Non-CPC Qs As.pdf

CLEAN ENERGY IDIQ CONTRACT FOR NON-CRITICAL PRIORITY COUNTRIES

RFP SOL-OAA-11-000034

INTERESTED VENDORS’ QUESTIONS AND USAID’S ANSWERS

Question 1: Can a small business address one or some of the areas or is it mandatory to address all areas?

Answer: All proposals, regardless of the offeror’s size, must address all of the areas specified in the Request for Proposals.

Question 2: Is it mandatory for a small business to address all the non-critical countries or can we select a few countries?

Answer: All proposals, regardless of the offeror’s size, must address all of the areas specified in the Request for Proposals.

All offerors must have the capability to work in all of the countries USAID assists (except for the countries USAID identifies as Critical Priority Countries, which are currently Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Sudan, and are subject to change).

Question 3: Can you provide a complete list of the non-critical countries?

Answer: Please see USAID’s website for the full range of countries USAID assists.

Question 4: If a small business is missing one of the capabilities will USAID be able to assist in identifying sources to fill that gap?

Answer: No.

All prime offerors, regardless of size, must identify their own sources to fill gaps in their capabilities, organize their own teaming arrangements, and include their subcontractors in their proposal so that they submit a comprehensive, complete proposal that responds to all of the types of possible work specified in the Request for Proposals.

Question 5: Page 89: Section M.1 General Information (C) states, “When evaluating the competing offerors, the Government will consider the written qualifications/capability information provided by the offerors, and any other information.” As an offeror that also assists the U.S. government with procurements, it would be very important for USAID to define “any other information”. Please provide a list of what other information beyond the proposal documentation the USAID will be considering.

Answer: The sentence is changed to read: “When evaluating the competing offerors, the Government will consider the written qualifications/capability information provided by the offerors, and any other information obtained by the Government through its own research.”

Question 6: Page 90: Section M.2.C1 and C2 – Past Performance: The RFP states that Past Performance is 20 points. Ten points are given for a number of items included under M.2.C1 a-

e. The RFP then states that Prime Offerors who are not small businesses will be evaluated on their past performance using small business concerns.

It would appear that Small Business offerors can only receive a maximum of 10 points for Past Performance whereas large businesses could potentially receive an additional 10 points beyond the maximum a small business could be awarded. Thus the maximum Technical Points for small businesses bidding as small businesses would be:

(A) Corporate /Institutional Capability: 28 points

(B) Technical Approach Basic IDIQ Contract Statement of Work: 24 points

(C) Past Performance: 10 Points

(D) Sample Task Order: 18 Points

(E) Personnel: 10 Points

For a total points of 90.

Section M.2. Technical Evaluation Criteria provides the following Summary:

(A) Corporate /Institutional Capability: 28 points

(B) Technical Approach Basic IDIQ Contract Statement of Work: 24 points

(C) Past Performance: 20 Points

(D) Sample Task Order: 18 Points

(E) Personnel: 10 Points

For a total points of 100.

Based on this point structure all small businesses would be disadvantaged against all large businesses by 10 points. In other words, large businesses under the selection criteria have the opportunity to receive up to 100 points but small businesses can only score up to 90 points in the technical evaluation.

Under fair opportunity provisions, would USAID please consider providing an automatic 10 points to small business Prime Offerors under the sub-criterion “past performance in using small business concerns” [M.2.c(2)]?

Answer: No, small business prime offerors will not be given 10 points.

Points will be converted to percentages. A small business prime offeror that earns the maximum 90 points will be rated 100%, the same percentage score as that of a non-small business whose 100 points equals 100%.

Question 7: The cover letter to the solicitation, and page 25, Section F.5(a)(1)(ii)(1)(j), state that the Small Business Subcontracting goal is 25% for non-small business offerors. At the same time the L.9.1.(e) Part 5 – Subcontracting Plan on page 86 is requesting only 10% of the total planned subcontracting which is 15% less than the goal. Is this a typographical error?

Answer: Yes, 10% is a typographical error.

