06 95332420Q00340001_US CO Signed.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended, is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a)By completing items 8 and 15, and returning copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE

DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment your desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15C. DATE SIGNED

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

PAGE OF PAGES

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

95332420Q00340001

Summary of Changes

Section J - List of Documents, Exhibits, and other Attachments

Amendment specific attachments:

File Attachments:

Title Description File Name Entity Reference

MCC

Responses

MCC responses to questions received

Amendment 0001.pdf Header

# RFQ SECTION CONTRACTOR QUESTION MCC RESPONSE

1 B Would the MCC please confirm that the rates presented in the table in Section B.2 Price/Cost

Schedule/Item Information should be hourly rates?

Confirmed.

2 L In Section L.2.2 on page 51, offerors are to provide a cover letter as part of their proposal submission.

Should this letter be submitted as a standalone file (e.g. a separate PDF)?

Cover letter shall be apart of Volume 1 not included in the page count.

3 L In Section L.2.2 on page 51, the RFQ states that “Quotes shall be submitted in three volumes:

Volume I- Technical Capacity, Volume II- Past Performance, and Volume III-Price. Later in the same section, Volume I- Technical Capacity and Volume II-Past Performance are grouped together.

Would the MCC confirm whether volumes be submitted in separate files or as a combined document?

Quotes shall be submitted in three volumes:

Volume I- Technical Capacity, Volume II- Past Performance, and Volume III-Price.

4 L In Section L. 3.2 on page 52, the RFQ instructs offerors to provide a draft QA/QC plan template and its corporate security plan. Would the MCC please confirm that the corporate security plan is envisioned to be distinct from the QA/QC plan and address the offeror’s safety and security policies and protocols?

Alternatively, would the MCC provide clarification regarding the topics that the corporate security plan should cover?

The QA/QC plan and Corporate Security Plan are two separate documents. The Corporate Security Plan should cover at a minimum policies and protocols related to travel to developing countries and information technology such as email, data security, and secure file transfer sites.

5 L In Section L.3.4 Factor 3 Price - Volume III states, "Above should be provided for the prime and all partners." Would the MCC please confirm that subcontractors must provide Section B, a breakdown of their rates, a discount rate, and/or documentation of their indirect rates? Please also advise how subcontractors should submit the proprietary packages directly to MCC.

Yes. Subcontractor information can be submitted by subcontractor identifying the prime contractor's name and point of contact whom they are submitting with. "This pricing data is being submitted in coordiantion with the Prime Quoter XXX"

6 GENERAL If an organization has a cooperative agreement with MCC are they conflicted from submitting in response to the solicitation?

No.

7 L Is there a size limit for the proposal submission documents? MCC's Outlook supports sending/ receiving files at a maximum of 35 MB/ 36 MB, respectively.

8 L Under Section L.3.4, we noted that MCC will not allow blended rates. Does this mean blended rates are not allowed at all, or that we cannot use blended rates between categories? Are blended rates allowed as long as we use a different blend for each category? Could MCC clarify this requirement in detail?

Firms and their sub-contractors or teams cannot blend their rates together to determine an average rate for each labor category. Firms shall submit their own labor rates for the labor categories they will support.

9 L Section L.3.6 states the quote should be valid for 90 days after submission. L.2.2 states the quote should be valid for 150 days after submission. How long should the quote be valid?

Quotes are valid for 150 days.

10 L Section L.2.2. General Instructions, part (3)(a) (p.51) requests that Quotes shall be valid for 150 days, but on page 56, Clause MCC 52.204-72 requires that quotes are valid for 90 days. Please clarify what length the valid term of quotes should be.

Quotes are valid for 150 days.

11 L Section L.3.6 Discussions and Section L.2.2 Submission of Quotes pertain to the cover letter requirements. The content requirements pertaining to the cover letter submitted with quotes differs between sections L.3.6 and L.2.2. Would MCC please confirm that Offerors shall abide by section L.2.2 Submission of Quotes when preparing its cover letter?

