Questions_and_Answers_SOL-623-14-000010.pdf

Questions and Answers: SOL-623-14-000010

1. Do you require that service provider provide all the services listed? We are a research company and would like to bid for the Monitoring and Evaluation as well as media requirements for consistent program tracking.

The contractor is required to provide all the services listed.

2. Regarding Solicitation SOL-623-14-000010 (Somalia Program Support Services (SPSS) is this a five year contract and by doing program support does this preclude you from bidding on other related contracts?

Yes, per Section F.2, the performance period is five years.

All conflict of interest information can be found in Section H of the RFP:

• H.22 “Conflict of Interest”

• H.24 “Organizational Conflict of Interest”

• H.25 “Special Conflict of Interest Considerations”

The successful contractor of SPSS is precluded from bidding on other Somalia contracts. However, if an offeror wishes to bid on another Somalia RFP while this SPSS procurement still in progress, they may, with the exception that they would withrdaw their offer from other RFPs if they became the successful contractor for SPSS.

3. In an effort to better understand the expected requirements; do you have a draft RFP or some other guidance on the nature of the Work?

The Statement of Work can be found in Section C of this RFP and attachments 1-4.

4. Would the resulting IDIQ for program support services include the construction and maintenance of facilities (e.g. Base Operations Support) and/or the management of program assets (e.g.

warehouses, equipment, vehicles, IT equipment)?

No.

5. Is there an incumbent contractor for the Somalia Program Support Services (SPSS) requirement? If so, could you provide the vendor name and/or the contract number?

Currently, most of these services are provided by IBTCI under the Monitoring and Evaluation Program for Somalia (MEPS) contract.

6. Who are the current and potential implementing partners in Somalia working with USAID for this project?

Current USAID implementing partners in Somalia include:

Peace and Security Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS)

DAI/Washington and IOM Democracy and Governance Somali Elections and Parliamentary Support (CEPPS III) NDI and IRI

Youth & Education Somali Youth Leaders Initiative (SYLI) Mercy Corps

Economic Growth Partnership for Economic Growth (PEG)

DAI/NATHAN GROUP GBTI II, LLC

Health Joint Health & Nutrition Program (JHNP)

UNICEF

Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring and Evaluation Project for Somalia (MEPS)

IBTCI

Engineering Support Ecotech

7. Could you please detail what exactly the Communications Community of Practice (C-COP) is for and how often the Communications and Website Advisor will host these meetings?

The C-COP would be formed to share best practices among USAID IPs and to build the capacity of IPs and their Somali government counterparts to more effectively disseminate information on achievements. As stated in the RFP, this group will be expected to meet no more than monthly and no less than quarterly in Nairobi and/or Somalia.

8. The RFP mentions ‘Somali Government Counterparts’ in multiple sections. Exactly who/what part of the Somali government is this?

This would include staff from various USAID counterpart ministries in Mogadishu as well as in other regional administrations.

9. Are the ‘success stories’ from the prior performance period published on Clearinghouse? Are they published anywhere for public viewing/download?

Success stories should be posted on the USAID website (http://www.usaid.gov/somalia), but due to staffing limitations not many are available there. Two are attached as examples.

10. Will there be ANY monitoring, planning, and/or evaluating in Jubaland?

USAID initiates activities in locations if/as security allows, and currently has on-going TIS activities in Jubba. Therefore, the Contractor will be expected to conduct M&V site visits there, as well as evaluations if/as warranted.

http://www.usaid.gov/somalia

11. Roughly how many field monitors were recruited and trained per year for the prior contract?

It is up to offerors to propose the number of monitors required to satisfactorily provide the services requested in the RFP.

12. In Section L.6 INSTRUCTIONS TO THE OFFERORS (i) Past Performance, it states that, “offerors must submit past performance information on all US Government contracts above $5,000,000.00 with a period of performance falling within the last three years which involve any of the services listed in section C.” Does this mean that offerors can ONLY submit their past performance with the US Government? Or can offerors submit other similar past performance within the last three years and over $5,000,000.00 to other aid organizations, humanitarian efforts, private firms, etc.?

Yes, Offerors can only submit their past performance on U.S. Government contracts. Past performance on assistance awards from the USG or on contracts for other organizations/firms will not be considered relevant.

13. Is this a new requirement? If no, who is the incumbent?

Many of the services requested under this RFP are currently being provided by IBTCI under the Monitoring and Evaluation Program for Somalia (MEPS) contract.

