SIMPLE_IDIQ_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

July 7, 2014

Services to Improve Performance Management, Enhance Learning and Evaluation

(SIMPLE) SOL-263-14-000005

Questions and Answers

1. On Page 3, Section B.6 (a), the RFP states that “the Contracting Officer has determined that a key (full-time) technical manager is not necessary or required to administer the basic IDIQ.” However, Section F.9, Pages 31 and 32 of the RFP outlines the requirement for a full-time Chief of Party/Director (Key Personnel) position. Could USAID kindly clarify if Section B.6 (a) on Page 3 is referring to a Chief of Party position or an IDIQ Manager position?

Answer: USAID is not referring to a Chief of Party position on Page 3, Section B.6 (a).

There is no IDIQ Manager position.

2. Section C.3 of the RFP (pages 9-15) outlines several tasks as “CORE” activities. Could USAID clarify how they intend to contract for these activities in order to perform the CORE work outline? Will USAID issue an RFTOP (#1) just for CORE activities or, if all CORE activities will be implemented over the life of the IDIQ (five years from date of award) and contained as a part of the SOW in various RFTOPs?

Answer: USAID is using the IDIQ as an obligating contract for CORE activities throughout the life of the IDIQ as well as a contract from which task orders will be issued.

3. Section C.3 Objective C: Information Management, Task 12 (RFP Page 12) details the work associated with supporting the USAID/Egypt’s Mission’s information management requirements. Could USAID confirm if the Mission has in-place and operational an M&E information management system? If so, could USAID provide details on the partner reporting system database specifications?

Answer: USAID/Egypt has an online MIS/GIS system in place known as USAID Info (aka Egypt Info). It is an SQL star schema database developed in house in the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan at USAID. It has been certified by the CIO as a .gov (https://usaidinfo.usaid.gov/) website and has received all ISSO approvals.

4. On RFP Page 12, Section C.4 Deliverables, the RFP notes that “the Contractor will be required to have a finalized, approved project M&E plan and an initial work plan within 90 days after signing the contract.” However Section M.2 Technical Evaluation Criteria notes on Page 81 that “the Offeror will present an initial work plan for the core functions and the task order functions….” Could USAID kindly confirm whether or not a work plan is required with the submission of the SIMPLE technical proposals? Is so, could USAID confirm that the work is to be included as a required Annex and excluded from the page limitation?

Answer: A draft work plan should be included as an annex and excluded from the page limitation. A finalized work plan will be due 90 days after award.

5. On Page 16, Section C.7 Use of Government Property states that “the contractor will be expected to utilize U.S. Government property for its primary office space”. (emphasis added) Section C.7 further states: The office space is a total of 106.5 square meters with four (4) large enclosed offices, one (1) small conference room, and one (1) large reception area. RFP Section F.9, details the four key personnel required to be hired as well as providing USAID/Egypt’s suggested composition of support/service center staff that the Offeror should hire under the CORE. This additional staff include: 2 senior Egyptian monitoring and evaluation specialists, 1

– 2 Egyptian support/administrative staff, and 1 – 2 information/technology/systems staff. Would USAID clarify whether it is their expectation that all staff listed in the RFP (key, non-key, and support staff) will work at in the office space referenced in Section C.7? If not, will USAID specify who they anticipate working in the USAID furnished office and space versus the auxiliary support center the Contractor will need to rent for the remaining staff?

Answer: The specifics of this requirement have changed. If, after award, the contractor will be required to have office space in the USAID building, the Offeror should propose their approach on staff location in the building office space. All Offerors should budget market rates for office space in or near the Maadi neighborhood of Cairo. At least one Key Personnel should be in the USAID building and the Offeror should budget for staff located off-site. Please refer to updated RFP.

6. Could USAID clarify if any of the key personnel will be required to obtain U.S. secret level clearance in addition to obtaining USAID building access authorization and if the SIMPLE IDIQ is considered a security cleared RFP?

