ESBD_527226_1782298261729_RFP 301-26-06531B Israel Addendum 2 Q&A Update.pdf

Solicitation 301-26-06531B FOREIGN TRADE AND INVESTMENT SERVICES FOR THE

STATE OF TEXAS ISRAEL OFFICE

Vendor Questions

1. To avoid any misunderstanding and to ensure we comply exactly with OOG instructions, could you please confirm the following:

• Our previously submitted full response package remains accepted and does not need to be reprinted or resubmitted in full.

• The only document we are required to amend and resubmit at this stage is the updated Exhibit F - HSP Subcontracting Plan, together with the required hard copy and USB digital copy.

Response: All responses submitted in January have expired and Respondents who seek consideration should submit a new response. Respondents may submit a substantively similar proposal if the information submitted in response to the prior solicitation has not changed, but must include the updated Solicitation ID, updated dates, and completed HSP forms.

Does Solicitation No. 301-26-06531B cancel, replace, or supersede the previous solicitation, No. 301-26-06531?

Response: Yes, solicitation number 301-26-06531B replaces the original number and must be listed on all new responses

3. Does our previously submitted proposal remain valid and under consideration, subject only to submission of the updated Exhibit F / Subcontracting Plan?

Response: No, all proposals submitted prior to this have expired and must be resubmitted with updated dates and new HSP forms.

4. Alternatively, are respondents required to submit a complete new proposal package in response to Solicitation No. 301-26-06531B?

Response: Respondents that seek to have their proposal considered for Solicitation No. 301-26-06531B must submit (or resubmit) their proposal for the new solicitation.

Respondents may submit a substantively similar proposal if the information submitted in response to the prior solicitation has not changed, but must include updated dates and completed HSP forms.

5. In our initial submission, we declared in Exhibit F that we do not intend to hire or utilize the services of subcontractors of any kind. Given this, is there still a need for us to re-submit the signed form, or can you accept our solicitation submission as it currently stands?

Response: Exhibit F has changed; Respondents’ response must include a completed copy of the new forms.

6. Additionally, since we provided the plan, requested cost, and all relevant details back in January 2026, some of the dates in our documents may no longer be current. Should we amend these dates to align with the new response due date?

Response: All responses submitted in January have expired and Respondents who seek consideration should submit a new response. Respondents may submit a substantively similar proposal if the information submitted in response to the prior solicitation has not changed, but must include the updated Solicitation ID, updated dates, and completed HSP forms.

7. I’m also unsure whether our January submission would still qualify under this newer posting, or if the original solicitation is no longer relevant. I would really appreciate any clarification you may be able to provide on how the two relate and whether any further action is needed on our end.

Response: Solicitation No. 301-26-06531B is a new procurement event and is a replacement for Solicitation No. 301-26-06531. If you would like for your proposal to be considered, it must be submitted in response to Solicitation No. 301-26-06531B.

8. With respect to Part A, Section 4.16, may a single individual serve concurrently as both the Account Manager and Office Director, provided the individual satisfies all qualification requirements identified in the Solicitation and remains solely assigned to the State of Texas Israel Office account as required?

Response: Respondents are encouraged to review Part A, Section 4.16 of the Solicitation, which states: Key account staff must be solely assigned to the performance of foreign investment and trade promotion activities on behalf of the State of Texas. Contractor must dedicate an experienced account manager to oversee all activities in the Target Market and under the Contract, including, but not limited to, coordinating investment promotion campaigns in the Target Market, account management, accounting for the entire contract, billing, and reporting. The account manager will be EDT’s primary day-to-day contact. The account manager shall be solely assigned to the STIO account. With prior EDT approval, the Contractor may fulfill investment promotion and export assistance activities through the use of one or more subcontractors.

9. We would appreciate confirmation on the revised contract term under Solicitation No.

301-26-06531B, as it directly impacts the Project Timeline (Tab 7) and Cost Proposal and Monthly Fee Schedule (Tab 9) of the response. We note that under Part A §3.2.1 (Primary Term), the Solicitation now states that: “The primary term… shall commence on the date of last signature (‘Effective Date’), and shall terminate on August 31, 2027…” In the previous version of the Solicitation, the anticipated start date was defined as expected to January 16, 2026 and terminating on August 31, 2027, resulting in an approximately 20-month fixed term. Based on the revised language and the updated Calendar of Events indicating an anticipated start date of July 15, 2026, should respondents assume a start date aligned with the anticipated July 15, 2026 timeline and terminating August 31, 2027, resulting in an approximate 13–14 month primary term?

Response: The effective date shall commence on the date of the last signature on the Contract associated with this Solicitation.

