Questions and Answers_Digital Literacy and Innovation Services.docx

Q&A – Digital Literacy and Innovation Services - PR16214159

1. Please clarify the invoicing and payment schedule for this firm-fixed-price requirement. May the contractor submit invoices on a monthly basis, by completed activity, by task/delivery order, or by agreed milestones?

0. The requirement is firm-fixed-price and is structured by the CLINs identified in Section 1, Part II – CLIN Schedule. The RFQ also identifies specific deliverables and delivery timelines, which are subject to Government review and acceptance. However, the RFQ does not establish a separate monthly, activity-based, CLIN-based, or milestone invoicing schedule. Invoices shall be submitted and processed in accordance with the applicable payment and invoice requirements of the resulting contract.

1. If milestone invoicing is permitted, please identify the anticipated milestones and the percentage or amount payable at each milestone. Please also confirm whether any advance payment is authorized.

1. The CLIN Schedule identifies the applicable units and quantities for pricing but does not establish milestone payment amounts, percentages, or advance payments. The RFQ does not authorize advance payment. Payment will be made in accordance with the payment terms and applicable contract provisions for services required, performed, and accepted by the Government.

1. Section 1, Part II (Pricing) is blank. Can the Consulate share the estimated value or budget range for the one-year purchase order, or the CLIN structure quoters should price against?

2. The Unit Price and Total columns in Section 1, Part II – CLIN Schedule are to be completed by the quoter. Quotations should provide a firm-fixed price for each applicable CLIN, based on the units and quantities specified in the CLIN Schedule, and a Total Evaluated Price. VAT should be separately identified under CLIN 0012 in accordance with Part III of the RFQ. The Government will not provide an estimated value or budget range for this requirement.

1. Section 2.1 says "Prior AI/STEM experience is required" and, in the next clause, that "the program should accommodate participants with varying levels of technical knowledge." Should quoters read the first as "not required"?

3. No. Prior AI/STEM experience is required. The requirement to accommodate participants with varying levels of technical knowledge means that the contractor should design and deliver the program appropriately for participants with different levels of experience.

1. Section 3.A.2(2) allows a quoter that "plans to establish an office within 30 days of contract award." May a U.S.-based firm quote on that basis, with a Moroccan subcontractor handling venue, catering, and photography, while the U.S. firm performs the instruction, curriculum, and program management directly, per Section 14?

4. Yes, provided the offeror meets all applicable solicitation requirements. An offeror may establish an office in Morocco within 30 days of contract award. The contractor may use third parties for incidental commercial support services, including catering, equipment rental, specialized photography, and similar services. However, core program management, instructional delivery, participant coordination, and overall event execution must remain the responsibility of the prime contractor.

1. Is the lead instructor expected to be in Casablanca full time for the period of performance, or may the contractor rotate qualified instructors across the 30 sessions with a project manager present throughout?

5. The RFQ does not require one lead instructor to be present in Casablanca full time. The contractor must provide at least one qualified instructor for each instructional session, and all instructors must meet the qualifications specified in Section 2.1. The contractor may propose qualified instructors appropriate to the sessions, subject to Government review and the applicable key-personnel requirements.

1. Section 5 allows virtual activities with prior Mission approval. Would the Mission consider approving a share of the 30 instructional sessions, or the U.S. expert's participation in project development sessions, to be delivered virtually?

6. Virtual activities may be considered on a case-by-case basis with prior U.S. Mission approval. The contractor must identify proposed virtual activities and platforms in its implementation plan. The RFQ requires the services to be performed primarily at Dar America.

1. Will participants have access to laptops and internet at Dar America for hands-on work, or should the contractor plan to supply devices and connectivity? Section 5 bars contractor IT from Department of State networks; does that bar extend to participants using commercial AI services on Dar America's guest network?

7. The RFQ identifies American Spaces facilities as Government-furnished information, subject to availability and applicable Government requirements, but does not specify that laptops, computers, or internet connectivity will be furnished. Quoters should identify the equipment, supplies, and materials they require to perform the services and address how such resources will be obtained. The prohibition in Section 5 applies to contractor-provided IT, hardware, software, network equipment, and information systems being introduced or connected to Department of State systems or networks. Use of commercial AI services by participants would remain subject to Dar America facility, network, security, and access requirements.

1. Hands-on AI instruction requires paid tools: model subscriptions, API credits, cloud services, and agent frameworks. Should quoters price these as a separate CLIN, or does the Mission expect them within the fixed price or as government-furnished?

8. The RFQ does not identify these items as Government-furnished. Quoters should include in their firm-fixed-price quotation all costs necessary to perform the requirements of the SOW and should identify the types and quantities of equipment, supplies, and materials required for performance. The RFQ does not establish a separate CLIN for AI software, subscriptions, API credits, cloud services, or similar tools.

1. Section 2.2 requires the four U.S. expert engagements to be led by U.S. experts based in Morocco or approved representatives. May a U.S. expert traveling to Morocco for the engagement be proposed, subject to Mission approval?

9. No. The RFQ does not contemplate international travel for U.S. experts. CLIN 0003 specifically covers “U.S. expert engagement coordination and local logistics (no international travel).” In addition, the RFQ requires the U.S. expert engagements to be led by U.S. experts based in Morocco or approved representatives in Morocco. The contractor should therefore price the requirement based on local logistics and should not include international travel costs for U.S. experts.

1. What payment schedule does the Consulate anticipate: monthly invoicing against delivered sessions, or milestone payments?

10. Please see the response to Question 1. The RFQ does not establish a monthly or milestone payment schedule. Payment will be made for work required, performed, and accepted in accordance with the applicable fixed-price contract provisions.

1. Please confirm whether Dar America will be available for all 30 instructional sessions, four U.S.-expert engagements, four project-development sessions, two 120-person networking events, and the 120-person Demo Day.

11. The U.S. Mission will provide American Spaces facilities, including access procedures for Dar America, subject to availability and applicable Government requirements. The RFQ requires the services to be performed primarily at Dar America; however, the RFQ does not guarantee uninterrupted or exclusive facility availability for all activities. Scheduling will be coordinated with the U.S. Mission, and reasonable schedule adjustments may be approved when circumstances outside the contractor's reasonable control affect performance.

1. Please also confirm the maximum approved capacity for each applicable space, available days/hours, availability of tables/chairs, projector/screen, microphones, computers, internet access, cleaning arrangements, catering/food-service restrictions, and whether any facility fees apply to the contractor.

12. The RFQ does not establish specific facility capacities, operating hours, equipment inventories, network specifications, cleaning arrangements, catering restrictions, or facility fees. Quoters should account for the requirements of the SOW in their proposed approach and pricing and should identify the equipment, supplies, and materials they require for performance. Access to Dar America remains subject to U.S. Mission procedures and applicable Government requirements.