QUESTIONS_AND_ANSWERS.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

SOL-623-13-000014

EAST AFRICA REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION IDIQ

No. Question Answer

1 Per Section L.6 on page 72 of the RFP, “Technical proposals are limited to 20 pages (Any pages beyond these forty will

NOT be given to the evaluators). Could

USAID please clarify the page limit for the Technical proposal?

We apologize for the inconsistency. The proposal requirement is 20 pages, not 40.

Section L.6 has been amended.

2 In Task Order 01, Section B.2 on page 81 of the RFP it states “A minimum of 80% of the work must be subcontracted to local organizations.” Does the requirement to subcontract to local organizations apply if the prime is itself a local organization?

The requirement will not apply if the organization is a local organization where the work is being performed. For example, if a

Ugandan firm is the prime and the work is in

Uganda, the requirement will not apply.

However, if the work is in Kenya, the requirement applies. Section C.7 has been amended.

3 Does the answer provide to question 2 above apply to all TOs to be issued under this contract?

Yes.

4 Section L.6. “INSTRUCTIONS FOR

THE PREPARATION OF THE

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL” states the following: “Technical proposals are limited to 20 pages (Any pages beyond these forty will NOT be given to the evaluators).” Please clarify that the

Technical Proposal is limited to forty (40) one-sided pages or twenty (20) two-sided pages.

Please see answer to question 1.

5 Will the percentage of work to be subcontracted to local entities be a percentage of the total project cost or the project subcontract cost?

It will be a percentage of the total project cost.

6 “The Contracting Officer’s Representative

(COR) is the authorized representative of the Government to approve vouchers under this contract.” (G.1)

“The COR may not take any action which may impact on the contract schedule, funds, scope or rate of utilization of

LOE.” (G.4, Limitations)

The two statements are not conflicting. The

COR, unless otherwise stated in the Task

Order, will approve vouchers.

These two statements appear to conflict.

Can you clarify whether vouchers will be approved by the CO or COR under this contract?

7 Can you clarify whether 20 or 40 pages is the page limitation for the Technical

Proposal?

Please see question 1.

8 A typical draft QCP can be 20 pages (or more), which may take up the entire technical proposal. Can the draft QCP be an attachment (outside of page limitations)?

The draft QCP can be submitted as an annex.

However, the draft is limited to 5 pages. The

RFP has been amended.

9 “The offeror shall propose fully burdened daily rates for all labor categories identified in Section B.4 for each year of the contract and shall include a breakout of the component costs.” Section B.4 references the IDIQ Maximum Contract

Amount. Should this section instead reference Section B.5 Price Schedule and can you confirm that only these three (3)

Key Personnel require development of annual rates and cost breakout?

Confirmed with regards to the section. The rates are daily, not annual.

10 It is understood that no branding and marking plan is expected with the proposal; however, is a narrative describing how the future branding and marking plan will be developed desired in this section?

No.

11 Does “80% of the work” refer to the total project value or to the total subcontracted value?

Please see question 5.

12 Are “local organizations” defined as

Kenyan-owned?

Section C.7 has been revised to define “local organizations”.

13 Do we have to price the project as per furnished design plans?

Yes.

14 Can we propose a different type of construction method? I.e. Steel frame structure with insulated wall panel.

Offerors are free to propose alternative construction methods so long as they meet all minimum requirements.

15 What will be the minimum to maximum room temperature of the cold storage room?

Offerors must follow standard food safety requirements.

16 Section F.6, page 22, Bid

Bond/Bondability. This section states that

“For every Task Order placed against the

IDIQ, a letter of "bondability" on the

a. A bid bond can be submitted for 20% so long as it complies with the requirements of the task order and the requirements of FAR

52.228-1(b).

Surety's letterhead stating the Contractor has the bonding capacity available is required to be submitted for each response to a RFTOP. The purpose of this letter is to put the bonding company on notice that their client is proposing on a project. This letter does not require the proposer to incur cost. The bonding company will provide it upon a client's request. A bid bond in the amount of 20% for each Task

Order may be required in lieu of a bondability letter.”

a. Some surety will not provide bondability letters in some of the countries listed in Section C.9. Can the contractor provide a bid bond from a bank?

b. In addition, bid bond of 20% are higher than international practice. Generally, most bid bonds are 10%. Can USAID change that requirement to 10%? This will also allow more competition within the

IQC holders.

b. No. If not using a bondability letter, the bid guarantee is 20%.

