SOL-442-15-000012_Amendment_02_CCSS.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CO PAGE OF PAGES

1 15

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO.

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

See block 16C

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO

5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (IF OTHER THAN ITEM 6) CODE

Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) USAID/Cambodia #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., Street, County, State, and Zip Code)

To All Potential Offerors

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

SOL-442-15-000012

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11) 09/01/2015

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

CODE:

FACILITY CODE:

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered, solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers, FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If Required) N/A

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO., AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify Authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is NOT is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.

The purpose of this amendement is to respond to the potential offerors’ questions.

(continued on p.2)

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

Brian K. Woody, Contracting Officer

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15C. DATE

SIGNED

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

/s/

16C. DATE

SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) 09/14/2015

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Previous Edition Unusable Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

RFP No. SOL-442-15-000012, Amendment 02 Cambodian Civil Society Strengthening (CCSS)

Specifically, this solicitation is amended as follows:

SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK

1) In Section C.4, Task 2, 2.1 Organize Orientation and Ongoing Civil Society Collaboration Forums (p.14), DELETE “10 to 15 of the local partners, two to five local capacity service providers, 10 to 15 CCSS Project grants under contract recipients, and one to five informal groups or grassroots networks” and INSERT “approximately 7 to 10 of the USAID/Cambodia’s Democracy and Governance local partners and Transition Award recipients; 2) two to five local capacity service providers; 3) approximately 10-15 local organizations that receive small grants under this contract, and; 4) three to five informal groups or grassroots groups or networks that have organically mobilized around a specific issue, e.g. land tenure or natural resource management” ;

2) In Section C.4, Task 3, second paragraph (p.18), INSERT the following after the fourth sentence:

“With COR input, the contractor and public opinion polling firm will finalize the polling methodology, questionnaire, implementation timeline, and dissemination plan for the results.”

SECTION F – DELIVERABLES OR PERFORMANCE

3) In Section F.5 Reports and Deliverables or Outputs (p.26), ADD the following to the deliverables table:

3a. Public Opinion Polling Methodology, Questionnaire, Implementation Timeline, and Dissemination Plan for the Results

The contractor will submit these to the COR for approval no more than 90 days after the contract award.

4) In Section F.5 Reports and Deliverables or Outputs, Other Reports (p.29), ADD the following at the end of the paragraph:

“including Special Reports to disseminate results of the public opinion polls in Task 3”

SECTION J – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

5) ADD Attachment J.6 Summary Local Employees Pay Scale (included as an attachment);

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

6) In Section L.8 (p.80), DELETE “letters of intent” and INSERT “letters of commitment (LOC)”;

7) In Section L.8 (c) Personnel, (p. 81), REVISE the first sentence to read “The offeror must include a brief summary for the two full-time key personnel, not to exceed one page per position including the extent and nature of key personnel’s professional experience”;

8) In Section L.8, (c) Personnel, Other Personnel, Local Staff (p. 82), DELETE “Resumes/CVs are not required for the short term consultants and local staff other than the key personnel and long term personnel” and INSERT “Resumes/CVs are not required for the short term consultants and local staff other than the key personnel and long term professional personnel who are part of the proposed LOE”.

9) Section L.9 (a) 16. Subcontract Information (p.88), REVISE the second sentence to read:

“A tab or colored divider page will separate each element of subcontractor information, as well as each subcontractor if submitted in one file”.

10) UPDATE Annex 1 Contractor/Subcontractor Past Performance Information on p.92 with the revised one (included as an attachment).

11) ADD the answers to the potential offerors’ questions as Annex 6:

Annex 6

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question 1. On pgs. 24-25, USAID provides an illustrative Level of Effort table (entitled “Positions/Workdays”) and outlines anticipated positions. On pg. 82, in the “Other Personnel” section, the RFP states that “The Offeror must propose other positions based on their technical approach and management approach.” Can you please confirm that the offeror has the flexibility to propose positions not included in the illustrative LOE table (pg. 24-25) and similarly, that the offeror has the flexibility to not use positions listed in the LOE table?

Answer: Yes, offerors have flexibility to propose positions not included in the illustrative LOE table;

regarding flexibility not to use positions listed, USAID believes the listed positions represent major program areas and are necessary for the program implementation, though, we are open to suggestions of alternate coverage of these areas.

