SOL-267-12-000005_Amendment_000001.pdf

SOL-267-12-000005 AMENDMENT 000001

SPECIFIC CHANGES TO THE SOLICITATION:

A. Solicitation Closing Date

The closing date for receipt of proposals is May 21, 2012, 1600 hours Baghdad Local Time.

B. Section C.3 – Statement of Work

Under section C.3 – Statement of Work, add the following deliverables to the Component 1 deliverables:

13. Grades 1-3 teachers trained in delivering a broad repertoire of reading and math instructions, and orientations to new primary school teachers conducted.

14. Headteachers trained in school management techniques.

C. Section B.4 – Price/Cost Schedule

Replace the budget table under section B.4 by the following table:

CLIN COST ELEMENTS

YEAR

YEAR

YEAR

YEAR

YEAR

TOTAL

Component 1:

Teacher Training Institutes

Component 2:

Provincial Directorates

Component 3:

Curriculum and Pedagogy

004 Subcontracts

005 Other Direct Costs

006 Indirect Costs

Total Estimated Cost

007 Fixed Fee

Cost Plus Fixed Fee

D. Section F.6 (C) – Deliverables/Milestones

Under the Component 1 deliverables/milestones matrix, add the following:

E. Section J.– Attachment 3: Branding and Marking Strategy

Under attachment 3, all references to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) are hereby deleted because KRG is not part of this project.

Deliverables Primary

GOI

Partner

Year Due Method of Verification

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Grades 1-3 teachers trained in delivering a broad repertoire of reading and math instructions, and orientations to new primary school teachers conducted.

TTIs

Headteachers trained in school management techniques.

TTIs

Graduating cadre of TOTs. MoED/TTIs

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ARISING FROM SOL-267-12-000005

EDUCATION SECTOR STRENGTHENING PROJECT

Q.1. Can USAID confirm that this is a CPFF completion type contract? According to section H.6 of the RFP, we are to propose salary based on actual salaries and not by position; however section L 9 (b) 2. a. requires the Offeror to propose salaries based on position rather than salary history.

Firstly, the salary rates proposed for positions must reflect the market values of the work that the positions entail. Secondly, for personnel proposed to fill those positions their actual salaries should be proposed as long as they do not exceed the market values of the positions for which they are proposed.

Q.2. Can USAID confirm that 6–day work weeks are authorized for short-term technical assistance?

The authorized workweek is a 5-day workweek in compliance with AIDAR 731.205-6(a).

Q.3. Will USAID assist the Contractor in securing the necessary MoUs with the Ministry of Education and any other necessary GoI counterparts?

Yes, USAID has already discussed the issue of the MOU with the Ministry of Education and will help the Contractor in negotiating it.

Q.4. Can USAID please provide the Word template for the required PPR form?

The Word format of the past performance form is attached at the end of the questions and answers.

Q.5. Can USAID please clarify whether the work of the Iraq Education Sector

Strengthening Project is meant to include the provinces in Kurdistan?

The Kurdistan Regional Government is not part of this project. The reference to KRG in the branding section is eliminated.

Q.6. The RFP provides clear guidance on the technical evaluation criteria. Would

USAID consider providing its anticipated weighted average for each of the sections listed in section M.5? (for example – Technical Approach 40%, Personnel 30% - etc.)

No, we plan to use an adjectival rating method.

Q.7. We understand that there is a current USAID-funded project being implemented by RTI that is collecting and analyzing data on student performance and the Iraqi education system more broadly. Given the relevance of this data to ESSP, will USAID make this data available to all bidders?

The data from the project implemented by RTI will not be available before the closing date of the solicitation and we do not think it is necessary in the design of offerors’ technical approaches.

Q.8. It is our understanding that Teacher Training Centers (TTCs) provide in-service training and Teacher Training Institutes (TTIs) provide pre-service training. Given that ESSP is focused on in-service training, could USAID confirm that the Contractor is expected to strengthen the capacity of the in-service training providers, that is, the TTCs?

TTIs refer to the 20 in-service institutes.