Answer: Key Personnel will not be required to obtain US secret level clearance. The SIMPLE IDIQ is not considered a security-cleared RFP.

7. Could USAID clarify if Offerors are required to maintain an active U.S. secret level facilities clearance in order to bid on the SIMPLE IDIQ?

Answer: Offerors are not required to maintain an active US secret level facilities clearance in order to bid on the SIMPLE IDIQ.

8. On Page 17, Section C.9 Security Plan, the RFP states that offerors “should expect to issue a draft security plan after award to be approved by the COR and CO.” However, Section L.8 on Page 71, lists Annex F as a Draft Security Plan. Could USAID clarify whether a draft Security Plan is required with the submission of the SIMPLE technical proposals?

Answer: A draft security plan is required with the submission of the SIMPLE technical proposals and will be approved 60 days after award.

9. On Page 18, Section C.12. (d) Organizational Conflict of Interest notes that “if an Offeror with a potential or actual conflict of interest or unfair competitive advantage believes the conflict can be avoided, neutralized, or mitigated, the Offeror shall submit a mitigation plan to the Government for review.” Would USAID please advise if the Mitigation Plan can be included as an annex to the Technical or Cost Proposal? If it is to be included in the technical, would USAID also confirm that this would be Annex is excluded from the page limit?

Answer: The Mitigation Plan can be included as an annex to the Cost Proposal. This annex is excluded from the page limit.

10. On Page 34, Section F.9 Key Personnel states that “In Year 1 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by expatriates, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by an Egyptian national.” The following sentence/bullet in that section says, “In Year 5 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by expatriates, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by an Egyptian national.” The composition of staff listed in Years 1 and 5 are identical and focus mainly on expatriate staff. However, contained in Section F.9 is the sentence: “Contractors are strongly encouraged to rely upon local Egyptian technical expertise” Would USAID confirm its expectations on composition of expatriate and Egyptian Key Personnel over the life of SIMPLE?

Answer: The staffing plan should discuss a reliance on locally engaged staff for evaluations and work under task orders, not necessarily the CORE work. This language has been updated. p. 34, Section F.9 KEY PERSONNEL should read:

- In Year 1 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by expatriates, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by an Egyptian national.

- In Year 5 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by Egyptian nationals, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by an expatriate.

Please refer to updated RFP.

11. Section L.8 (a) Organization of the Technical Proposal (RFP page 71) details Personnel as a separate section (Section III) within the Technical Proposal. However, on Page 72 of the RFP, Section L.8 (b) as well as Section M.2. (Factor 2: Management Approach – Sub Factor 1 – Key Personnel and Staffing) indicate that Personnel should be included under Section II- Management Approach, not Section III. Could USAID clarify how it would prefer the Personnel and Management Approach organized within the Technical Proposal?

Answer: The Personnel section should be included under the Management Approach.

12. RFP Section L.8(b) (page 71) states: “The written technical proposal is limited to 45 (forty-five) pages, include a limit of 25 (twenty-five) pages for the Technical Approach section….” Would USAID confirm that the 25 page limit is only for Section I – Technical Approach and not inclusive of Section II - Management Approach, Section II - Personnel and Section IV- Past Performance?

Answer: This requirement has changed. The Technical Proposal including Sections I, II, and III is now limited to 45 pages, with no specific page limits for each section. Please refer to updated RFP.

13. On Page 72, Section L.8 (b) Content of the Technical Proposal states that “the technical proposal shall include a compliance matrix indicating where in the proposal each SOW requirement is addressed.” Could USAID confirm that the mentioned compliance matrix will not be counted against the 45 page Technical Proposal limit?

Answer: The Compliance Matrix is not counted against the 45 page Technical Proposal Limit.

14. Would USAID clarify what constitutes the “requirements in the SOW” to be referenced by the compliance matrix?

Answer: Section C, pages 8-19 constitute the Description/Specifications/Statement of Work that should be referenced in the matrix.

