RFP_mod_1.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT I

BPA NO. OF PAGES

1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO.

(If applicable)

01 see block 16c

6. ISSUED BY

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

(If other than Item 6)

Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance USAID/Philippines 8/F PNB Financial Center Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard Pasay City, Philippines 1308

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

(No., street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

RFP No. SOL-492-12-000038

To all Offerors/Bidders

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

02/01/2013

1OA. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT /ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

FACILITY CODE

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

x The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers q is extended, O 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 one 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 AC- KNOWLEDGMENT 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)

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

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

(X) 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 FAR 43.103(b).

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

D. OTHER (Specify type of mod ification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, x q is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

(Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation /contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purposes of this amendment are to:

1. respond to questions submitted by prospective offerors; and

2. incorporate changes made under this solicitation

Specific changes are detailed on succeeding pages of this modification.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 1 OA, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

(Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

(Type or print)

Andrew Holland, CPCM

;C-ee

O erSu isory ontrac

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15C. DATE SIGNED 16B

NITED S

ES OF AMERIC 16C. DATE SIGNED

B z 3(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signatu

'of ontracting Officer) 3 e/-

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

SOL-492-12-000038-01

BE SECURE PROGRAM

1. At Cover Letter:

a) replace closing time and date with the following:

“RFP Closing Date: March 15, 2013, 3:00pm (Philippines time) for electronic copy RFP Closing Date: March 19, 2013, 3:00pm (Philippines time) for hard copies

b) replace paragraph six with the following:

“Acceptance is upon receipt of the complete electronic copy NOT acceptance of hard copy. Offerors must submit an electronic copy of both their technical and cost proposals to the address provided at the cover letter. (1) original and four (4) hard copies of the technical proposal and one (1) original and one

(1) one copy of the cost proposal must be received no later than the date stated above. Facsimile submissions will not be accepted”.

2. In Table of Contents C.5 , is removed and re-numbered accordingly”.

3. On page 7 of the RFP, Sections B.4 Contract Budget and Section B.5 Budget are deleted and subsequent paragraphs renumbered.

4. At Section C.2.2.2, US Government, replace last sentence of the first paragraph with the following:

“Some of the major ongoing activities in water supply and sanitation and disaster response and risk mitigation are summarized in Table 1 below”.

5. In Section C.3.4 Program Funding Sources, delete last sentence of the first paragraph.

6. On Section C.3.7 Program Task:

a) Task 1.2.3 Increased water supply and wastewater service provider capacity in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, delete reference made to Task 1.1.5; and

b) Task 2.2.3 Increased Recovery Capability with impacts of hydrological extreme events, replace second paragraph with the following: ”The Contractor shall emphasize recovery, repair, and development of water systems, and assistance to return water systems to operations, with the intent of reducing potentially increased or shifting risks to these systems in the future, not just repair them to a new but vulnerable state they were in before”.

7. At Section C.9, add the following as background reading materials:

http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/Be_Secure_IEE.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/USAID_GCCS.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/ADB_LWUA_Assessment.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/Castalia_Water_Diagnostic_Report.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/NCCAP_TechDoc.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/NFSCC_Booklet_2011.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/Adaptation_and_Water_Definition_Support.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/PreAnalysis_Sendong_2011_R1.pdf

8. At Section H.13 Grants Under Contract, removed in its entirety and the following paragraphs are re-numbered accordingly”

9. In Section I.1 Notice Listing Contract Clauses Incorporated by Reference, remove 52.237-8 Restriction on

Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals.

http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/Be_Secure_IEE.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/USAID_GCCS.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/ADB_LWUA_Assessment.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/Castalia_Water_Diagnostic_Report.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/NCCAP_TechDoc.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/NFSCC_Booklet_2011.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/Adaptation_and_Water_Definition_Support.pdf http://philippines.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/docs/doing_biz/20130226/PreAnalysis_Sendong_2011_R1.pdf

10. a) At Section I.8(g) Salary Ceiling, delete the whole paragraph and replaced with the following:

“A ceiling has been established for staff on the reimbursable base salary or wage paid to personnel under the contract. The ceiling is equivalent to the maximum annual salary of the USAID established rate for agencies without certified SED performance appraisal system (AWCPAS) referred to as the USAID Contractor Salary Threshold (USAID CST), published at http://www.opm.gov/oca/05tables/html/es.asp as amended from time to time, unless the contracting officer approves a higher amount in accordance with the Agency policy and procedures in ADS 302 “USAID Direct Contracting”;

b) At Section I.8(h) Annual Salary Increases CCN Staff, replace third sentence with the following: “Annual salary increases of any kind exceeding these limitations requires an advance approval of the Contracting Officer.

c) On Section I.8(l)(3) Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) work week, delete first sentence.

