RFP_SOL-OAA-17-000006_Amendment__2.pdf

SOL-OAA-17-000006 Amendment #2 Page 1

ISSUE DATE: April 27, 2017

AMENDMENT #2: Responses to 2nd Set of Questions

TITLE: Promoting Excellence in Private Sector Engagement (PEPSE)

OFFICE M/OAA/SIDP/B

LOCATION Washington, DC

CLOSING DATE FOR

SUBMITTING PROPOSALS (as amended): May 9, 2017

CLOSING TIME FOR

SUBMITTING PROPOSALS (as amended): 12 PM EST (Washington, DC Local time)

EMAIL SUBMISSION ONLY

SUBJECT: Request for Proposals (RFP) SOL-OAA-17-000006

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is issuing this amendment to respond to the second round of questions submitted by offerors in response to the referenced solicitation, (RFP) SOL-OAA-17-000006 entitled Promoting Excellence in Private Sector Engagement (PEPSE).

Offerors are responsible for ensuring that proposals are received by USAID by the due date.

Submission received after the due date will be determined unacceptable and will not be reviewed or evaluated. Proposals (including all attachments and appendices) must be submitted electronically to Contract Specialist Nayo Tolbert at ntolbert@usaid.gov.

mailto:ntolbert@usaid.gov

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Issuance of this amendment does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of a proposal. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any offer, if such action is considered to be not in the best interest of the Government.

This amendment can be viewed and downloaded from www.fedbizopps.gov. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

Further, offerors should be aware that amendments to solicitations are occasionally issued and will be posted on FBO.gov attached to this solicitation. USAID advises to regularly check the above website for amendments.

Roderick Watson /s/ Contracting/Agreement Officer – USAID 301 4th St. SW Washington DC 20253

SOL-OAA-17-000006 Amendment #2 Page 3

Below are responses to the questions received in response to (RFP) SOL-OAA-17-000006, Amendment 1 by the requested date & time, April 24, 2017 closing time of 12 PM EST.

1. OFFEROR QUESTION: Past Performance – USAID’s response to Question #45 states that the “offeror must submit 3 past performance statements for their organization and 3 past performance statements for each subcontractor identified at time of proposal.”

USAID’s response to Question #56 indicates that “the Offeror is required to submit a maximum of 3 past performances for the prime and each subcontractor identified in the proposal.”

For subcontractors, does this allow for fewer than 3 relevant past performance statements and does the period of performance of those projects have to have been within the past five years?

USAID RESPONSE:

1. There should be a minimum of 3 past performances references for offerors and a minimum of 3 past performance references for each subcontractor identified in the proposal.

2. Relevant past performance information should reflect worked conducted within past five years.

2. OFFEROR QUESTION: Cost Volume-Subcontractors on PEPSE are expected to engage across various Tasks. Should the subcontractor(s)’ labor costs be included in the Task CLINS (1-3) or separated out under CLIN 4 Task 8?

Yes, the offeror can propose subcontractor personnel labor cost in support of activities under CLINs 1 -3. All labor rates should be fixed for all labor categories including subcontractors.

There is not a CLIN 4, Task 8; therefore, USAID can not provided a response to this part of the question.

3. OFFEROR QUESTION: Will USAID be providing Section K: Representations, certifications and other statements of offerors or respondents for the specific solicitation provisions that are required for this procurement?

The solicitation is revised to include Section K. Go to the following link for certs and reps https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mav.pdf.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mav.pdf

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4. OFFEROR QUESTION: Request for one-week extension - Because the request for a NICRA, or financial review or audit in Amendment #1 is a new requirement (it generally takes weeks for a review/audit), combined with other additional requirements and new information available about the incumbent’s work under the current/previous contracts (through provision of their contract numbers), we respectfully request that a proposal deadline extension for an additional week be considered.

USAID’s requirements specific to indirect costs are consistent with FAR Part 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures. It is anticipated that all potential offerors have access to NICRA or financial statements for the year 2016 or before. In addition, please see indirect cost information under Attachment 1 for additional guidance for organizations that do not have a NICRA. Please see the cover page of this amendment for the revised closed date information.

5. OFFEROR QUESTION: Can USAID please define a major subcontractor?

"Major subcontractors are those expected to perform at least 20% or a prominent part, of thetechnical effort. All major subcontractors will need approval by the CO in accordance with FAR part 52.244-2 and part 44.202-2."

6. OFFEROR QUESTION: RFP Section, Page C.4, page 17

The new Budget Table provided in answers to questions provides $500,000 plug figures for Tasks 5 and 6 under Concentration 2 (CLIN 3), and USAID’s answer to question 22 states that “The STTA information and supporting plug figures are captured on the revised table under CLIN Task 05 Private Sector Engagement and CLIN Task 06 Private Sector Engagement Strategic Initiatives.”

USAID’s answer to question 64 states that “The offeror has the flexibility to provide the labor mix and LOE to support its approach and to meet the requirements of the statement of work.”

In the Section C Statement of work, USAID has clearly identified Task 6 as surge support, and stated that Task 5 serves the purpose of “augmenting the capacity of the CTP team and other Agency technical teams” (RFP pg 17).

Could USAID please confirm that full time personnel may be budgeted under Concentration 2 (CLIN 3) for Task 5 and that Task 5 is not limited only to STTA?

USAID confirms that full time personnel may be budgeted under Concentration 2 (CLIN

3) for Task 5 and that Task 5 is not limited only to STTA.

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7. OFFEROR QUESTION: RFP Section, Page H.15, page 55

We note that OMB Circular A-11 and FAR 34.201 contemplate EVMS only for “major acquisitions for development,” and DCAA guidance (which is the most detailed standard we could find, and is usually consistent with other cognizant government auditors) indicates that EVMS is only required for cost/incentive contracts over $50 million:

Effective January 7, 2015, DoDI 5000.02 required EVM compliance on cost or incentive contracts, subcontracts, or work agreements valued at or greater than $20 million. Cost or incentive contracts, subcontracts, or work agreements valued at or greater than $50 million require compliance with the EVM guidelines and an earned value management system that has been formally validated and accepted by the cognizant contracting officer.

Application of EVM on cost or incentive contracts valued at less than $20 million is left to the discretion of the program manager based on cost– benefit analysis. Application of EVM on firm-fixed price contracts requires a waiver from the Milestone Decision Authority based on a business case analysis. For contracts awarded prior to January 7, 2015, the previous DoDI (5000.02) was in effect;therefore, the auditor must refer to the specific terms of the contract to determine which EVM requirements are applicable to the contract. Considering this official guidance, and our understanding that the incumbent contract does not require an EVMS, as well as the very costly nature of a full EVMS— especially to an 8(a)—can USAID please remove this requirement?

The clause, Earned Value Management System (NOV 2016), in Section H, H.16 the requirement has been removed and deleted in its entirety.

8. OFFEROR QUESTION: RFP L. 3, page 90

Could USAID please confirm that subcontractors may submit proprietary cost information including biodata forms, NICRA, and proposed NICRA ceiling directly to USAID separate from the prime contractor’s submission?

Yes, the subcontractors may submit proprietary cost information including biodata forms, NICRA, and proposed NICRA ceiling directly to USAID separate from the prime contractor’s submission.

9. OFFEROR QUESTION: RFP B.5, page 10

Can the offeror propose an Operations CLIN for allowable direct labor which does not fall under CLINs 1-4?

The question is unclear and no further information can be provided by USAID at this time.

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10. OFFEROR QUESTION: Amendment #1, Pg. 32 USAID included a new requirement for Offerors and Major Subcontractors to propose ceilings on indirect cost rates. In our experience, this is a highly unusual requirement under a Time and Materials solicitation, since Offerors will be utilizing their indirect cost rates to burden their proposed labor rates (which will become fixed for the duration of the contract).

As this requirement was not included as part of the original solicitation, could USAID please consider removing this requirement?

Attachment 1,Part 2 Proposed Costs/Prices, Indirect Cost, Please re-read Attachment 1 (in its entirety for additional clarity) as it provides guidance to offeror(s) or major subcontractor(s) with and without NICRAs. Offeror’s and subcontractor’s NICRAs will be applied (when applicable) in accordance with their established Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

11. OFFEROR QUESTION: ADMINISTRATIVE

In the event of a government shutdown on/about April 28 and remains closed through the May 5 submission date, will USAID still require submission on the original due date as planned? If so, can USAID detail how it will confirm receipt of submitted proposals? If not, could USAID provide revised submission guidance to offerors?

USAID at this time does not have official guidance on how the government will proceed.

When, official guidance is provided further information will be provided.

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ATTACHMENT 1

Based on expressed interests from the USAID community, the following assumptions should be considered when preparing the budget:

1. All Key Personnel staff are full-time employees throughout the duration of the contract;

2. Approximately 20% of the Agency’s requests will fall under CLINs 2; while,

3. Approximately 50% of the Agency’s requests will fall under CLINs 3.

Therefore, the plugs figures under CLINs 3 have been deleted.

Offeror are encouraged to review Section FAR 16.601 (Time and Material) for additional information and guidance regarding Material (Subcontractors) and other relevant information.

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Please note: the table below reflects an illustrative summary budget.

CLINs Personnel Base Year 1 Base Year

OY1 (Yr.

3) OY2 (Yr.

4) OY3 (Yr.

5) Total

Estimated Cost

CLIN #1: Key Personnel

Key Personnel

1 Project Director 2 Senior Communications

& Engagement Lead

3 Technical Director

CLINs Personnel Base Year 1 Base Year

OY1 (Yr.

3)

OY2 (Yr.

4)

OY3 (Yr.

5)

Total Estimated Cost

CLIN #2:: Concentration #1

Sub-Activities

4 Task 01:

Community of Practice and Knowledge Management Support

4a Task 02:

Data Collection Analysis and Monitoring and Evaluation

4b Task 03 Training Knowledge Management

4c Task 04 Communications

CLINs 3: Concentration 2

5 Task 05 Private Sector Engagement Technical support

6 Task 06 Private Sector Engagement Strategic Initiatives (SURGE)

* CLINs 4: Other Direct costs:

7 Travel 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 1,000,000 8 example: Supplies/

Materials

9 Event and Special Projects

10 ODC

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST