02.02.01 Attachment 07 70FBR426Q00000038 Questions_Answers - Level II Armed Guard DR4930-MS.pdf

Questions/Answers

The question period has ended, please see the below questions and answers to assist with responses in support of DR4930-MS request for quote 70FBR426Q00000038.

The response due date has also been updated to September 8, 2026 at 3:00 pm CT.

1. FAR 26.2 Local Area Set-Aside – Non-Local Prime with Local Subcontractor The solicitation is issued as a Local Area Set-Aside under FAR Subpart 26.2. Please confirm whether a non-local offeror may qualify as the prime contractor by teaming with or subcontracting to a firm that resides or primarily does business within one of the designated counties. If permitted, please identify any minimum percentage of work that must be performed by the local subcontractor or teaming partner.

Answer: The (small business) subcontractor can be outside the designated local area, however, per FAR 52.226-5 (b)(1) “Services (except construction). At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the Contractor or employees of other businesses residing or primarily doing business in the area designated in the clause at FAR 52.226—4, Notice of Disaster or Emergency Area Set-Aside”.

Additionally: if the (small business) Prime contractor does not reside within the declared counties and the subcontractor does, the Prime contractors must submit their business plan to manage the subcontractor and provide the subcontractor capabilities, past performance, and all required information as outlined in the PWS and evaluation factors since they will be providing the services.

2. Local Prime / Non-Local Subcontractor Structure

If a non-local company cannot satisfy the FAR 26.2 eligibility requirement as prime through a local subcontracting arrangement, please confirm whether a qualified local-area company may serve as the prime contractor and subcontract a portion of the Level II Armed Protective Security Officer services, management, recruiting, training, or other contract functions to a non-local security company. Please identify any limitation on subcontracting or minimum self-performance requirement.

Answer: Due to RFQ 70FBR426Q00000038 issued as a local area small business set aside based on the declared counties identified in the Presidentially Declared DR4930-MS disaster, it is the responsibility of the offeror (be it Prime or Subcontractor) that identifies as a small business provide documentation/proof that they reside in and/or work in the declared counties as identified in this RFQ as (Covington, Wayne, Greene, George, Stone, Harrison, Pearl River, and Hancock) and also provide all of the required documentation identified in the PWS and evaluation factors. Since this is a small business local area set aside, no limitations exist.

3. Active Mississippi Business License Factor 1 requires an “Active business license for the State of Mississippi (within one of the declared counties)” and references the Mississippi Secretary of State business-search site. Please clarify whether this requirement is satisfied by an active Mississippi Secretary of State entity registration/foreign qualification, a county or municipal business/privilege license within one of the designated counties, a private-security/security-company operating license, or a combination of these documents.

Please also confirm which must be active at quotation submission versus prior to performance.

Answer: The offeror must be Registered as a Business (active business license) within the State of Mississippi, and meet the requirements of FAR Clause 52.226-3

4. Twelve-Month Local Facility and Tax Documentation

Factor 1 requests evidence of a leased or owned facility and tax documentation reflecting local operations within one of the designated counties for the prior 12 months. Please confirm whether these are mandatory minimum eligibility requirements, or whether an offeror that does not meet those specific conditions may qualify based on the alternative factors identified in FAR 52.226-3(d).

Answer: The offeror will need to provide evidence of leased or owned facility and tax documentation reflecting local operations within one of the designated counties for the prior 12 months. If the Offeror is utilizing FAR Provision 52.226-3(d), the Offeror will need to submit (1) – (8). The offeror may qualify. That is to be determined based on response(s).

5. Fifteen Company-Owned Weapons Located in Mississippi

Factor 1 requires Attachment 06 identifying 15 company-owned weapons within the State of Mississippi. Please confirm whether all 15 weapons must already be physically located in Mississippi as of quotation submission, or whether an offeror may document ownership and provide a mobilization plan showing that the weapons will be positioned in Mississippi prior to commencement of performance.