11. In Section L.12 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal, replace “35 pages” with “40 pages”.

12. On Section L.12(3), Key Personnel, second paragraph, last sentence, replace geographic code “935 – Free World excluding foreign policy restricted countries” with “937 - U.S., recipient country or developing countries”.

13. At Section L.12(5)(d)(3)(B), replace “5 years” with “3 years”.

14. In Section L.15(d) Salaries and Wages, replace last four (4) sentences with the following: “Labor Compensation – Labor Cost for Cooperating Country National shall not exceed the thresholds in the respective US Embassy’s local employee compensation plan paid to personnel performing comparable work. Requests for waiver to this compensation guidance must be fully justified and shall require the approval of the contracting officer. Annual salary escalation proposed must be provided. Salaries for non-US personnel must be reflected on the bio-data form in local currency”.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

http://www.opm.gov/oca/05tables/html/es.asp

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

1. In Section H.3. Authorized Geographic Code on page 51, the RFP states that the authorized geographic code is 937. However, in Section L.12 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal on page 101, the RFP states that it is 935. Could USAID please clarify which geographic code it intends to assign to this contract?

Answer: This is a typographical error, authorized geographic code is 937.

2. Given that the past performance section is limited to 2 pages maximum, and there is a minimum requirement of three past performance references for any sub-Contractor whose total estimated cost exceeds 5% of the total proposed offer, could past performance references be included in an annex?

Could USAID provide the preferred past performance reference template?

Answer: 5% is a typographical error and should read as 15%, please see first paragraph of Section M.3(4). Past Performance Information short form is attached to this amendment as Annex 2.

3. Could USAID please clarify if it would like PPR’s to be included (a minimum of three each) for prime and any sub-contractor? If so, could PPR’s be included in an annex? Finally, could USAID provide the preferred past performance reference template?

Answer: Yes PPR’s can be included in an annex. Past Performance Information Short Form is attached as Annex 2.

4. In Section L. 12 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal on page 102, a major sub-contractor is alluded to as one whose total estimated cost exceeds 5% of the total proposed offer. In Section M.3 Technical Evaluation Criteria on page 111, a “major sub-contractor” is defined as one whose total cost exceeds 15% of the offerors bottom line total cost, including fixed fee. Could USAID please clarify what is considered a “major sub-contractor.”

Answer: Please see response to question # 2

5. Also in Section L.12 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal on page 100, the instructions state that “proposals are limited to 40 pages” which is what the page limits for each section in L.12 total to (1+20+9+8+2). However, on page 100, the instructions say that “proposals exceeding 35 pages including page allotments specified in the succeeding pages will not be evaluated.” Please confirm that 40 pages is allowed for the technical proposal.

Answer: Maximum page for Technical proposal is 40 pages.

6. Could USAID please confirm whether the full PMP should be included as an annex to the technical proposal, rather than included only as a part of the Management Approach Section

Answer: PMP can be included as an annex to the technical proposal.

7. Would USAID consider a later deadline for the hard copy submission of the proposal? Because of the time required to deliver the proposal, this means that almost the entire last week of the proposal effort is lost as a result.

Answer: Yes, please see page 2 of this amendment.

8. Does USAID have any preference in terms of the location of regional offices?

Answer: To be decided after award.

9. Could USAID provide an indication of the intended plug figure that should be used for grants?

Answer: While the Grants Under Contract provision and clauses have been deleted, there is a plug figure of $2.0M for Task 2.2.3 that should be used for proposal estimated purposes.

10. Could USAID please confirm that full page tables, graphs and charts do not count against the total page limit of 40 of the technical proposal?

Answer: Yes

11. In Section C.3.7 Program Tasks on page 29 of the RFP, a $2 million plug figure is provided in support of Task 2.2.3: Increased Recovery Capability with impacts of hydrological extreme events. Could USAID please clarify whether the $2 million is to be budgeted within the $19-$20 million budget or if it is considered a supplemental amount to be provided separately through USAID?

Please include in the overall budget, it is not considered supplemental.

12. In Section C.2.2.1 Government of the Philippines, on page 11, Attachment 2 is mentioned and in Section

C.2.2.2 US Government, on page 11, Attachment 3 is referenced. However, these attachments were not provided along with the RFP and one attachment. Could USAID please make these available to all offerors?

Answer: Attachment 2 is not a summary; rather it is a combination of policy documents, including the National Climate Change Action Plan and National Framework Strategy on Climate Change, and an analysis in the immediate aftermath of Tropical Storm Sendong, all of which are now included as background reading materials (see page 2, item #7 of this amendment) . Attachment 3 was never generated.

13. In Section C.3.7 Program Tasks on page 24 of the RFP, Task 1.1.5 under Sub-IR 1.1 is referenced;

however, Task 1.1.5 is not discussed anywhere else in Section C. If this is a separate task, could USAID please provide more background as to the envisioned activities that are to be implemented?

Answer: This was an editorial oversight, Task 1.1.5 does not exist.

14. Insert C.5 RESERVED.

15. USAID provided the FSN position descriptions but not the actual most recent FSN. In Section L.15 Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal, page 105 states that Labor Cost for LES shall not exceed the thresholds in the respective US Embassy’s local employee compensation plan. Can they kindly provide the latest LCP?

Answer: See attached Annex 1

16. Also in Section L.15 Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal, page 105 states that completed biographical data sheets must be provided for all technical personnel (not administrative support). However, page 107 (g) states that offeror must submit fully completed and signed Biographical Data Sheet for each proposed staff member. Could USAID kindly clarify whether biographical data sheets are required for all staff or just technical staff?

Answer: Biographical data sheets must be provided for all technical personnel only.

17. Also in Section L.15 Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal, Page 105 requires certification that the proposed personnel were not suggested or requested by USAID – is this required just from offeror or from offeror and every proposed sub awardee?

Answer: This portion is being deleted.

18. Does USAID have an estimated start date for the BE SECURE project?

Answer: o/a June 2013

19. Will the offeror benefit from the standard tax exemptions provided to U.S. grantees or contractors and their expatriate employees under the terms of the bilateral Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the US government and the Government of the Philippines? Does this also include an exemption from the requirement to deposit 2% of gross income in excess of PhP5,000,000 with the Securities and Exchange Commission each year?

Answer: Please see Section H.9

20. SOL Section L.12, paragraph 4, page 100 indicates "Proposals are limited to 40 pages..." The same paragraph continues to say "Proposals exceeding 35 pages, including page allotments specified in the succeeding pages will not be evaluated." Please clarify the page limit.

Answer: see response to question # 5

21. SOL Section C.3.4, paragraph 1, page 18 Program Funding Sources states in part, "Each funding source has specific requirements associated with it, which are described in detail in Attachment 5." However, Attachment 5 is not included in this RFP. Can USAID kindly make this attachment available to offerors?

Answer: Please refer to page 2 of this amendment, item # 7 for the document “Adaptation and Water Definition Support’ and the USAID Global Climate Change Strategy”.

22. SOL Section "Table of Contents", page 4 refers to Section C.5 Grants Under Contracts. This section is missing from page 33 and seems to be instead included as Section H.13. Can USAID please confirm that offerors should refer to Section H.13?

Answer: Please see page 2, items # 2 and 8 of this amendment.

23. SOL Section H.12 paragraph 3, page 53, and SOL Section I.8, paragraph 12, page 65: Section H.12

Authorized Work Day/Week states that, "Any six-day workweek proposed for short term technical assistance (defined as less than 120 days at a time) requires Contracting Officer approval." However, we note inconsistent language in Section I.8 Additional Requirements for Personnel Compensation (l)

Work Week (3) which states, "Any six-day workweek proposed for STTAs requires prior written approval by the Contracting Officer. A six-day work week is authorized for international short-term technical assistance with no premium pay." Please clarify whether six-day work weeks by international STTAs are authorized, as per the last sentence quoted, or require prior written approval from the CO, as per the other two sections quoted.

Answer: A six-day workweek is authorized for short-term technical assistance with no premium pay.

