TXN Solicitation Qs and As.docx

RFP 15JPSS26R00000067, Private Counsel Debt Collection – Northern District of Texas Responses to Vendor Questions

1. To what extent will the location of the bidder’s proposed location or headquarters have a bearing on any award?

Response: If the bidder is licensed in the federal jurisdiction and can appear in the federal courts, and performance will not be impacted, then the location of the bidder would not be an issue.

2. How are fees currently being billed by any incumbent(s), by category, and at what rates?

Response: The incumbent contractor uses the same pricing model provided within the solicitation and their rates cannot be disclosed. Incumbent billing consists of contract approved cost-reimbursements, flat fees for work completed, and any hourly compensation for hours that were requested and approved in advance of the work being completed.

3. What estimated or actual dollars were paid last year, last month, or last quarter to any incumbent(s)?

Response: This information is not readily available.

4. To what extent are these accounts owed by private consumers versus commercial businesses?

Response: The majority of these accounts are private consumers whose debts arise out of federal loan programs.

5. What is the average age of accounts at placement (at time of award and on a going-forward basis), by category?

Response: Please refer to the combined synopsis/solicitation notice. It includes the caseload information. We cannot predict the volume of intake of additional accounts to the existing caseload.

6. What is the monthly or quarterly number of accounts expected to be placed with the vendor(s) by category?

Response: Please refer to the combined synopsis/solicitation notice. It includes the caseload information. We cannot predict the volume of intake of additional accounts to the existing caseload.

7. What is the monthly or quarterly dollar value of accounts expected to be placed with the vendor(s) by category?

Response: Please refer to the combined synopsis/solicitation notice. It includes the caseload information. We cannot predict the volume of intake of additional accounts to the existing caseload.

8. What has been the historical rate of return or liquidation rate provided by any incumbent(s), and/or what is anticipated or expected as a result of this procurement?

Response: We do not track the rate of return or liquidation rates on these accounts. The combined synopsis/solicitation notice includes the caseload information. We cannot predict future rates for these accounts.

9. What billing servicer do you utilize?

Response: Contractors utilize the Department’s Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) and the Unified Financial Management System (UFMS) to invoice and receive payment for their services on these accounts.

10. Have all cases been fully adjudicated by the time of placement?

Response: No, must unsecured and secured debt accounts will require litigation to obtain judgment and liens or foreclosures. The bulk of the existing unsecured debts (student loans, specifically) have judgments. Most future unsecured future referrals will require litigation to obtain judgments and liens.

11. If applicable, will accounts held by any incumbent(s) or any backlog be moved to any new vendor(s) as a one-time placement at contract start up?

Response: Yes, debt accounts will be transitioned to a new vendor if the incumbent is determined to be an unsuccessful offeror.

12. What is your case management/accounting software system of record?

Response: Contractors utilize the Department’s Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) and the Unified Financial Management System (UFMS) to invoice and receive payment for their services on these accounts.

13. Who is your electronic payment/credit card processing vendor?

Response: For incoming electronic payments from debt accounts Pay.gov is utilized.

14. Can you please indicate what inbound and outbound contact methods, beyond phone calls or letters (such as email and text), would be permitted by the scope of work?

Response: All contractors must work in strict compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) which provides guidance on how communications in debt collection must be conducted with consumers. Only communications done within the scope of the FDCPA are permissible.

15. Please reconfirm the due date for this procurement by providing it in response to answers to questions.

Response: Proposals are due no later than July 1, 2026 at 10:00am ET.

16. When is the anticipated go-live date?

Response: The start date is November 21, 2026.

17. When is the anticipated award date?

Response: The anticipated award date is November 20, 2026

18. Can you please provide greater explanation of your expectations related to any required subcontracting to minority-owned, women-owned, or other types or categories of small or disadvantaged businesses? For example, what is required with the proposal, and what is required to comply during the term of the contract?

Response: There are no subcontracting requirements.

19. Are bidders permitted to deviate in any way from any manner of quoting fees you may be expecting? For example, if there is a pricing page in the RFP, can bidders submit an alternate fee structure? If there is no pricing page in the RFP, do you have any preference for how bidders should quote fees or can bidders create their own pricing categories?

Response: Offerors shall not deviate from the requirements of the solicitation. All offerors must insert the fixed unit rates for the specified line items utilizing the file entitled, “Price Proposal Template” associated with this solicitation.

20. Please describe your level of satisfaction with your current or recent vendor(s) for the same purchasing activity, if applicable.

Response: The Department is satisfied with the contractor’s performance.