Minutes_from_Pre_Proposal_SAL60016P0001.docx

Minutes from Pre-Proposal Conference for the Health Insurance Solicitation

(SAL60016P0001)

U.S. Embassy, Tirana

The pre-proposal conference for health insurance solicitation, number SAL60016P0001, was scheduled and took place on Thursday, November 12, 2015. The conference was set to begin promptly at 1:00, but did not actually commence until approximately 1:15 p.m. due to the number of prospective offeror representatives who needed to complete security clearance prior to entry.

Jay Thompson, General Services Officer and Contracting Officer for the HI Solicitation, began the meeting with a welcome and introductions. Representatives from the attending health insurance offeror companies also introduced themselves. In attendance were representatives from the following companies:

· SIGAL UNIQA Group AUSTRIA

· Intersig VIG

· SiCRED

· EUROSIG

After introductions were completed, Enkelejda Plasari, of the U.S. Embassy, Tirana’s procurement team, provided a summary of the solicitation and evaluation process.

Mr. Thompson then explained that all the questions that have been submitted to date have been reviewed, and replies are being drafted and cleared. He provided a summary of the types of questions that have been submitted to date, and informed everyone that full copies of all the questions and our respective answers would be circulated and posted to ensure a fair and open solicitation process.

Mr. Thompson further informed the group that U.S. Embassy, Tirana was closing the period to submit questions at close of business, November 12, 2015. He then opened the meeting for any additional questions.

SIGAL UNIQA Group AUSTRIA had questions regarding the NCAGE code to be used during the registration process in SAM, which were addressed by Ms. Plasari.

Representatives from SiCRED had a question as to whether the small business requirements of the U.S. regulations would apply to local or international companies. Mr. Thompson answered that they do not.

Representatives from SiCRED also discussed a pending change in Albanian tax law that might impact insurance pricing and sought advice on how to address this in SiCRED’s proposal. Mr. Thompson informed everyone that it is not the purview of the U.S. government to advise prospective offerors on how to price structure their proposals.

Mr. Thompson asked for any further questions. None being raised, the meeting was dismissed at approximately 1:45 p.m..