15. On Page 81, Section M.2, Factor 1 lists Gender and Capacity Building as important elements of both Sub-Factor 2 and Sub-Factor 3. Can USAID clarify if these elements need to be addressed in multiple sections of the Technical Proposal?

Answer: Gender and Capacity-building elements need to be addressed in multiple sections of the Technical Proposal.

16. Could USAID define the criteria of a “major subcontractor” the purpose of this RFP?

Answer: For purposes of this RFP, "major subcontractor" is defined as those who are to receive at least 15% of the dollar value of the contract.

17. We would greatly appreciate if USAID could clarify the submission due date for the proposal.

Answer: The submission date for the proposal is August 4, 2014. This has been clarified in an amendment to the solicitation.

18. On Page 70, Section L.7 - Delivery Instructions, states that the “Technical Application must be provided in both MS Word and PDF Format.” Could USAID clarify whether only the 45 page Technical Proposal should be submitted in MS Word or the entire Technical Proposal including the Annexes should be submitted in MS Word?

Answer: The 45-page Technical Proposal should be submitted in both MS Word and PDF format. Annexes may be submitted in PDF.

19. On Page 70, Section L.7 Delivery Instructions does not specify a file size limit for submission email(s). Could USAID confirm if there is a size limitation Offerors should follow for email submission?

Answer: Attachments should not be larger than 5-7mb. Emails should not be larger than 20mb. USAID does not assume any responsibility for the system rejecting emails/attachments because they are too large.

20. On Page 71, Section L.8 (a) Organization of the Technical Proposal states that the “Technical Proposal should not exceed 45 pages exclusive of Annexes and other pages not subject to a page limitation as specified below.” Could USAID confirm that the following items and annexes are excluded for the page limit:

• Cover Page

• Transmittal Letter

• Acronym List

• Table of Contents

• Compliance Matrix

• Dividers

• Annex A – Draft Performance Monitoring & Evaluation Plan

• Annex B – Statements of Qualification (Personnel)

• Annex C – Letters of Commitment

• Annex D – Draft Staffing Plan

• Annex E – Mobilization Plan

• Annex F – Draft Security Plan

• Annex G – Past Performance Chart

• Annex H – Draft Branding Strategy

Answer: Yes, the items listed are excluded from the 45 page limit.

21. On Page 4, the table provided in Section B.6 (a) (2) Unburdened Ceiling Rates (CDR) states “Example” for the labor category groupings. Could USAID please provide the specific labor categories to which Offerors will provide proposed Ceiling rates and which will appear in Section B in the final contract award?

Answer: The Offeror should propose their labor categories and ceiling rates.

22. Page 5, Section B.6. (a), Unburdened Ceiling Rates (CDR) - Definition of Labor Categories – the definition provided in this section of the RFP states “Example”. Are Offerors correct in assuming that while this is an example, USAID’s definitions for each of the positions are those that are found in Section F.9 Key Personnel?

Answer: No. Offerors will need to provide labor categories, definitions of labor categories, and unburdened ceiling rates.

23. Page 5, Section B.6. (b), Unburdened Ceiling Rates (CDR) - Minimum Qualifications – the minimum qualification provided in this section of the RFP states “Example”. Are Offerors correct in assuming that while this is an example, they should follow the qualifications provided in Section F.9 Key Personnel? Additionally, could USAID/Egypt provide an equivalency chart (education level versus years of experience) that could apply when determining Senior and Mid-level classifications?

Answer: No. Offerors will give the minimum qualifications for someone to be listed at the specific labor category rate. Offerors will supply the equivalency chart.

24. Page 6, Section B.7 (Unburdened CDR) Rate Changes. – This section states that “The Labor Rates are fixed for all contract years”. Are we correct in assuming that the rates themselves are not fixed labor rates, but the rate proposed is a fixed ceiling, where the Offeror will be reimbursed the actual salary up-to the fixed ceiling; and the Offeror will charge that specific rate for the life of the contract despite the actual unburdened rate of the individual being proposed?

