Questions1_to_RFP.pdf

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SOL-656-13-000007

Amendment 01

Questions and Responses:

Question 1: Do Offerors need to fill in Section B.5 on page 6 of the RFP and submit it as part of the cost proposal package?

Answer: Only at the time of Award will this information be needed.

Question 2: Section L.8A(b)1 on page 113 of the RFP states, "The Offeror must submit a Cost Evaluation Matrix pursuant in accordance with the guidance stated under Section L.8(B)". Additionally, sub-item (a) in the same section of the RFP (Section L.8A(b)1 on page

113) refers to the Cost Evaluation Matrix under Section G.1(a)3 on page 49. Upon reviewing the above two sections and references, we find that there are discrepancies between the two Cost Evaluation Matrix formats. For example, the format presented on pages 117 - 119 lists more cost elements than the format on page 49. Also, the format on pages 117 - 119 does not include the Fee cost element. Please clarify what the Offeror is to submit in its proposal.

Answer: As stated under section B.4 these are Illustrative Budget Line Items.

Question 3: In reference to page 106, second paragraph, if the Offeror has a current ORCA registration, does the Offeror still need to fill in section K and submit it as part of the cost proposal?

Answer: Yes

Question 4: Per Section B.6 on page 6 and per Section L.8A(b)1(a) on page 113, prime contractors must propose ceiling indirect cost rates. Could USAID please clarify whether contractors are required to prepare the detailed budget/cost evaluation matrix based on the proposed ceiling indirect rates, or the detailed budget should be prepared based on the current indirect rates as per the NICRA with the cognizant Government Audit Agency (such as USAID)?

Answer: In accordance with their NICRA with the cognizant Government Audit Agency (such as USAID).

Question 5: Per Section L.8A (b)1(a) on page 113, only the prime contractor's applicable indirect costs will be utilized for evaluation purposes. However, we assume that the subcontractors should prepare their budgets based on their own current indirect cost rates? Please confirm.

Answer: Yes, both will be required if using subcontractors.

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Question 6. In reference to Section L.8A(i)Part 9(1) on page 116, could USAID please provide the definition of major subcontractors?

Answer: Primary as second tier contracting to the Prime.

Question 7: In the last paragraph on page 116, the RFP states, "Each offeror must provide an overall summary budget for the contract period per CLIN (Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) listed in Section B.3." However, Section B.3 does not list any CLINs. Please confirm if the correct reference is Section B.4 on page 5.

Answer: Correct, it should read Section B.4 on page 5

Question 8: The beginning of page 117of the RFP states that "...a detailed budget for each CLIN by year for the life of the project is required (see Attachment J 11)." Attachment J 11 is not included in the RFP. Please clarify.

Answer: See B.4 on page 5 (Budget Line Items) and G.1 on page 49 (Cost Elements). Both are illustrative methods that can be used.

Question 9: In Section L.8B on page 117, the part below the third paragraph regarding the G & A and Fixed Fee seems to be out of place. Please clarify.

Answer: Yes, they should be removed and placed at the end of those cost elements shown or after Indirect Cost.

Question 10: The last sentence in Section L.8B.11 on page 118 states, "In addition, the contractor must provide an aggregate budget, again by the line items (including the "plug" figure for "Grants" line item) as shown below." We are unable to find any relevant information below this sentence. Please provide the missing information.

Answer: See Section C, Budget Considerations for Sub-awards page 22.

Question 11: In Section L.8A(b)3(ii) on Page 114, the RFP implies that balance sheets and profit and loss statements are not required if the Offeror has a NICRA. However, Section L.8B.11(d) on page 119 seems to suggest otherwise. Please clarify whether offerors are required to submit balance sheets and profit and loss statements in addition to a NICRA.

Answer: No, only the NICRA if applicable.

Question 12: In Section L.8A (d) Part 4 on pages 114 - 115, the RFP states that the listed policies and procedures are only required if the contractor does not have prior USAID contracting experience. However, Section L.8B.11(e) and (f) on page 119 seems to suggest that these policies are a blanket requirement. Please clarify.

