RFP_SEA_Amend_No_01.pdf

(x) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

SOL-497-15-000007

x x

5 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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 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.

x

N/A

Not Applicable

INDONESIA

USAID/INDONESIA

U.S. Agency for International Development U.S. Embassy Annex, Gedung Sarana Jaya, 15th Floor Jl. Budi Kemuliaan I/1, Jakarta 10110 - Indonesia

12/01/2014000001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

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

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

12/01/2014

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

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

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

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

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

The purpose of this amendment is to:

(1) delete working phrase of “major Subcontractor” and replace with “Subcontractor”;

(2) revise Section C.5;

(3) revise Section L.2 (c) Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals;

(4) revise Section L.9.4;

(5) revise Section L.11. Instruction for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal; and

(6) Response to Queries raised in Reponses to the RFP.

Except as so stated, all other terms and conditions in the original RFP remain the same.

Accordingly, the RFP is amended as follows:

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

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

Andrea M. Plucknett, Contracting Officer

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

x FAA1961, as amended and EO 11223 x

N/A

/s/

AMENDMENT No. 01

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

SOL-497-15-000007

Indonesia Sustainable Ecosystem Advanced (SEA) Project

Issuance Date: December 1, 2014 Question Due Date: January 8, 2015 Question Due Time: 2:00 PM, Jakarta Time Closing Date of Proposals: February 17, 2015 Submission Time of Proposals: 2:00 PM, Jakarta Time

The purpose of this Amendment No. 01 to the RFP SOL-497-15-000007 is to respond to questions and requests for clarifications which were received prior to the closing date for acceptance of questions and to provide additional information which is of relevance to prospective Offerors in responding to this RFP.

Accordingly, the following information is provided and the solicitation is amended as specified herein.

A. Delete wording phrase of “major Subcontractor” and replace with “Subcontractor”.

B. Reference Section L.9.4, fifth (5th) bullet replace in-bracket text as follow:

“(i.e., resumes/CVs with maximum of 5 pages only and other documentation provided by the Offeror)”

C. Reference Section C.5, on page 33, delete the last sentence of the first paragraph and replace with the following:

“The Contractor must have requisite levels of professional expertise to address the five main technical components outlined in Section C.2.3.”

D. Reference Section L.2 (c) Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals, on page 90, delete last sentence of subsection (a) and replace with the following:

“Offerors using commercial carriers should ensure that the proposal is marked on the outermost wrapper with the information in paragraphs (c)(a)(i) and (c)(a)(ii) of this provision.”

E. Reference Section L.11 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST

PROPOSAL on page 103, 1st paragraph, replace 1st sentence with the following:

“There is no page limitation for the cost proposal. Offerors shall submit the Cost Proposal in one (1) original and two (2) hard copies and shall include the following information.”

RFP SOL-497-15-000007 Amendment No 01

USAID/INDONESIA SEA PROGRAM

RESPONSES TO QUERIES RAISED IN RESPONSE TO THE RFP

1. Question: Would USAID provide Offerors with an exchange rate to use in our cost proposal?

Question: Will USAID please provide a uniform exchange rate so that this budgeting assumption is consistent across proposals and so that USAID may evaluate budgets on equal terms?

Response: For budgeting and evaluation purposes, Offerors may use a currency exchange rate of Rp.11,500/USD$1.

2. Question: On page 26, Section C. 2.3, Task 9: Develop and implement FTF intervention and mechanism to improve fisheries productivity, states that award eligibility and evaluation criteria for subcontracts to local organizations under this task will be determined in consultation with USAID, MMAF, and relevant stakeholders. Should the Offeror provide an illustrative list of local partners who may be eligible for subcontracts after contract award, or should the Offeror provide a plan to manage the funds per Section L.11.2.c?

Response: The Offeror should provide a plan which demonstrates the management of the funds.

3. Question: On page 63, Section H.18, Approvals – Nonexpendable Property Purchases, states that, “All purchases of nonexpendable property (i.e., property which is complete in itself, does not lose its identity or become a component part of another article when put into use, is durable with an expected service life of two years or more, and which has a unit cost of more than $500) will require approval of the Contracting Officer.” Would USAID consider increasing this approval value from $500 to $2,500 to support a rapid startup further?

Response: Section H.18 is in accordance with USAID regulation, therefore there are no changes to this clause.

4. Question: On page 98, Section L.9.4 provides a list documents that are not included in the 30-page limitation. Can USAID please confirm which of these documents (i.e., table summarizing qualifications of proposed personnel; CVs; Letters of Commitment; Summary M&E Plan including the Theories of Change; Branding Implementation and Marking Plan; Past Performance Listing; and Charts, such as the Management Structure Organizational Charts[s]) should be included as Annexes and which should be included in the Technical Approach?

Response: Please refer to the RFP on page 98, “not included in this page limitation are the following:

• Cover/Title Page;

• Table of Contents;

• Dividers;

• Table summarizing qualifications of proposed personnel

• Appendix attachments which contain biographical information (i.e., resumes/CVs and other documentation provided by the Offeror) for proposed candidates;

• A Summary M&E Plan, including Theories of Change;

• Branding Implementation and Marking Plan;

• Contractor/Major Sub-Contractor Past Performance Listing; and

• Charts, such as Management Structure Organizational Chart(s), etc.”

5. Question: On page 102, Section L.9.5 (e) requests that the Offeror provide performance information for itself and each subcontractor. Can USAID please confirm that they would only like performance information from major subcontractors?

Please confirm that USAID defines a major subcontractor as one that performs a critical function for the project.

Question: On page 102, the RFP asks for past performance references for each subcontractor, however on page 114 the RFP asks for past performance references for major subcontractors. Please clarify.

Response: All subcontractors proposed by the Offeror in this project are defined as “Subcontractors”, and please refer to clarification A above.

6. Question: In reference to page 102, Section L.9.5 (e), shall the Offeror submit performance information for five contracts total or five for itself and an additional five per major subcontractor?

Question: Please clarify if USAID would like five past performance references per subcontractor or five in total between all subcontractors?

Question: Section M.3.4 indicates that USAID will evaluate contractor and major subcontractor performance information. Section L.9.5(e) states, “the offeror must provide performance information for itself and each subcontractor,” including listing in an annex up to five recent and relevant contracts. Would USAID please clarify whether offerors should provide information regarding a total of up to five contracts, or up to five for the offeror plus up to five for each major subcontractor?

Response: The Offeror must provide up to five (5) examples of the most recent and relevant contract performance information for the Offeror and five (5) for each of the Offeror’s subcontractor.

7. Question: On page 102, Section L.9.5 (e) requests recent and relevant contract information (Scope of work or complexity/diversity of tasks; Primary location(s) of work; Term of performance; Skills/expertise required; Dollar value; Contract type, i.e., fixed-price, cost reimbursement, etc.; and Use of small business concerns) that does not align with Attachment 9, Past Performance Information Short Form. Should the Offeror include the information not already requested in the Short Form? If USAID prefers that the Offeror utilize the Short Form as provided in Attachment 9, may the Offeror include a scope of work description in the form?

Response: Attachment 9 is a Template of Short Form of Past Performance Information available for the Offeror to use. Offeror may use its own templates or format;

however the Offeror must provide all information as stated in Attachment 9 and all requested information as stated in Section L.

8. Question: On pages 113–114, Section M.3.1.3 states that the Summary M&E Plan and

Illustrative Theories of Change are part of the Technical Approach and Understanding. As page 98, Section L.9.4, lists the Summary M&E Plan and Theories of Change as excluded from the 30-page limitation, can USAID please confirm that these sections are to be evaluated as part of the technical approach but included as an Annex and not counted against the page limit?

Response: As described on Page 98, all of the above will be evaluated as part of the technical proposal but may be included as an annex and will not be counted against the page limit.

9. Question: On page 115, Section M.3.4, Past Performance, lists five elements in which the contractor performance information will be evaluated. However, the five elements as stated are not currently included in the Attachment 9, Past Performance Information Short Form. Should the Offeror include these five elements in the Short Form or should the Offeror include them in a past performance write-up in the technical approach?

Response: The five elements are already included in Attachment 9, Part II.

10. Question: Please clarify the Geographic Code for procurement as page 63 (H.17) indicates 000 but page 55 indicates 937

Response: On page 63, section H.17 it is stated that “The authorized source for procurement is Geographic Code 000 unless otherwise specified in the schedule of this contract.” The contract section H.1 specifies that the Authorized Geographic Code is 937 as stated in page 55, which includes Geographic Code 000.

11. Question: Section L.7.2: What is the maximum size of email that USAID/Jakarta can receive?

Question: What is the maximum size for e-mail submissions?

Response: Proposals-indo@usaid.gov can receive email with a size up to 6MB. For any email above 6MB, it is recommended to break email submissions into separate emails.

12. Question: Please confirm that an acronym and abbreviations list, executive summary, full page graphics, full page maps, conceptual model/results framework, and consortium table are non-counting pages.

Response: Please refer to RFP section L.9. NOTE on page 98, “Any page in the Technical Proposal that contains a table, chart, graph, etc. not otherwise specifically excluded below, is included within the above page limitation for the Technical Proposal.” The Executive Summary is included in the 30-page limit.

