2.4.1-70CMSD23R00000008 Amendment 0001 track changes.pdf

70CMSD23R00000008 Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Financial Forensic Support Services

July 19, 2023 Amendment 0001-July 21, 2023

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation issued for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. The clauses and provisions referenced in this solicitation may be reviewed/obtained in full text form at http://www.acquisition.gov/far.

(ii) Solicitation number 70CMSD23R00000008 is being issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP) using full and open competition procedures. This procurement will be conducted under FAR Part 12 supplemented with FAR Part 15, and FAR Subpart 16.5 procedures.

The procedures of FAR subpart 15.3 shall not apply to this acquisition. The Government does not intend to establish a competitive range, conduct discussions, request quote revisions, or use any other source selection technique associated with FAR subpart 15.3.

Note that the rules regarding vendor communications described in FAR Part 15.3 shall not apply to this acquisition. Contractors are strongly encouraged to submit their best technical and price quotes. The Government anticipates award of a single Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a five-year ordering period. No option periods will be included. The contract type will be a Hybrid, allowing task orders to be placed using Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Time and Materials (T&M) and Labor Hour (LH) contract types. All labor categories will be priced usingwith fixed labor hour rates.

FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services will be included enabling the Government to extend the ordering period for up to six months.

(iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-04 effective on 6/2/2023.

(iv) The National American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541219, Other Accounting Services, with a small business size standard of $25 million. The Product Service Code (PSC) for this acquisition is R703, Support- Management: Accounting. No set-aside will be used; however, small businesses are encouraged to submit proposals.

(v) The Contract-Line-Item Numbers (CLINs) for this IDIQ will be as follows:

CLIN CLIN Description Estimated labor hours over 5-year ordering period

CLIN 0001 INTELLIGENCE ANALYST (JUNIOR)-1 FTE 9,560

CLIN 0002 (SURGE CLIN) INTELLIGENCE ANALYST (JUNIOR)-1 FTE 9,560

CLIN 0003 INTELLIGENCE ANALYST (JOURNEYMAN)-1 FTE 9,560

CLIN 0004 (SURGECLIN) INTELLIGENCE ANALYST (JOURNEYMAN)-1 FTE 9,560

CLIN 0005 FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT (JUNIOR)-3 FTEs 28,680

July 19, 2023

CLIN 0006 (SURGE CLIN) FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT (JUNIOR)-3 FTEs 28,680 CLIN 0007 FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT (JOURNEYMAN)-2 FTEs 19,120 CLIN 0008 (SURGE CLIN) FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT (JOURNEYMAN)-2 FTEs 19,120

CLIN 0009 FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT (SENIOR)-1 FTE 9,560

CLIN 0010 (SURGE CLIN) FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT (SENIOR)-1 FTE 9,560

CLIN 0011 CYBER FORENSIC ANALYST (JOURNEYMAN)-5

FTEs 47,800

CLIN 0012 CYBER FORENSIC ANALYST (JUNIOR)-5 FTEs 47,800

CLIN 0013 OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST

(JOURNEYMAN)-4 FTEs 38,240

CLIN 0014 OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST (JUNIOR)-4

FTEs

38,240

CLIN 0015 TRAVEL (NOT TO EXCEED (NTE) $100,000.00

(vi) The services required are detailed the Performance Work Statement (PWS), Attachment 2 to this solicitation. ICE anticipates that CLINs 0001, 0003, 0005, 0007, and 0009 will cover the regular, reoccurring tasks under PWS Section 4. CLINs 0002, 0004, 0006, 0008, and 0010 will cover any surge in support needed for such tasks.

CLINs 0011 – 0014 cover the additional work that may be needed at ICE’s discretion as described in PWS Section 5. CLINs are identified in the CLIN structure above and in Attachment 3, Price Matrix. Under this ID/IQ, ICE is only required to order the minimum guarantee and will place orders using whichever CLINs are needed to meet ICE’s requirement.

(vii) The resulting IDIQ will have a five-year ordering period and include FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services. Individual task orders will have their own periods of performance that will not exceed 12 months. The minimum guarantee for the resulting IDIQ is $485,000.00. Once this minimum has been met, the Government is under no obligation to continue placing orders. The minimum and maximum value of the IDIQ will be indicated in the Schedule of the resulting IDIQ award. Place of performance is detailed in RFP Attachment 2-PWS.

