RFQ Compiled Questions - USAID Egypt North Sinai Rural Development Support Services.pdf

Request For Quotation (RFQ) Number: 72026324Q00001 North Sinai Rural Development Support Services

Compiled Questions and Answers

1. Are there any formatting requirements beyond using the template used?

USAID/Egypt Answer: No specific formatting is required other than the budget template.

2. We are a relatively young organisation, established in 2021, Are we still eligible to tender?.

USAID/Egypt Answer: Yes, you are eligible. USAID/Egypt is not restricting eligibility for this activity.

3. Is there any alternative delivery evidence that commissioners would accept?

USAID/Egypt Answer: This question is not clear to us. Please read the subject RFQ in its entirety to understand the requirements.

4. Is this a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services.

USAID/Egypt Answer: This is a new activity.

5. No Key Personnel requirements were identified in the RFQ, nor minimum qualifications for any positions. Will USAID suggest management preferences?

USAID/Egypt Answer: USAID/Egypt is not identifying any management preference for this activity.

6. Under the Sam.gov Opportunity Detail the Original Set Aside is left blank. Is this a small business set aside?

USAID/Egypt Answer: Please refer to Page 1 of the RFQ; “STANDARD FORM 1449, Block 10”.

USAID/Egypt is not restricting eligibility for this activity.

7. The applicant’s eligibility criteria are not defined in the RFQ. Is it unrestricted? Please define to help determine who can apply.

USAID/Egypt Answer: Please refer to Page 1 of the RFQ; “STANDARD FORM 1449, Block 10”.

USAID/Egypt is not restricting eligibility for this activity.

8. Does USAID Egypt have any blanket waivers in place for local procurement as it has had in the past and what are the details?

USAID/Egypt Answer: Currently, there aren't any blanket waivers for local procurement in place. The Mission is actively exploring how to increase local procurement as part and parcel of the Agency’s Localization initiative.

9. Our preliminary cost estimates procured from more than one vendor indicate that the equipment sought at the quantities indicated may very well exceed the designated fund amount.

USAID/Egypt Answer: In accordance with Section C.3 in the RFQ, quantities identified for the equipment are identified as “a maximum of”. Offerors should add the reasonable quantity of equipment that could be purchased with the allocated amount and justify it in the budget narrative.

10. Page 3-B.3 shows a payment schedule indicating interval percentages of payments against well-defined deliverables, however, an endnote states that “Invoices will be in US Dollars, and payment for the invoices will be in Egyptian Pounds at the exchange rate of the invoice payment’s day.” Will this payment method be followed for the entire award or only for the suppliers’ vouchers to pay for equipment; because page 62-L.3.4.7 states that “All offers shall be provided in US Dollars (USD)”, we, hence, assume that all payments shall be made in

US$.

USAID/Egypt Answer: All offers and later invoices, should be submitted in USD. However, payments will be in Egyptian Pounds at the exchange rate of the invoice payment’s day in accordance with section B.3.

11. Page 7-C.5 If the Contractor is required to have a pre-existing security clearance to work and operate in the North Sinai Governorate, then this does not open this RFQ to fair competitive bidding as it is restricted only to the contractors who are presently operating in NSG which are less than a handful. Applicants would like to be allowed to bid and obligated to present a security clearance before implementation starts.

USAID/Egypt Answer: In accordance with section C.5 in the RFQ, having a pre-existing security clearance to work in North Sinai is mandatory for this RFQ and USAID/Egypt is not planning to waive this requirement due to time constraints.

12. Page 43-K.5 covers Commercial Products but it is not clear what is the Geographic Code for equipment purchased, please define the Geographic Code used in this project. We expect it to be 937, however, ADS Chapter 310 states that “Code 937 (the United States, the recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source) is the authorized USAID Principal Geographic Code for the procurement of commodities and services”. The list of Prohibited Source Countries states that “There are currently no prohibited source countries.... Consult your RLA/GC based on particular circumstances. We would, therefore, like to ask the Regional Legal

Advisor (RLA) or the Office of General Counsel (GC) to determine what are current prohibited source.

USAID/Egypt Answer: Yes, the Geographic Code is 937. For specific information on eligible developing countries, please refer to ADS 310.3.1.2. Eligibility and Determination of Developing Countries, which states that “...... A current list of developing countries is attached as 310maa, List of Developing Countries.” Currently, all these countries are considered eligible.

AIDAR Clause 752.225-70 Source and Nationality Requirements has been added to Amendment

No. 1 of the RFQ.

13.Will USAID/Egypt entertain any more questions?

USAID/Egypt Answer: No, we will not entertain any more questions related to this RFQ. Please submit your best and final quote based on the RFQ and this Amendment.

14.Will USAID/Egypt extend the response date?

USAID/Egypt Answer: No, the Request for Quotation Closing Date remains unchanged; it is November 27, 2023, 4:00p.m. (Cairo Local Time).

https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-300/references-chapter/310maa