Amendment_No._01_SOL-121-17-000002_SACCI.pdf

RFP No. SOL-121-17-000002 Amendment No. 01

PART I – ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS

Q.1 Please confirm cooperative agreements and grants programs can be included as part of past performance.

A.1 Confirmed.

Q.2 Could USAID please kindly clarify the format for past performance submission:

a. Page 91 of the RFP, describes the requirements for past performance for offeror and major subcontractors as a list that includes award number, title of projects, and DUNS and has a 3 page limit for offeror and 3 page limits for major subcontractors. b. Page 97 of the RFP, provides further more detailed guidance with more information required and refers to Attachment J. 11 c. Attachments to RFP include in addition to J. 11, attachment J.9 (page 124). Could you please confirm that J.11 is the form that should be used by the offerors and major subcontractors?

A.2 a. Confirmed.

b. Confirmed.

Q. 3 Page 18 of the RFP, mentions a “Marking Plan detailing Activity materials that will showcase the USAID and Swedish identities”. Could you please clarify the requirement for the Swedish identity and whether it means that SACCI implementation needs to be coordinated with another initiative funded by the Swedish government?

A.3 This is a typo. Please see revised RFP.

Q.4 Under Section C, page 10. How seriously does the USAID consider the National Anti-corruption

Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) as one of the Anti-Corruption Champion Institutions in terms of the SACCI program?

A.4 USAID recognizes the critical role that enforcement plays in addressing corruption. However, under the Foreign Assistance Act, USAID is restricted from providing training, advice, or support to law enforcement forces, without invoking specific authority to do so.

Q.5 Under Section C, page 10. Who and how will define the list of the stakeholders to engage? When and how will this list be revised?

A.5 The definition for the list of stakeholders to engage will be developed as part of the Technical

Approach. This list will be revised during project implementation with the concurrence of the Contracting Officers Representative.

Q.6 Under Section C, page 12 Can USAID please clarify if that Public Administration Reform is one of the focuses of SACCI?

A.6 Public Administration Reform is a broad area of reform. SACCI will be supporting activities that reduce corruption, some of which may fit under an umbrella of Public Administration Reform.

Q.7 Under Section L, page 99, Can USAID provide further clarification on the level of expected engagement with the GoU and other key stakeholders in agreeing on the proposed measuring method.

A.7 The Technical Approach should indicate how the GoU and key stakeholders will be engaged to ensure, to the extent possible, that the methodology for measuring results will be supported.

Q.8 Will USAID define the representatives of the host nation and other stakeholders?

A.8 Defining the representatives of the host nation and other stakeholders should be part of the

Technical Approach.

Q.9 Within Expected Result 1.2, USAID speaks about mitigation strategies around corruption. Will

Objective 1 also include increased enforcement mechanisms and tools?

A.9 USAID recognizes the critical role that enforcement plays in addressing corruption. However, under the Foreign Assistance Act, USAID is restricted from providing training, advice, or support to law enforcement forces, without invoking specific authority to do so.

Q.10 Within Objective 1, USAID has defined certain criteria for selection of champion institutions.

Will additional criteria be considered? Will a weighting of criteria be considered?

A.10 Identifying additional criteria, including weighting of criteria, could be part of the Technical

Approach.

Q.11 Within Objective 1, are all interventions expected to target national level government institutions?

A.11 No. Interventions may target regional and local institutions as well as national level.

Q.12 Within Objective 2, are criteria expected to be established and approved by USAID for CSO participation?

A.12 No. It should be part of the Technical Approach.

Q.13 Under Section L.8; Would USAID amend RFP Section L.8.a (pg 103) to include the Cost

Proposal Narrative referred to further within section L.8 or inform prospective bidders where within the Cost/Business Proposal the narrative should be located?

A.13 All information related to the Cost/Business Proposal including the narrative should be part of

Cost /Business Proposal. For more details, please refer to page 103, section (c) of the RFP.

Q.14 Section L.8; Would USAID confirm that the information being requested on page 107, Indirect

Cost Information, is only required for the prime contractor and major, non-commercial item subcontractors?

A.14 Confirmed. NICRA, if established, is required for the Prime Contractor and major subcontractors, if these subcontractors are identified and included in the initial proposal.

Q.15 RFP Section L.8; USAID be open to considering salaries for CCN staff in excess of those specific in the LCP if justification for this higher salary is provided to fill key personnel positions?

