95332421Q0033 Amend 1 Attach J.2. Questions and Answers.pdf

95332421Q0033 Amendment 1 DCO HCD Social and Behavioral Change (SBC) Consulting Service

Attachment J.2. Questions and Answers

1. A staff member is currently involved in a land productivity project with MCC. Does this conflict with the requirement for the SBC contract?

A: All Conflicts of Interest (COIs) concerns are the sole responsibility of the contractor to assess and to determine. If determined that a COI may be in effect, the contractor is required to submit a mitigation plan to MCC for consideration.

Based on the information provided, however, MCC does not believe there is a COI.

2. Based on my understanding of the RFQ, one individual cannot fill multiple roles (e.g. the Lead Qualitative Data and Analysis Specialist and the Data Analyst roles could not be filled by the same person). Is this correct?

A: Offerors must propose distinctive qualitative and quantitative specialists, but we are open to other permutations for other positions. For example, we would allow a combine Team Leader and SBC specialist, but that person could not also hold another position like Data Analyst or Admin position.

3. Page 64 references "commitment letters" while page 65 notes "quote shall contain each proposed team member's availability and commitment to this contract project..." Do you want

1) signed letters from each potential team member confirming their availability and commitment to the project, 2) one letter signed by the proposed team lead, or 3) simply a written (unsigned) commitment in Subfactor 2 affirming the team members' commitments and availabilities? If a letter is best, would it be possible to provide an example?

A: MCC asks for a signed commitment letter from each proposed individual who will work under this contract. The letter can be as simple as the following with the signature: “I, [name], confirm my availability and commitment to this solicitation requirement 95332421Q0033.”

RFQ Sections L.3.2. Volume I Technical Capability and Subfactor 2: Personnel Qualifications have been updated.

4. The RFQ asks for "the diploma that validates the resume/CV..." In place of a diploma, is it acceptable to provide a copy of a final transcript, listing all completed courses?

A: The diplomas or transcripts are no longer requested.

RFQ Section L.3.2. Volume I Technical Capability, Subfactor 2: Personnel Qualifications has been updated.

5. Regarding the budget:

a. I want to confirm that the costing estimates released in RFI 95332421K0007 are still the most up-to-date information.

A: The price evaluation is based on the quoter’s own independent price offer, not based on Government’s estimate. The Government’s estimate is simply an estimate and may not be accurate. MCC will hold contractor responsible for carrying out the entirety of the contract requirement within the agreed rates and contract price. Therefore, interested offerors must do their own assessment in determining the price offer.

b. Does the cost per country/sector cover developing physical artifacts or other implementation aspects? (Given that this isn't the contractor's direct role, we assume not but want to ensure we understand correctly).

A: This contract does not cover implementation work. The per country/sector price would cover data collection and analysis, including hiring any subcontractors. The contract outyears (Option Periods) cover budget for technical oversight of activities.

c. Would the contractor be responsible for the direct costs associated with hosting workshops?

A: Yes, contractor will be required to cover all costs associated to this project.

d. Does MCC’s cost estimate for each process evaluation include the cost of implementing the evaluation?

Our estimate from the RFI does cover this cost.

6. Section L.3.2 indicates that only the Team Leader will be considered Key Personnel and must be proposed. However, in the same section, the RFQ indicates that “Offerors must offer qualified team members (one for each position per Section H. Special Contract Requirements).” Does this mean that MCC requires the Offeror to name specific individuals to either the non-Key Personnel positions listed in Section H or those non-Key Personnel positions proposed by the Offeror?

A: Quoters must include the Team Leader and propose a specific individual to this role. Quoters may proposed a Non-Key Personnel team structure that does not mirror the Government’s list.

For example, an offeror may choose to offer a Project Manager instead of a Project Administrator. Or an offeror may choose to include a Survey Coordinator as an additional Non- Key position. The team structure for the Non-Key Personnel is open for MCC. Keep in mind, however, departures from MCC’s list will necessitate a sound reasoning in your Technical Offer as well as complete pricing information in the Price Offer.

Offerors must present specific individuals who will fill the Team Leader position and those who will conduct (a) Social and Behavioral Change, (b) Quantitative Data and Analysis, (c) Qualitative Data and Analysis positions, (d) Project Administration, and (e) Data Analysis—all but Sector Specialists. As the sectors have not yet been defined, quoters are not requested to name individuals for the Sector Specialists in their quote. However, MCC will expect contractor to fill qualified sector specialists within six weeks of MCC requiring the position(s).

Also refer to Questions 2 and 17 for additional guidance on teaming arrangement.

