70B03C19R00000002_-_Amendment_Four_-_Q&A_Document_110218.pdf

70B03C18R00000002 – USBP Transportation of Seized Goods

Amendment Four - Questions and Answers (11/02/2018):

1. Item #7 in the deliverables table lists that insurance is required at effective date of contract. However, Task #2 on page 9 says that it must be provided with the proposal. Please clarify.

The intent is to make sure the prospective vendors will be able to have the requisite insurance before work commences. The insurance must be in force at effective date of contract, proof of that eventuality is due with proposal.

2. When exactly are the motor vehicle operator's licenses and list of the vehicles required? 5 days after contract award (per the deliverables table)? Or, within 30 calendar days of award (per Task #4)?

5 days after contract award, any mitigated or delay requests that are granted, within 30 days.

3. When does the contractor need to provide a uniform sample to the CBP?

Within 10 business days of award.

4. The Big Bend Sector lists "one (1) storage event per week during the following periods: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." However, the other sectors list "three

(3) storage events during the following periods: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." Please clarify.

As indicated in the SOW, an “Event” consists of a round-robin transportation route to all locations stated under each Sector Area of Responsibility (AOR), picking up seized goods as required, and then on to the storage facility/location.

The Contractor shall execute each of these “Events” as required by the SOW for each Sector, in the indicated timeframe. For example, a Sector which requires 3 events per week means that the Contractor shall make that round-robin run, to the locations listed, and then to storage, 3 times per week on the designated days.

During contract performance, prior coordination or communication between the USBP and the Contractor may mitigate traveling to all locations every time for every event within each Sector, but the Contractor shall be prepared to make each full “Event” as outlined in the SOW.

The fixed round-robin requirements for each Sector as indicated provides for simplified pricing and overall resource scheduling.

5. Paragraph d in Task #3 states "three LTSOs: one individual to serve as the LTSO for each of the areas of responsibility." However, Task #4 lists 6 AORs.

Please clarify.

3 is a minimum number, the government broke this down into Arizona (Tucson), West TX/NM (El Paso, Big Bend) and South Texas (RGV, Del Rio, Laredo). The contractor needs to determine the number of supervisors needed for effective communication and coordination.

6. What type of psychological testing is required?

The government is not conducting any hiring suitability testing outside of the BI, the contractor is responsible for making sure their hires are mentally and physically suited to the work, and have the available documentation for substantiation of same as indicated in the SOW.

7. Will all vehicles be required to have the ability to be loaded/unloaded from a loading dock or only when necessary for large loads?

In general, when necessary for large loads. Loading and offloading will be done by contractor personnel, so the contractors will determine what works best for them, as long as the vehicle can be properly secured, and meets the requirements in the statement of work, the government is not mandating, only making suggestions.

8. If submitting this under a DHS Mentor-Protégé relationship, is the mentor's past performance acceptable?

Please include the mentor’s past performance along with any of the protégé’s experience thus far.

9. For Section 4 of Volume II, past performance, what needs to be submitted for #10? ["Quality certifications/award (identify appropriate office receiving award)"]

Item #10 is required if applicable.

10. For Section 2 of Volume II, the RFP refers to Section I.2 on page 40? Should this be Section I.1?

Yes this should be I.1

11. Can text submissions be sent in .pdf format (instead of Word 2003 or higher)?

Yes, PDF format is also acceptable.

12. What is the maximum file size your email system will accept?

Please ensure that all emails submitted are less than 5MB.

13. For Section 3 of Volume II, the RFP states on page 41 that proposals submitted must be tabbed. Please clarify how you would like us to tab our electronic file.

Only hard copies will need to be tabbed. Electronic copies will not need to contain tabs.

14. The Contractor shall provide three (3) Storage Events per week, during the following periods: Monday, Wednesday and Friday – all locations.

Does this mean each location will have 3 events per week, or each sector will have 3 events per week?

Three (3) times per week is the number of times a contractor needs to be prepared to pick up contraband from each location. Prior coordination with the station and sector representatives will determine whether a specific location requires a pickup. Narcotics seizures fluctuate, there will be periods of high and low activity/volume.

15. Will each location or each sector have a destruction event per week?

Destruction requirements have been removed from the SOW. See attached revised SOW for details.