17 Section F.6, page 22, Performance and

Payment Bonds. This section states that

“Performance and payment bonds in the amount of 100% (unless otherwise stated in the individual Task Order) will be required for each Task Order and shall be submitted for approval to the TOCO within 15 days (unless otherwise stated in the individual Task Order) of award of a

Task Order. Commencement of construction is contingent upon approval of required bonds.”

a. The FAR allows the use of a Bank

Letter of Guarantee as a type of construction security. Will the use of a

Bank letter of guarantee be allowed instead of a bond? Please keep in mind some surety companies will not provide bonds for construction work in several of the countries listed in Section C.9

a. The performance bond must comply with the requirements of FAR 52.228-15(d).

b. No. Contracting Officers for individual task orders may make a determination that a

100% bond is not required for a particular task order, but the general requirement is for a 100% bond.

b. A performance and payment security of

100% of the TO value is excessive, restrictive to competition, unnecessary and against general practice. Performance and payment bonds are generally around

10% of the Task order value. Many contractors will bid to receive the IQC but no contractor will provide 100% performance and payment bond for a task order. We suggest that USAID assess this value and change it to 10% as it is traditional in the market.

18 Section H.23, page 42. This section states that “No activity funded under this contract will be implemented unless an environmental threshold determination, as defined by 22 CFR 216, has been reached for that activity…duly signed by the

Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO).”

a. Where is the BEO for this IDIQ and how long will should we assume it will take for a BEO to approve environmental clearance of documents?

b. Per Section F.6, tasks orders can be issued by a TOCO in a country other than

Kenya (Per Section F.6), where would the

BEOs for each country be and how long will should we assume it will take for a

BEO to approve environmental clearance of documents?

a. The BEO resides in Washington. In most situations, the IEE will have been conducted prior to any release of a RFTOP.

b. Please see answer to a.

19 Section L.6, page 72. This section states

“Technical proposals are limited to 20 pages (Any pages beyond these forty will

NOT be given to the evaluators).” Is the technical proposal limited to 20 or 40 pages?

Please see question 1.

20 Attachment 1, Section B.3, page 81. This section states “If the Government terminates the Contractor's right to proceed, liquidated damages will continue to accrue until the work is completed.

These liquidated damages are in addition to excess costs of repurchase under the

No, this is a standard FAR clause.

Termination clause.” Since the

Government terminated the contractor’s right to proceed, the contractor has no means to finish the work. We suggest eliminating this clause.

21 Please clarify whether firms that have received $75,000,000 worth of individual task orders, which is the maximum amount any awardee could receive under the contract, would be excluded from competing on the remaining task orders to be issued during the IDIQ contract period.

Correct.

22 Please clarify how the $250,000,000 ceiling for cumulative estimated value for all task orders will be reached in the event that only two IDIQ awards are awarded, with no single awardee able to receive more than $75,000,000.

The ceiling would be adjusted based on the number of awardees.

23 Part C.8, “Other Contractor

Requirements”, contains a several

Program Level and Task Order Level documents that require USAID approval but does not indicate the number of calendar days USAID requires for approval. Please provide.

The Government will review and approve within 30 calendar days.

24 Part C.8, “Other Contractor

Requirements”, contains a several

Program Level documents that require

USAID approval prior to work being performed on any individual Task Order.

Please confirm that Award of Task Order

01 will not be made until these required

Program Level documents are approved by USAID.

USAID believes that this can be done simultaneously.

25 Part D.3, “Marking and Branding

Strategy”, states “The Contractor’s branding and marking plan, submitted on

TBD, is hereby incorporated into the contract.” Please clarify how long after

Award submittal of the Branding and

Marking Plan will be required.

Please see Section L.7(f).

