PFM_II_IDIQ_Mod_02.pdf

Modification 02

SOL-OAA-17-000022

PFM II IDIQ

A. Questions and Answers

1. Question: Questions 31 and 161: USAID’s response to Question 31 notes that “subcontractors who do not perform 20% of the work are not identified at the IDIQ level”. In response to Question 161, USAID has noted that “the labor distribution chart should include all subcontractors”, rather than just major subcontractors. Would USAID please confirm that Offerors are required to identify non-major subcontractors at the IDIQ level in the labor distribution chart? Could USAID also please confirm that Offerors should include non-major subcontractors in the small business subcontracting plan at the IDIQ level?

USAID Response: USAID will only review and approve major subcontractors at the IDIQ level.

However, in order to capture 100% of the labor distribution, Offerors may elect to include a general line item for unidentified subcontractors in the labor distribution chart with an indication of the total amount of overall labor that is anticipated to be distributed to them.

2. Question: Questions 178 and 179: The response to Question 178 indicates that “the prime and all proposed subcontractors must provide SAM registration certification as well as a hard copy of a completed set of Representations, Certifications and other Statements of Offerors”. The response to Question 179 indicates that Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors are only required by the Prime and identified major subcontractors. Would USAID please confirm that Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors are only required for the Prime and major subcontractors?

USAID Response: No other subcontractors will be identified at the IDIQ level unless they are major subcontractors or part of a consortium (see also response to Question # 4). Only the Prime and identified subcontractors (major or consortium members) should submit this information with the Offer.

3. Question: Question 26: Question 26 asks USAID to outline the process for including subcontractors at the IDIQ level who only have accounting systems that process fully burdened rates.

Would USAID please confirm that the guidance provided in the response to this question is applicable to major subcontractors proposed at the IDIQ level?

USAID Response: Yes.

4. Question: IDIQ Subcontractors: Per our prior experience with USAID IQCs and IDIQs, we have formed a consortium with various subcontractors and have entered into teaming agreements with them. Please confirm that in the proposal we can still present the entire team, including their qualifications, role on the consortium, and expertise, and not just the major subcontractor(s), if any.

USAID Response: Yes, a consortium or teaming agreement approach is acceptable.

5. Question: Illustrative Task Order Work Plan and MEL Plan: Please confirm that the Work Plan Gantt Chart and draft activity MEL Plan for the Illustrative Task Order:

(1) Can be provided as annexes,

(2) Do not count against the page count, and

(3) Have no page limit.

USAID Response: Yes, both items should be submitted as Annexes. Per L.4(a), the MEL plan does not count against the page count and has no page limit (per Mod 01, question 51). The Gantt Chart is an annex that does not count against the page count (Per Mod 01, Question 90(c)).

6. Question: Past Performance References: Please clarify what PPRs are required and how many are required in total.

• USAID’s response to Question 138 states that offerors can provide up to five reports for each of its subcontractors.

• The answer to Question 139 states that up to five PPRs can be submitted for the prime and each major subcontractor.

• Per the response to Question 140, PPRs from subcontractors are not allowed and USAID is only requesting up to five PPRs total.

USAID Response: USAID will not accept or review past performance information submitted for contractors that are not identified at the IDIQ level. As such, past performance information must be submitted only for the Prime, Major Subcontractors, and consortium members (see question #4). Past performance information submitted for other types of subcontractors must not be submitted as they will not be reviewed or evaluated. There is a limitation of 5 PPRs per identified party. So, if an Offeror has the prime, a consortium partner, and one major subcontractor, Offeror may submit up to five PPRs for prime, five PPRs for the Major Subcontractor, and five PPRs for the consortium partner.

7. Question: Labor Distribution Chart: Please clarify if the Labor Distribution Chart should just include the major subcontractors or all subcontractors.

• The answer to Question 67 states that Attachment J.7 should be submitted to express the distribution of labor between prime and major subcontractors.

• The answer to Question 161 states that the chart should include the prime and all subcontractors.

USAID Response: See question #1.

8. Question: Page 122 of the amended RFP states, “Describe any quality awards or certifications that indicate exceptional capacity to provide the service or product described in the statement of work. This information is not included in the page limitation.” However, the response to question 119 states, “If an Offeror includes ‘quality awards or certifications’ pursuant to L.4(b)(4)(c), the description of these awards shall be included as part of the Past Performance section of the technical proposal and will count against the word limitation. However, if Offeror includes copies of those awards or certifications as evidence, then this supporting documentation shall not count against the page limitation.” Will USAID please confirm that the amended RFP is accurate and descriptions of quality awards and certifications are not included in the page limitation?

USAID Response: Confirmed. The description of quality awards and certifications are not included in the page limitation.

9. Question: We appreciate USAID’s reduction in the timeframe for eSRS documentation on page 123 of the amended RFP. However, as copies of our subcontracting reports not submitted to eSRS in the last three years total more than 260 pages, would USAID accept copies of these reports from the last reporting cycle only (spring 2017)?

USAID Response: No.

10. Question: On question cell 7 on the contractor report short form, should we strike the acronym AED and assume that 7a and 7b refer to the contracting officer and the COTR for the project that is being described under the CPR (Contractor Performance Report).

USAID Response: Do not modify the form to remove the acronym. Yes, 7(a) refers to the Contracting Officer and 7(b) the Technical Officer (if applicable) of the Contract identified on the Contractor Performance Report.

11. Question: There seems to be an inconsistency between USAID’s responses to question 29 and to question 161. In question 29, USAID is asked “On Page 14, USAID states that ceilings on indirect rates do not apply to Small Business Offerors. Does this also apply to Small Business Offerors’ Major Subcontractors that are non-Small Businesses.” To this, the first half of USAID’s response is “Yes”, which indicates that large businesses serving as subcontractors on Small Business bids do not need to present ceiling indirect cost rates. The second half of USAID’s response states “See also question #169”. USAID’s response in question 169 states: “For purposes of clarity, any entity which is a small business concern (serving as either a prime or a major subcontractor) does not need to provide ceiling indirect cost rates. However, a non-small business concern must. Please review Section L.5 Part 2: indirect costs which explains the small business exemption. This applies to small businesses at both the prime and major-subcontractor level.” Can USAID please confirm that ceiling indirect cost rates are applicable to non-Small Business Offerors, whether serving as a Prime or Major Subcontractor?

USAID Response: Yes. Ceiling indirect cost rates are applicable to non-small business offerors whether serving as a prime or major subcontractor.

12. Question: Answer to question 187 states that “USAID is not requesting nor accepting documentation for non-major subcontractors to be included in the Evaluation pursuant to Section M.” Other answers to questions (Question 161 and 193) refer to ‘all subcontractors’, not just those that are classified as Major. Can USAID please confirm whether the prime offerors can present non-major subcontractors at the IDIQ level?

USAID Response: See questions #2 and #4.

13. Question: Answer to question 67 indicates that “Attachment J.6 should still be submitted to express the distribution of labor between the prime and major subcontractors.” However, answer to question 161 states that “the labor distribution chart should include all subcontractors”, not just those that are classified as major subcontractors. Can USAID please confirm that the Attachment J.6 is to be filled out and include both major and non-major subcontractors?

USAID Response: See question #1.

14. Question: Answer to question 178 states that “the prime and all proposed subcontractors must provide SAM registration certification as well as a hard copy of a complete set of “Representations, Certifications, and other Statements of Offerors.” Answer to question 179 states that “Documentation is required only for the Prime and identified major subcontractors.” The RFP also states the following in section L.5:

• Part 3 - " Offerors and proposed subcontractors must ensure they are registered with CCR (www.sam.gov) per FAR part 4” and “The Offeror and each proposed subcontractor must complete Section K, "Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors. The Offeror must provide a signed and dated Section K."

• Part 5 - "The Offeror and each proposed subcontractor must:"

• Part 8 - The Prime Contractor and subcontractor(s) must submit sufficient evidence of responsibility for the Contracting Officer to make an affirmative determination of responsibility pursuant to the requirements of FAR Subsection 9.104-1.

• Part 9 - "The Offeror must address each of the elements in FAR 44.202-2 in order for proposed subcontractors to be considered by the contracting officer for consent of subcontractors to be granted with the initial award."

Can USAID please clarify whether the following information is required for the major subcontractors or for both major and non-major subcontractors?

a. Section K information (Section L.5, Part 3, “Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors”)

b. Registration with CCR (Section L.5, Part 3 “Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors”)

c. Information concerning work-day, work-week, and paid absences (Section L.5, Part 5 “Information Concerning Work-Day, Work-Week, and Paid Absences”)

d. Sufficient evidence of responsibility pursuant to the requirements of FAR Subsection 9.104-1 (Section L.5, Part 8 “Evidence of Responsibility”)

e. Consent to Subcontractors (Section L.5, Part 9 “Consent to Subcontractors”)

f. Letters of commitment from subcontractors (Section L.5, Part 10)

USAID Response: See question #2 and #4.

15. Question: Regarding answers to questions 173 and 174, USAID permits subcontractors to submit indirect cost information directly to USAID, but then states that “USAID will include indirect cost rates in the final Contract.” FAR 15.404-3 indicates that a subcontractor can submit pricing data directly to the US Government, presumably due to its proprietary nature. Would USAID please consider excluding subcontractor indirect cost rate information from final prime contracts? Placing subcontractor proprietary information into contractor contracts might reduce the availability of qualified subcontractors to prime offerors. Alternatively, would USAID consider not requiring any cost proposal related information from major subcontractors (or from all subcontractors) at the proposal stage, instead either planning to settle indirect rates and ceilings with subcontractors after prime awards are made but before consent to subcontract is given, or when subcontractors are initially proposed for tasks?

USAID Response: No.

End Modification 02