36C26320Q0402-0001002.docx

1> Would the government clarify what level of security clearance is required for the security guard personnel of the subject solicitation? Reference: RFP, page 41. Section D.1.2.c See VA Directive 6500.6 Para 2, c Each VA location requesting security service shall determine the level of clearance based on the specific duties required at their location.

1. Be advise that CLINS 3001-3006 total to 55 days instead of the 92 days stated within the pricing schedule. Yes, that is correct, Option 2 is 55 days. Page 25 cites a resulting BPA cannot exceed 240 days in total length.

2. Also, please confirm that Des Moines, IA is Mon-Fri (5 days a week)? The SOW (pages 14 and 15) cites three guards, 2 each are seven days a week and one guard is five days a week as specified in the SOW and Price/Cost schedule on page 7 and 8.

The SOW states 7 days a week but the pricing sheet states five days.

3. After reading thru the solicitation, I notice on Page 18, section iv that guards are required to undergo a psychological assessment. This should change the required Guard I to Guard II.

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently adopted this approach on several other guard related solicitations (ref 36C78620Q0017). If not, we request this requirement to be strike out given the nature of the scope of work and timeframe it will take for the average contractor to provide this within a weeks’ time.

This accommodation cannot be accomplished.

4. Page 23, section 15 states a background check must be performed. Is it safe to assume that the background must come from the Contractor and not the government?

If so, will the guards have to go thru a Low risk EQIP background check by the VA ? The VA will not perform the necessary background check.

5. Page 57 section 9 mentions training, will this be provided by the government?

If so, can you estimate how long this training will be? Will this be considered on the job training and if so, is this billable? Yes the VA provides the training, yes the VA will pay to train the contract employees.

6. Page 57, section 8, the security controls compliance testing, what measurables or performance matrix will be utilized in this testing? This relates to privacy act data as applied to duties/responsibilities at each location requesting security service. Direction on this matter will be provided to contractor employees after arrival to each VA location. The actual measurables will vary between each VA requesting this service.

7. Page 59 states telecom phones, WE utilize guard management software and phone devices must be used in order to deploy the software. Is this section applicable to our application? No

8. Will PPE be provided to the contractor by the government? Yes, necessary masks and gloves will be available and provided by the VA. If other PPE are required to mitigate COVID-19, then those PPE shall also be provided by the VA.

Presuming it will be required by the contractor, WE will include this in our price offering

9. Please define the basis of award? (Lowest Price Technically Acceptable, Best Value etc).

All quotes are evaluated by technical professionals in the same field which you offer services. VA Police and other stakeholders such as the COR for each location will evaluate each offer to determine if a particular offeror quote is technically acceptable. In short, can the contractor perform via the contract and is the contractor capable of completing the necessary deliverables outlined in the RFQ document. If more than one contractor have been determined to be technically qualified, at that time the CO will make a final determination for award based on lowest price. Award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of proposals meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for non-cost factors.

Some excellent background on LPTA https://www.insidegovernmentcontracts.com/2019/11/what-is-lowest-priced-technically-acceptable-gao-clarifies-reach-of-new-lpta-restrictions/

Best value procurement (BVP) is a procurement system that looks at factors other than only price, such as quality and expertise, when selecting vendors or contractors. In a best value system, the value of procured goods or services can be simply described as a comparison of costs and benefits.

Some excellent background on Best Value https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a285732.pdf

10. When will the VA notify the awardee and when will the anticipated start date be? Start date is listed in the Price/Cost Schedule. The acronym “POP” stands for Period of Performance. See the Price/Cost Schedule on page 7 of the RFQ, see contract line item 1001, it shows the POP starting 01 May, 2020. Consider the RFQ solicitation ends 30 April, 2020, the contract starts one day later. Yes, Offerors shall be notified the same day which the solicitation ends. An RFQ Amendment will be posted to end the solicitation period at 12 Noon as opposed to the current 11:59pm end time.

11. Since this is a 3 month contract on emergency/temporary services, can the wage determination could be waived? No, the Department of Labor controls use of the Wage Determination. The DOL Wage Determination is required for use in a resulting Agreement/ Contract.

Fringe benefits start consecutively after a 30 day period.

If this will be considered “as needed”, will wage determination be applicable?