26 Part F.6, ”Request For Task Order

Proposals”, states “The RFTOP shall include a Statement of Work (SOW) in sufficient detail of design development to be able to adequately price the work,

a. There are no geotechnical reports.

b. There is no survey for this site.

c. Normal electrical and water requirements using normal estimating and take-off procedures. The Contractor may have to visit the site and/or perform normal measurement surveys and calculations. No separate payment will be made for such efforts.” In order to adequately price the work for TO 01, please provide answers to the following questions which do not appear to be described in Attachment 1:

a. Are there any geotechnical reports available for this site or will we need to perform geotechnical investigations as part of this TO?

b. Is there a survey available for this site or will we need to perform a

Topographic Survey as part of this TO?

c. What utility (e.g. Electric, water and wastewater) amenities and appurtenances are required as part of this

TO?

d. Is any HVAC required for the

Packing Room or the Optional Retail

Sales Room?

e. What is the fit and finish requirements for the interior of the building?

which are necessary to maintain a cold storage facility of the type in task order 01 are required. Assume there is adequate access to electrical and water utilities and that no rights issues exist. Any accessories are up to the offerors so long as the minimum requirements are met.

d. Offerors can determine whether an HVAC is appropriate based on the applicable codes.

e. This is up to the offeror.

27 Part F.6, “Request for Task Order

Proposals”, states “For design-build type

SOWs, the Contractor shall submit a proposal within 45 days, unless otherwise stated in the RFTOP.” The current due date for the Proposal is August 5, 2013 which is only 38 days following the release of the RFP. Due to the number of questions on TO 01, will USAID consider extending the due date to 45 days after responses to the questions are issued?

We have extended the due date to August 8 th

28 Part H.3, “Authorized Geographic Code”, states “Each task order shall state the authorized geographic code, if different than 935.” The geographic code to be

The code is 935.

used for TO 01 does not appear to be included in the solicitation package.

Please provide

29 Part H.9, “Authorized Work Week”, states

“For hybrid type task orders only, a six-day workweek shall be authorized only on a case-by-case basis with prior approval from the TOCO.” Due the aggressive schedule, please confirm that a six day, ten hours per day, work week will be authorized for TO 01.

Task order 01 is not a hybrid task order.

30 Part H.12, “Reporting of Foreign Taxes”, contains the requirements for reporting of

Taxes paid but does not indicate the tax waivers that USAID has negotiated for this contract or TO 01 (in particular importation tax). Please provide

USAID has a tax waiver for Kenya.

31 Part I.9, “52.236-1 Performance of Work by the Contractor (Apr 1984)”, states

“The Contractor shall perform on the site, and with its own organization, work equivalent to at least _______ (Percent

TBD at task order level) percent of the total amount of work to be performed under the contract.” The Percent required for Task Order 01 does not appear to be included in the solicitation package.

Please provide.

The information has been added to task order

01.

32 Part L.6, “Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal”, states

“Technical proposals are limited to 20 pages (Any pages beyond these forty will

NOT be given to the evaluators).” Please confirm the limit for the Technical proposal is forty (40) pages.

Please see question 1.

33 Attachment 1 Part A.1, “Introduction and

Rationale”, states “Post-harvest cooling rapidly removes field heat, allowing longer storage periods.” Can USAID clarify the duration of the storage period to be used as the basis for our design?

The storage period will be no longer than one week per different produce items.

34 Attachment 1 Part A.2, “Design

Requirements”, states “Utilizing the preliminary design below, the Contractor shall design and build a refrigerated storage building.” Please confirm that the

Confirmed.

dimensions provided on the floor plan represent the size of the building required.

35 Attachment 1 Part A.2, “Design

Requirements”, states “The main products to be stored are broccoli, sweet corn, potatoes, and peppers.” Since the optimum storage conditions are different for these produce, please clarify if storage will be only one type of produce at a time or if any sectionalizing is required for the refrigerated storage area.

One type of produce at a time.

36 Attachment 1 Part A.2, “Design

Requirements”, first bullet states “The building must include adjacent space for packing and sorting appropriate to the

Kenyan rural environment.” Please confirm that the Packing Room shown on the floor plan, which scales to approximately 17.5’ X 23’ or 403 sf, is the appropriate space required and that any internal build outs (such as shelving, work tables, etc.) will be provided and installed by others.

Confirmed.

37 Attachment 1 Part A.2, “Design

Requirements”, second bullet states “The building must provide approximately

7,400 cubic feet of refrigerated space with a design storage capacity of approximately 3,000 bushels (105.72 cubic meters).” The Cold Storage Room shown on the floor plan scales to approximately 23’ X 23’ or 529 sf which would require a ceiling height of 14’.

Please confirm that this is the required configuration and that any internal build outs (such as shelving, etc.) will be provided and installed by others.

Confirmed.