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Answer: Section L.8A (d) Part 4 on pages 114-115 refers to contractors with no prior USAID contracting experience, and Section L.8B.11( e ) and ( f ) are for indirect Costs support, not related.

Question 13: Section H.16(h) on page 63 states, "Reimbursable salaries and wages for TCNs and CCNs employees shall not exceed, without justification, the prevailing grade under the USAID/Mozambique salary survey scale for CCNs." Please provide us with the USAID/Mozambique FSN compensation plan for budget purposes.

Answer: This information is not available for general public use.

Question 14: Per RFP Section C Note, page 11, "In addition, the Contractor should propose one additional municipality which will be selected based on the following criteria:" Is it required that a third municipality be identified in the proposal?

Answer: Yes, a third city is recommended. For example, if the contractor disagree with our idea of supporting Nacala as a third city, they need to tell us why based on the criteria.

Nacala seems like a logical choice for us, but if the contractor comes up with a better alternative, it will be considered.

Question 15: Per RFP Section L.7.c, pages 107-108, Items 14 and 15: Will the submitted PPRs be able to include in the same document both #14 Contractor Short Form and #15 narrative summaries? Also, are we required to submit 5 PPRs for the prime and 5 PPRs for each of our "major" subcontractors?

Answer: Yes, I will agree with the assumption of Section M, 5 pages for Past performance including those relevant under L.7 c. #15 .

Question 16: Per RFP page 108, paragraph 2: "To the extent feasible, the contractor will be encouraged to subcontract for technical expertise, especially with local organizations. In general, use of local institutions and organizations is a best practice and is encouraged. It is expected that these subcontracts will be a cost effective means of achieving results, and will avoid unnecessary administrative costs." Given this emphasis, the RFP requirement for submission of a Subcontracting Plan as specified under L.8.(e), page 115: "Submitted Plans must address subcontracting with small business (SB), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUB Zone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns" does not appear to be relevant since none of these type of firms will be found in Mozambique. We request that this requirement be stricken so that local participation can be maximized.

Answer: Yes, we agree with your principles for this question, although the SB plan clause is required for this type of procurement.

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Question 17: Under section C.5.b "Coordination and Collaboration" on page 22, USAID states that "coordination with the World Bank could prove highly constructive. These projects could potentially be a funding source for hard engineering options developed with CCAP technical support where target geographies overlap." However, the selection criterion 2 on page 12 includes, "Locations where there is a small donor footprint." Could USAID please clarify how it will weigh potential donor coordination against a small donor presence in the selection of the third municipality?

Answer: WB is involved in several hard infrastructure projects in several cities, but not so much for Pemba, Quelimane, and potentially Nacala (third city) which is why we have selected these cities. We are not concerned about evaluating their collaboration with others but more on how they can help the cities of Pemba, and Quelimane to look for alternative funding for hard engineering projects which are expensive and beyond this budget.

Question 18: Can items 14 and 15 on page 107-108 be combined in order to group each completed short form with its narrative summary? If so, would USAID accept up to two pages per contract?

Answer: Yes, as long as the page limit does not exceed the requirement.

Question 19: Section M on page 125 discusses evaluation criteria for the Past Performance section. Can USAID confirm that bullet 3 on "quality awards and certifications" and bullet 4 "Performance in Using Small Business Concerns" should also be listed in section L.7.C on page 107 and will not be counting pages?

Answer: The bullets on page 125 do not address those areas you mention above, although #2 and #3 do address past performance list as an annex.

Question 20: Section M, page 124 states "Letters of commitment and resumes of all key personnel shall be included in the Annex;" Section L on page 107 states "Résumés or curriculum vitae of personnel." Can USAID please confirm that resumes should only be included for Key Personnel?

Answer: Yes, only for Key Personnel

Question 21: Can USAID please clarify the difference between the M&E Plan and the Draft Performance and Local Capacity Building Plan?

