Q_A_0003.docx

140P4521R0007 – STLI Guard Contract Q&A

1. Will a seniority list (for the incumbent staff) be provided?

a. Yes, this is included in Amendment 0003.

2. SOW III.E.1.i:

a. Since the agency requires a resume for key personnel with the proposal, do you want the successful bidder to retain current key personnel or replace them?

1. That is a business decision and will not be dictated by the NPS.

b. If retaining current personnel is desirable, will the government provide their contact information?

1. If you wish to contact the current staff, the NPS can provide the contact information for them.

3. SOW 52.212-1 C: Will the government confirm that the header and footer are exempt from the 12-point font restriction?

a. Those are exempted and the solicitation has been modified to show this.

4. SOW 52.212-1 C: Will the government confirm that the title page is exempt from the 12-point font restriction?

a. This is exempted and the solicitation has been modified to show this.

5. SOW 52.212.1B: SF1449 has a proposal due date of 7/23/21. However, Section 52.212-1. B (page 56) says to submit all proposals by 7/20. Can the government clarify the response due date/time?

a. Proposals are now due July 27, all references have been corrected via amendment 0003.

6. SOW IV.C.3: Which posts on Attachment J-2 specifically require a relief officer for breaks?

a. Battery Park, Liberty State Park and Liberty Island Screening.

7. Is the current guard force trained to the requirements in this solicitation? If not, what are the differences?

a. Yes, the current guard force is trained to the requirements in the SOW.

8. Does the current guard force meet the medical standards in this solicitation? If not, what are the differences?

a. Yes, the current force meets the medical standards in the SOW.

9. Is there sufficient guard force on staff to meet the requirements of the level of effort required in this solicitation? If not, what is the approximate difference?

a. Currently FJC could not meet the requirement needed for summer staffing. The park learned last minute about re-opening of the Monument, so the staffing plan is still ongoing.

10. SOW IX.D: Is there a requirement for recurring or annual drug screening?

a. Please see SOW IX, D for drug screening information.

11. Addendum 2; D.3 Volume III-Price; page 60 “Labor-Hour type of contract:” Are any items allowed to be billed separately in the performance of this work? If so, which ones? Or, should all costs be included in the hourly rate buildup?

a. Per the solicitation, “The Offeror must specify fixed hourly rates in its offer that include wages, overhead, general and administrative expenses, and profit. These rates shall also include costs for internet, phones, potable water, and training.” The rates shall include everything listed and none shall be allowed to be billed directly.

12. Is free parking provided for personnel? Or, are there additional charges for parking that all bidders should include? If so, what are the costs?

a. There is parking on the Jersey side for LSP and the personnel going to Liberty Island. Not for Battery Park.

13. SOW III; Contract Staffing; B;2; page 7: In order to facilitate the continuity of operations, should all personnel be licensed in both NJ and NY?

a. We leave that to the contractor. Jersey personnel that would like to work on Liberty Island and not just Liberty State Park would need both. NY license is needed for Liberty screening.

14. SOW XII.6 Telephone Service: Who is the telephone provider for the telephones and phone lines the contractor must provide?

a. Verizon is the current service provider.

15. SOW II.F On-Site Personnel Folders: Is a filing cabinet provided for these files? Or, does the contractor have to provide it?

a. The NPS will provide this.

16. Would the Government please provide the Collective Bargaining Agreement in its entirety so that offerors may accurately price wages at this location?

a. This is attached in Amendment 0003.

17. Would the Government please confirm there is no Collective Bargaining agreement in place for the unarmed guards at the New York Duty Locations?

a. There is and it is attached via Amendment 0003.

18. Due to the pandemic and the limited reopening of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, has the incumbent retained personnel equivalent to the estimated hours in the solicitation? Or will a newly awarded contractor need to recruit and train new guards to meet the staffing requirements outlined in Attachment J-2?

a. See answer to question 9.

19. The last sentence under "Special Clause: Key Personnel" states, "Offeror fill in names of proposed key personnel, as presented in the technical proposal." Would the Government please clarify if this information is to be provided at the time of contract award?

a. Yes, this information will be included at the time of award. The instructions have been changed to show the government will fill this in based on the information provided by the offeror.

20. The last sentence under "Special Clause: Key Personnel" states, "Offeror fill in names of proposed key personnel, as presented in the technical proposal." If this information is to be provided at the time of proposal submission, would the Government please clarify in which volume this information should be included?

a. This information shall be provided in VOLUME I as stated in Sub-Factor 2c.

21. Would the Government please clarify if additional text should be included under the heading "NPS Local Clauses" at the bottom of page 40?

a. No, that is a sub-section title and the local clauses are after that.

22. The text states, "In addition, the government will review and evaluate your organizational chart including management of in-house labor." Would the Government please define "in-house labor?"

a. In-house labor is labor that is done by the offeror. Any labor that is not subcontracted out.

23. As part of the past performance submission requirements, offerors are instructed to provide a "Description of the Work Performed and Location (including description of preferences, if applicable). Would the Government please clarify the meaning of the "description of preferences" when referring to the Location of Work Performed?

a. That was a typo and the sentence has been removed.

24. Attachment J-15, Post Orders states, "off-going guards shall provide a brief to on-coming guards […]" Will the Government please clarify the amount of guard mount time required for each post?

a. There is 15 minutes in the beginning of the shift at screening sites allotted for roll calls.

25. Attachment J-15, Post Orders states, "Daily, weekly, or monthly performance test may be conducted on security equipment […]" Will the Government please clarify whether these tests are performed by guards while standing post? Or is this task performed outside of normal post hours?

a. Supervisors conduct these tests on an as-needed basis.

26. Paragraph A, Item 2, Age and Fitness states, "It will be the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that medically acceptable documentation regarding the guards hearing and eyesight is on file and available to the CO and COR upon request." Would the Government please clarify if guards must undergo a medical examination prior to being assigned to the contract?

a. All guards currently working under the incumbent’s contract do not need to be re-certified. All new guards will need to be certified.

27. Section IV of the Statement of Work, paragraph B, item 7 states, "Training requirements for the Command Center employees are covered in section IV, F." Would the Government please provide Section IV, F?

a. That was a typo and it’s corrected to show the training requirements that are listed in V, F.

28. The Statement of Work, Section III, paragraph D, item 3 states, "During contract performance, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment." However, Special Clause: Key Personnel paragraph (b) states, "(b) During the first 180 days of performance, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment." Would the Government please clarify which section is correct?

a. The language has been changed to show the vendor shall keep the same key personnel unless substitutions fits one of those categories.

29. Attachment #03 appears to be related to a different solicitation. Would the Government please clarify if this attachment is to be included in the Offeror's proposal, and if so, in which volume?

a. Attachment 03 is a non-disclosure agreement. This is required per III, B, 6, iv.

30. Special Clause: Key Personnel refers to an "Alternate Program Manager" as Key Personnel on the contract. Would the Government please provide the qualifications, hours, and responsibilities of the Alternate Program Manager?

a. This has been removed as the alternate the government needed is the alternate Site Commander and that is already listed.

31. Would the Government please provide a post exhibit detailing the hours and staffing required for the guard posts, Command Center, Site Commanders, and Operational Supervisors?

a. The government is unsure what a post exhibit is. The NPS supplied a sample of the guard hours and those vendors who attended the site visit say the operation.

32. Would the Government please clarify if training certifications of incumbent staff will carry over onto the new contract?

a. Yes, if they are not expired.

33. Would the Government please clarify if training is performed while guards are on duty or outside of post hours?

a. Training shall be performed outside of post hours.

34. Paragraph F, item 1 states, "It is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure all initial training requirements are met. The Contractor shall certify to the COR that all initial training requirements for individual security guards have been met within two (2) months from the start of this Contract (See Attachment J-4). Regardless of when the employee begins work on this Contract, he/she will be required to attend initial training." Would the Government please confirm that the awarded contractor will need to provide initial training for new and incumbent staff during phase-in?

a. This is required for new staff only.

35. Would the Government please provide the ferry schedule used for guards to reach their duty locations?

a. Ferry schedules change seasonally, but staff runs tend to be 0630, 0730, 0830.

36. Guards are responsible for "all forms of communication regarding incidents and operations, including radio […]" Would the Government please clarify if contractors will need to provide radios at each post?

a. The NPS will provide radios. Not all duty post will require them.

37. Would the Government please clarify if there is a cost for ferry service for guards/security staff?

a. There is no cost for guard staff.

38. If there is a cost associated with ferry service, does the contractor pay for ferry transportation for the guards, site commander, and Program Manager?

a. N/A, there is no cost.

39. Would the Government please clarify whether security personnel paid for the time spent on the ferry to travel to their duty location?

a. The varies depending on the season; but typically, the shift is within the ferry trip.

40. If there is a cost associated with employee parking, does the contractor pay the parking fees for its employees?

a. See answer to question 12.

41. Paragraph A, Item 5 states, "The Contractor is responsible for providing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and a company computer at the Battery Park Screening Site, Liberty State Park, Post IV and MIO." Would the Government please clarify if contractor should provide wireless internet service at these locations?

a. That would be up to contractor.

42. Paragraph A, Item 5 states, "The Contractor is responsible for providing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and a company computer at the Battery Park Screening Site, Liberty State Park, Post IV and MIO." Would the Government please clarify if a hard line is available for contractor use at these locations?

a. There is a hard line at Battery Park only.

43. Paragraph A, Item 6 states, "The Contractor shall provide telephone and phone lines at the MIO and Ellis Bridge Post." Would the Government please clarify if contractor will need to install a phone lines at these locations?

a. No, this is not necessary.

44. Paragraph A, Item 6 states, "The Contractor shall provide telephone and phone lines at the MIO and Ellis Bridge Post." Would the Government please clarify how many phone lines are required at each location?

a. The lines are already there and it’s one.

45. Paragraph A, Item 6 states, "The Contractor shall provide telephone and phones at the MIO and Ellis Bridge Post." Would the Government please clarify how many telephones are required at each location?

a. See answer to question #44.

46. Would the Government please clarify if contractor-provided cell phones are required at each post?

a. No, these are not required.

47. Paragraph A, Item 5 states, "The Government reserves the right to add computers and internet service at these locations […] the cost for this shall be included in the hourly rate" Would the Government please clarify if they anticipate the need for additional computers and internet connections at these locations so offerors can include this in their pricing?

a. This requirement has been removed from the solicitation.

48. Would the Government please provide the list of site visit attendees to all offerors?

a. The list of vendors who attended are:

· MAXSENT

· Diversified Protection Corporation

· The Whitestone Group, Inc.

· ISS Action

· Johnson Security Bureau, Inc.

· AEPS Corporation

· Inter-Con Security Systems, Inc.

· Allied Universal

· GXC Inc.

· ADC LTD NM

· SekTek Security, Inc.

· Arrow Security

· KR Contracting Inc. & Trinity Technology Group

49. Paragraph C Background Investigation, item 7 states, "All contractor employees shall have an ANACI background investigation initiated prior to the duty assignment." Would the Government please clarify whether the background check includes fingerprinting?

a. Yes, this requires fingerprinting.

50. Paragraph C Background Investigation, item 7 states, "All contractor employees shall have an ANACI background investigation initiated prior to the duty assignment." If the background check includes fingerprinting, would the Government please clarify whether the contractor covers this cost?

a. All costs associated with the ANACI background investigation are billed to the government.

51. Would the Government please confirm that the SOW Section IV Duty Post Location "Statue Secondary Screening Post" is the same duty location as the "Liberty Island Secondary Screening" on the Price Schedule?

a. Yes, it is the same.

52. Would the Government please confirm that the Operational Supervisors/Dispatchers in the SOW are the same positions as the Alarm Monitors in the Price Schedule?

a. Alarm Monitors are Dispatchers.

53. Would the Government please confirm that there are no guards, only Operational Supervisors/Dispatchers staffing the Liberty Command Center?

a. Yes, just Alarm Monitors, no Supervisors.

54. Would the Government please confirm there is no supervision required at Ellis Island Bridge?

a. Yes, that is correct.

55. "Special Clause: Key Personnel" states that the Program Manager is considered essential to the work being performed. Would the Government please clarify if the contractor should provide a Program Manager in addition to the Project Manager required in the Statement of Work?

a. The term Project Manager has been removed from the solicitation. For the sake of clarity and consistency, all titles for that labor category have been changed to Program Manager.

56. Paragraph F, item 1 states, "It is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure all initial training requirements are met. Would the Government please clarify if the contractor will need to create and provide all training materials, such as for Initial Training (Contractor LED), Supervisory Training, CCTV Training?

a. Yes, the contractor is responsible for that training.

57. Regarding the various certifications and annual renewals required, would the government please clarify if certifications are through the State of New York, New Jersey, or NPS?

a. The only state issued certifications are security guard certifications and those are issued by both states. The guard would have to have one to work on this contract. It depends where the guard works NY or NJ. If they are from NJ and want to work on Liberty Island as well as LSP then they'd need both.

58. Section XII, paragraph A, item vii. states, "Contractor will be responsible for providing any and all safety equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform their duties, if deemed necessary per CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Guidelines and recommendations." Would the Government please clarify if guards are responsible for cleaning the equipment at screening sites in accordance with CDC guidelines? If so, is the contractor responsible for purchasing the associated cleaning products?

a. No, the government has a cleaning contractor.

59. Regarding the provision of an electronic timekeeping system, would the Government please clarify whether there is a central location at each site where guards and operational supervisors clock-in for duty?

a. As of now there isn’t a central location.

60. Regarding the provision of an electronic timekeeping system, if there is a central location at each site where guards and operational supervisors clock-in, does the contractor need to provide internet service at each location?

a. One is not set up yet.

61. In order to provide an electronic timekeeping system, should contractors provide internet service to all posts?

a. This is not required.

62. If the offeror is proposing the use of subcontractors for the effort, does the offeror need to provide PPQs for the subcontractor? If so, can up to an additional three (3) be included?

a. Yes, PPQs for the subcontractors are allowable. Three will be acceptable.

63. Is the guard count inclusive of relief personnel?

a. Yes

64. For initial courses, is there a government space that can be used for training, and is government equipment used to deliver training on X-Ray and metal detector screening?

a. Yes to both.

65. Is the alarm monitor additional training the 4 hours of training in the USPP initial Att. 11, or is there an additional requirement to sit this post?

a. There are additional training documents.

66. Can you provide the current annual salary of the current Project Manager (Non 32BJ Union) assigned/working at NPS?

a. No the government will not provide this.

70. Can you provide the current pay rate(s) of the Site Commanders (Non 32BJ Union) working at NPS?

a. No the government will not provide this.

71. Can you provide the current pay rates of the Operational Supervisors (Non 32BJ Union) working at NPS?

a. No the government will not provide this.

72. Please confirm that Tables must be in 12-Point Times New Roman font.

a. No, tables can be as small as 8-pt font.

73. Please confirm that the Organizational Chart in Technical Subfactor (2c) can be represented in a landscape orientation.

a. That is fine.

74. What is the average historical timeframe for an ANACI background investigation to be processed? Would this be considered similar to a Tier II Public Trust background investigation?

a. This tends to vary and the NPS isn’t able to provide a historical timeframe.

75. According to New Jersey State Police, if a contractor is conducting services on Federal property, a statewide security license is not required unless stated in the solicitation. Please confirm if the license is required based off of the solicitation?

a. Yes, state licenses are required for this contract.

76. What is the prior contract award amount, name of incumbent and period of performance?

a. FJC Security Services was awarded the task order with a period of performance of October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2021. The potential total of the task order was $40,242,215.00.

77. What is the government's estimated budget for security services provided under this solicitation?

a. The government will not release its government estimate for this project.

78. Will a seniority list of incumbent personnel be provided prior to award?

a. Yes, this will be attached to Amendment 0003.

79. RFP 52.212-1 D.4 pg 61 Volume IV - Administrative: "Completed 1452.237-71 - Key Personnel Alternate I" - This section is not in the RFP or its attachments. What needs completed for this item?

a. That was removed; it is not a requirement for this solicitation. The key personnel will be established based on the names provided by the winning vendor and added to the special clause section.

80. Due to the pandemic, service requirements have been reduced over the last two ordering periods. Does NPS expect to order the full amount of hours for basic services as specified in the solicitation package under CLIN 0001 for the base period or are reductions anticipated?

a. Yes, the NPS anticipates the full hours; however, the NPS cannot anticipate the future effects of the pandemic.

81. Can NPS provide the actual hours ordered for special events and surge operations for the most recent contract period?

a. No.

82. Can NPS provide prospective offerors with the estimated water requirement/annual cost?

a. No, the NPS doesn’t have this information.

83. The current contract start date is listed as 09/01/2021, however a minimum 60-day transition period is noted in the solicitation. Can NPS please clarify the anticipated contract start date and transition period?

a. Transition period can be shortened depending on how fast things get done. The NPS anticipates this contract will start on 9/1/21 and the transition period will start then.

84. During the site visit prospective offerors were advised that the Liberty State Park screening tent may be closed for an extended period of time to rebuild the dock. Can NPS please advise what the impact to the service requirement would be and the expected duration of such closure?

a. NPS would not require staffing for Liberty State Park during that time. At this time, there is not estimated timeframe for the work to be done there.