14. Section C.3.1 Expected Task Order Services subparagraph Data Management states that “The initial assessment and on-going management of the clearinghouse is included in Task Order #1,” yet the requirements of the assessment and on-going management of the clearinghouse seem to be covered under Task Order #3. Could USAID please clarify?

This was an error that has been corrected in Amendment 1. These requirements are included in TO #4.

15. Since only FFP Task Orders are to be issued under this IDIQ, please consider removing the line in paragraph F.5 Task Order Procedures that reads “All daily rates for consultants or employees must be shows as unburdened in the budget.”

Normally, adequate price competition establishes a fair and reasonable price. However, since this is a single-award IDIQ, Task Orders beyond TO #4 will be issued in a sole-source environment.

Requesting to see data other than certified cost and pricing data such as unburdened daily rates allows USAID to determine if prices are fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 15.404- 1(b)(vii).

16. Could USAID provide the local compensation plan for both Kenya and Somalia?

Yes. The Kenya LCP has been attached with Amendment 1. USAID uses the Kenya LCP for Somalia as well.

17. Per Paragraph F.5 Task Order Procedures, “The Contractor may include indirect costs, but they may not exceed the Contractor’s Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) or other documentation from its cognizant Government Audit Agency, which must be provided with the price proposal. If the Contractor does not have a NICRA or a cognizant Government Audit Agency, the

Contractor must break out and show all costs considered indirect as direct costs.” Could USAID please clarify what specifically it requires offerors to break out?

If an organization does not have a NICRA, a percentage of direct costs will not be considered as an indirect cost. The offeror must present its indirect costs as direct costs.

18. Attachment 5.b switches the order of the regions listed for different types of activities. Please confirm that the number and regions of the interventions listed in the attachment is correct.

The numbers on Attachment 5.b are correct for the regions listed, even though regions for different types of activities are listed in a different order.

19. Who is the outgoing contractor referenced in Task Order #1 on page 71, paragraph C.1?

Many of the services requested under this RFP are currently being provided by IBTCI under the Monitoring and Evaluation Program for Somalia (MEPS) contract.

20. Task Order #1 Paragraph C.4. Support Services states that the Contractor is to provide facilitation services when needed. Does the facilitation support described include travel, transportation, and/or lodging for meeting attendees?

No, facilitation services does NOT include arrangement or cost of travel, transportation, and/or lodging for meeting attendees. This is only intended to sometimes provide the services of a facilitator for some meetings; likely someone from the Contractor's key staff. The language in Section C.4 has been clarified in Amendment 1.

21. What type of backstop support is required in economic growth, stabilization, democracy and governance, and education and youth, as described in Task Order #1 Paragraph C.5. Personnel? At what level of effort?

Backstop support in these technical areas is expected to be one full-time person (ideally a Somali-speaker) for each area. These individuals will advise M&V field staff and assist with interpretation/analysis of data; provide support for evaluations in their sector; and provide M&E assistance to USAID and IP technical staff, as needed.

22. Could USAID please provide the most up to date local compensation plan?

Yes. The Kenya LCP has been attached with Amendment 1.

23. Please confirm whether the cover letter, table of contents, and proposal covers are all included in the page limit.

Yes, per Section L.6, the page limitation includes all required documents for the technical proposal.

All required aspects of the technical proposal as noted below must be combined into a single PDF, and the page limitation will be calculated by the total number of pages of the entire PDF.

Please note a “proposal cover” is not required; however, the cover letter and table of contents are required.

24. Are there font and spacing requirements?

Per Section L.6, the only font and spacing requirements are as follows: Proposals must be legible and require no magnification.

25. Please clarify the requirement for Communication and Website Advisor on page 85, which states that the candidate must be a native English speaker. Does it entail a person that was born in one of the countries where English is an official language or can it be a local Somali/ Kenyan or TCN that has bilingual proficiency in English?

A native speaker of any language is a person who has spoken that language from earliest childhood;

therefore in this case, someone who grew up in a country where American English was the official language. This is critical for this position because the products of this individual will be posted on a USG website, so must be written in proper American English.

26. For some of the possible tasks listed on page 11 and 12, could USAID clarify if they currently fit within TO 1, 2, 3, or 4?

The tasks listed on pages 11 and 12 are those possible under this IDIQ. Many of them are included in Task Orders 1-4, but others may be requested in future task orders.

27. On page 14 of the RFP, USAID mentions that a point of coordination will be "to facilitate performance and compliance (environmental and branding) M&V of all USAID-funded activities in Somalia by the Contractor." Please clarify what this means. Will the contractor be responsible to ensure all IPs follow the environmental compliance rules and branding with their programs, for example?

