Amendment___1_SOL-167-16-000010.pdf

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

2 14CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

SOL-167-16-000010

required data on an on-going basis;”.

5. In Section J, List of Attachments, add the following documents (attached): 1. USAID/Kosovo

Local Wage Scale; 2. Revised Task Order 1 and 3)

Revised Task Order 2.

6. In Section L, Instructions to Offerors, L.6.c

Cost Proposal- Part 3 Past Performance, delete the last sentence of the first paragraph “within the last three years” and insert “within the last one year” in lieu thereof.

END OF AMENDMENT

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

Q & A SOL-167-16-000010

1. Considering that Monday, September 5, 2016 is an observed federal holiday (Labor Day) in the United States, would USAID/Kosovo consider extending the submission deadline to Wednesday, September 7, 2016?

RESPONSE: Due date for submission of proposals has been extended to September 15, 2016.

2. Can USAID please confirm whether the eventual IDIQ holders for this program will in any way be precluded from competitively bidding on future USAID programs in Kosovo and/or the Balkan region?

RESPONSE: This will be handled on a case by case basis. If it becomes an ongoing issue, a mitigation plan may be required.

3. What are the expected values for Task Order 1 and Task Order 2?

RESPONSE: USAID will not reveal this information to potential offerors.

4. While Task Order 1 is to be carried out over five week, how long does Task Order 2 go on for?

RESPONSE: See responses to Questions # 25 and 36.

5. Of the 2 anticipated IDIQ contracts, does USAID anticipate there will be small business set-aside awards? If there are to be unrestricted awards, will a small business utilization plan be required?

RESPONSE: At this time USAID does not anticipate that there will be small business set-aside awards. Offerors are encouraged to subcontract or develop teaming arrangements with submit small businesses.

6. On page 9, the RFP states “USAID policy often requires that assessments and analyses be conducted in order to explore programming options.” Will participation in the preparation of assessments and conducting analyses preclude the awardees from participating in future project activities funded by USAID in the Balkan Region?

RESPONSE: See response to Question #2.

7. On page 59 and 60, L.5. “Not included in the 25 page limitation are the following: Cover letter submitted with the proposal which is limited to 2 pages; the Table of Contents and CVs of Evaluation Team (assume talking about Task Order Evaluation Team) which are limited to 1 page each.” Are the following also included: the title page, the acronym list, dividers, tables, charts (such as the organizational charts) and graphs, the Branding Implementation Plan and the Marking Plan, the past performance information included in the Cost Proposal (even though that is wrong in itself), among others? Are the CVs to be signed? Does the 1-page limitation of the CVs include references?

RESPONSE: The title page, acronym list, tables, and charts are all included in the 25 page limitation. The Branding Implementation Plan and the Marking Plan will be submitted after contract award. Past performance information and dividers will not count against the page limitation requirement. CVs do not have to be signed and the 1 page limitation holds if references are provided.

8. On page 60, L.5 the implication is that the Technical Approach does not require a corporate capability section, any past performance information, or Small Business Participation Targets. Please verify.

RESPONSE: Correct.

9. On page 63, Section M.2 Evaluation Factors for the Management Plan, would it be appropriate to include a corporate capability as part of the Management Plan?

RESPONSE: Corporate capability is not required as part of the Management Plan. However, if the offeror chooses to submit a statement on corporate capability it will count against the 25 page limitation for Technical Approach submission.

10. On page 18, please clarify paragraph F.7.(b).6. Public Law 111-240, as referenced, provides that contract officers may set aside parts of multiple award contracts for small business concerns. It is difficult to see how this would work unless one of the IDIQs USAID intends to award is a small business set-aside. Please clarify intent for small business participation.

RESPONSE: See response to Question #5.

11. According to the RFP, past performance is to be part of the Cost Proposal. Normally past performance information is part of the Technical Proposal rather than in the Cost Proposal. Please clarify

RESPONSE: The requirement for submission of past performance information as specified in the RFP stands and will not be changed.

12. On page 63, Section M.2 Evaluation Factors for the Management Plan, would it be appropriate to include corporate capability?

RESPONSE: See response to Question #9.

13. The RFP provides schedules and periods of performance for Task 1 (page 12), but does not provide this critical information for Task 2. Please provide.

RESPONSE: Task Order 2 has been revised to provide information on period of performance.

14. As staffs are stretched during August due to holidays, would it be possible to extend the due date?

RESPONSE: See response to Question #1.

