Questions and Answers - SOL-514-10-000001

SOL-514-10-000001

CELI-Central Region Program

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. According to the first page of the RFP, the solicitation number is SOL-514-10-000004, however, in several other places throughout the document it is listed as SOL-514-10-000001. Could you please clarify which is the correct solicitation number?

Answer: The correct solicitation number is SOL-514-10-000001. The first page/Cover Letter solicitation number (SOL-514-10-000004) will be modified through an amendment to the solicitation.

2. Page 77 of the RFP, (section L.12 subsection 10) states that Letters of Commitment for individuals should be included with the Cost Proposal. Would you please confirm that we need only include them in the Cost Proposal?

Answer: Letters of Commitment for individuals should be included with the Cost Proposal.

3. Would you please confirm that, as instructed on page 71 of the RFP in Section L.12.B.1(a), past performance references should be included as “an annex to the technical proposal” and are therefore not included in the page limit?

Answer: Past Performance information/references should be included as an annex to the Technical

Proposal and are not included in the Sixty (60) page limit.

4. Would you please confirm that “Offerors shall include in an EXHIBIT to the proposal (which will not count against the page limit set forth above, résumés for all key personnel candidates,” as instructed on page 71 of the RFP (section L.11.A subsection 3).

Answer: Offerors shall include in an annex/exhibit to the proposal (which will not count against the page limit of the Technical Proposal), résumés for all key personnel candidates.

5. Can offerors propose a project office in Bogota for liaison with USAID and financial management functions?

Answer: The RFP does not restrict offerors from proposing a project office in Bogota. Offerors are encouraged to focus on creating a management structure that ensures that program leadership and implementation efforts are focused in consolidation zones working with the Regional Coordination Centers, local government institutions and actors, and communities. Offerors should clearly explain the role of a Bogota office and how management or programmatic functions located in Bogota fit into the proposed management approach that maximizes leadership and implementation in the consolidation zones.

6. Given that a great deal of the Cost Proposal is made up of certified documents or documents that are not text files (certifications, NICRA, financial and other statements) would USAID accept Cost Proposals in PDF format with the Budget provided in Excel and Budget Narrative in Word?

Answer: Yes, USAID would accept Cost Proposals certified documents or documents that are not text files (certifications, NICRA, financial and other statements) in PDF format with the Budget provided in Excel and Budget Narrative in Word.

7. In order to ensure compliance with AIDAR requirements that contractor CCN staff salaries and benefits comply with Mission-employed CCNs, could you please provide a copy of the Local Employee Compensation Plan?

Answer: A copy of the most up to date version of the U.S. Mission Colombia - Local Compensation

Plan is provided through Amendment No.2 as an attachment to the solicitation.

8. Is it permissible for Offerors to submit the electronic files of the proposals in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format only, to retain the formatting and reduce the size of the files for easier transmission? Submissions of files in PDF format would reduce the numbers of files required to meet the 4.5M file size restriction.

Answer: Yes, it is permissible, but Offerors must also submit a Microsoft Office Word version of the

Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal Budget Narrative. Cost Proposal budgets must be in Microsoft Office Excel Worksheets.

9. Section L.10.(4) on page 68 of the RFP states: “The Sixty (60) Page Limitation stated above for the

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL is inclusive of:

- The Offeror’s Technical Approach;

- Management Approach and Capability;

- Staffing Plan and Key Personnel;

- Application of Technical and Management Approach through Case Studies;

- Contractor Performance Information

- Key Personnel Résumés and Letters of Commitment;

- Cover Page;

- Table of Contents;

- Title Pages; and,

- Dividers.”

a) Section L.11.A(3)b on page 71 of the RFP states: Offerors shall include in an EXHIBIT to the proposal (which will not count against the page limit set forth above), résumés for all key personnel candidates. Résumés may not exceed four pages in length. Each résumé shall be accompanied by a letter of commitment....”

Please clarify whether Key Personnel Résumés and Letters of Commitment will count against the 60-page limit of the proposal or whether they should be presented in an attachment (EXHIBIT) to the 60-page technical proposal and not count against the page limit.

Answer: Key Personnel Résumés and Letters of Commitment shall be included as an annex/exhibit to the Technical Proposal, which will not count against the Sixty (60) page limit.

b) Similarly, while the list above of information inclusive in the 60-page limit includes Contractor

Performance Information, Section L.11.B(1)a. on page 71 of the RFP states “List in an annex to the technical proposal the most recent and relevant contracts for efforts similar to the work in the subject proposal.”

Please clarify whether this list should be presented in an annex to the Technical Proposal or whether it should be included in the technical proposal and will count against the 60-page limit.