The Contractor will not be responsible for “ensuring” IP compliance with these regulations, as that is the role of the Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative. The Contractor will be monitoring and verifying actions taken by IPs in the field to implement their branding plans and environmental mitigation plans, and reporting back to USAID.

28. Would it be possible to detail the eligible organisations (no for profit/for profit organisations, Universities, research centers, NGO, Foundations...) and eligible nationalities : "Proposals will be accepted from eligible organizations"?

Any organization may submit a proposal so long as they meet the eligibility of geographic code 937, as noted in Section H.7. Code 937 is defined as the United States, the cooperating/recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, and excluding prohibited sources. Additional information on geographic code 937 can be found in 22 CFR 228.

29. Section A.3 Block 4 - Neither block is checked. RFP should be. Will the IFB or RFP block be checked?

Yes, this was an error and RFP has been checked in Amendment 1.

30. There is no CLIN structure.What will the CLIN structure be for each order? Will there be a Cost Reimbursable CLIN for DBA and other (I.9.) requirements.

There will be no CLINs. Per Section B.2, only firm-fixed-price task orders will be issued from the resulting IDIQ.

31. C.4, Personnel Requirements - Will the contractor be required to provide in country security services for Contractor Personnel or will the US Government be providing security and protection details for Contractor Personnel? If the Contractor is required to provide security services, will the cost be covered under the contract vehicle?

Yes, the contractor must provide any security services it deems necessary for its staff. USAID does not bear responsibility for contractor staff security, this is the responsibility of the contractor.

32. C.4, Personnel Requirements - Will the Contractor be required to provide life support services for deployed personnel or will such services be covered through US Government agency methods? If the Contractor is required to provide life support for Contractor Personnel, will the costs be covered under the contract vehicle?

USAID is not sure what is meant by “life support” services; however, per Section C.4 - The Contractor must provide all necessary logistical support, including travel arrangements (with required USAID clearances), computer support, team planning facilitation, and report editing and dissemination for its personnel for each Task Order. The Contractor must bear primary responsibility for procurement, personnel, reporting, and other management related requirements of the contract.

33. C.5, Geographic Area - Is the Contractor required to have an office established at time of the proposal submittance? If not, by what date or milestone will the Contractor's Nairobi Headquarters need to be established by?

Per Section C.1 of Task Order #1, the Contractor must establish full operations in Nairobi, Kenya within 30 days of award. This includes identifying and procuring an office space.

34. C.3.1 - USG Staff travel is currently limited due to security. The RFP does not appear to address any security concerns for contracted personnel traveling to Somalia. Given the risks associated with traveling to USAID locations throughout Somalia, will the contractor also be responsible for providing security of its personnel, to include armed protection while traveling and fortified housing, with the exception of Somali field monitors?

Offerors may propose and budget for security they deem appropriate for their personnel.

35. F.5 - Certified SES Performance Appraisal System. What is a "certified SES Performance Appraisal System" compared to a non-certified SES Performance Appraisal System as referenced online at develomentnetwork.com?

In accordance with ADS 302, the USAID Contractor Salary Threshold can be found on the Office of Personnel Management website here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2014/ES.pdf/ The “USAID CST” will be the amount established for Agencies without a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2014/ES.pdf https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2014/ES.pdf

36. F.5 - USAID maximum daily rate. Does the USAID maximum daily rate established take into consideration overtime or is this maximum all inclusive of straight and overtime hours for the year?

Is it to be applied to US personnel, TCNs, CCNs and HN personnel also?

The CST applies to all staff working on a USAID contract. No personnel can be paid over the CST, including for overtime.

37. F.5 - Labor rate development. All daily rates must be shown in the budget as unburdened. Is the contractor to then provide/disclose all the burdens and profit in the fully burdened rate development?

Yes.

38. F.5 - Budget must be provided in Excel…Is there a pricing template that the Contractor should use?

There is no template. The Excel workbook (one tab for each TO) provided in the price proposal should be based on the proposed offeror’s approach and must be presented in a way that USAID can reasonably determine if the price is fair and reasonable. As noted in Section L.7, a breakout of the component costs for each Task Order price must be included.

39. H.16 - Government furnished facilities or property (office spaces or equipment). Will the Contractor be responsible for providing all office space or equipment and any other material items required for this contract?

Yes, with the exception of the government furnished property related to the Clearinghouse noted in Section J, Attachment 6e.

40. H.21 - SmartCard ID. Is the initial ID Card provided to the Contractor at no charge? If not, please provide estimated cost. Are there associated costs for replacement ID cards? If so, please provide estimated cost.

The SmartCard ID is not applicable to Task Orders 1-4.

41. H.25 - Can the Contractor bid on other USAID contracts outside the country of Somalia in other African nations?

Yes.

42. H.30 - Please provide examples of unallowable supplemental salary for HG employees.

Salary supplements are payments made that augment an employee’s base salary or premiums, overtime, extra payments, incentive payment and allowances for which the Host Government employee would qualify under Host Government rules or practice for the performance of his/her regular duties or work performed during his/her regular office hours. Per diem, invitational travel, honoraria and payment for work carried out outside of normal working hours are not considered to be salary supplements.

43. H.33 - Please define the "specified period" timeframe in which this refers.

TCNs are only engaged when there is proof the required skills are not available at present in Kenya and the US. If that is the case, a Kenyan understudy with relevant skills must be engaged and trained under the TCN to take up the position after a period of two years but no more than four years.

44. H.33 - Please provide the AIDAR limits on compensation and benefits for TCN employees.

Please see Section H.9 of the RFP.

45. H.5 - DBA Cost Reimbursment. Will the cost for reimbursement include Contractors G&A and Overhead burdens?

This is a standard AIDAR clause. There is no cost reimbursement under this IDIQ. All Task Orders under this IDIQ will be firm-fixed-price only. The contractor must budget for DBA in its fixed price.

46. H.9 - Compensation for TCNs and CCNs - Can the USAID provide information regarding the "prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by the USAID Mission?" Where might this information be found to ensure compliance?

We have attached the Kenya Local Compensation Plan (LCP), which is also the LCP for Somalia.

47. Section I, AIDAR CLAUSES 752.216-70 Award Fee - There are no references to this contract being an Award Fee, except here. Is this an Award Fee contract? If so, where are the award fee plan/requirements?

Per FAR 16.202-1, “the contracting officer may use a firm-fixed-price contract in conjunction with an award-fee incentive (see16.404) and performance or delivery incentives (see 16.402-2 and 16.402-

3) when the award fee or incentive is based solely on factors other than cost. The contract type remains firm-fixed-price when used with these incentives.” This clause is incorporated into the IDIQ in the case the CO determines a firm-fixed-price with award fee task order shall be issued.

48. Section I, 752.245-71, TITLE TO AND CARE OF PROPERTY - Unique USAID Property clauses. Previous references to working a transition with previous contract. Is there an incumbent for this type of requirement on an existing or previous contract? If so, can you provide a list of Government Property available from the incumbent's contract, available for use in the new contract?

Currently, most of these services are provided by IBTCI under the Monitoring and Evaluation Program for Somalia (MEPS) contract. With the exception of the government furnished property related to the Clearinghouse noted in Section J, Attachment 6e, there will be no other government furnished property available from the incumbent contract.

49. Section I, AIDAR CLAUSES 752.7006 Notices - There is no allowance for email. Does this clause mean that email is not an acceptable method of providing a notice?

No. Email is an acceptable method of providing a notice.

http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/16.htm%23P352_58485 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/16.htm%23P301_47918 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/16.htm%23P310_50266 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/16.htm%23P310_50266

50. K.2. FAR 52.203-2 - This clause is in SAM, and K.3. 52.304-8. Do we need to respond to this if we have already in SAM?

As noted in Section L.5, “For Section K, offerors shall comply with FAR Clause 52.204-7, System for Award Management and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via www.sam.gov.”

51. K.6. FAR 52.209-5 - This clause is in SAM, and K.3. 52.304-8. Do we need to respond to this if we have already in SAM?

As noted in Section L.5, “For Section K, offerors shall comply with FAR Clause 52.204-7, System for Award Management and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via www.sam.gov.”

52. K.8. FAR 52.215-6 - This clause is in SAM, and K.3. 52.304-8. Do we need to respond to this if we have already in SAM?

As noted in Section L.5, “For Section K, offerors shall comply with FAR Clause 52.204-7, System for Award Management and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via www.sam.gov.”

53. K.9. FAR 52.219-22 - This clause is in SAM, and K.3. 52.304-8. Do we need to respond to this if we have already in SAM?

As noted in Section L.5, “For Section K, offerors shall comply with FAR Clause 52.204-7, System for Award Management and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via www.sam.gov.”