Question 2. Can USAID please provide a copy of the “Initial Environmental Examination” (Attachment J.3 listed on pg. 66)?

Answer: Included as an attachment.

Question 3. Regarding Section K.1 (pg. 70): Consistent with the guidance in FAR 37.11301 and considering that the anticipated contract will be performed entirely overseas, we respectfully request that USAID include FAR 52.237-9 (Waiver of Limitation on Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals) to prevent conflict with applicable local employment laws.

Answer: The clause 52.237-9 Waiver of Limitation on Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals will not be included because, in accordance with FAR 37.113-2, it can be used when the head of an agency has granted a waiver pursuant to 37.113-1, and no such waiver has been granted.

Question 4. Section L.8 (pg. 80) mentions “letters of intent” but under L.8(c) (pg. 82) refers to “letters of commitment” — please clarify if USAID meant letters of commitment (LOC).

Answer: ‘Letters of intent’ should read ‘letters of commitment’, the solicitation has been amended accordingly.

Question 5. Section L.8(c) (pg. 82), states that “Resumes/CVs are not required for the short term consultants and local staff other than the key personnel and long term personnel.” Can USAID please confirm that resumes are required for local technical personnel but not local support staff?

Answer: Resumes/CVs are required for long-term professional personnel who are part of the proposed LOE, the solicitation has been amended accordingly.

Question 6. Section L.8(c) (pg. 82), states that “The offeror must submit complete and properly filled AID Form 1420-17 for all the identified persons as part of the cost proposal.” Can USAID please confirm that this requirement includes only long-term staff and not short-term consultants?

Answer: This requirement applies to all long-term and short-term personnel.

Question 7. Section L.8(c) (pg. 82) states that CVs are not required for “short term consultants and local staff other than the key personnel and long term personnel” but their relevant qualifications should be “mentioned in the level of effort table.” Can USAID confirm that this table can be included as an annex and will not be part of the page-limited section of the technical proposal?

Answer: Yes, this table can be included as an annex of the technical proposal not counting towards the page limit.

Question 8. Section L.8(e) (pg. 84) instructors offerors to “provide a list of the recent (two years) contracts for which you submitted subcontract reports to eSRS… and a copy of any similar recent subcontracting reports if they were not submitted to eSRS.” Our hardcopy subcontracting reports (SF- 294s) for the past two years total approximately 200 pages. Instead of submitting 200 pages of SF-294s, may we submit only 10 recent and relevant SF-294 forms for those contracts not submitted to the eSRS, in addition to the complete list of those contracts which were submitted to eSRS?

Answer: Yes.

Question 9. Section L.7(b)(i) states: “Proposals must be in either Microsoft Word (for narrative text) or Excel (for tables) unless you are providing scanned copies of pages that include signatures or forms.”

Because scanned letters of commitment for key personnel are required for key personnel (Section L.8(c)

— pg. 82) and large, multi-section MS Word documents frequently have formatting and stability issues (in additionally potentially being larger than the 5MB per attachment limit), would it be permissible for offerors to submit the complete technical volume (proposal and annexes) as a single PDF and an MS Word copy of the technical proposal sections (no annexes)?

Answer: Yes.

Question 10. Can USAID provide a copy of the Civil Society Sustainability Index (CSOSI) referenced on

p. 11 of the RFP?

Answer: The CSOSI is a tool used by USAID missions and local and international partners to inform program design, prioritize assistance, and monitor and measure progress within the CSO sector.

The CSOSI also serves as an important resource regarding civil society trends across regions (comparatively) and over time (longitudinally) and the state of the civil society sector in selected countries over time.

The CSOSI applies a seven point scoring scale, which mirrors that used by Freedom House in its publications entitled Nations in Transit and Freedom in the World. The dimensions of civil society sustainability that are assessed are as follows:

• Legal Environment

• Organizational Capacity

• Financial Viability

• Advocacy

• Service Provision

• Infrastructure

• Public Image

Please see the CSOSI methodology at https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/democracy-human-rights-and-governance/cso-sustainability-index-methodology

Question 11. The first paragraph under Task 2 (p.13) provides that the contractor will service “1) approximately 7 to 10 of the USAID/Cambodia’s Democracy and Governance local partners and Transition Award recipients; 2) two to five local capacity service providers; 3) approximately 10-15 local organizations that receive small grants under this contract, and; 4) three to five informal groups or grassroots groups or networks that have organically mobilized around a specific issue, e.g. land tenure or natural resource management.” However, under 2.1 on p.14, the number of target entities is different: “10 to 15 of the local partners, two to five local capacity service providers, 10 to 15 CCSS Project grants under contract recipients, and one to five informal groups or grassroots networks.” Can USAID clarify the number of targeted entities?

