Comments Questions Answers (1-48).pdf

Document Title Section Page # Question/Comment Government Response 1 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 1.5 4 Providing the government's expectations regarding time to fill any open positions as they develop would help the contractor develop a quality Recruiting, Hiring, Transition, & Onboarding Plans.

Noted.

2 Draft PWS Staffing pg 4 Will we have access to the current staff fulfilling the on-site functions? After contract award the contractor should have access to the current staff.

3 Draft PWS Requirements pg 4 Are we correct in assuming that the following applies only to contractor personnel travel and that the contractor is not expected to perform the travel function for the office: b) Ensuring invoiced travel costs are itemized in accordance with the Government travel guidelines in effect at the time of travel.

It is very unlikely the clerks will travel, however, the contractor is only responsible for ensuring contractor employees invoice travel costs are itemized in accordance with the Government travel guidelines in effect at the time of travel.

4 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 1.4 4 Additional information on the Background Investigation regarding the typical time to complete will help with the development of Staffing and Transition Plans.

Noted.

5 PWS 1.5.e 4 This point implies that the contractor must retain idle staff on its payroll for emergency situations. This is not a practical demand as any new consultant deployed will need to be badged and cleared by the ICE security office before they would be able to get the PIV and this may take several days. Maybe it would be more feasible if the PWS determines a timeline for submitting employee's name to the ICE security for internal clearance and badging, i.e., 48 or 72 hours. (Of course, all the candidates presented by the contractor already willl have gone through the contractor's clearance process and e-verification)

The Government is not requiring that the Contractor have additional employees already approved for clearance to ensure the continuity of work. This paragraph (1.5.(e)) in the PWS will be edited to remove any ambiguity.

6 PWS 1.5.g 4 We suggest that vaccination requirments be clarified further if the same requirement is applicable to the employees teleworking at all times.

See updated PWS section 1.5 regarding vaccination requirements.

See question #48 regarding telework.

7 Draft PWS Staff Training Pg 4 -6 Will the government be providing details on expentations for training for the role (not government systems)? Is there an expected timeline for the government's training on the Govt system? Would Religeous Exemptions to Vaccination be accepted?

The Government will not be providing details on expectations for training. See updated PWS section 1.5 regarding vaccination requirements.

8 PWS 1.6 5 The paragraph refers to Appendix B for the personnel security requirement, but there is no Appendix B. Maybe this paragraph should be modified to refernce to Part 3 Personnel Security Requirement.

This reference is incorrect and should be Part 3. The PWS will be corrected.

9 Draft PWS Tasks pg 5 Are there different types of clerks for each location. Will the goverment be providing a posistion requirements for the clerk(s).

See updated PWS section 1.16.

10 PWS 1.8.2 Quality Contro 7 Would the government consider requiring ISO9001 as a meaure to ensure applicable quality standards under this contract?

Noted.

11 PWS 1.8.2.a 7 Please clarify your expectations of the contractor to perform rejected work, without cost to the Government on a Time and Materials contract.

See updated PWS section 1.8.2.a.

12 Draft PWS 1.9 8, 9 For AQLs, stating, "For the Any deficiencies shall be corrected and resubmitted by the contractor." What is the response time for resubmission?

See updated PWS section1.9.

13 PWS 1.13 The PWS is identifying two CORs that seem to based in Texas and Georgia.

However, the contractor staff will be dispersed through the nation, will there be a COR for each location identied after the award?

The two CORs will be assigned in Irving, TX. There will not be a COR assigned at any of the locations listed in the PWS.

14 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 1.14.1 10 Confirmation that the Clerks would be full-time staff at 40 hours per week See updated PWS section 1.14.1.

15 Draft PWS 1.16.1 11 Would the government confirm that all billable positions fall under the Service Contract Act (SCA), other than the Project Manager(s).

All the labor hour billable positions, 123 General Clerks, fall under the SCA.

16 Draft PWS 1.16.1 11 Would the government identify the number of General Clerk I, General Clerk II, and General Clerk III by Place of Performance.

See question #9.

17 PWS 1.16.1 11 We recognize that the $2.00/hour premium above the SCA minimum wage rate is applicable to those positions reporting to Detention Centers. Are thre any other hazardous conditions that need to be considered for those employees?

There are no hazardous conditions at any of the locations identified in the PWS. The premium pay is based on historical recruiting data, not hazardous conditions. For the detention centers they are in administrative sections and are not in contact with any detained individuals.

18 PWS 1.16.1 11 Locations of Performance - there are over 60 actual addresses associated with "locations for support". Will all the stated Task Areas (Mail Management, File Management, etc) be required in each of the identified addresses?

All the tasks in section 1.6. of the PWS are required at all locations.

19 PWS 1.16.1 11 Volume of Work - What is the volume of work associated with the OPLA program?

Field Office?

The volume of work is based on a full-time employee, which all positons are. The number of positions assigned to the applicable Field Office is also based on the volume of work at that location.

20 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 1.16.1 11 to 14 Provide clarification around the clerk position required by identifying the occupation code, i.e., General Clerk I (occupation code 01111).

See updated PWS section 1.16.1.

21 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 1.16.1 11 to 14 Clarity of any on-site support, supervision, and work objective activities at each field office

See question #30. See section 1.6., Tasks, of the PWS.

22 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 1.16.1 11 to 14 Who the on-site clerks be supporting and receiving directions and support; systems, access badges, parking, logistics, etc.