Both sections are applicable and quotes are valid for 150 days.

12 GENERAL Please clarify whether and to what degree work performed under this BPA may preclude Quoters from eligibility for other work (e.g. will involvement in design work preclude quoters from being eligible for the ensuing implementation?).

Organizational conflicts of interest will be addressed at the call order level which will describe MCC specific requirements. A BPA award is not an automatic preclusion.

13 L On page 51 of the RFQ, MCC states that Offerors may include “charts, graphs, resumes and CVs of personnel…in an appendix to the 30-page technical quote without a page limit.” Would MCC kindly confirm that the personnel matrix required per section L.3.2 Factor 1 – Technical Capability – Volume 1, listed under sub factor 3 “Key and Non-Key Personnel Qualifications” (on page 52) is considered a chart, and can therefore be included as an appendix to the technical quote?

Confirmed.

95332420Q0034 BPA for GSI

14 L On page 52 of the RFQ (L.3.2. Factor 1 – Technical Capability – Volume 1; Sub Factor 4 Socioeconomic Status Preference), MCC requires all Offerors classified as other than small to submit a small business subcontracting plan with its quote. Would MCC please confirm that the Small Business Subcontracting Plan shall be submitted as an appendix to the technical quote and excluded from the 30-page limit to ensure all Offerors, regardless of size, have the same number of pages in which to describe its overall capability and experience; management and team structure; and key and non-key personnel qualifications?

Small business subcontracting plan shall not be included in the 30 page limit.

15 L The RFQ does not request a table of contents or acronym list. Would MCC please confirm that those should be included in the submission, but excluded from the 30-page limit of the technical capability?

Tables of Contents shall not exeed 2 pages of each volume. Acronym list shall not exceed 1 page of each volume. Tables of Contents and Acronym List shall not be inlcuded in the 30 page limit.

16 L On page 53 of the RFQ, MCC states: “If proposing a contractor teaming arrangements (CTA) or subcontractor, at least two of the past performance projects performed by the proposed Team Lead or subcontractor must provide evidence of coordinating and managing multiple team members.” Would MCC please confirm that past performance projects evaluated may be performed by the prime contractors and/or a subcontractor and that the total must not exceed five?

If proposing a contractor teaming arrangements (CTA) or subcontractor, at least two of the past performance projects must be performed by the proposed Team Lead or subcontractor and provide evidence of coordinating and managing multiple team members.

17 B We notice that in Section B.4. the ceiling on individual Call Orders is indicated as $7M. Can MCC provide an estimate or range of the total amount of funding expected to be contracted through this BPA and resulting Call Orders, or the annual amount of funding?

Dependent of funding availability and country requirements, MCC may obligate approximately $2m per year, however, this may change +/-.

18 L In Section L.3.4 on Price Quote, is MCC requesting separate price quotes for individual BPA Labor Categories from each proposed BPA team member? Can MCC elaborate on how pricing will be evaluated for a Price Quote that contains multiple rates for individual BPA Labor Categories.

The Government will conduct a price analysis based on realism, reasonableness and completeness of its labor rates its in comparative analysis.

19 L In Section L.3.6 on Discussions, the indicated period of validity for Quotes is 90-days; however, in Section L.2.2. on Submission of Quotes the period of validity is indicated as 150-days. Can MCC please clarify this?

Quotes are valid for 150 days.

20 M In Section M.2 on Evaluation Factors and Subfactors, can MCC elaborate on the planned evaluation of Price? Are the price quotes for each requested BPA Labor Category for each year to be added together to form a single price? If different from this, please provide additional detail and context to the extent possible.

The Government will conduct a price analysis based on realism, reasonableness and completeness of its labor rates its in comparative analysis. Quoters and team shall provide labor rates for year with escalation not to exxeed 2% per year. Therefore, there should be rate for the Base Period, Period One, Perriod Two, Period Three, and Period Four.