Answer: Yes, that is correct.

25. On Page 16, Section C.7 states that the Contractor will utilize U.S. Government Property with 4 Offices. For the USG Office space referenced in Section C.7., outside of furniture and equipment, will the contractor be required to pay for any maintenance/utility costs, or other operating costs associated with these government-furnished offices?

Answer: The specifics of this requirement have changed. If, after award, the contractor will be required to have office space in the USAID building, the cost of the unfurnished offices will include maintenance, utilities, local phone calls, and security. No other operating costs will be paid for by USAID. Please refer to updated RFP.

26. On Page 16, Section C.9 states that the Offeror is responsible for all security costs associated with its staff and offices. As the Contractor is required to house staff in US Government furnished Offices (refer to Section C.7), will the offer be required to establish separate security for these offices even though they are located in a US Government building, or will USAID be providing security for these offices at no cost to the project?

Answer: The specifics of this requirement have changed. If, after award, the contractor will be required to have office space in the USAID building, security in the USAID building will be provided by USAID. Please refer to updated RFP.

27. On page 30, Section F.8.2. Task Order Limitations/Award Types states that “task orders issued under this IDIQ contract will be either Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) (term or completion), Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF), Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee (CPIF), or any Fixed-Priced type.”

However, on page 2, Section B.2. Contract Type and Services, the RFP identifies the task orders as CPFF. Could USAID clarify the award type?

Answer: The award type will be Fixed Price or Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee.

28. On Page 76, Section L.9 – Part 2, Proposed Costs, states that Offerors should budget Office Space at $25,000 per year. Is this annual amount allotted for the 4 offices referenced in Section C.7 or another facility for support staff?

Answer: The specifics of this requirement have changed. If, after award, the contractor will be required to have office space in the USAID building, the cost of the unfurnished offices will include maintenance, utilities, local phone calls, and security. No other operating costs will be paid for by USAID. All Offerors should budget market rates for office space in or near the Maadi neighborhood of Cairo. Please refer to updated RFP.

29. On Page 76, Section L.9.- Part 2, Proposed Costs, it appears that, in requesting Offerors to budget Office Space at $25,000 per year, USAID is requesting a specific budget to be prepared;

however, no other guidance is provided as to what is included in this budget and if this if for the IDIQ or an illustrative Task Order. Would USAID please provide more information to Offerors regarding any detailed budget that is to be provided in the Cost Proposal outside of the Unburdened Ceiling Rates that are requested in Section B?

Answer: The specifics of this requirement have changed. If, after award, the contractor will be required to have office space in the USAID building, the cost of the unfurnished offices will include maintenance, utilities, local phone calls, and security. No other operating costs will be paid for by USAID. All Offerors should budget market rates for office space in or near the Maadi neighborhood of Cairo. Offerors should propose ODCs and any information on labor categories and rates necessary for them to accomplish the CORE work. Please refer to updated RFP.

30. On Page 83, Section M. 4(a) Cost/Price Evaluation refers to a Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix. Would USAID please provide that Matrix and instructions on how they wish the matrix to be completed and how costs included will be evaluated?

Answer: The Cost/Price Evaluation Matrix has been removed.

31. We would like to inquire about whether the contracting authority (USAID) would accept a non-exclusivity teaming agreement, in order for [offeror] would be able to be engaged in more than one consortium or not.

Answer: For purposes of this RFP, USAID has no opinion on exclusivity. Any letters of intent included in the proposal can be non-exclusive. Offerors can be engaged in more than one consortium.

32. In-addition, we need to know whether in case of non-exclusivity agreements; does this mean that [offeror] would be required to submit different team of consultants for each consortium or the same consultants could be proposed for more than one consortium?