A.15 Yes, USAID will review the information that is provided in the proposal. The final determination on salaries is the Contracting Officer’s authority.

Q.16 The RFP cover page requests that offerors send proposals to the e-mail addresses morlova@usaid.gov andoluchukvysotska@usaid.gov, while page 89 requests that offerors send the proposal to aserifovic@usaid.gov as well. Could USAID please clarify the e-mail addresses to which offerors should submit proposals?

A.16 Please submit your proposals by the deadline stated in the RFP to the following e-mail addresses:

morlova@usaid.gov and aserifovic@usaid.gov. See revised RFP.

Q.17 On page 89, the RFP requires that the offeror submit the proposal “via e-mail with up to 20MB limit per e-mail compatible with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and/or WordPerfect in a MS Windows environment.” Please confirm that a PDF submission is acceptable.

A.17 Confirmed.

Q.18 On RFP pages 91 and 99, which provide instructions on preparing the technical proposal, USAID requests biodata sheets for key personnel as part of Annex 3. Because the biodata includes proposed salary, this contradicts page 89, which requests that technical proposals “not make reference to pricing data” and that the “technical proposal must address technical aspects only.”

Could USAID please confirm that offerors should include key personnel biodatas as a part of the cost proposal only and include it as an element of the cost proposal in section L.8(a)?

A.18 Confirmed.

Q.19 On page 99-100, RFP Section L.7 instructions for the Branding Implementation and Marking

Plan request that offerors “include a proposed budget for outreach.” This contradicts page 89, mailto:morlova@usaid.gov mailto:oluchukvysotska@usaid.gov mailto:aserifovic@usaid.gov mailto:morlova@usaid.gov mailto:aserifovic@usaid.gov which requests that technical proposals “not make reference to pricing data” and that the “technical proposal must address technical aspects only.” Could USAID please remove this requirement from Branding Implementation and Marking Plan instructions?

A.19 The Offeror(s) should submit a draft Branding Implementation Plan and a draft Marking Plan as an annex to the Technical Proposal. However, as stated at page 100 of the RFP: the cost proposal must include all estimated costs associated with the Branding Implementation Plan and the Marking Plan.

Additional Annex is added to the Technical Proposal. Please see revised RFP.

Q.20 Could USAID please confirm that the approach to environmental compliance requested on page

102 can be included as an annex to the technical proposal in addition to the annexes listed on pages 90-91 and 98-99? Does USAID have a preferred template for this information?

A.20 Confirmed. USAID does not have templates. See revised language of page 102 of the RFP below in Part II of this Amendment.

Q.21 On page 98, USAID asks offerors to include letters of commitment from proposed partners in

Annex 8. On page 103, USAID asks offerors to include letters of commitment from subcontractors in the cost proposal. Can USAID please confirm who it is referring to as “partners”? If “partners” and “subcontractors” are synonymous, could USAID please clarify in which volume offerors should include their letters of commitment?

A.21 Yes, “partners” and “subcontractors” are synonymous. Letter of Commitments for proposed

Subcontractors should be included in Annex to the Cost Proposal. Annex 8 in Technical Proposal is replaced. Please see revised RFP.

Q.22 Can USAID please confirm that the Information Concerning Work-Day, Work-Week, and Paid

Absences requested on page 109 can be summarized as part of the Policies and Procedures included in the Section L.8(a) list of items allowed to be included in the cost proposal?

A.22 Yes, it can be.

Q.23 On page 96, in the requirements for the Staffing Plan, USAID requests CVs for expatriate short-term technical assistance. Would USAID kindly confirm in which annex these should be included, or whether, rather than a CV, the one-paragraph summary of the expatriate and Ukrainian short-term technical experts required as part of Annex 4 will be sufficient?

A.23 One paragraph summary of technical experts is sufficient.

Q.24 The Key Personnel Qualifications on pages 94-95 are designated as “examples.” Can USAID confirm whether the key personnel positions and the listed minimum qualifications are required or if they are intended to be illustrative?

A.24 These qualifications are intended to be only illustrative.

Q.25 Would USAID consider allowing offerors to include a table of contents and list of acronyms, exempt from the page limitation, to facilitate technical proposal review?

A.25 Yes, however, it shall be no more than 1 page long for table of contents and 1 page long for list of acronyms.