24. SOL Section H.15, paragraph 1, page 55 Requests for Consent to Subcontract: This section states that "The requirements under FAR Clause 52.244-2 do not apply to the following subcontracts which were evaluated during negotiations." Can USAID please clarify the requirements under this section?

Answer: USAID will fill this in after award.

25. Would USAID be willing to establish a fixed exchange rate (PhP to US$) in order to evaluate all budgets across offerors uniformly?

Answer: Exchange rate is $1=Php40.

26. SOL Section I.8, paragraph 4, page 65, and SOL Section L.15, paragraph 4, page 105: Section I.8 (c) states

"Salaries and wages must be reflective of the 'market value' for each position..." while Section L.15(d) states "Local Compensation - Labor Cost for LES shall not exceed the thresholds in the respective US Embassy's local employee compensation plan." Considering that market rates may differ from the US Embassy's LCP, would USAID consider allowing offerors to submit a compensation plan as an annex to the cost proposal with rates potentially outside the US Embassy LCP?

Answer: Please see item # 15, page 3 of this amendment.

27. What is the anticipated start date of the project?

Answer: Please see response to question # 18

28. SOL Section L.12, paragraph 2, page 101 clearly states that the "Overall Strategy, Conceptual Approach, and Methodology" section of the proposal must focus on the two target areas of Basilan and Iliolio.

Please clarify, however, whether the subsequent two sections---"Role of Implementing Partners" and "Gender Integration"---are also to be discussed only in the context of Iloilio and Basilan, or should consider all project sites more broadly.

Answer: Role of implementing partners and gender integration should consider all project sites more broadly.

29. SOL Section H.2, paragraph 2, page 51 indicates that "Offerors shall propose appropriate mix of key personnel (not to exceed five)" but does not indicate whether there is a minimum number of key personnel. A table that includes key personnel staffing slots for a Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party and two TBD positions in Section H.2 implies that USAID expects offerors to propose four key personnel. Kindly clarify whether USAID requires offerors to propose a minimum of four key personnel for this solicitation.

Answer: There is no minimum, and USAID does not expect offerors to propose exactly four key personnel. Offerors should propose the appropriate staffing mix to achieve desired results.

30. SOL Section L.12 (5), page 102 Past Performance states that "Offerors...must provide performance information for itself and each sub-contractor whose total estimated cost exceeds 5% of the proposed offer." Section L.15 page 107 defines a major subcontractor as a subcontractor "whose total cost exceeds 15% of the offeror's bottom line total cost." Can USAID kindly clarify how it is defining a major subcontractor for the purposes of this RFP?

Answer: see response to question # 2

31. Reference: SOL Section B.4.c, paragraph 1, page 7, states that “The Contractor shall not transfer costs between the budget line items without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.” As USAID intends to award a cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) completion type contract, through which the Contractor would be reimbursed for allowable, allocable, and reasonable costs necessary to complete contract deliverables, would USAID consider removing this clause to allow for maximum programmatic flexibility? This flexibility would enable the Contractor to align costs according to technical requirements as they develop during implementation, and respond to time sensitive and urgent technical needs quickly, up to the obligation and contract ceiling amount.

32. Reference: SOL Section C.3.7, paragraph 5, page 24, refers to “Task 1.1.5 under Sub-IR 1.1” which “will lay some groundwork to ensure that climate change projections and analyses are factored into national policy and investment planning for the sector.” However, task 1.1.5 is not included in the previous task write-up or in Section C.3.6, Program Components. Could USAID clarify whether these activities fall under another task?

Answer: Please see response to question # 13.

33. Reference: SOL Section C.4.3, paragraph 3, page 33, states that “as part of technical support provided under Task 1.2.4, the Contractor will need to coordinate especially closely with the selected implementing organizations of the USAID/Philippines and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance’s project with the World Food Program.” As Task is not included in Sections C.3.6 and C.3.7, could USAID clarify to which Task this Page 2 refers?

Answer: Please see response to question # 13

34. Reference: SOL Section H.19, paragraph 3, page 56, states that "USAID/Philippines prepared an IEE for the Water Secure Program (see attached)." Could USAID please provide this attachment?

Answer: Yes.

35. Reference: SOL Section I.1, page 58, includes FAR 52.237-8 Restriction on Severance Payments to

Foreign Nationals. We respectfully request that USAID also include FAR 52.237-9 Waiver of Limitation of Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals to facilitate our compliance with Philippine labor law and with AIDAR 752.7027(c).