Answer: See Section F.5 on Page 4, which is inaccurate. Please follow the instruction under Section F.5f concerning the M&E plan. Upon award local capacity building plan will be

5 | P a g e redefine that will include the approach and mythology for including local partners implementation.

Question 22: On page 41, USAID references the "Performance and Local Capacity Building Plan." On page 107, USAID references the "Draft Performance and Local Capacity Building Work Plan." Can USAID please confirm the correct name of this plan?

Answer: See answer to question #21; also the name should read Performance and Local Capacity Building Plan.

Question 23: Page 107 includes an attachment of "Corporate capability statements, including roles and responsibilities of the core team." Can USAID please clarify what is meant by "corporate capability statements?"

Answer: Skills of the proposed organizations with regard to project management, implementation for results and client relations.

Question 24: Page 107 includes an attachment of "Corporate capability statements, including roles and responsibilities of the core team." If roles and responsibilities are required, could it be limited to key personnel?

Answer: In a broader since, YES.

Question 25: Can USAID please provide the current Mozambique Local Compensation Plan?

Answer: See answer to question #13 .

Question 26: Page 114 states that "2. The proposal must include a Offeror Employee Biographical Data Sheet (Attachment J.2) for each of the Key Personnel identified in Section F and L." However, attachment J.2 is the "Small Business Model Subcontracting Plan Outline."

Can USAID please confirm that the offeror should use USAID Standard Form 1420-17 - Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet?

Answer: the offeror should use Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet Standard Form 1420-17 along with CVs for each person addressed.

Question 27: Page 82 of the RFP states "clause 52.229-8 (a) Any tax or duty from which the United States Government is exempt by agreement with the Government of, Mozambique or from which the Contractor or any subcontractor under this contract is exempt under the laws of, - Mozambique shall not constitute an allowable cost under this contract." Can USAID confirm if there is a bilateral agreement with Mozambique and the U.S. specifically on the Value Added Tax? Can USAID please confirm that USAID has a system in place in order for contractors to obtain exemption of taxes and duties?

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Answer: See inserted statement “Mozambique”.

Question 28: Page 113 Part 2 - Proposed Costs 1 states "The Offeror must submit a Cost Evaluation Matrix pursuant in accordance with the guidance stated under Section L.8(B) (NOTE:

OFFERORS MUST SUBMIT THEIR BUDGETS IN EXACTLY THE SAME FORMAT AS

SHOWN IN THIS ATTACHMENT)." Are the Cost Evaluation Matrix and the Budget Format separate templates? Can USAID please provide the budget format attachment? Can USAID please provide a Cost Evaluation Matrix template?

Answer: See answer to question #8.

Question 29: Page 114, Part 3 (1)-(2) states that "The proposal shall include: (1) Audited balance sheets and profit and loss statements for the last two complete years, and the current year-to-date statements (or such lesser period of time if the Contractor is a newly-formed organization), must be included in the proposal. The profit and loss statements shall include detail of the total cost of goods and services sold, including a listing of the various indirect administrative costs, and be supplemented by information on the prime contractor's customary indirect cost allocation method, together with supporting computations of the basis for the indirect cost rate(s) proposed; and (2) the most recent two fiscal year pool and base cost compositions along with derived rates, the bases of allocation of these rates and an independent certified audit by a certified accounting firm of these rates." Can USAID please clarify whether contractors that hold a NICRA should submit their financial statements?

Answer: See answer to question #11.

Question 30: Page 26 states "For the purposes of this solicitation, Contractor should reflect illustrative costs for environmental compliance implementation and monitoring in their cost proposal. " Can USAID please provide plug figures for costs pertaining to environmental compliance implementation and monitoring?

Answer: Not available at this stage.

Question 31: Page 109 of the RFP states "The Offeror should provide as an annex a brief (1-2 pages) illustrative plan for incorporating PPPs. " Page 107 and 108 of the RFP list 16 authorized attachments, but do not include this required 1-2 page annex on PPPs. Please confirm that Offerors should include this annex and that it will not count against the 30-page limit.