Q.26 On page 96, under the Staffing Plan section, USAID states that “The proposal must include a chart/exhibit (as an annex) that illustrates the roles of proposed staff.” Would USAID confirm that this chart/exhibit is synonymous with the organizational chart requested as part of Annex 7 (pages 91 and 99) and the management structure chart referenced on page 96 under paragraph c)?

A.26 One chart could illustrate roles of proposed staff and organizational chart, but should be labeled as such. Management structure should be a separate chart.

Q.27 Page 96, paragraph b), Staffing Plan, requests information on the home-office institutional support requirements while paragraph c), Management Plan, requests information on the role of the home office in the implementation of the project. Further, on page 112, USAID requests information on the authorities, roles, functions, and technical support provided by the home office as part of the Staffing Plan. Could USAID confirm whether it requests information on home office support in the Staffing Plan or the Management Plan?

A.27 Yes, information on home office support in the Staffing Plan and Management Plan is requested.

Q.28 Section L.8(A), page 104, states that “Salaries for long-term and short term CCN staff must not exceed a threshold as specified in the Local Compensation Plan (LCP) in the amount of $65,320/year ($251.23/day). This restriction may preclude offerors from complying with AIDAR 752.7007, incorporated by reference in RFP Section H.8, which states that “Direct compensation of the Contractor’s personnel will be in accordance with the Contractor’s established policies, procedures, and practices, and the cost principles applicable to this contract.” Specifying the method in which contractors should follow when compensating CCN staff may result in offerors deviating from AIDAR 752.7007. We respectfully request that USAID remove the requirement for contractors to comply with the local compensation plan, thereby allowing offerors to submit cost proposals in accordance with their established policies, procedures, and practice.

A.28 Direct compensation of the Contractor’s personnel should be in accordance with the Contractor’s established policies, procedures, and practices, and the cost principles applicable to this contract.

The proposed salaries for long-term and short-term CCN staff/employees must not exceed a threshold for Ukraine which is $251.23, unless waiver is approved by the USAID authorized representative. In Ukraine this authority is delegated to the Supervisory Contracting Officer.

AIDAR 722.170 applies to TCN/CCN employees of the contract.

Additionally, AIDAR 722.170 do not apply to consultants of USAID contractors or their subcontractors when the consultants meet the definition found in AIDAR 752.202-1(e).

Q.29 Per Section L.8(A), page 104, can USAID please provide a copy of the most recent Ukraine local compensation plan?

A.29 Please be advised that the maximum daily rate for senior locally hired specialists is $251.23 under

USAID contracts. However, Offerors are expected to conduct their own market research for determining the salary scale for locally hired positions in Ukraine or rely on their previous work experience and other implementing partners’ experience in the region.

The ranges for the grades of the Local Compensation Plan for Ukraine are provided in the tables below (in U.S. Dollars).

UKRAINE

UKRAINE

Grade

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

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

FSN-12 50,250 65,320

FSN-11 40,043 52,053

FSN-10 28,811 37,461

FSN-9 25,396 33,016

FSN-8 19,494 25,344

FSN-7 17,028 22,128

FSN-6 13,774 17,914

FSN-5 12,354 16,064

FSN-4 10,158 13,208

FSN-3 9,251 12,021

FSN-2 7,959 10,349

FSN-1 6,565 8,535

Q.30 On page 15, in the Grants under Contract section, USAID states that “All sub-grants shall be awarded competitively with exceptions to be approved by the Contracting Officer.”

Circumstances may arise where the implementing partner may need to execute a grant using a justification to restrict eligibility as defined per ADS 303.3.6.5. In these circumstances, specific grant approval shall follow the procedures to be outlined in the approved grants manual and therefore we request removal of the above-referenced language.

A.30 No.

Q.31 We respectfully request that USAID remove the following language from Section H.23.13:

“Copies of all reports received from grantees will be promptly forwarded to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)” and “At the conclusion of the contract, the Contractor must consult with the Contracting Officer for direction as to which records must be transferred to USAID.” While USAID retains the rights to visitation and inspection for three years after the grant completion date, all records under this contract are considered property of the contractor and must be retained in accordance with the contractor’s record retention policies that originate from audit requirements.

A.31 No.