Answer: 1.2 Scope, this should be twenty (20) o PWS Needs updated in 3.4.4.10 to 20 level II armed protective security officers o PWS Needs updated in 3.4.411 to 20 level II armed protective security officers o Attachment 02 RFQ Cover page – Levell II Armed Guard Services.pdf is updated to 20 from 15

f) Submit a weapons roster of the 20 (twenty) owned company weapons and are within the State of Mississippi. Fill out and submit Quotation Attachment 06 – Weapons roster o A mobilization plan for weapons not located within MS and requires transport to this state will be required at the time of award and must contain the following: the PSO/Guard qualified, date, location, weapon, serial #, manufacturer & model, with Score Sheet.

6. Attachment 06 – Named Employee / Weapon Assignment Requirement

Attachment 06 requires the following information for each weapon: Employee First & Last Name, Manufacturer, Model, Serial Number, Caliber, Weapon Owner, and Weapon Assignment. Please confirm whether the 15 employees identified on Attachment 06 must also be physically located in Mississippi at the time of quotation submission, or whether they may be named, committed Level II Armed PSOs who will deploy to Mississippi prior to contract start.

Please also confirm whether Attachment 06 is intended to serve as the required named guard roster for those 15 personnel and whether the remaining personnel required to meet the 20-PSO staffing requirement must also be identified by name in the quotation.

Answer: See answer to # 5 above.

• Attachment 06 is intended to serve as the required named guard roster for those 20 personnel.

• If the PSO/Guard/Employee is to be deployed within the State of Mississippi. The Employee must have a Security Guard Firearms Permit from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, plus PSO/Guard qualified, date, location, weapon, serial #, manufacturer & model, with Score Sheet.

7. Documentation of Company-Owned / Registered Weapons

The PWS states that all service weapons must be registered to the company and not to individual security personnel. Please identify what documentation FEMA will accept as evidence that each firearm is company-owned/registered for purposes of this requirement.

Answer: Offeror must provide proof that the company owns the weapons being utilized in the performance of this contract: Corporate Purchase Records, Insurance Records or Asset Tracking Systems. A excel sheet is not enough to validate ownership of the firearms.

A correspondence on the company’s letterhead identifying the company’s ownership of the firearms is acceptable, but must show proof of ownership through purchase record, insurance records.

8. Initial Staffing – 20 Guards vs. 18 Guard Packets

The Scope requires immediate availability of 20 Level II Armed Protective Security Officers, while other PWS language references a minimum of 18 vetted guard packets.

Please confirm:

o the required initial number of Level II Armed PSOs;

o the required number of vetted guard packets;

o whether reserve/relief personnel are in addition to that number; and o whether all required personnel must be fully qualified at quotation submission or only by contract start.

Answer: 20 Level II Armed Protective Security Officers. DR-4930-MS is allowing from August 3, 2026, through December 1, 2026, to have unvetted PSO/Guards. All PSO/Guards must be vetted with an entry on duty (EOD) prior to December 1, 2026, to continue performance on the contract. The 20 PSO/Guards account for reserve/relief personnel.

9. Guard Packets at Quotation Submission

Since Attachment 06 requires named employee-to-weapon assignments, please confirm whether qualification documentation/guard packets for those named employees must be submitted with the quotation, or whether the guard packets are due only at contract start/prior to the employee standing post.

Answer: The weapons qualification documentation must be submitted with the employee packets to validate certification/capabilities to perform as a PSO/Guard within the State of Mississippi. FEMA is not requesting the documents in 3.3. Suitability.

10. Individual Guard Licensing at Quotation Submission Please confirm whether each proposed Level II Armed PSO must possess all applicable Mississippi/local security licenses, armed-guard/firearms permits, CPR/First Aid/AED certifications, and other required credentials at quotation submission, or whether these credentials must be active prior to commencement of work.