Answer: Yes, contractor’s could include this as an annex and it will not count against the 30 page limit.

Question 32. Similarly, on page 113 of the RFP, Offerors are required to include a narrative summary of Use of Small Business Concerns, the most recent SF 294 forms, and the names and addresses of three small business concerns, yet this is not included in the list of authorized

7 | P a g e annexes. Please confirm that Offerors may include this either in the Past Performance Annex or in a separate annex and that these will not be counted against the 30-page limit.

Answer: Yes, you are correct.

Question 33: What criteria will be used to evaluate Past Performance?

Answer: The source selection committee in accordance with the criteria set forth in the solicitation for this Factor and the criteria listed under L.7( c ).

Question 34: Section L.7(c) 15 asks for "narrative summaries of up to 5 of the most recent and relevant contracts - five (5) page limit. How is this five page narrative meant to be different from our most recent and relevant projects described within the Contractor Performance Report - Short Forms? May we use this five-page narrative to more generally describe our overall past performance relevant to CCAP?

Answer: Yes

Question 35: May Offerors include a staffing table providing qualifications of Non-Key LT and Illustrative STTA in the annex with the organizational chart with position descriptions that will not count against the 30-page limit?

Answer: Under L.7(c) are listed attachments that will not be counted towards the 30 page limited.

Question 36: Please clarify if the required organizational chart, which does not count against the 30-page limit, should be included in the management section on an unnumbered page or in an annex.

Answer: Under L.7(c) # 12 Organizational charts with position description is considered an attachment.

Question 37: Please confirm that it is permissible for Offerors to submit the proposal in Adobe Acrobat PDF format in order to retain formatting and page length.

Answer; Via email is an acceptable method.

Question 38: Will USAID provide a waiver to issue direct grants to government entities under Grants under Contract?

Answer: Yes

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Question 39: Section L.8(b) Proposed Costs (page 113) requires Contractors to submit budgets in EXACTLY the same format as shown in this attachment. Can USAID please provide the budget template?

Answer: An Illustrative budgets as shown under B.4 and under G.1

Question 40: Section L.8(b) Proposed Costs (page 113) states that only the Prime contractor's applicable indirect costs should be used for evaluation purposes and that the CEILING indirect rates should be used. It also states that this budget will be incorporated into the contract G.1 which is Documentation for Payment. Please clarify.

Answer: See answer to question #2; payment should be made based on those elements proposed.

Question 41: Section L.8 page 116 refers to B.3 for Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) but the CLIN is in B.4. Please clarify.

Answer: See answer to question # 39

Question 42: Section L.8 page 118 requires Subcontracts to include specific information yet L.8(b) requires Prime rates to be used. Please clarify.

Answer: See answer to question #5

Question 43: Per RFP sections B.2 (page 5) and F.2 (page 36), can we assume a Period of Performances start date of October 1, 2013, if the quoted end of the 5-year contract is "September 30, 2018"?

Answer :Yes, this is a 5 year program.

Question 44: Section C.3.b.ii.5 of the RFP (page 14) seems to indicate that a cost-benefit analysis for Quelimane has already been completed, though it has not been included in the provided annexes or attachments. Would USAID please provide this document for review?

Answer: Will be included as attachment 02 to this amendment.

Question 45: Post-award, would USAID prefer local subcontractors be excluded from grant eligibility (Section C.5.a.2, page 20)?

Answer: Yes, no sub-contractor should be eligible for receiving grants under the awarded contract.

Question 46: Section C.5.a.2 of the RFP (page 22) indicates that, "the Contractor may be asked to provide support for CCAP activities that USAID may directly fund from the onset of the program." Will these activities be covered by the current budget, funded through separate

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USAID mechanisms outside of the contract, or are they expected to be negotiated as expansions of the scope?

Answer: Separate funding

Question 47: Section C.5.a.2 of the RFP (page 22) instructs contractors to use a plug figure of $700,000 for Grants Under Contract in years 1-3.

