Annex 1 - Q As document.pdf

Amendment No. One (1) to RFP No. 294-2011-204 issued on April 20, 2011

USAID/West Bank and Gaza Enterprise Development and Global Competitiveness

Project (The Competitiveness Project)

ANNEX 1 - Questions and Answers

Q.1a Will USAID be able to provide an estimate or range of the total budget for years

1-3 and 4-5 for this Project?

Q.1b Can USAID please provide a cost range or government estimate for this procurement (both base years and option period)?

Q.1c In order to assist contractors in developing proposals that are responsive to

USAID’s interests for this program and to assist USAID in comparing and evaluating contractors’ bids, will USAID consider providing an overall budget range for this activity?

Answer: USAID will not be providing a cost range for this RFP. Offerors should abide by the provided Level of Effort and plug figures stated in the RFP.

Q.2 Can USAID please confirm that local subcontractors can sign non-exclusive agreements with more than one prime contractor?

Answer: USAID does not request nor require subcontractors to sign exclusivity agreements. Subcontractors may be proposed by more than one prime.

Q.3 Page 50 (H.7 Authorized Geographic Code) stipulates that geographic code 000 must be used for all equipment procurement. Will USAID consider changing the code to

935 for ease of procurement?

Answer: Offerors must comply with the authorized Geographic Code “000”.

Offerors may avail themselves of USAID’s Worldwide Blanket Waiver authorizing local procurement from the Cooperating Country within the stated parameters and limitations as specified in the RFP under Section “H.7AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE”

(page 50).

Q.4 Will USAID authorize a 6 day work week for short term technical consultancies?

Answer: Yes, USAID will authorize a six-day work week for short term technical consultancies on a case by case basis and subject to the COTR’s prior written approval

(See Amendment No. One to RFP 294-2011-204).

Q.5 Page 112 (L.4 General Instructions to Offerors) states that proposals should remain valid for 120 days, but in parenthesis specifies 140 days. Can USAID please confirm whether proposals should be valid for 120 or 140 days?

Answer: Thank you for pointing the oversight. As stated in the Standard Form 33, the proposals should be valid for 140 days. (See Amendment No. One to RFP 294-2011-

204)

Q.6 Page 116 (L.6 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal) lists the

Branding Implementation and Marking Plan as Annex H of the Technical Proposal. Page

129 (L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal) lists the BIP/MP as part 11 of the Cost Proposal. Please clarify whether USAID would like Offerors to include the

BIP/MP as part of the Technical or Cost Proposal.

Answer: As stated in the RFP page 116, the Branding Implementation Plan (BIP) and Marking Plan (MP) “shall be submitted as Annex H to the technical proposal as specified above under Section L.6 and shall not exceed four (4) pages in total”.

The reason for listing the BIP and MP under part 11, Section L.7 of the RFP (page 129) is to ensure that the cost proposal includes pricing for the proposed BIP and MP. The details for the Branding Strategy are articulated under Section D of the RFP – “Packaging and Marking” (page 27).

Q.7 Page 120 (L.6 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal) requests

SF-294 reporting for last 3 years for “each of the contracts” that the Offeror is required to report against. This requirement would result in the submission of hundreds of SF-294 forms from our firm. Can USAID specify a required number of SF-294 forms?

Answer: Offerors shall submit copies of five (5) of the most recent SF-294s for each contract for the last three years. (See Amendment No. One to RFP 294-2011-204)

Q.8 On page 125 (L.7 Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal, Part 3)

USAID requests Representations and Certifications from the Contractor and the

Subcontractors. It is stated that USAID prefers submission online by Contractor. Does this preference also apply to all proposed Subcontractors?

Answer: Offerors are requested to include all required Representations and

Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors for subcontractors in the cost proposal and should not submit them on-line for subcontractors. Offerors must also ensure that the signed and dated printouts for the Representations and Certifications are also submitted with the proposal as an annex to the cost proposal as stated in Part 3 of Section L.7 of the

RFP (page 125) for the Offeror and all proposed subcontractors.

Q.9 The scoring criteria listed in Section M (page 133) for Part III of the Technical

Proposal, “Corporate/Institutional Capability and Staffing Plan,” does not appear to match all of the technical requirements for Part III listed in Section L (page 118).

Specifically, Section M does not specify points for (A) Corporate/Institutional Capability requirements described on page 118. Please confirm that USAID does not intend to evaluate the Corporate/Institutional Capability.

Answer: Section M.4 (III) of the RFP (page 133) is hereby amended as follows:

“(III) Corporate /Institutional Capability and Staffing Plan (20 points)

1. Extent to which the Offeror convincingly demonstrates its capability, based on the

Offeror’s experience, to implement the proposed technical approach and the range of services and activities described in the SOW (10 points).

2. Extent to which the proposed staffing plan including the rapid mobilization plan demonstrate the Offeror’s ability to implement the program in accordance with the proposed technical approach (10 points).” (See Amendment No. One to RFP 294-2011-

Q.10 Section H.16 (a) (2) states that “there is a ceiling on the reimbursable base salary or wage paid to personnel under the Contract equivalent to the maximum annual salary rate specified in section H.3 above unless an advance written waiver is granted ...”.