16. Will the Government provide a letter of authority for Short Barrel Riffles (SBR)?

No, the government will not provide any endorsements for armament.

17. Will the contractor be allowed to use suppressors?

The contractor will not use suppressors.

18. Will the contract be allowed to operate fleet lease vehicles or owned outright?

The contractor will need to determine what works best for their operation. As long as the contractor can meet the requirements, the government has no opinion on lease vs own.

19. Will .223/5.56 be the only allowed carbine caliber?

This is preferred as it is the caliber carried by USBP agents in the field, but the contractor can determine their own caliber.

20. The Contractor shall ensure that all vehicles to be utilized for contract performance are equipped with real-time tracking and monitoring/alerting Global

Positioning System (GPS) technology. Vehicles shall be made available at any time for Government inspection and access during performance. Does the Government have a specific brand of GPS tracking they wish the contractor to utilize?

No, the government does not desire a specific brand of GPS, as long as it meets the requirement.

21. BP Storage Facilities (SOW, Task 4 (i), page 13). This section states that

“storage locations shall be disclosed at contract award, and are located within the areas of the Sectors as indicated.” Given that this is a fixed price contract, it is very important for bidders to develop realistic estimates of labor hours and mileage. The geographic size of each Sector is enormous (the RFP states that the Bid Bend Sector is 165,000 square miles).

While we understand the Government’s reasons for not publishing exact locations in an RFP, it is very difficult to develop accurate cost estimates without better information. As an alternative, could the Government provide approximate locations – for example, “in the greater McAllen area” or “within five miles of McAllen.”

BP Storage facilities are currently located in: McAllen, TX (RGV); Laredo, TX (Laredo); Eagle Pass, TX (Del Rio); El Paso, TX (El Paso, NM, Marfa); and Tucson, AZ (Tucson).

22. Quantity of LTSO Positions (Task #4, d and e). This section provides detailed operational procedures for the contractor team for storage and destruction events. Both paragraphs describe the LTSO role for each service (for example, “the LTSO shall report directly to the USBP Representative.”) Task #5 (c) discusses the LTSOs responsibilities at the loading site. This would indicate that an LTSO is expected to be on each storage event and destruction event.

However, Task #3(d) (page 11), says that a total of three LTSOs shall be provided on the contract – one each in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Texas is comprised of four Sectors with daily trips, so it is not feasible for the Texas LTSO to meet with BP representatives on each trip. Can you please clarify the number of expected LTSOs and whether it is the Government’s intent that an LTSO be present for each event?

It is the government’s intent that contact between the USBP representative and the contractor is through the LTSO at the field level. It is expected that a person designated as a leader in the Contractors’ organization and able to speak on behalf of the Contractor, be present at all events. These loads represent hundreds of thousands of dollars in street value and it is expected that the contractor/contractor’s representatives treat it with the appropriate level of gravitas. The number of LTSO’s needed is a hiring matter for the contractor to determine.

23. Designated Labor Category. The Guard II position description in the DOL Directory of Occupations mostly closely matches the position description for a TSO in the RFP. Can you please clarify that the intended labor category of TSOs is Guard II?

Yes.

24. CBP Background Investigation (SOW 9.3). While we recognize that this is a new requirement for CBP, similar services are currently being provided under a DEA contract. Will personnel currently cleared to work on the DEA contract receive temporary waivers to continue work while they are undergoing the CBP background investigation?

Reciprocity in the BI process is not guaranteed, and waivers to the process are not provided. Contractors must undergo the formal CBP BI process, which is distinct from all other agencies.

25. Wage Determinations. The RFP includes 15 separate wage determinations.

However, it doesn’t appear that there is a requirement or an expectation that the contractor will employ personnel in most of these locations. Can you please clarify the intent of the additional wage determinations?

Wage determinations sometimes overlap counties or areas of operation. Please ensure the Wage Determination requirements for the areas of operation are adhered to in your pricing.

26. Additional Work beyond the Contract Specifications. This is a fixed price contract, and Task #4 describes the specific quantity of Storage Events and Destruction Events that the Contractor shall provide. Can you please clarify how billing will work if the Government requests a level of Events higher than specified in the Statement of Work?

The government shall not request any requirements beyond that which is listed in the solicitation Statement of Work and accompanying documentation, without proper notification and negotiation for same.

