QA_19AQMM18R0047.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

19AQMM18R0047 LGF US MISSION PANAMA

Section L.5 - Time, Place and Submission of Offer – page 101

1. Question: This section does not match the due date on the Standard Form 33, please clarify

Answer: See 19AQMM18R0047 A001

Section C8.7. – Uniforms and Personal Equipment - page 17

2. Question: This section states that “contractor shall ensure that employees do not use, wear …. Uniform when not on duty” Is there a location at the embassy that the guards can use to change into and out of uniform?

Answer: Yes there 2 facilities available men/women located at the embassy.

Section H – Just and observation that Section H is duplicated within the solicitation.

3. Section J – List of Documents, Exhibits and Other Attachments - page 86 Question: This section references Exhibit N is reserved, however the Exhibit N was provided, please clarify

Answer: See 19AQMM17R0047-A001, Exhibit N is not required.

4. Exhibit Q – Proposal Checklist Question 1: Point 1 – page 1– this point references an original and one copy of Volume 1, however Section L requests only the original – please clarify.

5. Question 2: Point 17 - page 2 – this point references and Exhibit R – this should be Exhibit S, please confirm.

6. Question: Point 24 – page 2 – this point refers to Exhibit N. Please confirm this is reserved as mentioned in Section J.

Answer: Confirmed Exhibit N is Reserved.

Exhibit A: - Post Listing

Exhibit A requires the contractor to provide firearms for E-02, E-18, E-21, E-23, E-24, r-01, R- 02 and R-03. Additional firearms are also needed for training and contingency purposes.

Reference is made to recent news related to DIASP and the Official Gazette outlining the firearms moratorium.

Resuelto emitido por la DIASP. Actualizado.

https://www.prensa.com/judiciales/Nuevo-Seguridad-Panama-prohibicion-importar_0_4517548356.html

Gaceta oficial. Ley 57.

http://www.unlirec.org/Documents/Centroamerica/Panama/LeyGeneralArmasMunicionesMateri alesRelacionadosLeyN57_2011.pdf

Since 2011, the importation of firearms has been halted by the Government of Panama. This gun import moratorium prohibits offerors, with a successful past US Embassy Local Guard Contract experience, from obtaining additional weapons on the local market. This gives other contractors that have extra firearms but without successful past experience with US Embassy Local Guard Contract experience an advantage over those who currently do not have the extra firearms for the above referenced posts.

Section H.10 Licenses Bonds and Permits Section H.10 requires all contractors to have all necessary permits within 30 days after contract award. As these permits related to firearms, even if a security company was able to find and purchase firearms in Panama, the transfer and permitting could take much more than 30 days which is a transition element completely out of the Contractor's control.

7. Question: Would DOS consider other options for contractors that are unable to obtain available, serviceable, firearms as a result of the moratorium?

Exhibit A, Post Manning, Page 2 and 3

Post E21 and E22 list working hours 0600-1800 for an annual total of 4,380 hours. Based on each post being 12 hours per day, 7 days per week; totaling 84 hours per week 52 weeks per year. The total annual hours should be 4,368.

8. Question: Can the USG clarify the actual annual working hours for each post?

Answer: The hours on the Exhibit A are correct at 4380 annual hours.

Exhibit A, Post Manning, Page 1

Senior Guard Post E6 and E10 list the English level requirement as “0”.

https://www.prensa.com/judiciales/Nuevo-Seguridad-Panama-prohibicion-importar_0_4517548356.html https://www.prensa.com/judiciales/Nuevo-Seguridad-Panama-prohibicion-importar_0_4517548356.html http://www.unlirec.org/Documents/Centroamerica/Panama/LeyGeneralArmasMunicionesMaterialesRelacionadosLeyN57_2011.pdf http://www.unlirec.org/Documents/Centroamerica/Panama/LeyGeneralArmasMunicionesMaterialesRelacionadosLeyN57_2011.pdf

9. Question 1: Can the USG clarify if this is correct?

Answer: See 19AQMM18R0047 A001 Exhibit A

SECTION B, SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES

Section B.6.1, Health Benefits, Page 3

The Contractor is required to include health benefits including hospitalization, outpatient care, maternity care and medication, for guards employed under this contract in its compensation program. Employee health benefits must be maintained at the level approved throughout the term of the contract at no additional cost to the Government. A failure by the Contractor to maintain its health benefits program as required by this subsection shall be deemed a material breach of this Contract warranting termination of the contract for default in accordance with FAR 52.249-8 as contained in Section I of this contract.