The small business subcontracting goal for non-small business offerors is 25%.

Page 86, in L.9.1.(e), Part 5 – Subcontracting Plan, second paragraph, first line: 10% is replaced with 25%. The sentence is corrected to read: “These plans must contain small business subcontracting goals of at least 25% of the total planned subcontracting…”

Question 8: What is USAID’s current policy related to business class travel for travel in excess of 14 hours? Is business class travel allowed for travelers approved to travel under active task orders?

Answer: There is no entitlement to business class travel accommodation for overseas trips in excess of 14 hours. Business class travel will not be allowed for the task orders under this IDIQ contract unless it is necessary to accommodate a disability. Requests for business class travel based on disability must be accompanied by a doctor’s certification.

Question 9: Page 28, 29 and 30: Section F.7 Fair Opportunity to be Considered – F.7.(b)(5) states “Additionally, USAID will reserve all task orders valued at $1,000,000 or less for small business.”

However, this does not seem to be incorporated in the information provided under Section F.7.(d)(3)(i) which states “For task orders estimated to be equal to or less than US $100,000” and Section (d)3(ii) “For task orders estimated to be more than US $100,000 and equal to or less than

US $2,000,000. “

Can USAID provide a clearer explanation under the section (d) Request for Task Order Proposal to inform offerors how task order proposals estimated to cost between $3,001 and $1 million will be handled?

Assuming a small business offeror is awarded one of the IDIQs will there be set asides for small businesses except under the circumstances of F.7.(b)(1), (2), (3), or (4)?

Please advise offerors if there is a typographical error in any of these threshold numbers.

Answer: Page 29, F.7 (b) (5): Delete the sentence, “Additionally, USAID will reserve all task orders valued at $1,000,000 or less for small businesses unless the TOCO determines that a Fair Opportunity exception applies” replace “a” with “another.” Replace the sentence with: “Additionally, USAID will reserve all task orders valued at $1,000,000 or less for small business prime IDIQ contract holders unless the TOCO determines that another Fair Opportunity exception applies.”

This means that task orders $1 million or less will be reserved for, and competed among, the small business prime IDIQ contract holders unless: (1) an urgent need exists and seeking competition would result in unacceptable delays; or (2) only one contractor is capable; or (3) the task order must be issued as a sole source follow-on; or (4) to satisfy minimum award obligations; etc. Please see the Request for Proposals for details. If a task order is competed among the small business prime IDIQ contract holders and an award is not made, USAID may compete the task order based upon Fair Opportunity among all IDIQ prime contract holders.

Question 10: From time to time, USAID has had a need to extend contractor performance periods beyond the estimated end date of the initial award. In the event the period of performance is extended, will small business awardees retain that status throughout the initial period of performance and any extension?

Answer: The Request for Proposals, page 29, the last sentence of F.7 (b) (5), states that:

“If the firm was a certified small business at the time of award, it remains a small business for consideration hereunder for the contract period of performance.”

Question 11: Attachment J.11 includes 260 days for each of the personnel categories. Does USAID want the offerors to use these days as plug figures to compute labor costs OR are the offerors permitted to make their own estimates for the LOE for each category depending upon the requirements of the tasks in the Sample Task Order?

Answer: Plug figures.

Question 12: Attachment J.11 includes a total LOE of 1,820 days in the total direct labor line.

This represents a total of 7 personnel working for 260 days each. However, the instructions state that the Deputy Program Manager must be selected from one of the general labor categories. If we were to follow this instruction and move one of the general labor categories to fill in the position of Deputy Program Manager we would then also need to move LOE days associated with that category to the category of Deputy Program Manager. But, the Deputy Program Manager position already has an LOE of 260 days. This would seem to imply double counting of LOE for one of the categories selected for the position of Deputy Program Manager.

Accordingly, are we correct in assuming that the LOE associated with the Deputy Program Manager should be shown as zero and then when a general labor category is moved along with the LOE to the Deputy Program Manager position, there would be no double counting and the total LOW would be 1,560 days rather than 1,820?

