Questions Answers 4-26-2011.pdf

1. In Section C, the sub‐section titled Geographical Focus (starting at page 15) outlines the regions where the Contractor will initially focus efforts (i.e., Nudo de Paramillo and Western Narino). Under M.3, Evaluation Factors, Subfactor 2.b references "priority consolidation zones" (page 101) in relation to rapid programmatic response. Are these "priority consolidation zones" the zones where the Contractor will focus initial efforts, or are they otherwise determined?

Answer:

The Geographical Focus section includes a description of the priority consolidation zones (particular municipalities) where the CELI‐North/South Contractor shall support the GOC’s National Consolidation Plan.

Within the priority municipalities identified in the Geographical Focus, the Contractor shall prioritize implementation in Nudo de Paramillo and Tumaco municipality in Nariño for the rapid start‐up. As stated in the Geographical Focus, the Contractor shall plan to begin work in Catatumbo in year 2. For the other municipalities of Nariño and Putumayo, the Contractor shall plan to start‐up implementation 6 months after contract award. In the case of Catatumbo, the other Nariño municipalities, and Putumayo, the Contractor shall only begin activities in these areas after receiving guidance from the Contracting Officer to initiate these activities.

As further clarification, the GOC has included a fifth municipality in Southern Cordoba, SAN JOSE DE URE, which was carved out of Puerto Libertador. In other words, this does not increase the geographical area but does create an additional municipal government to work with in the consolidation zone.

2. Will the Contractor be allowed to include additional annexes/exhibits other than those outlined under section L.9 Proposal Format and Content (page 87)?

Answer:

No, only the annexes/exhibits listed in this section of the RFP are allowed to be included in proposals. If others are submitted, USAID Colombia will not evaluate them.

3. Can USAID provide any further information about the M&E contract/contractor and the EVIDINCE project?

USAID/Colombia has awarded a five‐year contract to provide the Mission with Monitoring and Evaluation support. As part of this contract, the M&E contractor is developing an Online Clearinghouse that will contain data on all Mission activities along with environmental clearances for all USAID programming. For CELI‐ North/South, the Contractor shall input project activities into the Clearinghouse on a regular basis to provide USAID with up‐to‐date information on CELI activities and results. The M&E contractor and USAID will provide training and oversight to the CELI contractor on use of the Clearinghouse and data quality.

In addition to the Clearinghouse, the M&E Contractor will carry‐out an impact evaluation of CSDI (baseline, year 3, and year 5) which will cover impact of all activities implemented in the CSDI municipalities (including those in the Northern and Southern Regions). This impact evaluation will be funded under the M&E contract. The M&E

Contractor will also provide support to the CELI implementers to develop perception surveys and other types of monitoring and evaluation instruments for CSDI zones. These monitoring and evaluation instruments would be implemented and funded by the CELI Contractor.

USAID continues to discuss activities with the EVIDINCE project. For the sake of the CELI contracts, offerors should expect to coordinate with the EVIDINCE team. This coordination may include data sharing and work with EVIDINCE‐funded experts on data collection. However, all activities with EVIDINCE will be coordinated through USAID which will manage the relationship with their team.

Also, please note the change to the RFP involving EVIDINCE (See Amendment No. 2).

4. Under section C.4.1, Follow‐on Activities from Existing USAID/Colombia Activities (page 31) the RFP states that "the Contractor shall continue strong working relationships with local government authorities and may bridge current initiatives into the new program by the end of the Cimientos contract in September 2011." Given that the Catatumbo region does not have a definitive prioritization from the U.S. MilGroup or the Narcotics Affairs Section, and the Contractor will not start operations there until the second year of the project, pending USAID clearance, can USAID clarify how the Contractor is expected to bridge current initiatives?

Answer:

The Contractor shall not anticipate funding specific activities that were previously funded by Cimientos in the first year as the program will not be working in Catatumbo. However, the Contractor should look for opportunities to build on the activities previously implemented in Catatumbo as part of the planning process to begin implementation in that consolidation zone in year two.

5. Will USAID make available the Diagnostics/Action Plans for Bajo Cauca, Putumayo, or Southern Córdoba?

The Action Plan for Bajo Cauca is already included as an attachment to the RFP along with the Diagnostic for Nariño. The Action Plan for Nariño and the Diagnostic for Southern Córdoba were included as attachments to the RFP in Amendment 1 which was posted to FedBizOpps.gov on March 29. The Southern Córdoba Action Plan is included along with the Amendment containing the responses to the questions from the offerors. USAID does not currently have a Diagnostic or Action Plan for Putumayo to include as an attachment.

6. With regard to the Cancelation Ceiling, Section B.7, on page 8 of the solicitation, please confirm that the inclusion of his provision means this contract is awarded under FAR Subpart 17.1 – Multi‐year Contracting, and that this contract therefore is considered a non‐severable contract.

Answer:

This contract is a multi‐year severable award.

7. Assuming answers to the above question is affirmative the following questions apply:

What is the type of appropriation planned – single year, no year, multiple year?

Is full funding for the entire 5 year period planned, or yearly funding?

This is incrementally funded as appropriations become available.

8. The RFP calls for budgeting by components. Please clarify what the components are for budgeting purposes.

Answer:

Per the Summary Cost worksheet included as Attachment 3 to the RFP, the following components are to be used for budgeting:

Program Management – This component shall include all costs (including indirect rates, fixed fee, and any grants management fee) for the overall management of the contract.

Technical Support – This component shall include all costs (including indirect rates and fee) for technical specialists that provide support across all the regional offices and any monitoring and evaluation technical support.

Regional Offices – This component shall be broken into sub‐components for each of the sub‐regions covered by the RFP (Bajo Cauca, Cordoba, Catatumbo, Nariño, and Putumayo). These sub‐components shall include all the costs (including indirect rates and fee) for implementation in these sub‐regions.

Activity Fund – This is provided as a plug figure. The Activity Fund should solely include funds that will be used for implementation and should not include any indirect rates or grants management fee.

9. F.5.3 is cited in the last paragraph of C.4.4, but there is no F.5.3 in the RFP. Should it have referred to F.5.c instead?

Yes, please see the Amendment No. 2 to the solicitation.

10. C.4.4 requires submission of an “initial grants management guide” as part of the proposal. Please clarify what is included in the grants management guide (Would USAID like to see detailed procedures, templates, the Activity Cycle Flowchart described in F.5.c in the proposal?) Is the two‐page summary to explain in‐kind grant making procedures…; a generic grant handbook / guide for grantees…; and a clear policy on how the contract (sic) intends to determine… (All described in F.5.c) required to be submitted as part on the proposal? Can the grants management guide be included as a separate Annex in the technical proposal?

Answer:

Further clarification will be included on the requirements for the initial grants management guide in the attached amendment to the RFP. However, the initial grants management guide included in the TEC should include sufficient detail to demonstrate how the offeror shall manage the grants cycle prior to approval of the Grants Management Guide discussed in Section F.5.c. In other words, the Initial Grants Management Guide is in addition to the Grants Management Guide and will serve as the mechanism for awarding initial grants in start‐up prior to approval of the final Grants Management Guide. The following elements should be included in a 5 page Annex (to the Technical Proposal) that will be approved by the Contracting Officer in order to manage the implementation of initial grants as part of the program’s rapid start‐up:

Template for initial grants under contract to utilize for initial grant awards;

Interim Grant Activity Cycle Flowchart outlining the grant development, approval and implementation process, including key roles and responsibilities;

Timeline for grants from idea to award and implementation

See the Amendment No. 2 to the solicitation.

11. Does the Environmental Assessment described L.13, pg. 98 go towards the page limitation of the technical proposal (L.9, pg. 87) or can it be included as a separate annex?

Answer:

As stated in L.13, “Respondents to the RFP should therefore include as part of their proposal their approach to achieving environmental compliance and management…” and not in a separate annex.

12. H.24 mentions that Simplified Grants and Fixed Obligation Grants will require a deviation from AID/W. Given that both are authorized in ADS 303.3.24 and 303.3.25 which explicitly says that no deviation from Reg. 226 is necessary please confirm that deviations are required.

See the Amendment No. 2 to the solicitation, which removes this requirement.

13. Section I includes several FAR clauses and provisions which include blanks that need to be filled in, e.g.

52.222‐2 PAYMENT FOR OVERTIME PREMIUMS, when will such blanks be filled in?

Any blanks will be filled in the contract before award.

14. Regarding the contract activities scheduled to be part of the Statement of Work at the time of Contract Award (RFP pages 32‐34); does USAID expect the majority of activities to be carried out by other organizations through grants from the activity fund? Or can the Contractor subcontract to local firms?

Answer:

First, it is important to note that the list of activities is illustrative. The contractor will not be expected to carry out all the activities listed on pages 32‐34, but rather shall propose the types activities to be carried out based on the proposed technical approach. The contractor should also ensure that they maintain sufficient flexibility to take advantage of opportunities for activities in consolidation zones that might not be contemplated currently.

With regards to implementing activities, we believe that most activities will be carried out through small grants under contract with local institutions to catalyze and support government engagement in recovered territory.

That, however, does not preclude the offerors from developing subcontracts with local firms either as part of an in‐kind contribution to a grant under contract or as a separate subcontract funded using the activity fund.

15. Per RFP page 87, are letters of commitment from subcontractors, letters of commitment from key personnel and letters of support from local organizations required in annexes to both the technical and cost? ?

Yes, refer to Sections L.9 (4) and L.9(5).

16. Are letters of commitment required from non‐key personnel?

No, see new language in Section L.9(5) in Amendment No. 2 to the solicitation.

17. Are Employee Biographical Data sheets required from non‐key personnel?

No, see new language in Section L.9(5) in Amendment No. 2 to the solicitation.

18. Will USAID accept other annexes that are not listed in the RFP?

No, only the annexes/exhibits listed in this section of the RFP are allowed to be included in proposals. If others are submitted, USAID Colombia will not evaluate them.

19. RFP page 45 states that the authorized geographic codes for this contract are 941 and 514 (Colombia) while page 52 states that it is 000. Please clarify the geographic code for this RFP.

Answer:

The authorized source for procurement is Geographic Code 000 unless otherwise specified in the schedule of this contract. This is specified in the RFP on page 45, d. Field Procurement Guide: Geographic codes 941 and 514.

20. RFP page 21, states that the ACIP program will provide technical assistance to CELI‐Contractors by providing protocols, training sessions, and manuals to contractors. Will this technical assistance be provided prior to the development of work plans? Can USAID provide more detail as to the extent of technical assistance that they envision ACIP providing?

Answer:

The specific relationship and timing of the interaction between ACIP and the CELI Contractor will be worked out in the implementation of the CELI‐North/South contract. The Contractor shall coordinate closely with ACIP to ensure that programming with Afro‐Colombian and Indigenous populations in the CSDI regions is consistent with best practices developed under the ACIP program and prior USAID programming with these populations.

21. RFP page 22 references a recent IDP program assessment; can USAID provide that assessment with the other attachments?

This is currently an internal document.

22. RFP page 31 states that “…the selected Contractor shall anticipate undertaking specific contract activities that were started under previous USAID program….” Will USAID provide an indication as to the scope and scale of these activities? For example, would it be 5‐10% of the activity budget for example?

Answer:

At present, there are no specific contract activities started under the previous USAID programs that will require continued funding from the Activity Fund for the CELI‐North/South. This could change prior to contract award, but any activity would be funded out of the Activity Fund which would not need to be budgeted out in the technical proposal as the Activity Fund is intended to allow the Contractor to implement a range of activities based on the dynamic situation in the CELI‐North/South regions.