Answer: including other types of sub-awards universities, NGOs, and municipal governments.

Question 48: Is this funding in addition to the $15 million ceiling price?

Answer: No

Question 49: Paragraph 2 on page 20 indicates a target of sub-award recipients successfully transitioning to direct USAID funding "within two to four years of project implementation."

Given this timeline, would USAID entertain lower levels of grants for year 4?

Answer: At this stage no formal decision has been made.

Question 50: Does this indicate that the funding for the contract will not be split evenly over the period of performance?

Answer: Yes

Question 51: If so, could USAID provide guidance on how funding is envisioned to be rolled out?

Answer: At this stage funding allocations have not be determined.

Question 52: Section C.6.a of the RFP (page 28) calls for "rigorous baseline data to be collected within 90 days of operation." Since the M&E plan is scheduled to be approved in that same period, would USAID consider allowing the 90 day baseline data collection period to commence upon approval of the M&E Plan?

Answer: Yes

Question 53: The Draft Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan (Section F.5.f on pages 38-39) and the Performance and Local Capacity Building Plan (Section F.5.n on pages 41-42) seem to serve the same purpose. Would USAID please clarify the difference between the two? Is the Performance and Local Capacity Building Plan intended to only monitor capacity building activities?

Answer: See answer to question #21

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Question 54: Section H.7 of the RFP (page 59) defines the authorized geographic code of 935 as, "the United States, the Cooperating Country (Maputo, Mozambique), and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, and excluding prohibited sources." Please confirm that the correct definition of geographic code 935 is (as is included in Attachment J.1 on page 141) "Any area or country including the cooperating country, but excluding the foreign policy restricted countries."

Answer: The language under Attachment J.1 is accurate.

Question 55: Please confirm that a proposal cover page, containing the information required in Section L.2(c).2, items (i)-(v) of the RFP (page 99) will not count against the page limitation for the technical proposal.

Answer: Under Section L.7 1 Cover Letter will not be counted towards the 30 page limitation.

Question 56: The list of authorized attachments in Section L.7(c) of the RFP (page 107) includes, Resumes or curriculum vitae of personnel (refer to Section L.8)." Section L.8 contains instructions for the preparation of the cost proposal, and does not include any guidance on the inclusion of additional resumes. Can USAID please clarify the additional resumes and curriculum vitae that may be attached?

Answer: Yes, they can be attachment/annexes as stated under L.7 (c ) #9.

Question 57: The list of authorized attachments in Section L.7(c) of the RFP (page 108) includes, "Narrative summaries of up to 5 of the most recent and relevant contracts - five (5) page limit see section M." Please confirm that these summaries are in addition to the CPR short forms (attachment J.3 of the RFP).

Answer: L.7 (c ) #14 talks about PP short form as an attachment annex which has no page limit.

Question 58: Section L.7(c).A.5 of the RFP (page 109) directs Offerors to provide a summary of Public-private partnerships with their proposal. Please confirm that this is an `authorized attachment' that will not count against the page limit for the technical proposal.

Answer: See answer to question #31

Question 59: Section L.7(c).B of the RFP (page 111) states that the DCOP will, "have technical leadership for and overall supervision of field staff directly contracted by the program." Adding these duties to the DCOP's responsibilities for operations and grants management constitutes a considerable workload for this position. Allowing field staff leadership and supervision to be assigned elsewhere among the Key Personnel would enable contractors to propose the

11 | P a g e management approach that is best suited to the skills of their team and the requirements of the project. Would USAID consider such an alternative approach?

Answer: Yes

Question 60: Please confirm that all items requested under Section L.7(c).C Past Performance of the RFP (pages 111-113) are to be attached as an annex that will not count against the page limitation for the technical proposal.

Answer: Yes, we will consider past performance as an attachment in accordance with L.7 (c)

Question 61: Section L.7(c). C of the RFP (page 112) requests non-small-business Offerors to provide information on their past performance partnering with small business concerns. Please confirm that this information should be submitted as an additional annex to the technical proposal (over and above those listed on page 107 of the RFP).

