G2G Ops_ Amendment 1_72068521R00006.pdf

Route des Almadies B.P. 49 Dakar, Sénégal Téléphone: 33‐879‐4000

Fax: 33‐879‐4100 Internet: https://pages.usaid.gov/senegal

Amendment #01

Date Issued: June 1st, 2021

Deadline for Submission of Full Proposal: June 11, 2021, 5:00 PM Dakar Local Time

Subject: Amendment #01 to Request for Proposal (RFP) # 72068521R00006

Project Title: Government-to-Government Operational Support (G2G Ops)

Dear Offerors:

The purpose of this Amendment #01 to the RFP # 72068521R00006 is to:

Provide responses to questions submitted to USAID/Senegal on May 24, 2021.

The responses to questions document are attached to this Amendment #01.

Sincerely, Jaime Dominguez Agreement Officer Regional Acquisition and Assistance Office USAID/Senegal

JAIME LEMAR

DOMINGUEZ

(affiliate)

Digitally signed by

JAIME LEMAR

DOMINGUEZ (affiliate) Date: 2021.06.01 18:49:03 Z

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) 72068521R00006

Government-to-Government Operational Support (G2G Ops)

Questions and Responses

A. Technical Questions

Question 1: Can USAID confirm that only a Y1 MEL plan should be included in the response?

USAID Response:

USAID is not requiring a full MEL plan at the proposal stage. At this time, Offerors just need to provide a MEL plan for Year 1 that clearly describes the way performance will be monitored and progress against the objectives will be measured. Offerors are welcome to provide additional information about their MEL vision/strategy for outyears if they would like. Please note that the successful Offeror must submit a life-of-activity AMELP within 45 days of award. We recognize that USAID/Senegal’s G2G beneficiaries will vary throughout the life of the award, so this can be adjusted for during the annual updates of the AMELP due by November 15.

Question 2: Can USAID provide a list of USG-supported organizations that should be considered in the Senegal G2G MEL Plan to be assessed for improved performance?

USAID Response:

The GOS entities that will receive USAID funding during Year 1 and should be assessed/monitored for whether G2G activities have improved their performance include:

[Ministry of Health and Social Action] Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme (PNLP)

Direction de la Santé de la Mère et de l'Enfant (DSME)

Direction de l'Administration Générale et de l'Equipement (DAGE)

Direction de la Planification, de la Recherche et des Statistiques (DPRS)

Pharmacie Nationale d'Approvisionnement (PNA)

3 health G2G regions (Medical region of Kaolack, Medical region of Kaffrine, Medical region of Ziguinchor)

[Ministry of Education]

Direction de l’Enseignement Elémentaire (DEE)

Direction de l’Administration Générale et de l’Equipement (DAGE)

Institut National d’Etude et d’Action pour le Développement de l’Education

(INEADE)

Direction de la Planification et de la Réforme de l’Education (DPRE)

Inspection d'Académie (IA) (Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kaffrine, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis), including their Inspection de la formation et de la formation (IEF).

Any other entity that may be involved in the implementation of the activity

[Ministry of Water and Sanitation]

Direction de L'Administration Générale et de L'Equipement (DAGE)

Inspection Interne (II)

Direction de l’Hydraulique (DH)

Direction de l’Assainissement (DA)

Direction de la Gestion et de la Planification des Ressources en Eau (DGPRE)

Cellule de Planification, de Coordination et de Suivi des Programmes (CPCPS)

Office des Forages Ruraux (OFOR)

[Other GOS entities]

Direction de l'Ordonnancement des Dépenses Publiques (DODP)

Inspection Interne

Question 3: For the G2G Ops now with the 3 sectors, the formula of a single CRV at the regional level could be considered. But what about the central level? Does USAID have a proposed model or is the contractor expected to propose one?

USAID Response:

We encourage Offerors to identify and propose efficiencies where they exist. USAID does not have a predetermined notion of how G2G Ops counter-verification should work and expects Offerors to propose how the levels of counter-verification could best be structured. Currently, the Ministry of Health is the only sector in which a Steering Committee verifies the achievement of USAID G2G activities. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Water and Sanitation have Steering Committees, but they have not historically participated in G2G activities. Please also note the decentralization reforms underway in Senegal as you develop a proposal for verification committees at the decentralized level.

