Amendment.02.combined.pdf

Questions Received - RFP # SOL-117-15-000003

Competitiveness Enhancement through Workforce Development and Innovation (CE-WIN) Program in Moldova

1. On the cover page, the RFP states that “USAID anticipates the award to be a five-year, cost plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) term, level of effort contract.” Additionally, under Section F.3. “Periodof Performance” (page 30), the RFP states that “the period of performance for this contract will be five (5) years starting from the date of award.” However, under Section L.6.1(c) “Illustrative Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan” (page 87), it states that “the M&E Plan will include targets for all four years of implementation.” Can USAID please verify that Moldova CE-WIN will be a five-year contract?

Moldova CE-WIN will be a five-year contract.

2. Under Section L.6.2 “Personnel and Management Plan,” the RFP states that “Offerors shall also include in the proposal résumés for all professional personnel (as an Annex).”

However, under Section L.6.2(b), the RFP states that “Offerors are expected to provide resumes for all long-term personnel.” Can USAID please clarify whether we need to provide resumes for professional long-term personnel or all long-term personnel?

Only resumes for professional long-term personnel are required.

3. In Section L.6 “Instructions for Preparation of Technical Proposal,” the RFP states that the Technical Proposal is limited to 40 pages, and that the technical proposal includes three main sections: Technical Approach, Personnel and Management Plan, and Institutional Capacity Plan. It then states that annexes are not subject to the page limitation. Can USAID verify that the Cover Page, Table of Contents, List of Annexes, and the Executive Summary will also not count toward the page limit?

The Cover Page, Table of Contents, List of Annexes, and the Executive Summary will not count toward the page limit.

4. The table under Section F.5 “Reports and Deliverables” includes two reports: 1) the Final Capacity Development Plan and 2) the Analysis on a possible fourth sector, which are not described in detail in the remainder of Section F.5. Could USAID please provide summaries of the requirements for these two reports?

Final Capacity Development Plan – please refer to page 15 (Build local institutional capacity among private sector associations and public policy implementing bodies) for more details on this required plan. Analysis on a possible fourth sector – please refer to page 21 (STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION ) for more details on this required analysis

5. In Section F.5. “4. Final Performance Report,” the RFP states “No less than fifteen (45) days prior to the expiration of the contract, the contractor shall submit a draft final report in lieu of monthly and quarterly reporting for the relevant period…” Please confirm that this should read forty-five (45) days.

USAID confirms that this should read forty-five (45) days.

6. Since Section H.9(d) “Annual Salary Increases” does not comply with our corporate policy, can USAID please confirm that we can use Section L.7(d) “Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal,” which states “Proposed percentages by which annual salaries may be escalated for the prime and all subcontractors, a ___% of US/TCN salaries and ___% of CCN salaries” to propose our own salary pools?

All proposals must not exceed the percentages stated in Section H.9(d) “Annual Salary Increases”.

7. Section L.6 “4. Annexes,” does not include the BIP/MP in the list of Annexes. However, the BIP/MP is referenced as an annex earlier in L.6 (on page 85) in the list of annexes, and is also referenced in Section L.8 “Instructions for Preparation of Branding Implementation and Marking Plans.” Can USAID please verify that the BIP/MP plan is part of the Annexes and does not count toward the page limit?

USAID confirms that the BIP/MP plan is part of the Annexes and does not count toward the page limit.

8. In Section L.7, the RFP notes that “the practice of hiring drivers who provide automobiles is considered a long-term lease.” Please confirm transportation services (TSAs) and driver services are not subject to the U.S.-manufacture requirements for vehicles, in accordance with 22 CFR 22.19(b).

USAID confirms confirm transportation services (TSAs) and driver services are not subject to the U.S.-manufacture requirements for vehicles, in accordance with 22 CFR

228.19 - Special source rules requiring United States manufacture or procurement.

9. Please confirm that it is up to the discretion of the offeror to propose the value of the SEED Fund.

USAID confirms.

10. In Section L.6.4 (page 90), the offeror is requested “To supplement the narrative summary in (A), provide a list of the recent (within the last 5 years) contracts for which you submitted subcontract reports to eSRS (FAR 52.219-9(d)(10) and a copy of any similarly recent subcontracting reports if they were not submitted to eSRS.” Alternatively, we respectfully request the option of selecting 10 relevant SF 294s for contracts that are not in the eSRS for USAID’s review, along with the list of those submitted within the last 5 years.

USAID concurs with the alternative approach.