38 Attachment 1 Part A.2, “Design

Requirements”, third bullet states “The nominal design cooling capacity is 300 bushels (10.57 cubic meters) per day with a 3 1/2 ton refrigeration unit.” Please confirm that we should base our FFP estimate on providing a single 3 1/2 ton refrigeration unit or provide the specific design conditions and operational

Confirm, though offerors are able to propose alternate solutions so long as they meet the minimum requirements.

requirements that should be used in developing refrigeration unit sizing.

39 Attachment 1 Part A.2, “Design

Requirements”, fifth bullet states “The building floor must also be equipped with a suitable inside drain to dispose of wastewater from cleaning and condensation.” However, the volume of water or number and type of connections to be supplied for cleaning does not appear to be described in Attachment 1.

Please provide.

This is up to the contractor to design as part of the performance under the task order. All work must meeting IBC standards.

40 Attachment 1 Part A.2, “Design

Requirements”, sixth bullet states “The floor of the refrigerated room must support heavy loads” and “Five or even 6 inches of concrete may be necessary for situations where loads are expected to be unusually heavy.” Please provide floor loading criteria or a list of equipment that should be used as design criteria on this

FFP TO.

This is up to the contractor to design as part of the performance under the task order. All work must meeting IBC standards.

41 Attachment 1 Part A.2, “Design

Requirements”, eighth bullet states “Door gaskets must provide a good seal” but does not provide acceptance criteria.

Please provide.

This is up to the contractor to design as part of the performance under the task order. All work must meeting IBC standards.

42 Attachment 1 Part A.2, “Design

Requirements”, last bullet states “The building shall be connected to existing utilities.” Please provide the distance from the building to the tie-in locations for these utilities on this FFP TO as well as the following information required for sizing:

a. Electricity: Voltage and Phase and if overhead or underground

b. Water: Material and size of line to be tied into and available pressure

c. Wastewater: Material and size of line to be tied into and elevation relative to the existing site

The tie-ins are less than 100 feet from the site.

a. 220V, overhead.

b. Pressure is variable and inconsistent and the material and size of the lines are unknown.

c. Elevation is the same as the site. Please see b for materials and size.

43 Attachment 1 Part A.3, “Weekly Progress Confirmed.

Meetings”, states “The Contractor’s team shall meet with the COR and relevant

USAID representatives on a weekly basis to discuss progress to date and address any issues.” Please confirm that these meetings can be accomplished via telecon or identify the location required for these meetings.

44 Attachment 1 Part A.4, “Location, Security, and Site Accessibility”, states

“The building shall be located in Wiklilye town in Kitui County, Kenya, located 6 kilometers from Kitui town.” Please provide a location map and a delineation of the area of work available for construction, mobilization, laydown, material storage, etc. to allow for an accurate estimate on this FFP TO.

This information is unavailable at this time.

Please note that contingencies can be included in the FFP.

45 Attachment 1 Part A.4, “Location, Security, and Site Accessibility”, states

“There is adequate road access”. Please provide the distance from the building site to the closest road capable of supporting truck traffic on this FFP TO.

50 feet.

46 Attachment 1 Part B.1, “52.211-10

Commencement, Prosecution, and

Completion of Work (Apr 1984)”, states

“The Contractor shall be required to…

...complete the entire work ready for use not later than 150 calendar days after receipt of award.” However, Form SF

1442 Item 11 indicates that completion of each Task Order is to be measured in days following Notice to Proceed (NTP).

Please confirm that the required date for completion is 150 calendar days following

NTP.

The SF 1442 in the RFP is for the IDIQ. The task order will have a separate SF 1442 with box 11 filled out accordingly.

47 Attachment 1 Part B.2, “Deliverables”, indicates 90% Drawings and 100%

Drawings. Please confirm that these are the only design deliverables required on this TO and the USAID review time that should be considered in our schedule.

Confirmed.

48 Attachment 1 Part B.2, “Deliverables”, indicates that As-build Drawings are due no later than 150 days after award. Part

No.

C.8.14, “As-Built Drawings”, subpart c states “As-built drawings shall be furnished to the Task Order Contracting

Officer with a transmittal sheet containing an index of all drawings by the delivery date in task order.” Since Part B.1, “52.211-10 Commencement, Prosecution, and Completion of Work (Apr 1984)”, states “The Contractor shall be required to… ...complete the entire work ready for use not later than 150 calendar days after receipt of award” and As-Built Drawings cannot be finalized until after completion of construction, will USAID be updating the required date for As-Built Drawings?