Q.9. Could USAID confirm that the Contractor will not be expected to work in the

Kurdistan Regional Government provinces?

The Kurdistan Regional Government is not part of this project. The reference to KRG in the Branding section is eliminated.

Q.10. Under Component 1, Result 2 and Task 3 call for training grades 1-3 teachers and headteachers. However, the list of deliverables only calls for training of TOTs and Master Trainers. Could USAID:

a) Confirm that the Contractor is only expected to train TOTs and Master Trainers in the identified practices so that they, in turn, will train teachers and headteachers?

Offerors are expected to train teachers and headteachers in order to be able to identify candidates for TOTs and Master trainers. Also, see specific changes made.

b) Specify whether the universe of teachers and headteachers to be trained on an annual basis is a discrete group of teachers, e.g., in pilot schools, or all grade 1-3 teachers in the 15 provinces?

How many teachers is a question that the technical approach should answer. The 5-year deliverables’ table gives the offeror an opportunity to specify how they want to address each deliverable.

Q.11. On page 10, the RFP states that the Contractor shall use a "targeted approach" for improving student learning, indicating that the Contractor shall engage four institutional partners, including "some select primary schools." Could USAID please clarify how many schools are to be targeted and whether these schools have already been identified by the MOED?

Schools have not been identified by the MOED. By virtue of working with the Education directorate on school management issues, offerors are expected to identify in their technical approach how they plan to integrate schools under this component and under other components. Offerors are not expected to reach out to all schools across the 15 provinces.

Q.12. The Statement of Work (SOW) indicates Expected Results and Deliverables for each Component of the project. In the Results Framework (Attachment 4 of the RFP), USAID provides Intermediate Results, Sub-IRs, and indicators that differ from those presented in the RFP SOW. For example, on the first page of the Results Framework there are listed a number of sub-results and indicators concerning primary school student performance (improved reading scores in grades 1-3) and primary school teacher performance (improved time on task) that do not correspond directly to the results and deliverables in the SOW, which are focused on TTI/TTC performance.

By virtue of working with primary school teachers at the TTIs, student performance and teacher performance is expected to improve, given the delivered capacity building activities at the TTIs, education ministry and its directorates.

a) Could USAID confirm that the Results Framework (Attachment 4) is illustrative?

Yes, the Results Framework is illustrative; however we expect the offeror to achieve the results listed under each component in section C, as well as the overall results indicated in the Results’ Framework.

b) Could USAID confirm that all of the primary school IRs and indicators are intended for a selected group of "target" or pilot schools?

No, the pool of schools needs to be determined by the offeror; however the offeror is not expected to work with all schools across the 15 provinces. The MOED directorate will be working with all schools in their province. The technical approach should clarify how the offeror plans to engage schools.

Q.13. On page 109, the RFP states that “all key personnel must be employees of the prime Offeror.” Given the geographic scale and technical breadth of the program, a consortium approach may be more beneficial. Placing all of the key personnel positions with the prime limits the potential of strong partners to contribute to the management and technical quality of the program. Would USAID consider allowing key personnel to be employees of either the prime or first-level consortium partners?

No. All key personnel must be employees of the prime offeror.

Q.14. On page 8, Section B includes a table for indirect cost rate ceilings. However, on page 114, the RFP states that “Offerors may propose ceilings on their provisional indirect costs and for their major subcontractors.” Could USAID clarify whether the Offeror is required to propose indirect ceilings?

Ceiling rates are not required. However, offerors may propose ceiling rates as a cost control gesture if they wish. But once proposed the ceiling rates will become part of the prospective contract.

Q.15. On page 114, the RFP limits spending on security and life support to no more than 25% of the estimated cost before fee. In our experience, the costs of providing appropriate security and life support are likely to exceed this percentage. Given the changing security situation, would USAID consider raising this ceiling, for example, to 30%?

Based on our ongoing projects in Iraq, we believe that security and life support costs should be less than 25%.

