Questions and Answers 15BRRC22R00000025.pdf

RFP 15BRRC22R00000025

Question and Answers

1. Q- In regards to Accountability, will the Bureau please confirm whether the expectation for timeframes to address resident unaccountability due to unforeseen issues with approved movement, software or hardware tied to the electronic monitoring component will remain the same?

For example, for residents assigned a smartphone device, in the event a resident is employed operating heavy machinery, or they work in an area with poor connectivity, or they are operating a motor vehicle and commuting to work and are unable to immediately complete a random biometric check-in, what is the expectation for response time to allow the resident to complete the check-in safely while maintaining accountability? The current SOW does not reflect any changes to the current response time before initiating escape notification procedures. The vendor believes it is imperative for the resident and staff to have a level of flexibility to resolve the accountability issue in order to avoid interference with the resident's employment.

A- The SOW does not require residents be issued smartphones. Chapter 12 of the SOW requires: Contractors must develop procedures and policies that allow for the possession and routine use of cell phones, to include smartphones by residents. Regarding accountability, Chapter 12 of the SOW requires: The contractor will be able to locate and verify the whereabouts of residents at all times. Written procedures will be established to guide staff in meeting this requirement. The contractor will contact the resident either telephonically or in-person at random times at work, home, or authorized destinations to maintain accountability. This monitoring should occur at a frequency that ensures accountability and should be commensurate with the accountability needs of each individual resident. The contractor may request the RRM modify the frequency of contacts if it is in the best interest of resident accountability and program objectives. The RRM has the authority to increase or decrease the number of required accountability checks.

2. Q- In regards to Staffing, will the Bureau please confirm whether they encourage and expect all vendors to ensure they account for and increase their previous staffing plans to effectively and timely address any issues related to the electronic monitoring equipment whether it be delivered through a bracelet or smartphone device. All home confinement specialist have an increased workload associated due to installation/assigning of equipment, monitoring of movement and alerts and responding accordingly 24 hours per day/7 days a week, which could be several hundred per month for a contract of this size, and address electronic monitoring device issues while still remaining within the current SOW accountability parameters.

a. For example, with regard to the electronic monitoring bracelet, will the vendor be encouraged and expected from the Bureau of Prisons to adjust the staff-to-resident home confinement ratio to address items such as:

▪ Installing the equipment

▪ Providing continuous tracking and monitoring of all

GPS movements

▪ Addressing alerts

▪ Troubleshooting device issues due to poor connectivity

▪ Pinging the device to notify the resident of low battery or requesting they call the facility for communication pass down

▪ Complete initial and ongoing monthly home site verification checks

▪ Entering approved schedules and zones into the software

▪ Extending approved schedules into the software due to unforeseen circumstances such as working overtime

▪ Deploying staff to a resident's approved home location to follow-up on any possible equipment registering a tamper

▪ Picking up damaged or removed (i.e. local jail) devices

A- The requirements for monitoring residents on Home Confinement are outlined in Chapter 11 of the SOW. Staffing requirements are outlined in Chapter 2 of the SOW. Contractors are required to submit a staffing pattern in their technical proposal.

b. For example with regard to the smartphone, will the vendor be encouraged and expected from the Bureau of

Prisons to adjust the staff-to-resident home confinement ratio to address items such as:

▪ Enrolling residents into the software and assigning the equipment

▪ Providing continuous tracking and monitoring of all

GPS movements

▪ Addressing alerts

▪ Troubleshooting device issues due to poor connectivity

▪ Sending text messages to the device to notify the resident of low battery, or requesting they call the facility for communication pass down

▪ Complete initial and ongoing monthly home site verification checks

▪ Entering approved schedules and zones into the software

▪ Extending approved schedules into the software due to unforeseen circumstances such as working overtime

▪ Deploying staff to a resident's approved home location to follow-up on any possible equipment registering a tamper

▪ Addressing biometric check-ins that were completed late, missed, or did not meet the threshold of confirming facial recognition

▪ Picking up damaged, removed (i.e. local jail) or misplaced devices

Lastly, it should be noted that currently all residents in-house have a different level of workload associated with regard to accountability given they are not assigned a device that provides continuous GPS tracking 24/7/365 and registering alerts when they leave the facility for approved movements.

A- Residents are not being assigned smartphones by the

Bureau. See answer to #1 above.

3. Q- Will the Bureau please confirm whether the awarded vendor should assume that participants entering the program will have a smartphone capable of running location tracking applications or if they should be expected to provide a smartphone to all participants with the software pre-installed to run tracking applications?

A- See answer to #1 above.

4. Q- When the projected performance start date is for this contract?

A- The estimated performance start date is on 4/1/2023.

5. Q- Section G – Contract Administration Data: G.3 Billing Procedure –

Section (a) mentions that in, “…the months when the ADP exceeds 64 in-house RRC beds or 24 home confinement placements, the Contractor shall invoice for the number of mandays utilized at the inmate daily rate specified for the applicable tier.” Can the Bureau please clarify whether the submitted per diem rates at each tier should be submitted as blended per diems, or should the offered per diems in each tier be independent of each other?

i. For example, if there are 66 RRC beds filled for a month, would the awarded vendor invoice the Bureau for services as Tier 1 (0-64) Flat Fee Rate + Tier 2 (65-96)? Or would the awarded vendor invoice the Bureau for all 66 beds at a blended per diem rate based on which tier the ADP falls in for that month?

A- During the months the ADP does not exceed 64 in-house RRC beds or 24 home confinement placements, the contractor shall invoice at the fixed monthly rate(s) in the Schedule. During the months when the ADP exceeds 64 in-house RRC beds or 24 home confinement placements, the Contractor shall invoice for the number of mandays utilized at the inmate daily rate specified for the applicable tier.

6. Q- Given the unprecedented supply chain challenges and labor shortages at the moment in relation to the construction industry in the St. Louis geographical area, instead of 120 days, would the BOP consider allowing up to 180 days for a provider to complete any necessary renovations and/or construction to open up a proposed facility? This would encourage greater competition and possibly lead to better value for the Bureau.

A- The requirement for the contractor’s facility must be fully operational and ready for the performance to begin within 120 days after the date of contract award will be amended to 180 days. See the attached amendment 0002.