Amendment 1.pdf

(x)

SOL-111-12-000007

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1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

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ARMENIA

Armenia Yerevan 0082 1 American Avenue USAID Armenia

09/10/2012000001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

09/07/2012

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

USAID/Armenia Pension Reform Implementation Program (PRIP)

The purpose of this amendment to SOL-111-12-000007 is to provide answers to questions

(Attachment A).

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Jonathan Chappell

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

ATTACHMENT A.

SOL-111-12-000007: Armenia Pension Reform Implementation Program

# Question USAID Response

1. Are any resumes required for non-Key Personnel? Resumes are requested for any identified personnel including non-key.

2. Are any resumes required for personnel listed as potential short-term technical experts? See response to question 1 above.

3. Is there a page limitation for the Key Personnel resumes mentioned on page L-11 of the

RFP (or for any other required resumes)?

There is no page limitation for resumes.

4. May a third-country national (TCNs) serve as Key Personnel, including as Chief of Party? Yes.

5. Is the requirement to describe past performance from the past 3 years (RFP page L-13) meant to exclude offerors from providing past performance information for projects older than 3 years?

Yes.

6. Is there a minimum or maximum number of past projects that should be listed, pursuant to page L-13 of the RFP?

No, offerors should submit all relevant past performance for the past 3 years.

7. Section I.1 (page I-3) incorporates by reference FAR 52.237-8 Restriction on Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals. We respectfully request that USAID include FAR 52.237- 9, Waiver of Limitation on Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals, in the RFP so the eventual contractor can abide by the cooperating countries’ laws requiring payment of severance and can budget accordingly.

The Restriction on Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals will not be waived.

The contractor must sign contracts with Foreign Nationals specifying the period for services to be provided by Foreign national. It should not exceed the contract period of performance.

Thus, the contractor will be in compliance with the Armenian laws, and at the end of the service contract no liabilities will be incurred for severance payments.

8. Section L.2 (d) (page L-3) requires that proposals be valid for the number of days specified on the solicitation cover sheet. As this information is not included on the cover sheet, would USAID please confirm that offerors’ proposals must be valid for 120 days, pursuant to Section L.6 (g)?

Yes, proposals should be valid for 120 days.

9. On page L-13 of the RFP, offerors are instructed to describe past performance “on directly related or similar Federal, State and local government, and private contracts and subcontracts it has held within the last three years and all contracts and subcontracts currently in progress which are of similar scope, magnitude and complexity to that which is detailed in the RFP.” Is there a limit to the number of contracts or subcontracts to be included, or may offerors determine which contracts meet those qualifications and need to be listed?

See response to question 6 above.

10. In the instructions for preparation of the technical proposal, Section L.12 (page L-13) defines significant or critical subcontractors as those that perform 20 percent or more of the total effort. The instructions for preparation of the cost/business proposal in Section L.14

Major subcontractors for this proposal are defined at those that perform 15 percent of the total effort or offer’s bottom line total cost, including fixed fee.

(page L-18) define major subcontractors as those whose total cost exceeds 15 percent of the offer’s bottom line total cost, including fixed fee. Would USAID please clarify the definition of major subcontractors for this proposal?

11. Section L.12 (2)d (page L-11) specifies that the management plan must include a “Year one illustrative work plan as a separate annex.” Section M (page M-2) mentions “the illustrative work plan for all project years.” Would USAID please confirm that offerors should submit a work plan for year one only?

Offerors should submit the work plan for Year 1 only.

12. Section L.14(c) (page L-15) instructs offerors to propose indirect cost rate ceilings per Section B of the RFP. However, Section B does not require offerors to propose indirect cost rate ceilings. Would USAID clarify whether offerors are required to propose indirect cost rate ceilings and, if so, provide the requirements?

Offerors are requested to propose ceiling for indirect costs per the following requirements.

CEILING ON INDIRECT COST RATES

(1) Reimbursement for indirect costs shall be at the lower of the negotiated final (or predetermined) rates or the following ceiling rates:

Description Ceiling Rate

(2) The Government will not be obligated to pay any additional amount should the final indirect cost rates exceed the negotiated ceiling rates. If the final indirect cost rates are less than the negotiated ceiling rates, the negotiated rates will be reduced to conform with the lower rates.

(3) This understanding shall not change any monetary ceiling, obligation, or specific cost allowance or disallowance. Any changes in classifying or allocating indirect costs requires the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

13. For Section L.14(h) (page L-18), would USAID please clarify whether offerors may submit the Biographical Data Sheets sheets for CCNs in Armenian currency?

Yes.

14. Section M.3(I)(i) of the technical evaluation criteria (page M-2) refers to three defined components. However, Section C.4 (pages C-5 and C-5) groups project results under two result areas. Would USAID please clarify what the three components are?

The SOW contains two result areas or program components.

Please disregard the reference to three program components in Section M.

15. In the technical evaluation criteria for key personnel in Section M.3(III) on pages M-2 and M-3, the RFP states that each key personnel position “will be evaluated according to the qualifications and experience specified in the requirements listed in the Project SOW.”

However, these are not provided in Section C, the Description/Specification/ Statement of Work. Would USAID please confirm that each key personnel position will be evaluated according to the qualifications and experience listed in Section F.7 on pages F-5 and F-6?

Key personnel will be evaluated according to the requirements specified in Section F.7.

16. RFP page L-9 says that (b) the written Technical Proposal is limited to 25 pages and must be written in English. Offerors must use only letter or A4 size pages with fonts (Times

Yes.

New Roman) no smaller than 12. Note: A page in the technical proposal that contains a table, chart, graph, etc., not otherwise excluded below, is subject to the 25 page limitation.

Should we assume that any tables, charts, or other graphics imbedded in the text within the 25-page limitation should also be Times New Roman, no small than 12, or may we use a smaller font?

17. RFP page L-11 states that the provider should include a CV, 3 references, and a letter of commitment for all key personnel. Page L-18 also states that Biographical Data Sheets are required for each proposed staff member. Please clarify the required documentation for non-key personnel.

Bio data forms are required for all identified personnel. It is up to the offerors to include additional information such CV and letter of commitments.

18. RFP page L-14 states that only subcontractors contributing 20% of the total effort should provide past performance information. RFP page L-19 notes that all subcontractors should provide the indicated cost documentation. Please clarify if all subcontractors should provide the information included on page L-19.

The cost proposal should contain all necessary information to justify the proposed costs including indirect costs for all proposed subcontracts.

19. Section C.4 (page C-4); Does USAID envision PRIP providing financial support (either monetary or in-kind) to the Pension System Awareness Center Foundation?

USAID is planning to provide only technical assistance to Pension System Awareness Center Foundation through PRIP. No direct financial support is envisaged.

20. Section C.4 (page C-5); Does USAID anticipate PRIP procuring any IT equipment or software in support of Result Area 2?

The main goal under Result Area 2 is to develop data management systems through technical assistance. However, some limited IT support (equipment and software) can be envisaged.