Answer: Yes

Question 62: Section L.8(b) of the RFP (page 113) states, "The Offeror must submit a cost evaluation matrix pursuant in accordance with the guidance stated under Section L.8(B). (NOTE:

OFFERORS MUST SUBMIT THEIR BUDGETS IN EXACTLY THE SAME FORMAT AS

SHOWN IN THIS ATTACHMENT.)" Please clarify which attachment is being referenced.

Answer: See answer to question #39.

Question 63: Section L.8.A of the RFP (page 117) states, "A detailed budget for each CLIN by year for the life of the project is required (see Attachment J 11)." Please clarify this reference, as Section J does not list an attachment numbered 11.

Answer: See answer to question #8

Question 64: Section M.4.B of the RFP (page 124) appears to show Past Performance as part of Factor B, Management and Key Personnel. Section L.7 (page 111) appears to show Past Performance as a stand-alone section in the Technical Proposal. Page 108 directs Offerors to organize their proposal according to Section M. Therefore, please confirm that Past Performance is Factor C.

Answer: Past Performance is an evaluation factor; all submitted information concerning PP will be evaluated in accordance with Section M.

Question 65: Please confirm that all references to the project name in Attachment J.4 Branding and Marking Template of the RFP (page 149) should read "USAID/Mozambique Coastal City

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Adaptation Project (CCAP)," consistent with the name of the project as presented in Section C.1 of the RFP.

Answer: Yes, you are correct at this point, although once a branding plan is submitted and approved the program name may be changed.

Question 66: Would USAID please indicate whether there is office space at the municipalities that might be used for work in the three cities?

Answer: Not sure if available or provided, at this stage.

Question 67: To facilitate transmission of proposals in as few files as possible, please confirm that Offerors may submit technical proposals in Acrobat (PDF) format.

Answer: See answer to question #37.

Question 68: Section C.2.C.a (p. 11) of the RFP says that “USAID will be funding INGC directly through a Government-to-Government (G2G) direct award to help them with the implementation of a Climate Change Knowledge Center.” An illustrative activity listed on page 15 states that the Contractor will “coordinate training efforts with the INGC Climate Change Knowledge Center to build technical capacity in municipalities and other institutions to develop adaptation solutions.” An illustrative activity on page 16 states that the Contractor will “provide technical analysis and other support to INGC’s Climate Change Knowledge Center which aims to address climate change mitigation and adaption measures.” To ensure that CCAP activities are aligned with the G2G INGC support, could USAID please elaborate on the type and level of support intended for the CCKC?

Answer: The illustrative activities shown in the RFP should provide adequate guidance.

Question 69: Section C.3.a (p. 13) of the RFP reads: “Provide training and technical assistance to the municipal monitoring offices that will carry out the adaptation performance monitoring for each of the municipalities.” Could USAID please confirm whether these municipal positions are currently staffed in Pemba and Quelimane? Any additional information on the current responsibilities of municipal monitoring offices will improve our response to USAID’s request for proposal.

Answer: Not currently staffed; the municipal officers will be subject to comply with the M&E plan set forth by contractor.

Question 70: Section C.5.a (p. 20) of the RFP refers to partnerships with regional and U.S.

academic institutions. Specifically, it states that “proposals offering at least one-to-one matching funds from regional and U.S. academic institutions will be preferred.” Could USAID please confirm that offerors should provide letters of support in an annex?

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Answer: Letter of support do not need to be included as an annex section at this stage.

Question 71: Section C.5.f (p. 25): Could USAID please provide a copy of the IEE that is referred to in this section? In addition, could USAID please confirm that offerors may include their approach to achieving environmental compliance management in an annex?

Answer: We cannot provide the IEE portion mention at this stage, IEE is an umbrella for all of our technical programs.

Question 72: Section L.9 (p. 119): Are there any language requirements for the branding/marking plan?