23. RFP page 36 makes reference to the submission of an initial grants management guide as part of the proposal, but is also referenced as a deliverable within the first 60 days of the project on RFP page 44. Is this guide required in the technical or cost proposal? If it is part of the technical proposal, is it counted against the page limit? Will USAID accept it as an attachment to the technical application?

Please see response to question 10.

24. Will USAID please share the lessons learned from MIDAS, ADAM, SME operational model at the department level (C.4.2. pg. 34)?

Answer:

The following links provide information on lessons learned from ADAM and MIDAS:

www.midas.org.co www.adam.org.co

25. Please confirm that TCNs and CCNs will be treated the same give that TCNs are often paid in US dollars (H.7(3), pg. 55)

Answer:

Please see Amendment No. 3.

26. Please confirm that USAID will accept PDF versions of documents for submission of the proposal.

Please see section H.14 of the RFP for the list of acceptable formats for document submission.

27. Section C.4.4 requires submission of an initial grants management guide as part of the proposal, and references Section C.5.3, which is missing from the RFP. In addition, Section F.5.c states that the grants management guide is due 60 days after contract award. Please clarify.

28. The RFP requires that Case Study 2 describe several high‐risk activities. Please clarify whether the risk element is inherent in the activity itself, in the public order context in which the activity is undertaken, or both.

Answer:

As stated in Section L, Offerors should ensure that proposed high‐risk activities that are unique to the consolidation context in the CELI‐Northern & Southern regions. These activities should not be general development activities, which do carry inherent risks, but rather should demonstrate the offeror’s analysis of risks for implementing specific activities in consolidation zones that can positively impact consolidation efforts in the region.

29. The RFP requests the offeror to work closely with the implementers of the new RFAs; for example, the Territorios Étnicos Productivos (TEP) project, the alliances project, and others. Please clarify the expected level and nature of interaction with these projects.

Answer:

It is the offeror’s responsibility to demonstrate in their technical proposal how they intend to effectively interact and coordinate with other USAID programs including programs with Afro‐Colombian and Indigenous populations. However, USAID expects that there will be close coordination and opportunities for complementing one another’s efforts during implementation.

30. 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?

Please see response to question 26.

31. Page 35 of the RFP states, “Per C.5.3, the Contractor is required to submit an initial grants management guide as part of the proposal.” Will USAID accept this draft management guide as an annex?

32. On Page 36, the RFP references section C.5.3 which does not exist. Did USAID intend to reference F.5.C. ?

If so, please clarify what documents relating to Grants Management USAID requires in the proposal in addition to a generic grants handbook/guide.

33. Page 90 of the RFP requests that offerors submit past performance information for itself and for each major subcontractor. How many references should be provided for the prime and major subcontractors? Will USAID require major subcontractors to submit small business usage information as well or should this only be provided for the prime offeror?

Answer:

References should be included for the most recent and relevant contracts. Include as many as you feel appropriate. I don’t think we need SMALL BUSINESS USAGE.

34. Per Section H.26 on page 62 of the RFP regarding environmental compliance, is it possible to receive a copy of LAC‐IEE‐10‐05 and the Mission PERSUAP to better inform offerors of both USAID Mission and Bureau requirements regarding environmental compliance for the CELI‐ Northern & Southern Regions Program?

In lieu of providing the full IEE, we are providing additional information below on the Environmental Threshold Decision for the CELI‐North/South program. Moreover, the Mission PERSUAP is currently undergoing a review as part of an overall revision of the SIGA environmental compliance system. Therefore, we are unable to provide a cleared, updated version. However, the selected offeror will receive the updated PERSUAP upon award.