Answer: No, your assumption is incorrect.

There are seven positions, each of which has a Level of Effort of 260 days per year, for a total Level of Effort of 1,820 days annually. Although the individual who fills the

Deputy Program Manager position may have credentials identical to any of the five types of General Personnel, the Deputy Program Manager is a separate person.

Question 13: The qualifications requirement for the position of “Energy Training Specialist” require the proposed candidate to have an M.A. or Ph.D. in “Training and Development” or an M.A. or Ph.D. in “Education”. Based on USAID’s goals under the IDIQ and our direct experience in host countries, the training required by host country institutions is “applied training” in the work areas and job functions of energy sector professionals and technicians.

People with M.A. or Ph.D. degrees in education or training/development generally tend to provide training that is more academic and knowledge oriented. Indeed, the most successful trainers in the energy field bring both training and sector expertise. This requirement of degrees in a general field not associated specifically with energy issues appears to be very restrictive.

Would USAID, therefore, consider broadening the minimum qualifications requirements for this labor category to include M.A. and Ph. D. degrees in other fields such as engineering, political science, sociology, environmental science, economics, etc. while maintaining the requirement of experience in energy sector training in developing countries?

Answer: Page 98: Attachment J.1, C.4 Personnel, Energy Training Specialist, Education section is revised as follows:

Education: BA/BS in training and development, education, or a field related to the work under this clean energy IDIQ contract, is required.

A Master’s Degree in a subject that’s related to the position may substitute for one year of work experience, and a PhD in a relevant field may substitute for two years of work experience.

Question 14: Page 82, Section L.8 (2) (a): Must the Corporate Institutional Capability matrix have rows and columns, or could it be rows only?

Answer: Rows and columns.

Question 15: Page 82, Section L.8 (2) (a): Should the CIC Matrix be included in the bod of the tech proposal or as an attachment?

Answer: The Corporate Institutional Capability Matrix should be included in the body of the text.

Question 16: Please confirm that, as for the RFP for CPCs, the Prime Contractor can issue subcontracts under individual task orders other than CPFF or FFP, such as Time & Materials or fixed price Contract Item Line Numbers (CLINS) with a ceiling price.

Answer: The task orders that USAID issues under this IDIQ Contract will be CPFF and FFP. Prime contractors may issue subcontracts using time and materials or fixed price

CLINS with a ceiling price.

Question 17: On page 7, B.8, the RFP has allowed contractors to charge a fee on Grants under Contract activities. However, page 19, C.5.1 Grants Management, states the following, in reference to grants: “Funds will be provided on a pass through basis”. Does the latter sentence need to be removed?

Answer: No.

Question 18: On page 20, C.5.6 Commodities/Equipment Procurement and Installation (in the last paragraph): Although construction “is outside the scope of this contract,” could design of energy infrastructure and services be included in task order scopes of work?

Answer: No.

Question 19: On page 90, M.2.c.: The Q&A for the RFP for Clean Energy IDIQ for CPCs has stated that past performance information can be submitted for all team members – and not just major subcontractors. Can you please confirm if, likewise, firms can submit past performance information for any and all team members for this RFP for non-CPCs?

Can we include Past Performance Narratives and Past Performance Information (as well as include in the Past Performance Matrix as found in Attachment J.10) for contracts from any of our proposed subcontractors, as applicable? Or are we limited to only the prime offeror and major subcontractor to supply past performances? We feel that to most accurately present the full breathe of our team qualifications, we would like to include Past Performance Narratives/Information/Matrix from any of our subcontractors that have a project/contract of relevance to the subject CE work in non-CPCs. In other words, can we include PPRs from any of our team members?

Answer: Offerors must follow the instructions in this Request for Proposals. The Past Performance Narrative paragraph on page 82, in L.8 (2) (c) (1) (i), states that at least three past performance projects must have been performed by the offeror, and the remainder may have been performed by major subcontractors.

