Q&A_SOL-167-17-000001.pdf

Q&A_SOL-167-17-000001

Support to Parliamentary Research (SPR) Activity in Kosovo

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q & A) SOL-167-17-000001

Q.1 I am wondering if an incumbent exists for the potential requirement: Support to

Parliamentary Research (SPR) Activity in Kosovo outlined under SOL16717000001. If so, could you please provide the following information?

• Vendor name

• Contract number

• Value

• Date of award

• Expiration date

A.1 This a new requirement for the USAID/Kosovo

Q.2 In the RFP documents it was not indicated the estimated cost range for this project.

Therefore, was this left intentionally and in the discretion of the applicants or would it still be possible to give some general indications. This information would be helpful for the preparation of the proposal for this project.

A.2 This is a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Contract with the clearly defined deliverables so the pricing is at the offerors discretion.

Q.3 In the RFP you refer to the Research Reports as: (page 7) “The contractor must subcontract all of the research reports to local organizations”. Moreover in (page 8) “The research reports must evaluate existing policies and their effectiveness, or facilitate development of new policies and legislation. This may entail an analysis of their fiscal aspects including but not limited to the Mid- Term Expenditure Framework budget review or annual budget reviews. Topics of the research will be decided upon the request of the DRLA in consultation with Parliamentary Committees and based on their needs of the moment and also taking into consideration the legislative agenda for 2017/2018”. While in Annex C6 you list the quality standards for those reports.

The question on the above is: having in mind the limited number of organizations in Kosovo capable of producing reports of that quality is there a limit in the number of repots one organization can be sub-contracted for?

Moreover, considering the need for quality assurance of the research reports and the requirement to subcontract those to other organizations, who will have the ultimate responsibility for the quality of those reports? The contractor or the subcontractor/organization? The answer to the question helps the planning of the resources and budget for the quality assurance mechanisms, including peer-review costs?

A.3 There is no limit in the number of reports that one organization can be sub-contracted for as far as the contractor determines that the subcontractor is capable to produce those reports. Moreover, the contractor is responsible for the quality of the reports as per the standards in section C.6 of the RFP.

Q.4 Since there is a notable difference between the research reports that aim to inform the MP-s about the legislative proposal and their effects vis a vis the general legal framework, and the comprehensive research reports that offer more in depth quantitative and qualitative insights which also measure the effectiveness of the previous legislation compared to the Kosovo priorities, the following question may arise: According to our understanding of the RFP the research reports are defined as comprehensive research analysis that are not limited solely in the research related to the legislative proposal delivered in the Assembly for approval. Having this in mind, is there any example from the previous experience that the contractor can use as a benchmark as far as the depth, comprehensiveness as well as the model of the research reports to be delivered. Additional explanations regarding the content of research reports will offer us an opportunity to envisage the quality and the type of the research reports that needs to be delivered.

A.4 Please see Attachment 4 as an example from the previous experience.

Q.5 Our institution is legally organized under the laws of Kosovo registered by the Department of Registration and Liaison of NGOs within the Kosovo Ministry of Public Administration and its principal place of operations is in Kosovo. 6 out of 17 board of trustees (governing board) are citizens of Kosovo while the others are not. We are interested to know whether our institution is eligible to apply for RFP No: SOL16717000001.

A.5 Based on the information in the question, this organization is not eligible for award.

Q.6 According to the Synopsis published Dec 29, 2016 “the competition under this solicitation is limited to local entities in accordance […]. For the purpose of the solicitation, local entity means an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of person that: (1) Is legally organized under the laws of Kosovo; (2) have its principal place of business or operations in Kosovo; (3) And is: (A) majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of cooperating country; and (B) managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the cooperating country.

However, Section L.4 of the RFP notes that “Eligible Offerors have to meet the criterion of inter alia “Valid organizational registration (for all consortium partners), as a legal entity in Kosovo, with the Department of Registration and Liaison of NGOs within the Kosovo Ministry of Public Administration”.

Please clarify if private, for-profit organizations are eligible to apply in response to the above mentioned RFP.

A.6 For-profit organizations are eligible to apply as far as they fulfill the requirements for the local entity as stated in the RFP.

Q.7 Does the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation under solicitation number SOL16717000001 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.7 Please see answer A.1