Question 4: Page 19 Table 2. HPNO: 4 G2G regions + CRVs for malaria plus activities in 5 additional regions. Can USAID please clarify which four G2G regions and which five additional regions for Malaria will be included?

USAID Response:

The four G2G regions are: Kaffrine, Ziguinchor, Kaolack and Thies. As an update, there will only be three health G2G regions in 2022 as the Thies’ enrollment will be delayed.

One additional correction: there will be four additional malaria regions in 2022 and 2023 -- Kedougou, Tambacounda, Kolda and Diourbel. However, given the Education Office’s G2G activities in Saint Louis, there is an opportunity to include Saint Louis as a fifth malaria region for activity counter-verification purposes (the President’s Malaria Initiative invests significant funds through PNLP G2G activities in Saint Louis). Please note that Table 2 on Page 19 is an illustrative plan and subject to change.

Question 5: Page 19 Table 2. Would the 5 additional malaria regions benefit from a negotiation process (planning budgeting, definition of milestone) in addition to the validation mentioned in the RFP?

USAID Response:

The additional malaria regions do not negotiate with USAID. The PNLP is the GOS entity with whom we will negotiate, for the regions where they will intervene. The Offeror will only support the verification of malaria milestones in the additional malaria regions.

Question 6: Page 19 Table 2. For the EDU beneficiaries INEADE is missing in 2023 and 2025, does it mean G2G support could skip between years during the project? Also, EGO beneficiaries stop in 2024, does it mean in the last 2 years of the project, there will not be support to those entities?

USAID Response:

For Education, INEADE’s main operations will be done in year 1 (baseline), year 2 (midline), and last year (endline). However, if INEADE needs to do any activity in between, G2G Ops’ support should be available for them.

EGO plans to continue G2G during the last two years of the project, pending the availability of funds. The Offeror should therefore ensure flexibility in their proposal.

Question 7: Will there be a possibility to have regional advisors based in the regions for G2G ops?

USAID Response:

As long as it fits within the budget, Offerors are welcome to propose any management/staffing structure that they believe will best achieve the contract objectives. Regional or zone advisors could be valuable, particularly if structured in a strategic and cost-effective way to support the transition of regions to G2G or for a time-bound period when the need for support is greatest. Of utmost importance to USAID is a management and staffing structure that is flexible and adaptive given USAID’s evolving G2G-related needs over the next five years. USAID plans to scale up G2G during the life of this award, however, the level of support needed will not be homogenous across all G2G beneficiaries.

Question 8: Under sub task 2.3 (page 17) the contractor is expected to facilitate provision of short-term TA to GOS entities to address lagging indicators but then sub task 2.4 (page 17) only describes the short-term TA process for the Health beneficiaries. Could USAID clarify whether the Contractor will be expected to provide technical assistance to address lagging indicators in all three sectors or just the health sector?

USAID Response:

The distinction between sub-task 2.3 and sub-task 2.4 is who is financing the technical assistance. The philosophy behind G2G is to increase GOS leadership, ownership, and capacity, so this means that TA should be provided by GOS entities with the needed expertise whenever possible. If there is no GOS entity with the needed expertise, then a USAID implementing partner in-country can provide the requested TA. The Health Office, Education Office, and the Economic Growth Office each have an implementing partner whose scope includes providing TA in G2G regions. Thus, sub-task 2.3 is for G2G Ops to play a facilitator/coordinator role; if a G2G region needs TA, G2G Ops will coordinate with the necessary stakeholders to ensure that they provide the TA (and associated financing for it). USAID/Senegal’s Health Office recognizes, however, that there are certain situations in which others will not be able to provide the TA and G2G Ops will need to finance TA itself. Thus, sub-task 2.4 outlines specific scenarios in which G2G Ops can finance and provide TA itself (with COR approval).

