Strengthening the Capacity of Civil Society Organizations in the Philippines

RFP Issuance Date : July 8, 2011
RFP Closing Date : August 7, 2011
RFP Closing Time : 12 midnight Manila,Philippines local time
Receipt of Questions : July 15, 2011

Subject: Request for Proposals No. SOL-492-11-000010 -
Strengthening the Capacity of Civil Society Organizations in the Philippines

To All Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission to the Philippines, is seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing the services described in the attached solicitation.

This procurement is being conducted through full and open competition, for which the procedures for "contracting by negotiation, trade-off process" method of procurement, as described in Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), will apply. Offerors who submit proposals in response to this RFP may be required to give an oral presentation.

Proposals will be accepted from Philippine and Non-Philippines non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private, for-profit and non-profit organizations, including universities, research organizations, professional associations, and relevant special interest associations. Faith-based and community organizations are also eligible for award. In support of USAID's interest in expanding the number and sustainability of development partners, USAID encourages proposals from potential new partners.

USAID plans to award a cost-plus-fixed-fee completion type contract. The maximum amount of the contract (costs and fee) is $1.5 million, covering an estimated period of performance of three years. However, offerors should not necessarily strive to equal this amount. Cost-effective approaches to achieving the results are encouraged, and lower-cost offers will be rewarded under Section M of this solicitation. Offerors must propose costs that they believe are realistic and reasonable for the work. Cost proposals will be evaluated as part of the best value procedure in determining the contract award.

USAID encourages the participation to the maximum extent possible of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns, and women-owned small business concerns in this activity as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor, in accordance with FAR Part 19.

Receipt of this solicitation through the internet must be confirmed by written notification to Procurement Secretary Irene Narag at email address aidmnlorp@usaid.gov. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received in its entirety, including subsequent solicitation amendments, if any. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

Issuance of this solicitation and the submittal of a proposal do not constitute a commitment on the part of the U.S. Government nor USAID to make an award, neither does it constitute an obligation for any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Award will be subject to funds availability following the proper completion of required USAID internal processes.

Further, the U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. To this end, this RFP is being issued and consists of this cover letter and the text of the attached request for proposals (RFP). All offerors are cautioned to carefully review this cover letter and the contents of the RFP.

The details associated with the submission requirements for offerors' proposals are outlined in Section L of this solicitation. Proposals must be signed by an official who is authorized to bind the organization and are to be submitted to USAID no later than the closing date stated above. Late proposals will be handled in accordance with FAR 15.208. Facsimile submissions are not authorized and will not be accepted as valid.

The preferred method of proposal submission will be electronic. See Section L. of the solicitation for instructions.

Offerors are instructed to pay careful attention to Section K - Representations, Certifications and Acknowledgements of the accompanying Request for Proposals. Offerors are now expected to comply with FAR clause 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration, and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via the Online Representations and Certifications Application website at http://orca.bpn.gov.

An interested vendors list is not included in this solicitation. Offerors can register and use the interested vendors list found at the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO.gov) webpage created for this solicitation so that interested firms and individuals can contact one another for consideration of teaming arrangements and/or small business subcontracting opportunities arising from this solicitation.

You are strongly encouraged to submit any comments or questions concerning this RFP by no later than July 15, 2011. These should be directed by email to Ms. Ma. Belinda de la Torre, Senior Acquisition & Assistance Specialist at email address mdela@usaid.gov with copy to Irene Narag at aidmnlorp@usaid.gov.

The required closing date and time for receipt of proposals is USAID/Philippines 11 p.m. Manila local time on August 7, 2011. Point of required receipt is USAID/Philippines, Manila, Republic of the Philippines and not USAID offices in Washington, D.C. or any other location. Offerors should take account of the expected delivery time required by the proposal transmission and are responsible to ensure that proposals are received at USAID by the due date and time specified above.

Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of the contract will not be binding. Furthermore, the U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government. Award of a contract under this RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal USAID approvals.

Thank you for your interest in working with USAID/Philippines.

Sincerely,

/s/

Michael P. Rossman
Regional Contracting Officer