Answer: The language under 2.1 on page 14 has been revised to read “approximately 7 to 10 of the USAID/Cambodia’s Democracy and Governance local partners and Transition Award recipients; 2) two to five local capacity service providers; 3) approximately 10-15 local organizations that receive small grants under this contract, and; 4) three to five informal groups or grassroots groups or networks that have organically mobilized around a specific issue, e.g. land tenure or natural resource management.”

Question 12. Given that the participation of USAID Cambodia’s local partners in Democracy and Governance in the Task 2 capacity building is voluntary, we assume that any minimum number of such partners expected to receive support under CCSS will be premised on the assumption that such number of local partners are interested in the assistance. Can USAID confirm?

Answer: Yes, because capacity building is voluntary, the minimum number of partners expected to receive capacity support under CCSS is premised on the assumption that each is willing to accept that assistance.

Question 13. USAID states that proposals must be in either Microsoft Word (for narrative text) or Excel (for tables). Would Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format be acceptable for the proposal, as long as an unlocked Excel version of the budget is submitted as well?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 9.

Question 14. What is the expected start date of the CCSS Project (for budgeting purposes)?

Answer: The expected start date is April 2016.

https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/democracy-human-rights-and-governance/cso-sustainability-index-methodology https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/democracy-human-rights-and-governance/cso-sustainability-index-methodology

Question 15. For the cost proposal, does USAID wish to see reference in the excel spreadsheet to page and paragraph of the technical proposal, or can this reference to the technical proposal be contained in the budget narrative, which will provide descriptions and justifications for detailed costs?

Answer: Please include it in the narrative.

Question 16. For budgeting and logistical purposes, what date should be assumed as the start date for the CCSS project?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 14.

Question 17. Can USAID confirm that past performance information can be provided in the body of the technical narrative, in addition to the five past performance references in the Annex?

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

Question 18. Would USAID accept smaller font than Arial 11pt for tables and graphics, provided that tables and graphics are easily and clearly legible?

Answer: Yes.

Question 19. Page 13, under the description of Task 2, the RFP states that the contractor will provide capacity development services to: 1) approximately 7 to 10 of the USAID/Cambodia’s Democracy and Governance local partners and Transition Award recipients. On page 14, the RFP indicates that the contractor will strengthen collaboration between CSOs, particularly those that receive capacity development support from the CCSS project, including 10 to 15 local partners. Can you please confirm if these two sets of numbers are intended to be different? If they are intended to be the same, please confirm the number.

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 11.

Question 20. Page 13, under the description of Task 2, the RFP states that the contractor will provide capacity development services to: 4) three to five informal groups or grassroots groups or networks. On page 14, in sub-section 2.1, the RFP states that the contractor is to strengthen collaboration between local CSOs, particularly among the entities that will receive capacity development support from the CCSS Project, including one to five informal groups or grassroots networks. Can you please confirm if these two sets of numbers are intended to be different? If they are intended to be the same, please confirm the number.

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 11.

Question 21. On pages 31-32, the RFP states that the Chief of Party is required to have the experience indicated as a Chief of Party or Country Director. Please confirm if experience under different job titles of equal or greater responsibility to Chief of Party or Country Director (i.e. Regional Director, Team Leader, etc.) will be considered as meeting this requirement.

Answer: Experience in the positions under different titles will be considered as meeting the requirement if the responsibilities are substantially the same as those of a COP or Country Director.

Question 22. Page 35, Section G.1 (a)(1) contains the SF 1034 format to be used for invoicing purposes under the contract. Can USAID confirm which elements should be reported in this form? What does USAID mean by Line Item 001 and 002? Kindly clarify.

Answer: These line items are merely examples; the contractor will use only one line item stating the general description of the amount invoiced, i.e. “Expenditure for the month of September, 2015”.

Question 23. Page 78, If proposals include signed scanned pages, may the full electronic proposal be submitted as a pdf?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 9.

