Amdt3 Protective Education for Girls in Mali RFP 72068824R00001.docx.pdf

SOL-72068824R00001 Amendment #03

ATTACHMENT A – Responses to Questions

General

1. TIMEFRAME: The Revised Notice mentions a 3-year timeframe in Section A. IV 2) p.5 “The offeror will provide grants under contracts for a 3-year period to these local organizations" and on p.1 “USAID/Mali anticipates the award of one (1) Firm Fixed Price Contract resulting from this solicitation to be implemented over a 3-year period of performance. Could you please confirm that the period of performance of this award remains five (5) years as stated in Section B. II p.9 and in the original Presolicitation Notice?

Response: The period of performance of this award is now three (3) years. Section B. II of the pre solicitation will be revised to incorporate three years instead of five years.

2. USAID states that offerors must "briefly explain the allocation of resources to different components of the intervention." Can USAID indicate what is meant by components? Are these the three Key Components on page 4, the result areas, or something else?

Response: Offerors should provide a brief explanation of the allocation of resources based on their understanding of the different components of the intervention and the contract line items in the template.

3. The budget table in Amendment 2 no longer contains a line item for fixed fee. Would USAID consider revising the budget table to add that cost category back into the budget format?

Response: No, USAID does not consider revising the budget table to add fixed fee category back into the budget format.

4. Page 9: Under “Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Award,” could USAID confirm the period of performance should be revised to three years?

Response: Yes, USAID confirms the period of performance should be revised to three years.

5. Can USAID please confirm if “Windows of Opportunity” funds may include new grants under contract, and if so, up to what amount per grant?

Response: The crisis modifier/windows of opportunity funds should not be allocated to Grants Under Contract.

6. On page 5 of the revised NOFO, USAID writes, “The offeror will provide grants under contracts for a 3-year period to local organizations.” Could USAID please clarify if subcontracts to non-local organizations, in other amounts, are also possible?

Response: Yes, subcontracts to non-local organizations, in other amounts, are also possible.

Page | 2

7. Could USAID please specify whether USAID will use a cost reimbursement model for any approved costs incurred under the Windows of Opportunity budget line?

Response: USAID will not use a cost reimbursement model for any approved costs incurred under the Windows of Opportunity budget line.

8. Does USAID anticipate allowing or requiring construction costs under this activity?

Response: USAID does anticipate allowing or requiring construction (rehabilitation/ renovation of Latrine Blocks) costs under this activity.

9. Does USAID still anticipate that the project start date will be in August 2025?

Response: USAID anticipates that the project start date will be in September 2025.

10. We noticed an inconsistency in the period of performance in the revised pre-solicitation; could USAID confirm whether the award period is 3 years and not 5 years, as the period of performance is still indicated as 5 years on page 9?

Response: USAID confirms that the period of performance is three years. The pre solicitation will be revised to incorporate three years instead of five years.

11. For the grants under contract (GUCs) and the crisis modifier activity, does USAID anticipate using a separate cost-reimbursable CLIN or CLINs, similar to a firm-fixed price and cost reimbursement hybrid contract? If not, how does USAID envision these undefined costs and TBD deliverables functioning under a fixed price contract?

Response: USAID does not anticipate using a separate cost-reimbursable CLIN or CLINs, similar to a firm-fixed price and cost reimbursement hybrid contract. GUCs will be provided as fixed amount grants.

12. USAID requests limited pricing information on pages 11-12 and provides a nominal budget table.

Given that there is no line for fee, does USAID assume that offerors will burden their costs within the line items in the table to account for fee?

Response: Yes, USAID assumes that offerors will fully burden their costs within the line items in the table to account for fees.

Concept Paper- Technical Questions

13. Is USAID open to additional activities - beyond the Key Activities already named in the pre-solicitation - which contribute to the objectives?

Response: USAID is open to additional activities suggested by the offeror that contribute to achieve all objectives.

Page | 3

14. Under Result 3, can USAID clarify if the psychosocial support is primarily targeting teachers, learners, or both?

Response: USAID envisions psychosocial support for both teachers and learners.

15. USAID names the following locations in the revised pre-solicitation: Bamako, Kayes, Bougouni, Sikasso. Can USAID confirm where activities will be implemented?

Response: USAID envisions activities to be implemented in Bamako and Bougouni. However, there may be potential to implement in the Kayes regions, dependent on funds and implementation success.

16. ACTIVITIES: Are the key activities listed under each Result prescriptive? Must all of the key activities listed in the Revised Notice appear in the proposed technical concepts? Could other activities be proposed instead or in addition to the key activities listed?

