Amendment 95332423Q00610001.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

95332423Q00610001

Summary of Changes

See Attached Q&A.

Header Information

Close Date is changed from 07-AUG-23 14:00:00 to 14-AUG-23 14:00:00.

UNCLASSIFIED#

Quoter Question MCC Response Q.1 Would MCC consider extending the proposal submission deadline by two weeks to August 21, 2023? This extension would allow bidders adequate time to prepare a more informed and competitive proposal once we receive responses to our submitted questions

The due date for quotes has been extended to Monday August 14, 2023, 4:00pm eastern time.

Q.2. Page 6, Section B.1 states “ in the areas of energy to support early-stage development of MCC’s Threshold Programs and Compacts.”

a.Can MCC confirm which phases listed on pages 10-12 are covered by this contract? Is it only phase 1 or does it include other phases as well?

And if this Contract is limited to Phase I, will MCC be procuring for another contractor to provide due diligence services, and would this contractor be conflicted from pursuing them? Would this contractor also be conflicted from pursuing feasibility work to be procured by MCC through 609g funds, or from future MCA-procured activities?

This requirement covers early development of any MCC program. The following is hereby incorporated into Section C - Conflict of Interest

The contractor may be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, construction and supervision) to be procured by the local MCA or using funds (CDF/609G) advanced under a Compact in the relevant country, unless the contractor submits a mitigation plan sufficient to ameliorate any conflict of interest pursuant to the rules applicable to the procurement process.

Q.3. Section L.2.1 lists only Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF and/or Microsoft Excel software as the format in which the proposal can be submitted. Can the technical proposal be submitted in Microsoft PowerPoint or similar presentation format, following the page and formatting requirements?

No.

Q.4. Page 68, Section L.3.1, states the DUNS number should be included on the cover letter. Can MCC confirm that the Offeror’s Unique Entity ID (UEI) number should be included instead of the DUNS number since the government now uses the UEI number?

The Unique Entity ID (UEI) number should be included instead of the DUNS.

Q.5.Page 68, Sec on L.3.1, states a Small Business Subcontrac ng Plan should be submitted by Contractors whose size status is “other than small.” In which volume should the subcontracting plan be submitted? Does MCC have a preferred template for the subcontracting plan?

No.

Q.6. Page 11, Phase III, Compact Development Funding, states “The contractor under this engagement would not be eligible to bid on such work.” And Page 14, Section 4 states “MCC will procure additional country specific support once projects have been further defined.” Please confirm if this contractor will or will not be conflicted from bidding on downstream MCC-procured activities for the remaining phases, including standard MCC due diligence advisory contracts?

Bidders will only be conflicted out of work and services (design, assessment, construction and supervision) to be procured by the local MCA or using funds (CDF/609G) advanced under a Compact in the relevant country, unless the contractor submits a mitigation plan sufficient to ameliorate any conflict of interest pursuant to the rules applicable to the procurement process.

Solicitation 95332423Q0061

Q.7. The RFQ does not ask for ESP experts yet one of the requirements is to review ESIA and ESMPs. Can MCC clarify if the Health & Safety Specialist is also covering the ESP function.

Yes.

Q.8. Page 68, Section L.3.2 states “Resumes [plural] are not included in the 20-page limit.” Please confirm that only one 3-page CV – for Key Personnel - is required to be submitted and CVs for Non-Key personnel are not required. And can MCC confirm whether names are required to be listed for the non-key personnel labor categories

Confirmed, resume is only required for the key personnel unless one or more are being proposed to fulfil the requirement. Names not required for non-key but highly desirable.

Q.9. Pages 4 and 5, Section B: If a Contractor charges indirect costs on Other Direct Costs (ODCs) per its NICRA, where should these costs be shown in the first set of tables in Section B (tables beginning with “item number” in the top left)?

It should be included in the "Other Direct Costs".

Q.10.Page 4 and 5, Section B: Can MCC confirm that the “Extended Price” for each period should be the total proposed price including any indirect costs?

Yes.

Q.11.Page 8 Sec on B.5: If a Contractor charges indirect costs on ODCs per its NICRA, can MCC confirm a column for indirect costs on ODCs can be added to the table and that the total price for each line on the right should include these indirect costs? Yes.

