Question_and_Answers_09_11_18.pdf

19AQMM18R0336 – Questions & Answers

In the Questions & Answers posted on September 6, 2018, the Government stated that a response to question #12 would be provided at a later date. The answer is to question 12 is provided below. Question #16 is a newly received question and the Government provided response.

# REFERENCE QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

12 “Facility Clearance (FCL)” of the solicitation states, “In order to be considered for award of this contract, interested offerors, including all entities which comprise a joint venture, and the joint venture itself, must possess a Defense Security Service (DSS) Final Secret, Interim Top Secret or Final Top Secret facility clearance (FCL), issued in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), DoD 5220.22-M.”

Further, “Question_and_Answers,_Aug_20_2018,” Question 3 asks, “Will the government consider award to a joint venture who’s entities possess TS FCLs but who’s joint venture does not possess an FCL?” The Government’s response was simply, “No.”

However, on August 1, 2018, DODMANUAL 5220.22, VOLUME 2 was issued and it specifically addresses contractors in a procurement environment. Section 6.2 “Procedures,” Subsection B “Determine Clearance Status of Prospective Contractors,” states, “(3) The lack of an existing FCL is not sufficient justification to exclude a contractor from competing or being awarded a classified contract provided the contractor is willing and eligible to be processed for an FCL and take all required actions associated with such processing on a timely basis.”

In light of this new update to the NISPOM, will the Government amend the solicitation to align the solicitation with the updated NISPOM and avoid potential protests to the solicitation or any subsequent award? See Amendment 004.

19AQMM18R0336 – Questions & Answers

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Solicitation 10.7.1.1 Factor 1 – Facility Clearance, It appears that ISFD website is permanently down and to be replaced with NISS website. However, NISS will not be operational until 08 October 2018.

Offerors will not likely be able to get the information required in Solicitation

10.7.1.1 Factor 1 – Facility Clearance, Page 59 of 68.

Government and contractors/industry will have access to ISFD until Friday, September 28th. Companies can go into ISFD now and print out a copy of their FCL information. If, for some unknown reason a company cannot print a copy of their ISFD printout, they can simply provide their CAGE Codes and something in writing from their Defense Security Service Industrial Security Representative noting their facility clearance level when they provide their proposals.