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MCC-13-RFQ-0084
Amendment #3
The BPA covers six distinct technical work areas of possible technical work in the future:
· Threshold Program
· Economic Analysis
· Monitoring and Evaluation
· Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)
· Social and Gender
· Finance, Investment and Trade Each of these six work areas include a range of possible technical skills that will be required on future call orders, and for some, especially M&E, the range of skills listed is very wide. Given this breadth of listed technical skills described under the BPA, it is possible that many (and possibly most) vendors will not have all the requisite skills across all six work areas or within some or all of the six work areas. This reality should not discourage vendors from responding individually, nor should it be seen as a signal that small vendors need to work together with a large prime contractor to be recognized by MCC.
From MCC’s perspective, the objective of the BPA is to generate a population of known vendors with known areas of expertise and interest. While vendors are free to work together to submit a response to the RFQ on all elements of the six work areas, that is not MCC’s primary intent. Instead, MCC encourages vendors to respond individually or in small groups to demonstrate their core competencies on any or all of the six work areas and on any or all of the skills required within each work area. It is not MCC’s intention to receive responses from a small number of mega-consortia that cover all areas; rather, MCC is seeking to establish relationships with a broad range of possible future partners. That relationship is expected to be flexible. Vendors that demonstrate core competency in a subset of skills within a work area or within a sub-set of work areas will have the opportunity to respond to future task orders either by building new institutional capacity in skills that were not previously listed or to work together with other vendors that have complementary skills. In other words, individual responses from small vendors that cover only a sub-set of skills or work areas will not preclude those vendors from bidding either individually or collectively on task orders that reach beyond the core competencies listed in their response to the BPA.
| Q1. | Would contracts from this RFQ be contracted under MOBIS? |
| A1. | No |
| Q2. | Is it possible to submit capabilities for specific objectives within a main areas of work (e.g., objective C.3.3.1 or C.3.3.2 under Economic Analysis), or does C.1.1 provide the list of acceptable sub-areas? | |
| A2. | Submit a Capability Statement for the area or sub-areas that are within your expertise. |
| Q3. | Will the proposals be evaluated based on (a) overall, (b) main areas of work, (c) sub-areas. In other words, could MCC decide to select a firm for some areas or sub-areas but not others, from among those for which the firm has submitted? | |
| A3. | MCC intends to award BPAs that cover your expertise. |
| Q4. | Do we have to us precisely the labor category names given in the RFQ, or can we propose our own relevant labor category names? | |
| A4. | See H.12. Additional Labor Categories. |
| Q5. | Is it acceptable to have a CV covering multiple areas of work? | |
| A5. | Yes. |
| Q6. | Is there a page limit on CVs? | |
| A6. | No |
| Q7. | It is our understanding that we need only fill out the rates for experts/specialists that we are able to provide. Is this correct? | |
| A7. | Yes |
| Q8. | The notice on Devex mentions that the 30 page limit does not include CVs or the Workbook. Does MCC want CVs of each expert/specialist that ISG can offer, or will illustrative profiles describing the qualifications of experts we will use for those positions suffice? |
| A8. | The vendor should provide sufficient numbers of CVs that show your firm is capable in particular areas or sub-areas of your expertise. |
| Q9. | We are aware that some organizations have a maximum daily rate (i.e. USAID) and were curious if there was a similar standard for MCC. | |
| A9. | No |
| Q10. | What does MCC mean when they indicate they will keep the solicitation open until December 31, 2018 and that awards of a BPA may be made prior to the cutoff date? |
| A10. | The solicitation will remain open until 12/31/2018. The first cut-off date to provide capability statements is 5/24/13. It is anticipated that over time, MCC will have other requirements not noted in the solicitation that will require seeking capability statements or we may not receive vendors under certain areas/sub-areas or country experience during this cut-off period that will require seeking capability statements in the future. |
| Q11. | Does the MCC require CVs? If so, for what positions? |
| A11. | The vendor should provide sufficient numbers of CVs that show your firm is capable in your particular areas or sub-areas of your expertise. |
| Q12. | Is the business tab in the workbook for the prime contractor only or should we also complete requisite information for our subcontractors? |
| A12. | Provide your subcontractor(s) name and DUNS number. |
| Q13. | Will there be an opportunity, post award, for the offeror to amend their response with additional areas or provide details for additional labor categories in order to provide more comprehensive support to fulfilling the MCC’s goals? If so, would there also be an opportunity to amend the submission to include additional consortium members and their capabilities? | |
| A13. | Yes. See H.12. Additional Labor Categories |
| Q14. | Please confirm that offerors should propose ceiling rates for each labor category. |
| A14. | You should propose ceiling rates for only those labor categories that your company has expertise in. |
Q15. Please clarify whether the final proposal should be submitted via email or hardcopy.
