Determination. The Contractor will be required to develop an Environment Monitoring and

Mitigation Plan.” However, outlined in the Table of Contents and captured in the table found on page 86 of Section J, Attachment J.9 is the Certification Regarding Trafficking in

Persons Compliance Plan. On page 86 of Section J, Attachment J.10 provides a link to the

Initial Environment Examination (IEE); however, when attempting to access the linked document, it states “The ECD is currently down for unscheduled maintenance. There is no fixed ETA on when service will be restored; however, we hope to restore access before the end of the month.” Can USAID please share the IEE referenced?

Answer: Kindly see Attachment J.10 Initial Environment Examination RHAP as made part to this Amendment.

17. In Section I, consistent with the guidance in FAR37.113-1, and considering that the anticipated contract will be performed entirely overseas, could USAID include FAR

52.237-9, Waiver of Limitation on Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals, to prevent conflict with applicable local employment laws?

Answer: Pursuant to FAR 52.237-8(b) Restriction on Severance Payments to Foreign

Nationals:

(b) In making the determination concerning the granting of a waiver, the agency will determine that -

(1) The application of the severance pay limitations to the contract would adversely affect the continuation of a program, project, or activity that provides significant support services for (i) members of the armed forces stationed or deployed outside the United

States, or (ii) employees of an executive agency posted outside the United States;

(2) The Contractor has taken (or has established plans to take) appropriate actions within its control to minimize the amount and number of incidents of the payment of severance pay to employees under the contract who are foreign nationals; and

(3) The payment of severance pay is necessary in order to comply with a law that is generally applicable to a significant number of businesses in the country in which the https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=f90711f21c4e91b9452956c6ec1909ce&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=f90711f21c4e91b9452956c6ec1909ce&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=ff960c003974a24dcadeba08a13a9d4c&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=80fb588108eda34822560ae27fdc9a0d&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=05798b00227a9a3cb859ce4e18bcc650&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=05798b00227a9a3cb859ce4e18bcc650&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=195593d775cea6a32bc0267306777b5c&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=20337544af3a10f04d4d30c9b5c0af0b&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=ff960c003974a24dcadeba08a13a9d4c&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=05798b00227a9a3cb859ce4e18bcc650&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=f90711f21c4e91b9452956c6ec1909ce&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=195593d775cea6a32bc0267306777b5c&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=f90711f21c4e91b9452956c6ec1909ce&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 foreign national receiving the payment performed services under the contract, or is necessary to comply with a collective bargaining agreement.

Please include in your offer the applicable local employment laws concerning the granting of a waiver.

18. In Section J, on page 92, one of the Objective 2 Results was updated to state, “80% of males aged 15-29 is circumcised in Hhohho and Shiselweni,” yet COP20 guidance includes males aged 15-39. Can USAID confirm whether circumcisions provided to males 29+ could be funded by the project, even if not explicitly targeted through demand creation activities?

Answer: Circumcisions for clients aged 29+ can be funded by the project. However, active demand creation activities should primarily focus on the 15-29 years priority age band

19. In Section J on page 99, the fourth bullet states, “Prior approval by the USAID

Contracting Officer is required for any grants proposed by the Contractor.” As the offeror will present a Grants Manual for USAID approval, we request this bullet be removed and specific authority levels for grant under contract approvals be designated in the grants manual and approved by USAID.

Answer: USAID will not remove the fourth bullet on Page 99. Grants Manual are approved by the Contracting Officer during the implementation.

20. Could USAID please confirm if Attachment J.6 on page 106 can be updated with the new biodata form?

Answer: See answer to Question No.6.

21. In Section J includes Attachment J.7, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (page 108) and

Attachment J.9, Certification Regarding Trafficking in Persons Compliance Plan (page

111); however, these attachments are not referenced in Section L. Can USAID please confirm we should only provide the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities and Certification

Regarding Trafficking in Persons Compliance Plan is needed from the prime offeror?

Answer: Section L9 has been revised to include that Offeror’s are required to submit signed certifications of Attachment J.7, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities and Attachment

J.9, Certification Regarding Trafficking in Persons Compliance Plan.

22. Given the change in budget available to meet the objectives set in the ASPIRE scope of work, can USAID please confirm if the number of health facilities expected to be served will be reduced? If so, can USAID update Attachment J.23 from the original RFP package?

Answer: See answer to Question No. 1.

23. Given the amended Spectrum modeling estimates, the FY20 national conditional cascade https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=f90711f21c4e91b9452956c6ec1909ce&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:48:Chapter:1:Subchapter:H:Part:52:Subpart:52.2:52.237-8 percentages showing Eswatini currently at 95, 99, and 97 percent, and the budget reduction, could USAID please provide an updated Section J.25, ASPIRE Required

PEPFAR Indicators and COP19 ASPIRE Targets, to reflect any changes in targets?

Section L.

Answer: See Answer to Question No. 12.

24. Section L.8 on pages 141 and 142 states the new page limit as 30 pages and the new font size as 12-point font. To ensure space for sufficient explanation of approaches and strategy, would USAID consider keeping the original page limit of 40 pages and offerors adjust to the new font size of 12-point font? Alternately, may offerors submit using the original font size of 11-point font and adjust to the new 30-page limit?

Answer: USAID will maintain a 30-page limit with 12-point font. USAID is confident that offerors will be able to succinctly and clearly articulate how they will achieve the results in this format.

25. In reference to the information requested in Section 4, Annex G: ESRS and Small

Business Utilization on page 147, our hardcopy subcontracting reports (SF-294s), for the past three years total 104 pages and comprise more than 2.52 MB. In addition to the hard copy SF-294s for projects not registered in the eSRS, we have also submitted individual subcontracting reports through the eSRS for registered projects. Instead of submitting the electronic files totaling 2.52 MB with 104 pages of SF-294 reports and a listing of eSRS reports, may the offeror submit only a list of 5 relevant eSRS reports and a copy of 5 SF-294 forms that are not duplicated on the eSRS?

Answer: Based on Annex G requirements, the Offeror is required to provide a list of the recent contracts (performed over the past three years) for which you submitted subcontract reports to eSRS (FAR 52.219-9(d)(10) and a copy of any similarly recent subcontracting reports if they were not submitted to eSRS. Please provide a list of five (5) relevant eSRS subcontract reports and copies of five (5) SF294 forms that are not duplicated. Provide the names and addresses of three SB concerns for us to contact for their assessment of your performance in using SB concerns.