54. K.10. FAR 52.222-22 - This clause is in SAM, and K.3. 52.304-8. Do we need to respond to this if we have already in SAM?

As noted in Section L.5, “For Section K, offerors shall comply with FAR Clause 52.204-7, System for Award Management and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via www.sam.gov.”

55. K.11. FAR 52.222-25 - This clause is in SAM, and K.3. 52.304-8. Do we need to respond to this if we have already in SAM?

As noted in Section L.5, “For Section K, offerors shall comply with FAR Clause 52.204-7, System for Award Management and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via www.sam.gov.”

56. K.12. FAR 52.225-20 - - This clause is in SAM, and K.3. 52.304-8. Do we need to respond to this if we have already in SAM?

As noted in Section L.5, “For Section K, offerors shall comply with FAR Clause 52.204-7, System for Award Management and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via www.sam.gov.”

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

57. L.5 - Total email size. Is total email size of 5MB over each email sent or total for all emails sent if sent in separate part, i.e. Technical, and Cost/Business Proposal?

This is the total email size for each email sent. Please note this has been revised to 15 MB per email in Amendment 1.

58. L.7 - Can the government provide an expected number of trips per TO for pricing purposes? L.7

(b) Part 2 requires a fixed price for contractors to perform all work to include a breakout of costs.

TOs 1-3 require key personnel travel to Somalia but does not indicate how many trips or the duration of the trips.

It is up to offerors to propose the number of trips required for headquarters staff to satisfactorily provide the services requested in the RFP for the stated period of time.

59. L.7 - Should the contractor provide separate tabs in the EXCEL "workbook" versus "spreadsheet?"

Yes. This language has been clarified in Amendment 1.

60. L.7 - Can additional tabs in the workbook be provided should they be needed to validate/verify costs?

Yes.

61. L.7 - Evidence of Responsibility. What type of verification is required to prove adequate financial resources?

It is up to the Offeror to provide appropriate evidence for the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination in accordance with FAR 9.104-1.

62. L.7 - Evidence of Responsibility. What type of verification is required to prove the ability to comply with proposal delivery and performance?

It is up to the Offeror to provide appropriate evidence for the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination in accordance with FAR 9.104-1.

63. L.7 - Evidence of Responsibility. What type of verification is required to prove adequate performance record?

It is up to the Offeror to provide appropriate evidence for the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination in accordance with FAR 9.104-1.

64. L.7 - Evidence of Responsibility. What type of verification is required to prove satisfactory record of business ethics and integrity?

It is up to the Offeror to provide appropriate evidence for the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination in accordance with FAR 9.104-1.

65. L.7 - Evidence of Responsibility. What type of verification is required to prove necessary organization, experience,…?"

It is up to the Offeror to provide appropriate evidence for the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination in accordance with FAR 9.104-1.

66. L.7 - Evidence of Responsibility. What type of verification is required to prove necessary production, construction,…?"

It is up to the Offeror to provide appropriate evidence for the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination in accordance with FAR 9.104-1.

67. L.7 - Evidence of Responsibility. What type of verification is required to prove to be qualified and eligible to receive an award…?"

It is up to the Offeror to provide appropriate evidence for the Contracting Officer to make a responsibility determination in accordance with FAR 9.104-1.

68. L.7 - Letter of commitment SUBs. Would a signed teaming agreement be accepted in lieu of a memo?

USAID is not requesting a memo from offerors. USAID is requesting a letter of commitment that indicates the subcontractor's agreement to be included in the Offeror’s proposed teaming arrangement.

69. Attachment 1, F.3, Performance Location - What specific job functions are expected to be included in the Niarobi office. If daily travel to Somlia is needed from Niarobi, will the Contractor be required to have a satellite office location in Somalia due to the distance factor and the inability to travel that far on a daily basis?

It is up to offerors to propose the number of trips required for headquarters staff to satisfactorily provide the services requested in the RFP for the stated period of time. It is not “required” that a “satellite office” be established in Somalia; however, it could be warranted to have a presence from which to manage field monitors in each region.

70. Attachment 2, C.1.1 - Attachment 5.b discussion. Most of the work will be in areas other than Nairobi. Will the Contractor be required to have satellite office locations and life support to support the MV&R?

Some USAID IPs have headquarters in Nairobi, with offices in Somalia, and others have their headquarters in Somalia. Due to the broad nature of work under this IDIQ, USAID is requesting that the Support awardee have its HQ in Nairobi and is allowing offerors to propose the field presence in Somalia that they deem necessary and appropriate to provide the requested services.