Q.12.Page 8 Sec on B.5, “Total Labor and Other Direct Costs” table: Given that non-travel ODCs may be included in the Other Direct Costs category, can MCC confirm that the word “Travel” can be removed from the second column header so that it says “Other Direct Costs” only?

The blank fourth column is for non travel ODCs.

Q.13. Based on the sum of the amounts for each period, please confirm the ODCs grand total should be $479,683.66?

Correct, total for ODCs Travel should be $479,683.66.

Q.14.Page 69, L.3.4, states: “The Price Quote (Microso Excel format - no page limitation) shall include a cover page highlighting the total price, any assumptions and noting any commercial rate discounts.” Can MCC clarify if the Price Proposal, including cover page with signature and assumptions, Section B tables, and NICRA can be submitted in a PDF format with an accompanying Microsoft Excel file containing Section B tables? Yes.

Q.15.On how many countries at the time will the services be conducted?

This could range from 1-3 countries or more depending on MCC board selections in December 2023.

Q.16.Section B.3 Labor Rates includes a single labor category “Other Technical Specialists”. Can you please confirm that it is permissible for the Quoter to specify multiple hourly rates for the positions proposed under this labor category? Yes.

Q.16.Could the firm/consortium provide additional labor Categories which are missing in the RFP to cover certain tasks mentioned in the Scope of the contractor?

Yes with a justification why this would be benefical to the government and the Other Technical Specialists position is not sufficient.

Q.17.Is active SAM registration required to be submitted by the Lead firm or all the participating firms in the Quote? The prime is required to have an active SAM registration.

Q.18.Does the page limit include the Cover Letter and Sub-contracting plan? No.

Q.19 The scope refers to early-stage development of MCC’s Threshold Programs and Compacts and procurement for additional country specific support. Would the firm/consortium that wins this work be precluded from bidding certain phases of the Programs Development process? which one?

The contractor may be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, construction and supervision) to be procured by the local MCA or using funds (CDF/609G) advanced under a Compact in the relevant country, unless the contractor submits a mitigation plan sufficient to ameliorate any conflict of interest pursuant to the rules applicable to the procurement process.

Q.20.The first page indicate a due date on August 7, at 4: 00 PM while the section L2.2 indicate 10:00 AM and mention Friday which correspond to August 4. Can MCC confirm the Submission Date and Time? See response to question 1.

Q.21.We would like to request an extension of the submission date up to August 14, 2023 to allow us to get all internal approvals and our quote. See response to question 1.

Q.22. Are Prime Offerors required to include a completed copy of 52.204-24 and 52.204-26 as an annex to their Price volumes?

Representations may be submitted as an Annex or reference SAM as the most updated and be sure to read the clauses in its entirety as any disclosures are required to be submitted with the offer.

Q.23.Are Prime Offerors required to include a completed and signed copy of Section K as an Annex to their Price volumes? Similarly, must subcontractors also provide a completed and signed copy of Section K?

Representations may be submitted as an Annex or reference SAM as the most updated and be sure to read the clauses in its entirety as any disclosures are required to be submitted with the offer. This is only for the prime unless it is known that a subcontactor uses covered telecommunications.

Q.24.Will MCC please consider extending the proposal deadline by one week to August 14, 2023? See response to question 1.

Q.25. Are Quoters allowed to submit all volumes under one email? Or are separate emails required for each volume? Yes, one email is sufficient. The body of the email should indicate how many attachments.

Q.26. MCC did not supply a separate excel pricing sheet for this RFQ. Are quoters to provide Section B in excel format, or is it acceptable to include Section B in pdf form?

The Price Quote (Microsoft Excel format - no page limitation) shall include a cover page highlighting the total price, any assumptions and noting any commercial rate discounts.

Q.27. Are Quoters allowed to add excel sheets to their Quotes to show the distribution of hours per labor category, such that the basis of the labor price in Section B is detailed for each contract year? Yes.

Q.28 MCC has required a Small Business Subcontracting Plan, but the plan is not referenced in the evaluation factors. Please advise how the Small Business Subcontracting Plan will be evaluated.

The plans are not apart of the evaluation criteria. 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 requirement.

Q.29 Page 11, Phase III Project Development and Appraisal, MCC states the following: “When countries require financial assistance to undertake preparatory studies, MCC can provide limited financial support using "Compact Development or 609g Funds." These funds are not available for Threshold Programs. The recipient country can either procure Consultants using MCC Program Procurement Guidelines or MCC can launch and manage the work on their behalf these Compact Development Funds. The contractor under this engagement would not be eligible to bid on such work.” Could MCC please clarify to whom “the contractor under this engagement” refers, and discuss any other potential conflicts of interest might exist for the contractor under the referenced RFQ, if any?

This contractor may be hired by MCC or the repsective MCA but the solicitation will make it clear who is eligible to apply.

Q.30. F.5 Estimated Travel. MCC states, “MCC anticipates technical teams to travel to eligible countries, however, due to the unknown number of newly selected countries, MCC has provided an estimated dollar value for each period for travel costs.” Where can one find these estimates in the RFQ, and do these estimates include contractor markup and escalation?

The estimated amount is travel cost are included in section B.4. Others Direct Costs and do noy include contractor mark up and escalation.

Q.31. Section L.3.1, Cover Letter and Sub-Contracting Plan. Can MCC please inform bidders into which volume it should include the Cover Letter and Sub-Contracting Plan? It does not need to reference a volume.

Q.32.Section L.3.2, Subfactor 3 Key Personnel Qualifications states “Quoters shall provide resume(s) of key personnel only in accordance with Section H.” This implies that quoters can submit more than one key personnel resume, however Section H lists the Project Manager as the only Key Personnel position. Can MCC please confirm that quoters should only submit one resume for the Project Manager as part of their proposal?

One resume is required unless one or more is being proposed to meet the qualifications of the position.

Q.33. Can MCC please confirm that Quoters are not to submit resumes for non-key personnel positions? Instead, Quoters should provide a summary of qualifications for non-key personnel in the proposed personnel matrix referred to in Section L.3.2, Subfactor 2. Resumes are not required for non-key personnel.

Q.34. Section L.3.4 states “Quoters shall complete the tables in Section B of the RFQ.” The Labor Rates table beginning on page 6 ask for hourly rates for various labor categories for the base and each option period and then has the Total Estimates LOE hours at the end that Quoters should use to complete the B.5 Total Labor and ODCs table on page 8. However, MCC does not provide a breakdown of how the LOE hours should be divided among the labor categories. Can MCC please provide a breakdown of the number of hours per labor categories that Quoters should use to ensure that all Quoters are providing estimates for the same levels of technical services?

Quoters shall estimate the LOE by labor categories based on their previous experience supporting similar requirements.

Q.35. Section L.3.4 Volume III Price Quote states that the Price Quote should be in Excel Format and that “Quoted shall complete the tables in Section B of the RFQ.”

Will MCC provide a template for the Price Quote Excel file. Or, at least, can please confirm that the Excel file is to have the following contents: a) a cover page highlighting the total price, any assumptions, and noting any commercial rate discounts; b) Labor Rates (B.3); c) Other Direct Costs (B.4); d) Total Labor and ODCs (B.5)? Quoters shall complete the tables in Section B and ensure it includes all elements of Section L.

Q.36. Section B provides tables to be included in the price quote. Table B.4 includes cost for “estimated Total Other Direct Costs,” while Table B.5 shows “Other Direct Costs-Travel.” Are these two columns the same? Yes.

Q.37. Is DBA insurance included in the ODC estimates in B.4 Other Direct Costs, or are bidders supposed to include these costs in another location? It should be included in the blank column in Section B.5.

Q.38. Section C makes multiple references to developing climate change strategies and inclusion and gender strategies. However, non-key labor categories listed in Section H.1 do not include categories for these types of expertise. Can MCC please provide further guidance on the need to include these types of specialties in our proposal and include consultants with these skills in the proposed personnel matrix called for in Section L.3.2 Subfactor 2 – Management and Team Structure?

There is no explicit requirement to include specialties related to climate change or inclusion & gender strategies, or propose personnel with these skills when attempting to satisfy Subfactor 2 Management and Team Structure. The expectation for this consultant is NOT to develop MCC's climate strategy and social and inclusion strategy but to advise on how we incorporate/meet the requirements of these strategies in project design. Quoters can propose a variety of industry experts as non-key personnel who they can draw upon when needed to address these strategies.

Q.39. Can quoters add additional labor categories to reflect our approach to performing the services?

Yes with a justification why this would be benefical to the government and the Other Technical Specialists position is not sufficient.

Q.40. Can quoters provide multiple rates, by company, for labor categories? Yes.

Q.41. Can quoters include senior, mid-level, and junior labor categories for other positions besides engineer? No.

Q.42. Can the proposed personnel matrix, asked for in Section L.3.2 be put in an annex or must it count against the 20-page limit? It can be in an annex.

Q.43. Please confirm whether for the purposes of presentation in the Proposed Personnel Matrix, if one candidate meets the qualifications for more than one position, we may list them in each category for which they are qualified. Yes this is allowed.

Q.44. As part of the Management Plan, the bidder is requested to discuss the management structure and plan, this usually takes the form of an organizational chart, or graphic. Can such a graphic be excluded from the 20-page limit for Volume I? Yes.

Q.45. Can MCC please confirm that Quoters can add a labor category for the Project Manager? Yes, this was omitted by mistake.

Q.46. Can MCC please confirm that the hourly rates to be proposed by Quoters should be fully burdened rates and include all indirect costs and fee? Yes, confirmed.

Q.47. Can MCC please clarify whether the ODC plug figures in Section B.4 include any markups for indirect costs and fee? They do not. Section B.5 blank column allows for additional Other Direct Costs.

Q.48. Can MCC please specify the length of time of the project’s Base Period? One year.

Q.49. Are we correct in assuming that through the BPA, MCC may request support in the entire chain of initial contact with the beneficiary governments to design a Threshold Program or a Compact all the way to the completion of implementation? This is not a BPA and this work is only to support early compact development.

Q.50. Would MCC require legal support as part of this requirement? Legal expert is included in the personnel section of Section H.

Q.51. Are there any specific near-term tasks/activities that MCC sees as high priority in the near future?

We envision that the firm will be asked to rapidly assess the energy sector needs and perform due diligence on opportunities that may be important for economic growth in newly selected partner countries.

Q.52. Should the quoter provide a build up of loaded labor rates to include G&A, indirect rates, profit/fee?

Quoter may submit its proposed G&A rate if not included in their hourly rate, however, audited financial statements or NICRA are required to be submitted with its Price Quote.

Q.53. Does MCC require a budget narrative to complement the budget?

The Price Quote (Microsoft Excel format - no page limitation) shall include a cover page highlighting the total price, any assumptions and noting any commercial rate discounts.

Q.54. Does MCC have a preferred price quote template to be used by quoters? No.

Q.55. Can MCC please clarify whether resumes of all proposed personnel or only Key-Personnel should be included in Subfactor 3 Key Personnel Qualifications? Only Key Personnel.

Q.56. Referring to the following sentence under Subfactor 1 Technical Experience and Approach:“Quoter shall demonstrate their energy related international technical experience and its approach for completing the tasks in the Statement of Work, its ability to scope potential projects as identified under the scope of the statement of work, addressing any risks or challenges for overseeing projects, as well as its description of how you plan to continue to support if travel is restricted.”Can MCC please clarify whether the quoter should demonstrate our:Approach to “addressing any risks or challenges for overseeing projects”orAbility to “address any risks or challenges for overseeing projects”?

This will depend on your firms experience but Quotes should address this or describe their ability to.

Q.57. Referring to the following sentence under Subfactor 1 Technical Experience and Approach:“Quoter shall demonstrate their energy related international technical experience and its approach for completing the tasks in the Statement of Work, its ability to scope potential projects as identified under the scope of the statement of work, addressing any risks or challenges for overseeing projects, as well as its description of how you plan to continue to support if travel is restricted.”Can MCC please clarify if the quoter should “scopepotential projects identified” under Section C subsection“3. SCOPE” or subsection “4.C. Regional Compact Scoping”of the statement of work (page 16). No.

Millennium Challenge Corporation, Contracts and Grants Management Division, 1099 Fourteenth St NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC, 20005-3550, US