Question 24. Page 80, May letters of support from relevant organizations also be included as annexes to the technical proposal?

Answer: Letters of support may be included as an annex but are not required.

Question 25. On page 80, the RFP indicates that letters of intent can be included in the annex to the technical application. On p. 88, the RFP indicates that the cost application must include a letter from sub-contractors with the information as outlined on p. 88. Can you please confirm that for sub-contractors, the offeror must include only the letter in the cost application as per p. 88?

Answer: Yes, this is correct. ‘Letters of intent’ on p. 80 should read ‘letters of commitment’ (please also see the answer to Question 4).

Question 26. Page 80, section 4 the RFP states that quality awards or certifications are not included in the page limitation. Can you please confirm that they can be included as an annex?

Answer: These have to be described in the narrative within the page limit, the actual copies of the awards/certifications should be included as an annex.

Question 27. On p. 81, section c), the RFP states that “The offeror must include a brief summary for the two full-time key personnel, not to exceed one page.” Can you please confirm that the one page maximum is for one key personnel? In other words, the description of both key personnel combined can exceed one page.

Answer: The limit is 1 page per position.

Question 28. Page 83: Can you please confirm that the offerror should submit five past performance contracts total, including any sub-contractors (the ones whose total estimated cost exceeds 15% of total proposed costs)?

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

Question 29. On page 83, the RFP states that the offeror should submit a list of five of the most recent and relevant contracts for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal. Please confirm that awards made under grant or cooperative agreement mechanisms can be listed among these five, and that the past performance references are not restricted to contracts only.

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

Question 30. Page 83: While the illustrative Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, not to exceed 10 pages, is included in the Management Approach section, please confirm that the Plan’s location in an Annex (permitted on page 80) will allow full points to be accrued toward the Management Approach score.

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

Question 31. Page 82: the RFP indicates that the offeror should describe its overall organizational structure. Can you please confirm that an organizational chart can be listed in the annex (not counted towards the page limit)?

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

Question 32. On p. 82, the RFP indicates that “the skill sets, relevant experiences and academic qualifications for the proposed positions should be mentioned in the level of effort table to facilitate the evaluation of other personnel sub criteria and management approach.” Can USAID clarify if this level of effort table is to be included as an annex to the technical or cost proposal? Please confirm that it does not count towards the page limit.

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 7.

Question 33. Page 84: the RFP requires a contractor who is not small business to submit a list of the recent (2 years) contracts for which the contractor submitted subcontract reports to eSRS, a copy of any similar recent subcontracting reports if they were not submitted to eSRS, and the names and addresses of three SB concerns for USAID to contact. Can USAID confirm that this information can be provided as an annex to the technical application (not subject to the page limit)?

Answer: Yes, this is correct (please also see the answer to Question 8).

Question 34. Page 89: the RFP states that Third Country Nationals (TCNs) do not have waiver authorization for salaries above the local compensation plan and will receive benefits only authorized under the local compensation plan. In order to ensure that the best qualified personnel are in place for effective implementation of the project, could USAID please kindly reconsider providing a waiver authorization for TCNs, so that their compensation is not subject to the local compensation plan?

Answer: No, USAID will consider granting a waiver for TCN compensation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with AIDAR 722.170.

Question 35. Page 92: in Annex 1, the RFP states that the applicant is required to provide a copy of interim or final Contractor Performance Report that have been finalized/signed by the Cognizant Contracting Officer, if any. Can USAID please confirm that for ongoing projects, the contractor is required to submit only one Contractor Performance Assessment Report (CPAR) for the most recent year for which the CPAR was completed, and for completed projects, the applicant is required to submit only the final CPAR?

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

Question 36. Many of the potential bidders and partners on this solicitation were part of a social accountability assessment conducted by MSI and funded by USAID, which could have relevant findings that pertain to the goals and objectives of this solicitation. If the report has not been publicly released or available through FOIA in sufficient time to respond to the solicitation, we kindly request that USAID provide access to the report to ensure that no one potential offeror has an advantage over other potential offerors.

Answer: The report is publically available on USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse, and can be found using the following link: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00K57M.pdf.