Answer: Please see answer to question No.3.

c) Please clarify whether there should be any Past Performance narrative (including the Use of Small Business narrative and three Small Business references) included in the 60-page Technical Proposal, or whether all of Factor 2 – Past Performance items (list of most recent and relevant contracts and related information, extraordinary problem descriptions if any, any quality awards or certifications, use of small business concerns) should be presented in an annex to the Technical Proposal and therefore will not count against the 60-page limit.

Answer: Please see answer to question No.3.

10. The RFP (Section L.10.(4) on page 68) requires Letters of Commitment from Key Personnel to be included in an EXHIBIT to the Technical Proposal. Section L.12(10) on page 77 of the RFP under Cost Proposal instructions states “A SIGNED letter of commitment is required from each long-term individual”

Please confirm that Letters of Commitment from proposed Key personnel should be included in the Technical Proposal, while Letters of Commitment from both Key and all other long-term individuals should also be included in the Cost proposal.

Answer: Key Personnel Letters of Commitment should be included as an annex/exhibit to the Technical

Proposal, which will not count against the Sixty (60) page limit.

11. Section L.13 on page 79 of the RFP states “The offeror shall prepare a Branding Implementation Plan describing how it will implement the Branding Strategy provided in Section J, Attachment 2....and, The Offeror shall prepare a Marking Plan containing information substantially similar to the template provided in Section J, Exhibit 4, Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan.”

Please clarify if Offerors are to prepare and submit a Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan as part of their proposal and, if so, if it should be attached to the Technical or the Cost Proposal. If it is to be attached to the Technical Proposal, will it count against the 60-page limit?

Answer: Offerors are to prepare and submit a BIP and MP as part of the Cost Proposal.

12. Page 20 of the RFP under b. Rapid Programmatic Start-up states that the technical proposal should include a “timeline that clearly shows the offeror’s benchmarks for fulfilling proposed start-up benchmarks.”

Will the timeline chart, and other full-page graphics (for example, the required organization chart) count against the 60-page limit?

Answer: Yes.

13. Is it permissible for offerors to use Times New Roman 11 pt. font for Résumés given the 4-page limit on

Résumés required by the RFP?

Answer: Font should not be smaller than 12 point type. Only 8-point type is acceptable for graphics and tables provided that they are legible.

14. Page 81 item M.2 Method of Evaluation states that “Contractor Performance will not be numerically scored; however, Past Performance Information will be rated for each offeror with one of the following risk rating categories: Very High Level of Confidence, High Level of Confidence, etc…”

Please provide further explanation as to how this rating system will be applied. That is, what objective criteria will be used to rate the contractor’s past performance? Additional information regarding this rating system will assure that the contractor’s past performance is presented in a manner that best meets USAID’s requirements.

Answer: Please refer to solicitation Section M, M.3 EVALUATION FACTORS, FACTOR 2 – PAST PERFORMANCE for further details and explanation.

15. In describing the relationship among the contractor, USAID and the Government of Colombia, the RFP on page 10 states that “The Contractor’s leadership and implementation efforts shall be based in the consolidation zones, not in Bogota …” Given the geography of the Central Region, however, Bogota might be the most cost-efficient location for a central project office. Also, liaison with both USAID and the GOC is facilitated by the contractor’s presence in Bogota.

Please clarify USAID’s intent regarding the appropriateness of a project presence in Bogota.

Answer: Please see answer to question No. 5.

16. Section C.4.4 Grants Under Contract (pg 22) states “The majority of this activity fund will be directly managed by the CELI-Central Contractor as grants under contracts although the Contractor may propose other types of program activities utilizing this fund.” Section L.12 paragraph 15 (pg 79) states “USAID anticipates that $74 million is an appropriate estimate for the Activity Fund for Grants Under Contract (GUCs).” Please clarify whether the fund is restricted to GUCs. The Contractor respectfully requests that the fund be flexible and not restricted to GUCs as stated in Section C.4.4 (pg 22).

Answer: The activity fund is not limited to Grants Under Contract (GUCs). This activity fund can be used for GUCs, training, short-term technical assistance or direct procurement and distribution of goods and services. However, USAID’s preference for activity implementation is GUCs, and utilization of other approaches is intended to provide flexibility when GUCs are not appropriate. Offerors should clearly explain when and why they would propose other approaches since USAID envisions GUCs as a core element of the CELI-Central contractor’s ability to work flexibly with local groups and with local government in the consolidation zones.

It is important to note that many of the alternatives to GUCs listed above can be provided as in-kind support under GUC activities. For example, STTA or training for a producer association could be provided as part of a package of in-kind support along with inputs. In rare cases, the program might sponsor STTA or training that is not linked to a specific grantee and that would be better implemented as a stand-alone intervention under the activity fund. In the same way, USAID envisions direct procurement in-kind is a major component many of the GUC activities under the CELI-Central contract, but certain direct procurement and distribution might be better carried out separately from a grant activity.

17. On page 13 (Section Co2), in the paragraph describing activities in La Macarena, the RFP states that an

“operational plan for La Macarena is being used as the consolidation road map.” Could USAID provide offerors with a copy of the operational plan for La Macarena?