Answer: Offerors will not be required to submit different teams of consultants for each consortium.

33. On page 33, there seems to be considerable overlap between the requirements of the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation expert and the separate Senior Evaluation Expert and Senior Monitoring Expert, with the exception of the mention of focus on education projects. Please clarify these responsibilities so that proposed staffing can be accurate.

Answer: The Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will be focusing mainly on Education projects.

34. There is conflicting information on pages 64 and page 70 regarding delivery instructions of the proposal. Please confirm that the proposal is to be delivered only by electronic means to SIMPLEIQC@usaid.gov.

Answer: Proposal is to be delivered only by electronic means to SIMPLEIQC@usaid.gov.

35. The RFP makes reference on a number of pages to requirements of major subcontractors.

Can you clarify whether major subcontractors are defined as those who are to receive at least 20% of the dollar value of the contract?

36. We understand from Section L8 (a), ORGANIZATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL, that the number of pages for the Technical Approach section is 25, and the whole Technical Proposal is 45 which in addition to the Technical Approach section, would include sections on Management Approach, Personnel and Past Performance, but Annexes a-h are excluded.

Question: Please clarify what should be included in the Technical Approach under the Past Performance Section. If the Mission would like Past Performance short forms, should they be included as an Annex?

Answer: Past Performance short forms may be included in the annex. The Technical Approach narrative should be included within the 45-page page limit.

37. Will USAID allow exclusive subcontractor agreements with local institutions and candidates?

Answer: USAID will allow exclusive and non-exclusive subcontractor agreements with local institutions and candidates.

38. Page 72, Section II.c. states that “Statements of Qualification (SOQ) for proposed key personnel (five pages maximum per position) and other proposed staff (three pages maximum per position) are to be included in an annex.” Could you please clarify what is meant with other proposed staff?

Answer: Other proposed staff are other important non-key personnel. This does not include the list of STTA or LTTA Offerors may submit as part of the Staffing Plan.

39. Page 81 states that “Offeror will present qualified Key Personnel in accordance with the Instructions and Scope of Work and a draft, comprehensive staffing plan with a level of effort chart that includes key personnel, other long-term staff, short-term staff, professional staff, and administrative staff.” Could you please clarify what “professional staff” refers to in this case?

Answer: Professional Staff are any non-Key Personnel and non-Administrative staff who are part of the CORE and Task Orders.

40. The USAID/Egypt is a regional mission. There is reference to the CO being from where the RFTOPs are issued. Will all task orders deal with only those from the USAID/Cairo offices for Egyptian projects or will these task orders come from the region, such as Lebanon, Jordan, etc.?

Answer: All task orders will be issued by USAID/Egypt and will be for work in Egypt.

41. The Total Estimated Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee for each Task Order must be negotiated in accordance with the terms of this contract. Does this mean that each TO could have a different Fee? (Re: Section B.3)

Answer: Yes. Each task order could have a different fee.

42. Section B.5 provides Contract Line Items (CLINS) for core functions and FFP Task Orders, including Total Estimated Cost and Fixed Fee. Do contract line items include Other Direct Costs?

Answer: Offerors will need to determine the CLINS for the full cost proposal. Please refer to updated RFP.

43. Section B.6 (a) Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates (CDR) provides that: “(1) The task order rates must not exceed the ceiling daily rates set forth in the table below. The CDRs set forth below are fixed for the contract period and are for a productive eight (8) hour day. Actual salaries for all personnel will be negotiated under task orders and formal approval is provided by the CO. The ceiling rates presented below do not constitute approval of formal salary rates above the Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) (see ADS 302).” Question: The table provided requests CDRs for each of the five years of the contract. Since the five years is the ordering period, will there be any CDR increases for Task Orders awarded within the IDIQ ordering period but extending beyond that for the two years allowed under F.2.C below? F.2 provides that task order performance may continue up to 2 years after the ordering period of October 31, 2019 but must be completed by October 31, 2021.

