Orora_Wihaze_Q&A.pdf

Q&A Orora Wihaze SOL-72069619R00001

Below are the Round 1 responses to Questions received for the Orora Wihaze solicitation. Please see the

Amended RFP with changes highlighted for additional information.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

1. Would USAID kindly confirm that given the possibility of the inclusion of an oral presentation as part of the proposal, that Key Personnel are required to commit exclusively to one bid, as exclusivity guarantees that Key Personnel will be present at the oral presentation and helps avoid issues of conflict of interest?

Answer: USAID does not require key personnel to commit exclusively to one offeror’s proposal.

Oral presentations may be required if USAID enters into a competitive range. Offerors will have sufficient time to plan accordingly.

2. a) Would USAID consider allowing the offerors to add additional annexes to the bid to include information deemed important, such as an organizational chart? b) Would USAID please consider allowing the addition of Annex G: Staff Roles and Responsibilities to include a staffing chart that describes roles, responsibilities, and qualifications (or required qualifications) of personnel?

Alternatively, would USAID consider increasing the page limit of the Technical Proposal by 3 pages to allow for this table?

Answer: USAID will not add an annex for an organizational chart with staff roles, responsibilities and qualifications and page limits remain the same.

3. In L.6, page 103, the RFP has the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plan listed in two separate places. Could USAID kindly confirm that the content related to the MEL Plan should be included only in Annex B: Detailed MEL Plan, and not in the body of the Technical Proposal? Or, would USAID consider including additional pages in the body of the Technical Proposal to accommodate a more thorough description of the MEL Plan?

Answer: The intention is that Offerors will present their MEL plan/methodology in the technical proposal body. Annex B, Detailed MEL Plan, will present the actual plan and provide more details.

No additional pages will be considered.

4. a) In section L.10, on page 109, the RFP states that “For all contracts listed above that are not in

PPIRS, provide a list of contact names, job titles…” Could USAID clarify if the Offeror should submit Past Performance Information Sheets (Attachment J.11) for all projects selected to showcase past performance, or only those not appearing in PPIRs? b) Regarding Past Performance information, would USAID please clarify whether all the details requested in Section L.10, (page 108-110) are to be presented in annexes? If not, would USAID please specify which information is to be included in the technical proposal vs the PPI annex?

Answer:

a) Offerors should submit Past Performance Information Sheets for all projects selected to showcase past performance (including those in PPIRs and not in PPIRs).

b) Offerors must include the Past Performance Information Sheets, if applicable, in the annex.

Offerors may include additional information in the technical proposal regarding their past performance.

5. Would USAID kindly confirm the following sections should be included in the Performance Work

Statement only, and not included in the body of the Technical Proposal?

● Background

● Results and Goals, including the activity results framework

● General Activity Parameters

● Deliverables, Indicators and Targets

Answer: The PWS must include all five sections, in the specified order, as stated in section L.7 of the

RFP.

6. In section L.5 on page 100, the RFP states that “All Offerors who are determined to be in the competitive range may be requested to deliver an oral presentation…” Would USAID kindly clarify the anticipated dates for the oral presentation, as this will help us have sufficient time to alert our Key

Personnel so that they may arrange to travel to the presentation location in sufficient time (i.e., requesting time off if they have a current job)?

Additionally, could USAID consider allowing oral presentations to occur in-person or allowing

Offerors to use their own video telecommunications (VTC) system to help facilitate a smooth logistical process for the oral presentation?

Answer: Exact dates for potential oral presentations will be determined once, and if, a competitive range is established. Our intention is that the presentation would occur in May 2019. Oral presentations will not be allowed in person; however, Offerors may use their own telecommunications systems, as long as they are accessible to USAID.

7. Could USAID kindly clarify whether the SF LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities document is a required attachment for this proposal and, if so, confirm who it is required from (i.e. the offeror, subcontractors) and where it should be placed in the offeror’s submission? It is included in Section J-

List of Attachments, but not listed in Section L as a required attachment.

Answer: The SF LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities document is required for offerors and major subcontractors. This form should be included as part of the Cost Proposal.

8. Section H.2 (a) indicates that the authorized source for procurement is geographic code 937, however, section H.3 states that the authorized geographic code for procurement of goods and services under the solicitation 935. Would USAID kindly clarify which authorized geographic code will apply to this solicitation?

Answer: The authorized geographic code for this solicitation is 935.