Question 9: Page 101, Section L.7 - How would USAID like offerors to integrate potential COVID-19 related protocols, risks, and mitigation strategies into the management approach?

USAID Response:

USAID does not have a standard approach in which we expect implementing partners to integrate COVID-19 related measures. Given the contract objectives, we would like Offerors to propose the strategies and mitigation measures that they deem necessary to ensure activity implementation continues despite the pandemic.

(END OF RESPONSES TO TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)

B. Cost Questions

Question 1:

The RFP notes an issuance date of May 11, 2021 in the title however, the RFP was not posted on beta.SAM.gov until May 20, 2021. Would USAID consider an extension on the Closing Date and Time of the Proposal?

USAID Response:

Giving the fact that a Pre-Solicitation Notice was posted on beta.SAM.gov on April 7, 2021, USAID’s intent is to maintain the closing date of June 11, 2021 for submission of proposals.

Question 2:

Page 102, Section L.7 (c) of the RFP states that “(a) List in Annex G to the Technical Proposal up to five of the most recent and relevant contracts for efforts similar to work in Section C of the RFP.” Will USAID accept cooperative agreements in addition to contracts?

USAID Response:

USAID will accept cooperative agreements in addition to contracts as long as the number of recent contracts is higher than the number of cooperative agreements.

Question 3:

Page 103, the RFP states that “The Offeror must include as part of its proposal, a resume/full curricula vita (CV) for each proposed key person, an accompanying written narrative (1-page maximum) that explains how the individual meets the qualifications/skills requested”. Can USAID please confirm that the accompanying written narrative is not included in the 2-page limit noted on page 97.

USAID Response:

The written narrative (1 page maximum) is not included in the 2-page limit.

Question 4:

Is the STTA Plug of $1M across the prime and all subcontractors, or just the prime?

Additionally, is the $1M Plug an estimate or a concrete figure?

USAID Response:

USAID/Senegal’s health team has set aside $1 million total for sub-task 2.4 (concrete figure). This means there is effectively a TEC of $15 million for all the remaining contract sub-tasks. It is up to the Offeror to propose how the technical assistance (TA) under sub-task 2.4 will be provided, but the maximum budget will remain $1 million throughout the life of the award. USAID has outlined the specific scenarios in which this funding can be used but is unclear when or how often those scenarios will occur.

Question 5:

Are references required for non-key personnel?

USAID Response:

References are not required for non-key personnel. However, they are suggested for certain positions and are left to the Offeror’s discretion.

Question 6:

Section L.8(b)4, on page 107 of the RFP, USAID states “per AIDAR 722.170b, compensation paid to TCN’s and CCN’s 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 for the project”. In order to ensure that offerors can be in compliance with AIDAR 722.170b, can USAID please provide the current Local Compensation Plan for Senegal?

USAID Response:

USAID will provide the converted table of the current Local Compensation Plan (LCP) for Senegal. An Annex has been attached to the responses.

Question 7:

Section L.4 on page 98, the RFP states “Late proposals will not be accepted. Acceptance is upon receipt of the hard copy NOT the electronic copy.” Can USAID please clarify that hard copies of the proposal are not required, especially given current travel restrictions and challenges due to COVID-19?

USAID Response:

Please read: Late proposals will not be accepted. Acceptance is upon receipt of the electronic copies ONLY.

Question 8:

Section L.8(b)4, on page 107 of the RFP, USAID states that in accordance with the current USAID Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) the annual salary may not exceed $168,700.

According to Salary Table No. 2021-ES the current CST is $183,300. Can USAID please confirm that salary may not exceed $183,300 in accordance with the current CST?

USAID Response:

Please disregard information provided in Section L.8(b)4, on page107 of the RFP, and consider the current maximum of $183,300 informed in the Salary Table No. 2021-ES for the Senior Executive Service (SES). Therefore, salary may not exceed the maximum SES of $183,300.

