Amendment_01_to_RFP_No._SOL-117-16-000002.pdf

RFP#SOL-117-16-000002

Amendment No.01

PART I – ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS

Q.1: Section L.6 mentions that “Required Annexes specified below, except Resumes and Letters of Commitment will be counted towards the page limit.” However, a couple of paragraphs below, in the outline of the Technical Proposal, it states “Required Annexes – not subject to page limitation.” Could USAID clarify which annexes are subject to the page limitation?

A.1: All annexes except resumes count towards the page limit and the RFP has been amended.

Q.2: Section L.6 includes Project List and Past Performance References as an annex to the technical proposal. Section L.7(d) indicates that past performance information should be included in the cost proposal. Could USAID confirm whether the Performance Information Sheet (Attachment 5_Past Performance Matrix) should be included in the Cost Proposal, the Technical proposal, or both? If the Past Performance Matrix is to be included in the Technical proposal, can this be submitted as an excel file?

A.2: It must be submitted as part of the cost proposal and the RFP has been amended.

Q.3: Section L.6.3 states “any major subcontractors (defined as receiving more than 15% of funding under the award)” and Section L.6(d) states “each major subcontractor (one whose proposed cost exceeds 10% of the offeror’s total proposed cost)." Can USAID please clarify the definition of a major subcontractor for this proposal?

A.3: Major subcontractors are defined as receiving more than 15% of funding under the award.

RFP has been amended.

Q.4: Section L.6 lists “Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan” as a Required Annex. However, Section L.7(f) Part 6 states that “Offeror do not need to submit a branding and marking plan with their initial proposals.” Could USAID confirm that the branding and marking plan should not be submitted with the initial proposal?

A.4: Confirmed and it has been removed from Section L.6.

Q.5: Section L.7(d)1 states "for contracts NOT listed in CPARs, list in the Past Performance Information Sheet contracts..." and Section L.7(d)2 states "for all contracts listed above that are NOT in CPARS, provide a list of contact names...". Can you please confirm that the Past Performance Information Sheet (Attachment 5) is to be filled out for all contracts including those listed in CPARS and those contracts that are NOT listed in CPARs?

A5: The Past Performance Information Sheet (Attachment 5) is to be filled out for all contracts not listed in CPARs, as USAID already has access to this information.

Q.6: Section L.7(d)1 asks to list previous contracts between the value of $75 million and $120 million. Given that the value of this project is $10 million - $12 million, it seems reasonable to list previous contracts with values around $10 million - $12 million in the Performance Information Sheet (Attachment 5). Can you please confirm that this is accurate?

A.6: Please list previous contracts between the value of $10 million - $12 million. The RFP has been amended.

Q.7: Section L.7(h) states that the cost proposal must include “letters of commitment signed by each person proposed as key personnel confirming their present intention”. Can you please confirm that letters of commitment are to be included in the cost proposal?

A.7: USAID confirms.

Q.8: Section M.2.B refers to 4 sub-criteria for evaluating personnel and management plan but lists only 3 sub-criteria. Can USAID confirm what the 4th criterion is for evaluating the personnel and management plan?

A.8: There are 3 sub-criteria for evaluating personnel and management plan. The RFP has been amended.

Q.9: Section M.2.B.1 refers to “qualifications and experience of personnel” as a criterion of personnel and management plan. Can USAID confirm whether this criterion is applicable to key personnel or all personnel?

A.9: This criterion is applicable to key personnel.

Q.10: Attachment 6_Budget Template is set up for a five-year project. Section F.2 indicates the period of performance is four years. Can USAID confirm that the project’s period of performance is four years? If so, can we revise the budget template to reflect four years instead?

All the paperwork shows that this project was planned for five years. Has there been a change?

A.10: Yes. USAID confirms that the project’s period of performance is four years. RFP has

Q.11: Attachment 6_Budget Template provides for separate budgeting along 5 CLINS (1 for each of the 4 technical components plus one for fixed fee). The instructions in Section L do not reference this however. Can USAID confirm that the template is correct with regard to the CLINs? Also, can USAID confirm that tracking of costs and invoicing by CLIN level will be required during project implementation?

A.11: The revised Budget Template is attached to revised RFP as an Attachment.

Q.12: Would USAID provide the FSN Schedule for Moldova?

A.12:

Q.13: Can USAID please clarify what annexes, if any, are included in the 40 page limit. Pages L-3 and L-4 provide contradictory instructions.

A.13: Please see answer to #1.

Q.14: May we include the Organization Chart in the body of the proposal as a noncounting page?

A.14: You may include it, but it counts towards the page limit.

Q.15: May we include the illustrative four-year timeline as an annex or as non-counting pages within the Technical Proposal?

A.15: You may include it, but it counts towards the page limit.

