SOL-674-16-000034 _Amendment_01.pdf

AMENDMENT 1- SOL-674-16-000034

ATTACHMENT 1 –QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1) Does USAID anticipate being able to transition any assets or equipment purchased under the current VMMC contract to the new awardee?

Response: The property property purchased under the current contract will be disposed in accordance with clause 752.245-71 Title to and Care of Property, and in accordance with the disposition plan that will be approved by the Contracting Officer at the end of the current contract. If any of those items will be disposed to the contractor selected under this RFP, USAID will notify the selected contractor at a later date.

2) Can USAID clarify whether the 685,000 units anticipated under this contract to be distributed evenly across the five years?

Response: The estimated total quantity anticipated under CLIN 0001 is 685,000 units of Comprehensive VMMC service packages during the five-year period of performance. The ordering of units by USAID will occur on an as needed basis in consultation the South Africa Government. The number of units may vary from one year to another depending on the requirements and annual work plans.

3) Training of VMMC providers is not included in the “package” of activities associated with the minimum package of VMMC services listed in the first paragraph of C.3.2. Is clinical training (i.e. 5-day surgical training course or PrePex training) included in this contract? If so, does USAID anticipate that it be covered under the TA activities in CLIN 0002 or is it expected to be rolled into the VMMC unit cost?

Response: Training of VMMC providers (including the 5-day surgical training course) is not included in this contract. This activity is part of a different award.

4) In section C.3.2, the RFP states “Initially, there will be no overlap with VMMC sites currently being supported by USAID, although, this contract may absorb those sites once USAID’s current mechanism ends…” Can USAID clarify that this means that if the contract is awarded before March 2017, that supported sites should all be new sites?

Response: Service provision in existing sites will be transitioned from the current USAID contractor to the contractor selected under this solicitation. The selected contractor may initiate services in new sites within PEPFAR priority areas in consultation with the South Africa Government and USAID.

5) Under the minimum package of services for VMMC service provision outlined in section C.3.2, the RFP notes that the contractor must “liaise with USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain partner to ensure quality assurance of VMMC kits and other required equipment needed for VMMC,” but does not explicitly mention procurement of the actual kits. However, in section L.6.2.A.1, it is noted that “procurement and commodity management (including the procurement of disposable kits)…” is a necessary component of the contractor’s technical approach. Can USAID please clarify whether the contractor will be required to purchase VMMC kits, or whether kits be provided directly by the Global Health Supply Chain partner?

Response: The selected contractor will be required to purchase VMMC kits for the implementation of this contract. VMMC kits must be pre-approved by USAID.

6) Is there a preferred format for submission of CVs for key personnel and personnel proposed under CLIN0002?

Response: There is no preferred format for résumés of key personnel; however Offerors must follow the instructions in the RFP to ensure that adequate information is provided.

7) Can USAID provide more detail for what is required to be included in the Inspection Plan, which is listed as an Annex in section L.6.1, and described briefly in L.6.2.A?

Response: The RFP is modified to delete the requirement for an Inspection Plan as part of the proposal. Accordingly, the following specific changes are made:

Section L.6.1(d), delete the following: “Inspection Plan (see L.6.2.A);”

Section L.6.2.A.1), delete the following: “An Inspection Plan (as per Section E) that ensures USAID can regularly validate data submitted through an electronic, online system prior to approving any invoices;”

See attached amended RFP, which includes this change. A version with tracked changes is also included as an attachment to this amendment.

8) Page 85, L.6.2.A (1) (4th bullet): RFP guidance requests that offerors include “. . . a detailed list of items Offeror's plan to procure, and where and how these items will be procured.” Please confirm that this information may be included in an additional annex or in the cost narrative.

Response: Please include this information in the technical approach narrative as requested under the Technical Approach section (L.6.2.A.1). This information will be included in the page limit for Technical Approach. Additionally, Offerors must describe anticipated procurement costs in the Cost Proposal as described in Section L.7.2.