Q.32 On page 18, in Section D.3, USAID states that the Marking Plan should detail activity materials that “will showcase the USAID and Swedish identities.” Could USAID please confirm whether this project will be co-funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency?

A.32 This is an error. Please see revised RFP.

Q.33 Sections H.2.b and H.2.c on page 36 require “local language proficiency, as needed, to perform contract requirements.” Could USAID please clarify which language(s) it considers as “local” in Ukraine?

A.33 Local languages include Ukrainian and/or Russian. Language skills must be appropriate for the task requested.

Q.34 Clause H.43, Cloud Computing, on page 55 is governed by USAID policies as provided under AAPD 16-02. We kindly ask USAID to clarify the applicability of this clause to contractors, as follows:

a. Page 3 of the AAPD says, “M/CIO and M/OAA will initiate formal rule-making procedures immediately to incorporate the revised clause along with the new special contract requirements into the AIDAR.” This language indicates that Clause H.43 in the RFP (along with other similar Information Technology clauses as written in the AAPD) is not yet a formal part of the AIDAR. Under standard rule-making procedures, these clauses would normally be published in the Federal Register, whereby contractors or affected implementers may assess their impact and costs, digest their applicability, and respond accordingly, and only then the clauses might become applicable to contractors in the original or revised form. As far as we know, USAID has not engaged in such rule-making procedures, which typically allow contractors to discuss with USAID the impact and applicability of these clauses to contractors, and to digest the operational costs of implementing these clauses. In this case, contactors have not discussed the clauses with USAID, while the clauses themselves appear to carry significant new requirements that could result in major operational costs to contractors. Moreover, the AAPD clauses, including clause in RFP Section H.43, are written so as to bar contractors from billing USAID for any additional costs associated with their implementation. We kindly ask USAID to clarify the following questions:

i. Relying on the definition provided for information technology (on Pages 3 and 4 of the AAPD, or RFP Page 41), on what basis is clause H.43 applicable to contractors in the performance of a future awarded contract based on this RFP?

ii. Does USAID plan to engage in formal rule-making procedures to support its implementation of clause H.43, and any other similar IT-related clauses flowing from AAPD?

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aapd16_02_01.pdf

iii. Does USAID envision that this contract will require the use of any information technology resources consistent with the following definition provided in the AAPD?

“(1) any services or equipment, or interconnected system(s) or subsystem(s) of equipment, that are used in the automatic acquisition, storage, analysis, evaluation, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information by the agency; where;

(2) such services or equipment are used by an agency if used by the agency directly or if used by a contractor under a contract with the agency that requires either use of the services or equipment or requires use of the services or equipment to a significant extent in the performance of a service or the furnishing of a product.

(3) The term “information technology” includes computers, ancillary equipment (including imaging peripherals, input, output, and storage devices necessary for security and surveillance), peripheral equipment designed to be controlled by the central processing unit of a computer, software, firmware and similar procedures, services (including provisioned services such as cloud computing and support services that support any point of the lifecycle of the equipment or services), and related resources.

(4) the term “information technology” does not include any equipment that is acquired by a contractor incidental to a contract that does not require use of the equipment.”

If yes, please indicate the type of information technology required, and how USAID envisions its relationship with the contractor will work given the provisions and requirements of Clause H.43.

iv. Provided the “information technology” definition above, in our analysis, clause H.43 would be applicable to contractors only if the underlined portions of the definition above was true – meaning specifically, only if USAID required and specified the use of particular services and equipment under this contract that would be used in the automatic acquisition, storage, analysis, evaluation, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information by USAID. Our question, then, is: Will USAID require the contractor, under this contract, to enlist the use of services or equipment to be used in the automatic acquisition, storage, analysis, evaluation, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information by USAID? If yes, please specify the type of services and/or equipment that would be required for this purpose, and therefore subject to the applicability of this clause? Or, if USAID finds that the clause is not applicable to contractors, we kindly request the removal of Clause H.43 from the RFP.

A.34 This is USAID Policy, thus applicable to this RFP. For more details please contact POCs reflected in AAPD 16-02.

Q.35 On page 96, Section L.7 (B) Staffing Plan states that CVs for expat STTA shall be included.

However, on page 90-91, this is not listed as an annex. Please clarify whether non-key personnel CVs be submitted (for expat STTA) in an additional annex?

A.35 Should be included in Annex 4 for the Technical Proposal. One paragraph summary is sufficient.

Q.36 On page 91, Section L.7, Annex 3 requests Biodata Sheets for Key Personnel. These are typically included as part of the Cost Proposal. Please clarify whether USAID requires the Biodata Sheets as part of Technical Annex 3.

A.36 Please include Biodata Sheets for Key Personnel as a part of Cost Proposal as required at pages

104-105, section (a) Salary and Wages, 3rd paragraph.

Q.37 Technical. On page 91, Section L.7, Annex 3 has a 6-page limit. Please clarify whether this is a total page limit for both Key Personnel or a 6-page limit for each Key Personnel.

A.37 6-page limit is for ALL proposed Key Personnel.

Q.38 Page 96, sub-section C states that the Management Plan will “…explain the role of the home office in the implementation of the project.” On page 112, however, the RFP states that “authorities, role, functions, and technical support provided by the Home Office” should be included in the Staffing Plan. Question: Please clarify where USAID requires the discussion on an Offeror’s home office staff – in the Management Plan or the Staffing Plan.

A.38 USAID requires the discussion on an Offeror’s home office staff where appropriate.

Q.39 On page 97, Small Business Utilization, the narrative only includes language that speaks to use of small businesses on the SACCI project. However, on page 112, Section B, last bullet, it states that past use of small businesses will be evaluated.

Question: Please clarify if only past use of small businesses will be evaluated or if the anticipated use of small businesses on SACCI will also be evaluated.

A.39 USAID will evaluate an Offeror’s use of small business concerns in the Management section and the Past Performance section. Please refer to the RFP.

Q.40 I am writing on behalf of XXXXX International, to ask some clarification for the job announcement: Support to Anti-Corruption Champion Institutions (SACCI) Program in Ukraine Solicitation Number: SOL-121-17-000002, considering the application form that we have to submit as well as any other required documents. I do not see any guidelines in the announcement on what is expected for the application form. Additionally, is there a separate form that we can complete to register our interest and as a Vendor under USAID regional programme: USAID Regional Mission to Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and Cyprus Democracy and Governance Development Objective Agreement (DOAG) Request for Categorical Exclusion? Would it be possible for you to send us the application form because for some reason I do not see it on-line. Our USAID DUNS/Vendor number is: XXXXXXXX.

A.40 This is not a job announcement. USAID contemplates award of a five year Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee

(CPFF) Completion contract to implement the “Support to Anti-Corruption Champion Institutions (SACCI) Program” in Ukraine. Offerors are encouraged to read the entire solicitation. To get all information, please follow www.fbo.gov link:

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AID/OM/KIE/SOL-121-17-000002/listing.html

Q.41 On page 97-98, sub-section (d) to the Past Performance section, it states that there will be an evaluation of: “…extent you used and promoted the use of small business concerns under current and prior contracts.” On page 112, however, the evaluation of Small Business Utilization is in the Management Plan, Staffing Plan, Institutional Capacity, and Key Personnel section. Question:

Please clarify where USAID will evaluate an Offeror’s use of small business concerns – the Management section or the Past Performance section.

A.41 USAID will evaluate an Offeror’s use of small business concerns in the Management section and the Past Performance section. Please refer to the RFP.

Q.42 On page 98, subsection (B), it states that: “…a copy of the 10 most recent SF 294

“Subcontracting Report for Individual Contracts” against which you were required to report for the past 3 years. However, on pages 90-91, there is no identification of an annex for SF294s. It also states that “No additional attachments or appendices may be incorporated in the proposal to circumvent the page limitation. ”Question: Please consider adding an additional annex to the list on page 90-91 unless these are to be included in the cost proposal.

A.42 SF 294 is a part of Technical Proposal. Annex added. Please see revised RFP.

Q.43 On page 100, Branding Implementation and Marking Plan, it states that the Offeror must submit these documents as an annex to the technical proposal. However, on pages 90-91, there is no identification of an annex for the Branding Implementation and Marking Plan. It also states that “No additional attachments or appendices may be incorporated in the proposal to circumvent the page limitation.” Question: Please consider adding an additional annex for the Branding Implementation and Marking Plan unless this is to be included in the cost proposal.

A.43 The Offeror(s) should submit a draft Branding Implementation Plan and a draft Marking Plan as an annex to the Technical Proposal. Please see answer to Q.19 and revised RFP.

Q.44 On page 102, the RFP requests the offeror’s approach to environmental compliance and management. However, on pages 90-91, there is no identification of an annex for Environmental Compliance. It also states that “No additional attachments or appendices may be incorporated in the proposal to circumvent the page limitation.” Question: Please consider adding an additional http://www.fbo.gov/ https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AID/OM/KIE/SOL-121-17-000002/listing.html annex to the list on page 90-91 for the Environmental Compliance section unless this is to be included in the cost proposal.

A.44 Additional Annex is included for Technical Proposal. Please see revised RFP.

Q.45 Please confirm whether a Cover Letter would be considered within the 60-page limitation.

A.45 Confirmed.

Q.46 Please confirm that the Executive Summary is outside the 60-page limitation.

A.46 No. The executive summary is included in the 60-page limitation.

Q.47 Section H.4 on page 37 lists the authorized geographic codes for procurement of goods and services as 110 or 937, depending on the source of funding. Could USAID please confirm if there are multiple sources of funding for this project and whether the geographic code is meant to be both 110 and 937?

A.47 As of now USAID/Ukraine intends to fund SACCI, thus geographic code 110 will apply.

However, in case of funding from other USAID source, geographic code 937 may apply for certain portion of funding. The future Contractor will be promptly notified.

Q.48 Section C.IV, MONITORING AND EVALUATION, page 15, states: “All data collection and analysis for each indicator must be disaggregated by gender, ethnicity and disability.” On Section F.7.1.A, Monitoring & Evaluation Plan, page 23, requires “disaggregation by sex (as appropriate and feasible)”; and Section L.7.4 on the M&E Plan Annex, page 99, requires “All data collection and analysis for each indicator, as applicable, must be disaggregated by gender, ethnicity, disability, and oblast, rayon and municipality.” Can USAID please clarify the requirements for data disaggregation?

A.48 Section V. MONITORING AND EVALUATION in the Statement of Word is deleted as requirements for M&E Plan are described in DELIVERABLES: F.7.1 PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION of the RFP. Page 99 of the RFP is revised. For more clarity, please see revised RFP.

Q.49 Section F.7.1, on the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, page 23, notes “the M&E Plan data should be based on U.S. Government fiscal year (October 1 - September 30).” Given the uncertainty in the start date of the contract, can we follow customary proposal protocol and submit a draft M&E plan using months from contract award for the timeline?

A.49 USAID is not aware of what customary proposal protocol means. Draft M&E Plan should include data from the contract start date based on the USG FY.

Q.50 Section F.7.10.e, under Best Practices, page 28, states:

“The Contractor personnel shall remain up-to-date on state-of-the-art research and best practices and annually provide to the COR a two-page summary of at least three studies on justice sector reform relevant to this Program.” Can USAID please clarify if the studies should be focused on justice sector reform, or if they should focus on anti-corruption reform?

A.50 The studies should focus on anti-corruption reform. Please see revised RFP.

Q.51 Section H.4 Authorized Geographic Code, page 37, states: “The authorized Geographic Codes for procurement of goods and services under this contract is 110 or 937, depending on the source of funding.” Please confirm that SACCI is not allowed to procure goods and services from the EU member countries.

A.51 If the procured goods and services are out of 110 geographic code and they are critically needed for effective SACCI implementation, a waiver request should be submitted for USAID consideration.

Q.52 Section H.23.1, Grants Under Contracts, page 45, states: “The Contractor is authorized to execute grants (not cooperative agreements) with nongovernmental organizations (nonprofits or for-profits) and partner government entities (also known as partner government implementing entity as defined in ADS 220).” Please confirm that grants to the partner government entities are allowed under SACCI.

A.52 No. This section is revised and the section: “and partner government entities (also known as partner government implementing entity as defined in ADS 220” is removed. Please see revised

RFP.

Q.53 Section L.7, page 89, states that “the offeror must submit the proposal via e-mail with up to

25MB limit per email compatible with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and/or WordPerfect in a MS Windows environment.” Can USAID confirm that offerors can submit proposals in PDF format?

A.53 RFP, page 89 states that 20MB limit per email, not 25MB. Confirmed on PDF.

Q.54 Section L.7, page 89, states that “Both proposals must be page numbered and contain a table of contents.” Can USAID confirm that a table of contents will not count against the page limit?

