Questions_and_Answers.pdf

Question

RFP – Section/Part/

Reference/Page #/Attachment

Question Government Response

RFP

pp. 20-21

Section L.5.4.3 of the RFP notes that the Past Performance and Experience section is limited to “No more than 2, one sided, A4 pages.” Are there page count restrictions for other sections?

There are no page count restrictions in other sections.

RFP

pp. 21

Section L.5.4.3 (D) PAST PERFORMANCE states “No more than 2, one sided, A4 pages of written material shall be submitted for each project.” Is the A4 paper requirement intended for the entire proposal? Will the Government allow for US standard 8.5” x 11” paper for the hard copy?

The two pages, one sided, A4 is not for the entire proposal .

US standard letter size 8.5 “ x 11 “ is acceptable.

Cover Letter

The cover letter states “It is requested that a copy of the Offer be emailed simultaneously to the following email address GodeckiH@stage.gov – Subject: OFFER SGE500-16-R-0010” Due to this requirement, it is requested that the Government remove the hard copy delivery requirement.

The offers may be emailed to GodeckiH@state.gov and FrankfurtRPSO@state.gov or mailed in hard copy format to the address indicated in Block 9 of the Standard Form SG- 1449 or hand-delivered to:

American Consulate General Reginal Procurement Support Office [RPSO] Solicitation No. SGE500-16-R-0010 – Hannelore Godecki Wetzlarer Strasse (CAC 4, Personnel Entrance) D-60435 Frankfurt, Germany

Tel. +49-69-7535-3345 or +49-69-7535-3300

SOW 3a. Task 4

p. 4

What equipment will employees need at their work place/station?

Will the contractor have to purchase the equipment to meet the requirements as stated in SOW 3a Task 4: “Purchase MS Access and Develop Databases:

Based on the PFMRA recommendations, the contractor shall purchase Microsoft Access for the personnel in each directorate at MCN that requires it, including the Finance and Administration, HR, Procurement, M&E directorates, and for the compliance officer. In the Good Performers Initiative Directorate (GPI), only the finance section needs MS Access.””

Employees already have the requisite equipment, the Contractor will not need to purchase equipment in order to meet the requirement 3a Task 4.

How many licenses are needed for purchase to meet the requirements as stated in SOW 3a Task 4 (quoted above in Question #1)?

The vendor will need to determine the number of licenses that will need to be procured. The MCN has approximately 300 staff, approximately 50 of whom work in the administrativeHuman resources, financial, and procurement field.

SOW 4.2

pp. 8 – 9

Where is the work location for the Key Personnel identified in SOW 4.2 (Project Manager and MS Access / VBA Database Developer and Trainer)?

Key Personnel are anticipated to work in Kabul, and will be expected to spend extended periods of time at the Ministry of Counter Narcotics (MCN).

Are the high level business rules and/or process documentation available for the 6 database listed for development in the SOW?

No.

Is the intent to run these databases on a standalone computer, cloud environment, SharePoint environment or networked location?

We believe that the MCN has a network location.

p. 5

What platforms are the human resource management information system and the Afghanistan Financial Management Information System written in (database, front end)? Do they have APIs?

AFMIS is written in Java, it does not have an API.

What format does the transmittal of time and attendance data need to be in?

It should be submitted electronically.

Is the transmittal of time and attendance data the only interface needed to other systems? If not, what interfaces are needed and what APIs exist to perform interfaces?

The installed database will need to interface with the MinistryOf Finance’s financial system. Which is written in Java. There are No APIs.

For the fixed asset database:

Are their specific requirements for asset tags (type, size, durability?)

Are labels already in use?

What is meant by “mobile barcode reader”? Is it a software based reader on a smart phone type device, a standalone mobile reader with internal memory, or a USB type reader that can be attached to a mobile computing device (laptop/ tablet/phone)?

MCN has not developed and implemented any policies and procedures to manage fixed assets including the aacquisition, maintenance, disposal and retirement of fixed assets. Barcode labels are not being used.

The vendor is expected to propose a viable plan to use utlilize any type of mobile barcode reader that can effectively ensure accurate inventorying of assets.