Answer: CDR increases for task orders can be negotiated in each task order.

44. B.6(c) Subcontractor Rates. (iii) provides that: “Prime subcontracts with a new subcontractor not yet approved and may or may not have a different cost accounting system that only processes fully burdened rates. Further, subcontractor proposes rates that are "above" the prime IDIQ rates.

The Prime may then include in its TO proposal, (i) the fully burdened rate proposed to the Prime by the Subcontractor,(ii) allocation of the Prime's indirect costs in accordance with established accounting practices, and (iii) a reasonable profit If the rates proposed to USAID, inclusive of the Prime's allocable indirect costs and a reasonable profit are above the Prime's unburdened CDRs, the Prime must disclose the amount of the indirect costs, and the amount of the proposed profit that were added to the Subcontractor's proposed rates. A reasonable profit will be negotiated by the CO for the specific TO. The CDRs of the subcontractor must not exceed the prime’s CDRs in the IDIQ contract.” Question: Since a number of subcontractors’ policies do not allow revealing their indirect costs rates to the prime, how will the prime be able to comply with this RFP requirement?

Answer: It is the Prime's responsibility to ensure nothing exceeds the CDRs in the IDIQ. If Subcontractors are concerned, they can share their information with USAID. Any separate submissions to USAID would have to properly annotate the Prime Offeror and which proposal they are referring to.

45. Section C.12 CONFLICT OF INTEREST, subsection (d) Mitigation, provides: “(If an offeror with a potential or actual conflict of interest or unfair competitive advantage believes the conflict can be avoided, neutralized, or mitigated, the offeror shall submit a mitigation plan to the Government for review. Award of a contract where an actual or potential conflict of interest exists shall not occur before Government approval of the mitigation plan. If a mitigation plan is approved, the restrictions of this provision do not apply to the extent defined in the mitigation plan.” Question: Does the word “contract” refer to specific TO or the IDIQ?

Answer: In Section C.12 CONFLICT OF INTEREST (d) Mitigation, "contract" refers to the IDIQ.

46. Re Section F.6 ORDERING PROCEDURES. This section provides: “Request for Task Order Proposal (RFTOP) A. RFTOP Content (a) Large or small business competition” Question:

Our understanding is that this is a single IDIQ award. Please clarify what is meant by “large or small business competition.”

Answer: This language has been removed. Please refer to updated RFP.

47. Section F.9 KEY PERSONNEL provides: “USAID/Egypt expects that the Chief of Party position will be filled by an expatriate. For other positions required to fulfill the terms of this contract, however (including Key Personnel positions), the Contractor is strongly encouraged to rely on local Egyptian technical expertise, as practicable. For the purposes of bidding, Offerors should assume the following:- In Year 1 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by expatriates, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by an Egyptian national. - In Year 5 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by expatriates, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by Egyptian nationals. Question: since two bullets read the same, please clarify what are USAID’s expectations.

Answer: p. 34, Section F.9 KEY PERSONNEL should read:

- In Year 1 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by expatriates, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by an Egyptian national.

- In Year 5 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by Egyptian nationals, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by an

48. Section G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) provides that: “(a) For the Basic IDIQ: U.S. Agency for International Development COR: 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20523-7900 (b) For Task Orders: Each Task Order issued hereunder will indicate a COR for that particular order. The COR will be responsible for technical oversight for that specific Task Order.” Question: Do we understand correctly from G.2 above that the COR for the IDIQ will be Washington based? In order to propose an appropriate management approach, please clarify how a COR based in Washington overseeing a project based in Egypt with a core staff also based in Egypt and requiring day to day decisions with intimate knowledge of specific contract needs and implementation requirements will carry out these responsibilities?

Answer: The COR for the IDIQ and the CORs for each task order will all be in Egypt. This language has been amended. Please refer to the updated RFP.