Also, please confirm that an acronym list and the executive summary will also not count against the page limit.

A.54 Please see answers to Q. 25 and Q.46.

Q.55 Section L.7, page 91 states, “Annex 2: Draft Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan (4-page limit) and Draft Logical Framework (8-page limit, which may be in Size 8 Times New Roman Font).” May we also use size 8 Times New roman font for the Draft Monitoring and Evaluation Plan?

A.55 No.

Q.56 On page 99, in Section L.7.4, Annexes to the Technical Proposal, Annex 3 indicates “Biodata

Sheets, Resumes, and Letters of Commitment for Key Personnel (6-page limit)…” However, at the beginning of Section L.7, on page 89, it states: “The Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal must be kept separate from each other. Technical Proposals must not make reference to pricing data in order that the technical evaluation may be made strictly on the basis of technical merit.”

Given that the biodata form includes proposed and historical salary rates, and other pricing data, which is prohibited from inclusion in the Technical Proposal, we respectfully request confirmation that biodatas should be included in the Cost Proposal and not in the Technical Proposal.

A.56 Confirmed.

Q.57 On page 99, Section L.7.4, Annex 3, which requires Resumes and Letters of Commitment for

Key Personnel (6-page limit):

a. Can USAID confirm that a letter of commitment should be included as a part of the resume?

b. We respectfully request that Annex 3 be expanded to allow for a 3-page resume per Key Personnel so that we can accurately and comprehensively demonstrate the Key Personnel’s qualifications and experience, and 1 page for each of the Letters of Commitment.

A.57 a) Yes - a letter of commitment should be included; b) No, Annex three will not be expanded.

Q.58 Section L.7.2.b, page 96, regarding the Staffing Plan under Management Plan, Staffing Plan, Institutional Capacity and Key Personnel, states: “CVs for expatriate, short-term technical assistance shall be included, as well as these individuals’ anticipated contributions to project efforts.” However, Annex 3 stipulates that only the CVs for KP are required in Annex 3 with a 6-page limit. Can USAID please clarify if CVs for expatriate, short-term technical assistance are required? And, if CVs for non-KP are required, would USAID consider increasing the page limit in Annex 3 or expanding the annex list to include STTA CVs?

A.58 A one paragraph summary for non-Key Personnel and technical experts is sufficient and should be part of Annex 4 of Technical Proposal.

Q.59 Section L.7.2.c, page 96, regarding the Management Plan, states, “The proposal must include an organizational chart or exhibit that illustrates the roles of the organizations in program implementation. (The Management Structure chart will not count against page limitations).” Can USAID kindly clarify if the management structure chart and organizational chart are the same? If not, please expand on what USAID wants the management structure chart to describe/entail and how it is different than the organizational chart.

A.59 See answer to Q.26.

Q.60 Section L.7.3.d.3.A, Contractor Past Performance, on page 98, states: “Provide with your summary a copy of the 10 most recent S294 “Subcontracting Report for Individual Contracts” against which you were required to report for the past 3 years. The reports may be enclosed as an annex and it will not be considered in the page limit.” Will USAID expand the annex list to include the SF294 reports?

A.60 Annex for SF294 is included. Please see revised RFP.

Q.61 Section L.7.4, on page 99, states: “Annex 5: Offeror’s past performance information relevant to anti-corruption sector/activities from the past three years. The information must include the award number, title of projects, and DUNS (3-page limit).” Can USAID please confirm that the 3 page limit applies to each individual PPR?

A.61 Information should be included in 3 pages, as stated in the RFP, page 99, Annex 5 and Annex 6.

Q.62 Section L.7, pages 99-100, states: “The Offerors must submit a draft Branding Implementation

Plan (for contracts) (BIP) and a draft Marking Plan (for both contracts and assistance awards) responsive to the Branding Strategy provided in Section D.2, of the RFP and USAID policies, as an annex to the technical proposal.” However, in the list of annexes there is not a dedicated annex for this requirement; will USAID expand the annex list to include the BIP/MP?

A.62 Annex regarding BIP/MP is included for Technical Proposal. Please see revised RFP.

Q.63 Section L.8, page 102, states ““Offerors should describe their approach to environmental compliance and management, including developing and implementing 22 CFR 216 documentation.” Can USAID confirm that this Environmental Compliance section can be included as a separate annex?