A15. Your capability statement should be provided via email to fullerdf@mcc.gov in accordance with the FedBizOpps submission.
| Q16. | Can staff be in multiple labor categories? We have staff with multiple sector expertise at the senior analyst level. |
| A16. | Yes. |
| Q17. | We respectfully request an extension on the deadline for submission of the Capability Statements to June 14, 2013. |
| A17. | An extension was provided in Amendment 2. |
| Q18. | can you confirm that it is acceptable for offerors to present U.S. and non-U.S. based partners as a part of their consortium? | |
| A18. | Yes, that is acceptable. |
| Q19. | On the rate card, should we provide US-Based resource rates only? Do you want a description of our cost build methodology? |
| A19. | You should provide a maximum fully loaded direct labor rate for the labor categories listed on the RFQ whether they are US Based or overseas based. Call Order RFQ’s will request discounts from your BPA rates. Also, BPA clause H.12 “Additional Labor Categories” permits the addition of Direct Labor Categories that are not currently included. A description of your cost build methodology would be very helpful. |
| Q20. | Please provide the anticipated number of BPAs to be awarded and if the BPAs will contain different scopes. For example, will one firm receive a single BPA to support several functional areas or will they receive multiple BPAs covering a subset? |
| A20. | There is no established minimum or maximum number of BPAs to be awarded. Multiple BPAs will not be issued to single vendors. If a vendor has expertise in more than one area or sub-area, that firm would only receive one BPA to include their areas of expertise. |
| Q21. | What proportion of the work will be performed in the US versus in the host country? | |
| A21. | This is unknown at this time and will be specific to each requirement under call orders. |
| Q22. | What is the expected average duration of task orders under the contract? | |
| A22. | This is unknown at this time and will be specific to each requirement under call orders. |
| Q23. | Will contractor staff be traveling to the host countries for trips lasting longer than 30 days? | |
| A23. | This is unknown at this time and will be specific to each requirement under call orders. |
| Q24. | If overseas travel is required, will travel related costs such as MEDEX, DBA, and travel allowances be reimbursed as Materials under T&M orders? | |
| A24. | Yes. This will occur under specific Call Orders. |
| Q25. | The instructions state that the capability statement has a limit of 30 pages, excluding the CVs and the workbook. Does this also exclude the cover page and the page solely dedicated to displaying the table of contents? Are there any additional pages, content or items that are not included within the page limit? |
| A25. | The cover page and Table of Contents are not included in the page count. |
| Q26. | Has MCC identified the maximum number of awards that will be made? | |
| A26. | See A20. |
| Q27. | Can Prime awardees add subcontractors after award of the BPA? |
| A27. | Yes |
| Q28. | Can Prime awardees add scope requirements following award of initial BPA? |
| A28. | There may be other cut-off dates for submission of Capability Statements per the FedBizOpps submission. MCC may be looking for areas of expertise that are not presently included in the BPA. BPA holders would be welcome to submit information at that time. |
| Q29. | Please confirm that one CV for each position/labor category in the technical sections that we are presenting for will be sufficient for the submission. Also, please confirm that neither letters of commitment or Biodatas (1420) are required? | |
| A29. | See A8. Neither letters of commitment or Biodatas are required at this time. |
| Q30. | We understand that rates for each proposed position should be submitted. Are there any other budget elements required (ie., level of effort), if so, can you please provide plug figures for these elements? | |
| A30. | Level of Effort would be determined for each call order, not during the BPA process. |
| Q31. | Please note that in the Labor Category table on p. 3 of the RFQ under the “Social and Gender” section there is no indication what experience level (senior, mid or junior) would be required. Please advise. |
| A31. | The vendor should quote the Maximum Loaded Direct Labor Rates for the labor category. The Call Order RFQ will provide levels of labor categories and the vendor will provide their rates at that time which would be at the BPA rate or below. |
| Q32. | In order to facilitate the MCC review process, is there any guidance you might provide concerning the general format or length of CVs? | |
| A32. | Individuals CVs may be one or two pages in length. |
| Q33. | Should vendor capability statements follow the scope areas (C.1), objectives (C.3), or some combination? |
| A33. | The capability statements should include your areas of expertise that are included in C.1/C.3. |
| Q34. | What is MCC looking for in a capability statement—e.g., past performance, methodologies, etc.? | |