71. Attachment 2, C.1.1 - How many Somali field monitors will be required?

It is up to offerors to propose the number of field monitors required to most effectively and efficiently provide the services requested in TO #2.

72. Attachment 2, C.1.1 - What standard should the contractor apply when developing the process?

ADS 203 outlines the broad requirements; www.usaidlearninglab.org and www.usaidprojectstarter.org provide more details on Agency approaches; and industry standard M&V best practices must also be followed.

73. Attachment 2, C.1.1 - The Contractor is responsible to provide required training the USAID/EA/Somalia staff on DQAs. Can the customer provide amplified information on this requirement -What standard to use? Where and when will training take place?

DQAs must be conducted on each indicator reported to Washington no less than once every three years. Therefore, each year some indicators will need to have DQAs completed. The location is determined by where each IP reporting toward that indicator collects and maintains its data.

74. Attachment 3, C.2 - The Communications Advisor is required to travel to Somalia no more than six times. Is the Contractor responsible for providing life support while this person is in Somalia or does the customer have alternative options available?

It is unclear what is meant by life support. Hotels are available in Somalia, and per Section C.4, the Contractor is responsible for all necessary logistical support, including travel arrangements (with required USAID clearances), computer support, team planning facilitation, and report editing and dissemination for its personnel for each Task Order.

75. Attachment 3, C.2 - What types of equipment and infrastructure is required to perform this type of work? Is the Contractor required to provide all hard equipment, internet services etc.?

Per Section C.4 - The Contractor must provide all necessary logistical support, including travel arrangements (with required USAID clearances), computer support, team planning facilitation, and report editing and dissemination for its personnel for each Task Order. The Contractor must bear primary responsibility for procurement, personnel, reporting, and other management related requirements of the contract.

76. Attachments 1-4 - Will a CLIN structure be provided for each Task Order to which prices can be submitted? If not, how would the customer like to see the cost/pricing for each Task order - by cost element (labor, material, ODCs, etc.)?

There is no CLIN structure. USAID would like to see the pricing for each Task Order by cost element. As noted in Section L.7, a breakout of the component costs for each Task Order price must be included. The Excel workbook (one tab for each TO) provided in the price proposal should be based on the proposed offeror’s approach and must be presented in a way that USAID can reasonably determine if the price is fair and reasonable.

77. Attachments 1-4 - Will the Contractor be required to provide any/all life support for employees who are not native to the country (i.e. who do not reside in the country and area of operation)?

USAID is not sure what is meant by “life support” services; however, per Section C.4 - The Contractor must provide all necessary logistical support, including travel arrangements (with http://www.usaidlearninglab.org/ http://www.usaidprojectstarter.org/ required USAID clearances), computer support, team planning facilitation, and report editing and dissemination for its personnel for each Task Order. The Contractor must bear primary responsibility for procurement, personnel, reporting, and other management related requirements of the contract.

Pre-Proposal Conference Questions - April 23, 2014

78. Could we review the data management strategy that is in place – to what extent does the CH collect primary data? baseline data? who is currently managing the CH? Generally request a broader scope on the CH. Are you measuring outcomes/impacts on this system? Is there a repository of baseline information to compare to endline.

The contractor currently managing the CH is IBTCI. Annexes provide info on how the system is built (Java Platform) and provide the full users manual for the CH, including screen shots and methods of data entry. Currently the CH is a repository for performance info – when monitors go out and collect information, this is inputted in the system. Findings needing further attention by the AOR/COR and/or IP are highlighted (flagged), and AOR/CORs can then enter information on how the finding of concern was dealt with. This serves an archival function for later evaluations and audits. Baseline data and quarterly and annual performance information is also inputted into this system by IPs; it is used by AOR/CORs for management purposes and to produce the USAID annual performance report.

Impact is measured through evaluations, not monitoring. This would be done via a separate TO.

Attachments 6a-e are related to the CH, reading this carefully would be the best way to gain an in-depth understanding.

79. How important is it to work with mobile data collection systems to reduce the risk of falsification of information.

The RFP states that USAID is interested in the innovative use of technology for this purpose.

80. What will be expected in putting staff in a backstop role in specific technical areas?

What those individuals would be expected to do is oversee field monitors, provide technical oversight in any evaluation we might do, and to work with USAID technical experts on small-scope research projects.

81. Where are the USAID activities being implemented/sites being monitored? We looked at Attachment A, and it didn’t give specifics. Geography is relevant from a security point of view and also from the point of view of clans.