15. Page 8 of the RFP, Section C.2 “Technical Services to be Provided”, the second paragraph states that

“implementing this project in close coordination with government ministries in Client Mission countries – to conduct surveys, collect data, and otherwise contribute to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tasks – will directly contribute to the capacity building of government institutions in these countries.”

Questions:

a) While the RFP states that Offerors will work in close coordination with government ministries in

Client Mission countries, are we correct in that this coordination will be done on a Task Order by

Task Order basis given that the needs of the Ministries and Countries will vary depending on the nature of the Scope of Work of the particular RFTOP?

RESPONSE: This is correct. Individual task orders will reflect the level of coordination required.

b) This RFP is being issued from USAID/Kosovo, and thus RFTOP’s will be requested by the various Balkan Missions through USAID/Kosovo, which will require a level of on-going regular communication/coordination by the two IDIQ holders with USAID/Kosovo despite which Mission later requests an RFTOP. Therefore, does USAID anticipate Offerors establishing an office in Kosovo or is this not essential for this project?

RESPONSE: Establishing an office in Kosovo is not essential for this project.

c) Would USAID/Kosovo consider issuing Task Order 3, which would be a CORE Task Order to fund the on-going direct project-related costs incurred by each of the two IDIQ holders in implementing this project over the five-years?

RESPONSE: USAID does not see the need for a CORE Task Order to cover on-going project related costs. It is anticipated that all allowable and allocable costs will be recovered under individual task orders.

16. Page 9 of the RFP, Section C.3.1 “Expected Task Order Services” includes “Program Information Management” as a kind of work.

Question: Would USAID please clarify if any of the bilateral Missions who will use this contract mechanism currently have program information management systems for the collection, collation, and reporting of data (Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia)? If so, can USAID provide information on which of these Missions have those systems, the specifications of those systems, and how they currently operate?

RESPONSE: Client Missions do not have program information management systems.

17. Page 59 of the RFP, Section L.5 “Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal” states that “technical proposals are limited to 25 pages, including the Management Plan and technical approaches for Task Orders 1 and 2” and that the cover letter, table of contents and CVs of Evaluation Teams are excluded from the page limit.

Questions: Would USAID confirm that the following are excluded from the 25 page limit:

a) Cover page (including required organizational information, signature of authorized negotiator, etc.);

b) Acronym list;

c) Organizational chart(s) as required on Page 60 of the RFP, Section L. 5 “Instructions for the

Preparation of the Technical Proposal”?

RESPONSE: The Cover Page, which is limited to two pages, does not count against the 25 page limitation. The acronym list and organizational chart for the Management Plan do count against the 25 page limitation.

18. Page 59 of the RFP, Section L.5 “Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal” states that “Not included in the page limitation are the following: Cover letter submitted with the proposal which is limited to 2 pages”.

Questions: Can USAID please clarify the following related to the Cover Letter:

a) Will the two-page Cover Letter will be scored as part of the overall technical proposal?

RESPONSE: Yes.

b) Would USAID consider allowing a 2-page Executive Summary to be excluded from the page limit?

RESPONSE: If an Executive Summary is submitted it will count against the 25 page limit.

c) If the response to 5b is no, then would USAID allow the Cover Letter to also serve as the proposal Executive Summary?

RESPONSE: It is permissible to use the Cover Letter for purposes of an Executive Summary.

19. Page 61 of the RFP, Section L.6. “Cost Proposal”, Sub-section c) – Part 3 – Past Performance states that “For contracts not in PPIRS, offerors must submit past performance information on all contacts between $150,000 and $250,000 with a period of performance falling within the last three years which involve evaluation and assessment performance”.

Question: As this list could be quite extensive for some firms, would USAID consider revising this requirement to include information on up to 10 contracts?

RESPONSE: USAID is operating under the assumption that the required past performance information will be available via PPIRS. To the extent that this information is not available via PPIRS, offerors must submit the information in accordance with Section L.6.c. Also, Section L.6.c of the RFP has been revised to require past performance information for similar activities that have occurred within the last (one) year.

20. For both Task Order 1 and Task Order 2, can USAID provide further information on the following:

a) What kind of data will be available from USAID before data collection commences?

RESPONSE: For both task orders, quarterly and annual reports from the implementing partners will be available as will the respective activity performance monitoring plans. Many reports related to USAID/Kosovo’s projects are also available through the Mission’s website at https://www.usaid.gov/kosovo/newsroom.

b) As sufficient project information should inform the workplan, will this important project information be available immediately upon award?