49. In reference to Section B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES. Question A: The section states: “The Government will issue task orders that are Cost-Pus Fixed Fee (CPFF).” However elsewhere in the text (for example, Section F.8 2) it states that TOs will be Fixed Price as well as CPFF. Please clarify. Question B: Should not the Contract Type be classified as a mix of CPFF and FFP? Please clarify.

Answer: Task Orders will be Fixed Price or Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee.

50. Throughout the RFP there are references to “Program Office” and to Mission Technical Offices. Please clarify which program office is being referred to, the Mission Program Office or a program office at USAID HQ. This is particularly important to clarify in the context of other provisions that state that the CO and COR for the basic IDIQ are in Washington, whereas the Task Order COs and CORs will be in Egypt.

Answer: The "Program Office" refers to the Mission Program Office. The CO and COR for the base IDIQ will be in Egypt and the Task Order COs and CORs will also be in Egypt.

51. In reference to Section M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA, Relative Order of Importance of Factors, the RFP lists COST FACTOR as “more important than the Past Performance factor.” Please clarify, as this is mixing Technical and Cost factors in the Technical Evaluation Criteria.

Answer: This language has been amended. Please refer to the updated RFP.

52. Page 71 states that “The total pages for the Technical Proposal shall not exceed twenty-five

(25) pages and the length of the entire Technical Proposal should not exceed 45 pages exclusive of Annexes and other pages not subject to a page limitation as specified below. Please clarify how many pages should the Technical Proposal be?

Answer: The Technical Proposal will be 45 pages. The Offeror shall decide how many pages to allocate to each section.

53. What should be included in the Past Performance Chart?

Answer: The Past Performance Chart should include sufficient details in response to the Past Performance Evaluation Factor.

54. On Task 10, page 11, it states “the Contractor will perform at least 5 high quality evaluation and assessments per Agency’s guidance…” Question: Is this a grand total of 10 (5 evaluations plus 5 assessments)?

Answer: The Contractor will perform at least 5 high quality evaluations per Agency's guidance. This language has been amended. Please refer to the updated RFP.

55. In Section C.7., page 16, Use of U.S. Government Property, no furniture or equipment shall be provided as part of the office space; however, no mention is made on the arrangements to be made with the SIMPLE computers and the USAID/Cairo computers. What will be the relationship between the USAID/Cairo computer network and the SIMPLE network? Will the SIMPLE team be able to enter the Mission with flash drives?

Answer: The USAID/Egypt computer network and the SIMPLE network will be separate.

There will be access/shared drives. Some details will be determined after the award. Flash drives are allowed in the building but not on USAID network computers.

56. In Section C.9. Security Plan on the top of page 17. It states “No specific budget for security costs should be proposed at this time.” If funding is required for security, from where will this funding come?”

Answer: At this point, USAID does not anticipate significant security costs as part of the award. If a larger security budget is approved after the award as part of the Security Plan approval provess, USAID and the Contractor will make required modifications to the award within the current TEC.

57. In Section C.11. Limitation of Future Contracting. Will the restriction remain in effect “for a reasonable time” on an activity by activity basis or is this a blanket limitation?

Answer: The restriction will remain in effect for a reasonable time on an activity-by-activity basis. This is dependent on conflict cited in the approved Mitigation Plan.

58. On page 72, Section II, MANAGEMENT APPROACH (a), the RFP requires that the Offeror will discuss the assigned levels of skill within the categories of personnel, as they relate to the specific activities, results of the implementation plan and teaming arrangements… Question:

Please clarify what the phrase “results of the implementation plan” refers to in RFP requirements.

Answer: "Results of the implementation plan" refers to the deliverables listed in the RFP.

This language has been amended to read: "deliverables under the implementation plan."

Please refer to the updated RFP.

59. Page 7 says :”*Special Note: The un-shaded columns in the indirect cost table are the current approved indirect cost rates for the prime and major subcontractor(s).” All the columns of the table are un-shaded. Please clarify.