21 F & L In Section F.6 Quality Control Plan, it states that “the contractor shall have in place and maintain a Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan (QA/QC) that covers, at a minimum, corporate security plan, how the contractor intends to meet the requirements of all performance objectives, monitor and proactively manage contract requirements. It shall also include the mechanism by which MCC will be notified of performance related incidents that are likely to affect quality of service.” In Section L.3.2, under Subfactor 2 – Management and Team Structure, quoters are required to include a “draft QA/QC plan template and its corporate security plan” as part of the technical proposal. 1) Is the detailed QA/QC Plan expected to be submitted to MCC after contract award, and if so, when? 2) Could MCC elaborate on expectations for the Corporate Security Plan expected to be provided as part of the Quality Control Plan.

Section F.6 is applicable for call orders, however, the QA/QC plan and Corporate Security Plan are two separate documents. The Corporate Security Plan should cover at a minimum policies and protocols related to travel to developing countries and information technology such as email, data security, and secure file transfer sites.

submission?

Confirmed.

24 B Pg. 4-5, Section B. If tables 0001, 0002, 0003 are not to be left blank, can MCC clarify provide more information in section L, in order to complete them and differentiate between the time and materials and firm fixed price?

CLINS 0001, 0002, 0003 are to be left blank.

25 B Pg. 5, Can MCC clarify what 0003 is? SecOps GSI Blanket Purchase Agreement? Description of MCC Division - Sector Operations, Gender and Social Inclusion Blanket Purchase Agreement.

26 F F.6. Please confirm that the Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan also includes the Corporate Security Plan.

The Quality Control Plan and Security Plan are two separate documents.

27 H Pg, 31, Is it possible to add the following labor categories to Section H.3 Additional Labor Categories and to pg. 5, B.2 Price/Cost Schedule

No, additonal labor categories may be added at the Call Order level.

28 L Pg. 50, L.2.1, Can the offeror also use 10 point font for tech boxes, charts and graphics? Yes 29 L Pg. 51, L.2.2.1. , MCC states that “data concerning, labor categories, subcontracts, etc must be contained in the technical quote”. Can MCC clarify what type of data concerning labor categories, should be included?

Quoter shall reference the evaluation criteria to determine what should be included.

30 L Pg. 52, L.3.2, Subfactor, 2, MCC states “quoters shall provide a draft QA/QC plan template and its corporate security plan.” Can MCC clarify that:

Confirmed.

31 L Pg. 53, L.3.4, MCC states that “quoters shall complete the table in Section B of the RFQ. Please clarify that MCC is referring to Table B.2 Price/Cost Schedule/Item information on pgs. 5 and 6 and is not referring item 0001-0003 tables on pgs. 5 and 5.

Confirmed.

32 L Does MCC require a narrative to accompany the table? Is there a page limit? No, however, the excel spreadsheet should cover the requested information in Section L 3.4.

33 L Please confirm the period of validity for the proposal that should be included in the cover letter-90 days or 150 days? See discrepancy on pg. 51 (150 days) and pg 56 (90 days).

Quotes are valid for 150 days.

34 L Pf. 57, Subfactor 3, USAID states that the BPA Project Manager alternate must be identified. Does MCC require a name and a CV for the alternate?

Yes.

35 M Pg. 57-58, Subfactor Price, MCC describes a price evaluation process of using rates and level off effort for the last option period. MCC, however, has not provided level of effort or identified base vs. option periods. Can MCC please clarify, how it will evaluate price.

The Option to Extend Services maybe required at the end of the period of performance for the Blanket Purchase Agreement, if necessary, MCC may extend Period Four rates for an additonal six months.

36 B We understand that the proposed BPA will provide for agreements either as a T&M or Firm Fixed Price Task Order. Kindly confirm that bidders are expected to complete Table B.2 Price/Cost Schedule/Item for Information only.

Confirmed.

37 L In some cases, substantial travel may be required under specific task orders. We understand that travel and other direct costs (ODC) will be cost reimbursable. Is it expected that this will be pass through? Or should bidders apply general and administrative costs to travel/ODC?

Bidder must submit their approved NICRA or auditued financial statements that outline their allowable and allocable accounting practices to support any G&A or material and handling fees.