Answer: USAID will provide the PCIM Operational Plan as an attachment. The Operational Plan is a

GOC document, and USAID program activities will support specific elements of the operational plan.

The operational plan should be considered as a guide for CELI-Central implementation efforts, and offerors should look to complement GOC efforts under the operational plan.

18. On page 13 (Section Co2), in the paragraph describing activities in southern Tolima, the RFP states, “USAID is working with the RCC to develop a security strategy for territorial control and an operational plan for the region.” Could USAID provide offerors with a copy of those documents?

Answer: The security strategy referenced above does not refer to a specific document laying out strategy but rather refers to a process of coordination between the civilian, military and police coordinators at the RCC, USAID, and the current USAID partner operating in Tolima to implement program activities once a minimum level of permanent territorial security is re-established. The security strategy will be a continuing process of coordination between the RCC, USAID, and the selected Contractor during implementation of the CELI-Central contract.

USAID will provide the Tolima RCC’s Operational Plan as an attachment. The Operational Plan is a

GOC document, and USAID program activities will support specific elements of the operational plan.

The operational plan should be considered as a guide for CELI-Central implementation efforts, and offerors should look to complement GOC efforts under the operational plan.

19. In Section L.5, “52.222-46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees,” the RFP states, “offerors will submit a total compensation plan setting forth salaries and fringe benefits for the professional employees who will work under this contract.” However, the total compensation is not included in the cost/business proposal elements listed under Section L.10(5). Please clarify whether offerors should include the total compensation plan in their cost proposals.

Answer: Offerors should submit a compensation plan for the professional employees who will work under this contract as part of the cost/business proposal. Section L.10 (5) has been changed to include the compensation plan as one of the elements listed.

20. Due to the unavailability of certain documents in Microsoft Word format, such as signed biographical data sheets and letters of commitment, may we submit such documents in PDF format?

Answer: Yes you may submit such documents in PDF format, but please note that Offerors must submit a Microsoft Office Word version of the Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal Budget Narrative/Notes. Cost Proposal budgets must be unlocked in Microsoft Office Excel Worksheets.

21. On page 71, the RFP states that resumes and letters of commitment “will not count against the page limit,” but Section L.10(4) includes these documents in the list of items in the 60-page limitation. Please confirm that we may provide resumes and letters of commitment in an annex that is not included in the 60-page limitation for the technical proposal.

Answer: Section L.10(4) will be modified through an amendment to the solicitation. Key Personnel

Letters of Commitment and resumes should be included as an annex/exhibit to the Technical Proposal, which will not count against the Sixty (60) page limit.

22. On page 68, the RFP states that performance information is included in the 60-page limitation, but Section L.11(B) instructs offerors to provide past performance information in an annex. Please confirm that we may provide all past performance information in an annex that is not included in the page limitation for the technical proposal.

Answer: Section L.10(4) will be modified through an amendment to the solicitation. Past Performance information/references should be included as an annex to the Technical Proposal and are not included in the Sixty (60) page limit.

23. Please confirm whether activities funded by the CELI-Central Region Program are exempt from

Colombian taxes.

Answer: Activities funded under the CELI-Central Region Program are exempt from Colombian taxes.

24. On Page 18, the RFP indicates that USAID/Colombia has four assistance objectives; however, the results framework attached to the CELI-Central Region solicitation on FedBizOpps.gov included a results framework with only three assistance objectives. Could USAID please provide offerors with the latest complete version of USAID/Colombia’s interim FY 2009-13 strategic framework?

Answer: There is currently not an updated complete version of the USAID/Colombia interim FY2009-

13 strategic framework that can be released. The Mission is in the process of developing the fourth AO:

Reduce Threats to Biodiversity and Impacts from Climate Change which was not included on FedBizOpps.gov. Offerors do not need to directly impact specific results under this AO, but the proposed technical approach should keep in mind how interventions supporting consolidation may indirectly address this objective.

25. The front page refers to the RFP number as “SOL-514-10-000004”, but page 67 refers to it as “SOL-

514-10-000001”. Please clarify which SOL number is correct.

Answer: Please see answer to question No.1.

26. Please clarify whether the prime contractor’s CVs and Letters of Commitment are to be counted toward the 60 page limit for the technical proposal (on Page 68, they are listed as being included but on Page 71 they are listed as not counting against the page limit).

Answer: Please see answer to question No.21.

27. We typically provide subcontractor Letters of Commitment as a part of our technical proposal (in addition to the cost proposal). If we include subcontractor LOCs in the technical proposal, will USAID count this toward the 60 page limitation?

Answer: Subcontractors Letters of Commitment should be part of the Cost Proposal. Do not include them as part of the Technical Proposal, if included it will count toward the 60 page limit.