Q.16: On page C-10 the RFP states: “The Contractor will structure a Trade Corridor Enhancements Fund for local organizations and institutions to partner with the Moldova SR Program in implementing identified reforms, as a result of the Trade Corridor Assessment. The Fund’s proceeds of up to $800,000 will be used to procure equipment, software and services to streamline processes and eliminate barriers to trade and development.” Can USAID please clarify if the $800,000 is in addition to the $10 to $12 million estimated project funding.

A.16: No. $800,000 is included in the total estimated project funding.

Q.17: In Section M, the weight of each major category is unclear. Will USAID please clarify the order of weight for each major section?

A.17: We have amended the RFP to state the relative importance.

The Section M presents criteria by major category with relative importance stated, in descending order. Please note that USAID will use an adjectival scoring system for proposal evaluation.

Grade Step1 Step2 Step3 Step4 Step5 Step6 Step7 Step8 Step9 Step10 Step11 Step 12 Step 13 Step 14 Step 15 FSN-12 $37,078 $38,402 $39,726 $41,050 $42,374 $43,698 $45,022 $46,346 $47,670 $48,994 $50,318 $51,642 $52,966 $54,290 $55,614 FSN-11 $26,985 $27,949 $28,913 $29,877 $30,841 $31,805 $32,769 $33,733 $34,697 $35,661 $36,625 $37,589 $38,553 $39,517 $40,481 FSN-10 $23,825 $24,675 $25,525 $26,375 $27,225 $28,075 $28,925 $29,775 $30,625 $31,475 $32,325 $33,175 $34,025 $34,875 $35,725 FSN-9 $17,647 $18,277 $18,907 $19,537 $20,167 $20,797 $21,427 $22,057 $22,687 $23,317 $23,947 $24,577 $25,207 $25,837 $26,467 FSN-8 $14,008 $14,508 $15,008 $15,508 $16,008 $16,508 $17,008 $17,508 $18,008 $18,508 $19,008 $19,508 $20,008 $20,508 $21,008 FSN-7 $11,600 $12,014 $12,428 $12,842 $13,256 $13,670 $14,084 $14,498 $14,912 $15,326 $15,740 $16,154 $16,568 $16,982 $17,396 FSN-6 $9,854 $10,206 $10,558 $10,910 $11,262 $11,614 $11,966 $12,318 $12,670 $13,022 $13,374 $13,726 $14,078 $14,430 $14,782 FSN-5 $8,094 $8,383 $8,672 $8,961 $9,250 $9,539 $9,828 $10,117 $10,406 $10,695 $10,984 $11,273 $11,562 $11,851 $12,140 FSN-4 $7,369 $7,632 $7,895 $8,158 $8,421 $8,684 $8,947 $9,210 $9,473 $9,736 $9,999 $10,262 $10,525 $10,788 $11,051 FSN-3 $6,356 $6,583 $6,810 $7,037 $7,264 $7,491 $7,718 $7,945 $8,172 $8,399 $8,626 $8,853 $9,080 $9,307 $9,534 FSN-2 $5,179 $5,364 $5,549 $5,734 $5,919 $6,104 $6,289 $6,474 $6,659 $6,844 $7,029 $7,214 $7,399 $7,584 $7,769 FSN-1 $4,184 $4,333 $4,482 $4,631 $4,780 $4,929 $5,078 $5,227 $5,376 $5,525 $5,674 $5,823 $5,972 $6,121 $6,270

Q.18: Page M-2, B, the Personnel and Management Plan refers to 4 sub-criteria, however there are three listed. Can USAID please clarify if there is a fourth subcriteria?

A.18: There are 3 sub-criteria for evaluating personnel and management plan.

Q.19: Please clarify if we are to include the Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan as an annex as instructed on page L-4, or that we do not need to submit one with our proposal as stated on page L-11.

A.19: Please see the answer to #4.

Q.20: It is not clear if a Past Performance Section is required in the Technical Proposal narrative. On page L-4 Past Performance is listed as a section in the Technical proposal and as an annex. However, it is not listed as a section in the instructions for each section on pp L-4 to L-6, and it is not listed in M-1 and M-2. Please clarify if we need to include a Past Performance narrative section in our Technical Proposal?

A.20: Please see the answer to #2.

Q.21: Past Performance References are listed both as a technical annex (L-4) and as part of the cost volume (L-9). Please clarify where USAID would like past performance references included in the proposal submission.

A.21: Please see the answer to #2.

Q.22: On Page L-9 in the Cost Proposal instructions, we are told to list in the Past Performance Information Sheet contracts with a value between $75 million and $125 million for similar efforts. However, the Moldova Structural Reform Program has a value of between $10 and $12 million. May we assume that we are to use contracts similar in amount to the Moldova Structural Reform solicitation as Past Performance Information?

A.22: Please list previous contracts between the value of $10 million - $12 million. The RFP has been amended accordingly.

Q.23: Would USAID please provide an anticipated date of award?

A.23: Award is anticipated in Q3 of FY 2017.

Q.24: Would USAID please provide an exchange rate for budgeting purposes?

A.24: No, currency fluctuation risk is borne by the Contractor.