| A34. | MCC is looking for an explanation of your capabilities in your areas of expertise. |
| Q35. | Some rate levels are only listed under one area. Are vendors able to combine rate categories from multiple categories on subsequent task orders? Or do the rate categories indicate MCC’s desired resources for that area? |
| A35. | The categories are typical labor categories under each area. Special Provision H.12. permits the addition of other labor categories. |
| Q36. | Can the vendor recommend additional cross-cutting labor categories—for example, we would recommend the inclusion of “Project Manager”? | |
| A36. | Yes. Also see Special Provision H.12. |
| Q37. | Can MCC provide descriptions of the listed labor categories—expected role, responsibility, experience, etc.? | |
| A37. | Required specific descriptions will be provided within the Call Order RFQ at the time MCC has a specific requirement. |
| Q38. | How many awards will be made for this BPA? | |
| A38. | See A20. |
| Q39. | What is the funding ceiling for this BPA? Please clarify if the Purchase Limitation of $6.5 million identified in Section G.1 supposed to indicate the potential value of the entire BPA? | |
| A39. | Individual orders. |
| Q40. | The RFQ FedBizOpps posting lists two set of scope areas: a list of five scope areas on pages 1-2 and a list of 13 scope areas (described in greater detail in the RFQ). The RFQ FedBizOpps posting also states that “Vendors may submit Capability Statements for any of the program needs stated above.” Please confirm whether this statement refers to the first list of 6 “scope areas” or the second list of 13 topics also identified as “scope areas”? For example, under the “Threshold and Compact Development” area, may an offeror submit a capability statement for Threshold/Compact Program Diagnostics only, or must they submits a comprehensive Capabilities Statement for all three sub-areas covered under Threshold and Compact Development? | |
| A40. | The vendor should submit a capability statement expressing their expertise. |
| Q41. | The response to Q10 in Amendment 1 to the RFQ states: “Your Technical portion of the Capability Statement should be partitioned into sections that you have expertise in, such as, Threshold and Compact Development; Monitoring and Evaluation; Economic Analysis; Finance, Investment and Trade; Social and Gender Issues, and/or Institutional Review Boards. Your Capability Statement would only include the Sections that you have expertise in.” The RFQ FedBizOpps posting states “Interested vendors shall submit a capability statement of no more than Thirty (30) single-sided pages (excluding CVs and Workbook), which demonstrates the firm's ability to perform the key scope requirements described above and in the attachments to this synopsis.” If an offeror responds to more than one s cope area (for example, “Threshold and Compact Development” and “Economic Analysis”, can the offeror submit two separate responses, each with capability statements of up to 30 pages, or must the offeror address both scope areas within a single submission with one capability statement of up to 30 pages? |
| A41. | One response is sufficient totaling 30 pages. |
| Q42. | Is there a limit on the number of Past Performance Matrices that a bidder may submit? | |
| A42. | No |
| Q43. | Section B.2 of the RFQ lists labor categories for all of the scope areas except “Institutional Review Boards.” Will MCC identify labor categories for this scope area, or should offerors propose their own labor categories? | |
| A43. | Vendors may propose their own. |
| Q44. | For the “Institutional Review Boards” scope area, our organization has an IRB that can provide the requested services. However, we have never previously provided these services to outside clients and thus do not have any past performance references to provide for this scope area. How should we address the past performance requirement in this case? How will MCC rate offerors who do not have past performance references for a particular scope area? | |
| A44. | Not having past performance references will be viewed neutrally. |
| Q45. | Please confirm that offerors awarded BPAs under this RFQ are free to propose subcontractors at the time of responding to specific call orders (ie, there is no limitation on the use of subcontractors not initially proposed in response to this BPA RFQ in responding to future call orders). | |
| A45. | Correct. |
| Q46. | Neither the RFQ nor the RFQ FedBizOpps posting indicates how cost will be evaluated by MCC. Will the proposed rates be considered as part of the evaluation of offers? If so, how? Is it correct that the rates proposed are considered ceiling rates and that offerors awarded BPAs are free to discount these rates in their responses to specific call orders (similar to how the GSA MOBIS contracts are used)? | |
| A46. | Proposed rated are ceiling rates. Vendors are expected to provide call order rates for specific levels of experience within the specific labor category and provide discounts. |
Q47. Can successful bidders propose partner firms for individual call order RFPs, rather than at this stage of responding to the RFQ?