28. In addition to proposed key personnel CVs, would USAID like to see other proposed candidates’ CVs

(non-key and/or local) in the EXHIBIT to the proposal mentioned on Page 71?

Answer: Other proposed candidates CVs (non-key and/or local) should be part of the Cost Proposal.

Only Key personnel CVs and Letters of Commitment should be in the annex/exhibit to the Technical Proposal and it will not count against the Sixty (60) page limit.

29. Please specify whether or not the Executive Summary is also included in the 60 page limit. It is not listed on Page 68, Section L.10.4.

Answer: The Executive Summary is also included in the 60 page limit. Section L.10 (4) has been changed to include the Executive Summary as one of the elements listed.

30. On Page 67, the RFP states that the proposal must be compatible with Microsoft Office and/or Word

Perfect – may we also submit files in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files?

Answer: Yes, you may submit files in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), but please note that Offerors must submit a

Microsoft Office Word version of the Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal Budget Narrative. Cost Proposal budgets must be unlocked in Microsoft Office Excel Worksheets.

31. On Page 68, will USAID please clarify what is meant by “Foldouts count as an equivalent number of 8

½” X 11” pages”?

Answer: Yes.

32. Referring to Page 13, please clarify the (two?) initial short-term activities that USAID is supporting in the

Tolima RCC.

Answer: The current short-term activities are supporting initial, rapid-impact community infrastructure activities in support of initial government response to communities in transition zones (yellow zones).

There are currently activities in implementation in all four priority municipalities within Tolima, and they consist of small projects identified in discussions with the RCC, the local mayors, departmental government representatives, and the communities. These activities will be completed prior to implementation of the CELI-Central contract, but the selected Contractor will be able to benefit from lessons learned from these activities.

33. Please clarify whether the indicators presented in the proposal should be broken down by gender and ethnic group.

Answer: When appropriate, offerors should break down indicators under their other proposed required results and outputs by gender and/or ethnic group.

34. Will a copy of USAID/Colombia Operational Plan be made available?

Answer: The USAID/Colombia Operational Plan is not a public document. The information within

Section C already explains how the CELI-Central program fits within both the USAID Mission Strategy and the US Embassy’s CSDI which are key elements of the overall Operational Plan for Colombia. With regards to specific requirements for the offerors, USAID is responsible for the identifying outputs under the Operational Plan that correspond to USAID instruments and will provide guidance to the selected offeror on the reporting requirements for the Colombia Operational Plan. The offeror should ensure that there is sufficient capacity to provide this data to USAID/Colombia.

35. Regarding section L.5 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees, please confirm whether a compensation plan is required for all project personnel (e.g. expatriate staff, cooperating country nationals, home office staff, etc.) or for only a specific category (e.g. LTTA expatriate staff).

Answer: Offerors should submit a compensation plan for the professional employees (e.g. expatriate staff, cooperating country nationals, home office staff, etc.), who will work under this contract as part of the cost/business proposal.

36. Will the USAID local compensation plan please be made available?

Answer: Please see answer to question No. 7.

37. Page 10-11, C2. SCOPE: Based on the requirement of pages 74 (i) and 77 (10), is the contractor required to submit Biographical Data Sheets on all LTTA (except clerical/secretarial) or just key personnel? Pg. 74 and pg. 77 say 2 different things.

Answer: Contractor is required to submit Biographical Data Sheets on all long-term or short-term personnel.

38. Page 14 states, Geographical Focus, second the last paragraph: "Activities performed under this contract in Southern Choco will complement the Embassy Pacific Coast Strategy which is an inter-agency effort aimed at consolidating security and advancing development in four departments of the country - Choco, Narino, Valle de Cauca, and Cauca." We have unsuccessful in finding additional information concerning the Embassy Pacific Cost Strategy. Could USAID provide any additional documentation concerning the strategy?

Answer: At present, there is no specific documentation regarding the Pacific Coast Strategy. However, offerors should be aware that CELI-Central consolidation zones on the Pacific Coast are linked to other zones along the Pacific Coast and ensure that those linkages are taken into consideration when defining proposed activities for Choco and Buenaventura consolidation zones.

39. On page 17, one of the target indicators set is “Number of hectares of alternative crops targeted by USG programs under cultivation”, which is set at 62,000”. Given that the contractor will be required to “undertake specific contract activities that were started under previous USAID programs” (p.19), please clarify if the target of 62,000 hectares of alternative crops targeted refer to new or also existing hectares under cultivation that may continue to be supported.

Answer: The “specific contract activities” that will be picked up by the CELI-Central Contract are defined in the second paragraph of Section C.4.1.

With regard to the required results, the Contractor should focus on new activities to generate the outputs required by the contract. New activities do not automatically exclude existing hectares of alternative crops that have been established previously, but activities contributing to this output are intended to re-activate economic activity and advance consolidation efforts in the CELI-Central Region as the appropriate security conditions permit. Therefore, a new activity that contributes to the contractual outputs should not merely sustain existing economic activity in a consolidation zone but rather create or re-energize economic capacity that will contribute to permanent consolidation and provision of livelihoods as the consolidation process unfolds.