The Contractor shall ensure that all activities conducted under this instrument comply with the following Environmental Threshold Decision. Also, through its regular reporting requirements, the Contractor shall include a section on environmental compliance (e.g. mitigation monitoring results).

A Categorical Exclusion is issued to the following components of USAID/Colombia’s Consolidation and Enhanced

Livelihoods Initiatives (CELIs) under Colombia Strategic Development Initiative (CSDI):

Strengthening coordination mechanisms that enable civilian‐led whole‐of‐government intervention, Facilitating social services provision (including attention to conflict‐affected populations, health and education services) by local governments; these activities do not include activities that result in the production of infectious medical waste or construction debris.

Support for the local implementation of national level policies and/or mechanisms affecting the region, i.e., land titling, land restitution, prevention of displacement, Support to create the conditions for return in formerly mined communities, Public Service Providers Strengthening;

pursuant to 22 CFR 216 Section 216.2(c)(2):

(i) Education, technical assistance, or training programs except to the extent such training programs includes activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, etc.);

(iii) Analyses, studies, academic or research workshops and meetings;

(xiv) Studies, projects or programs intended to develop the capability of recipient countries to engage in development planning; and

(xv) Studies, projects or programs intended to develop the capability of recipient countries to engage in development planning, except to the extent designed to result in activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, etc.).

A Negative Determination with conditions is issued to the components of the Consolidation and Enhanced

Livelihoods Initiatives (CELIs) under CSDI that involve the following:

Activities of small‐scale infrastructure, rural road improvement, small‐scale construction, small water and sanitation systems, housing, renewable energy, tertiary roads, electrification, and health and education facilities. Conditions for these activities include following:

i. Use of and application of USAID Environmental Guidelines for Development Activities in LAC;

reference the following URL http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean/environment/docs/epiq/epiq.htm l (English)

ii. The Mission Environmental Officer (MEO), COTR/AOTR, and contractor(s) will oversee the use of these Guidelines and their implementation.

iii. Reports on Guideline implementation will be submitted by the MEO to the LAC/BEO on an annual basis.

iv. There is not clear demarcation between “small‐scale” construction (including: infrastructure, energy, rural road reconstruction, and housing developments) and those classified as “mid‐ to large‐scale”. Generally, large‐scale construction activities are not difficult to identify in terms of the need for an Environmental Assessment (EA). For all construction/energy activities that fall into the “gray area” between small‐scale and mid‐ to large‐scale, the MEO, in coordination with the REA/SA, will review all such activities and decide on one of two potential courses of action: (1) application of environmental guidelines through the SIGA tool, or (2) completion of an EA (ref. 22 CFR 216.6).

Activities of agricultural producing and processing the products mentioned in the following listing in English and attached list of Environmental Guidelines for the Mission in Spanish. The condition is that the following guidelines will be fully used and applied in the implementation of these activities. The MEO, COTR and contractor(s) shall oversee the implementation and use of these guidelines. Reports on these matters shall be submitted by the MEO to the LAC/BEO on an annual basis.

o Environmental Guidelines contained within the on‐line SIGA tool (password protected; no public access):

o Forest management:

Forest Management Plan ‐ Rio Chagui Forest Management Plan ‐ Chigorodo & Mutata Forest Management Plan ‐ Alto Guapi Forest Management Plan ‐ Rio Mejicano Forest Management Plan ‐ plantations in Cauca Forest Management Plan ‐ Rio Rosario Forest Management Plan ‐ Villagarzon o Crop best Management practices:

Organic cacao Organic coffee Organic castor oil (higuerilla) o Completed EAs; to be used as guidelines/references:

Cacao EA Rubber (caucho) environmental management plan;

“Colombia Foresta” forest management EA;

Passion fruit (maracuya) EA;

African palm EA;

“Palmito” (heart of palm) EA;

Silvo‐pastoral EA;

Yuca EA;

African palm oil extraction plant EA.

o Environmental guidelines for productive activities:

General agricultural activities;