49 Attachment 1 Part B.2, “Subcontracting

Requirement”, states “A minimum of 80% of the work must be subcontracted to local organizations.” Please confirm that this requirement is for 80% of the subcontracted cost and provide the definition of “local” to be considered for this TO.

Please see questions 2 and 5.

50 Attachment 1 Part B.3, “52.211-12:

Liquidated Damages – Construction (Sept

2000)”, states “If the Contractor fails to complete the work within the time specified in the contract, the Contractor shall pay liquidated damages to the

Government in the amount of $200.00 for each calendar day of delay until the work is completed or accepted.” Please confirm that completion of work is defined by the completion and turnover of the facility to

USAID.

Confirmed.

51 Attachment 1 Drawing “Floor Plan” included in Attachment 1 indicates “Retail

Sales Room (Optional)” in addition to the

Packing Room and Cold Storage Room required by the text of Attachment 1.

Should this optional room be included in our proposed price or should it be estimated separately and, if so, please confirm that USAID will decide upon exercising this option concurrent with

Award?

Please price it separately and USAID will determine whether to exercise it at time of award.

52 Attachment 1 Drawing “Floor Plan” included in Attachment 1 states “Loading

Dock. See Note”. We could not locate this note. Please provide.

There is no note. Our apologies.

53 Attachment 1 Drawing “Section through

Cold Storage Room” included in

Attachment 1 indicates the eave height

“varies with application”. What is the eave height required for this application?

Please see question 37.

54 Attachment 1 Drawing “Section through

Cold Storage Room” included in

Attachment 1 indicates the continuous footing as 4’0 below finished floor elevation and states “footings to extend below frost line”. What is the frost line at this location and can the footings be shallower if found to be appropriate based upon the geotechnical properties of the site?

Our apologies, there is no frost line here.

55 The Liquidated Damages clause appears to have no limit. In other USAID projects, a max of a specified percentage of contract, or a maximum dollar figure are provided. Is it the intention of USAID to limit the liquidated damages in some similar way?

No.

56 It is clear that USAID is requesting a full time lead Program Manager (e.g., IDIQ

COP) be resident in a Nairobi office. In

B.5 the price schedule requests "fully burdened rates and include all associated costs and profit." Please indicate whether this price shall include salary, overhead, and the other direct costs associated with the operation of a dedicated Nairobi office for this project. If the price schedule does not allow for operations cost of the office, please indicate how the contractor should recover those costs.

The daily price for the key personnel may include operations costs and the contractor shall recoup those costs via the number of days each key personnel are needed for each task order.

57 In the 4th sentence, reference is made to fee not being applied to subgrant cost fees and that there is a separate ceiling established below in the section. Can

USAID please clarify if grants are part of this RFP and if so what the fee ceiling will be? If grants are intended, how does

Grants are not intended.

USAID expect them to be administered?

58 Reference is made to USAID's

Construction Policy. Can USAID please provide us or direct us to this policy?

We have attached it to the FBO notice.

59 This section lists the International

Building Code (latest edition). Is it also the intent to include all referenced and ancillary codes such as the International

Mechanical Code, International Plumbing

Code, and the International Electrical

Code which in turn references the

National Electrical Code (NEC/NFPA

70)?

Yes.

60 In the event of conflicts between the international codes listed in Paragraph C.4 and local standard practices (such as wire colors, conduit colors, etc.) where the local Building Code does not provide clarity, what is the process that will be used to request such technical changes to allow for the best value and lowest life cycle costs for the constructed facility?

The process will be a collaborative one between the contractor and the TOCO.

61 Does USAID have a standard format for the Operation and Maintenance Plan or may we use our own format?

No, offerors may use their own.

62 Does USAID have a standard format for the Construction Risk Management Plan or may we use our company standard?

No, offerors may use their own.

63 This section references that the safety plan must conform to FAR 52.236.236-13 which in turn references 29CFR Parts

1910 and 1926 (OSHA Standards) yet makes no reference to local safety standards. This may be at variance with

Section C.8.11. Are we required to comply with both the OSHA standards and the local standards (whichever is most strict)?

Correct.