SOW 3a. Task 6

p. 7

Are the timelines listed in the base contract summary of deliverables mandatory or can alternative timelines be suggested?

The timelines listed are preferred by the government, but an alternate timeline can be proposed if the vendor.

and

Attachment 2

p. 35 A

The SOW requires that “the databases interface with the financial management system of the Afghan Ministry of Finance, the Afghanistan Financial Management Information System (AFMIS)” in order to “simplify the business process by standardizing it, ensure the integrity of information, and enable easy development and maintenance.”

However, Attachment 2 (Public Financial Management Risk Assessment), notes limited access to the AFMIS system. Has this limited access been resolved?

We belive that all provinces are linked to the central AFMIS System.

The need for an accurate business process for each database is critical in order to apply clear instruction in SOPS, yet a Business Analyst role was not defined in the SOW. Will the government accept a Business Analysts as needed in our project approach?

No. The government believes that the two identified positions are adequate to meet the needs of the SOW.

p. 9

Will the government consider removing the requirement for a Master’s Degree for the MS Access / VBA Database Developer and Trainer?

Yes, as long as the person in question meets or exceeds all of the other requirements.

p. 9

The key personnel section of the SOW notes: “In addition to resumes, the contractor shall provide writing samples in English for the proposed key personnel.” Are these samples to be included in the proposal response? Is there a preferred page count?

Yes, please include samples with the proposal.

SOW 5.2.2

p. 10

SOW Section 5 defines the PoP to implement the remediation plan as one year. How is the end state defined? What objectives must be met?

All objectives must be met.

Attachment 2

p. 75

Attachment 2 states that the HR directorate already has and established electronic timekeeping system. Will that system be used, or is the intention to create a different specific one for

MCN?

If viable, and if it can be integrated into the SOW, then the already established electrnoic timekeepying system may be used. If not viable and integratable, then a new one will needt o be created.

Is the implementation of MS Access a requirement … would you accept another recommendation for an integrated database solution?

As long as the proposed integrated database meets the same security features as MS Access and can work with the Ministry of Finance financial system, then the vendor may propose an equivalent alternative.

Master’s degree for both key positions. This is an evaluation factor which would eliminate us. (we have identified excellent candidates for all four positions. The only issue I am running into is a Master’s degree for both key positions. The local nationals we identified all have INL polys, Afghan clearances and meet language requirements. Our Key PM has a Masters and the Key Technical Lead has a Bachelors from India, which is very impressive and exceptional. Local Nationals with those qualifications are rare for this market area) Would other qualifications be acceptable?

Yes, as long as the person in question meets or exceeds all of the other requirements

- The platform which is defined in the solicitation document is MS Access, is it possible to purpose a better and advanced platform such as ASP.NET MVC, C# with SQL Server? While the MS Access platform has several shortcomings with compare to new advanced platforms. Also it will require several Licenses for MS Access to be purchased plus some accessibility issues.

As long as the proposed integrated database meets the same Security features as MS Access and can work with the Ministry of Finance financial system, then the vendor may propose an equivalent alternative.

- The only email submission of proposals (Technical and Financial) is allowed? Or submission by courier is must?

The offers may be emailed to GodeckiH@state.gov and mailed in hard copy format to the address indicated in Block 9 of the Standard Form SG-1449 or hand-delivered to

American Consulate General Reginal Procurement Support Office [RPSO] Solicitation No. SGE500-16-R-0010 – Hannelore Godecki Wetzlarer Strasse (CAC 4, Personnel Entrance)

Solicitation, B.3, Contract Price

MCN Remediation Contract Pricing lists Fridays and Saturdays as Afghan weekend. Saturday is customarily known as the beginning of the work week. Should this be changed to Thursdays and Fridays?

The Ministry of Counter Narcotics' work week runs from Saturday to Wednesday.

Thursday and Fridays are weekend holidays.

Solicitation, B.3, Contract Price

Contract Pricing list does not include DBA Insurance as an additional cost to be proposed by the contractor. Please clarify.

The offeror will add a Line Item for DBA cost, if required. DBA cost will be reimbursed to the awardee showing proof of payment.

SOW Solicitation, B.3, Contract Price

Will the USG consider providing a list of contractor furnished equipment for provision of hardware/equipment during the performance of this requirement for the initial Phase-in and Base periods? Will there be clauses in place to allow for acquiring this hardware/equipment by the contractor and eventual turnover to the USG?

No.

Solicitation, C.2, Project Description

Remediation plan developed by Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs ( INL) ….shall include (but are not limited to):

-- Purchase of MS Access software.

-- Develop secured desktop applications (MS Access Databases) Will the USG consider a non-MS Access Database solution such as Odoo/OpenERP system? Specifically if the contractor has already successfully development a Financial Management Information System for another ministry based on Odoo/OpenERP?

As long as the proposed integrated database meets the same security features as MS Access and can work with the Ministry of Finance financial system, then the vendor may propose an equivalent alternative.

Solicitation, SECTION K

Will the USG anticipate DBA Insurance to be proposed as Cost type CLIN based on contractor’s prior cost experience for the number of personnel covered? Will the MCN Remediation contract pricing on page 4 be modified to reflect provision of DBA estimated costs?

The offeror will add a Line Item for DBA cost, if required. DBA cost will be reimbursed to the awardee showing proof of payment.

Solicitation, L.4, Review of Documents

This portion of the solicitation states, “Any prospective offeror who requires a clarification, explanation or interpretation of the contract requirements must make a request to the POC listed in block 7 of the Standard Form 1449 not less than ten working days before the closing date of the solicitation. The solicitation cover letter calls for submission of questions no later than 6 calendar days prior to closing of the solicitation. Please verify as to which is the latest date the offerors may submit requests for clarification or questions to the CO.

Expired on Feb. 29, 2016

Solicitation, L.5.3 Summary of Instructions

Paragraph (b) requires that the complete offer be submitted in hard copy format to the address indicated at Block 9 of Standard Form SF-1449. Please verify that email proposals are considered not acceptable.

The offers may be emailed to GodeckiH@state.gov and mailed in hard copy format to the address indicated in Block 9 of the Standard Form SG-1449 or hand-delivered to

American Consulate General Reginal Procurement Support Office [RPSO] Solicitation No. SGE500-16-R-0010 – Hannelore Godecki Wetzlarer Strasse (CAC 4, Personnel Entrance)

Solicitation/SOW N/A

What is the allowable percentage of the work to be sub-award/sub-contract under this effort?

There is no specific percentage. Deliverables are expected to meet the standards laid out in the SOW.

SOW, SECTION 3

Task 2, Communicate with INL and MCN, Task 2 calls for phone meetings between the contractor and the COR, on a bi-monthly or weekly, as needed. Does the USG mean bi-weekly or weekly, as needed in this particular case?

Calls will take place once every one to two weeks at the discretion of the program office.

SOW, Section 3 Task 5, Develop SOPs and Quality Control Documents, This task includes development of 15 distinct SOPs and quality control measures, each considered a formal deliverable, yet the Summary List of Deliverables for the base contract accounts for all SOPs and quality control measures as one deliverable. Likewise, Training for the 6 databases entail 8 separate training components, each considered a formal deliverable, while training teacher manuals, training student manuals and pre/post tests are considered 3 deliverables. Could the USG provide some clarification as to the procedures for deliverables not listed in the summary list and how any associated compliance issues would play a role in the COR’s decision to accept or reject the deliverable at the summary level?

- The 15 SOBs are considered as one deliverable, due within 6 months after contract award.

- Trainin on the eight separate training-components is not considered a deliverable, this is one of the contract requirements.

- The three training manuals are three separate deliverables.

Precisely on DB development; the recommendation for back-end/DB is to go for MySQL and business logic in .Net/PHP/C# technology, Let us know if it is possible so we can submit our proposal accordingly.

As long as the proposed integrated database meets the same Security features as MS Access and can work with the Ministry of Finance financial system, then the vendor may propose an equivalent alternative.