Annual, subsistence crops;

Permanent crops;

Minor species crops Agroforestry & Silvo‐pastoral systems;

Fruit tree plantations;

Extensive cattle management;

Large‐scale agricultural activities;

Plantations of non‐fruit species;

Non‐timber forest products extraction from forests;

Fish farming;

Forest plantations;

Small‐farm processing of agricultural products.

o Infrastructure environmental guidelines:

Rehabilitation of rural roads G. Keller/J. Sherar Rural Roads Handbook Reconstruction of small‐scale infrastructure.

o USAID/LAC Environmental Guidelines:

Agricultural management, including waste management;

Agroforestry Food crop processing;

Rural roads;

Small‐scale construction;

Solid waste disposal; residential, commercial, & industrial;

Ecotourism;

Small‐scale electric production;

Renewable energy production;

Forestry sector Forest management;

Infrastructure Irrigation and drainage;

Brick production;

Small‐scale busineses;

Small‐scale mining;

Integrated pest management;

Small‐scale tannery management;

Micro and small‐scale businesses;

Reforestation;

Riparian area protection/management;

Infectious waste management from health clinics Potable and waste water management;

Soil and water conservation;

Textile management;

Housing management.

o Colombian Ministry of Environment environmental guidelines:

Cotton;

Sugar production Banana production;

Slaughthouses (cattle);

Coffee betterment and production;

Open‐pit coal mining;

Coal‐fired electric production;

Coal exploration;

Underground coal production;

Pork/swine production;

Cut flower production;

Horticulture/fruit culture production;

Oil palm management;

Brown sugar (panela) production;

Coal export port management Management of infectious wastes from health clinics;

Solid waste management.

o Use of pesticides in the production of the attached list of agricultural products will comply with USAID/Colombia's Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP), LAC‐IEE‐09‐19. The MEO, COTRs/AOTRs and contractor(s) will oversee the implementation of the PEA, EAs, and PERSUAP.

o A primary condition of the above activities is use of USAID/Colombia's "Sistema de Informacion y Gestion Ambiental" (S1GA) for all field activities. Including agricultural activities employing pesticide use. The MEO to review/approve all `fichas de revision ambiental" ("mini‐Environmental Analyses") prior to any field implementation. Any activity that has the potential for significant adverse environmental impact (if not already covered by an existing EA) will require an EA to be approved by the BEO according to 216.3(2)(iii), 216.3(4), and 216.6.

o All activities will apply USAID's "Environmental Guidelines for Development Activities in Latin American and the Caribbean", available at:

http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean/environment/docs/e piq/epiq.html (English) http://ecuador.usaid.gov/portal/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_v iew&gid=20&Itemid=159 (Spanish) o The MEO will determine which potential activities/projects may require the preparation of an Environmental Assessment. Environmental considerations, including monitoring and training, are integral parts of the Mission's SIGA on‐line tool.

o Within the first year of implementation of the four CELIs, the Mission will conduct a complete evaluation of the listed PEA, PERSUAP, and Mission environmental guidelines to determine their effectiveness and recommend any needed changes. This evaluation will be approved by the IVIED, Regional Environmental Advisor, and the LAC/BEO.

Additional reports on these matters will be submitted by the Mission to the LAC/BEO on an annual basis.

A Positive Determination is issued to the Consolidation and Enhanced Livelihoods Initiatives (CELIs) – for the

Southern, Central, Northern and Pacific Bands under CSDI for those components that may involve the production and processing of agricultural projects not addressed by the Mission's PERSUAP, and for other infrastructure, and/or industrial projects that may cause significant environmental impacts.

35. Based on our reading of sub‐section (2) e of section L.11 on page 92 of the RFP, it can be interpreted such that Attachment 3 (Summary Cost Worksheet) must include mandatory locations for offices, and staffing for each program office. Are the office locations and staffing positions and numbers mandatory, or may offerors consider this information as illustrative and adapt the number of offices, locations, and staff positions to their technical design? If the staffing is mandatory, may offerors reduce the number of project coordinators, as one per municipality may not be required due to proximity and/or timing?