For security reasons, we cannot share a map of site locations. We are implementing activities in most of Somaliland, in a “fair number” of sites across Puntland, and in a number of areas in South Central, but nowhere held or recently held by al-Shabaab (IPs are doing on-going assessments about the feasibility of going into newly liberated areas). It is primarily TIS that is operational in Jubbaland. Please see Attachment 5b for additional details.

82. Clarification on H.24 and H.25 – recusal from implementation. In the event that prime includes a sub that is not involved in design or evaluations, would that sub then be precluded from bidding on other opportunities?

This depends on the specifics of the case. Since the Task Orders are all managed by the same staff from Task Order 01, preventing actual conflict of interest of appearance of a COI is difficult, so it would be preferable to avoid a situation like this..Initially, the answer is yes; however, if the it might be possible for the contractor to develop an appropriate conflict of interest mitigation plan that USAID approves after award.

83. Will this award be subject to LEAP preference?

No.

84. What ministries do we need to pay attention to in terms of coordination with the Somali government.

The ministries our IPs work with are related to their areas of work: Ministry of Agriculture, Education, Interior, Finance, Planning, etc. We also work closely with local and regional governments, parliaments and commissions. The IPs would actually take the lead in introducing you to their government counterparts, who then could participate in monitoring efforts (when feasible), and with whom you would share all progress reports.

85. What about security? Will the Somali government provide police or military or any kind of such protection?

No.

86. What about language interpretation?

Your field monitors are expected to be Somali, and actually from the region in which they would be working. Your technical backstops are also expected to be Somali-speaking.

87. Do they need to speak English?

Findings must be presented to USAID in good English, per the standards outlined in Section C.3.2.

88. Q: There is an incumbent, to what extent would the new partner inherit from the old. How would this transition be made?

The database is the one thing that will be handed over to the successful contractor by the incumbent;

although, the database will be assessed under TO #4 and possibly changed under a subsequent TO. We’ve worked very hard to ensure that the awardee has some transition time to work with the outgoing contractor.

Please note the RFP for the existing contract was quite different from this one. Responses to this RFP should not assume the current contractor will transition anything but the database, and offerors should assume a fresh new start. This competition is intended to draw best practices from this community of experts (you).

89. What are you looking for in terms of innovative technologies? Where do you want to go – do you have a clear picture. What can be done better, what were you not happy with?

USAID is a learning organization and we are always looking for ways to improve. Part of the reason for the competitive process is to bring great minds together to determine the best way to accomplish our requirements. The hope is that you will look at what we have developed to date and bring your ideas on how this can be done better – how we can get information that is more relevant in a more timely way to manage our programs better. You are the experts – any innovation that you have found in your prior work that you feel is feasible in Somalia, we are happy to consider.

90. What’s the tech proposal page limit?

40 pages. Anything over that will not be read.

91. RFP said that exclusivity agreements are discouraged – does that enable organizations to submit two separate bids, one as a sub and one as a prime.

Yes, that is possible.

92. Current contract runs until when?

September 30, 2014.

93. On the geographic code of 937– do all partners (both prime and sub) need to be from that group?

Yes. Code 937 is defined as the United States, the cooperating/recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, and excluding prohibited sources. Additional information on geographic code 937 and “nationality” can be found in 22 CFR 228.

94. So as a Belgian company we are out?

It depends. Please look at 22 CFR 228.12 for a detailed description of how nationality is defined and determine if your organization falls within this definition.

95. As a US organization active in Kenya, is my organization eligible?

Yes.

96. Is there a USAID contact person in Somalia?

Not at this time.

97. Assuming its important to you to have a strong national content; i.e. strong representation of Somalis on staff. Do you have a ratio?

We have not stipulated a ratio, but have noted that technical backstops working out of Nairobi must be Somali speakers, and field monitors must be from the region where they are to work. We have a goal of proportional representation for men and women on monitoring teams; but if that not possible, there must be at least one woman on each site visit.

98. So you want to set up a network of monitors that are not linked to current actors? They should have their own system of independent monitors?

Yes. Not a problem if the monitors you hire have worked on other monitoring projects, they just cannot have worked on any of the USAID activities in Somalia that they would be monitoring.

99. How many companies have expressed interest?

We will be posting the attendants of this meeting on FBO.gov, but we have no way of knowing how many companies will actually submit proposals.

100. Are there any option years?

No, the award will be for five years.