Question 37. On page 13 of the RFP, it states that the contractor will provide capacity development services to “approximately 7 to 10 of the USAID/Cambodia’s Democracy and Governance local partners and Transition Award recipients; 2) two to five local capacity service providers; 3) approximately 10-15 local organizations that receive small grants under this contract, and; 4) three to five informal groups or grassroots groups or networks…”. However, on page 14 of the RFP it states, “These entities include: 10 to 15 of the local partners, two to five local capacity service providers, 10 to 15 CCSS Project grants under contract recipients, and one to five informal groups or grassroots networks.” Please clarify the numbers of entities that should receive capacity development support from CCSS.

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 11.

Question 38. Page 18 of the RFP states that the results of the public perception polls “should be disseminated through Special Reports as mentioned in Section F.5.” However, Special Reports are not included in Section F.5. Can USAID please clarify how the results of the polls should be disseminated?

Answer: With COR input, the contractor and public opinion polling firm will finalize the polling methodology, questionnaire, implementation timeline, and dissemination plan for the results, and the contractor will submit these to the COR for approval no more than 90 days after the contract award. The solicitation has been amended to include this deliverable and reference to the Special Reports in F.5.

Question 39. Page 11 of the RFP states that USAID is supporting the Civil Society Sustainability Index (CSOSI), and one of the Expected Results of Task 1 is related to the CSOSI. Can USAID please provide additional information about the CSOSI in Cambodia or provide the Index itself?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 10.

Question 40. Under Task 2.1, the contractor will provide logistical and administrative support for orientation meetings with civil society that USAID will lead. Should the contractor budget for these meetings?

Answer: Yes.

Question 41. Given that some of the technical proposal Annex documents need to be submitted as PDF (scanned documents or letters), will USAID accept the technical narrative also be submitted as PDF?

Answer: No, the technical narrative must be submitted as required in the RFP section L.7(b) (please also see the answer to Question 9).

http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00K57M.pdf

Question 42. Page 81 states, “the Offeror must include a brief summary for the two full-time key personnel, not to exceed one page…” Can USAID please clarify if USAID is requesting one page per candidate (i.e., two pages total) or one page total for summaries of both key personnel?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 27.

Question 43. Can USAID please clarify if the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan should be included as an Annex or as part of the Management Approach section of the technical narrative?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 30.

Question 44. On pages 83-84, the information listed to include in Past Performance is different from the template provided as Annex 1 on page 92. Can USAID please clarify which information to include in Past Performance information?

Answer: The solicitation has been amended to include the revised Annex 1.

Question 45. On page 24-25, Section F.4, a professional workdays (LOE) table has been provided. Can you please confirm that the Level of Effort table is an illustrative purposes and the offeror has the flexibility to propose positions not included in the LOE table, and similar, that the offeror has the flexibility to not use positions listed in the LOE table. Please also further confirm that the offeror can propose the LOE deem necessary for the project and not require to propose the total professional workdays as indicated on the table.

Answer: Yes, offerors may propose LOE different from the stated in the illustrative table. Regarding the use of the listed positions, please see the answer to Question 1.

Question 46. On page 86, Section L.9 (a) 10, while the first paragraph of this section requires only the offeror to submit personnel policies, the second paragraph states that details breakdown of fringe benefit information are required for both the prime and each subcontractor without fringe benefit rates in NICRA. Can you please confirm that only the prime is required to submit its personnel policies, but the detail breakdown of proposed fringe benefit information are required by both of the prime and each subcontractor in the budget?

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

Question 47. On page 86, Section L.9 (a) 14, while paragraph a) requires both the offeror and each subcontractor to submit their most current NICRA, paragraph b) states that only offeror who does not have a cognizant Government audit Agency will need to provided audited balance sheets and profit and loss statements for the last two complete years and current year to date. Can you please confirm that audited balance sheets and profit and loss statements for the last two complete years and current year to date will also need to be provided for each subcontractor who does not have a cognizant Government audit Agency?

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

Question 48. On page 88, Section L.9 (a) 16. Subcontract Information requires that a tab or colored divider sheet to separate out each element of subcontract as well as each subcontractor. Since this will be an electronic submissions, can you please clarify if each subcontractor’s information can be submitted in separate files in lieu of tabs and divider?

Answer: The requirement is revised to read “A tab or colored divider page will separate each element of subcontractor information, as well as each subcontractor if submitted in one file”.