RESPONSE: Yes.

c) Would USAID consider giving more time than 5 days/one week after award for the workplan given the amount of material that needs to be digested? We would like to request that USAID consider ten to fifteen (10 - 15) days.

RESPONSE: Ten days after award for submission of the workplan is acceptable, assuming that this has no negative effect on the overall schedule and period of performance.

21. On page 7 of Attachment 1 (Task Order 1), Section C.5 “Evaluation Questions” lists “Subordinate Questions for AKT Program.”

Question: Can USAID clarify the following:

a) In what ways are these questions are subordinate?

https://www.usaid.gov/kosovo/newsroom

RESPONSE: They are subordinate in that they are not the major or priority evaluation questions to be addressed.

b) Is USAID treating them as traditional evaluation questions that each require a separate methodology or something less?

RESPONSE: No, they are not traditional evaluation questions where each would require a separate methodology. They are questions the Mission would like the Evaluation Team to answer given their findings and conclusions of the priority questions listed in the two above sections.

22. On page 7 of Attachment 1 (Task Order 1), Section C.5 “Evaluation Questions”, under the heading “Additional questions that are valid only for AKT LS as a mechanism”, the fourth bullet requests a cost/benefit analysis.

Question: Can USAID confirm that the project's budget be made available and whether the project reports by activity?

RESPONSE: Budgets for both AKT-Prime and AKT-Local Solutions will be made available once the Task Orders are awarded.

23. On page 7 of Attachment 1 (Task Order 1), Section C.5 “Evaluation Questions”, under the heading “Subordinate Questions for AKT Program”, the first bullet references "groundwork needs".

Question: Can USAID define what is meant by the term “groundwork needs”?

RESPONSE: The Mission is interested in knowing, based on available information and the team’s field work, if and how the landscape has changed vis-à-vis the needs on the ground in the municipalities/communities served. Response to this question would lead directly to the responses to the second (next) question in this section (C.5).

24. Page 12 of Attachment 1 (Task Order 1), Section C.9 “Team Composition” requires three Evaluation Specialist (Local Specialist) positions and Page 5 of Attachment 2 (Task Order 2), Section C.10 “Team Composition” requires two Basic Education Analysts (2-Local).

Question: Can USAID clarify if local specialists for these two Task orders must be residents of Kosovo? Or may qualified experts be hired from neighboring Balkan countries with relevant Kosovo experience?

RESPONSE: The primary consideration must be fielding a team with sufficient qualifications and experience to produce a high quality evaluation. Local team members are included on the team to provide relevant technical expertise and up-to-date insight on issues in the country. While these qualifications may be met by experts from neighboring Balkan countries, the Mission is also interested in utilizing and strengthening local capacity in line with USAID’s Evaluation Policy that encourages participation of local evaluators in the design and conduct of evaluations.

25. Page 12 of Attachment 1 (Task Order 1), Sections C.10.2 “Scheduling” and C.10. 3 “Period of Performance and Duty Station” provide detailed information on Task Order 1 such as: approximate start date, period of performance and work schedule per duty station.

Questions: For Task Order 2, Could USAID please provide the following information:

a) Anticipated start date;

RESPONSE: Anticipated start date is mid-October.

b) Period of Performance;

RESPONSE: Period of performance for field work in Kosovo is approximately three weeks.

c) Anticipated time Offerors should plan for work to be performed in Washington, D.C. versus days at duty station (Kosovo);

RESPONSE: See response to Question # 25b and revised schedule in Task Order 2.

d) If a six-day workweek is authorized while performing the Task Order 2 fieldwork in Kosovo?

RESPONSE: a six day work week is authorized while performing field work in Kosovo.

26. Page 3 of Attachment 2 (Task Order 2), Section C.7 “Evaluation Questions,” the first question asks "what was their impact?”

Question: Can USAID clarify the following:

a) Is the term "impact" being used synonymously with "effect" or if it is being used in traditional

USAID vernacular meaning there should be a counterfactual?

b) If the latter, was a baseline for an impact evaluation conducted?

RESPONSE: The term is being used synonymously with “effect”.

27. Page 3 of Attachment 2 (Task Order 2), Section C.7, “Evaluation Questions”, the fourth bullet asks “to what extent have the reading abilities of Kosovo’s student improved as a result of BEP interventions?”

Question: Can USAID clarify if they are looking for attribution or is contribution sufficient? If attribution is sought, has baseline data with a counterfactual been collected before the project interventions began?

