SOL-168-14-000001_Questions_and_Answers.docx

SOL-168-14-000001 Questions and Answers

1. Would you please confirm that the place of performance is at the following address or is it possible for the place of performance to be at the provider’s office?

USAID/Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 Robert C. Frasure Sarajevo, 71000 Bosnia and Herzegovina

A: The successful applicant will be expected to meet with USAID staff, including facilitating the referenced workshop and conducting research, at the US Embassy (the referenced address) or other venue in Sarajevo as requested by USAID. The successful applicant should not, however, expect to conduct all report-writing from this address.

2. Does this mean that we are supposed to be that NAICS code(i.e. 541690) and $14M or under in revenue as a company?

A: The assigned NAICS code 541690 may or may not be the same as the offeror’s principal business activity. All interested businesses that can fulfil the contract requirements and meet the size standard can submit their offers in response to this solicitation. For more information, please see http://www.sba.gov/content/north-american-industry-classification-system-codes-and-small-business-size-standards .

3. It said your budget is estimated to be $50,000. We would need to pay for our travel expense to Bosnia Herzegovina it appears. Is that correct? How many days would it be expected that we would have someone there onsite to meet the deliverables? Would it be in multiple trips for the field work? I need to get a feel for # of days we would have someone there and the number of flights/travel cost for us if we were to be selected to make sure it is something that works on our side if we are paying travel. As you would imagine, we would need to make sure the revenue versus the amount of work and travel costs balances out.

A: Bidders should propose a level of effort required to meet the deliverables. All proposed travel should be included in the submitted budget. No proposal with a proposed budget in excess of $50,000 will be considered.

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

A: This is a new solicitation.

5. We note that the estimated budget for the solicitation is $50,000. Does this budget include cost of medevac insurance, boarding, per diem, and transportation for the consultant, or are these costs to be submitted in a separate cost category?

A: All proposed travel as well as all other expenses should be included in the budget. No proposal with a proposed budget in excess of $50,000 will be considered.

6. Are translation services required as part of this scope of work, within the estimated budget, or will these services be provided by USAID?

A: Any proposed translation services should be included in the proposal’s budget. All USAID staff are fluent in English.

7. Are there any language barriers or requirements that we should be aware of? Do the contacts speak English?

A: It is expected that the successful bidder will be prepared to communicate (whether through translation/interpretation methods or otherwise) in the local language in order to fully understand the social media context of BiH. All USAID staff are fluent in English.

8. Is there an incumbent contractor for this effort? If so, can USAID/BiH please provide the incumbent company’s name, how long they have been performing the work, and the scope of services provided?

A: No. This is a new solicitation.

9. Within the last two years, has USAID/BiH previously contracted with or engaged a communications firm to provide services that were similar in scope to those outlined in the SOW? If yes, can USAID/BiH please provide the firm name and services provided?

A: No. This is the first time such services are being solicited.

10. Within the RFQ, USAID/BiH indicates it would like the social media plan to tie to the Mission’s broader communications and outreach goals. Can USAID/BiH please provide information on the broader goals?

A: A broader communications plan is in development. The communication and outreach goals include achieving maximum public awareness and propensity for public action in achieving USAID/BiH Mission development objectives (see www.bosnia.usaid.gov ).

11. USAID/BiH indicates one of the goals of the project is to “deliver a measurable return on USAID/BiH’s social media investment” (page 8). Can USAID/BiH please provide details on how the return on investment will be measured?

A: The successful bidder will be expected to propose a compelling metric(s) for such return.

12. Does USAID/BiH have existing analytics on its website? Or will the selected contractor be required to implement web analytics?

A: USAID/BiH employs basic Facebook analytics. Additional requirements, if bidders deem appropriate, should be proposed in the quotation.

13. Can USAID/BiH please clarify what will be required for report writing? Does USAID/BiH require a past, present, and future overview? Or, more high-level reporting?

A: It is expected that the Social Media Audit will offer an in-depth understanding of how social media works in the BiH context and explore potential to maximize USAID/BiH’s use of social media to achieve its development goals. It will serve as the starting point for the development of the Social Media Strategy and Action Plan.

14. Are there any social media channels that USAID/BiH does not want to consider, or is not able to use due to USAID restrictions/guidelines, etc?

A: None of which USAID/BiH is currently aware. However, the successful bidder is expected to focus on social media channels that are based on a clear in-depth understanding of how social media is used in BiH.