Answer: FAR 52.237-8 is removed.

36. Reference: SOL Section L.12, paragraph 1, page 100. Could USAID please clarify whether the page limit for technical proposals is 35 pages or 40 pages?

Answer: Please see response to question # 5.

37. Reference: SOL Section L.12 (4), paragraph 1, page 101. Could USAID clarify whether we can include an indicator table for the draft M&E plan in an annex to the technical proposal?

38. Reference: SOL Section L.12(5)(a)(1), paragraph 1, page 102, states that “The Offeror shall include a minimum of three past performance references in the past eight years.” Could USAID clarify whether we can include PPRs in an annex to the technical proposal, as suggested in SOL Section L.12, paragraph 2, page 100, which states “the annexes will be used to judge the Offeror’s past experience and management capability”?

39. Reference: SOL Section L.12(5)(a), paragraph 1, page 102, states that offerors “must provide performance information for itself and each sub-Contractor whose total estimated cost exceeds 5% of total proposed offer.” Section M.3(4), paragraph 1, page 111 states that “a major subcontractor is defined as a subcontractor named in the proposal whose total cost exceeds 15% of the offer’s bottom line total cost, including fixed fee.” Can USAID clarify the definition of subcontractors requiring past performance information?

Answer: See response to question # 4

40. Reference: SOL Section L.12(5)(d)(3)(B), page 103: Our SF 294 report submissions for the past five years constitute more than 15 MB and 500 pages. May we instead either submit 10 of our most recent and relevant SF 294 reports or submit the full volume on a separate CD, to be supplied with the hard copy original?

Answer: Please see page 2 item # 13 of this amendment and submit full volume on a separate CD.

41. Reference: SOL Section L.15(d), paragraph 2, page 106 of the RFP states that “Costs should be broken down by types and units, and include an analysis that it is more advantageous to purchase than lease.”

Can USAID please confirm that this purchase versus lease analysis is required for only high-dollar value items, such as vehicles, rather than all equipment and supplies?

42. Reference: SOL Section L.15 (d), paragraph 3, page 106, states that “Indirect costs are not allowed for indigenous awards to local organizations. All costs for local organizations must be budgeted as direct costs.” We respectfully request that USAID provide offerors with the flexibility of entering into Time and Materials (T&M) type subcontracts with local organizations when the following conditions are met:

a. A local organization can provide evidence that it has an accounting system capable of administering a CPFF or T&M type subcontract;

b. A local organization is committed to undergoing annual audits of their indirect cost rates in accordance with the cost principles of FAR Part 31;

c. The prime contractor has subcontract management systems to ensure a CPFF or T&M subcontract with a local organization is administered properly; and,

d. A local organization has established indirect cost rates and the use of indirect cost rates is an integral part of their cost accounting standards. With strong prime contractor oversight and the requirement for local organizations to undergo annual audits in accordance with the cost principles of FAR Part 31, these contracting mechanisms serve as a tool to build the capacity of local organizations so they can eventually have the financial and administrative capacity to receive direct funding from USAID. In addition, managing direct cost allocation subcontracts typically results in higher financial and administrative burden for prime contractors and reduces overall cost control due to monthly costs varying significantly, depending on the services being provided by the subcontractor. Indirect cost rate ceilings (under CPFF subcontracts) and fixed multipliers (under T&M subcontracts) reduce the government’s cost risk of potential indirect cost rate increases and allow for a higher level of cost control and financial and administrative oversight by the prime contractor.

43. Reference: SOL Section D.2, paragraph 3, page 37, states that the name of the activity shall be the

“Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Water Secure Program).” Section L.14, paragraph 1, page 103, states the program name as: “Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth (BE-SECURE) Program.” Could USAID please clarify the name to be used?

Answer: Offerors shall use “Be Secure Program”.

44. The SOW makes reference to several attachments. Could the Mission make those appendices available prior to the Request for Proposal being released?

Answer: Please see response to question # 20.

45. USAID indicates that Maguindanao is in Region XII, however our understanding is that it is part of the ARMM (Region XV). Also, our understanding is that Isabela, while a part of Basilan, is not considered to be within the ARMM. Could USAID clarify what the focal areas will be for the work, especially in terms of the population targets? Also, does USAID intend that work in Maguindanao extend through the entire province (or beyond into other parts of the ARMM) in order to meet the ARMM targets?