Question 49. Page 89 of the RFP states that “Under this RFP, Third Country Nationals (TCNs) do not have waiver authorization for salaries above the local compensation plan and will receive benefits only authorized under the local compensation plan (See AIRAR 722.170)”.

a. Can you please clarify if this applies to regional TCNs or to all TCNs? (for example would we be limited to using the local compensation plan for Canadian, British, or Australian citizens even if their salary history on USAID or other donor projects was above Cambodia’s local compensation plan).

b. If it applies only to regional TCNs, can you clarify what countries are included with the regional distinction?

Answer: This applies to all TCNs (please also see the answer to Question 34).

Question 50. Section C, page 14 refers to an Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) tool. Does USAID require bidders to use a specific tool or may bidders propose their own tool or tools?

Answer: No, offerors may propose their own Organizational Capacity Assessment tool.

Question 51. Section L page 83 asks bidders to include past performance references for five recent and relevant contracts. May bidders include cooperative agreements and/or grants rather than only contracts?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 29.

Question 52. On page 14, section 2.1, the RFA states that the contractor will strengthen collaboration between local CSOs, including entities receiving support from the program. Is USAID’s intention that collaboration will be fostered within the subgroups listed in that paragraph or between these subgroups?

Answer: Both, it is expected that the contractor will foster collaboration within the subgroups and between the subgroups around common issues. There are many common issues and interests among civil society in Cambodia. USAID intends for the Collaboration Forums to be a platform for civil society to coalesce around those issues. The intent is not to push for collaboration unless it makes sense to do so.

Question 53. Section C, page 17, indicator #3 refers to measuring “change in organizational performance (using a performance index tool).” Does USAID require bidders to use a specific tool or may bidders propose their own tool or tools?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 50.

Question 54. On page 13 under task 1, the RFP states grants under task 1 will be as high as $150,000. Can USAID define what the lowest monetary amount for awards would be under this grants mechanism?

Answer: The RFP does not establish a lower limit.

Question 55. Will USAID accept applications in PDF format, rather than in Word or Excel as mentioned on page 79?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 9.

Question 56. Can you please provide the Local Compensation Plan and FSN pay scale for Cambodia?

Answer: The solicitation has been amended to include a summary pay scale.

Question 57. Do expatriate and local personnel have to be exclusive to any one organization?

Answer: No. Moreover, exclusive commitments are discouraged for local personnel.

Question 58. On page 83 under Past Performance, it asks that offeror to provide “five of the most recent and relevant contracts for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal.” It also requests that all partners in a consortium and/or sub-contractors to provide past performance references as well.

a. Is it a maximum of five past performance references for the consortium and sub-contractors together? Or is it five past performance references for each member of the consortium and each subcontractor?

Answer: Offerors must provide five past performance references (not “a maximum of five”) for the prime and each major subcontractor (including any consortium members).

Question 59. On page 86 under past performance as it relates to past use of small businesses the offeror is asked to “Provide a narrative summary of your organization's use of small business concerns over the past three years.” Can this summary be provided as an annex and be excluded from the technical narrative’s page limit?

Answer: No.

Question 60. On page 86 under past performance as it relates to past use of small businesses the offeror is asked to “Provide a brief summary of the type of work each Small Business concern provided to your organization, and the name of a contact person, his/her title, phone number, and e-mail address for each.”

Can this summary be included as an annex and be excluded from the technical narrative’s page limit.

Answer: Yes.

Question 61. On page 87 under instructions for the cost proposal #7 it requests “A summary budget and detailed budget breakdowns by task using similar format to L.10 and including a detailed description that identifies each cost element and addresses why these costs are considered realistic. The description will specifically reference the page and paragraph of the technical proposal that these costs are associated with.” Can these descriptions and references to where these cost elements are in the technical proposal be included in the budget narrative solely?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 15.

Question 62. Under instructions for preparing the cost proposal on page 85 #6 states “detailed budget breakdowns for each year of the contract following the same format used in number 4 & 5 above.” #7 states “a summary budget and detailed budget breakdowns by task using similar format to L10 and including a detailed description that identifies each cost element and addresses why these costs are considered realistic” should also be included.

a. In addition to a detailed budget breakdown by each task, should the offeror also provide a budget detail that shows the total cost of all tasks together broken down by program year?

Answer: Yes.

Question 63. In Section C.4.2, page 13, the RFP states that “The contractor will provide participatory, individualized, and holistic capacity development services to . . . three to five informal groups or grassroots groups or networks.”