64 Does USAID have a standard format for the Electronic Document Control website or may we use our company standard?

No, offerors may use their own.

65 Lead Engineer qualifications call for a

Professional Engineering license which is valid in the U.S. Typically, USAID recognizes the professional engineering licenses that are also the equivalent, albeit

No.

not US issued. Will USAID Nairobi accept professional engineers licensed in the region or other parts of the world, as long as there is equivalency?

66 Mention is made of small business set aside under Fair Opportunity Exceptions.

Does USAID envision a small business set aside for this IDIQ? Also, in reference to Non-Competitive Task Orders over

$700,000, is the requirement that certified cost or pricing data intended to indicate that such orders will be hybrid CPFF orders?

There is no set aside for the IDIQ. However, if a small business wins one of the awards, the exception could be utilized.

Requirements for certified cost or pricing data are not tied to contract type.

67 Will USAID assist the IDIQ contractor with performance of site visits and associated measurement surveys, etc. to support their task order proposals and bids?

USAID may assist on future task orders and will attempt to do so where possible.

68 Bi-weekly progress and issues review meetings are mentioned as required between the Chief of Party and IDIQ CO.

Might the intended parties be the contractor's Lead Program Manager and

IDIQ CO? Or, perhaps the IDIQ COR?

These meetings are between the Program

Manager and the IDIQ CO.

69 Does USAID have a standard format for the Final Contract Completion Report or may we use our company standard which meets the requirements described within this section?

No, contractors may use their own.

70 Does USAID have a standard format for the CD-ROM depository or may we use our company standard which is a download of the Electronic Document

Control website?

No, contractors may use their own.

71 Does USAID have a standard format for the RFIs or may we use our company standard?

No, contractors may use their own.

72 Is it USAID's intent to indicate that any change orders or contract modifications will be CPFF?

All construction work must be FFP.

73 Please specify the total number of pages within the Technical Proposal. Reference is made to both a 20 page and 40 page document. Please clarify.

Please see question 1.

74 Please clarify if the Acronym List is included in the page count.

It would count towards the page limit.

75 Please clarify if Key Personnel CVs should be included in the Technical

Proposal (un-numbered) or if they can be within an Annex.

Please see Section L.6.

76 For ease of reading and review, please clarify if USAID will allow 11X17 page set up to accommodate design drawings and other charts, such as the organizational chart.

Design drawings and charts can be on an

11X17 page set up. However, these are still counted in the page limitation.

77 Please indicate if USAID will accept 2 page CVs for the Task Order Key

Personnel and/ or staff, since this is an awardable order?

There are no required key personnel for the task order.

78 Please clarify if USAID will allow the three Key Personal to play multiple roles if necessary. For example, can our proposed Lead Engineer for the IDIQ act also as the Task Order COP?

USAID will consider this on a case-by-case basis.

79 Please specify if design drawings for Task

Order 01 can be included in an Annex and not be considered part of the 20 page count?

Design drawings are not required for task order 01.

80 The text flows from L.6 to L.8 as section

L.7 is missing. Can USAID please clarify that there is/is not a section L.7?

We have corrected the mistake.

81 This section references Section B.4. It appears that this reference is incorrect.

The correct reference appears to be

Section B.5. Please clarify.

We have amended the reference.

82 Please provide latitude and longitude of the proposed site.

We do not have the coordinates at this time.

83 This section references environmental compliance in accordance with 22CFR

216 and the Africa Guidelines for

Environmentally Sound Design and

Construction yet makes no reference to local standards. This may be at variance with Section C.8.11. Are we required to comply with both the listed standards and the local standards (whichever is most strict)?

Yes.

84 Please confirm that the requirement

"commence work under this contract within 7 calendar days after Contractor receives the signed award" is met by beginning design work and plan

Correct.

preparation as required under Sections

C.8.1, C.8.2, and C.8.4 and does not require a mobilization to the site within the 7 day timeframe.

85 For preparation of the required schedule, please provide a maximum Government review period for review of the 90% plans and the 100% plans after receipt of the complete submittal by the Contractor.

We have added the review time in task order

01.

86 Nominal design cooling capacity is 300 bushels on the written document but 150 on the plans?

Please use the 300 figure.

87 With the floor plan as shown the building would have to be 13 feet tall to accommodate 7400 Cubic feet. The design storage area is 3733 cu. Ft. so half of the volume is needed to hold produce.