Answer: No, additional information may be found at: www.usaid.gov/branding

Question 73: Section F.5.n. (p. 41) of the RFP states that “indicators used to measure progress against activities will be designed according to current social-scientific standards” and that the “Performance and Local Capacity Building Plan will discuss methods used to monitor progress and to gather baseline, output, and outcome data periodically and in the final year of implementation.” We discuss indicators, baselines, outputs, and outcome data as part of a monitoring and evaluation plan. Could USAID please clarify whether the offerors should present local capacity building indicators and targets in the M&E plan only or in both?

Answer: See answer to question #21

Question 74: Section H.10 (p. 59) of the RFP states “All Key Personnel and/or consultants shall have English and be proficient in Portuguese as needed to perform technical services.” The qualifications for the chief of party position states that if they have proficiency in Spanish or another language similar to Portuguese, or have sufficient country experience, this would suffice.

Yet the passage quoted above would seem to require all consultants to have proficiency in Portuguese. Could USAID please clarify?

Answer: For Key Personnel see Section F.7.

Question 75 Section L.8 A. (h) (i) (p. 116) of the RFP states that "Each offeror must provide an overall summary budget for the contract period CLIN listed in Section B.3"; however, the illustrative CLIN budget is in B.4. Could USAID kindly confirm that it, in fact, means section B.4 and not B.3?

Answer: Yes, it should read B.4 in lieu of B.3

Question 76: Section L.7.5 (p. 109) of the RFP refers to a brief illustrative plan for incorporating PPPs that is to be provided as an annex. This annex is not on the list of authorized attachments on p. 107. Please confirm that this plan is to be added to the list of authorized attachments and that it does not count toward the page limit of the technical proposal.

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Answer: See answer to question #31

Question 77: Section M.4.A.4 (p.123) of the evaluation criteria instructs the offeror to integrate the gender and youth considerations throughout the technical. In section L.7.A.4 (p.109), the RFP states that contractors must submit a plan explaining their gender integration strategy. Does USAID prefer for gender and youth considerations to be integrated into our overall technical approach, or should a separate gender and youth plan be included in the proposal? If the gender plan is to be presented separately, would USAID please consider adding it to the authorized list of attachments in Section L.7?

Answer: Gender and Youth plan should be integrated into the technical approach.

Question 78: Section L.7 (p. 107): Please confirm that the quality awards and certifications, performance in using small business concerns, and SF 294 sections are to be included in the past performance annexes.

Answer: Yes, they can be included as part of past performance attachments

Question 79: Section L.7.C. 4 (i) (p. 113): The RFP requests copies of the most recent SF 294 for each contract on which we were required to report for this past three years. Given that this could result in offerors presenting hundreds of such forms, would USAID consider revising the guidance to submit the 10 most recent and relevant SF 294s instead?

Answer: Under Past performance C.4.(c) (ii) (p.113): … provide with your summary a copy of the most recent SF 294 “Subcontracting Report for Individual Contracts” for each contract against you were required to report for the past three (3) years.

Question 80: Section L.8 (b) (p. 113): The RFP states that "The offeror must submit a cost evaluation matrix pursuant in accordance with the guidance stated under section L.8(B). (Note:

Offerors must submit their budgets in exactly the same format as shown in this attachment).

However, the attachment does not include a budget format to use. Could USAID kindly provide a budget format for use?

Answer: See answer to question #39 .

Question 81: Section L.7 (p. 107): Are the Contractor Past Performance Information – Short Forms mentioned under attachment 14 the same as, or different from, the narrative summaries of five most recent and relevant contracts mentioned under attachment 15?

Answer: Yes

Question 82: Section L.7 (c)12 (p. 107) notes that offerors should provide organizational charts with position descriptions as an authorized attachment in the annex. To facilitate USAID’s

15 | P a g e review and improve the presentation of the organizational chart, could the position descriptions be presented as a narrative accompanying the organizational chart?