The clerks will be receiving administrative support from the OPLA Field Office that they are assigned to.

23 Draft PWS Place of Performance pps 11 - 14 Are there any additional requirements above the usual requirements for clerks, for staff that are posted to detention and processing sites?

There are no additional requirements for clerks assigned to detention and processing sites. All locations will adhere to section 1.6., Tasks, of the PWS.

24 Draft PWS Locations and Quantity of Clerks pg 11-14 Will the government be supplying the SCA Labor Catagory name for current clerks as well as provide a listing of the wage determination locations and current wages for the clerks. Is there a detemined performance level to be considered be succesful of the recruitment/retention goals for the 123 clerks?

See question #20 and the Wage Determinations will be provided with the RFP.

25 PWS 1.16.1 14 Please specify Clerk levels for each location, i.e., Level I, II, III. This would assist the contractor in their pricing.

See question #20.

26 PWS 1.16.3 14 Can an explanation be provided of what services under this contract were not completed due to the pandemic?

To some degree, all services/locations were impacted, however, all services were still performed. Only a couple locations had reduced hours. The CARES Act covered salaries for contractors that were unable to work a 40-hr week due to COVID closures/exposure.

27 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 1.21 17 Recommend replacing the DUNS number required with the Unique Entity ID (UEID) Noted.

28 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 1.21 17 Is the expectation of the government that the contractor invoice directly for the Program Manager, Contract Manager and Quality Control Manager on a CLIN or include their costs in the indirect or overhead for the contract management?

See PWS section 1.25.

29 PWS 1.23 18 Providing current contract staffing levels, within each location will assist the bidders to provide accurate pricing and take away the potential disadvantage vis a vis the incumbant contractor.

The pricing should be based on the staffing needs at the time of contract award, which is detailed in section 1.16.1., Locations and Quatity of Clerks, of the PWS.

30 1.24. KEY PERSONNEL 1.24 20 Are you requiring multiple Project managers ? If so which locations are prefeered? The number of Project Managers on the current contract are two.

None of the Project Managers can/will be located on site.

31 1.24. KEY PERSONNEL 1.24 20 Are you requring a Program manager and quality contract manager and are theese paid postion ?

See question #28.

32 PWS 1.24.1 20 The requirement for Project Manager(s) implies the option of more than 1 Project Manager. Please clarify.

See question #30.

33 PWS 1.24.1 20 Does government envisage for the contractor setting up a project management office?

It will be up to the Offorer to determine the location of the Project Managers. Also see question #30.

34 Draft PWS Key Personnel pg 20 We recommend the Project Manager have experience working with DHS. Noted.

35 DHS ICE OPLA PLAnet Administrative Support Services

1.24. 1. Project Manager

20 Regarding Program Management; if PM support will be FFP, can the government please provide an estimate of hours needed/expected for support? Contractors can estimate the time a program manager would to oversee and provide deliverables, but we need insight into how much interaction and availability the government expects of the PM so we can incorporate that time into our estimate and staffing plan

The Project Management, not Program Management, is a Firm Fixed Price cost. The Project Manager's categorization, full or part-time, should be identified in the Offeror's Pricing Proposal during Phase II. See question #30 for current Project Managers staffing.

36 PWS 1.25.1 21 The description of the Contract Manager states, "The contract manager shall not be considered as part of the onsite personnel." Please clarify that no key personnel are required to work onsite to include Project Manager.

See updated PWS sections 1.24 and 1.25.

37 PWS 1.25.2 21 We suggest making the Quality Control Manager a key personnel funded as part of the project managment requirement. The Government expresses a vital impact the Quality Control Manager will have on the project. We find it necessary for the QCM to perform site visits and inspect deliverables to ensure contract compliance. It would be neceeary for the QCM to have direct access to Government facilities and documents for review.

Noted.

38 DHS ICE OPLA PLAnet Administrative Support Services

Deliverables 22 How does the government track quality and submission of deliverables? Is there a current task management “sharepoint” or tool? Is this self-reported?

The submission of deliverables will be in accordance with section 2.0., Deliverables, of the PWS.

39 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 -- -- Providing the incumbent contract number and contractor to develop a Transition plan as incumbent personnel are always our first priority. Additionally, this will provide an understanding of the expectations and help prospective contractors be better prepared for quotations.

Bowhead Communications Group, 70CMSD18C00000003.

40 RFQ 70CMSD22R00000003 -- -- Clarification if executive order 14026, 13658, and/or 13706 from the Wage Dertermination contracts will apply to this contract.

EO's 14026 and 13706 are applicable to this contract.

41 PWS Spikes in Work - Are there times when there are spikes in the volume of work?

How often?

There are fluctuations in the volume of work at all locations. See updated PWS section 1.14.2.

42 Is there an incumbent? If so, can yu provide the company name? See question #39.

43 We believe this requirement can also be solicitated under NASIC 541611. Noted.

44 Is there an incumbent? If yes, who is the incumbent? If yes, what is the contract number, contract value, Period of Performance?

See question #39.

45 Can the government accept CPARS instead of PPQ? Noted.

46 Because of Covid and the impact to small businesses, will the government accept past performance of 4 years ago vs just 3 years ago?

Under Advisement

47 What is the contract value? The rough order of magnitude for this contract is $50-60 Million for the life of the contract (Base + 4 Option Periods)

48 PWS 1.16.2 1.16.3 14 How many positions are teleworking at this time? None.

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