10. With respect to Part A, Section 4.16, will the OOG clarify whether non-Account Staff corporate leadership, strategic advisors, or subject-matter experts who provide intermittent advisory, quality-control, or strategic support to the Contractor are considered "Key Account Team Members" for purposes of the in-country staffing and sole-assignment requirements, or whether those requirements apply only to personnel directly responsible for day-to-day Contract performance?

Response: Respondents are encouraged to review Part A, Section 4.16 of the Solicitation, which states: The Contractor shall dedicate qualified professional staff who must be proficient in the English and Hebrew languages and experienced in working on economic development, trade and investment promotion and export assistance to work on EDT’s account in Israel. Key account staff must be solely assigned to the performance of foreign investment and trade promotion activities on behalf of the State of Texas. The Contractor must dedicate an experienced account manager to oversee all activities in the Target Market and under the Contract, including, but not limited to, coordinating investment promotion campaigns in the Target Market, account management, accounting for the entire contract, billing, and reporting. The account manager will be EDT’s primary day-to-day contact. The account manager shall be solely assigned to the STIO account. With prior EDT approval, the Contractor may fulfill investment promotion and export assistance activities through the use of one or more subcontractors.

11. For purposes of Section 4.16, does the term "solely assigned" prohibit the Account Manager from maintaining ownership interests or executive responsibilities in other business entities that are unrelated to the performance of this Contract, provided such activities do not interfere with Contract performance and the individual remains fully dedicated to the State of Texas Israel Office account?

Response: Respondents are encouraged to review Part A, Section 4.16 of the Solicitation, which states: The Contractor shall dedicate qualified professional staff who must be proficient in the English and Hebrew languages and are experienced in working on economic development, trade and investment promotion and export assistance to work on EDT’s account in Israel. Key account staff must be solely assigned to the performance of foreign investment and trade promotion activities on behalf of the State of Texas. The Contractor must dedicate an experienced account manager to oversee all activities in the Target Market and under the Contract, including, but not limited to, coordinating investment promotion campaigns in the Target Market, account management, accounting for the entire contract, billing, and reporting. The account manager will be EDT’s primary day-to-day contact. The account manager shall be solely assigned to the STIO account. With prior EDT approval, the Contractor may fulfill investment promotion and export assistance activities through the use of one or more subcontractors.

12. Just to clarify and ensure our compliance: we are planning to submit an entirely new response package consisting of one signed hard copy and one USB digital copy, inclusive of the updated Exhibit F HSP forms, as detailed in the RFP. Is our understanding correct?

Response: All responses submitted in January have expired and Respondents who seek consideration should submit a new response. Respondents may submit a substantively similar proposal if the information submitted in response to the prior solicitation has not changed, but must include the updated Solicitation ID, updated dates, and completed HSP forms.13. We submitted a proposal in December at the original deadline. If we were to resubmit now, would we need to resubmit everything, both electronically and hard copy?

Response: Yes, please follow the instructions outlined in Part C, Section 3.6.3.

14. We submitted our Response to Solicitation No RFP-301-26-06531B before the original submission deadline in January 2026. The solicitation has since been reopened, and we request clarification on how our previously submitted Response is affected, with reference to the following two clauses (Part C):

- Clause 3.5.1: "The Transmittal Letter must state that the Response is valid for at least 180 calendar days from the day after the deadline for submitting Responses."

Response: Solicitation No. 301-26-06531 and responses to that solicitation have expired. Solicitation No. 301-26-06531B is a new solicitation and any responses submitted for this solicitation should reflect updated dates and Solicitation ID.

Additionally, please note that the Texas Comptroller’s Office promulgated a new HSP form after Solicitation No. 301-26-06531 was posted and Solicitation No. 301-26- 06531B includes the revised HSP form (Exhibit F). Respondents must include a completed copy of the new HSP form.

15. - Clause 1.6: "Each Respondent may submit only one Response. If a Respondent submits more than one Response, the OOG may reject all Responses from that Respondent." In light of these clauses, please clarify:

a. Is a Response that was originally submitted before the decision to run the solicitation again still considered valid and active?

Response: All responses submitted in January have expired and Respondents who seek consideration should submit a new response. Respondents may submit a substantively similar proposal if the information submitted in response to the prior solicitation has not changed, but must include the updated Solicitation ID, updated dates, and completed HSP forms.

b. If it is still valid, what is the effect, if any, on a Response that is resubmitted following the reopening?

Response: The prior response is no longer valid. Accordingly, the prior response has no effect on the current Solicitation.

c. Specifically, may a Respondent modify its originally submitted Response and resubmit the modified version, without that resubmission being treated as a second Response that could trigger rejection of all Responses under Clause 1.6?

Response: Yes, modifications are allowed as long as the new submission is specific to this Solicitation, number 301-26-06531B.

16. Does the political affiliation or political involvement of a principal within a Respondent's management or governance structure have any effect on the Respondent's eligibility or on the evaluation of its Response? If so, what disclosure, if any, is required under the solicitation, and under which clause?

Response: A principal’s political affiliation or political involvement does not affect a Respondent’s eligibility. However, if the Respondent’s activities would independently violate mandatory contract provisions, the Respondent would not be able to enter a Contract and, thus, not be able to provide services for the OOG. For example, if the Respondent’s activities manifest as boycotting energy companies, it could not comply with a required contract provision and the OOG could not enter a Contract with the Respondent.

17. Number of Hard Copies and Digital Copy Part C, Section 3.6.3 appears to require one original signed hard copy submission and one digital copy in searchable PDF format on a USB drive. Please confirm that Respondents are no longer required to submit three additional hard copies for the evaluation team.

Response: The OOG only requires one Original Hard copy with signatures and one USB Drive.

18. Exhibit E / Contract Term 1 In the current solicitation, Contract Term 1 begins on the date of last signature and ends on August 31, 2027, so the exact number of months is not known at the time of submission.

Please clarify the period for which the budget proposal for Contract Term 1 should be calculated.

Response: The effective date shall commence on the date of the last signature on the Contract associated with this Solicitation.

19. Solicitation Number on Exhibits Some of the exhibits currently reference Solicitation No. 301-26-06531, while the current solicitation is RFP-301-26-06531B. Please confirm whether Respondents should revise the solicitation number on the exhibits to RFP-301-26-06531B when submitting the response.

Response: Respondents may update the Solicitation number on the Exhibits. The current solicitation is Solicitation ID 301-26-06531B.

20. *Authoritative versions of Exhibits and dates*

In reviewing the current solicitation package, we noted that the headers of Exhibits A, B, C, D, E, and G still display “RFP No. 301-26-06531” (without the “B” suffix), and that certain cover pages reflect a July 08, 2025 response date, while Section 6.1 – Calendar of Events refers to July 08, 2026 at 2:00 pm CT. We understand this may simply be a clerical oversight and would appreciate confirmation that these Exhibits, as currently posted, are the versions to be used for submission under this Solicitation, and that the July 08, 2026 date and time in Section 6.1 is the controlling response deadline.

Response: Respondents may update the Solicitation number on the Exhibits. The current solicitation is Solicitation ID 301-26-06531B. The July 8, 2026 date is the controlling response date and time.

21. *Use of prior Q&A as general reference*

We understand that Solicitation No. 301-26-06531B is a new procurement under Texas Government Code, Section 481.027, and not a continuation of the prior Solicitation. To prepare our response efficiently, we have reviewed the previously published Q&A and addenda for the State of Texas Israel Office. May those prior questions and answers be used as general background guidance for this Solicitation where they are consistent with the new Parts A-C and Exhibits?

Response: Yes, previous questions and answers posted can be used as general background guidance.

22. *Force majeure and performance measures*

Given the possible multi-year term and the annual performance measures in Part A, would the OOG be open to considering reasonable adjustments to annual performance targets in the event of significant force majeure circumstances affecting travel or economic activity in Israel, while maintaining the overall scope and intent of the Contract?

Response: Performance measures affected by Force Majeure will be evaluated on a case by case basis and in accordance with the Force Majeure provision in the Contract. Any such adjustment would be limited in scope, tied directly to the documented impacts of the force majeure circumstances, and made in a manner that preserves the overall intent, objectives, and accountability structure of the Contract.

23. *Operational start date*

Given that the response deadline is July 8, 2026 and the anticipated start date is July 15, 2026, should Respondents plan staffing, office readiness, and initial Plan of Action milestones around the July 15 date, or does the OOG anticipate some flexibility in the actual operational start date to accommodate contract execution and onboarding?

Response: Respondents should plan accordingly, as the effective date shall commence on the date of the last signature.

24. Part A, Section 2.13 indicates that office establishment and operational costs are included within the Monthly Service Fee. Because certain office establishment costs are incurred primarily during the initial startup phase rather than evenly throughout the contract term, does the OOG have a preferred approach for reflecting such startup costs within Respondents' pricing proposals, particularly where startup costs may materially impact first-year operating expenses?

Response: The operational costs and monthly service fees will be paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. We encourage proposals to be creative in approaches to providing best value to the OOG. Respondents may therefore structure their pricing in a manner that reasonably reflects these upfront costs, provided the approach is transparent, aligns with the requirements of the solicitation, and maintains consistency with the overall scope and intent of the Contract.

25. For performance measurement purposes, will qualified prospects, investment projects, and business opportunities generated through collaboration with economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, universities, industry associations, and government partners be credited toward Contractor performance when the Contractor plays a substantial role in facilitating, coordinating, or advancing the opportunity?

Response: Performance measures must be met in accordance with contractual requirements.