Answer:

Attachment 3 (Summary Cost Worksheet) is a sample to provide guidance on potential budget line items, however nothing within that sample is to be construed as mandatory. We expect that the information provided in the budget and budget narrative be as detailed as possible.

36. Reference H.24 Grants under Contract (GUCs) on page 60. In Attachment 3, Summary Cost Worksheet, line 57 under Prime Costs (Total Grants) lists specific amounts for years 1 through 5. Are these suggestions per year or specific figures required for use by offerors in their cost proposals?

Answer:

Please see Section L.11(15) ‐ Activity Fund Estimate. The $58,000,000 amount referenced is an appropriate estimate on which offerors should base their proposals.

37. Section C.4.3 on page 35 of the RFP details the requirements of a two‐day Program Start‐Up Conference. Are offerors expected to include the costs for this conference in their detailed budget as part of the cost proposal submission?

Yes, we expect that the information provided in the budget and budget narrative be as detailed as possible.

38. On page 89 of the RFP it states that Resumes and Letters of Commitment for Key Personnel must be included in an exhibit to the technical proposal, and on page 96 it states that Biographical Data Sheets and individual Letters of Commitment are required for each long‐term individual in the cost/business proposal. Given the size limitations on email files, may the Letters of Commitment be provided as a separate document?

Answer:

Yes, as long as all submitted documents fall within the page limitations listed and formatting requirements. Also, all documents are to be submitted by the deadline referenced in the RFP (May 3, 2011, 3:00 PM Local Colombian Time).

39. 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 number of files required to meet the 4.5M file size restriction.

No, per L.11(2)(e) “The offeror must provide the Cost Proposal budgets in Microsoft Office Excel Worksheets.”

These Excel spreadsheets should be unlocked so that we can look at the cell formulas during cost analysis.

40. The RFP (Section L.9.(4) on page 87) requires Letters of Commitment from Key Personnel to be included in an annex to the Technical Proposal. Section L.9(5) on page 87 of the RFP under Cost Proposal instructions requires Employee Biographical Data Sheets and Individual Letters of Commitment to be included in the Cost Proposal.

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.

See new language in Section L.9(5) in Amendment No. 2 to the solicitation.

41. The RFP (Section L.9.(4) on page 87) requires Letters of Commitment from Subcontractors and Letters of Support from local organizations to be included in an annex to the Technical Proposal. Section L.9(5) on page 87 of the RFP under Cost Proposal instructions requires Letters of Commitment from Subcontractors to be included in the Cost Proposal.

Please clarify if Letters of Commitment from Subcontractors are to be included in both the Technical and Cost

Proposals, while Letters of Support from local organizations are only to be included in the Technical Proposal.

Both need to be included in the Technical and the Cost/Business Proposal, per Sections L.9(4) and L.9(5).

42. Page 88 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) that are included in the body of the proposal text count against the 60‐page limit or can they be put on unnumbered pages?

Answer:

Yes, it is part of the “Offeror’s Technical Proposal” and will count towards the 60‐page limit, per Section L.9(4).

43. 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?

No, it is not permissible per Section L.9(3)(ii).

44. Page 36 of the RFP, Section C.4.4, Grants Under Contract, states, “As per C.5.3, the Contractor is required to submit an initial grants management guide as part of the proposal.

As there is no section C.5.3, would USAID please provide the correct reference for this requirement?

45. Can the initial grants management guide be added to the list of documentation to be provided in annexes and therefore not counted within the 60‐page limit?

46. I was wondering OAA might be able to provide the name of the office or division within USAID/Colombia that is requiring or spearheading CELI‐N/S.

This is a multi‐disciplinary process, which the Office of Acquisition and Assistance is currently spearheading.