Section H.3, however, deals with Worker’s Compensation Insurance and does not reference the maximum annual salary rate. Please clarify.

Answer: Thank you for pointing out the typographical error. Section H.16

“ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION”, paragraph

(a) (2) (RFP page 56) is hereby amended as follows:

“(2) In addition, there is a ceiling on the reimbursable base salary or wage paid to personnel under the Contract equivalent to the maximum annual salary rate specified in section H.15 above unless an advance written waiver is granted by the Contracting

Officer prior to contract award.” (See Amendment No. One to RFP 294-2011-204)

Q.11 Section L.6 (c) (I) (Proposed Personnel) on page 117 states that "Offerors...should not include references from within their employer's own organization." Does this mean that Offerors cannot include references from a candidate's current employer?

Answer: Offerors may include references from a candidate’s current employer provided that the employer is not an Offeror or a proposed subcontractor bidding on this

RFP.

Q.12 Moreover, Section "Key Personnel and Long-Term Expatriate Staff, Chief of

Party" on page 24 states that "References for the last three years of work experience are required and will be verified." Can USAID clarify whether Offerors can provide references from a candidate's last three years of work if the candidate's current employer has been their employer for the past three years?

Answer: The RFP page 24 is hereby amended to delete the following sentence:

"References for the last three years of work experience are required and will be verified." (See Amendment No. One to RFP 294-2011-204)

Offerors may include references from a candidate’s current employer provided that the employer is not an Offeror or a proposed subcontractor bidding on this

RFP.

Section L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL, subsection “I. Proposed Personnel”, first paragraph

(page 117) is hereby amended as follows to request four references rather than five (See Amendment No. One to RFP 294-2011-204).

Q.13 Please confirm that the Offeror should apply its indirect rate and fee on top of the plug figures provided on page 124 of the RFP as applicable.

Answer: Offerors should apply their indirect costs in accordance with the instructions stated in Part 2 under Section L.6 of the RFP (pages 124-125) as a separate budget line item in addition to the plug figures provided in the RFP. Fee, if applicable, shall be applied on top of the total proposed estimated cost as a separate budget line item as instructed.

Q.14 Section L.6 (Instructions for the preparation of the technical proposal) on page

116 notes that the Offeror must “not use a type smaller than 11 pitch”. Please confirm that the technical proposal text must be in 11 point font.

Answer: As stated in the RFP page 116, the written technical proposal “shall be written in English using Font 12 point/Times New Roman, single-spaced, standard margins and compatible with Microsoft Word 2010, text accessible.”

The RFP page 116, Section L.6 is hereby amended to delete the following sentence:

“Do not use a type smaller than 11 pitch”. (See Amendment No. One to RFP 294-2011-

Q.15 In reference to Attachment J-5 Level of Effort Chart, are we to follow the format and quantitative direction or just the format?

Answer: Offerors must propose the Level of Effort stated in Attachment J-5 and fill in the “TBD” amounts (see amended Attachment J-5, Level of Effort Chart)

Q.16 Page 122, Section L.7 – Is the LOE for long and short-term consultants fixed as per Attachment J-5? Are these numbers illustrative?

Answer: See answer to Q.15.

Q.17 Page 5, Section B.4 – Are the designated cost elements in the budget line item fixed? While it says that the contractor may not reduce the amounts of the designated cost elements, can contractors propose higher amounts for these costs?

Answer: The provided plug figures for the designated costs elements are fixed and should not be reduced or increased.

Q.18 Please confirm that Offerors may make slight adjustments to some of the standard cost elements listed on page 124 in order to account for additional or slightly different budget line items.

Answer: Offerors may account for additional or slightly different budget line items as long as the amounts of the designated cost elements for the plug figures remain unchanged and the information required under Part 2 of Section L.7 is included in the cost proposal.

Q.19 Please confirm that the Offeror may include annexes that are not mentioned in the

RFP. (For example, an illustrative first year work plan.)

Answer: Offerors may not include annexes that are not mentioned in the RFP as these will not be reviewed nor evaluated.

Q.20 Section “Key Personnel and Long-Term Expatriate Staff, Chief of Party" on page

24 states that "The COP must be a qualified development professional with relevant experience and hold at least a master's degree in agriculture, economics, law, business, or a related field." Can USAID confirm that work experience may be substituted for a higher degree level?

Answer: Work experience may not be substituted for a higher degree. A master’s degree is required for the individual proposed for the Chief of Party position as described in the RFP.

Q.21 The RFP (pp 12, 22 and 23) requires assistance to firms and business associations in Gaza. Grants are also anticipated to be made to firms in Gaza.

Please clarify whether long term personnel are required to work in Gaza during the base and option period of the project? Also, please clarify if Offerors are required to propose and establish an office in Gaza?

Answer: Requirements for Gaza depend on conditions on the ground. USAID keeps open the possibility that all activities that fall under the Competitiveness Project will be conducted in both the West Bank and Gaza. For the time being, Offerors are not required to propose the establishment of an office in Gaza or to place long-term staff in

Gaza. In almost every case, only local personnel would be allowed to work in Gaza.