27. Proposal Instructions (page 42). This section states that “may demonstrate their capability to meet the Government’s requirements by providing position descriptions… or by inclusion of sample resumes.” Can you please confirm that resumes are not counted in the maximum page count?

Offerors shall ensure their proposal data is limited to the maximum page allowance. Resumes, past experience, etc., shall be condensed and limited to those areas pertinent to the requirements of the solicitation, in order to stay within the maximum page limitations as indicated.

28. A significant cost driver on this contract is fuel. The 36-month average retail price for gas has been between $1.69 to $2.97 per gallon. Would the Government be open to changing the contract type to Fixed-Price with Economic Price Adjustment to help stabilize risk and not require Contractors to rely on predictions of gas prices 36-months into the future?

The contract type shall remain firm fixed price. The requirement for pricing is based on a 12-month cycle of price estimation for the purpose of proposal development, with firm fixed “Events” designated for each Sector in order to simplify the formulation of pricing and to minimize potential costs. Offeror’s should allow for the fluctuation of the potential cost of doing business over the years, in their final price proposal. Option Year pricing, from that established at award, may only allow for adjustment based on the Service Contract Labor Standards and the wage rates in effect at the time of the option year, if so exercised.

29. Another significant cost driver are labor hours. We recognize that this is a new requirement for CBP, however, the Background, as written in the PWS indicates that the Government may have been performing this function to some degree in the past or is currently. As the objective of this procurement is to augment existing capabilities and that the Government states "...most of these referral trips involve large loads...requiring two to eight Agents...” there appears to be some historical workload data available. Can the Government provide some or all of its known workload data? It would help significantly in making an assessment of variable cost elements.

USBP was the recipient of services from an outside Agency contract. CBP does not have this information.

30. Task #1, Para. E: The Contractor shall provide its employees with cellular telephones. Does the contractor need to purchase every employee a cell phone or just LTSO’s? If each employee has a properly working cell phone, can they use that?

A cell phone needs to be present during every vent that is available for government contact. Each LTSO at a minimum will have a number available to the government.

31. Task #1, Para. E: Government Furnished Property - The USBP will provide portable radios for effective communications. What is the make, model, type, and quantity of radio that will be provide in support of this contract?

Radio type and make shall be disclosed prior to contract performance.

32. Task #3, Para d.: The contractor shall provide three (3) LTSOs: one individual to serve as the LTSO for AORs in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Does the Contractor have flexibility, using the most efficient and economical approach theory, to split the LTSO responsibilities by estimated workload(s), mileage/distance, numbers of sites, other related factors, etc., in lieu of the prescribed geographical parameters?

The contractor must have an LTSO that is available, responsible and physically present in each AOR. Number and work distribution is left to the contractor.

33. Task #3, Para f: "The LTSO shall collect all reports, including custody receipts, at the loading site." Does this mean that an LTSO is required to attend all transportation or destruction events? Or was this paragraph intended to say, "The LTSO shall collect all reports..., FROM the loading site."?

The LTSO will be present at each transportation event. Destruction events have been removed from the solicitation requirements. See attached revised SOW for details.

34. Task #4, The PWS requires the Sector Big Bend destruction trips to Tucson, AZ. Can Destruction Events from Big Bend be taken to McAllen, TX instead?

Destruction Event requirements have been removed from the solicitation.

35. Task #4, Para k: We are concerned about the statement: "The Government reserves the right to change the locations of storage and destruction facilities at any time during the contract without increase in the contract price." This is a commercial firm-fixed price contract with cost implications for any and all changes directed by the Government. Please provide clarification as to the intent of this statement.

Any changes to the requirements as outlined in the Statement of Work after award, shall be accomplished through mutual and negotiated agreement between all parties.

36. Task #6, Para a: The Government says it will make notification to the contractor of larger load requirements via telephone prior to the event. What is the minimum timeframe that these notifications will be provided to the Contractor?

24 Hours.

37. Do all stations in the sectors of responsibility have to be serviced on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or can times be adjusted to not create a pattern of life?

As indicated in the SOW, an “Event” consists of a round-robin transportation route to all locations stated under each Sector Area of Responsibility (AOR), picking up seized goods as required, and then on to the storage facility/location.