Question 20: For the cost proposal, which is not limited to a specific page count, is it necessary to put page numbers on each page?

Answer: Yes.

Question 21: For the Sample RFTOP, would the proposed team be expected to spend equivalent amounts of time over the course of one year in all four countries, or be based out of one country?

Answer: For the Sample RFTOP, the proposed team is expected to spend equivalent amounts of time over the course of one year in all four countries.

Question 22: For the Sample RFTOP, do all of the public outreach materials, strategies, and/or reports for this assignment need to be in English and/or the local language for each of the four countries? Please clarify.

Answer: All public outreach materials, strategies, and/or reports for the sample task order should be in English.

Question 23: For Component Deliverables described on pages 100 to 101 (F.5.1 (b) – (e)): Will the Contractor be expected to separate “Clean Energy Development Strategy,” training needs assessment, outreach materials, etc. for each of the four countries (i.e., four versions of each deliverable) or will the deliverable for each component be excepted to encompass all four countries?

Answer: Component deliverables for the Sample Task Order should be for each country.

Question 24: On page 99, F.5.1(a) Program Deliverables, a. Work Plan: is a security plan necessary for this region as described?

Answer: A security plan is not required for the Sample Task Orders.

Question 25: On page 93, C.2 OBJECTIVES: this describes three key energy areas, including

(3) developing a national electricity and/or gas sector reform plan(s). However, under C.3 Statement of Work, Component 2 refers to the development of a Clean Energy Development strategy. Would it be correct to assume that the SOW calls in general for the development of a strategy for clean energy development and an energy sector reform plan?

Answer: Each offeror should present its own technical approach to the Sample Task Order as outlined in Attachment J.1.

Question 26: The Summary Sheet Budget Format in Attachment J.11 assumes 260 days of Level of Effort (LOE) for each of the six LTTA personnel specified. The daily rates for each LTTA personnel are generally derived by dividing the annual salary by 260 days per year. In fact, however, for a one-year program, the Contractor typically would bill a total level of effort of between 210 and 220 days of work for each of long-term personnel (expat or TCNs or CCNs), after deducting paid absences (vacation, holiday, sick leave) and R&R from the 260 “working days” in a year (all 365 days minus weekends). Is the Contractor to assume 260 days of direct labor (LOE) and no paid absences, no R&R, etc. for the sample RFTOP?

Question 27: Will the sample task actually be awarded?

Question 28: Are SF-1420 biodata forms required for all persons proposed for the Sample Task?

Answer: AID 1420-17, the Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet, is only required for the IDIQ Contract Manager and Senior Technical Advisor.

Question 29: Starting on p.120 of the RFP is Attachment J.9, Program Personnel. Those listed personnel are somewhat different than those found in the Sample Task Order Summary Sheet Budget Format (Attachment J.11). For example, the Financial Analyst position is listed in J.9 but is not listed in the Sample Task Budget template. And a few of the positions, for example the Energy Market Specialist, is shown in Attachment J.1 (p.97) and also J.9 (p.120). What is the purpose of those position descriptions included in Attachment J.11?

Answer: The list of Program Personnel in Attachment J.9 illustrates some of the more common program positions anticipated under the actual task orders. USAID Missions and Bureaus will define specific positions when they issue actual Requests for Task Order Proposals to the IDIQ contract holders.

The positions listed in Attachment J.11 Summary Sheet Budget Format are for costing purposes for the Sample Task Order.

Question 30: Please confirm our understanding that all four components of the Sample Task Order SOW relate to the same four countries, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and to these four countries alone, not the entire region.

Answer: The Request for Proposals requires the four components of the Sample Task Order SOW for four countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Question 31: Can graphics, charts, and tables have text that is smaller than Times New Roman 12, such as 10 point font?

Answer: No. The Request for Proposals requires 12 point font.