RESPONSE: Contribution is sufficient.

28. Question: For Fixed Priced Deliverables, should Offerors provide in their Cost Proposal proposed payment schedules for deliverables or, will that be negotiated with the USAID Mission issuing the Task Order after award of the individual RFTOP?

RESPONSE: Mission does not anticipate that Task Order awards will be in a dollar amount that warrants payment schedules.

29. On page 10, Section C.3.1, the RFP states: “The Contractor may be required to maintain and improve the Client Missions’ Clearinghouse for USAID staff and IP use.” Can USAID provide more information about the Clearinghouse, including a) what is its purpose and b) what information is stored and disseminated via the Clearinghouse?

RESPONSE: The requirement for Data Management services at section C.3.1, page 10, has been deleted from the SOW and will not be required under the IDIQ award.

30. Can the offeror include a cover page and an acronyms list that will not count toward the 25-page limit?

RESPONSE: See responses to Question #18.

31. Page 12, Section C.3.4, states: “Key personnel must be identified in each individual Task Order. The Contractor must have all key personnel in-country within 30 days after award of any task order, unless specified otherwise therein.” However, there is no mention of key personnel positions in the two task orders, and the RFP only asks that the offerors submit CVs for members of the evaluation team. Can USAID confirm that there are no key personnel positions for these two task orders?

RESPONSE: All team members are considered to be Key Personnel.

32. On page 59, Section L.5, the RFP states that the technical proposals should be typed using 11 point font size. Would USAID consider allowing offerors to use a font size smaller than 11, but still legible and not requiring any magnification, for tables, figures and graphs?

RESPONSE: A smaller font size is not acceptable.

33. Page 60, Section L.4, states: “The Management Plan must include the proposed organizational chart…” Would USAID allow the offeror to include the organizational chart in an annex that will not count toward the 25-page limit?

RESPONSE: No, the organization chart cannot be submitted as an annex. It must be submitted with the Management Plan.

34. In Task Order 1, on page 8 it says, “The Contractor shall conduct the evaluation in 10 out of 16 AKT program partner municipalities.” However, in the previous paragraph on the same page it says: “This analysis will look at the differential inputs between the 12 municipalities in the South and the four in the North…” Lastly, on page 6 it says one evaluation purpose is to “learn…what the benefits in the development activities were within the 16 Municipalities.” Can USAID please confirm whether the evaluation should focus on 10 municipalities or 16?

RESPONSE: The activities work in 16 municipalities and the implementing partners’ reports will reflect the interventions and results in all 16 municipalities. However, due to time and cost considerations, it is assumed that the evaluation team will be able to travel and interview beneficiaries and stakeholders in 10 of these 16 municipalities as further defined on page 8.

35. We note that the FHI 360 project being evaluated under Task Order 2 is scheduled to end in July 2016. We have the following related questions:

a. Can USAID confirm that the evaluation team will have access to project records?

b. Will the evaluation team be able to interview FHI 360 staff?

RESPONSE: Since the project has ended, USAID cannot confirm the availability of project records beyond the reports, analyses, etc. listed elsewhere. However, USAID will request FHI 360 to make project records and personnel available to the evaluation team. USAID will provide contact information for FHI 360 personnel.

36. Section C.9 of the Task Order 2 attachment states that “the team will be in country for two weeks.”

Will USAID consider a longer period of time to conduct the surveys that are desired as stated in Section C.3 of Attachment 2 (for measuring increased school management capacity with teachers, students, parents and municipalities) and also for analyzing data prior to the required preliminary report to be submitted before departure?

RESPONSE: The proposed time in the field will be adjusted to three weeks.

37. For the basic education evaluation in Task Order 2, would USAID be willing to share FHI 360’s activity monitoring & evaluation Plan (AMEP) and related performance indicator reference sheets (PIRS) and/or their quarterly reports so we can determine what data the project has been tracking and include this information in our design of the evaluation?

RESPONSE: These reports will be made available immediately upon award.

38. For the basic education evaluation in Task Order 2, can USAID provide information on whether there have been diagnostics of the schools’ management capacity (Snapshot of School Management Effectiveness) at the beginning, mid-term and end of the project?

RESPONSE: Diagnostics of school management capacity, such as the Snapshot of School Management Effectiveness, have not been done.

39. For Task Order 2, can USAID confirm whether early grade reading assessment data was collected in association with the FHI 360 program? If so, will it be available to the evaluation team?