A.63 Additional Annex is added to Technical Proposal. Please see revised RFP.

Q.64 Attachment J.9, PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE, page 124, instructions state:

“Please fill out the following questionnaire as clearly and as objectively as possible. The information you provide will be used for source selection purposes. Please send the filled out questionnaire directly to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Ukraine by e-mail at morlova@usaid.gov and oluchukvysotska@usaid.gov not later than January 9, 2017, 16:00 Kyiv Local Time.” Based on these instructions, it is unclear who is supposed to fill out which part of the questionnaire and whether the USAID respondents will need to fill out the questionnaires and reply by the proposal due date (January 17, 2017). Can USAID please elaborate on the instructions for how to complete this form?

A.64 Additional language is included in the RFP, page 97. Additionally, please pay attention to page

124 of the revised RFP – clarifications are provided.

mailto:morlova@usaid.gov mailto:oluchukvysotska@usaid.gov

Q.65 The requirements in the AIDAR 722.170, stipulate that contractor CCN staff salaries and benefits should not exceed the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating count ry as determined by the USAID Mission. In order to allow Offerors to be compliant with this provision, could USAID please provide a copy of the USAID/Ukraine’s Local Employee Compensation Plan?

A.65 Please see answer to Q.29.

Q.66 On Page 102, Section L.8(a) Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost/Business Proposal, states: “There is no page limit on the COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL; however, it is to be strictly limited to the following:

The Standard Form (SF) 33;

Proposed Costs/Prices for the 5-year contract period;

Representations, Certifications, Other Statements of Offerors (if amended) Policies and Procedures;

Small Business Subcontracting Plan;

Evidence of Responsibility for prime and major subcontractors (if requested by the CO);

Letter of Commitment for Subcontractors;

Information to Support Consent to Subcontractors (if CO consent is required); and Joint Venture Information (if applicable).

Can USAID please confirm that offerors may add sections to provide other supporting documentation required by the RFP (e.g. Biographical Data sheets in support of proposed salary rates for key personnel, NICRA and/or other supporting documentation for indirect cost rates, etc.)?

A.66 Confirmed. Additional Annex is included. Please see revised RFP.

Q.67 On page 103 of the RFP, Section L.8 (a) states:

There is no page limit on the COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL; however, it is to be strictly limited to the following:

The Standard Form (SF) 33;

Proposed Costs/Prices for the 5-year contract period;

Representations, Certifications, Other Statements of Offerors (if amended) Policies and Procedures;

Small Business Subcontracting Plan;

Evidence of Responsibility for prime and major subcontractors (if requested by the CO);

Letter of Commitment for Subcontractors;

Information to Support Consent to Subcontractors (if CO consent is required); and Joint Venture Information (if applicable).

Page 109 Section L.8 of the RFP lists Information Concerning Work-Day, Work-Week and Paid Absences as required in the Cost Proposal but is not included in the outline. Can USAID please provide instructions on where to include this additional section for Information Concerning Work- Day, Work-Week and Paid Absences.

A.67 Additional Annex is included. Please see revised RFP.

Q.68 On page 123 of the RFP, Attachment J.8 SF-LLL DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES is included but this is not listed in section L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL (CPFF) required document. Can USAID please provide instructions on which partners are required to provide the SF-LLL and where in the cost proposal submission should these forms be included.

A.68 Additional Annex is included. Please see revised RFP.

Q.69 On page 104 of the RFP, Section L.8 (A) Salary and Wages paragraph 6 states “Direct salaries and wages for long-term and short-term expatriate staff as well as home office support staff must not exceed Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) in the amount of $170,700/year ($655.38/day).” A daily rate of $655.38 amounts to an annual base salary of $170,400. Can USAID provide clarification on which annual salary level to use as the Contractor Salary Threshold (CST).

A.69 Current Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) is $170,400/year ($655.38/day). Please see revised

RFP.

Q.70 Can USAID confirm if this program will be exempt from VAT?

A.70 Confirmed.

Q.71 Can USAID please provide a full LCP, as only the ceiling is mentioned?

A.71 Please see answer to Q.29.

II. PART II – REVISE RFP No. SOL-121-17-000002

Based on the questions received for SACCI RFP, the revised version of the RFP is posted. USAID edits/revisions are marked in yellow in the revised document.

[End of Amendment No. 01 to RFP SOL-121-17-000002]