15. Does USAID/BiH need to follow the larger USAID’s social media guidelines or does USAID/BiH have their own guidelines?

A: There are currently no plans to deviate from the USAID social media guidelines.

16. Will the contractor be responsible for developing any content in languages other than English? If so, can USAID please provide the languages and type of content?

A: No.

17. Should the bidder plan for other direct costs (ODC), such as travel and lodging for field work, to fall within the estimated $50,000 budget?

A: Yes.

18. Page 9 of the RFQ states: “Field work and report writing for the first phase of work is expected to require approximately 5-10 days”. Page 11 of the RFQ states: “A five-day workweek is authorized in Bosnia Herzegovina”. Since ODC costs for time, travel, lodging etc will affect the price, can BiH please clarify the number of days the contractor will spend on-site?

A: Bidders should propose an appropriate level of effort in order to achieve the stated objectives.

19. Are there any security requirements or processing that needs to be completed for the contractor staff that will attend the field work?

A: Contractor staff are responsible for their own travel, travel document processing, and other barriers of entry into the country. Copies of the passports of the successful bidder’s non-BiH staff that will travel to BiH should be forwarded to USAID at least two weeks before arriving. Successful completion of the contract will require escorted entry into the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo.

20. Can USAID/BiH please provide details on BiH staff who will participate in the full-day workshop?

a. How many BiH staff members will participate in the workshop?

b. Can USAID/BiH please provide the level and function of staff who will participate in the workshop?

A: The successful bidder should expect approximately 40 local BiH staff to participate. The majority manage activities that comprise USAID’s $35million annual budget. These are all highly-motivated, fluent English-speaking, and well-educated professionals, a majority of whom have worked for USAID or other international organizations for more than 15 years.

21. Can USAID/BiH please clarify the proposal requirements for past performance?

a. May the offeror include experience of proposed staff for past performance?

b. Other than a project description, is there specific information USAID/BiH would like the offeror to provide for past performance case studies?

A: Bidders are welcome to include experience of proposed staff. Resumes or CVs of proposed staff are encouraged. There are no specific guidelines for the bidder to indicate past performance. The successful bidder will be able to demonstrate success in helping other organizations leverage social media to attain organizational objectives.

22. Can USAID/BiH please provide information on who is currently responsible for developing/writing social media content (Facebook, Transforming Lives stories, other)?

A: USAID/BiH’s two-member Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) team is responsible for developing and assembling social media content. This team consists of two former professional journalists. The team lead is a local employee and the other is a USPSC.

23. How long does the project last?

A: Refer to “IV. Schedule” of the RFQ. The activity will cease no later than July 2014.

24. NAICS code – How to register and get NAICS code?

A: Please refer to Addendum to 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items. (JULY 2013) on the Page 6 of the Solicitation document.

25. Where to find SF 1449?

A: SF 1449 SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS form is the second page of the Solicitation package.

26. Where to find FAR 4.1201?

A: All clauses and provisions contained under the Solicitation can be found at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/pdf/FAR.pdf .

27. How to find/reach 52.204-10, reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (FEB 2012) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31. U.S.C. 6101 note)

A: See Answer to the Question # 26.

28. Representations and certifications at FAR 52.212-3 – According to tender we need to complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via the SAM web site. How to register and get access to an electronic form that we need to complete?

A: Please refer to Addendum to 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items (JULY 2013) on the Page 6 of the Solicitation document.

29. How the offer should be structured and what should contain? In which manner is going to be evaluated?

A: There is no prescribed structure of the offer.

30. In the cover sheet, Form 1449, the solicitation is noted as a small business set aside, NAICS: 541690 with a size standard of $14.0. Does that mean that this is limited to small businesses with annual revenue of $14mil or less?

A: Yes. See also Answer to the Question # 2.

31. I believe I read that travel and lodging for the BiH field visit are to be provided at contractor’s own expense. Would we then need to build that expense into our rate or add as a line item to the proposal as part of the overall budget?

A: Including travel costs into the rate or adding a line item is at the discretion of the bidder. However, if included in the rate, the bidder should be clear as to the proposed number of trips and duration of each trip to BiH.

32. Will the recent civic unrest in Sarajevo impact this Social Media Consulting program? Since we would be required to send over a consultant to research and begin designing the strategy, what’s your assessment of that person’s security while staying there?

A: No. There are currently no travel restrictions nor specific threats to the security of American citizens.