Answer: Offerors should plan for all of Maguindanao, with specific LGUs to be decided upon award, subject to USAID approval. The work on Basilan will include the entire island.

46. There are a variety of regulations and (national) government entities that have some responsibility for water resources management. An example is the Water Quality Management Fund and the Water Quality Management Areas that were set up when the Clean Water Act was established. While these two entities were created to help implement the changes needed they were never funded and as a result no implementation occurred. The national government had good and valid reasons for not funding these entities but how will a task focused on implementing activities to address …weak governance, fragmented institutions, and responsibility for providing universal water service coverage scattered across many different institutions... plan for lack of government funding?

Also, since the project works from the national to the municipal level, we would suggest that a large amount of flexibility in implementing national-level solutions be maintained to allow for targeted interventions at the various levels. Our fear is that should a national- level institution be implemented, its charter might make it more difficult or even impossible for the kinds of innovation the Mission is trying to create at the sub-national levels.

Answer: USAID is providing the "what," and Offerors will provide the "how," which includes a wide spectrum of options for addressing weak governance, fragmented institutions, and responsibility for providing universal water service coverage scattered across many different institutions. USAID is very flexible. Offerors should not fear reform, rather it should be embraced and molded through active engagement.

47. This task includes the following language… In support of Tasks 2.2.1 and 2.2.2, the Offeror shall provide a rapid-reaction facility/capability, with prior approval from USAID, to support LGUs and emergency-affected populations when normal supplies of drinking water are interrupted or compromised, resulting from natural disaster events. …The language suggests that USAID is requiring the successful bidder develop a capability to physically respond to disaster events. As written, it would seem that the Mission could require this rapid reaction capability to respond to an event such as Typhoon Pablo, where (according to some news reports) 318 municipalities were impacted in 34 provinces. Can the Mission please clarify the requirements for this task? We believe that its open-endedness as written may result in a task that is impossible to implement.

Answer: USAID is emphasizing disaster recovery, rather than disaster response, in discrete and directed areas.

Annex 1

FSN BASIC PAY SCALE

Notes:

(a) The above rates are basic and do not include fringe benefits.

(b) The FSN-13 grade is an exception grade. This position requires substantially greater knowledge, skills and abilities than that normally required by the FSN-12 position. The responsibilities assigned to a position and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for their satisfactory performance clearly and substantially exceed the FSN position classification criteria, guidelines, and published standards for the FSN-12 level.

Positions which meet this exceptional circumstance may be classified to the FSN-13 level.

Annex 2

PAST PERFORMANCE INFORAMTION SHORT FORM

Past Performance Report

CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE REPORT - SHORT FORM

PART I: Contractor Information (to be completed by Prime)

1.

Name of Contracting Entity:

Contract Number:

Contract Type:

Contract Value (TEC): (if subcontract, subcontract value) Problems:

(if problems encountered on this contract, explain corrective action taken)

Contacts:

(Name, Telephone Number and E-mail address) a.

Contracting officer:

b.

Technical Officer (CTO):

c.

Other:

Contractor:

Information Provided in Response to RFP No.:

PART II:

Performance Assessment (to be completed by Agency) 1.

Quality of product or service, including consistency in meeting goals and targets, and cooperation and effectiveness of the Prime in fixing problems. Comment:

Cost control, including forecasting costs as well as accuracy in financial reporting. Comment:

Timeliness of performance, including adherence to contract schedules and other time-sensitive project conditions, and Effectiveness of home and field office management to make prompt decisions and ensure efficient operation of tasks. Comment:

Customer satisfaction, including satisfactory business relationship to clients, initiation and management of several complex activities simultaneously, coordination among subcontractors and developing country partners, prompt and satisfactory correction of problems, and cooperative attitude in fixing problems. Comment:

5.

Effectiveness of key personnel including: effectiveness and appropriateness of personnel for the job;

and prompt and satisfactory changes in personnel when problems with clients where identified.

Comment:

[Note: The actual dollar amount of subcontracts, if any, (awarded to the Prime) must be listed in Block 4 instead of the Total Estimated Cost (TEC) of the overall contract. In addition, a Prime may submit attachments to this past performance table if the spaces provided are inadequate; the evaluation factor(s) must be listed on any attachments.]