Question 9:

Section L.7 b) states: “Job descriptions, the accompanying written narratives, and letters of commitment from Key Personnel must be included in Annexes D and E.” Can USAID clarify where the Job Descriptions are to be included, whether in Annex D or E. In addition, is there a page limit for the Job Descriptions?

USAID Response:

Job Descriptions are to be included in Annex D. The page limit for the Job Description must not exceed 2 pages.

Question 10:

Page 19 Table 2 Central level HPNO entities such as DODP and DCPM have been identified as receiving G2G funding. Can USAID please clarify if they will be the subject of funding in the Implementing Letter in the form of Milestones and Costs Reimbursement?

USAID Response:

USAID/Senegal will be awarding a cost reimbursement contract but cannot tell the prime what type of contract (Fixed-Amount Award or Cost Reimbursement) for the sub-awards should be applied. The relation between the prime and the subs strictly remains between them.

Question 11:

Page 1, Cover Letter - The issuance date on the RFP is May 11th, but the RFP was only released on May 20th. Kindly consider granting proposal submission date extension so that Offerors have at least 30 days to respond to the RFP.

Response:

Please refer to the response provided to the Question no. 1.

Question 12:

Page 38, Section F.9 - Can USAID please confirm that your preference is not to have Senegalese staff exclusive with any single Offeror. Based on the Key Personnel requirements, it’s likely that there are a limited number of candidates who will meet them.

Discouraging the use of exclusive agreements will allow USAID to get the best available Senegalese staff to implement G2G Ops.

USAID Response:

USAID/Senegal is not aware of any restriction limiting the use of local staff; section F.9 does not mention that U.S. staff must be engaged. We encourage Offerors to use local staff as much as possible for both key and non-key personnel, particularly given the contract’s requirement for staff to have a strong understanding of the local context and political dynamics. The Key Personnel requirements that are outlined in F.9 highlight the importance of work experience with the Government of Senegal (GOS).

Question 13:

Page 40, Section F.10 - Can USAID please indicate whether the Offeror should propose a fixed fee table or if the fixed fee will be paid as a % of costs incurred. Section L does not require the submission of a Fixed Fee table therefore it is unclear how Section F.10 will be populated.

USAID Response:

USAID/Senegal recommends the use of percentage of the costs incurred for the fixed fee to be paid.

Question 14:

Pages 46-47, Section H.6 - This Section includes a requirement on reporting foreign taxes.

In order to allow contractors to better assess their potential tax liabilities, can USAID please provide offerors with copies of any applicable bilateral agreements or similar relevant document with the Government of Senegal that would exempt the contractor from local taxation. Additionally, could USAID provide offerors with any instructions regarding the process for seeking such exemptions.

USAID Response:

The Program Office (PRM) will issue and submit an official implementation letter to the Senegalese authorities for the new award regarding the exemption of foreign taxes.

Question 15:

Page 97, Section L.4 - Can USAID please indicate if there is a page limit for non-key personnel CVs?

The page limit for non-key personnel CVs must not exceed two (02) pages.

Question 16:

Page 100, Section L.7 - Can USAID please confirm that Offerors may include a Table of Contents and an Acronym list in their proposal that will not be counted against the 35-page limit?

Offerors must include a Table of Contents (TOC) as well as an Acronym list and they will not be counted against the 35-page limit.

Question 17:

Page 105, Sections L.8, H.9 - Please provide a copy of the USAID Senegal Local Compensation Plan to comply with AIDAR.

USAID Response:

Please refer to the response provided to the Question no. 06.

Question 18:

Pages, 108, 59; Sections L.8, H.22 - RFP requires conformance to ADS 253.However, it is our understating at the USAID ADS Chapter 253, Participant Training for Capacity Development, has been archived to conform with Agency transformation no longer requiring use of archived policies. Kindly clarify if any changes are required by offerors when proposing cost estimates pertaining to trainings as required by RFP section L.8. and clarify any revised requirements to RFP section H.21.

Please disregard the reference to ADS 253.

(END OF RESPONSES TO COST QUESTIONS)

[END OF AMENDMENT # 1 TO RFP # 72068521R00006 – G2G Ops]