9. In Section I, on page 66, could USAID kindly remove clause 52.215-10 from Section I “Contract

Clauses” as it is not applicable to this effort?

Answer: Please see Amendment to the RFP on page 66. Clause 52.215.10 has been deleted.

10. Section L.11(b) refers to Section B. 11 (page 110), but there is not one in the RFP. Could USAID please clarify the reference?

Answer: Please see Amendment to the RFP on page 110.

11. Section: I.6 FAR 52.229-8 Taxes-Foreign Cost Reimbursement Contract a) Any tax or duty from which the United States Government is exempt by agreement with the Government of Zimbabwe, or which the contractor or any subcontractor under this contract is exempt under the laws of Zimbabwe, shall not constitute an allowable cost under this contract” (p.77)

Answer: Please see Amendment 1 to the RFP on page 77; “Zimbabwe” has been deleted and replaced with “Rwanda.”

12. Section M.2, Evaluation Factors, states that “Past Performance is broken down into two sub-factors: Overall Past Performance and Past Performance Using Small Business Concerns”

(page 120). Could USAID please confirm that information related to performance using small business concerns should be included in Annex E?

Answer: Offerors may include information regarding past performance in the body of their technical proposal. In addition, Offerors must include eSRS reports, if applicable, in Annex E and Small Business References in Annex F.

13. Section L.6 (d) General Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal does not include an Annex for the submission of Letters of Support (LOS) from project stakeholders.

Will USAID allow the submission of Letters of Support? If so, under which Annex should they be included?

Answer: submission of Letters of Support (LOS) from project stakeholders is not required.

14. Section L.10(a)(1) requires that the offeror “List in an annex to the technical proposal

(Annex D) up to five (5) of the most recent and relevant contracts, task orders, grants or cooperative agreements (I.e. “contracts” in the following paragraphs) for the Offeror and for each major subcontractor. Could USAID please verify if this is a maximum of 5 Past

Performance Information Sheets in total. Or if this is a maximum of five for the Offeror and five for each major subcontractor?

Answer: Offerors may present five past performance information sheets for itself and five for each major subcontractor (as defined in the RFP).

15. Section L.10 (a) states that the contractor must submit PPIs for itself and “contractor teaming arrangements.” Please confirm USAID only wants PIIs for the Contractor and major subcontractors, and does not want PIIs for contractor teaming arrangements that do not rise to the level of a major subcontractor.

Answer: Correct, please only submit past performance information sheets for the Offeror and major subcontractors (as defined in the RFP) only.

16. Section L.10 (d) - please confirm that includes performance using small businesses of both the Contractor and major subcontractors.

Answer: No, this section is only applicable to the Offeror, not the major subcontractors.

17. On page 107, Section L.9 Personnel and Management Approach, sub-section (a) Key

Personnel states “The offeror has a continuing responsibility to notify USAID immediately and at any time prior to award if the Offeror becomes aware that the proposed key personnel are no longer available.” Would USAID please confirm that this notification should be sent by email to Eriazel Bagabo at ebagabo@USAID.gov, with copy to Zachary Clarke at zclarke@USAID.gov?

Answer: Yes, all correspondence regarding this solicitation should be sent by email to

Eriazel Bagabo at ebagabo@usaid.gov, with copy to Zachary Clarke at zclarke@usaid.gov.

18. Please clarify USAID/Rwanda’s definition of local entity that would be eligible for grants under contract or core team role.

Answer: Grants under contract restrictions only apply to U.S. based non-governmental organizations.

19. On page 101 the solicitation says, Text in graphs and charts must not be smaller than 9pt.

May offerors use 9pt font in text boxes?

Answer: No, this font only applies to the Text in graphs and charts.

COST QUESTIONS

20. Page 111 of the RFP states that “Offerors are required to submit a corresponding compensation plan for all positions identified in the management and staffing plan, including expatriate staff as well as local national positions.” Given that USAID included the Local

Compensation Plan (LCP) for Rwanda as part of the solicitation package, please clarify whether Offerors are required to follow the provided the LCP or develop a new LCP for the

Rwandan staff.

Answer: Offerors are required to compensate local staff within the ranges of LCP, unless a waiver is requested (which must be approved by the USAID/Rwanda Mission Director). The

LCP should be used to guide the Offeror’s compensation plan for local staff.