Question 32: Page 9 of the RFP states that “Other important GHGs related to the energy sector include nitrous oxide, methane and black carbon (which are by-products of inefficient fuel combustion); fossil fuel production; natural gas production, transmission and distribution; and transportation combustion; as well as agricultural production and decomposing organic waste streams.” Black carbon is a major byproduct of cooking using traditional biomass fuels and charcoal. Are improved cookstove technologies and clean cooking fuels (e.g., LPG) included in the scope of this work?

Answer: This will be addressed at the task order level.

Question 33: On page 82 of 126 it says “provide all reports of past performance information…” Would the final past performance evaluation suffice instead of attaching all intermediate evaluations?

Question 34: Will USAID allow the future IDIQ prime contractors to apply a subcontractor management fee?

Answer: No. IDIQ prime contractors will not be allowed to apply a subcontractor management fee.

Question 35: May future IDIQ contract holders be allowed to subcontract with associations/ companies/organizations that have headquarters outside of the United States?

Answer: The Request for Proposals for the IDIQ contract, in section H.9 Authorized Geographic Code, states that the authorized geographic code is 000 (United States), or as specified in task orders. If USAID determines that the 935 geographic code is more appropriate for a specific task order, the Agency will use 935 in the Request for Task Order Proposals, and the prime contractor may then subcontract to non-U.S. organizations for that task order.

Question 36: Are bidders required to bid the number of days shown in Attachment J.11, the Summary Sheet Budget Format for the Sample Task? Or are those (260) days inserted for illustrative purposes only? Similarly, is the $1.0mil plug number for ODCs to be used in offeror bids?

Answer: Offerors are required to use 260 days per year for each of the positions listed in the Attachment J.11 Summary Sheet Budget Format for the sample task order, and to use the $1 million plug figure for Other Direct Costs.

Question 37: For the offeror’s budget, per the Summary Sheet Budget Format provided as Attachment J.11 (p. 124 of RFP), is it correct that the prime offeror’s indirect and fringe rates will be applied for all proposed personnel, even if some of the Sample Task Order personnel will be from a subcontractor’s company?

Answer: The Summary Sheet Budget Format does not restrict offerors to only including the prime’s rate if other rates are appropriate.

Question 38: Similar to prior question, does USAID wish to see the specific indirect rates for any subcontractor whose personnel is included into J.11, the Summary Sheet Budget Format?

Understood that indirect rates of the major subcontractor will be submitted with team bid, as well as for the prime offeror.

Answer: Yes. The Summary Sheet Budget Format does not restrict offerors to only including the prime’s rate if other rates are appropriate.

Question 39: What exactly would USAID like to see as backup detail to the Summary Sheet Budget Format?

Answer: Offerors must follow the instructions in the Request for Proposals for the budget narrative.

Question 40: Is there a limitation on the number of subcontractors that a prime offeror can include on their team?

Answer: No

Question 41 version 1: Page 84, Section L.8.2(d)TASK ORDER, states “Offerors must propose individual candidates for each position specified in the sample task order… include contact information for each candidate with current home address, phone, fax and email..” In addition, Section L.8.2 (e) also requires that we provide contact information for the IDIQ Contract Manager and Senior Technical Advisor.

Question 41 version 2: Please confirm that Offerors may include home office contact information here, rather than the individual expert’s home and personal contact information.

Personal contact information is competitive and proprietary information. In addition, contractors prefer that communications with proposed experts be coordinated with the contractors recommending their services.

Answer: The Request for Proposals requires offerors to provide the individual expert’s personal contact information.

Question 42: Page 91, Section M2.d states that the Task Order personnel will be evaluated on “the extent to which the proposed personnel demonstrate the offeror’s ability to effectively achieve program objectives”. However, the six sample task order positions outlined in the RFP do not cover the full breadth of technical expertise required to effectively achieve program objectives. For example, the positions do not call for expertise in component 4 area of public outreach.

Since USAID does not provide a requirement to provide additional candidates to demonstrate the full breadth of expertise beyond the six Task Order positions how will Offeror’s receive full points and fulfill the evaluation criteria?

Answer: Offerors must follow the directions outlined in the Request for Proposals.