11. May Offerors submit as an annex to the Technical Proposal a PMEP table outlining the following required elements of the M&E Plan:

• Detailed description of the performance indicators to be tracked

• Units of measure and disaggregation

• Preliminary quantitative or qualitative targets to provide order-of0magnitude expectations

• Specification of frequency and schedule for data collection

Offerors may not submit an Illustrative M&E Plan as an Annex. The M&E plan must be submitted as part of the Technical Proposal and not as an annex.

12. May Offerors include the Small Business Subcontracting plan under Section 2 of the Technical Proposal as an annex to the proposal?

Offerors may not submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan as an Annex. The Small Business Subcontracting Plan must be submitted as part of the Technical Proposal and not as an annex.

13. Section D.3 it notes “Contractor is required to submit a Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan within 30 days after effective date of award.” However, in Section L.6 it lists the Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan as a required Annex. Later, in Section L.8 it states that Offerors shall submit a Branding and Marking plan as part of the Annex documents…Offeror(s) should submit a preliminary BIP and MP (not to exceed two pages) as a separate annex to the technical proposal using the USAID branding Plan Guidelines provided at http://www.usaid.gov/branding.” Please confirm when the Branding and Marking Plan should be submitted?

Offerors must submit a Branding Implementation Plan (BIP) and Marking Plan (MP) as an Annex. A final, approved BIP and MP will be included in and made a part of the resultant contract of the successful Offeror

14. Section H.35 Subcontracting Consent states that “Consent will be provided after award, per FAR 52-244-2.” However, Section L.7 Part 9 – Information to Support Consent to Major Subcontractors states “The Offeror must address each of the elements of FAR 52.222-2(e) in order for proposed subcontractors to be considered by the Contracting Officer for consent of subcontractors to be granted in the initial award.” Please confirm if Information to Support Consent to Major Subcontractors should be sent as part of the Cost Proposal or submitted after award.

Information to Support Consent to Major Subcontractors should be sent as part of the Cost Proposal.

15. Section L.6.2.b. “Staffing Plan” on page 87 states, “The proposal must include a chart/exhibit (as an Annex) that illustrates the roles of the proposed .” Can USAID please clarify what the annexed chart/exhibit should entail?

The chart/exhibit will illustrate a chart of the Offeror’s Staffing Plan and a matrix of the corresponding Level-of-Effort. Offerors may present the information in any format.

16. On page 88, the RFP states that, “Short-term consultants should be recognized experts.”

Can USAID please clarify its definition of a recognized expert?

Recognized experts are qualified professionals with proven experience and demonstrated history of success in a relevant discipline.

17. SectionL.6.2.c. “Management Structure” states that letters of commitment are required for institutional partners. Will USAID also allow letters of support from Government of Moldova entities or other potential institutional partners with whom the Offeror intends to partner post-award?

No. Offerors should not seek endorsement or exclusive arrangements with any GoM entities. All offerors should have equal access to GoM information and such exclusive arrangements could discourage information sharing.

18. Section L.6.4.D.1 Past Performance (page 89) – It states that “List in an annex to the technical proposal up to 5 of the most recent and relevant contracts for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal.” Is it acceptable to submit information regarding Past Performance on assistance awards as well as contracts?

Offerors must submit their most recent contracts of similar work with their proposal.

USAID reserves the right to seek past performance information from any source. If the offeror has additional relevant past performance under assistance agreements, USAID may consider it.

19. Can USAID please clarify the required or anticipated content of the Final Capacity Development Plan, due 55 days after award as indicated in the RFP Deliverables and Performance Schedule?

Please refer to page 15 (Build local institutional capacity among private sector associations and public policy implementing bodies) for more details on this required plan.

20. In section F.2, the period of performance is noted as 5 years, can USAID please share the envisioned start date for this program?

The successful offeror / contractor will begin mobilizing immediately following contract award.

21. Page 83 states that the proposal must be valid for 90 days, however SF 33 notes 180 days in #12. Please confirm the duration that the proposal must remain valid.

The proposal must remain valid for 180 days.

22. Page 92-93 requests the Evidence of Responsibility from the Offeror. Please confirm whether this is required from Major subcontractors as well.

USAID confirms. Please refer to Part 9 - Information to Support Consent to Major Subcontractors on page 93 of the RFP.

23. Can USAID please share the LCP for Moldova?

Yes, see the LCP for Moldova at the end of this document.

24. Regarding LOE chart included in Section B.4 (pg. 7):

a. RFP states: “[note to offerors: the labor categories below are illustrative and are not meant to be a statement of contract requirements – labor categories for the actual mix of labor negotiated with the winning offeror will be included in the resulting contract:…. The above chart defines the required level of effort to be delivered in the performance of Section C of this contract.” Please clarify whether the offeror is allowed to allocate the level of effort differently across the labor categories as long as the overall total is the same.