101. TCNs and CCNs need to be paid commensurate with U.S. staff? If we employ a Somali?

A: No, TCNs and CCNs must not be paid in excess of the USAID Local Compensation Plan for personnel performing comparable work in the country of performance. Allowances may also not be paid to TCNs and CCNs without prior Mission Director approval. Please see Section H.9 for additional details.Please note when considering candidates for your Nairobi office: it has been very difficult to get work permits for TCNs--please look at Section H.33.

102. Is the incumbent bidding?

We don’t know.

103. Is an independent registration on (SAM) needed for a company with HQ in UAE?

Yes.

104. After award, can the prime award to other subs during the term of the contract.

Yes.

105. Is there a requirement to demonstrate the S4/R4 English language competency?

The Foreign Service Institute or International Language Roundtable skill level descriptions can be found here: http://www.govtilr.org/skills/ILRscale2.htm. This website details what is considered a 4/4. There will be no requirement that someone sit for an exam – it’s up to the contractor to ensure that the proposed personnel have the language skills to produce the required products at the standards outlined in Section C. 3.2. It is important to ensure that staff have appropriate language skills to ensure the required level of quality, as products that do not meet the required standards will NOT be http://www.govtilr.org/skills/ILRscale2.htm accepted. This is important since this is a fixed-price contract, and payment cannot be received until deliverables are accepted.

106. A synopsis posted on FBO noted that another solicitation will come out on April 25, 2014. Does bidding on this preclude an organization from bidding on the other?

No, you are not precluded from bidding on both. However, if you were to win SPSS, you would need to withdraw your bid for the other RFP. We encourage bidding on both, as long as it is understood that the contractor who wins SPSS cannot hold another USAID/EA/Somalia award.

107. There was a resilience program awarded two weeks ago – if a consortium won, can organizations that are part of that consortium bid on SPSS?

Yes – SPSS will not be monitoring/evaluating the resilience program. A list of current activities and partners to be monitored in Somalia is noted in the response to question 6 above. Please be aware, however, that as new USAID awards are made in Somalia, COI will apply as well. The SPSS Contractor will never be allowed to monitor activities it implements, and therefore, after award of SPSS, the successful contractor should not bid on any USAID RFPs for Somalia during the life of the SPSS activity.

108. So the Somali government is aware of the activity?

Yes, and they are very appreciative of it, as we do our best to both include them and to share our findings.

109. So one would assume that Somalia government would be supportive?

I am not aware of any Somali governing entities having issues with USAID IPs operating in their regions – there may be regional differences, but I am not aware of any issues with federal or regional authorities.

110. Will the new contractor be tasked with finalization of existing project evaluations that the incumbent contractor conducted baseline assessments for? How do you expect incoming partner to cope?

We do not expect that this will be a problem. We have had experience with numerous other programs where an old contractor conducted baseline assessments and a new contractor conducted the final evaluation. Any ongoing evaluations and assessments will be completed by the existing partner before the current contract closes out. We hope to provide some transition time between the outgoing and incoming contractor to ease transition pains.

111. The RFP notes that the contractor would need to cooperation with other USG entities. Will said entities task us?

No. No one will task you other than your COR.

112. What will be included in the amendment coming out?

Questions and answers from today as well as those received via email; also the sign in sheet will be posted with organizations and POCs, and an actual amendment to RFP itself.

113. When do you foresee the USG having a permanent presence in Somalia?

That is completely dependent on security and cannot be predicted.

114. Could the contractor expect any support in acquiring real estate?

No.

115. Does USAID have anything (diplomatic) under the FGS that ensures that the contractor would be welcomed in under this umbrella?

We are working closely with the FGS to support their implementation of the Somali Compact under the New Deal, and all of our activities are in line with their Peace-building and State-building Goals.

116. To what extent does the USG vet Somali nationals?

That is the contractor’s responsibility.

117. How can the contractor deal with branding and marking, given the security issues? Will USAID not interfere; or does it just want a contractor with maximum flexibility and mobility who can get results?

The awardee will submit a Branding and Marking Plan, per the RFP, that will describe what does and does not make sense in this context. You will work with your COR to come to agreement, but USAID will never require anything that could compromise staff security.

118. Are there any additional guidelines we can share, in terms of threat mapping, etc?

We require all partners operating in Somalia to have developed a risk mitigation plan. We don’t approve or disapprove it, we just require that this is shared with us to ensure that such issues have been thought through and a plan is in place.

119. If some regions in the contract are not accessible due to security or other reasons, would that then fall off to the side pending improvement in security?

In such a case, the IPs would be pausing their activities, which would cease the need for the monitoring.