85. Would NPS consider allowing a separate billable line item for the program manager? Given the potential for ongoing shortages of hours ordered, it can be difficult to properly account for the program manager allocated across other billable positions.

a. Yes, that is acceptable.

86. There appears to be a formula error in the pricing schedule specific to the 6 Month Extension (cells H35-H37). Can NPS provide a corrected pricing schedule?

a. The corrected price schedule is attached in Amendment 003; all formulas have been removed to ensure no formula error creates a problem for vendors and their pricing.

87. As the pricing schedule appears to include a set escalation for option periods, can NPS confirm that a 3.2% escalation is built into the pricing for each option period? Can NPS please confirm whether this escalation is intended to cover costs that are not allowable under FAR 52.222-43 and that annual adjustments for allowable costs covered under FAR 52.222-43 will be permitted?

a. The price schedule that was attached was the wrong version. There is no escalation percentage in the price schedule. The corrected copy is available via Amendment 3. The wage increase or decrease will be done per FAR 52.222-43 on a yearly basis if and when the option periods are exercised.

88. Can NPS confirm that annual bill rate increases for supervisory and site commander positions will not be permissible under FAR 52.222-43?

a. If those positions are not covered under the Service Contract Labor Standards, then FAR 52.222-43 does not apply to those positions and yearly increases or decreases will not be allowed after contract award.

89. Can NPS please confirm that hourly bill rates for each billable service position are not required to be listed on the pricing schedule for option periods?

a. No, the rates must be provided in the proposal, reviewed, analyzed, approved, and included in the contract for all five years.

90. Can NPS advise how many guards and supervisors are currently receiving their health and welfare benefit as a cash wage?

a. No, the NPS does not have that information.

91. Please indicate whether offerors are required to pay service personnel the wages/fringe benefits set forth in Wage Determination CBA-2016-8721 rev 2 or the wages/fringe benefits set forth in WD 2015-4187 (New York) and SCA WD 2015-4185 (New Jersey).

a. The CBA will take precedence as long as it was more than the DOL wage rates.

92. Please identify which wage determination (New York or New Jersey) applies to the posts located on Ellis Island.

a. NJ

93. Please identify which wage determination (New York or New Jersey) applies to the posts located on Liberty Island.

a. NY

94. Please confirm whether the training and certification records of the incumbent personnel assigned to the requirement will be provided to the successful offeror.

a. Yes they will be provided.

95. Please clarify whether the identity and qualifications of an offeror's proposed alternate project manager, site commander and alternate site commander are required to be identified in an offeror's proposal.

a. The Program Manager, Site Commander and Alternate Site Commander are required.

96. The Solicitation’s pricing schedule (Attachment 2) only solicits pricing detail for the base period and contains an automatic, pre-defined escalation rate of 3.2 % for each option period. Please confirm whether offerors are restricted to the 3.2% annual escalation.

a. The correct pricing schedule will be attached via Amendment 3. The previous schedule was the wrong attachment.

97. The SF 1449 (CLIN 00010) indicates that the operational base period delivery is 8/31/2022. Please confirm that the operational base period is 09/01/21 - 08/31/22.

a. That is correct; the anticipated POP for the base period is 9/1/21 to 8/31/22.

98. Who Provides the water?

a. The vendor shall provide the water.

99. Is there a locker room/lunchroom available?

a. Yes there is a locker room and lunchroom available.

100. How many computer terminals?

a. One right now in the Site Commanders office at Battery Park.

101. Where is the Project Manager's office?

a. Ellis Island

102. Is WiFi provided?

a. WiFi shall be provided by the vendor.

103. Is there a phone in the MIO?

a. Yes

104. Do the roving guards have radios/what type? How do they communicate?

a. We have one duty post that would be classified as roving, the night Battery Park shift and yes they have a NPS radio.

105. Can we install a post management system/electronic time keeping?

a. Yes

106. Will a CPARS be sufficient for Past performance?

a. Yes, this is acceptable.

107. On Page 59, D.4 Submission Requirements, we are required to provide a completed 1452.237-71. This clause is listed as 1452.237-71 Utilization of Woody Biomass. Please provide the correct referenced clause for full text of the clause you want us to complete.

a. That was a typo and has been removed.

108. Attachment J-2 is listed as a Sample of Hours Expected for Full Year for SOW. Is this what you want us to use to provide pricing?

a. Yes, please use the sample of hours as the number of hours to use in your price proposal.