Question 43: Section L.8e requires that Offeror’s present resumes of only the IDIQ Contract Manager and Senior Technical Advisor. Page 91, Section M.2 (e), provides the evaluation criteria and points for Section E, Personnel as follows:

(1) extent to which the offeror’s personnel demonstrate the required education qualifications, work experience, and supervisory experience…. Past experience in energy sector development”.

(2) extent to which offeror’s proposal demonstrated the experience sets of the proposed personnel complement each other in different areas of the energy sector.

Can USAID please confirm that the evaluation criteria relates solely to the IDIQ Contract Manager and Senior Technical Advisor and does not apply to the Contractor’s ability to demonstrate the full breadth of additional expertise expected under this IDIQ, including positions listed in Attachment J.9.

Answer: Section M.2(e) refers to evaluation of the IDIQ Contract Manager and Senior Technical Advisor.

Question 44: Page 41, Section H.9 states “The authorized geographic code for the procurement of goods and services under this contract is 000 (United States), or as specified in task orders”.

Are prime offerors permitted to include non-US subcontractors (at the IDIQ level) in their proposal response to this RFP?

The Request for Proposals for the IDIQ Contract, in section H.9 Authorized Geographic Code, states that the authorized geographic code is 000 (United States), or as specified in task orders. If USAID determines that the 935 geographic code is more appropriate for a specific task order, the Agency will use 935 in the Request for Task Order Proposals, and the prime may then subcontract to non-U.S. organizations for that task order.

Question 45: The letter refers to RFP Solicitation Number SOL-OAA-11-000034, while Section L.6.c. refers to SOL-OAA-10-000022 (the RFP number for Clean Energy CPC). Will USAID please confirm that the solicitation number for Clean Energy non-CPC is SOL-OAA-11-000034?

Answer: This solicitation number is SOL-OAA-11-000034.

Question 46: On page 78 of 126 of the Clean Energy NCPC Proposal (L.6 Delivery Instructions,

(a) second paragraph says: “Hard copies and CDs. Facsimile or emailed proposal submission will not be accepted.”

On page 79 of 126 (L.6 Delivery instructions, (d) paragraph, before (e) says: “E-mail delivery: In addition to submitting proposals in hard copy from and on CD-ROM, offerors should also submit by email, using………….. Emailed proposals must be received by 10:00 AM on the closing date.”

Will USAID please confirm whether email proposals should be submitted?

Answer: Proposals should be emailed in addition to being submitted as hard copies and on CD-ROMs. Proposals must not be faxed.

Question 47: Page 82 Past Performance calls for “This narrative shall describe a minimum of five past performance projects that were active within the past five years”. Will USAID please confirm that ongoing projects can be included?

Answer: Confirmed.

Question 48: May we include an Organizational Chart in the Sample Task Order?

Question 49: If yes, will it count against the page limit?

Question 50: On page 99 and 100 of the Sample Task Order, the Accrual Reports and the Performance Monitoring Plan do not provide deliverable dates. Will USAID please provide expected delivery date for both.

Answer: Accruals are due on or before March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year following the issuance of the task order. The Performance Monitoring Plan is due with the annual Work Plan.

Question 51: In the event of conflict between the post differential rates in RFP Attachment J.11 and the current rates in DSSR 920, which rate should offerors use in their cost proposals? For example, the post differential rate for Bangladesh recently decreased from 30 percent to 25 percent.

Answer: The offeror should use the rates provided in Attachment J.11 Summary Sheet Budget Format – Task Order & Personnel Daily Rate Table.

Question 52: If USAID prefers that offerors use current post differential rates, could USAID please confirm that the city to be used in each instance is the capital city of the country?

Answer: The offeror should use the rates provided in Attachment J.11 Summary Sheet Budget Format – Task Order & Personnel Daily Rate Table.

Question 53: Please extend the submission deadline by thirty (30) days due to the scale of this opportunity as well as to accommodate the questions/answers submitted to allow time to incorporate the Agency’s responses into our proposal.