40. Page 19, C.4.1 Follow-on Activities from Existing USAID/Colombia Activities states that “For the

Central Region, the Contractor should anticipate funding staff (9 positions) and logistical support including travel, lodging and communications costs for the RCC personnel working in La Macarena.”

Does USAID require co-location of the CELI-Central implementation efforts with the RCCs or is it optional?

Answer: USAID does not require co-location with the RCCs. In the case of Meta and Tolima, the RCCs already have identified office space, but other consolidation zones within the Central Region do not currently have permanent office space. In cases where there is not existing office space, the offerors may consider co-location as part of their proposal. Otherwise, the selected offeror should expect that they will, at times, provide meeting space for the RCC staff both for Contractor-RCC coordination meetings but also for separate RCC meetings where the Contractor may not have a role.

41. Page 22, Section C.4.4 Grants under Contracts, states that the Contractor shall make in-kind grants to local and departmental governments. However, the above-referenced support to the RCC is a cash grant.

Is assistance to the government to be limited to in-kind grants except for the La Macarena grant to the

RCC?

Answer: Current support to the RCC in La Macarena is implemented through an in-kind GUC rather than a cash grant. If appropriate, the Contractor can make cash grants, but in-kind grants (with the Contractor procuring a good or service in-kind) has often been more appropriate to facilitate timely and efficient implementation of program activities in consolidation zones and with the RCCs. The use of in-kind GUCs has also allowed the program to work with informal groups that do not have the capacity at present to manage a cash grant.

42. On page 23, C.5 stipulates that “A government-furnished software system may be provided to input and track project activities and results.” Please clarify if a government furnished system will be provided or whether the contractor should budget for the development of a Monitoring and Evaluation system.

Answer: A government-furnished software system will be provided to the contractor.

43. Page 23, C.4.6, Institutional Framework: Understanding that Letters of Exclusivity are discouraged and based on requirements of L.10 Proposal Format and Content (4) & (5), will Letters of Support from local organizations count against the page limit for the Technical Proposal?

Answer: Letters of Support from local organizations should be included in your Cost Proposal.

44. Page 67, L.9 General Instructions to Offerors, (2): USAID asks that proposals be submitted in a version compatible with Microsoft Office. Would USAID consider accepting the technical proposal and non-budget portion of the cost proposal in PDF format?

Answer: Yes, USAID would accept the Technical Proposal and non-budget portion of the Cost Proposal in PDF format, but Offerors must also submit a Microsoft Office Word version of the Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal Budget Narrative. Cost Proposal budgets must be in Microsoft Office Excel Worksheets.

45. Page 68 states, “The 60 Page Limitation stated above for the TECHNICAL PROPOSAL is inclusive of…Contractor Performance Information; Key Personnel Resumes and Letters of Commitment…” However, page 71, in reference to Resumes and Letters of Commitment, says, “Which will not count against the page limit set forth above” and page 72, in reference to Past Performance says, “This information is not included in the page limit”. Please clarify if Resumes, LOCs, and Past Performance count against the page limit?

Answer: Page 68, Section L.10(4) will be modified through an amendment to the solicitation. Only Key Personnel Resumes and Letters of Commitment should be included in an annex/exhibit to the Technical Proposal, which will not count against the Sixty (60) page limit. Past Performance information/references should be included as an annex to the Technical Proposal and are also not included in the Sixty (60) page limit.

46. Page 69, Subfactor 2 - Management Approach and Capability, a. Management Structure: Could USAID further clarify requirements concerning “the approach should include information on approach to manage initial activities and timelines for when capacity to implement initial program activities will be established.” The requirements suggest managing activities during start-up, which is a different section in Subfactor 2. Does USAID want to include this information under b. Rapid Programmatic Start-up?

Answer: Element a. Management Structure is inherently connected to element b. Rapid Programmatic

Start-up under Subfactor 2 – Management Approach and Capability. Therefore, the offeror should ensure that information provided under element a. Management Structure is consistent with and reflects the Rapid Programmatic Start-up element.

47. Page 70 Subfactor 2 - Management Approach and Capability, a. Management Structure, top of the page:

Please clarify what USAID means by “patterns” as used in this sentence: “The overall discussion must specify the nature of organizational linkages between the prime contractor and any subcontractor, joint venture, or consortium entities including lines of authority and accountability as well as patterns for utilizing and sharing resources.”

Answer: Patterns refers to how often, when, and why resources within the proposed organizational structure would be utilized.