21. Section L.11.2 and Attachment 8 and - the Excel Budget Template and section L.11 2

(Budget Line Item Headings), p. 111-113 indicate “Fixed Fee.” However, this contract will be structured for base fee and award fee. How should these two fees be specified in the budget detail?

Answer: Attachment 8, Budget Template, has been amended to include base fee and award fee. In addition, the solicitation has been amended.

22. a) How does the FEE tab of the budget template correspond to the fee payment guidance in

Section B.9 of the RFP? Does this fee table in the template relate to payment of the base fee? There’s some confusion because the base fee guidance in Section B.9 states:

“Normally, the contractor will be paid the proportion of the fee that corresponds to the proportion of cost incurred by the Contractor during the period covered by the invoice divided by the total estimated cost (exclusive of base and award fee).” This payment process seems to conflict with the FEE tab in the budget, because the table there appears to tie base fee collection to specific deliverables per year. Please clarify.

b)Section B.9(a) (page 11) states that for the base fee, “the contractor will be paid the proportion of the fee that corresponds to the proportion of costs incurred by the Contractor during the period covered by the invoice divided by the total estimated cost (exclusive of base and award fee).” However, Attachment 8, Budget Template, includes a tab for a fee mailto:ebagabo@USAID.gov mailto:zclarke@USAID.gov mailto:ebagabo@USAID.gov mailto:zclarke@USAID.gov payment schedule. Would USAID please remove the fee payment schedule tab from the

Budget Template given that, in accordance with Section B.9(a), the contract will allow for payment of base fee as a “proportion of the fee that corresponds to the proportion of costs incurred by the Contractor”?

Answer: Attachment 8, Budget Template, has been amended to remove the fee tab and to remove references to “fixed fee.”

23. Can USAID confirm if Offerors use their own established budget templates, provided they keep the same overall sequence and general organization of cost categories provided in

Attachment 8 – Budget Template?

Answer: The budget proposed should align with the amended budget template in Attachment 8.

24. On page 112 under Budget Line Item Headings, A. Direct Costs, b. Fringe Benefits,” the RFP states that overseas allowances are part of the fringe benefits category. However, in line with our organization’s cost structure, overseas allowances are budgeted as part of the Other Direct Costs

(ODCs) category. Please advise if Offerors can follow their established cost structures or if they must follow this instruction as stated.

Answer: For consistency purposes, Offerors must follow the budget instructions on page 112 of this

25. Per page 112 of the RFP, under “Budget Line Item Headings,” please clarify if per diem should be budgeted clearly for each trip based on the destination and length of trips or budgeted separately in a per diem subtotal line item summing up the per diem of all trips.

Answer: Attachment 8, Budget Template, includes a travel tab which will be used. The total travel costs in the template must populate in the travel costs accordingly.

26. Could USAID Please confirm that the award fee is calculated as part of the $12-15M range?

Answer: Yes, the award fee is calculated as part of the $12-15M range.

27. Section L.11 7. Supporting Documents. The offeror must provide additional supporting budget documentation to substantiate all proposed cost. Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements, from the offeror and all sub partners, must be included in the cost proposal. (p.115)

Question: Do sub-partners only constitute as major subcontractors, or are all partners expected to submit their NICRA?

Answer: The sub-partners constitute major subcontractors. The solicitation on page 115 is amended to address this issue.

28. Attachment 1-SOO “At least $4 million of USG commitment and private sector investments leveraged by the USG to support food security and nutrition” (p.128)

Question: Does USAID intend that the $4m in private sector investments is the minimum amount that must be leveraged under this objective?

Answer: Per the Feed the Future Indicator Handbook

(https://www.agrilinks.org/sites/default/files/ftf-indicator-handbook-march-2018-508.pdf) the total amount leveraged by the private sector and/or additional USG commitments (e.g. loans, grants, or other awards) encouraged or facilitated by this activity is counted toward this leverage indicator. The additional private sector or USG commitment should total at least $4 million.

29. Question: Will USAID require that applicants provide cost-share, if so, is the cost share required to be in cash or can the cost-share be provided via other modalities such as in-kind?

Answer: The prime Contractor will not be required to provide cost share; however, the grants under contract require cost share/leverage. See response below and section L.7 of the RFP, including the amendment.