How will that be configured? Two aisles?

One Aisle? Shelving? pallet jacks for loading produce up high ? ladders for loading produce up high? Does each farmer get their own secure spot to store their goods?

Please see question 37. It is up to offerors with regards to the final design.

88 Written document says 2 inches of insulation and drawing says 4 inches.

Please clarify intent.

Please use the 2 inches figure.

89 The sketch indicates the sales room is optional, yet bidders are expected to present a design and bid FFP packages.

Please indicate how USAID would like contractor to handle "optional" requirements. Additionally, who will make the final determination as to whether to include "optional" items?

Please see question 51.

90 Asbestos shingles may not be environmentally acceptable. Please clarify that alternatives may be proposed.

This is a mistake in the drawings. Asbestos must not be proposed. Alternatives to the light asphalt may be proposed.

91 Reference is made to sub-grantees in the second sentence. Should this reference be to subcontractors of the prime contractor?

There are no subgrants allowed under this award.

92 Section C (1) states, in part: "Extensive problems with these activities could occur, for example, design flaws, no adherence to international building codes, inadequate site supervision, lack of proper warranties, and inadequate legal

There are numerous legal challenges when doing construction in this region. For example, when doing construction work under assistance mechanisms, there are fewer, if any, legal remedies for the US

Government than when doing construction remedies." Can you please elaborate on what you mean by "inadequate legal remedies?"

work under contracts.

93 Section C (1) states, in part: "The term

["construction"] includes, without limitation, roads, power plants, buildings, bridges, water treatment facilities, and vertical structures." Might additional types of construction also be included under this definition, such as sewage or waste water treatment facilities, other types of power generation or transmission, environmental remediation, rail, port or multi-modal transport facilities, and irrigation or other water conveying facilities?

Yes.

94 Section C (1) states, in part: "No task orders for architect and engineering services, as defined in FAR 36.601-4(a), shall be issued off of this IDIQ."

However, Section F (6) refers to "A design-build type SOW which requires the

Contractor to both design and construct the project within stated design and performance criteria and in close collaboration with USAID." Can you please clarify the relationship between these sections of the RFP? Is it correct to assume that, under the circumstances

[design-build] described in F (6), that a task order might include engineering services such as project design, for which a contractor would be compensated?

For purposes of this IDIQ, design-build task orders are not considered “architect and engineering services”.

95 Section C (2) states, in part: "The

Contractor may also be required to provide technical assistance to local institutions or personnel in any of the above areas." Does such technical assistance refer to activities in the context of USAID-supported technical assistance and/or USAID facilities support, or might such technical assistance be in support of an activity not funded or supported by

USAID?

Any technical assistance provided under this contract will be USAID-supported.

96 Section C (7) states, in part: "Each Task

Order shall include a requirement to

Please see question 2.

subcontract a percentage of the work to local entities." By "local entities" do you mean local public and private entities? By

"local entities," do you mean entities in the specific country in which the project is being completed, or entities within the

East Africa region? For example, for a hypothetical project in Somalia, might this requirement be met by hypothetically utilizing a Kenyan firm?

97 Section F (4) states, in Part: "The

Contractor shall maintain a Nairobi-based, full time PM [Project Manager] for the term of the contract to manage the entire contract and ensure that quality standards and schedules are met." Is it USAID's expectation that, if a contractor is awarded one of the anticipated two-to-four IDIQs, it will at that time station a full time PM in Nairobi? Or, is it USAID's expectation that such a full time PM would be deployed upon the award of specific task order?

The PM is deployed upon award of the IDIQ.

98 Is the Task Order contained in Attachment

One an example of the type of TO anticipated under the IDIQ, or is this the actual first Task Order that successful contractors will compete for and accomplish?

Both.

99 The Solicitation states to the effect "80% of the work" shall be subcontracted to local providers. How should this be measured? Labor costs? Labor head count? Material dollars? Labor plus material dollars?

Please see question 5.

100 This is a Design and Build contract. What are the Design Criteria such as; windload, live load, seismic zone, soil bearing capacity, etc.?

Offerors are expected to research this information. All designs must meet the applicable codes and minimum requirements.

101 Shall it be assumed that site development is limited to 1.5m out from the building foundation?

This is up to each offeror to propose.

102 If all Design Requirements are complied with, can the offeror propose a building system equal to or better than the depicted in the soliciation?