In Section C.4.2.1 it states that One role of the contractor is to strengthen collaboration between local CSOs, particularly among the entities that will receive capacity development support from the CCSS project. These entities include . . . one to five informal groups or grassroots networks.

Can USAID please confirm that one to five informal groups or grassroot groups or networks will receive capacity development support under this contract?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 11.

Question 64. In Section C.4.2.2, on page 15, the RFP states that “for the local partners, potential Transition Award recipients of the Cambodia CTIP and CDR activities, capacity service providers, and for the recipients of small grants under this contract that would like to conduct an OCA, the contractor will facilitate a comprehensive OCA within 30 days of the award’s issuance.” Can USAID please confirm that the award referenced in this section is a sub-award under the CCSS grants program?

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

Question 65. In Section C.4.1, on page 11, the RFP states that “working with USAID/Cambodia, the contractor will develop and administer a $3,000,000 rolling small grants program to Cambodian NGOs over the life of the CCSS project. Awards will generally range from in-kind to $150,000; though in special circumstances larger awards may be made with CO approval. In section C.4.2 on page 13, paragraph 1, it states that 10-15 local organization will receive small grants under this program. Even if all 15 organizations receive the maximum grant value, this would only total $2.25 million. Could USAID please clarify the total value and number of awards it expects to be issued under the small grants program?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 11.

Question 66. In Section C.4.1.2, on page 13, under the heading - Task 2: Enhance Technical and Organizational Capacity of Civil Society it states:

“The contractor will provide participatory, individualized, and holistic capacity development services to:

1) approximately 7 to 10 of the USAID/Cambodia’s Democracy and Governance local partners and Transition Award recipients; 2) two to five local capacity service providers; 3) approximately 10-15 local organizations that receive small grants under this contract, and; 4) three to five informal groups or grassroots groups or networks that have organically mobilized around a specific issue, e.g. land tenure or natural resource management.”

Item 3 states that approximately 10-15 local organizations will receive small grants under this contract.

Can you please clarify if the grants fund under this contract are also expected to support any of the organizations listed in items 1, 2, or 4?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 11.

Question 67. In Section L.8 on page 80, the RFP states that, “the technical proposal for the CCSS project must be written in . . . 11 pt Arial font.” May tables, graphs and text boxes use font smaller than 11 point, Arial font?

Answer: Yes for tables and graphs, no for text boxes.

Question 68. In the Local Staff section of the Technical Proposal Instructions in Section L.8(c) on page 82, it reference a “level of effort table” as follows:

“It is expected that the offeror will propose to hire sufficient local, professional and support staff based in Cambodia in order to implement this project effectively. The amount and nature of such staffing must be described within the offeror’s proposal. Resumes/CVs are not required for the short term consultants and local staff other than the key personnel and long term personnel. However, the skill sets, relevant experiences and academic qualifications for the proposed positions should be mentioned in the level of effort table to facilitate the evaluation of other personnel sub criteria and management approach. The offeror must submit complete and properly filled AID Form 1420-17 (Please see Section J) for all the identified persons as part of the cost proposal.”

Can you please confirm that the level of effort table referred to in section L.8 on page 82 of the RFP should be included in the cost proposal?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 7.

Question 69. In section L.8 on page 80 the RFP states that if included in the proposal …branding implementation plan [and] marking plan . . .are excluded from the 30-page limit and may be included as annexes to the technical proposal. In section L.11, page 90, the RFP states that “Offerors should submit a preliminary BIP and MP (not to exceed two page) as a separate annex to the cost/business proposal.”

Can USAID please clarify whether the branding implementation plan and marking plan should be included as an annex to the technical or cost proposal?

Answer: The preliminary branding implementation plan and marking plan should be included in the cost proposal only.

Question 70. In section M.4, on page 104, the RFP states that, “The relative weight of the Technical Approach factor is about equal to the other four factors combined; Personnel, Management Approach, Past Performance and Corporate Capability and Experience are equally weighted.” Can USAID please confirm that the technical approach will account for 50% of the evaluation points while the other four factors will each account for 12.5% of the evaluation points?

Answer: No, USAID will be using adjectival evaluation system, and no exact percentages or points will be assigned.

[END OF AMENDMENT 02]