Answer: Yes

Question 83: Consistent with the guidance in FAR 37.113-1 and considering that the anticipated contract will be performed entirely overseas, we respectfully request that USAID include FAR 52.237-9, Waiver of Limitation on Severance Payments to Foreign Nationals, to prevent conflict with applicable local employment laws.

Answer: At this point no waiver from the Head of the Agency has been cleared. At the time of award further consideration can be addressed.

Question 84: The cover letter of RFP No. SOL-656-13-000007 identifies in the second paragraph "the procedures set forth in FAR Part 3.5 will apply." Our review of FAR Part 15.4o3-1(b)(3), Prohibition on obtaining certified cost or pricing data, states the contracting officer shall not require cost or pricing data when a commercial item is being acquired. A commercial item is defined in FAR 2.101 as any item customarily used for non-governmental and has been sold in the commercial market place. Our organization has billable (labor, fringe, indirect and profit) rates, similar to an audit or law firm, that have billing history. We commit to providing most favored customer pricing and will open our sales records for confirmation.

However Paragraph L.8 A(b)identifies in the note in bold "NOTE: OFFERORS MUST

SUBMIT THEIR BUDGETS IN EXACTLY THE SAME FORMAT AS SHOW IN THIS

ATTACHMENT.)

Questions 85: Will the contracting officer accept commercial pricing as a basis for establishment of a fair and reasonable price for labor effort that is supported by commercial-pricing?

Answer: Labor rates will be based on biodata sheets of previous salaries earned; standard commerical rate will not be applicable for this sort of process.

Question 86: If the answer to the above is yes, will the contracting officer accept deviations from Paragraph L.8A (b) based on this determination?

Answer: No , at this stage

Question 87: The cover letter to the RFP encourages participation of woman owned, small business concerns. OneWorld is just such an enterprise. Is this' encouragement' applicable to non-US prime firms?

Answer: See answer to question #54.

Question 88. B.4 provides a table with illustrative budget items. Does this include or exclude the grants portion, or is the grants portion related as a separate budget item? We are assuming

16 | P a g e that it DOES include the grants portion, and that we should be proposing grants AND specifying the project objective that a grant component would support. Please clarify if this is correct.

Answer: Yes, your assumption is correct.

Question 89 I.11 in the RFP stipulates that all international travel must be pre-approved by USAID. It appears from this paragraph that International travel is all travel that occurs on USAID programs outside of the USA.

Answer: Yes

Questions 90: Is it therefore correct to assume that such travel approval must also be obtained for travel conducted for CCAP within Mozambique?

Answer: Yes

Question 91: Is travel approval also required for road travel?

Answer: Only for travel that is not included in the budget and for overnight stays.

Question 92: Can the COP be located outside of Mozambique?

Answer: Unfortunately, we do not agree at this stage.

Question 93 Could USAID Mozambique please provide all the relevant cost allowance and compensation schedules (including TCN and CCN) referred to in the RFP and applicable to the CCAP in particular?

Answer: Such information can be found at: www.usaid.gov –Public Website Question 94: Please could USAID ensure that all the applicable attachments and annexes are included in the RFP? The copy we downloaded ends with attachment J4. Yet, for example, on pg77 there is reference made to Attachment Jai-a detailed budget for each CL/N by year for the life of the project is required.

Answer: see attachment o2 Question 95: List of Items, Schedule of Requirements, Scope of Work, Terms of Reference, Bill of Materials required.

Answer: See RFP requirements

Question 96: Soft Copy of the Tender Document through email.

Answer: Should be obtained from Fedbiz Opps

Question 97: Names of countries that will be eligible to participate in this tender.

Answer: Geographic code for this activity is 0935

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Question 98: Information about the Tendering Procedure and Guidelines

Answer: Are detailed in the Solicitation

Question 99: Estimated Budget for this Purchase

Answer: $15 million

Question 100: Any Extension of Bidding Deadline?

Answer: Not at this stage.

Question 101: Any Addendum or Pre Bid meeting Minutes?

Answer: Not at this stage.