77344424Q0143 questions and answers as of 06.17.24 (final).pdf

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

DFC Client Protection Procedures Implementation & Training RFQ no. 77344424Q0143

Questions & Answers as of June 17, 2024

Number Question Answer 1 During the pre-solicitation meeting, a concern was raised regarding deliverable #4 (DFI benchmarking report) and the August holidays in Europe. In the updated schedule, the kick-off meeting date was changed.

However, even if the kick-off happens in July, can we still consider that it will take September and October to complete all of the DFIs interviews/surveying and that the DFI benchmarking report may only come in November?

With a projected contract award date of July 29, 2024, we do not anticipate the kick-off meeting occurring in July 2024.

The requirement to hold the kickoff meeting “before mid-September” accommodates the potential for contractor staff unavailability during the month of August 2024. Further, due to the anticipated absences of key DFC personnel in early August 2024, the earliest we anticipate holding the kick-off is mid- August 2024. However, the contractor will have until mid-September 2024 to execute the kick-off meeting.

The DFI benchmarking report, deliverable #4, is due approximately two-and-a-half months following deliverable #1, the kick-off meeting, based upon the due dates for intermediate deliverables #2 and #3, which are relative to the delivery of the preceding deliverable. This schedule places the due date for the DFI benchmarking report on or about early November 2024 (if the kick-off were held in mid-August 2024) to early December 2024 (if the kick-off were held in mid- September 2024).

Q&A as of June 17, 2024

Number Question Answer 2 Is our reading of the text below

Task Area 3 (e.g. “Note:

training is not the focus of the work in this contract, but rather the next step, once benchmarking and guidance development is complete, to support the dissemination of lessons learned and procedures developed under Task Areas 1 and 2.”) correct that the budget ceiling of $180,000 covers only Task Areas 1 and 2 but not Task Area 3 and thus our financial proposal should only consider those two tasks. However, we are expected to share in our technical proposal how we would complete Task Area 3 as well. Is this interpretation correct?

That interpretation is not correct. Prospective vendors are expected to quote a price that includes tasks 1, 2, and 3.

Tab (a) of the price template (attachment 2 to the solicitation) includes a column for estimated labor hours to perform task 3. Prospective vendors are expected to include their estimated level of effort for task 3 here. Additionally, prospective vendors are expected to include the estimated costs for any materials to perform task 3 in tab (c) of attachment 2, as well as estimated costs for travel to conduct hybrid training (if hybrid training is part of the vendor’s approach to the training requirement) in tab (d).

The referenced language appearing in italics under the task 3 title (section 4.3 in the statement of work, attachment 1 to the solicitation) was merely intended to communicate where the emphasis of this project is expected to be placed.

The $180,000 figure provided in paragraph (j) of the solicitation is inclusive of the full price to perform this requirement, inclusive of tasks 1-3 and both contract line items (CLINs).

3 For the experience paper, we are describing our experience and providing weblinks to external materials. Our submission will be limited to 5 pages. Should we include these links, given they contain additional information beyond the 5-page limit? Or would it be better to exclude the links?

Please limit your experience paper to only the five pages requested. DFC will not review or consider material in excess of these five pages, including weblinks to external material. Accordingly, we would advise against including weblinks in your submission.

4 Who was the previous incumbent, and how long was the contract?

There is not an incumbent for this work.

Q&A as of June 17, 2024

Number Question Answer 5 What areas did they excel in, and what were areas they failed to meet expectations?

Please see our response question #4, above.

6 What are the current issues DFC is facing, in terms of Client Protection Procedures?

DFC is facing the same Client Protection issues as the rest of the industry across all eight Client Protection Standards. More information will be provided to the contractor following award.

7 What has DFC attempted in terms of solving these issues associated with Client Protection Services?

DFC has attempted various due diligence and monitoring approaches. More information will be provided to the contractor following award.

8 Please describe if there are specific types of client protection standards (CPS) that the DFC is looking to incorporate in its investment process, or is the RFQ ask a more general development of CPS? (Notably the RFQ mentions that in the case study: “selected project need not focus on CPS directly but should be related to environmental and social policies, financial inclusion, or the DFI investment process”)

DFC is looking to incorporate all CERISE+SPTF client protection standards into our investment process.

This question calls out the case study component of the oral presentation in paragraph (h)(7)(i)(A)(1) of the solicitation. The intent of the case study component is for DFC to gain an understanding of the vendor’s experience designing and implementing policies and procedures at a DFI. So as not to be overly restrictive, the case study was not restricted to CPS directly. A vendor’s experience designing and implementing policies and procedures at a DFI will, in DFC’s view, weigh on the probability of that vendor being successful in the performance of this contract, and therefore this experience is part of our evaluation.

The permitted topics for the case study do not change or affect DFC’s requirements as contained in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work.

Further, the second component of the oral presentation contained in paragraph (h)(7)(i)(A)(2) of the solicitation requires the vendor to address its “capabilities and qualifications to implement CPS.”

Q&A as of June 17, 2024

Number Question Answer 9 Who does the DFC view are the Clients in-scope for these standards?

The clients for these standards are the end borrower.

For example, if DFC provides a loan to a financial institution, DFC expects the client protection standards are applied by the financial institution with its end borrowers (these may be individual borrowers or micro-, small-, or medium-sized enterprises, etc.).

10 Are there certain types of lending or equity investment (or both) product types or terms that the DFC is looking to define these CPS standards around? What are they?

DFC is looking to apply the client protection standards to all of our financial products. More information on these products can be found here:

https://www.dfc.gov/what-we-offer/our-products.

11 Should the CPS focus on fair/reasonable valuation and pricing also?

Yes.

12 Are there existing external CPS standards (especially on certain ESG topics) that DFC would like to align to?

DFC would like to align to the CERISE+SPTF client protection standards. More info can be found here:

https://cerise-sptf.org/about-client-protection/.

13 Does the DFC have any current standards CPS standards in-place? And can it share a timeline/current plan for applying CPS?

DFC currently looks to the CERISE+SPTF client protection standards as a framework. The role of the selected contractor will be to support DFC’s work in putting in place these standards through the development of standard operating procedures and the training on those procedures. The timeline for this aligns with the Deliverables timeline found in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work.

https://www.dfc.gov/what-we-offer/our-products https://cerise-sptf.org/about-client-protection/