The mix of labor categories and corresponding LOEs is meant to be illustrative.

Offerors should propose their own LOE table commensurate with their proposed technical approach.

b. Labor Category – Long Term Technical Assistance (Expatriate) – LOE is included as 12,220, equivalent to 9.4 Full-Time Employees.

i. Please clarify whether these are expected to be full time expats in addition to the Key personnel (COP and DCOP).

ii. If not, please clarify the difference between this labor category and the

Short-Term Technical Assistance (Expatriate) labor category.

Long Term Technical Assistance (Expatriate) LOE is in addition to Long-Term Technical Assistance - Key personnel (Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party).

Long Term Technical Assistance (Expatriate) LOE may be for full-time or part-time.

c. Please confirm that these labor categories are to include Consultants’ level of effort as well. If so, please clarify where each would fall under:

i. International Consultants – LTTA or STTA?

ii. TCN Consultants – LTTA or STTA?

iii. Local consultants – Long/Short-Term Technical Assistance (CCN)?

International and TCN consultants can only be covered under LTTA/ STTA (Expatriate). Local Consultants can only be covered under LTTA/ STTA (CCN).

d. Home Office Support – only 234 days of level of effort. This allows less than 47 days per year. Please confirm that the Project Director and Program Coordinator from the Home Office would be included in the Long-Term Technical Assistance labor category.

We want to emphasize that this is illustrative. Offerors should propose their own budget. Home Office staff can only be included in Home Office Support while they are performing that function. If home office staff also has the technical qualifications to perform Short-Term Technical Assistance, they could be assigned short term technical assistance assignments when they are not performing Home Office Support.

25. Regarding the budget format provided – Annex 1:

e. Please confirm that the Salaries section should be revised to include the labor categories included in the LOE chart in Section B.4 (pg. 7).

The LOE chart is illustrative. Offerors should propose their own budget but LOE chart and budget should match.

f. Please confirm that the term multiplier (used in a column each year) is meant to include the annual inflation.

Yes, and should be explained in justification.

g. Please confirm that the offeror can revise the budget format as follows:

i. Add a consultant section

Yes

ii. Add an Allowance section to include allowances for expats Yes

iii. Add a Subcontract section (currently it seems to be included as part of Other Direct Costs) Yes

iv. Remove the Indirect Section (III) on Salaries and Fringe only and revise Section VI – General and Administrative to include all Indirect Costs.

No

h. Section VI – General and Administrative includes a note in parenthesis (not including tasks). Please clarify what is meant by this. Are Task/Activity costs not allowed to be burdened?

The tasks are meant to be discreet and shall not be burdened with G&A.

i. SEED fund – Please clarify if there is a specific amount expected for the Seed Fund, as well as any details on the anticipated number and size of grants under contract to be awarded via the SEED fund.

It is up to the discretion of the Offerors to propose the total value, number, and size of grants of the SEED Fund.

26. Is this a follow-on requirement? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contract number for this opportunity? If not, is this a new requirement?

The successful offeror will perform work that builds upon prior USAID efforts in Moldova. This is a new and distinct requirement. That it builds upon work performed by other contractors or recipients does not imply that this is "follow-on" work, which might imply incumbency.

Position Salary Range of the First Step of each Grade (per year).

Salary Range of the Last Step of each Grade (per year).

Top Management Positions $37,078.00 $55,614.00

Project Management Specialist $23,825.00 $40,481.00

Project Management Assistant $11,600.00 $26,467.00

Legal Advisor $23,825.00 $40,481.00

Chief Accountant $23,825.00 $40,481.00

Accountant $17,647.00 $35,725.00

Computer System Manager $23,825.00 $40,481.00

Computer System Assistant $11,600.00 $26,467.00

Personnel Specialist $17,647.00 $40,481.00

Personnel Assistant $11,600.00 $21,008.00

Translator/Interpreter $11,600.00 $26,467.00

Administrative Assistant/Secretary $8,094.00 $17,396.00

Clerk $6,356.00 $14,782.00

Receptionist/Switchboard Operator $6,356.00 $11,051.00

Maintenance Supervisor $8,094.00 $14,782.00

Motorpool Supervisor $9,854.00 $17,396.00

Property Management Supervisor $11,600.00 $21,008.00

Housing Assistant $9,854.00 $17,396.00

Housing Clerk $7,369.00 $12,140.00

Electrician $6,356.00 $11,051.00

Maintenance Man $6,356.00 $11,051.00

Mechanic $6,356.00 $9,534.00

Expeditor $7,369.00 $11,051.00

Chauffeur $6,356.00 $9,534.00

Janitor/Janitress $4,184.00 $6,270.00

Salary is Gross Salary (including income tax)