Q.25: Would USAID please provide a copy of the Moldova local compensation plan for budgeting purposes?

A.25: See question 12.

Q.26: On Page C-10, the RFP provides the following link to a USAID guide on Policy Reforms Lessons Learned: http://www.bizclir.com/cs/policy_reform_lessons_learned, however this link no longer works. Can USAID please provide the updated link?

A.26. Please see an updated link: http://www.publicprivatedialogue.org/papers/USAID_Policy%20Reform_Lessons_Learned .pdf.

Q.27: Section L.6, page L-6, defines major subcontractors as receiving more than 15% of funding under the award. Section L.7, page L-9 defines a major subcontractor as one whose proposed cost exceeds 10% of the offeror’s total proposed cost. Would USAID please clarify the definition of major subcontractor?

A.27: Please see #3.

Q.28: Section C.4 notes that, “a recent effort of donors to focus the government on a set of critical reforms, which BRITE helped compile, is useful but has yet to motivate the GOM to act.”

Can USAID please provide a list or a link to the list of the critical reforms referenced in this section?

A.28: Please see a link to the referenced document in the section: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/225381468279259511/Briefing-book-from-development-partners-of-Moldova.

Q.29: In Section C.7.4 and Section F’s list of Mandatory Contract Indicators, the RFP references an indicator for the Trade Corridor Fund’s “proceeds used.” Can USAID please clarify the intended meaning of “proceeds”?

A.29: Dollar amount used for Trade Corridor/s’ enhancements.

Q.30: May we include an executive summary that will not count against the page limit?

A.30: You may, but it counts against the page limitation.

Q.31: May we include a list of acronyms that will not count against the page limit?

A.31: You may, but it counts against the page limitation.

http://www.publicprivatedialogue.org/papers/USAID_Policy%20Reform_Lessons_Learned.pdf http://www.publicprivatedialogue.org/papers/USAID_Policy%20Reform_Lessons_Learned.pdf http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/225381468279259511/Briefing-book-from-development-partners-of-Moldova http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/225381468279259511/Briefing-book-from-development-partners-of-Moldova

Q.32: On page L-3, Section L-6 notes that “Required Annexes specified below, except Résumés and Letters of Commitment will be counted towards the page limit.” However, on the following page of the RFP and in the same section, the list of contents of the technical proposal includes the following: “5. Required Annexes – not subject to page limitation.” Would USAID please confirm that the 40-page limit applies only to the Technical Approach, Personnel and Management Plan, and Institutional Capacity sections?

A.32: Please see #1.

Q.33: On page L-4, Section L.6 lists a Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan as a required annex. However, on page L-11, Section L.7(f) notes, “Offerors do not need to submit a branding and marking plan with their initial proposals.” Would USAID please confirm that a branding and marking plan is not required?

A.33: Confirmed that it is not required at the initial proposal stage.

Q.34: On page L-4, Section L-6 lists “Past Performance” as both a section in the technical volume and as a required annex. However, the RFP provides no details about this requirement.

Would USAID please confirm whether the technical volume should include a Past Performance section that is included of the 40-page limit, or if only an annex containing the Project List and Past Performance References is required?

A.34: Past performance is required to be submitted as part of the cost proposal. The RFP has

Q.35: The list of required annexes for the technical volume on page L-4 includes “Project List and Past Performance References” but does not provide details about this requirement. On pages L-9 and L-10, the instructions for the cost volume include a similar requirement, with a detailed list of contents. Would USAID please clarify whether past performance information is required in both volumes and, if so, whether the required content is the same for both volumes?

A.35: Please see #34.

Q.36: Would USAID please confirm that a major subcontractor is defined as one whose proposed cost exceeds 15 percent of the offeror’s total proposed cost, as indicated on page L-6, under Institutional capacity?

A.36: USAID confirms.

Q.37: In Section L.7, the instructions for submission of past performance information in Part 4 of the cost volume (page L-10) require offerors to “provide a list of the recent 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.” Our hard-copy subcontracting reports (SF-294s) for the past three years total more than 800 pages and comprise more than 40 MB. In addition to the hard-copy SF-294s for projects not registered in the eSRS, we have submitted individual subcontracting reports through the eSRS for registered projects.

Instead of submitting the electronic files totaling 40 megabytes with 800 pages of SF-294s and eSRS, may we submit a list of 10 relevant eSRS reports and copies of 10 SF-294 forms that are not duplicated on the eSRS?

A.37: Yes.

Q.38: Does the Modification under solicitation number SOL11716000002 contain requirements similar to a current contract?

If possible, please provide the current contract number.

Or, is this a new requirement for the government?

A.38: USAID Moldova doesn't currently have a similar activity in its portfolio. The previous BEE-type activity, called BRITE, ended in June 2016.

II. PART II – REVISE RFP No. SOL-117-16-000002

Based on the questions received for RFP No. SOL-117-16-000002, the revised version of the RFP is posted.

[End of Amendment No. 01 to RFP SOL-117-16-000002]