13. Question: Please confirm that a short transmittal letter will not count against the page limit.

Response: Any document or letter that is included or part of the Technical Proposal is counted in the 30-page limit. Only documents or letters that are marked as Annex or Appendix will not be counted as part of the 30 page limit.

14. Question: Please provide a definition for a “major” subcontractor.

Response: Please refer to clarification A above.

15. Question: Does USAID want CVs for all proposed personnel or just key personnel? Page 100 asks for key personnel CVs but page 98 mentions including “appendix attachments which contain biographical information for proposed candidates”.

Response: The Offeror must submit CVs and a biographical data sheet (Attachment 6 - AID 1420-17) for all Key Personnel candidates.

16. Question: Would USAID please clarify if there is a page limit to key personnel CVs?

mailto:Proposals-indo@usaid.gov

Response: Please refer to clarification B above.

17. Question: We kindly request that USAID send an updated local compensation plan and/or FSN scale.

Response: The U.S. Embassy Local Compensation Plan can be found in the RFP on page 105, and is the valid and current salary rate.

18. Question: On p. 66, the RFP requires COR concurrence and CO approval for STTA six day workweeks. Would USAID be able to pre-approve a six day workweek in the RFP?

Response: There is no pre-approved six-day workweek in the RFP. Approval will be provided upon request on a case by case after the award has been issued.

19. Question: Page 33 under C.5, the RFP says “The contractors must have the requisite levels of professional experience to address the five main technical components outlined in Section C.3.” Section C.3 does not contain 5 technical components. Is USAID referring to Section C.2.3?

Response: Please refer to clarification C above.

20. Question: The requirement of an advanced degree can render ineligible highly qualified candidates who lack an advanced degree but bring many years of relevant practical experience and technical knowledge, and, except for the degree, are fully qualified for the position. Flexibility in the degree requirement will provide USAID with a wider range of candidates for consideration. We respectfully request that USAID allow adequate years of experience in lieu of an advanced degree for key personnel positions.

Response: The offeror may submit proposed key personnel without an advanced degree, as long as justification and explanation are provided.

21. Question: What percentage increase for annual salaries is authorized for expats, TCNs, and CCNs?

Response: The percentage annual salary increase is a maximum of 5% for expats, TCNs and CCNs.

22. Question: Page 101 mentions that "qualified professional staff ....may require differential compensation packages at different locations within the target area”. Please clarify if USAID would allow compensation and allowances that may exceed standard USAID regulations.

Response: The costs of overseas allowances should be budgeted in accordance with the rates established in the U.S. Department of State’s Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas) (DSSR) for various overseas locations.

Differential compensation packages must be in accordance with the U.S> Department of State’s Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas) (DSSR). The compensation packages on page 101 are to compensate local staff from other provinces to be assigned to work permanently in specific targeted areas with limited infrastructure. For example:

If contractor assigned staffs from Jakarta to work permanently in West Papua, the contractor may provide a higher compensation package (such as demobilization, travel expenses, insurance, or higher salaries).

23. Question: Please clarify if Task 9 Feed the Future (FTF) activities will only be implemented only through "subcontracts" or whether we will be able to issue grants. If grants are to be implemented, will we need to submit a Grants Manual? Will there be a limit for individual grants?

Response: FTF will be implemented through direct implementation or through subcontracts to local organizations. There is no limit in term of subcontractor number. SEA will not include a formal grants component, thus no Grants Manual is required.

24. Question: Does USAID intend to provide any Government furnished equipment (GFE) to the successful bidder, or should the bidder assume that all equipment, such as computers, copiers, need to be priced into the proposal?

Response: The Offeror should assume that all equipment, such as computers, copiers, need to be priced into the proposal, however some of IMACS assets will be transferred to the successful Offeror.

25. Question: In section F.5.4 Procurement Plan (page 46), please advise the due date for submission of the procurement plan.

Response: The due date of submission of procurement plan is 30 days after the awarded date.

26. Question: In section H.19, page 64, please confirm if the Contractor can flow-down the tax exemption to subcontractors.

Response: All USAID funded projects are tax-exempt, thus it is confirmed that tax-exemption flows-down to the subcontractors.

27. Question: Under the Technical Evaluation Criteria (Section M), would USAID consider assigning evaluation points for the Technical Approach, Key Personnel and Other Technical Personnel, Management Approach, and Past Performance sections? How will the CO be able to determine if a higher technical evaluation merits additional cost/price if there is no numerical score associated with the technical evaluation?

Response: The evaluation methodology for this Solicitation is by Adjective methodology and not by points. Please refer to the RFP section M for Evaluation Factor.