30. Would USAID consider removing the requirement for cost sharing in the Grants Under Contract component in Section L.7 of the RFP? Our experience has shown that mandatory cost sharing under grants can eliminate organizations from becoming recipients if they cannot meet the cost-share targets. Should USAID award us the contract, we would work with USAID to establish an appropriate level of grantee contribution for the Grants Under Contract program.

Answer: No, USAID is not removing cost sharing in the Grants Under Contracts requirement.

31. Section L.11.(c)3, Budget Line Item Definitions, states that “For every subcontract that involves development services or deliverables AND is not expected to be awarded on a fixed-price basis, separate spreadsheets must be submitted for each such subcontract with the same detail, organization and format set forth above in Subsection L.12.(b)1” (page 114). However, Subsection L.12.(b)1 does not appear in the RFP. Could USAID confirm that the offeror should follow the detail, organization, and format for subcontractor spreadsheets in Section L.11.(c)2?

Answer: The RFP has been amended on page 114 to remove L.12(b)1 and replace it with Section

L.11.(c) 2.

32. Section M.7, Price/Cost Evaluation, states that “an overall evaluated price (cost plus fixed fee) will be determined and will be used as part of the tradeoff analysis in determining source selection” (page 123). Could USAID please confirm that the overall evaluated price will be cost plus total fee (base and award) since this is a cost-plus-award-fee contract?

Answer: Yes, overall evaluated price will be cost plus total fee (base fee and award fee). The RFP, Section M.7, page 123, has been amended to delete “fixed fee” and replace it with “base and award fee.”

33. Section L.9(a), page 107 indicates that, “The offeror must include as part of its proposal a statement signed by all individuals proposed as key personnel, confirming their present intention to serve in the stated position and their present availability to serve for the term of the proposed contract”. Does

USAID require exclusive commitments from proposed key personnel?

Answer: No, USAID does not require exclusive commitments from proposed key personnel.

34. Section L.9(b), page 108, Personnel and Management Plan - the RFP indicates that, “USAID discourages the use of exclusive agreements as this limits USAID’s, and Rwanda’s ability to receive the best services.” Does this statement discourage exclusive commitments of both personnel (key and non-key) and partner organizations?

https://www.agrilinks.org/sites/default/files/ftf-indicator-handbook-march-2018-508.pdf

Answer: USAID/Rwanda does not encourage or require exclusivity agreements with key personnel.

35. Section B.4 and Attachment 8 - In the Excel template for budget, the tab “Category Budget” lists

Personnel, Travel, Other Direct Costs, Total Direct Costs, Indirect Costs and Fixed Fee in rows 4-9, should this instead be the three budget categories indicated in Section B.4 (p. 9)?

Answer: No, the contract budget and ceilings in section B.4 (page 9) are different from the excel template in Attachment 8.

36. Section F.6 (e), page 25 - the last bullet indicates that contractors must report on “expenditures by type of funding.” What types of funding does this refer to?

Answer: See amendment to the RFP; this requirement has been removed.

37. Attachment 1 (3) SOO and Attachment 6 states “At least $4 million of USG commitment and private sector investments leveraged by the USG to support food security and nutrition […]”. Kindly clarify what is meant by “USG commitment”, or whether the $4 million leverage commitment should come fully from the private sector.

Answer: Please see response to question 28 above.

38. Attachment 8 - in the “Detail” tab in the Excel Budget Template “program activities” are not necessarily “contractual” in nature. Would USAID consider including the “general program activities” and “training” cost categories as “other direct costs”?

Answer: Yes, program activities and training are not necessarily program in nature. However, USAID preference is to keep general program activities and training under the “Contractual” budget category.

39. Attachment 8 - for the purposes of standardizing cost proposal submissions, could USAID please indicate the exchange rate to be used when converting Rwandan Franc (FRw) to United States dollar

(USD)?

Answer: All budget costs must be in USAID Dollars. The rate proposed is at the discretion of the

Offeror and must be justified in the budget notes.

40. On page 108, Section L.10 Past Performance states, “The Offeror (including all partners of a joint venture) must provide performance information for itself, the Contractor teaming arrangements, if any, and each major subcontractor (one whose proposed cost exceeds 20% of the offeror’s total proposed cost)” For Orora Wihaze this would mean $3 million for one subcontractor. Would USAID consider reducing the 20% requirement for a major subcontractor to 10%?

Answer: No, USAID will not reduce the major subcontractor requirement to 20%.

41. Are offerors expected to include a draft of the award fee determination plan with their cost volume submission? If yes, can USAID please indicate where to include this as Cost instructions don’t indicate where it should be included? If not, will USAID simply divide our total by 5 years to come up with our annual award fee max?

Answer: No, Offerors are not expected to include a draft of the award fee determination plan; this will be done at the time of award. USAID will allocate fee equally among all five years.

42. Can USAID please provide guidance to offerors on how to distinguish between vehicles & non expendable equipment from expendable equipment? The provided budget template makes the distinction but the instructions do not provide guidance.

Answer: For more information please see See FAR part 45 and AIDAR part 745.

43. In the description of Equipment and Supplies on p 113 of the RFP, USAID indicates that offerors must break down costs …by types and units, and include an analysis that is it more advantageous to purchase than lease.” May offerors provide the requested purchase versus lease analysis for vehicles only? Or perhaps for purchases that exceed a certain unit price threshold, like $5,000 or $10,000?

Answer: Offerors may apply this analysis to any equipment considered.

44. The Category Budget tab of the provided budget template does not correspond to the budget categories outlined on p.9 in Section B.4 of the RFP. Please confirm whether USAID is looking for two category budgets: one that conforms with the budget template and one that conforms with Section

B.4. If offerors must complete the category budget tab provided in the budget template, please confirm that the personnel line item includes both personnel and fringe costs and that the other direct costs line item includes the following cost categories from the budget template’s SUMMARY budget tab: equipment, supplies, contractual, and other direct costs?

Answer: USAID requires a budget that conforms with the budget template attached to the amended

45. Can USAID please confirm that the “FEE” tab included with the provided budget template is meant as an illustrative list of deliverables for the award fee committee’s evaluation of achievement of results?

Answer: The fee tab has been removed from Attachment 8, Budget Template.

46. Does USAID have any assumptions about the appropriate proportion of the budget to be allocated toward achieving Objective 1 versus the amount toward Objective 2?

Answer: USAID does not have any assumptions in relation to budget allocation toward achieving objective 1 versus the amount toward objective 2.

47. Page 105 states: The Offeror may propose a Grants Under Contract (GUC) component in its

Technical Approach not to exceed $1,620,000 in value. If using this mechanism, Offerors must define clear criteria and objectives for small grant awards that would require the grants to: i) have financial cost sharing from recipients; ii) be performance based (paid based on performance); and iii) be directly linked to one of the two objectives of Orora Wihaze stated in the SOO.

Which is followed immediately by: In addition, in the body of the technical proposal, the Offeror must describe how it plans to work closely with the GOR, other USAID-funded activities, donors and other partners- particularly private sector actors- to maximize USG investments, and to ensure strong coordination with preexisting public and private investments and with GOR strategies.

Does this mean that detail requested in the paragraph describing GUCs is to be presented in the body of the technical proposal as well?

Answer: Yes, the GUC component, if applicable, must be presented in body of the technical proposal.

48. The FSN scale provided includes a housing allowance line item. Please confirm that a housing allowance can be paid to host country national employees.

Answer: Yes, the housing allowance is included in the gross FSN salary.

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

49. Attachment 1. Goals and Objectives “The focus value chains must include poultry, fish, pig and goat”

Question: Does USAID require that the offeror propose interventions for each of the referenced value chains, or are these the value chains that the offeror may choose from?

Answer: Yes, USAID expects the offeror to propose interventions for each of the referenced value chains.

50. What month does USAID/Rwanda expect for the Orora Wihaze program to start?

Answer: USAID/Rwanda expects the Orora Wihaze activity to start in August 2019.

51. Does USAID intend to have a third-party monitor for Orora Wihaze?

Answer: USAID will conduct activity monitoring and oversight; however, USAID may contract a third-party monitor or performance evaluator during implementation.

52. Section F.5, Key Personnel, lists the required qualifications of the nutritionist, one of the five key personnel positions (page 19). Would USAID consider a candidate for this position with a master’s degree in public health and at least five years of experience in nutrition science, nutrition policy development, and behavior change in lieu of a master’s degree in “nutrition science or dietetics with a focus on diet formulation for women, infants, and children” (page 19)?

Answer: Yes, USAID will consider candidates for the nutritionist position with a master’s degree in public health and at least five years of experience in nutrition science, nutrition policy development and behaviour change. The RFP on page 19 is amended to address this issue.