The Contractor shall execute each of these “Events” as required by the SOW for each Sector, in the indicated timeframe. For example, a Sector which requires 3 events per week means that the Contractor shall make that round-robin run, to the locations listed, and then to storage, 3 times per week on the designated days.

During contract performance, prior coordination or communication between the USBP and the Contractor may mitigate traveling to all locations every time for every event within each Sector, but the Contractor shall be prepared to make each full “Event” as outlined in the SOW.

The fixed round-robin requirements for each Sector as indicated provides for simplified pricing and overall resource scheduling.

Narcotics must not remain at a station for more than 72 hours.

38. When will the actual servicing of stations begin after the contract is awarded?

As with any contract, the Contractor shall be prepared to provide immediate services as required and as proposed and as accepted at time of award. For the actions of this contract, there is also a required CBP BI process that must be undertaken. Reciprocity in the BI process is not guaranteed, and waivers to the process are not provided. Contractors must undergo the formal CBP BI process, which is distinct from all other federal government agencies.

39. Will clearances, IT department access, meetings with BP start before the contract start date or after awarded?

As with any contract, the Contractor shall be prepared to provide immediate services as required and as proposed and as accepted at time of award. For the actions of this contract, there is also a required CBP BI process that must be undertaken. Reciprocity in the BI process is not guaranteed, and waivers to the process are not provided. Contractors must undergo the formal CBP BI process, which is distinct from all other federal government agencies.

40. Is there a current contract in place now?

There is no USBP contract in place now.

41. What does a typical load look like? We understand the maximum requirements but what is a general daily service load. Do we need tractor trailers or a small box truck?

Box trucks will typically be sufficient.

42. Can we very times and pick up days?

Times are within the discretion of the Contractor between the hours of 6am and 5pm as long as all stops are made and every load makes it to the storage facility.

Specific days are not optional.

43. Will local and state police know of our presence, what documentation will we have and is it a requirement for us to do coordination's with them or will they be informed of our movements by BP?

Federal, State and local authorities will be aware.

44. What is BP currently using to transport these loads?

USBP does not transport these loads.

45. Is the 1449 the only document required to fully respond to this solicitation?

No, an entire proposal, including the signed 1449, will need to be submitted showing how all requirements in the SOW and solicitation will been met.

46. 10. Storage Events (SOW Task #4, a). This section defines a “Storage Event” as “a trip to all locations within the individual Sectors…” The use of the word “all” suggests that the contractor team must travel to each station within the Sector, whether or not there are items to be picked up. However, the second set of Q&A (question #9) states that (in the case of the Big Bend Sector, for example) that “it is unlikely that all 12 stations will require pickup at the same time.”

Can you please clarify that the contractor will only be required to travel to locations requiring a pickup that has been coordinated in advance?

As indicated in the SOW, an “Event” consists of a round-robin transportation route to all locations stated under each Sector Area of Responsibility (AOR), picking up seized goods as required, and then on to the storage facility/location.

The Contractor shall execute each of these “Events” as required by the SOW for each Sector, in the indicated timeframe. For example, a Sector which requires 3 events per week means that the Contractor shall make that round-robin run, to the locations listed, and then to storage, 3 times per week on the designated days.

During contract performance, prior coordination or communication between the USBP and the Contractor may mitigate traveling to all locations every time for every event within each Sector, but the Contractor shall be prepared to make each full “Event” as outlined in the SOW.

The fixed round-robin requirements for each Sector as indicated provides for simplified pricing and overall resource scheduling.

47. Transition timeframe. The second set of Q&A includes a question (#10) asking about mobilization timeline. The response is “the Contractor shall be ready to provide service at award.” However, the Security section of the SOW (Section 9) details an extensive process for background investigations and granting of EOD permission. Can you please clarify the intended process at startup? If the Contractor’s proposed staff has existing prior investigations with another Government agency that meet or exceed CBP requirements, can the EOD process be accelerated?

As with any contract, the Contractor shall be prepared to provide immediate services as required and as proposed and as accepted at time of award. For the actions of this contract, there is also a required CBP BI process that must be undertaken. Reciprocity in the BI process is not guaranteed, and waivers to the process are not provided. Contractors must undergo the formal CBP BI process, which is distinct from all other federal government agencies.