EGATPFMAmendment2Attachment.pdf

ATTACHMENT #1

PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IQC QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. Can a small business offeror include information on the past use and future use of small disadvantaged businesses, and will this information be included in the evaluation process of the small business offer?

A Note in L.9.c.4, was included to reference that the SDB factor is not applicable to small businesses. A note in M.3 also states that the SDB factor is not applicable to small businesses.

2. On page 85, L.9.c.3.B, the RFP states that the past performance information should include use of small business concerns. Does this apply to small business offerors?

As stated in Section M.3(c)(2) “Prime offerors who are not small business concerns will also be evaluated on their past performance in using small business (SB) concerns (Only applicable to large businesses).”

3. Please clarify whether the RFP number is REQ-EGAT-11-000010, as listed on the cover page of the RFP, or EGAT-11-000010, as listed in Section L.7(c) on p. 80 of the RFP.

The RFP Number is listed in Section L.7(c) on p. 80 of the RFP.

4. Please confirm that the OAA staff member who will take possession of the offeror’s proposal will be available on the proposal due date to assist the individual representative of the offeror through security and issue a receipt confirming delivery. Please provide the name of the OAA staff member who should be contacted upon arrival of the offeror’s individual representative. (Section L.7 Delivery Instructions (f) Hand Carried Deliveries, page 81)

Delivery options and contacts are listed in Section L.7(e), page 80.

5. Will Contractor Performance Reports for firms other than those identified as major sub-contractors be taken into account in the evaluation of past performance? Can we submit CPR short forms for other than major subcontractors?

Can PPRs be included for subcontractors who would be playing an important role but will not meet the 20% threshold as a "major" subcontractor?

Please confirm whether there any prohibitions against submitting PPRs from subcontractors that are not major subcontractors? (RFP page 85, Section L.9 ( c) (3) (A) (i); and page 93, Section M.3 ( c) (1))

Can the offeror include PPRs for non-major subcontractors?

No, past performance information for firms other than those identified as major sub-contractors will not be considered in the evaluation. Please do not submit material other than that explicitly requested in Section L.

6. Does USAID expect to see up to five PPRs for both the prime offeror and each major subcontractor, or does USAID expect to see up to 5 PPRs total for the entire consortium?

l.9(c)(3)(A)(i) states “For the offeror and each major subcontractor list up to five (5) of the most recent and relevant contracts for efforts similar to this requirement.” In other words, a maximum of five for each.

7. Please confirm that the Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Attachment J.4) is not included in the 20 pages allocated to the Technical Proposal. (Section L.9(b) Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, page 82)

Attachment J.4 is part of the Cost/Business Proposal; the 20 page limit refers to the Technical Proposal.

8. Please confirm that the proper use of Attachment J.3 is to indicate projected participation of the Prime and Subs over the lifetime of the IDIQ. (Section L.9(4)(iv), Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Program Targets, and Section L.10(b)(1), Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost/Business Proposal)

This is confirmed.

9. For the purposes of SDB Program Targets, please confirm what USAID defines as a SDB.

USAID uses the definition of a small and disadvantaged business provided by the Small Business Administration. They are certified by the SBA. Please find more information here:

http://www.sba.gov/content/8a-business-development

10. Section L B (i) USAID requests SF 294s for the last 3 years; please clarify whether this is all SF 294s or simply USAID 294s.

The section does not reference SF 294s of a specific agency.

11. Regarding instructions on p.80 (L.7.d. Number of copies), please confirm that PDF versions of the technical and cost volumes are acceptable for the CD format.

PDF versions are not prohibited; however, MS Office products are strongly encouraged, especially for the submission of the cost spreadsheets.

12. Regarding instructions on p. 83 (L.9.b. Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal), Attachment J.3 is included in the list of appendices but it is also required for the cost volume in L.10.b.1 – please confirm if it should be provided in both volumes or only the technical volume or only the cost volume.

Ref: Section L.9.b. Please clarify if the Labor Distribution Chart (Attachment J.3) should be included in the cost proposal rather than the technical proposal

Please include J.3 in both volumes.

13. Regarding instructions on p. 84 (L.9.c.2.ii.a. Functional Labor Categories), the RFP asks the offeror to “demonstrate access to technical expertise to perform work as set forth in Section C” and later notes that only six (6) resumes are to be provided in three (3) areas of specialization. We note that those 3 areas all fall under Labor Category 001 per pp. 10 & 11. Please confirm that no resumes are required for the other six labor categories.

Please clarify the number of CVs that need to be submitted: are 6 CVs requested for each of the years or only Year 1?

7 resumes are required: 1 for the Point of Contact and 6 for the identified labor categories.

14. Section L.9(b) states that “a page in the technical proposal, which contains a table, chart, graph, etc., not otherwise excluded below, is subject to the 20 page limitation.” Will USAID consider waiving tables, charts, and other graphics from the page limitation?

As stated in Section L.9(b) tables, charts, and graphs are to be included in the 20 page limitation, except for those explicitly excluded and found on the list beginning on page 82.

15. We suggest increasing the SB task order threshold to $5 million. In addition, we propose that USAID add language to make clear that the threshold is not meant to preclude Missions from making small business set aside awards above the threshold.

Would USAID consider increasing the small business set-aside threshold to USD $2 million?

The small business set-aside threshold will remain at USD $1 million.

16. May we include past performance information in using small business concerns (L.9.c.3.B) in the annex with the required Contractors Performance Report-Short Forms?