Q.16. On page 85, the RFP provides a form for Offerors to use in presenting their past performance. It asks the Offeror to fill out Section A and submit the form with the technical proposal. Could USAID confirm that:

a) The Offeror should fill out the entire form, including “Date Contacted” for the Contact Person and “Contact’s Role or Knowledge of Project?”

See the attached revised form.

b) The Past Performance Form is not considered an annex to the technical proposal and therefore does not count against the annex page limit?

That’s Correct. It should be submitted separately (See instructions on the form).

Q.17. On page 42, the RFP states that “No compensation for consultants will be reimbursed unless their use under the Contract has advance written approval of the Contracting Officer.” Would USAID consider giving this authority to the COR to reduce the time needed for approval and support the Contractor’s ability to respond flexibly?

The proposed revision is unnecessary at the moment.

Q.18. On page 108, the RFP states that Letters of Commitment from Subcontractors should be submitted as Annex C to the technical proposal. On page 116, the RFP states that Letters of Commitment from Subcontractors should be included as Part 6 of the cost proposal. Could USAID confirm that the Letters of Commitment from Subcontractors should only be submitted as part of the cost proposal?

Yes. The letters of commitment should ONLY be submitted as part of the Cost Proposal.

Q.19. On FedBizOpps.gov, the response date for this RFP is listed as May 11, 2012.

The closing date and time specified in the cover letter is May 21, 2012, 5:00 pm, Baghdad, Iraq, Local Time, while the closing date and time in the RFP’s SF 33 is May 21, 2012, 1600 Local Time. Could USAID please confirm that the due date/time for the proposal is May 21, 2012, 5:00 pm, Baghdad, Iraq, Local Time

The response date is May 21, 2012, 16:00 hours Baghdad Local Time.

Q.20. Section B.4 (page 7 of the RFP) Price/Cost Schedule is formatted to indicate a 4 year program; however the remainder of the proposal including the cover letter states a 5 year program. Can USAID please confirm which is the correct number of years for the program and whether the Price/Cost Schedule should include an additional column for Year 5?

The Ajyal program is planned for five (5) years and accordingly the budget should be for 5 years.

Q.21. Can USAID clarify whether covers, dividers, Table of Contents, and full-page charts/organizational tables will count toward the 40 page limit for the technical proposal and/or the 30 page limit for the combined annexes?

Everything that the offeror submits as part of their technical proposal must be within the 40 page limitation.

Q.22. Are offerors permitted to include additional resumes other than key position resumes?

Offerors are free to include additional resumes but only resumes for key personnel will be evaluated as specified under section M.5.

Q.23. As long as we do not exceed the 30-page combined limit for annexes, are offerors permitted to include additional annexes other than those listed in Section L.8 of the RFP?

Offerors may include additional annexes but USAID does not guarantee that the additional annexes will be reviewed as part of the evaluation process.

Q.24. Section L.8, page 111 of the RFP states that offerors should use the Past

Performance Form Attachment 2, but there is no attachment provided. Can USAID please provide the indicated Past Performance Form?

The form was included as attachment 2. The revised form is attached at the end of these questions and answers.

Q.25. Can USAID clarify whether offerors are required submit Past Performance forms in emails separate from the technical proposal?

They should be submitted separately (See instructions on the form).

Q.26. If required to submit Past Performance forms combined with the technical proposal, do the Past Performance forms count toward the 40-page limitation?

They should be submitted separately (See instructions on the form).

Q.27. The Past Performance form asks for the name of a contact person. Can USAID please clarify whether they would like offerors to list the name of the contracting officer, the COTR, or a contact person from the implementing firm/offeror?

It is preferred that offerors provides the particulars of the COTR/COR.

Q.28. USAID asks for Past Performance information on 5 contracts for the prime Offeror and consortium partners. Does USAID want 5 examples for each consortium member or for the team as a whole? Does USAID want these examples to be included in the proposal for this project or can they be provided in the Annex?

Q.29. The RFP mentions the need for the proposal to include a strategy for performance monitoring (p. 109). Does USAID also want a draft PMP to be included in the Annex?