53. Section L.8, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan, refers to “the activity theory of change”

(page 106). If USAID has already developed an activity theory of change, could USAID please share it so that offerors may reference it?

Answer: No, USAID has not developed a theory of change for Orora Wihaze and USAID expects the offeror to propose a theory of change that will lead to achievement of the activity’s objectives.

54. Section L.10, Past Performance, states that the offeror must provide performance information “for up to five (5) of the most recent and relevant contracts … for the Offeror and for each major subcontractor” (page 108). Could USAID confirm that the offeror should provide information for up to five contracts for itself and up to five contracts for each major subcontractor?

Answer: Yes, offerors should provide information for up to five contracts for itself and up to five for each of the subcontractor.

55. Attachment 1, Statement of Objectives, states that Objective 2 is “Demand for ASF consumption for women of reproductive age and children of 6-23 months increased” (page 128). Attachment 6, Required and Illustrative Indicators by Objective and Result, states that Objective 2 is “Demand for

ASF consumption for women of reproductive age, households of people with disabilities, and children of 6-23 months increased” (page 141). Could USAID please confirm that offerors should refer to Objective 2 as stated in Attachment 1?

Answer: Yes, offerors should refer to Objective 2 as stated in Attachment 1.

56. Section L.7 states that the Technical Approach will consist of the “technical approach as stated in the body of the Technical Proposal and the Performance Work Statement (PWS), attached as Annex A to the proposal,” and later indicates that the PWS must include “4. General Activity Parameters.” Then, the last paragraph in Section L.7 states “Finally, the Offeror must address the activity parameters included in the SOO […].” Aside from the PWS, do the activity parameters need to be listed explicitly in the body of the technical proposal, or can they instead be integrated into the discussion of the approach?

Answer: The activity parameters must be listed in the body and integrated into the discussion of the approach.

57. Attachment 1, Section 3, Goals, Objectives and Results, page 128 - for the required indicators listed on page 128, could USAID please clarify whether the following indicators under the overarching

Goal are a) at the population level or b) at the activity level, for the individuals receiving USG assistance?

1. Income for at least 125,000 households increased

2. Prevalence of children 6-23 months receiving a minimum acceptable diet increased by

40%

3. Prevalence of women of reproductive age consuming a diet of minimum diversity increased by 40%

Answer: The listed indicators under the overarching goal are at the activity level, referring to individuals receiving USG assistance through Orora Wihaze Activity.

58. Attachment 1, Section 3, Goals, Objectives and Results, page 128 – for the required indicator:

“Income for at least 125,000 households increased”. Can USAID please clarify if it refers only to smallholder producer households in this indicator, or if we should also include households of staff or owners of businesses, and if so, what size of businesses staff and owners should be counted?

Answer: For this indicator in the overarching goal of Orora Wihaze, USAID refers to smallholder producer households.

59. Attachment 1, Section 3, Goals, Objectives and Results, page 128 – for the required indicators around nutrition (below): should we only count households that consume ASF that we are promoting (goats, chicken, fish and swine), or would we count any form of animal source foods (also including dairy milk, beef, rabbit, etc.)

1. Prevalence of children 6-23 months receiving a minimum acceptable diet increased by

40%

2. Prevalence of women of reproductive age consuming a diet of minimum diversity increased by 40%

3. At least 30,000 children of 6-23 months benefiting from USG assistance consuming ASF in the previous day and night

4. At least 41,000 women of reproductive age benefiting from USG assistance consuming

ASF in the previous day and night

Answer: For the dietary diversity indicators dairy products, eggs and flesh foods will count as three food groups. However, the indicators measuring ASF consumed by women and children benefiting from USG assistance will only focus on the four priority value chains.

60. Attachment 1, Section 3, Goals, Objectives and Results, page 128 – for the required indicator: “Total quantity of ASF nutrient rich commodities produced by direct beneficiaries with USG assistance that is set aside for home consumption increased”, should we only count the amount in our specific value chains of goat, fish, chicken and swine, or if the households also own a cow or other animal, can we count quantity of consumption of those animals or animal products as well?

Answer: Only animals or animal products from the focus value chains will count. This indicator intends to measure the quantity of ASF produced by households as a result of USG assistance.

Through Orora Wihaze, USG assistance will focus on the four focused value chains (poultry, goat, fish and pigs).

61. If a targeted family has a dairy cow, can we count milk in the consumption numbers?

Answer: Milk cannot be counted because even without USG assistance a household that owns a cow would consume milk anyway. However, milk can only count as a food group when referring to dietary diversity.

62. Section F.6 and H.21 - Will USAID accept geographic masking of household level GIS data? This is meant to simultaneously meet the request at F.6(a)3(1) that the contractor submit Activity and

Intervention Location Data while complying with F.6(m)1(2) prohibiting the transmission of

Personally Identifiable Information and H.21(b)4 requesting GIS files without home addresses be uploaded to the Development Data Library.

Answer: Yes, geographic masking of household GIS data can be acceptable.

63. Section F.6(a).4, page 22, “Indicator Results Data Reporting”. Can USAID please clarify if the

“indicator results data” referred to in this section means the raw data used to calculate the indicators, or the final indicator table that is submitted with the performance report?

Answer: USAID refers to the indicator date table that is submitted with the performance report.

64. Given the complexity and uniqueness of working in the fish value chain, would USAID consider dropping that as a requirement, to thereby focus on pig, goat and chicken value chains?

Answer: No, taking into consideration the growth opportunities, increasing private sector investment, increasing demand for fish in Rwanda and contribution of fish to prevention of malnutrition, USAID is not willing to drop this value chain.

COMPLIANCE QUESTIONS

65. Section H.11 - do contracts paying a daily rate to consultants who provide short term technical assistance require Contracting Officer consent to subcontract under H.11 Consent to Subcontract and I.1 FAR 52.244-2 Subcontracts?

Answer: Yes, contracts paying a daily rate to consultants who provide short term technical assistance require Contracting Officer consent to subcontract under H.11 Consent to Subcontract and I.1 FAR

52.244-2 Subcontracts.

66. Will AIDAR 722.170 or the requirement included therein that TCNs and CCNs be paid on the local

Mission scale be included in this contract?

Answer: Yes, the RFP on pages 111 and 113 is amended to include AIDAR 722.170.

67. Section L.7 Technical Approach, page 105 states that if an Offeror proposes a Grants Under Contract component, it “must define clear criteria and objectives for small grant awards that would require the grants to: i) have financial cost-sharing from recipients; ii) be performance based (paid based on performance); and iii) be directly linked to one of the two objectives of Orora Wihaze stated in the

SOO.”

H.16 Grants Under Contracts states that the Contractor must comply in all material respects with 2

CFR 200 in awarding and administering grants. 2 CFR 200.201(b)2 states that “A fixed amount award cannot be used in programs which require mandatory cost sharing or match.”

By stating that grants must be “paid based on performance,” USAID seems to be suggesting fixed amount awards under the GUC component. However, fixed amount awards must not include mandatory cost-sharing or match per 2 CFR 200.201(b)2.

Will USAID accept fixed amount awards under the GUC component that include a grantee contribution that is not recorded according to 2 CFR 200.306 but is recorded as leverage? Otherwise, will USAID kindly clarify which types of grant mechanisms it expects under a prospective GUC component and how financial cost-sharing will be documented?

Answer: The RFP on page 105 has been amended to include “leverage”; however, there are additional ways, besides milestone payments, to have a performance based grant that should be considered by the Contractor.

68. Section I.2, AIDAR 752.245-71 Title to and Care of Property - a Grant Under Contract might entail the purchase of property by or for the Grantee using US Government funds. Will this property be titled to the Government of Rwanda or will USAID reserve title to that property under a provision set forth in the contract, as described in AIDAR 752.245-71?

Answer: USAID will reserve title to the property as describe in AIDAR 752.245-71.

69. Will USAID kindly consider removing the requirement for a small business subcontracting plan as the FAR 19.702 (b) indicates that “subcontracting plans are not required for contracts or contract modifications that will be performed entirely outside of the United States and its outlying areas”?

Answer: No, USAID/Rwanda expects the contractor to subcontract with U.S. small businesses and will retain this contract requirement.

70. What is the period of time within which the Contracting Officer may exercise the option in clause I.6 FAR 52.217-8?

Answer: This clause was included by error and has been removed from the solicitation.

71. Section H.30 - Will the information processed by the Contractor be considered “USAID Data” for the purposes of clause H.30 Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology Resources

(April 2018)? This affects the level of effort needed from information technology personnel as well as whether a SA&A must be completed and third-party assessor contracted to ensure compliance with the requirements in this clause.

Answer: Yes, as per Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology Resources

(April 2018).