Answer: Please refer to updated RFP.

60. Cost proposal, page 75, requires: “(6) Other than cost or pricing data to include a pricing breakdown and narrative discussion of all price components to allow for a comprehensive breakdown.” Question: Please elaborate on what is needed, what this means, in addition to what would be contained in (5) the Budget and Budget Narrative.

Answer: The Offeror shall determine what to submit to allow USAID to fully analyze the costs proposed.

61. Page 81 states that “the Offeror will present an initial work plan for core functions and task order functions..”. Could you please clarify what is meant by “task order functions” in this case?

Does this refer to the 4 evaluations listed on page 11?

Answer: "Task order functions" are work accomplished under the task orders.

62. Is the initial work plan required for the first year only or for the life of the IDIQ?

Answer: An initial work plan is required for the first year.

63. Under Factor 1: Technical Approach, Sub-Factor 2 states: “describe how M&E capabilities of USAID and its partners will be strengthened in order to enable activities and impact to be sustained after the project is completed.” Sub-Factor 3 states :” the Offeror will present a strategy for assisting USAID and its partners to strengthen their M&E capabilities through different level of trainings and joint implementation of M&E activities.” It seems that there is a redundancy in what is required under these two sub-factors. If not, could you please clarify the difference?

Answer: There is no redundancy in what is required under the two sub-factors. Factor 1, Sub-Factor 2 is focused on sustainability. Sub-Factor 3 is focused on strategy.

64. Section F.9 Key Personnel, (c), page 34 of the RFP, states that the “Contractor is strongly encouraged to rely on local Egyptian technical expertise”, including for key personnel positions.

However, in the next paragraph it is advised for offerors to assume three of the four key positions to be filled by expatriates from Year 1 through Year 5 of project? Please clarify.

Answer: p. 34, Section F.9 KEY PERSONNEL should read:

- In Year 1 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by expatriates, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by an Egyptian national.

- In Year 5 of the contract, three of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by Egyptian nationals, and one of the four Key Personnel positions will be filled by an

65. Would USAID please define what constitutes a “major” subcontractor?

66. Section L.9, Part 2 (page 76) of the RFP instructs offerors to budget $25,000 per year for office space, as detailed in C.7. Could USAID please clarify whether this includes recurring office expenses such as internet and telephone connectivity?

Answer: The specifics of this requirement have changed. If, after award, the contractor will be required to have office space in the USAID building, the cost of the unfurnished offices will include maintenance, utilities, local phone calls, and security. Amount budgeted for office space does not include international phone calls or internet connectivity. No other operating costs will be paid for by USAID. All Offerors should budget market rates for office space in or near the Maadi neighborhood of Cairo. Please refer to updated RFP.

67. The initial cost proposal will include a budget for the Core Tasks (1, 2, 6, and 9) – does USAID have an estimated range or ceiling for these initial tasks?

Answer: There is no ceiling. The Offeror should determine the budget for the CORE.

68. Page 14 Deliverable 5 states the Contractor must “conduct at least one Data Quality Assessment (DQA) per project, annually” and then states ‘The Contractor will conduct at least one annual review of data and DQAs covering both Mission and project-level data”. Can USAID please clarify if it is one DQA per project annually or one DQA per project and Mission level annually?

Answer: To clarify, it is one DQA per project annually, and a Mission level review annually.

69. Page 14 Deliverable 5 states the Contractor must “conduct at least one Data Quality Assessment (DQA) per project, annually” and then states “In Year 1 and Year 4 or Y 2 and Y 5 the Contractor shall conduct and complete at least four full DQAs covering all the indicators included in the PMPs of each Development Objective.” Can USAID please clarify which DQA minimum is correct?

Answer: The minimum will vary. A DQA for an indicator must be completed every three years. As such, there will be a rolling number of DQAs that need to be conducted. The minimum is one.