A Performance Management Plan should be submitted as Annex A to the Technical Proposal. (See section L.8. (b) of the RFP)

Q.30. The RFP includes a range of activities under each component. Can the Offeror shift one or more activities to a different component if they feel there are good reasons to do this from a program design standpoint?

Yes. When an offeror shifts one or more activities to different components it should ensure that it is well explained so that it is clear to USAID during the evaluation process.

Q.31. The RFP mentions KRG in the branding section (p. 87) but nowhere else. Under

Component 1, it mentions only 15 provinces when discussing the TTIs. Does the scope of this program include the 3 provinces of KRG or just the 15 provinces apart from KRG?

Kurdistan Regional Government is not part of this project. The reference to KRG in the Branding section is eliminated.

Q.32. On p. 109, the RFP states that all key personnel must be employees of the prime

Offeror. Project teams are usually designed to provide the highest level expertise around project components. Is it possible for the component leads to be staffed by the prime Offeror’s sub-contractors?

No. All key personnel must be employees of the prime.

Q.33. Has the Government of Iraq (GoI) been involved in the design of this program?

Has USAID concluded an agreement with the Government of Iraq on what resources it will supply to support the project – appointment of staff, release of staff for training, payment of travel and subsistence? What physical resources and infrastructure will they provide under the project? If the project includes KRG, has an agreement been reached with this government, and, if so, what resources will they contribute to the project?

The MOED has participated in the design of the program. USAID is currently negotiating cost sharing from the Government of Iraq for this project; however we do not have firm commitment from the MOED. The offeror is expected to track and monitor cost sharing amounts. KRG is not part of this program.

Q.34. How has USAID linked this program into curriculum and teacher education initiatives under the WB Third Emergency Education Project, the UNESCO/ Qatar government work on curriculum and standards, and the EC support to education?

The offeror is expected to engage with in service TTIs and help with the drafting of a teacher training curriculum. The offeror, under component 3, will not engage on school curriculum development per se. The process of curriculum development is what the project will assist with, including standards and alignment processes.

Offerors need to familiarize themselves with the work of all donors working in Iraq and need to build their technical approach based on such research.

Q.35. On page 10, the RFP says the project “will seek to focus attention on areas where there are shortcomings in support of girls’ schools, such as the availability of hygienic measures at schools, including the availability of clean toilets (the GOI is expected to assume the responsibility).” If the GOI is to assume the responsibility for hygienic measures, it is not clear what responsibility the project is to have in this. Can USAID clarify what role it envisions the project to play in this?

Clean toilets are just an example. The offeror needs to articulate other shortcomings in support of advancing girls’ education as part of an improved school management.

Q.36. On page 6, the RFP says that the fixed fee will be paid in accordance with the completion of the deliveries and milestones listed in F.6. Some of these deliverables depend on GOI action/cooperation (e.g., “A Policy Data analysis unit established in directorates” on p. 29), which means they lie outside of the contractor’s ability to fully control. In what ways will USAID’s assessment of contractor performance take into consideration the extent to which the Contractor performed satisfactorily in areas that lie within its manageable interest, so that the Contractor is not negatively evaluated for any GOI failures to cooperate.

Payment of fixed fee under the prospective contract shall be in proportion to the successful completion of the deliverables, or milestones, for each year of performance.

ATTACHMENT 2: PAST PERFORMANCE FORM

Please accurately fill out section A of the following form. The information you provide will be used to solicit information for source selection purposes. Please submit the filled out form to USAID/Iraq via email at baghdadsolicitations@usaid.gov together with the technical proposal.

SECTION A: (To be filled by the Offeror)

Offeror's Name:

Was the Offeror the Prime or Subcontractor on the project?

Project Name:

Project Scope/Description:

Term of Performance:

Dollar Value of Contract: Contract Type:

Place of Performance:

Name of Contact Person:

Phone: Email of Contact Person:

Email of Contact Person: _

SECTION B: (To be filled by USAID)

Date Contacted:

Employer:

Contact’s Role or Knowledge of the Project: