2031ZA21Q00249 Amendment 0001_Signed.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

1 7

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO.

2031ZA21Q00249 A0001

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

07/29/2021

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (IF OTHER THAN ITEM 6) CODE

BEP-ACQUISITION

Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Office of Acquisition 301 14th Street SW Washington, DC 20228-0001, US

Same As Issuing Office

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., Street, County, State, and Zip Code) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

2031ZA21Q00249 A0001

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

CODE: FACILITY CODE: 10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered, solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers, FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If Required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO., AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify Authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43,103 (b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is NOT is required to sign this document and return 1 copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.

The purpose of this amendment is to provide answers to questions .

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15C. DATE

SIGNED

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16C. DATE

SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Previous Edition Unusable Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

X

Solicitation 2031ZA21Q00249 Page of Pages

International Background Services for BEP

1) This Amendment 01 to the solicitation provides answers to Offerors' questions.

U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing International Background Services

Request for Quote: 2031ZA21Q00249 Questions and Answers

1. Would Treasury be open to other NAICS codes for this RFQ? For example, our company is Small Business Concern under NAICS code 519130 Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Services (small business size standard is 1,000 employees).

Answer: The NAICS code remains unchanged, 561611 – Investigation Services.

2. How many reports do you estimate would be requested per year and do you see an increase over the five year period?

Answer: Answer: Per the tables in Section B – Pricing Schedule, 1.0 Pricing, the BEP estimates 30 reports per year for the Base Year and 30 reports for each Option Year 1 through 4. The number of reports will not increase over the five year period.

3. I am writing in regard to the above-referenced solicitation for International Background Checks.

As you may recall, we recently responded to your Request for Information/Sources Sought solicitation (2031ZA21N00043). In our response, we made clear that we are classified as a Large business. We note, however, that the above-referenced solicitation is restricted as a small business set aside only.

Did you receive responses from small business indicating that they can meet the requirements of the Performance Work Statement? My understanding of the marketplace is that there are only 2 vendors capable of meeting the requirements (West Publishing Corporation/Thomson Reuters and Lexis/Accurint/RELX – both of which are classified as large businesses).

Answer: We received interest from more than 10 capable small businesses. Per our Department’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), we are required to set-aside requirements where market research indicates there are more than two capable small businesses. If we do not receive more than one submission we may re-solicit as unrestricted.

4. Could you please tell me if this is a new requirement, or if there is a current or previous contractor who has performed similar services? If available, can you please send along the incumbent contract or task order number?

Answer: This is a new requirement with Bureau of Engraving and Printing without incumbent contracts.

5. I am reaching out to find out if this requirement for International Background Check Services - 2031ZA21Q00249 is a new requirement or if there is an incumbent contractor currently performing this work? If there is, may you provide me the contract #?

Answer: This is a new requirement with Bureau of Engraving and Printing without incumbent contracts.

6. Section 1.0 Pricing:

a. Quantity estimates of “30” are listed in this section. Are the 30 cases estimate a yearly, monthly or weekly estimate? There appears to be no increase in the estimated cases year over year for Years 1-4.

b. Historically, has there been any annual increase or decrease in the number of cases needing review?

Answer:

a. Per the tables in Section B – Pricing Schedule, 1.0 Pricing, the BEP estimates 30 reports per year for the Base Year and 30 reports for each Option Year 1 through 4.

b. The number of reports will not increase over the five year period.

7. Section 1.6.4:

a. What is the desired response time (via phone, email or text messaging) to queries made by the government between BEP work hours of 8am and 5pm EST?

b. What is the average/usual time allotted for Year End Shut Down?

Answer:

a. Via email. Acknowledgment of receipt of information request and a turnaround time of five

(5) to seven (7) working days, to not include holidays, for the completion of the inquiry and email return of the data.

b. The BEP Year End Shut Down typically occurs from December 25 through January 1.

8. Section 1.6.8:

a. Based on Section 1.6.13 which states N/A for contractor travel, we are assuming that the Post Award Conference or any periodic Progress meetings are strictly remote meetings. Is that correct?

Answer: Yes.

9. Part 7 – Exhibit 1:

a. As described in Section 5 - Specific Tasks – there will be a review of Criminal Records.

Domestic “report turnaround” is possible within the stated 5-7 days from receipt data.

In most cases the international turnaround is also possible in 5-7 days. However, internationally, there are occasions that responses from sources can take longer than 7 days. Some countries do not post criminal records as public records and would require additional source contacts to try and identify records if possible. With a “zero deviation” expectation on the “report turnaround” time, are there any abilities to request/notify of delays due to data requests from third parties related to international reviews?

Answer: As long as there is advance notice so BEP can report to the component we are conducting the inquiry for. BEP Policy provides a specific turnaround time to submit a memorandum of a decision for approval or disapproval of the company and personnel.

10. Pricing

a. Is the quantity of 30...30 background Investigations per year?, or

b. 30 unlimited subscriptions to be able to run any number of BIs per year?

Answer: Per the tables in Section B – Pricing Schedule, 1.0 Pricing, the BEP estimates 30 reports per year for the Base Year and 30 reports for each Option Year 1 through 4. The number of reports will not increase over the five year period.

11. How many BIs per year do you forecast over the next 5 years? # person BIs // # Business BIs?

Answer: Per the tables in Section B – Pricing Schedule, 1.0 Pricing, the BEP estimates 30 reports per year for the Base Year and 30 reports for each Option Year 1 through 4. The number of reports will not increase over the five year period.

12. What is the total count of the BEP individuals that will be requesting BIs?

Answer: The BEP estimates this to be one (1). Typically the requests go to the manager or his designee who submits the request to the vendor.

13. The scope reads like BEP is requesting a subscription service where a BEP representative requests a BI on a person or a business, and in return receives a PDF document containing the completed BI. (Request comment if this is wrong.)

Answer: Per the PWS, BEP requires a specific amount of inquiry requests for the year on an as-needed basis.

14. Do you currently have a system in place to:

a. Perform Investigations Case Management and adjudications?

b. Perform advanced vetting analytics with the data types in the BI?

c. Workflow routing off the BI data?

d. Enrollment of business or individuals into continuous evaluation to receive alerts when there is an unfavorable change in the data?

e. Should any of the above be part of this bid?

Answer:

a. Each request is assigned a case number and tracked for monthly and yearly hours worked.

These background inquiries are not for employment suitability so the only adjudication is whether the company meets the requirements to receive securities.

b. BEP anticipates an analysis of the data and reported back to BEP via PDF file.

c. No.

d. No.

e. Refer to answer in part B above.

15. How many individuals and entities will be submitted for investigation?

Answer: BEP expects up to eight (8) personnel who may be handling our securities on behalf of the company as well as the company name and location verification.

16. Will there be different screening criteria for each individual and entity or will there be a standard bundle of services for all individuals and entities?

Answer: No, each inquiry package requests the same information with up to 8 representatives that can be listed.

17. Can you please share the bundles you want us to price out for each group? Can you tell us how many investigations you intend to submit for each package?

Answer: Same as above.

18. Can you please clarify what you mean by “identity verification”? Are you asking for an address history search (commonly referred to as a Social Security Number Trace) or are you asking us to validate the identity of each individual?

Answer: Each company is required to provide specific information to the BEP. Company name, headquarters name and location, telephone number, email, mailing and physical address (if a separate facility from headquarters, same information), is the company a public trading company, any subsidiaries, has the company filed for bankruptcy. Required information for personnel includes name, company title, home, business and email address, business telephone number, social security and/or passport number, date and country of birth. Required information includes up to 3 company executives, 4 company designees and 1 company representative (responsible for our securities).

19. Do you want us to adjudicate each report based on your criteria? If so, please provide criteria.

OR Do you want us to provide you with a complete report which will be adjudicated by your team?

Answer: A complete report. BEP has a set criteria established that we use to approve, disapprove or approve with conditions.

20. Do you intend to screen any individuals that reside or have lived outside of the United States?

Answer: Yes.

21. Is there an incumbent? If so, who is the incumbent?

Answer: No. This is a new requirement with Bureau of Engraving and Printing without incumbent contracts.

22. Do you have a current report that you can share as a sample (with appropriate redactions, of course)?

Answer: No.

23. As for corporations, are you limiting to individual background investigator or shareholder over certain value?

Answer: No. As long as the company obtains the data legally, and is current, how they obtain the data should not be an issue. This requirement is a total small business set-aside.

24. Can you please clarify whether this small business set aside RFQ is for an "information subscription service" only such as Lexus/Nexus log on accesses that can be set up to spit out a search report OR is it a labor service contract seeking human analysts with subscription services in their toolbox to provide basic analytical reports to the BEP. Unfortunately, the SOLICITATION is NOT CLEAR as to which it is and is confusing us. Section B's pricing indicates 30 units. Units in our experience are user licenses not CMEs. Section C para 1.4 Scope just says contractor will provide subscription services (this indicates information subscription service provider access only). Section C Part 2 does not define "subscription services" to tell us what exact kind of services are being sought here (Labor + subscriptions or just subscriptions). Section C Part 5.1 "Basic services" again just says provide subscription services. However, the rest of the contract has varied clauses indicative of contract labor services.

Answer: The services we are requesting are subscription service to conduct inquiries on individuals and businesses located domestically and internationally. We are not seeking licenses or labor hour support. This effort is a small business set-aside in accordance with the requirements of the PWS. BEP requires approximately 30 reports per year per the solicitation.