Response: USAID expects the offeror to provide their proposed key activities. USAID has provided illustrative examples of key activities.

17. PROJECT AREA: Please clarify project implementation locations as the Revised Notice contains conflicting information from the original Notice adding Sikasso Region (added p.15) and Bamako (added p.5).

Response: USAID envisions activities to be implemented in Bamako and Bougouni. However, there may be potential to implement in the Kayes regions, dependent on funds and implementation success.

18. Under Result 2, USAID indicates that cash transfers should be used to overcome financial barriers. Is USAID open to a combination of cash transfers and in-kind support?

Response: Yes, USAID is open to a combination of cash transfers and in-kind support.

19. Under Result 2, can or should the peer education program include both boys and girls?

Response: The peer education program should include both boys and girls. However, the majority of participants must be girls.

20. Would USAID consider activities such as savings groups or IGAs part of targeted community interventions under Result 1 or part of implementing targeted economic support for learners under Result 2?

Response: USAID will consider savings groups or IGAs dependent on the offerors proposal and logical sequencing.

21. How does USAID define” local community and civil society groups”? Would USAID consider School Management Committees to be a civil society group?

Page | 4

Response: Per ADS 302.3.4.5. f (1) (provided at ADS 302mbe), USAID defines local entities as, “an individual, corporation, commercial organization and nonprofit organization that: 1) is legally organized under the laws of; 2) has as its principal place of business or operations in; and 3) is (A) majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and (B) managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of a country receiving assistance of; a country receiving assistance from funds appropriated under title III of this Act.” Therefore, USAID does not consider School Management Committees to be a civil society group.

22. Page 4: The amended pre-solicitation states “The offeror will be responsible for identifying and selecting legitimate local organizations that have experience in working on girls’ education and empowerment in the targeted regions (Kayes, Bougouni, and Bamako).”

● Can USAID share its rationale for including Bamako in the list of targeted regions in this section?

● Can USAID elaborate on the types of interventions it envisions for implementation in Bamako, as compared to Kayes and Bougouni?

Response: There are sand and traditional gold mining sites in Bamako and its neighboring communes of Koulikoro region in many places on the Niger River; for instance, Bamako - Koulikoro Axis, Bamako-Kangaba Axis, and in Bamako (Djicoroni Para, Sebenicoro, Kalabancoro, Kabala). The presence of economic activities in these sites makes them attractive for girls and young women who run associated small shops, small restaurants, and itinerant merchants. In addition, young women and girls provide labor to extract sand and rocks directly from rivers and canoes for themself and for other operators.

23. Page 6: Given the revised period of performance and award amount, can USAID share an updated target number of participants that the activity will reach with reference to the first Q&A response that cited a target range of 16,000 to 18,000 participants?

Response: USAID expects each offeror to provide a target number of participants based on the revised budget.

24. Page 12: Given the addition of Key Program Components, additional sample indicators, and Result 4, would USAID consider increasing the page limit for concept notes to five (5) pages for the English version and six (6 pages) for the French version?

Response: USAID extends the page limit to 5 pages for the English version of the concept note and to 6 pages for the French version.

25. Page 12: Does USAID expect all sample indicators to be included in concept notes?

Response: No, only an indicative number of indicators is needed. The fully developed monitoring and evaluation plan will be required 90 days after the award is signed.

Page | 5

26. Page 14: Could USAID share any further information about its vision for the co-creation phase? Will co-creation be conducted virtually or in-person? Will multiple offerors be included in a single co-creation event, or will USAID conduct one-on-one co-creation sessions with each offeror?

Response: The co-creation process will happen over 5 working days, there will be plenary sessions where key information will be shared with all offerors at the same time, and breakout sessions where USAID co-creation facilitators will work one-on-one.

27. Can USAID indicate which Key Personnel, if any, will be required to speak English?

Response: A detailed description of each key team member's profile is not needed for the concept. A general overview of the team’s capacities and relevant experiences will be sufficient.

28. On page 5, the amended presolicitation states that “the offeror will be responsible for identifying and empowerment in the targeted regions (Kayes, Bougouni, and Bamako).” Can USAID please confirm if offerors are also expected to support implementation of the activities included under results 1, 2, and 3 in the results framework in Bamako?

Response: Yes, the offerors are expected to support results 1, 2, and 3 in Bamako.

29. On page 5 of the revised NOFO, USAID writes, “The offeror will be responsible for identifying and empowerment in the targeted regions (Kayes, Bougouni, and Bamako).” Could USAID please clarify if it is adding Bamako as a target region?