The extent to which grants will be awarded to partners in Gaza or that an Offeror will place long-term staff in Gaza depends on the feasibility of such activities. Offerors should be prepared to provide technical assistance and grants in Gaza, and to place long-term staff there, as conditions warrant, and as will be determined in consultation with the

COTR.

Q.22 Page 5: Please clarify whether the current EDIP project has any activities in place that USAID would likely want to be continued in The Competitiveness Project. If so, would USAID please elaborate on the nature and location of these potential activities?

Answer: USAID will continue activities (EDIP or otherwise) that are demonstrably successful. It is up to the Offeror to identify these activities, and to justify why these should be continued within the context of an integrated and sustainable economic development strategy.

Q.23 RFP – Attachment J: We would request USAID to provide a final report on the

PAPA project as well as any final evaluation that may have been conducted. Is the Final

Report for the Palestinian Agricultural Partnership Activity (PAPA) publicly available on-line?

Answer: The Final Report for the Palestinian Agricultural Partnership Activity

(PAPA) is attached to the RFP amendment No. One as Attachment J-9 entitled

“Palestinian Agricultural Partnership Activity (PAPA) Final Report”.

Q.24 On Page 5 of the RFP, in B.4 Budget Line Items, could you please clarify if the amounts for the Renovations/Rehabilitation, Program Costs, and Grants Funds are only for Gaza or are all of them for both West Bank and Gaza?

Answer: The amounts allocated to program costs and grants funds are for West

Bank and Gaza. The amount allocated to Renovations/Rehabilitation is for the West

Bank. All potential activities related to the development of tourism sites should take place in the West Bank. (Please see Attachment J- 2 “Site Development as a Way to

Increase Palestinian Tourism Revenues”)

Q.25 On Page 22 of the RFP, is the section "Assistance to Firms and Associations in

Gaza" a separate component or a subcomponent under Component B Assistance in the

Development of Palestinian Business Support Organizations?

Answer: “Assistance to Firms and Associations in Gaza” referred to on Page 22 is not a separate component; it is a subcomponent under Component B – “Assistance in the

Development of Palestinian Business Support Organizations”.

Q.26 Does USAID desire each Offeror to have a proposed plan for establishing office space in Gaza? Or, should all Gaza activities be coordinated from the West Bank?

Answer: See answer to Q.21

Q.27 What are the current restrictions for technical assistance to Gaza firms? Will each firm and/or association in Gaza that receives project technical assistance have to be pre-approved by USAID?

Answer: All activities to assist firms and association in Gaza must be preapproved by USAID/West Bank and Gaza (See Amendment No. One to RFP 294-2011-204).

Q.28 What is the USAID Mission’s definition of an SME (eg: annual turnover and average workforce)?

Answer: The Mission’s concept of a small and medium enterprise is broad enough to incorporate the various similar, if not identical, definitions used by the donor community working in the West Bank and Gaza.

Q.29 USAID has listed seven key and non-key positions that Offerors must fill, including three Business Development Specialists to work on Agriculture and

Agribusiness, Tourism, and Information Technology sectors. Can you confirm that

USAID did not intend to include a Business Development Specialist for the Stone and

Marble sector as well?

Answer: USAID did not intend to include a Business Development Specialist for the Stone and Marble sector.

Q.30 Page 65 (H.29 Environmental Compliance and Requirements) mentions that an

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) has been conducted and approved for this project. Can USAID please provide Offerors with a copy of the IEE?

Answer: USAID will not be able to provide a copy of the IEE. However, additional language regarding the requirements for environmental compliance has been incorporated in the RFP under sub-section H.29 pursuant to the IEE.

Q.31 Page 12 (C.III Statement of Work) states there are three interrelated components and yet only two components (Component A: Assistance to Palestinian Enterprises to become Competitive in Global Markets and Component B: Assistance in the

Development of Palestinian Business Support Organizations) appear in the RFP. Can

USAID please confirm which section of the RFP is Component C?

Answer: The Competitiveness Project consists of the following two components:

Component A: Assistance to Palestinian Enterprises to become Competitive in Global

Markets.

Component B: Assistance in the Development of Palestinian Business Support

Organizations.

Section C, “Design and Approach” of the RFP (page 12), is hereby amended to state “two interrelated components”.

Q.32 Section C.III c (Design and Approach) on page 12 notes that “… the

Competitiveness Project will consist of three, interrelated components, as described below.” However, the Statement of Work only identifies two components:

Markets

Component B: Assistance in the Development of Palestinian Support Organizations

Furthermore, “Grants under Contracts” on page 23 states that “It is anticipated that the contractor will award grants under the two components of the project.” Please clarify whether there are 2 or 3 components to this program. If there are 3 components, what is the title of the third component? Will grants be awarded under all three components or only the first two components?

Answer: The Competitiveness Project consists of the following two components:

Markets

Component B: Assistance in the Development of Palestinian Business Support

Organizations.

Grants will be awarded under both program components.

Q.33 Please confirm that the transmittal letter is not included in the 30-page limit.

Answer: The transmittal letter is not included in the 30-page limit.