Amendment 1 - MPP Questions Responses - 1 28 2022.pdf

1. Can a law firm participate in the bid if they are not located near the listed border towns? Can the orientation be completely remote?

Response: Yes, a law firm can participate. Yes, the orientation services may be provided remotely.

2. Are you looking for legal representatives to build an orientation program based on all

1-22; or do we bid on areas of the legal representative’s strengths?

Response: All services listed in the SOW are required, though a vendor may submit a proposal for one or multiple service sites.

3. Does the EOIR Coordinator from EOIR supply interpreters of languages other than

Spanish?

Response: No, the vendor will need to supply its own language interpretation.

4. In planning the orientation, is there a specific time limit that you are wanting such as 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour?

Response: Based on experience, group orientations are typically 30 minutes to one hour long, and individual orientations are typically 15-45 minutes long.

5. The seven locations along the border account for the inception of the program, will there be other locations added?

Response: No additional locations are planned.

6. Reference B:10: The contractor presenters shall be attorneys, is there training for the presenters, or is that an area that the law firm must develop?

Response: The vendor will need to demonstrate that its presenters have adequate experience and training to provide the services.

7. Are you proposing to use Webex or another internet/virtual resource to provide

LOP/legal consultations and KYR presentations to a room of individuals. (Many detention centers have this capacity now.)

Response: Yes, LAB services may be provided either in person or via remote technology such as WebEx.

8. Would access to CBP facilities/the target population be limited to LAB grantees? Or would other non-profits/private attorneys/pro bonos also have access to the target population while they were physically in the US?

Response: Access to CBP facilities and MPP enrollees held at these facilities is limited to U.S. Government contractors, such as LAB contractors (grantees do not have access).

9. The target population is 1, 2, 3, AND 4, not 1, 2, 3 OR 4? "(1) in the custody of the

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP); (2) in, or may be placed in, removal proceedings; (3) seeking entry into the United States from locations along the U.S. Southwest Border; and (4) in, or may be enrolled in, the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)." We think it is AND but want to double check.

Response: This is an inclusive “and”.

10. Is EOIR open to bids for just one location? Or are they looking for someone to bid for all 7 locations?

Response: EOIR is open to bids for one, multiple or all 7 locations.

11. Will service providers have access to provide orientations in-person?

Response: Yes, LAB contractors will have access to CBP facilities to provide orientations in-person.

12. Will KYRs content be pre-scripted, or will service providers have the opportunity to develop and implement their own content?

Response: EOIR has a general script including a scope of topics to be covered, but defers to the experience/expertise of the contract provider to best determine the audience’s interests and needs and communicate with them in the most effective manner.

13. Can service providers utilize volunteer networks into service provision?

Response: This depends on how the volunteer networks will be used. Non contract employee volunteers will most likely not have in-person access to CBP facilities, but volunteers could be used for other types of program services (such as pro bono referral/representation, and training).

14. Can sub-contracts be divided, with one agency providing orientations in the NRI context, and another providing orientation in relation to removal proceedings?

Response: Contract awardees may subcontract specific tasks with other organizations. This is a business decision for the awardee to make.

15. Will agencies who are not funded by this contract continue to have access to provide legal services during the NRI process?

Response: The LAB contract should not affect access to provide legal services provided by other agencies (which are not funded by the contract) during the NRI process.

16. Do we know how many MPPs are projected per day/week at each location? If yes, can you provide the number per facility?

Response: The following unofficial figures should be used to assist vendors in preparing their price proposals:

Location Approximate number of MPP Enrollees

1. San Diego/Calexico 16/day, 7 days/week

2. El Paso/Nogales 16/day, 7 days/week

3. Brownville 64/day, 7 days/week

4. Laredo/Eagle Pass 30/day, 7 days/week

17. Do we have a list of the locations that currently have remote/WebEx capacity? and those who do not?

Response: This information will be provided when available

18. What are the expectations of a contractor/presenter?

Response: See SOW

19. Is there a list of the organizations that work at the border locations that will sub-contract?

Response: The Government will consider the contractor’s experience and expertise in providing similar services.

20. Our law firm is interested in becoming a contractor presenter. Are there specific guidelines that we need to make sure we follow (such as creating a training manual indicated in paragraph 8)

21. Is there a precedent or template that we can use to set up a manual and examples of what is contained in the orientation?

22. The experience requirement, if we are a law firm, we don’t engage in projects but individual client cases. Will that satisfy the experience requirement?

23. How can we find out more details about the accommodations?

Response: This information will be provided when available.

24. We are in Houston and plan to do everything remotely. Is this acceptable?

Response: The contractor may provide service remotely, in-person, or through a combination of in-person and remote services.

25. Will you be sending out this slide deck?

Response: Yes. We will post the slide deck on SAM.gov along with the written answers to any questions raised today.

26. Do we know how many MPPs were processed per day/week pre-pandemic and is there a similar expectation once the program begins?

Response: See response at 16 above.

27. Is surge anticipated during Summer months?

Response: We do not anticipate a surge in enrollments related to the Summer.

28. Do we have a list of the locations that currently have remote/webex capacity? And those who do not?

Response: This information will be provided when available.

29. Do you have control of the amount of orientation attendees are at the orientation? Can we control how many attend?

Response: The numbers who attend group orientations will be limited by the physical space available at the CBP facility and any restrictions in place due to COVID-related measures.

30. What is the timeline on for the contract?

Response: Award is anticipated Feb 16 2022.

31. If additional questions arise, who is the best POC?

Patricia.Hoffman@usdoj.gov and James.Driscoll@usdoj.gov mailto:Hoffman@usdoj.gov mailto:James.Driscoll@usdoj.gov