48. Page 71, Subfactor 4 – Application of Technical and Management Approach through Case Studies: Based on the requirements of the Case Studies stated on page 71, Section (4), please explain what appears to be an inconsistency in the number of pages vs. the weights allocated to the Application of Technical and Management Approach through Case Studies (i.e. up to 20 pages in total for both case studies with a total number weight for both of 15).

Answer: The page amounts are included as limitations and do not reflect a requirement for 20 pages for the Case Studies. Offerors are free to determine how many pages within the technical approach that they intend to dedicate to the Application of Technical and Management Approach through Case Studies.

49. Page 71, B. Factor 2 -Past Performance, (b): Does term of performance refer to dates or contract requirements?

Answer: Term of performance refers to dates (Start/end date of each of the contracts).

50. Page 70 Section L.12 (15) states that “USAID anticipates that $74 million is an appropriate estimate for the Activity Fund for Grants under Contracts (GUCs). This Activity Fund will be utilized by the Contractor as required for consolidation efforts in the region. The Contractor shall also assume that any follow-on activities from current USAID programs will be funded through this Activity Fund” Can the mission provide a relative order of magnitude of the cost of these follow-on activities?

Answer: In the second paragraph of Section C.4.1, USAID has provided a description of the current activities that will be funded as follow-on activities under the CELI-Central contract. These activities represent less than $1 million of the $74 million provided through the Activity Fund, and USAID anticipates that there will be sufficient funds in the initial obligation to cover these activities under the Activity Fund. Offerors do not need to specifically budget for these activities but rather should ensure that they propose sufficient capacity rapidly take on these activities.

51. Page 82, Subfactor 2, Management Approach and Capability, a. Management Structure: Although no

M&E plan is required or included in the proposal, it is a criteria for reviewing the proposal. Does the offerer need to include an M&E plan or M&E concepts in the proposal? If so, to what extent?

Answer: While there is no requirement for an M&E plan as part of the proposal, the offeror’s monitoring and evaluation approach will be evaluated as part of the Management Approach and Capability subfactor. Monitoring and evaluation is envisioned as a key component of the ongoing, iterative programming approach described in the RFP. Offerors are encouraged to incorporate their monitoring and evaluation approach throughout their technical proposal, and specific monitoring and evaluation deliverables are discussed extensively in Section F.3 of the RFP.

52. To implement regional activities in various phases of consolidation, will USAID have a zero coca policy in each region prior to contractor’s implementation?

Answer: The Government of Colombia’s Presidential Agency for Social Action and International

Cooperation (Acción Social) currently requires that USG alternative development support adhere to the GOC’s “cero ilícitos” protocol. USAID does not know whether this policy will change under the administration of President Santos. For the sake of the proposal, offerors should assume that compliance with “cero ilícitos” will take place during program implementation through close coordination with the RCCs and USAID.

53. Does USAID anticipate the expansion of Regional Governance Consolidation Program or other governance strengthening efforts to any of the targeted municipalities?

Answer: The current Regional Governance Consolidation Program ends in September 2011 and will not expand to the targeted municipalities for Central Region. There are no current plans for new governance strengthening programming in the Central Region, and the CELI-Central Contractor should be prepared to support governance through the consolidation effort.

54. Page 71 Subfactor 3, b. Qualifications and Experience of Key Long-term Personnel, second paragraph:

The RFP states that "each resume shall be accompanied by a letter of commitment from each candidate indicating his/her availability under the contract, in terms of days of after award and in terms of long term commitment to the activity." Can details and signatures of key personnel concerning the letter of commitment be included as part of the resume or does the letter of commitment have to be separate from the resume?

Answer: The Letter of Commitment has to be separate from the resume.

55. Page 10: The RFP states “The Contractors leadership and implementation efforts shall be based in the consolidation zones, not in Bogotá, to ensure activities are coordinated with local communities, the RCC, and the local and departmental governments.” Since air travel between and within the four departments of Meta, Tolima, Valle del Cauca and Chocó is often routed back through Bogotá, would USAID/Colombia be amenable to an arrangement whereby some management staff are based in Bogotá while other staff are based in the region where they will most often work?

Answer: Please see answer to question No. 5

56. Page 14: Will we be provided access to the "Embassy Pacific Coast Strategy" mentioned on this page?

Answer: Please see answer to question No. 38.

57. Page 16: Will we be provided access to information on the "EVIDENCE project" mentioned on his page?

Answer: Access to information on the EVIDENCE project will be provided to the selected contractor.

58. Pages 19-20: In reference to one of the Illustrative Indicators for the Long-term Livelihoods and

Institutional Capacity Activities: "% of beneficiaries that report adequate security in their community (police response, citizen security"; Should we assume that we will implement activities related to security issues? Shall these kinds of activities be proposed in the proposal?

Answer: The referenced illustrative indicator is an important measure of whether communities believe that security is sufficient to align with the state and will impact both perception of and interaction with the GOC. In consolidation zones, territorial security is provided by the Colombian armed forces, and citizen security is provided by the National Police. The selected Contractor will not have responsibility for providing security, but that does not preclude the CELI-Central Contractor from supporting initiatives to improve citizens’ perception of security if offerors believe that is appropriate.

59. Page 22: "Grants under Contract" - Can you please clarify how USAID defines "informal groups"?

Answer: Informal groups include groups that are not legally constituted. In consolidation zones, these groups could include long-standing informal groups that did not have access to state services to legally formalize or newly formed groups that have joined together to work on a productive project or a community activity. Through the CELI-Central engagement with these informal groups, many groups will likely take the step to become legally constituted organizations while others may dissolve after completing an individual activity. USAID’s desire to engage with these informal groups is to ensure that program activities are implemented at the local level—building the capacity of local residents and groups and building on what already exists.

60. Also on page 22: The RFP states that the contractor can propose other types of program activities utilizing the $74M "activity fund.” Does this mean that some of the money can be used for direct implementation by the contractor as well as for subcontracts? For example, can the $74M Activity Fund be used to provide technical assistance to Municipalities, Departamental governments and GOC agencies through subcontracts to Colombian and Foreign organizations, and through LOE directly hired by the contractor?

Answer: Please see answer to question No. 16.

61. Page 24: Does USAID anticipate the contractor will submit land use and land cover maps as part of the proposal as referenced on p.24? If so, should this map be included in the cost or technical volume of the proposal? If included in the technical, would the map count against the 60 page limit identified on p.68?

Answer: Offerors are not required to submit land use and land cover maps as part of the proposal.

However, offerors must use land use and land cover maps (scale 1:500.000 at least) to take into account environmental considerations in designing their proposal. Such maps should be used as a planning tool to demonstrate how they will account for environmental concerns in planning activities in the Central Region. Maps would count against the overall page limit for the technical proposal.

62. Page 46: H.23 Grants Under Contracts (GUC) a) – This clause implies that only Small Grants as defined by ADS 303.3.24. will be authorized under the contract. The scope of work contains results that might best be achieved through the issuance of large, standard grants as distinguished from Cooperative Agreements by ADS 303.3.11. Please confirm that such large grants will be allowed for consideration under the GUC clause in the award.

Answer: The Contractor selected will not be authorized to award Cooperative Agreements under the contract, since it is prohibited by USAID ADS Policy. The Contractor will only be allowed to do Grants under the contract and these could be either small Grants or large Grants.

Please see answer to question No. 16 for further discussion of GUCs.

63. Pages 71 and 83: These pages are clear on the need for oral and written Spanish and English-language fluency in key personnel. Do the minimum requirements for COP, DCOP and other key personnel include a required level of fluency in each language? Also related to key personnel requirements, are there required academic degrees?

Answer: As stated on pages 71 and 83, key personnel that will have a be responsible for liaising with

USAID in both oral and written communication, including quarterly and other reporting, shall be fluent in English and Spanish. This requirement does not apply to all key personnel.

With regard to required academic degrees, the key personnel that play the liaison and reporting role in

English and Spanish must also have an advanced degree. Beyond that requirement, there is no specific required academic degree for key personnel. Offerors should propose candidates with the appropriate combination of academic and/or professional experience to effectively accomplish required results in the CELI-Central contract.

64. Page 71: Can you be more specific as to the meaning of "illustrative high risk (in terms of possible failure) activities" in Case study 2? Are you referring to the risk of failure in the execution of those activities or are the case studies to include activities that will require risk in their implementation due to security or other concerns which may impact their chances for success?

Answer: As stated on page 71, offerors should identify illustrative high risk (in terms of possible failure) activities. Offerors can define the specific type of risks that might cause those activities to fail as part of their discussion of why those activities warrant the risk in consolidation zones in order to support the process.

65. Can the hectares targeted by natural forest conservation activities count towards the licit agriculture or forest products indicator?

Answer: Hectares targeted for natural forest conservation activities that generate licit livelihoods could potentially be included in the outputs under the required results for hectares. If offerors wish to propose required outputs for forest products, the technical approach should state how the offeror intends to deal with a separate forest product indicator in relationship to the existing hectares output.

66. Given that there will be a number of project offices and that implementation is taking place in the regions, how does USAID envision the coordination with the CELI-Central Region program? Will there be weekly meetings? Will those meetings be held in Bogotá?

Answer: There is no specific requirement for weekly meetings in Bogota. However, USAID envisions a close working relationship between USAID, the CELI-Central Contractor, and the RCCs to coordinate activities and strategy in consolidation zones. This includes a role for USAID in activity approval for GUCs and other activities implemented utilizing the Activity Fund. Therefore, the offeror should describe their proposed approach and mechanisms for regular coordination with USAID and the GOC as part of Management Approach and Capability.