9) Page 87, L.6.2 (A) 3): The solicitation presents the Monitoring and Evaluation requirements as follows:

"The technical approach must describe the information and system used to monitor VMMC coverage levels and the transition of direct VMMC service delivery to the Department of Health facilities as district level coverage levels are reached. This will, at a minimum, describe:

o The process of developing the transition plan with the Department of Health, which should include, but not be limited to, an inventory of PEPFAR-funded human resources; a comprehensive training; an asset register and disposal plan; an assessment and summary of key stakeholders and a close out report;

o The type of technical assistance the Offeror would provide to provincial and/or district leadership to strengthen the management of the VMMC program as services transition from the PEPFAR-funded partner to the Department of Health;

o How limited activities such as demand creation services or the management of monitoring and evaluation could continue for a limited period after the transition of direct service delivery for specific facilities."

These requirements would appear to be describing the transition strategy. Kindly confirm that this is the correct guidance for the M&E section—and not the transition strategy--of the proposal.

Response: RFP page 87, Section L.6.2 A. 3) Monitoring and Evaluation is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“3) Monitoring and Evaluation (see M.2.1(c) for evaluation):

The Offeror will address how it will monitor and evaluate the achievement of measurable results under the Contract. The Monitoring and Evaluation Plan must specify the systems that will establish and collect data regarding performance targets as well as an ability to verify and substantiate data gathered. This Monitoring and Evaluation Plan will describe how the contractor will collect, track, and analyze indicator data. The Monitoring and Evaluation Plan will include milestones and expected accomplishments with measurable outcomes. The Monitoring and Evaluation Plan must include a section on Quality Assurance. The proposed M&E plan must describe the information and system used to monitor VMMC service delivery coverage levels (CLIN 0001) and the transition of direct VMMC service delivery to the Department of Health facilities as district coverage levels are reached (CLIN 0002).

ANNEX: As an annex to the technical proposal, provide a draft Monitoring and Evaluation Plan that follows the format described in F.6.c”

Additionally, the following text is added to section L.6.2.A.1):

“The technical approach must include a description of how the Offeror will address the following:

o The process of developing the transition plan with the Department of Health, which should include, but not be limited to, an inventory of PEPFAR-funded human resources; a comprehensive training; an asset register and disposal plan; an assessment and summary of key stakeholders and a close out report;

o The type of technical assistance the Offeror would provide to provincial and/or district leadership to strengthen the management of the VMMC program as services transition from the PEPFAR-funded partner to the Department of Health;

o How limited activities such as demand creation services or the management of monitoring and evaluation could continue for a limited period after the transition of direct service delivery for specific facilities.”

10) Page 88, L.6.2.B.1). To clarify the strengths in critical technical areas represented by the full proposed staff may Offerors include a Skills Matrix as an addition to the resumes annex?

Response: Offerors may choose to include a Skills Matrix, but this is not a requirement. The inclusion of a Skills Matrix will count towards the annex page limit.

11) Page 89, L.6.2(B) 2): Teaming Agreements from Consortium Partners and Letters of

Commitment from Consortium Partners are listed as annexes. In lieu of providing proprietary and confidential teaming agreements, can the offeror provide a list of names of the partners, including the company address, as well as the names and contact details of the person(s) who have signed the teaming agreement?

Response: Submission of teaming agreements is not required. As a result, the following changes are made to the RFP:

In Section L.6.1(d), the following is deleted in its entirety: “Teaming Agreements from the Consortium Partners (see L.6.2.B).”

In L.6.2(B)2), the following is deleted in its entirety: “Teaming Agreements from the Consortium Partners, if applicable”

12) Page 90, L.6.2(D)a)1): RFP guidance requests that Offerers “List in an Annex to the Technical Proposal five (5) of the most relevant awards (including assistance instruments) completed in the past five (5) years for efforts similar to the work described in Section C of this solicitation.”

Please confirm that offerors may submit five (5) of the most relevant awards for each consortium partner.

Response: Yes, offerors must submit five of the most relevant awards completed within the last five years for each consortium partner proposed.

13) P. 83, L.6.1(c) Format: In order to significantly increase clarity and readability, please confirm that offerors may use 9 or 10 point Arial Narrow or similar font for graphics, text boxes, and tables.

Response: Reasonable use of font sizes that are smaller than 12 point font, but not less than 10 point font, is permitted only in graphics, text boxes and tables.

14) Page 83, L.6.1 (b): "The annexes must not exceed one hundred (70) pages."

Could USAID please confirm that the annexes may not exceed 70 pages.

Response: Annexes may not exceed the (seventy) 70 page limit.

15) Pages 16-18, Section C.3.2 Minimum Package of VMMC Services (CLIN 0001): As part of the information presented in this section, there is a list of contractor responsibilities, on page 17, which are not “VMMC services” per se, but include, e.g., “Fostering relations with SAG (bullet 3) (to); liaise with USAID communications partners (bullet 7); (to) liaise with USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain partner” (bullet 14). Please kindly provide additional clarification on the reason to include these itemized activities of such high variable nature in CLIN 1 (fixed unit price) and not in CLIN 2 (cost-plus-fixed-fee).

Response: The bullets mentioned above are part of the minimum package of VMMC service delivery, and are an important component in ensuring successful implementation of CLIN 0001.

16) Page 8, B.3.1 b) and B.3.2a): The price schedule for CLIN 0001 is listed as “$TBD”. The estimated cost, fixed fee and obligated amount for CLIN 0002 are also listed as “$TBD”.

Could USAID please provide guidance on the split of funds to be allocated between CLIN 1 and

CLIN 2?

Response: The price schedule for CLIN 0001 and the estimated cost and fixed fee for CLIN 0002 will be determined at the time of award based on the offerors proposal.

17) Page 9, B.3.2 c) Level of Effort (LOE): “Under CLIN 0002, the Contractor must provide 2,574 person days of professional technical LOE, including consultants’ and subcontractors’ LOE directly related to the technical aspects of the project. . .”.

Could USAID confirm that the LOE of 2,574 refers to one (1) year only of the project?

Response: The 2,574 person days are the total LOE for the five year project.

18) Page 9, B.3.2 d) Indirect Costs/Rates: “. . .indirect costs will be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and appropriate bases for the Prime Contractor and their Major Subcontractors (“Major Subcontractors” are subcontractors whose proposed cost exceeds 20 percent of the Prime Contractor’s total proposed cost).”

Could USAID please confirm that they would reimburse indirect cost rates for those subcontractors who are not “Major Subcontractors”, i.e., whose costs represents less than 20 percent of the Prime Contractor’s total proposed cost?

Response: Yes, USAID will reimburse indirect costs for subcontractors who are not major subcontractors.

19) Page 99, Section L. 8 EMPLOYMENT OF COOPERATING COUNTRY NATIONALS (CCNs) AND THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (TCNs): USAID has provided a Local Compensation

Plan (LCP) Guide for Southern Africa designating the highest salary of $111,034 for Senior Level Program Specialist. Owing to the complexities of the proposed project and the high level of staff experience needed to execute the SOW, we are concerned that it may be difficult to find professionals with the requisite skills/experience under this salary cap.

Would USAID consider increasing the range of the salary scales, particularly for Mid and Senior Level Program Specialists, to assure that the best qualified staff may be engaged to implement the project?

Response: Proposed daily rates for CCNs and TCNs in the absence of the required approval must be within the local compensation plan for South Africa. Compensation in excess of the local compensation plan limits must be specifically approved by USAID, and this approval is given only in exceptional cases.

20) Attachment 3 Budget Template: Understanding that all Offerers are required to use the ATT_3_Budget_Template for their own (i.e., prime) budgets and the budgets of subcontractors, will USAID allow the prime contractor to adjust the formatting by adding and/or deleting rows and columns in order to enter information about personnel, fringe benefits, other direct costs?

Response: Yes, Offerors may adjust the formatting on the Budget Template to add/delete subcategories to align with Offerors budget practices. The major budget categories (Salaries and Wages, Fringe Benefits, Allowances, etc.) must be utilized. Furthermore, proposed LOE must be disaggregated into professional technical and non-professional technical.