28. Question: Section H.25.b) page 66 indicates that work week shall not be less than 40 hours for non-overseas and overseas employees. However, section L.11.8.(2);

page 109, requires the Offeror and major sub-contractors to describe their work day and work week policies as some organizations do not have an 8-hour work day. Please confirm that contractors and subcontractors whose standard policy and practice is to use a less than 8 hour work day or 40-hour work week may follow their established policies, procedures, and practices.

Response: The work week shall not be less than 40-hours a week.

29. Question: Please confirm if Attachment 7, SF LLL - Disclosure of Lobbying Activities on page 127 of 144, and Attachment 8 Certification of Current Cost and Pricing Data on page 131 of 144 should be included as part of the Cost Proposal.

Response: It is confirmed that SF LLL – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities and Certification of Current Cost and Pricing Data are part of the Cost Proposal.

30. Question: On page 104 of the RFP, the Offerer is requested to prepare an itemized budget detail for each of the seven (7) CLINs. Please clarify that the detailed budget with all categories listed on page 104 (i.e. Salary and Wages, Fringe Benefits, Allowances, Consultants, Travel, Equipment and Supplies, ODC, Subcontract, Participant Training, Indirect Costs, G&A and Fixed Fee (if any)) is not applicable for "CLIN 007 - Feed the Future Activities" as this CLIN is a plugged figure of $2,000,000.

Response: CLIN 007 is not required to have budget details as it is only a plugged figure of $2,000,000.

31. Question: Does USAID intend to include grants under contract authorization in the final award? For example, on page 14 of the RFP, a “merit-based grant system” is suggested as a possible complementary mechanism for STIP activity. Also, under Task 9, the Feed the Future intervention seems to emphasize award of subcontracts, but calls for cost-sharing. Cost-sharing is often an approach that is more relevant to grants than to subcontracts.

Response: Under the SEA project, USAID doesn’t intend to include grants under contract.

Subcontracts are recommended instead of small grants. Subcontract processes require less time to select implementing partners to deliver the activities compared with small grant processes. “A competitive and merit-based grant system that supports promising marine research” is a potential activity supported by the STIP program and not by SEA project.

32. Question: During the period when USAID compiled the RFP for the SEA project, the government of Indonesia promulgated UU 23/2014, a revision to the local governance law (UU 32/2004). The revised law shifts responsibility for management and conservation of near-shore renewable (non-oil/gas) resources from district to provincial level (see Article 27 and Annex Y). The RFP, on the other hand, puts some emphasis on governance at the district level. Would USAID prefer to see this shift in management responsibility reflected in the proposal, which would therefore emphasize governance at the provincial level, or does USAID prefer to maintain a focus on governance at the district level?

Response: The SEA project should be kept relevant to any regulations that includes UU 32/2004 and should anticipate the impact that might arise during the design and implementation.

33. Question: In reference to the list of items in Section L.9.4 that do not count against the page limit, may we include a list of acronyms that will not count against the page limit?

Response: Any pages that are not in the Technical Proposals will not be included in the 30-page limit. The list of acronyms should be part of Appendix/Annex which will not be included in the 30-page limit.

34. Question: Page 90, L.2 FAR 52.215-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS- COMPETITIVE

ACQUISITION (JAN 2004) ALT I (OCT 1997), (c) Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals, text “Offerors using commercial carriers should ensure that the proposal is marked on the outermost wrapper with the information in paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (c)(1)(ii) of this provision. The said paragraphs could not be located. We assume the reference is to (c)(a)(i) and (c)(a)(ii). Please let us know if we are correct?

Response: Please refer to clarification D above.

35. Question: Page 95 L.7.2 (b) Hard Copies vs page 103 L.11 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSALS, L.7.2 mandates one original and two copies of cost proposal while L.11 mandates one original and three copies. Please clarify the number of hard copies of the cost proposal that need to be submitted?

Response: Please refer to clarification E above.

36. Question: Page 125, Attachment 6 – USAID Form 1420-17 - Contractor Biographical Data Sheet. A hardcopy is attached; however an electronic copy is located at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms/AID1420-17.doc. The said form, in attachment 6, states it has expired on 10/31/2010 and the electronic copy in the given link states it has expired on 02/28/2014. Please clarify the link to updated AID 1420-17 document?

Response: The reference link is directed to the USAID Forms data base, which is maintained and controlled by USAID Washington. Any updates to related forms will be uploaded to the stated link.

Issuance of this Amendment No. 1 to RFP No. SOL-497-15-000007 does not constitute a commitment on the part of the U.S. Government to make an award nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Further, the U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any proposal received. In addition, final award of any resultant Agreement cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal USAID procedures the condition on which this RFP is issued

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the Original RFP issued on December 1, 2014 remains unchanged and in full force and effect. No further questions will be accepted under this RFP.

http://www.usaid.gov/forms/AID1420-17.doc