7. Section L.3.2 indicates that each proposed team member's resume/CV and diploma validating the resume/CV are required. Does this requirement also apply to staff proposed as supplemental “pool” technical staff who might be engaged to provide surge support, or is a skills matrix sufficient to indicate the experience, education, knowledge and abilities of these non-core supplemental technical staff?

A: The resumes/CVs will only be required for the Team Leader and those who will conduct (a) Social and Behavioral Change, (b) Quantitative Data and Analysis, (c) Qualitative Data and Analysis positions, (d) Project Administration, and (e) Data Analysis—all but Sector Specialists— to ensure their qualification against MCC’s requirement per Section H of the RFQ. The resumes/CVs are not required for those who will provide surge support. Instead, their qualifications will be verified by the contract COR and PM(s) during the contract performance period.

Per Question 4, diplomas or transcripts are no longer requested.

8. Could MCC kindly confirm whether offerors are permitted to include grants and/or cooperative agreements, in addition to contracts, as past performance references?

A: Yes, MCC will consider all relevant past performance references.

9. Could MCC kindly confirm whether the total hours indicated in the 95332421Q0033 RFQ Pricing Excel document are estimates or contractual ceilings?

A: The total hours (LoEs) will be used to establish the contractual not-to-exceed (NTE) amount.

The contract will not be capped at LoEs, but instead at the contract NTE amount.

10. In the pricing attachment (J.1), the Government’s estimated quantities for Other Direct Costs are listed in green highlighted cells. Would the MCC consider providing a plug not-to-exceed figure for other direct costs?

A: Yes. The 95332421Q0033 RFQ Pricing attachment has been updated to fill the total ODC estimate. Offerors are no longer requested to submit their own ODC amount. Our price evaluation will be based on the total price offer as well as the fully burdened labor rates.

11. Can the organization include profit as part of their personnel costs?

A: Yes, the labor rates are to be fully burdened, including all profit, fees, hourly rate, fringe benefits, indirect costs, etc.

12. Is there is any guidance around rate caps and indirect vs. direct costs?

A: There isn’t a separate guidance on rate limits. Per Question 10, MCC is including the amounts for the ODCs, which will be used for all quoters. Offerors are no longer asked to submit a separate ODC price; offerors are only required to submit their proposed fully burdened labor rates in their price offer.

13. Which position titles listed in the RFQ would need to meet national security eligibility requirements? Is there any restriction around staffing foreign citizens from our company, and if so, are they limited to specific positions?

A: Foreign citizens are not prohibited from working on this contract. However, the contractor must ensure that they’re eligible for work per the contract terms and conditions, including FAR requirements, as well as the local policies and regulations. Verifying the eligibility of their contract staff is the responsibility of the contractor.

14. We recognize and appreciate the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the Compact development process. However, the difference in LoE required to conduct formative research in three countries compared to two in the base period is significant. If the Contractor is asked to conduct formative research in 3 countries in the base period, will there be an option to modify the total LoE in the contract?

A: The contract will be capped at a not-to-exceed amount, rather than by the LoEs. If there are unforeseen or extraordinary (and reasonable) events that would require an adjustment to the contract, we will invoke the clause MCC 52.243-70 INCREASE IN SERVICES (OCT 2006) to do so.

The expectation is indeed three countries in the Base Period.

15. Could MCC please provide a rationale for the fluctuation in estimated LoE for the key and non-key positions in each of the option periods?

A: The LoE is the same per country in data collection (three countries in the Base Period, two countries in Option Periods 1 to 3, and no data collection in any countries for Option Period 4), the fluctuation reflects added countries. Also, we’re considering the fact that the technical oversight generally takes much less effort than data collection.

16. Are Offerors permitted to propose a modified distribution of LoE among the identified personnel if the total LoE does not exceed the Government’s estimated total LoE for each contract period?

A: Per the instructions in the Pricing Excel attachment, offerors are open to proposing their own labor mix as long as the total LoE does not exceed the Government’s estimated total LoE for that period, e.g., 4,850 total hours for Base, 4,050 total hours for OP 1, etc.

MCC, however, cautions offerors from adjusting the hours around unreasonably and that offerors must be able to demonstrate that their technical offer reasonably matches the hours proposed. Unreasonable or questionable hours and offers will be evaluated to be weak or deficient.

17. If an Offeror has a staff member who meets or exceeds the criteria of two non-key personnel roles (e.g. Lead Qualitative Data and Analysis Specialist & Lead Quantitative Data and Analysis Specialist) and has the availability to commit, may the Offeror propose the same staff member for two non-key personnel roles?

A: Offerors must propose distinctive qualitative and quantitative specialists, but we are open to other permutations for other positions. For example, we would allow a combine Team Leader and SBC specialist, but that person could not also hold another position like Data Analyst or Admin position.