Additional_Answers_to_Questions.pdf

Additional Answers to Questions - SOL-168-16-000001

Q1. On page 7 of the RFP, USAID states that one BiH bank has agreed to participate in the grant program – will USAID please identify this bank?

A1. The name of the banking partner will be provided once the Contract is awarded.

Q2. Are there any nationality, education, or past experience requirements for the Chief of Party?

A2. No, as provided in the RFP, offerors must propose the qualifications and the personnel that best meet those qualifications, and justify why those qualifications and personnel best meet the needs of the activity.

Q3. On page 68 of the RFP, USAID requests a management and staffing plan including job descriptions. Should these job descriptions be submitted in an annex or as part of the main Technical Proposal?

A3. Please submit job descriptions as an annex to the Technical Proposal. See Amendment 3.

Q4. Please clarify whether the five project past performance listing referenced on page 69 of the RFP means five projects in total, or five projects each for the prime offeror and each major subcontractor.

A4. Up to five of the most relevant contracts for the past five years for the prime offeror and each major subcontractor.

Q5. Does the $5.5 million anticipated funding amount stated on page 69 of the RFP include the $2 million in grant funds? How much non-grant funding does USAID anticipate?

A5. The USAID grant fund share of $1 million will come from the activity’s total estimated budget of $5.5 million. The Bank’s grant fund share of $1 million will be provided on top of the activity’s estimated $5.5 million funding.

For the illustration purposes:

Total Estimated Cost TBD Small Grants Fund USAID $1 million Fixed Fee TBD Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed-Fee $5.5 million (approximately) Small Grants Fund non-federal $1 million Total Estimated Activity Costs $6.5 million (approximately)

Q6. Please confirm that of the $2 million in grant funding, half will be provided by USAID and half will be provided by the local partner bank.

A6. Confirmed. See answer A5.

Q7. Page 76 of the RFP states that “USAID discourages the use of exclusive agreements” for subcontractors. Please confirm that this language applies to all subcontractors, including both local and international.

A7. Confirmed.

Q8. Does the revised Section L.6.A (12) (Amendment 1) mean that offerors should not propose local subcontractors in their proposals? Should local subcontractors be selected through a competitive process only after contract award?

A8. All subcontractors planned by the Offeror to provide technical services under this activity should be identified with a budget at the time of proposal submission. Vendors, or those chosen by the Offeror to provide minor procurement items/services (photocopy maintenance, newspapers, etc.) do not need to be named. However, the budget should provide for all direct costs for goods and services planned under this activity.

Q9. The “Opportunity Overview-Market Assessment and Recommendations for Bosnia and Herzegovina-Steve Matzie and Romi Bhatia/USAID/DCA” document listed on page 14 does not appear to be available online. Will USAID please provide it?

A9. This is an internal USAID document and not for external stakeholders. See Amendment 3.

Q10. Are proposed local major and non-major subcontractors required to register under SAM and complete “Representations, Certifications, and Other Statement of Offers,” in Section K?

A10. Only prime contractor is required to be registered in SAM, while subcontractors must have DUNS number.

Q11. Regarding “Preparation of the Cost Proposal” on page 70 of the RFP, are offerors and major subcontractors, if applicable, required to include the following documents in the Cost Proposal: (i) Evidence of Responsibility and (ii) Letter of Commitment for Subcontractors? The instructions for both items include a statement stating, “if required by the CO.” Are these documents required?

A11. Offerors are requested to submit both documents in their cost proposals: Evidence of Responsibility for prime and major subcontractors and Information to Support Consent to Subcontractors. See Amendment 2.

Q12. On Page 72 of the RFP, USAID states, “…no waivers to the U.S. Mission’s Local Compensation Plan will be provided.” Does this apply to Third Country Nationals (TCNs)?

A12. It also applies to TCNs if hired under LCP.

Q&A13. Regarding Allowances for Third Country Nationals (TCNs) (“Employment of Third Country Nationals,” RFP page 72):

a. Will USAID consider waiver requests for short- and/or long-term TCN Meals and Transportation Allowances? NO

b. Is airfare costs considered a "Transportation Allowance?" NO

Per Local Compensation Plan, the base pay excludes fringe benefits and allowances, profit sharing arrangements, commission, consultant fees, extra or overtime payments, etc.) average salary ranges (including 10% personal income tax) for various grades of locally employed professionals for budgetary purpose. In accordance with AIDAR 722.170 “Employment of Third Country Nationals (TCNs) and Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs)”Paragraph “(a) General. It is USAID policy that cooperating country nationals (CCNs) and third country nationals (TCNs), who are hired abroad for work in a cooperating country under USAID-direct contracts, generally be extended the same benefits, and be subject to the same restrictions as TCNs and CCNs employed by the USAID Mission.