10. Question: Can the USG clarify if the Contractor is required to provide these benefits to the guard’s family members also?

Answer: the contractor should follow local labor laws regarding benefits and compensation IAW Section B.6.1

Section B.7.1, Standard Services, Page 4

The fixed hourly rate shall also include costs for personal equipment required for each individual employee (e.g. uniforms, body armor, etc.).

11. Question 1: Exhibit D, Contractor Furnished Equipment does not list a requirement for Body Armor, can the USG clarify if the Contractor is required for this contract?

SECTION C, PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Section C.8.6 Vehicles, Page 16

The Contractor shall provide all vehicles necessary for the performance of this contract. The Contractor shall provide new four-door, four-by-four air-conditioned SUV vehicles at the start of contract performance period. During contract performance, any vehicle exceeding 200,000 kilometers which is equivalent to100,000 miles shall be replaced with new vehicles at no additional cost to the government.

12. Question: Can the USG clarify in addition to the exemption of VAT as per Section 5.8.6, will all vehicles purchased for use as Mobile Patrol Vehicles be issued an exemption for import tax as well?

Answer: Follow local tax regulations.

SECTION L, INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Section L.11, Proposal Instructions, page 103

Solicitation states that all volumes shall be in no less than a 12 font; Times New Roman; 1-inch margins on all sides.

13. Question 1: Can USG clarify if less-than 12 size fonts is allowed in the tables as long as they are legible?

Answer: charts can use font 10 size.

Section L.11.2.2, Past Performance and Experience, page 112 and 113.

The RFP states that bidders must “List all contracts and subcontracts the Offeror…has held over the past five years for the same or similar work.” In RFP Section L.11.2.2.2, Past Performance, the RFP requests the following details related to past performance references:

1. Customer's name, address, email, and telephone numbers of customer's lead contract and technical personnel.

2. Contract number and type.

3. Date of the contract, place(s) of performance, and delivery dates or period of performance.

4. Contract size (number of personnel employed, total number of man-hours by year, per labor category, and dollar value).

5. Brief description of the work, including responsibilities.

6. Comparability to the work required under this solicitation.

7. Brief discussion of any technical problems and their resolution.

8. Brief discussion of any terminations (partial or complete) and the type (convenience or default) as well as any deficiency notices, corrective action plans, show cause letters or cure notices (provide explanatory de- tails).

9. Listing of deductions taken under any listed contracts, with explanatory details and resolution.

10. Brief description of any deficiency notices received related to contract non-compliance and a brief description of the corrective actions to remedy the non-compliant performance.

14. Question: Please advise if the intent is for Offerors to provide the aforementioned details (list of 10 items) for all contracts held over the past five years for the same or similar work (i.e., those contracts referenced in the Offeror’s proposal section Tab B1). If that is the case, the majority of large security firms routinely competing for these contracts would likely have 200 or more contracts listed (especially in tripartite JV arrangements) that would require anywhere from 100 or more pages in order to supply such extensive details about each of their respective relevant contracts over the past five years. Please explain this particular requirement and advise how page limitations can be met if the listing of contract data required is so voluminous.

Section L.1.2.2.2 Past Performance, Page 113

Solicitation states the Contractor should provide a list of deductions taken under any listed contracts, with explanatory details and resolution.

15. Question : Considering the page count restrictions and number of contracts each company may have within its portfolio; can the USG provide the level of detail required for providing this information?

Answer: contractors are required to provide information requested, the way the information is provided should not affect page limits.

Exhibit D, Contractor Furnished Property, Vehicles, Page 3

Solicitation states that the Contractor shall provide a vehicle for use by the SD team. The vehicle shall be inconspicuous and not identifiable as an Embassy vehicle. Exhibit D, also states all vehicles identified for this contract will have a distinctive placard or decal approved by the RSO.

16. Question: Can the USG clarify if a placard is required, and for which vehicle?

Answer: NO placard is required for SD vehicles.

End of questions and answers.