A47. Yes.
Q48. Can a bidder propose itself as a prime for one of the scope areas, and be a resource partner to another firm for the same area?
A48. Yes
Q49. Are there page limits for each CV? Is there a maximum number of CVs that the bidders can submit?
A49. No.
Q50. Please clarify whether interested bidders should submit the corporate capability statements, past performance matrix and the loaded rates as a single submission, or whether the loaded rates should be submitted separately.
A50. Vendors may submit them in separate documents.
| Q51. | Will MCC consider an extension of the deadline for submission of quotations? | |
| A51. | An extension has been provided. |
| Q52. | Could MCC please confirm that providing rates using Section B.2 (workbook columns I through O) is sufficient to satisfy the cost volume? If not, could MCC please provide additional guidance on how best to complete table presented in Section B.1 (workbook columns A through F)? |
| A52. | Rates may be provided using the Workbook. |
| Q53. | Could MCC please provide guidance on how billing rates will be determined for Junior or Mid-level personnel should MCC require qualified personnel at other than Senior-levels? |
| A53. | Minimum labor category qualifications will be provided during any call order RFQ. Call Order RFQ rates will be based on the qualifications specified in the Call Order RFQ plus discounts. |
| Q54. | Could MCC please confirm that the Past Performance References should be submitted within the Workbook along with the cost information? | |
| A54. | Confirmed. |
| Q55. | Could MCC please confirm that if an individual is submitted for more than one section or sub-section, then it is not necessary for their CV be submitted more than once? | |
| A55. | Confirmed. |
| Q56. | Could MCC please confirm that CVs can be submitted as an Annex to the Capability Statement? | |
| A56. | Confirmed. |
| Q57. | Could MCC please clarify whether an Executive Summary will count toward the thirty (30) pages limit of the capability statement? | |
| A57. | Confirmed. |
| Q58. | Do the "Past Performance Matrix" and "Rates" tabs need to be completed in the current format or is it okay to adjust these tabs to better explain our business? | |
| A58. | You may adjust. |
| Q59. | Will MCC provide labor category descriptions or should these be developed by the vendors? | |
| A59. | Labor Category descriptions will be provided under Call Order RFQs. |
| Q60. | Please clarify the information sought for the following items in the “Business Information” worksheet: | |
| (a) | “Business Type” – What categories are to be considered (ie, for-profit, non-profit, partnership, etc) | |
| (b) | “Business Size” – Large v. small; if Small Business, type of Small Business? | |
| (c) | “Annual Revenue” – Provide 2012 annual revenue if available? | |
| (d) | “Export Locations” – Locations where the firm has previously worked? Locations of foreign clients? | |
| (e) | “Product Categories” – RFQ scope areas responded to, or something else? | |
| (f) | “Please advise what is to be reported under the following headings: “Past Performance Evaluation”; “ORCA Record” (given the ORCA ID is provided above in the worksheet); and “Narrative”. | |
| A60. | This information should be from your SAMS/ORCA submission. |
Millennium Challenge Corporation