Minimum Key Expert Time Input & Performance Guarantee

Dear Sir,

We request clarification on the following points:

1. Minimum Key Expert Time Input

The RFP requires the Consultant's Proposal to include the minimum Key Experts' time input in person-months, but the BDS does not specify the minimum required person-months.

Kindly clarify:

a) What is the minimum required Key Expert time input (person-months)?

b) How should the proposed Key Expert time input be linked with the Financial Proposal/remuneration rates?

c) Where the proposed time input is below the required minimum, the RFP provides for an adjustment for evaluation purposes. Kindly clarify how this adjustment will affect the evaluation and quoted contract price.

2.Performance Guarantee

The BDS specifies the Performance Guarantee as 3.33%, whereas the detailed Performance Bank Guarantee provision in the RFP/SCC requires an unconditional and irrevocable Bank Guarantee equivalent to 10% of the annual contract value excluding taxes.

Kindly clarify which requirement shall prevail.

Further, if 3.33% is the applicable Performance Guarantee, kindly clarify 3.33% of which amount__________ the annual contract value excluding taxes, total contract value, or any other specified amount.

Reply to Clarification Queries – Hiring for Services of Tax Consultancy Firm (Tender Ref No. P86605)

Dear Sir,

Reference your queries submitted via EPADS v2.0 regarding the subject procurement. Please be advised that revised bidding document has been officially issued by Port Qasim Authority and uploaded to EPADS v2.0. The point-wise clarifications of your queries are detailed below:

1. Minimum Key Expert Time Input

Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the TORs, the 3 dedicated full-time site personnel establish a mandatory minimum requirement of 108 person-months (3 staff × 36 months). Additionally, bidder must propose appropriate minimum time inputs for supervisory Key Experts (Partner and Manager in Appendix C of RFP), which will be consider by the Authority only for evaluation of technical presentation and it will not affect the quoted contract price.

2. Performance Guarantee

The Firm shall, within 15 (fifteen) days from the date of signing of the Agreement (or before commencement of services, whichever is earlier), furnish an unconditional and irrevocable Bank Guarantee issued by a scheduled commercial bank having AA long term rating from its branch located in Karachi and acceptable to PQA for an amount equal to 10% (ten percent) of the annual contract value (excluding taxes) equivalent to 3.33% (three point three three percent) of the total contract value for 03 (three) years (excluding taxes) as performance security.

All updated terms have been reflected in the official bidding document available on EPADS v2.0.

Yours faithfully,

Director (Accounts)

Port Qasim Authority