38 L Is there a maximum number of CVs for non-key personnel positions that should be submitted? For example, should bidders submit 1 illustrative CV for each of the labor categories and levels included in section H.2? Or may bidders submit fewer illustrative CVs (e.g. one or two for each level)?

MCC only requires a CV for key personnel.

39 B Our organization, like many small and disadvantaged businesses, does not have audited financial statements. We do, however, have pre-approved USG rates under the GSA MOBIS schedule. May we propose our MOBIS rates (per the table in B2) rather than providing a cost build-up, as we might not have adequate documentation to support the allocation of O/H and G&A rates?

Yes, however, a Quoter's GSA rates are not pre-determined to be fair and reasona ble.

recorded for each BPA issued? Please clarify if there is a ceiling amount for the entire GSI activity, inclusive of all BPAs issued.

The BPAs will not have a ceiling amount, however, call orders shall not exceed $7m.

42 L Section L.3 – Quote Preparation and Instruction: Page 51: May the offeror include a Title Page, Table of Contents, and Acronym list for each Volume (Volume I. Technical Capability, Vol. II – Past Performance, and Volume III – Price)? May these single-page additions not count against the overall page limit set for each Volume, for example, may these not be counted in the 30-page limit set for Volume I?

Tables of Contents shall not exeed 2 pages of each volume. Acronym list shall not exceed 1 page of each volume. Tables of Contents and Acronym List shall not be inlcuded in the 30 page limit. MCC will allow a 1 page cover page.

43 L Section L.3.2: Factor I – Technical Capability – Volume I: Page 52: The RFP states under Subfactor 2 – Management and Team Structure, “Quoters shall provide a draft QA/QC plan template and its corporate security plan.” Does MCC have standard QA/QC and Corporate Security Plan templates/outlines they wish the quoters to use? If so, would MCC please share these documents.

MCC does not.

44 L Section L.3.2: Factor I – Technical Capability – Volume I: Page 52: Under Subfactor 2 – Management and Team Structure, MCC asks quoters to submit a QA/QC template and Corporate Security Plan. May these two documents be submitted an Annexes to Volume I and not count against the 30-page Volume limit?

Yes.

45 L Section L.3.2: Factor I – Technical Capability – Volume I: Page 52: Under Subfactor 3 – Key and Non-Key Personnel Qualifications, MCC asks the quoters to provide a CV(s) of the proposal key personnel. Please clarify if there is a page limit for the CV(s) of the Key Personnel.

No page limit for Key Personnel CV.

46 L Section L.3.2: Factor I – Technical Capability – Volume I: Page 52: Under Subfactor 3 – Key and Non-Key Personnel Qualifications, MCC asks the quoters for a matrix of key and non-key personnel. Please confirm that this matrix may be included as an Annex to Volume I and not be included in the 30-page Volume limit.

Confirmed.

47 L Section L.3.3: Factor 2 – Past Performance – Volume II: Page 53: The Quoter is asked to provide 5 past performance examples of relevant contracts. Please clarify if the quoter should provide 5 past performance examples for itself as the prime offeror, and an additional 5 past performance examples for each of its proposed subcontractors.

2 of 5 five past performances shall be from the subcontractors, see Section M.

48 C Section C: Background, Tasks: Page 8, 10: Under Section C, Background, MCC includes “completion of all compact projects” as a specific task for quoters. Under Section C, Tasks, MCC includes “Support development and updating of Social and Gender Integration Plans, Monitoring and Evaluation Plans, and other compact implementation tools and documents.” Please clarify the extent to which quoters are anticipated to directly support other partners or contractors implementing compacts or threshold programs.

Quoters are directly providing MCC with due diligence/oversight support during compact implementation and closure. Quoters will review and provide technical advice and comments to MCC GSI on documents prepared by other MCC consultants, MCAs, or MCAs’ consultants. These documents range from Social and Gender Integration Plans and updates, M&E plans, design studies, surveys, questionnaires, terms of reference, etc. In terms of compact closure, quoters are expected to review and comment on final project, compact, M&E, and GSI reports, etc. Quoters may, at MCC’s request, develop and provide trainings to MCA staff and their consultants/implementors. Quoters may participate in implementation oversight and closure field missions during which they will interact with MCAs and the MCAs’ consultants.

49 L Section L.3.6 DISCUSSIONS states: “The letter shall reference the solicitation number and acknowledge that it transmits an offer in response to the solicitation and amendment(s). It shall state: Quote validity for 90 days after submission.” (page 56) Question: Should quote validity stated in the Cover Letter be 90 or 150 Days after submission?

Quotes are valid for 150 days.

50 L Blended Rate - What is the meaning of this prohibition? Contractors are to propose rates for labor categories, not individuals. By definition, this will require contractors to “blend” the raw (actual hourly salary) of staff within a pool for a specific labor category. The blending is based on anticipated actual usage. To this blended raw rate, contractors apply overhead, fee, etc. to arrive at a fully loaded (burdened) rate for the specific labor category. And contractors are subject to audit to demonstrate how, precisely, they calculated the blended raw rate for a given labor category. But without blending of the raw rates, the proposed fully burdened rate would be completely arbitrary and totally un-supported.

Firms and their sub-contractors or teams cannot blend their rates together to determine an average rate for each labor category. Firms shall submit their own labor rates for the labor categories they will support.

51 L Utilizing small businesses (SB) in MCC due diligence work presents a number of very challenging issues.

Most SBA-certified SB:

1. Do not have experience in overseas locations, most especially in the developing countries that are the subject of MCC projects. It is recognized that performance will routinely be conducted at overseas locations under this BPA.

2. Rarely have oversees offices, most especially a network of overseas regional offices from which to staff and support overseas projects. As a result, their utilization tends to be expensive and not responsive in terms of deadlines.

3. Do not have staff that meet this RFQ’s very prescriptive requirements with regard to both proposed staffing and proposed projects to demonstrate prior performance; nor is it predictable they will meet prescriptive requirements under RFQs issued under the BPA. A prime contractor cannot propose use of a SB subcontractor but propose no staff or projects from that subcontractor.

4. Do not possess staff with multi-lingual capabilities. This multi-lingual capability will likely be a pre-requisite of most projects solicited under this BPA.

Further, MCC has a mandate to develop capacity in countries in the Compact-development and Compact implementation process. As a result, prime contractors are expected to engage the services of local/regional small businesses. This represents a training and development requirement for the prime contractor, but it is a requirement for which the prime contractor will receive no SB credit since such businesses are, by definition, not US SBA-certified in any category.

Until a solicitation for a project under a BPA is issued, contractors have no way of knowing what specific requirements will be listed in the project-specific RFQ; this will depend entirely on the staffing (to include multi-lingual fluency), and project experience requirements listed in that specific RFQ.

For the above reasons, it is virtually impossible for a prime contractor to submit a meaningful SB subcontracting plan proposing utilization for SB without knowing the scope, countries involved, personnel staffing requirements, and project specific past performance requirements that will be solicited by specific RFQs during the course of the BPA.

Question - Because specific SB commitments are not feasible for the reasons outlined above, will MCC accept as conforming, a SB subcontracting plan or Teaming Agreement that commits a prime contractor to take meaningful measures to ascertain the identify of SB who possess the qualifications and experience required in project-specific RFQs issued under the BPA and to vet such SB in terms of their ability to meaningfully participate in purposed projects?

Per L.3.2 - MCC is committed to encouraging maximum practicable opportunity for small, HUBZone small, disadvantaged small, womenowned small, veteran-owned small and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns in the performance of this BPA. As a result, this RFQ includes a preference for small businesses. All responding Contractors whose size status is "other than small" shall submit a Small Business – Subcontracting plan and/or Contractor Teaming Agreement with its quote. In a teaming arrangement, the Government will consider the leading Contractor's (team lead) socioeconomic status as the team's status.