RESPONSE: Initial and mid-term reports are available. At this time the final report is still in draft.

40. Page 10 of the RFP, the paragraph on Data Management makes a reference about “Client Missions’ Clearinghouse”. Can USAID please provide more information about the Clearinghouse?

RESPONSE: See response to Question #29.

41. Section L.5 of the RFP, page 60, restricts the CVs of the Evaluation Team to 1 page each. Given the relative importance placed on Key Personnel in the evaluation criteria, would the Mission accept maximum 3 page CVs?

RESPONSE: No, a 3 page CV will not be accepted. The requirement is for a 1 page CV.

42. Can USAID please provide guidance on the number of Past Performance Information Sheets offerors should submit as part of the technical proposal in addition to the contracts that are available in the PPIRS? The number of contracts between $150,000 and $250,000 with a period of performance falling within the last three years which involve evaluation and assessment performance may be quite high.

RESPONSE: See response to Question #19.

43. Can USAID please confirm that the Past Performance Information Sheets can be submitted as an annex to the technical proposal?

RESPONSE: Past performance information will be submitted as part of the Cost Proposal and it is not acceptable to submit this information as an annex to the technical proposal.

44. The fourth evaluation question in Section C.7 of the Attachment 2, Task Order 2 aims to address "To what extent have the reading abilities of Kosovo’s students improved as a result of BEP interventions?" Can USAID please confirm that the Evaluation Team will have access to this information through either Mission staff, IP, or GoK/MEST or if FHI 360 has conducted the final assessment of student reading comprehension as a follow-up to its 2012 baseline and 2014 intermediate assessment?

RESPONSE: See response to Question # 39.

45. P9, C.3 Technical Requirements, C.3.1 Expected Task Order Services, Evaluation

Question: Would USAID Kosovo kindly provide the Evaluation Schedule for the Missions participating in this IDIQ vehicle (Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia)?

RESPONSE: No such schedule exists at this point in time.

46. P9, C.3 Technical Requirements, C.3.1 Expected Task Order Services, Evaluation

Question: Would USAID Kosovo please clarify the anticipated number of impact evaluations to be conducted under this IDIQ vehicle?

RESPONSE: This information is not available at this time.

47. P9, C.3 Technical Requirements, C.3.1 Expected Task Order Services, Performance Information Management

Question: Would USAID Kosovo kindly confirm if any of the Missions participating in this IDIQ are using AID Tracker + or any other outside performance management system? If yes, would USAID Kosovo please provide the name of the performance management systems or tools being used by participating missions?

RESPONSE: Missions participating in this IDIQ do not use AID Tracker + or any other performance management system.

48. P10, P9, C.3 Technical Requirements, C.3.1 Expected Task Order Services, Data Management

Question: Would USAID Kosovo please provide details (format and specifications) of the “Client Missions’ Clearinghouse?”

RESPONSE: See response to Question #29.

49. P20, G.1 AIDAR 752.7003 Documentation for Payment (Nov 1998), b) Local Currency Payment

Question: Would USAID Kosovo please confirm if the Mission has a fixed exchange rate between the USD and the Euro, the Albanian Lek, the Serbian Dinar, and the Macedonian Denar? If so, would USAID kindly provide the fixed exchange rate information for each of the local currencies?

RESPONSE: Fixed exchange rates are not available.

50. P24, H.5 302.3.5.5 Reporting of Foreign Taxes (July 2007)

Question: Would USAID Kosovo please clarify if contractors are VAT exempt in Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia OR are contractors eligible for VAT reimbursement in these countries? If contractors are eligible for VAT reimbursement, would USAID please outline the process for seeking said VAT reimbursements?

RESPONSE: Contractors are eligible for VAT reimbursements in all client countries. Procedures for VAT reimbursements will be provided at time of IDIQ and/or task order awards.

51. P30, H.18 Additional Requirements for Personnel Compensation

Question: Would USAID please provide the respective US Embassy Local Compensation Plans for USAID/Kosovo, USAID/Albania, USAID/Bosnia and Herzegovina, USAID/Macedonia, USAID/Montenegro, and USAID/Serbia to allow bidders to propose compliant local salaries or daily rates?

RESPONSE: At this point in time Mission can only provide the local compensation plan for Kosovo. This will be provided via an amendment to Section J of the RFP.

52. P59, L.5 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal

Question: Would USAID Kosovo kindly confirm that Offerors are allowed to use font smaller than 11pt for tables and charts?