Yes, this can be included as an annex and, as stated on pages 82 and 83, it does not count toward the 20 page technical proposal limit.

17. Regarding the guidance in L.9(c)(3)(B)(ii), may we provide our SF 294 reports on a CD attached to the hard copy of our original technical proposal? Providing these records in hard copy would add a 500-page annex to our original technical proposal. Alternatively, we respectfully request the option of selecting ten relevant SF 294 forms for USAID’s review.

Please submit 294s in accord with the solicitation requirements. SF 294s are only required for the last 3 years and should be attached to the original proposal.

18. Regarding the documentation required to be submitted in the absence of a cognizant Government

Audit Agency, can the offeror’s annual audited financial statement as certified by an independent auditing firm or the methodology and calculation of its indirect rates showing the base and the pool and certified by the company’s Finance Director suffice for the requirement as stated in Page 88;

L.10; (b); (4); (ii); (2)?

Only audit documentation certified by an independent auditing firm will be acceptable in this instance.

19. Section F (Page 28 and 36) It is stated that multicolor printing is not to be used. Does this mean that color printing should never be used, even for USAID logos?

These pages refer to internal reporting to USAID. Color printing is not needed in these instances.

20. Given that $400 million (approximately 57%) of the maximum contract ceiling under the PFM IDIQ is reserved for USAID-designated Critical Priority Countries per Section B.4, are firms that do not work in CPC countries eligible to bid on the IDIQ?

There are no restrictions on eligibility to bid on this solicitation.

21. In addition to the six resumes required for three of the labor categories (Section L, page 84) of the

RFP, is it expected that additional experts for the remaining labor categories defined on sections B.5 (pages 7-12) and C.3.4 (pages 21 and 22) be mentioned in the personnel section?

7 resumes are required for the evaluation of the proposal: 1 for the Point of Contact and 6 for the identified labor categories. Please only submit information explicitly requested in Section L for evaluation purposes.

22. Please clarify/confirm if the fixed –daily rates in the Price Evaluation Matrix (attachment J-2) will be the same rates as in the section B-5 (a)-1, just in a different table format.

Offerors are requested to respond with the FDRs per section B.5. The Matrix in J.2. clarifies the methodology used for the evaluation of proposed costs/prices.

23. Are the subcontractors expected to fill out SF LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form?

All offerors (prime and subs) shall complete the Lobbying Disclosure Form.

24. The ordering of the components of the Technical Understanding vary slightly between Section L. and

Section M. For instance, in Section L, the management section is the last sub-section. In Section M it is mentioned before innovative approaches. We understand that Section M is identifying an order of descending importance. Please confirm what is the expected order of presentation in the proposal submitted: Section L or Section M?

Section M will be followed to evaluate all proposals.

25. Section B.5.(a)(1) of the RFP (page 10) The labor category description for the “International Trade

Economist” states that the expert has to cover “all” of the sub-topics. Could USAID rephrase this?

Section B.5 (a)(1) states the individual submitted to be an International Trade Economist have expertise and experience in the categories listed.

26. Other than the CVs for the 6 Technical Experts and 1CV for the IDIQ Manager do we need to submit resumes for all labor categories and all levels for the technical proposal? Is there any page limit for CVs? Beginning on page 7 of the RFP, USAID shows labor seven categories for each year. On Page 10 through 12, USAID shows and describes 13 technical labor categories (including 10 sector specialists). However on page 84, USAID only asks for 6 technical resumes to be shown in the offeror’s proposal. Please confirm that the offeror should not propose resumes for candidates for the positions described on pages 7 or 10 through 12.

Please only submit resumes that are requested in the solicitation. The resumes submitted should be submitted for the 6 technical resumes and 1 Point of Contact requested in Section L.9.(c) (2)(ii)(a).

Pages for the resumes submitted should be reasonable in number.

27. Section B.5(a)(2) of the RFP (Page 12) Could USAID clarify the years of relevant work experience required for each level of the labor categories? For instance, a candidate with a Ph.D. with 0 years of relevant experience is classified at the Junior level, and that with five-years of experience as a “Mid-level”. Can contractors assume for instance that a candidate with a Ph.D. and one year of relevant experience qualifies as a Mid-level expert.

The years of experience listed are minimums; a Ph.D at the mid-level must have a minimum of five (5) years experience. A Ph.D. with one year of relevant experience would still qualify at the junior level.

28. Is it envisaged that knowledge management and program implementation related activities could be undertaken under the same task order?

Yes.

29. Under the previous two SEGIRs (1999-2008) the dollar volume of task orders by topic allocated 76% of funding to macro policy (apparently emphasizing taxation and expenditures), tax policy and administration, and budgeting (see p. 114). Another 17% went to money and banking and trade. Is it expected that the emphasis for this vehicle will be approximately the same? Are these the areas that will be emphasized by the reviewers?

The evaluation will follow the methodology set forth in Section M.

30. Regarding instructions on p. 7 (B.5.a. U.S. Expatriate Professionals), we understand that IDIQ management costs are not directly billable. Please confirm, however, that the candidate for IDIQ manager is eligible to be proposed for technical consulting assignments under specific task order proposals and that his/her time for such assignments is billable.

This is confirmed.

31. Section B.5.(a)(1) of the RFP (Page 7-9) We note that the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist and the Learning and Knowledge Management Specialist labor categories are combined as one aggregate category. Our experience has been that Knowledge Management and Learning Specialists generally command higher salaries than M&E Specialists. Might USAID consider separating these into two separate labor categories?

Please submit the information as requested for evaluation purposes.