Question 54: The last paragraph of page 1 of Cover Letter states “USAID estimates awarding approximately six IDIQ contracts, up to three of which will be reserved for small business” while Section L.5 (a) page 77 states “The U. S. Government anticipates awarding approximately five IDIQ contracts, of which approximately three will be unrestricted and approximately two will be reserved for small business.” Please clarify.

Answer: USAID anticipates awarding approximately six IDIQ contracts, of which approximately three will be unrestricted and approximately three will be reserved for small business. The Government reserves the right to make more or fewer awards, to change the ratio of unrestricted to reserved awards, or to make no award.

Question 55: H.4.(d) -- Annual salary increases are limited to the annual Cost of Living Increase Adjustment (COLA) received by Federal General Schedule (GS). Is that fair in light of the fact that the GS scale also provides for step increases? Why would a contractor receive lower salary increments that a Govt. employee? Is that reasonable? Is it consistent with the cost principles in FAR 31.205-6(a)(3)? The majority of our company’s employees work on non-government activities. This limitation will create two tiers of salary in our company, with employees assigned to this contract being forced to take lower wage increases. This will make it harder for us to recruit internally to provide our best employees to this activity.

Answer: The Request for Proposals, on page 38, in H.4(d) Annual Salary Increases, has been changed as follows: “One annual salary increase of not more than 4% may be granted after the employee’s completion of each twelve month period of satisfactory services under the contract. Annual salary increases of any kind exceeding this limitation or exceeding the maximum salary in Section H.3 may be granted only with the advance written approval of the Contracting Officer, after concurrence by the COTR.”

Question 56: On page 2 of the cover letter, USAID describes a process in which the unrestricted (non-reserved) awards are made first, then the others. If so, then one could deduce that USAID would need to be firm in deciding its number of unrestricted awards. Would USAID please consider communicating this number in advance?

Answer: No.

Question 57: On page 8, section B.10 (c), the wording seems unclear. Will such studies always be fixed price? If fixed price, what is relevance of CLINs?

Answer: The Request for Proposals page 8, B.10 (c), is amended. It is replaced with the following:

(c) Special studies. Special studies, to possibly include, but not be limited to, development plans, analysis, evaluations, host country reports, etc., will generally be fixed price Contract Item Line Numbers (CLINs) issued on individual task orders.

Question 58: On page 20, section C.5.6, construction work is precluded, even repair of buildings. We understand the basic intent of this RFP as being for services, not construction, but “alteration or repair” seems overly restrictive, since to help host country USAID recipients install equipment usually requires some minor alterations.

Answer: This Request for Proposals prohibits construction as it is defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Question 59: On page 38, section H.4 (d) the parenthetical remark “(includes promotional increase)” seems overly restrictive. It limits salary increases in the case of employee promotions to the COLA to all staff. This will impede contractors’ performance, as it will discourage those staff interested in working on this contract as part of their career path. Instead of “includes” could the word be changed to “excludes”?

Answer: This section is removed.

Question 60: On page 124, Attachment J.11, sample budget, post differential is shown, which is a “long-term” allowance, requiring working more than 42 consecutive days in country. What does USAID expect as regards the number of days expected for each person in each country?

Answer: Each offeror needs to present their technical approach to the Sample Task Order.

Question 61: On page 124, Attachment J.11, 260 days per year is shown for each person, which is 52x5 (full time). Our company does not charge holidays and vacation time as direct cost, but in accordance with Cost Accounting Standards we put those into fringe benefits. So we would not realistically be able to direct charge 260 days per person in a 12 month period, unless the place of work allows 6-day work weeks, which from page 99 section F.4 does not appear to be the case. Shall we reduce the 260 days accordingly?

Answer: Use the 260 days. The six day work week is not explicitly prohibited.

Question 62: On page 124, Attachment J.11, shall Offerors submit subcontractor indirects as separate line items in the indirect cost section?

Answer: If subcontractors are used in the sample task order, provide subcontractor indirect costs on a separate line in the Attachment J.11 Summary Sheet Budget Format.