RESPONSE: See response to Question #32.

53. P59, L.5 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal

Question: Would USAID Kosovo please confirm that the List of Acronyms/Abbreviations is excluded from the page limit?

RESPONSE: See response to Question #17.

54. P60, L.5 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, Management Plan

Question: Would USAID kindly confirm that the organization chart can be included in an annex, and not in the Management Structure section?

RESPONSE: See response to Question #33.

55. P61, L.6 Cost Proposal, (c) Part 3 – Past Performance

Question: Would USAID Kosovo please clarify the number of Past Performance References and eligibility criteria (similar size, scope, nature) bidders should use when submitting Past Performance References for this proposal?

RESPONSE: See the response to Question #19.

56. P4, Standard Form 33, Box 9

Question: Would USAID Kosovo please confirm that bidders are only required to submit proposals electronically via email?

RESPONSE: This is correct. Proposals will only be accepted electronically via e-mail.

57. Attachment 2, Task Order 2

Question: Can USAID Kosovo please clarify the period of performance for Task Order 2.

RESPONSE: See response to Question # 36.

58. Page 63, Section M.2, states “Technical evaluation factor are listed in descending order of importance.”

Question: Would USAID Kosovo kindly provide specific weighting criteria for each factor.

RESPONSE: Weighting criteria will not be provided.

59. USAID has incorporated FAR 52.215-12 requiring certified cost or pricing data from subcontractors;

for local subcontractors with subcontracts over $750,000, this may not be feasible. Would USAID consider not including this requirement for local partners?

RESPONSE: This requirement is not applicable to local subcontractors.

60. USAID has incorporated AIDAR 752.216-70; can USAID clarify if Award Fee task orders are anticipated under this IDIQ?

RESPONSE: The clause is included in case it is deemed appropriate to award an incentive type contract.

61. Is USAID requesting detailed budgets for each task order, or is there a preferred structure for providing USAID with a total price for the two initial task orders?

RESPONSE: For the initial two task orders, detailed budgets are not required as these will be awarded on a fixed price basis.

62. Is USAID requesting any additional pricing data for the overarching IDIQ mechanism?

RESPONSE: Additional pricing data is not required for the IDIQ mechanism.

63. In Section B.9, USAID is requesting ceiling indirect costs. Is USAID requesting these from subcontractors as well?

RESPONSE: Ceiling indirect costs are not required for subcontractors.

64. Is USAID requesting Evidence of Responsibility and Section K from subcontractors?

RESPONSE: Evidence of Responsibility is not required for subcontractors.

65. USAID details in L6c that past performance information is requested for work between $150,000 and $250,000. Will USAID accept larger contracts as past performance?

RESPONSE: No, USAID will not accept larger contracts for past performance, but see responses to Question #19.

66. Section L.5 states that “CVs of Evaluation Team which are limited to 1 page each” are not included in the page limitation. Could USAID please clarify what “Evaluation Team” this is referring to?

RESPONSE: “Evaluation Team” refers to the evaluation teams (key personnel) required to execute work under Task Orders 1 and 2.

67. Should CVs for key personnel positions identified in Task Orders 1 and 2 be submitted? If so, will these CVs count against the 25-page limit and is there a page limitation for each CV?

RESPONSE: Per Section L.5 of the RFP, CVs do not count against the 25 page limit. CVs are limited to 1 page.

68. May the offeror submit CVs for other experts and management personnel that are anticipated to be involved in future task orders or overall IDIQ management? If so, will these CVs count against the 25-page limit and is there a page limitation for each CV?

RESPONSE: CVs for other experts can be submitted, but they count towards the 25 page limit.

69. Section L.5 indicates that an organizational chart must be included in the Management Plan. Could USAID please elaborate on the type of organizational chart being requested?

RESPONSE: The organizational chart must illustrate key players, including role and responsibility, for managing the execution of task orders awarded under the IDIQ.

70. Can USAID confirm if this is a new activity with no previous incumbent project?

RESPONSE: This is a new activity with no previous incumbent project.

71. Could USAID confirm if A4 or Letter sized paper size is preferred or required?

RESPONSE: A4 sized paper is preferred, but not required.

72. Are Letters of Commitment requested or required for personnel and sub-partners participating in a bid? If yes, does USAID have a preference for exclusive or non-exclusive commitments?

RESPONSE: Letters of Commitment are not required for personnel and sub-partners participating in the solicitation.