67. Page 26: This states that “the COTR and Contracting Officer will undertake an evaluation at the conclusion of the contract to discern their level of satisfaction with services rendered under this contract.” Does this mean that USAID will cover the costs of the program final evaluation, or should the Contractor also budget for a final program evaluation?

Answer: USAID will carry out program evaluations of the CELI-Central Contractor’s performance.

Offerors are not required to budget for a final evaluation in their cost proposals.

68. Page 29: This states that “The Contractor shall work with the USAID M&E program to develop and gather baseline data for the PMP during contract start-up.” Is the USAID M&E program or the contractor responsible for the costs and implementation of the baseline studies?

Answer: The CELI-Central Contractor should anticipate working closely with USAID and the M&E contractor on these studies. The USAID M&E program will develop instruments to gather baseline data, but the CELI-Central Contractor will be expected to cover the costs of implementing baseline studies and subsequent follow-up studies. Please note that these M&E instruments developed by the M&E program are not intended to substitute for the Contractor’s own approach to monitoring and evaluating their activities in the Central Region.

69. Page 46: H.22 Personnel Compensation (3) - The final sentence of this subclause states “Nor may TCNs or CCNs, without specific written approval of the Contracting Officer, be paid in other than their local currency.” To which currency does this sentence refer? The currency of the TCN’s country of origin, the country in which they reside, or the currency of the country in which they are performing the work?

Answer: CCNs must be paid in Colombian Pesos. Due to the special circumstance of TCNs, the mission authorizes contractors to pay them in U.S. Dollars.

70. Page 73: L.12 (2) (g) Proposed Costs/Prices states that “The Offeror must submit a detailed budget, per component…” Does this statement refer to tab 3 Components Costs (US$) in the Attachment 4, Summary Cost Worksheet?

Answer: Yes.

71. Page 78, Adequate Security Costs Documentation, includes “Security Modifications to Residential and

Office Facilities.” Is this intended to include the current RCC offices in the subject regions (Vista Hermosa & Chaparral)?

Answer: This is not intended to include the current RCC offices in Vista Hermosa and Chaparral.

72. Will USAID provide the most recent FSN Local Compensation Plan for Colombia?

Answer: Please see answer to question No.7.

73. Cover Letter & Headers: The cover letter indicates SOL-514-10-000004 while the header within the solicitation shows SOL-514-10-000001. Please confirm the correct RFP number.

Answer: Please see answer to question No.1

74. Page 67: Section L (Instructions) states that MSOffice (MSWord, Excel, etc.) or WordPerfect files are acceptable but not zipped files. Are unzipped PDF files acceptable, if they don’t exceed the 4.5 MB size per e-mail?

Answer: Yes, unzipped PDF files are acceptable, but please note that Offerors must also submit a

Microsoft Office Word version of the Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal Budget Narrative. Cost Proposal budgets must be in Microsoft Office Excel Worksheets.

75. Page 67: Related to the above, which version(s) of MSWord and Excel are acceptable, e.g., 2003, 2007 or other?

Answer: Any version of MS Word and Excel is acceptable.

76. Page 68: Section L.10.(4), within PROPOSAL FORMAT AND CONTENT, states that the sixty (60) pages of the Technical Proposal should include the following:

- Offeror’s Technical Approach;

- Management Approach and Capability;

- Staffing Plan and Key Personnel;

- Application of technical and management approach through case studies;

- Contractor Performance Information;

- Key personnel resumes and letters of commitment;

- Cover page; Table of contents; Titles page; and Dividers

However, under L.9, GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS (8), USAID states "The Technical Proposal in response to this solicitation should address how the offeror intends to carry out the Performance Work Statement (PWS) in Section C of the RFP.”

Does USAID expect a PWS to be submitted as part of the Technical Approach?

Answer: No.

77. Also on page 68, the RFP states “The Sixty (60) Page Limitation stated above for the TECHNICAL

PROPOSAL is inclusive of: Key Personnel Resumes and Letters of Commitment” while pg. 71 states “Offerors shall include in an EXHIBIT to the proposal (which will not count against the page limit set forth above), resumes for all key personnel candidates.” Please clarify whether resumes and LOCs should be included in the body of the TECHNICAL PROPOSAL or in an EXHIBIT and whether these count against the 60 page limitation.

Answer: Key Personnel Résumés and Letters of Commitment shall be included as an annex/exhibit to the Technical Proposal, which will not count against the Sixty (60) page limit.

78. Also on page 68, the margins are prescribed as one inch on all sides. On pages containing charts and graphics, can the offeror present margins of less than one inch given the nature of the image/chart being presented?

Answer: No.

79. Page 84, M.4 RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF FACTORS, assigns “weights” (points out of a total of

100) to Section 1 through 4 of the Technical Proposal. No points appear to have been assigned to Past Performance Information. Is this a typo? If no points or weight is assigned to it, how will it be evaluated?

Answer: Please see Section M, M.2 METHOD OF EVALUATION.