Yes.

103 In the event skilled labor is not sufficiently available in the vicinity of the work site may the contractor establish a small Life Support Area (base camp) for its employees on the work site?

Yes.

104 Will imported tools, equipment and materials be granted examinations from customs duties.

Yes.

105 Must the design conform to International

Standards (IBC, IEC, IPC, etc) or is a Best

Commercial Practice standard?

International standards.

106 With exception of North American and

European countries few, if any, have licensed Professional Engineers (P.E.), What does the solicitation as to "licensed

Engineers"?

Please see question 65.

107 Does use a 220VAC/50Hz/3Ø power supply?

Yes.

108 General Inquiry - Can we assume there will be task orders requiring or accepting prefabricated building solutions?

Yes.

109 General Inquiry - If prefabricated buildings are acceptable for various task orders, are there any restrictions and or requirements associated with the specification, delivery and construction such buildings? (i.e., structural spec, material spec, electrical/lighting/plumbing/mechanical specs, manufacturer origin, shipping/import method limitations or requirements, temporary or permanent use requirement, and dismantling / ownership post dismantling intention?)

Yes, there are restrictions such as the geographic code. Specific restrictions will be identified in the task orders.

110 General Inquiry - Will there be any interest in developing buildings with integrated sustainable technologies

(through passive or active means) or constructing sustainable infrastructure systems through this IDIQ? (i.e., does

USAID intend to require the design of renewable energy systems, energy management technologies, resource management technologies, or other integrated technologies into building design / infrastructure solutions?

In certain task orders, USAID may require sustainable designs/technologies. However, offerors are encouraged to always propose innovative solutions which incorporate sustainable technologies.

Examples of such could be solar, wind, or geothermal power generation; smart-grid or micro-grid electrical power systems;

high-efficiency low-energy lighting systems; water capture, re-use, purification, filtration, supply, and waste-water/sewage treatment and disposal systems on-site; permaculture, micro-farming, or aquaculture technologies;

remote communications technologies.)

111 F.6 REQUEST FOR TASK ORDER

PROPOSALS, Performance and Payment

Bonds: Please advise the terms and validity period for Performance and

Payment Bonds (p. 22-23)

Please see Section F.6 and FAR 52.228-15

112 F11(b) 52.211-12: LIQUIDATED

DAMAGES- CONSTRUCTION (SEPT

2000), Please clarify why Contractor is subject to liquidated damages if

Government terminates the Contractors right to proceed?

This is a standard FAR clause.

113 Please confirm the page count limitations for the technical proposal.

Please see question 1.

114 Is a letter of “bondability” required to be submitted for Task Order 01 as part of this proposal?

Yes.

115 Are Program Management Office (PMO) support costs to be included in this (office rent, staffing, insurances etc.)?

These costs are included in the burdened rates.

116 In the event a host country requires the prime contractor to be registered to perform construction related activities will

USAID provide any support in this process?

We will provide support where possible.

117 Will all imported project materials be considered diplomatic cargo? If so, will

USAID assist in host country MFA approvals? Additionally, will these materials be exempt from taxes and duties?

Given that the regulations are different for each country, this will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

118 Are the Lead Engineer and QA Manager required to be based in Nairobi at the

PMO?

Yes.

119 For construction worked performed on/at

U.S. Government Properties, will the prime contractor follow International

This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Building Code or U.S. standards?

120 Is the use of the FIDIC contractual documents with inclusion of the appropriate FAR flow downs recognized as an acceptable method to subcontract with local entities?

Yes, so long as all requirements are met.

121 Is the prime contractor responsible for the mitigation/removal of hazardous materials? And if applicable to the prime contractor, in the absence of local country laws, will U.S. law apply?

Yes. In most cases, this will be covered by the environmental requirements.

122 Is a master letter of “bondability” from surety acceptable? Or must a bondability letter be obtained for each task order?

Each task order.

123 For foreign entities working on the project, are we to apply the applicable

FAR definitions for small business regarding payments to foreign entities? Is this clause applicable to foreign entity payments?

No, the term “small businesses” are only applicable to US firms.

124 Could USAID please clarify if the PM is expected to be in Nairobi after the award of the IDIQ, or after the award of the contractor’s first task order? Further, how soon after award is the PM expected to mobilize?

Yes. The PM should mobilize within 60 days.