Response: USAID is keeping Bamako as a target region.

30. On page 5 of the revised pre-solicitation, USAID states “The offeror will be responsible for identifying and selecting legitimate local organizations that have experience in working on girls’ education and empowerment in the targeted regions (Kayes, Bougouni, and Bamako).” Could USAID please confirm that Kayes and Bougouni remain the only targeted areas of implementation?

Response: The targeted regions of the activity are Bamako and Bougouni. However, there may be potential to implement in the Kayes regions, dependent on funds and implementation success.

31. Can USAID please confirm that “Rehabilitation (Renovation) of Latrine Blocks for Females” is no longer required WASH infrastructure for this activity?

Response: USAID expects that the offeror will keep the rehabilitation (renovation) of Latrine Blocks as part of the activity.

32. Since USAID has provided sample indicators on p. 6-8 of the NOFO, is this expected to again be included in the application to meet the “Measurable Outcomes and Indicators” evaluation factor?

Page | 6

Response: The offeror is expected to include a selection of key indicators that they plan to use to measure results and impact, those may include all of some of the sample indicators on p 6-8 of the NOFO.

33. We would kindly ask for any information you are able to provide on the reasoning behind the revised issuance date and the changes in Section A, subsections II, III & VI of the Solicitation.

Response: Budget constraints are the reasons for the changes.

34. Could USAID please confirm if Bamako is now part of the targeted regions as outlined on page 5?

Response: USAID is keeping Bamako as a target region.

35. The revised presolicitation states on page 5 that the offeror will provide grants under contract to local organizations of up to $250,000 per year, which "will fund activities such as the establishment of accelerated learning centers, teacher professional development, community outreach, and economic support programs." The presolicitation further states that "These organizations will be essential for the implementation of the program." Given these statements and the potentially large size of the anticipated GUCs, does USAID expect that the local GUC recipients will be subawardees and responsible for implementing most or all of the activities to achieve Results 1-3?

Response: USAID expects each offeror to propose how they will meet the grants under contract to local organizations requirement.

Submission-Formatting and Structure

36. Can USAID allow offerors five pages for the English version and six pages for the French version of the technical concepts given the additional result area included in the amended presolicitation?

37. Can USAID please clarify if a 1-page budget in French is also required?

Response: A 1-page budget in French is not required.

38. Considering the addition of an entirely new objective that requires responding to, would USAID please consider increasing the page limit?

39. Can USAID please confirm how it would like applicants to resubmit concept notes? Does USAID wish to see applicants reply to their original submission emails?

Page | 7

Response: USAID requests offerors to resubmit their revised concept notes. The subject line for the technical concepts should be: “72068824R00001 Protective Education for Girls in Mali- Revised Technical Concepts Submission-the offeror’s acronym” and while the subject line for the limited pricing information should be “72068824R00001 Protective Education for Girls in Mali- Revised Limited Pricing Info Submission-the offeror’s acronym.”

40. Given the very compressed timeline between the deadline for the questions and the due date, would USAID consider extending the Revised Phase One Technical Concept due date?

Response: USAID extends the Revised Phase One Technical Concept due date to January 28, 2025.

41. USAID provided a template for the nominal budget on page 13, which now includes a line for a flexibility/crisis modifier and has removed the previous presolicitation's line for "rehabilitation (renovation) of latrine blocks for females". Can USAID clarify if latrine rehabilitation will no longer be part of the anticipated scope of work for this opportunity?

Response: USAID confirms that the latrines renovation (rehabilitation) will be part of the anticipated scope of work for this opportunity.

42. Given the inclusion of an additional Result in the revised presolicitation and a new requirement for GUCs, would USAID kindly extend the page limit from 4 to 5 pages for the English version of the concept note and 5 to 6 pages for the French version? This will allow offerors adequate space to describe their approach to achieving Result 4 as well as GUC management and monitoring and flexibility/crisis modifier management.

Response: USAID extends the page limit from 4 to 5 pages for the English version of the concept note and 5 to 6 pages for the French version.

43. We note the requirement for the additional result area and program components such as the Grant Under Contract Management and Monitoring and Flexibility modifier which will need to be incorporated into the technical concept. To reflect this change would USAID consider extending the page limit for the English version of the Concept Note to 5 pages, and the French version to 6 pages?

[END OF AMENDMENT #3]

Page | 8

Attachment B: Revised 3 Pre-Solicitation Notice-Request for Technical Concepts

Attachment B is posted on SAM.Gov as attachment.

Page | 9