(viii) The Government will be using innovative procurement techniques for this award in order to maximize competition and streamline evaluations. The evaluation for this acquisition will be conducted in two Phases with an advisory down select notice sent to all participants after Phase 1 as detailed in section (x) below.

(ix) Evaluation Factors and Basis for Award

In accordance with FAR 52.212-2 in Attachment 1-Provisions and Clauses, the Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer confirming to the solicitation will be the most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The Government will be using tradeoff procedures.

The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers.

July 19, 2023

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following evaluation factors:

Factor 1: Technical Capability (Hypothetical Scenario) Factor 2: Technical Competency and Staffing Factor 3: Demonstrated Experience Factor 4: Price

Relative Order of Importance:

The factors are listed in descending order of importance, Factor 1, Technical Capability (Hypothetical Scenario), being the most important, and Factor 4-Price, being the least important. All non-price factors, when combined are significantly more important than Price. As offers become more equal in non-price factors, price becomes more important. The Government may be willing to pay a price premium for proposal features that reduce the risk of unsuccessful contract performance, provide increased technical capability or greater benefits to the Government. An integrated assessment will be used to determine which offer represents the best overall value to the Government. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following ratings as applicable to their respective evaluation factor. Evaluation Factors 1, 2, and 3 will be evaluated utilizing confidence ratings as detailed in the table below:

High Confidence The Government has high confidence that the Offeror understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, and will be successful in performing the contract with little or no Government intervention.

Some Confidence The Government has some confidence that the Offeror understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, and will be successful in performing the contract with some Government intervention.

Low Confidence The Government has low confidence that the Offeror understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, or will be successful in performing the contract even with Government intervention.

(x) Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions:

Offerors shall submit their proposal with sufficient detail to meet the minimum requirements of the PWS as detailed in the table below. Submissions should be 12-point font, Times New Roman or Arial, single spaced, pages count will include tables and/or figures.

July 19, 2023

Volume Volume Title Page Limit

Volume 1 (include Cover Letter with this volume), Phase 1

Factor 1: Technical Capability (Hypothetical Scenario)

Five (5) pages

Volume 2, Phase 2 Factor 2: Technical Competency and Staffing Three (3) pages

Volume 3, Phase 2 Factor 3: Demonstrated Experience Three (3) pages

Volume 4, Phase 2 Factor 4: Price Vendors shall use Government provided Price Matrix (Excel spreadsheet)

Cover Letter: (to be submitted during Phase 1, Factor 1 submission) The proposal shall include a cover submitted with Volume 1 letter that includes the following:

1. RFP Number & Title

2. Name and address of vendor

3. Name, telephone number & e-mail address of main point-of-contact

4. Date of submission

5. Small business size status

6. Company Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) registered in SAM.gov

7. The validity period of the proposal

8. Acknowledgment of Solicitation Amendments (if any)

PHASE 1

Below is the only submission/volume required to submit for Phase 1.

Factor 1: Technical Capability-Hypothetical Scenario (Phase I)

Offerors shall respond to the hypothetical scenario below by responding to the questions provided in the Hypothetical Scenario. Offerors will be evaluated based on completeness or their response and the accuracy, to include the steps/methodology their response employs in accordance with the requirements in the PWS. Response is limited to five (5) pages.

Hypothetical Scenario:

While supporting an HSI financial investigation, you and the HSI case agent identify purchases of various cryptocurrencies (Ethereum, Litecoin and Tron). The purchases were placed by two conspirators of the criminal network under investigation.

Explain how you would trace the cryptocurrencies.

o What advanced tools, technology and methodologies would you use?

o What type of subpoena return data would you like to review?

o What steps would you take to further the investigation after identifying decentralized exchanges and mixers?

July 19, 2023

Assume that the above mentioned HSI financial investigation in the hypothetical scenario also involves elder/romance financial fraud and the utilization of money mules, bank accounts (100+ identified accounts), MSB wires, TBML, and shell companies to facilitate the money laundering scheme.

o What steps would you take to further the investigation and assist in developing evidence to support money laundering charges and asset forfeiture?

o How would you prioritize the analysis of bank accounts and other financial records?

o What steps would you take during the financial analysis to ensure that the flow of illicit proceeds is fully identified and is able to be traced from inception to its ultimate disposition despite the money laundering methodology being utilized?

o How would you integrate the investigative analysis of open-source, social media, and other data with the financial analysis derived from the forensic accounting work?

After Factor 1 is evaluated, the Government will provide all offerors an advisory down select notice informing each vendor of their likelihood to be competitive in Phase 2 and recommend if they should proceed to that phase. These letters are advisory in nature and vendors may choose to proceed to Phase 2.

All vendors should consider time and expense when deciding to continue to proceed to Phase 2 as the Government will not reimburse any proposal preparation costs for vendors.

PHASE 2

For offerors who choose to participate in Phase 2, the following submissions are required.

Factor 2: Technical Competency and Staffing

Offerors shall submit a narrative addressing the bullets below. Offerors will be evaluated based on completeness of their narrative as it relates to performing the requirements in the PWS and how their responses support successfully performance for the proposed IDIQ contract for which exact delivery/quantity of services are not fully known at time of award. Response is limited to three (3) pages.

The vendor shall include the following:

Professional qualifications and certifications of all personnel (e.g., Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC), Certified Bitcoin Professional (CBP), etc.).

Relevant experience and training of staff. Please identify the number of candidates you are proposing on this effort that already have a DHS/ICE, DOD, or other federal agency clearance.

Description of your recruitment and retention efforts. Describe how you plan to handle surge requirements, employee turnover or unexpected events.

Description of how your employees maintain current competencies and how they become educated on emerging technologies.

July 19, 2023

Clear definition of roles and responsibilities of staff.

Factor 3: Demonstrated Experience

Offerors shall submit a narrative describing demonstrated experience in narrative format for performing work that is similar or same to the tasks identified in PWS sections 4.0 and 5.0. Offerors will be evaluated based on their experience as it relates to the work described in the PWS. Narratives shall include the agency that you performed the work for, dollar value and number of employees you had working on each at any given time. Highlight successful outcomes to the agencies that you supported. Vendors who have specific specialized forensic accounting experience that was used to further law enforcement investigations will receive a higher demonstrated experience rating than vendors who do not have this experience.

Response is limited to three (3) pages.

Factor4: Price

The Government will evaluate Factor4, Price, for award purposes using the total evaluated price. There will be no option periods included on the awarded IDIQ contract. FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Service will be evaluated by using the last Fiscal Year 2028 pricing submitted with offerors RFP Attachment 3- Price Matrix. To account for the option periods possible under FAR 52.217-8 (maximum of six months), the Government will evaluate the option to extend services by adding six months of the offeror’s Fiscal Year 2028 pricing to the offeror’s total price. This amount will be the total evaluated price. The Government may choose to exercise the Option to Extend Services at the end of the five-year ordering period. Prices for the five-year ordering period, including the 6-month option available under FAR 52.217-8, will be evaluated to ensure that they are fair and reasonable for performance of the requirements established in the solicitation and as proposed in the technical submission. The price for the effort associated with FAR 52.217-8 will not be included in the total awarded value at contract award. If, at the end of the IDIQ ordering period and within the time period established in the clause, the Government chooses to exercise this option, the pricing will be pursuant to the rates specified in the contract for the preceding performance period.

Small Business Subcontracting Plan instructions:

All large businesses submitting proposals as the prime contractor shall submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Oct 2022).

Failure to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan that is acceptable to the contracting officer will result in an offeror being ineligible for award. Small Business Subcontracting Plans are due with Phase 2 proposals.

(xi) Phase 1 proposals are due to the contract specialist, Michael Trelford and the contracting officer, Tracy Riley, no later than 3:00pm EST, Friday, July 28, 2023, via email to Michael.Trelford@ice.dhs.gov and Tracy.Riley@ice.dhs.gov. Phase 2 proposal due date will be provided in the advisory down select notice provided to all Phase 1 participants.

July 19, 2023

(xii) Any questions regarding this combined synopsis/solicitation should be emailed to the contract specialist and contracting officer no later than 10:00am EST, Monday, July 24, 2023, at Michael.Trelford@ice.dhs.gov and Tracy.Riley@ice.dhs.gov.

TRACY D. RILEY

Contracting Officer

Attachments:

Attachment 1-Provisions and Clauses Attachment 2-PWS Attachment 3-Price Matrix