Answer: All Level II Armed Protective Security Officers must meet the requirements of PWS 3.1.1. The credentials must be active prior to submission. However, this does not preclude an Offeror submitting Level II Armed PSO that do not meet the requirement with a plan to become active prior to commencement of work.

11. Project Manager and Alternate – Location and Qualifications

The PWS requires identification of the Project Manager and alternate(s). Please confirm:

• whether the Project Manager and/or alternate must reside or be physically located in Mississippi;

• whether either must be located within one of the designated disaster counties;

• whether remote/off-site management is acceptable provided all availability and response requirements are met; and

• whether resumes, minimum experience qualifications, certifications, or letters of commitment must accompany the quotation.

Answer: See 3.6 Project Manager, but to further clarify location of primary or alternate.

The individual(s) do not need to reside within the city, county, state of Mississippi.

Remote/off-site management is acceptable. A resume, minimum experience, qualifications, certifications, or letter of commitment is not requested with the quotation.

12. Incumbent / Predecessor Contractor Information

The PWS references a predecessor/incumbent contractor and transition of incumbent personnel. Please provide, if available: Answer: only the awardee will receive the incumbent’s information if an applicable transition period is required

• incumbent contractor name; N/A

• incumbent contract/order number; N/A

• current staffing level; N/A

• current number of Level II Armed PSOs; N/A

• current post/site staffing information; and N/A

• any available information regarding incumbent employees that may assist offerors in preparing staffing and transition plans. N/A

13. Period of Performance Clarification The RFQ Cover Page identifies a Period of Performance of September 17, 2026 through November 16, 2026, while other PWS language appears to describe a three-month base period. Please confirm the correct base Period of Performance and all option periods that should be used for technical and pricing purposes.

Answer: The base period of performance will consist of a three-month period of performance (starting on the date of award) and will also include one three-month option period (if needed)

14. Mississippi Insurance Requirement Factor 1 requires “Valid and Current Business Insurance for the State of Mississippi.”

Please identify the required insurance types, minimum coverage limits, endorsements, certificate requirements, whether Mississippi operations must be specifically identified on the certificate, whether FEMA/DHS or the United States Government must be named as an additional insured, and whether such coverage must be active at quotation submission or prior to performance.

Answer: The insurance policy must be active. The required minimum coverages are as follows:

o Commercial General Liability (claims-made)

$1,000,000 – Each Occurrence

$100,000 – Damage to Rented Premises

$10,000 – Med Exp (Any one person)

$1,000,000 – Personal & Adv Injury o Gen’L Aggregate Limit Applies per: Policy

$2,000,000 – General Aggregate

$2,000,000 – Products – Comp/OP AGG o Automobile Lability

N/A – Combined Single Limit (EA Accident)

N/A – Bodily Injury (per person)

N/A – Bodily Injury (per accident)

N/A – Property Damage (per accident) o Umbrella Liab

$1,000,000 – Each Occurrence

$2,000,000 – Aggregate o Worker’s Compensation and Employer’s Liability (Y), Per Statute X.

$500,000 – E.L. Each Accident

$500,000 – E.L. Disease – EA Employee

$500,000 – E.L. Disease – Policy Limit o No exclusions that undermine security work (assault and battery, use of force, firearms or weapons, contractual liability, employee injury exclusions beyond normal policy structure.

15. Collective Bargaining Agreement / Incumbent Wage Information

Please confirm whether an existing Collective Bargaining Agreement, union agreement, or other incumbent labor agreement applies to the incumbent guard workforce. If so, please provide the applicable CBA and current wage, health-and-welfare, fringe benefit, seniority, or related information necessary for accurate pricing and incumbent transition planning.

Answer: N/A, the department of labor wage determinations will be uploaded per county for rate references for level II armed guards

16. Bonding Requirements Please confirm whether this procurement requires any bid bond, performance bond, payment bond, surety bond, fidelity bond, firearms/security-related bond, or other bonding requirement. If bonding is required, please provide the required amount or percentage, form, timing, and surety requirements.

Answer: No bonding is required in accordance with this contract.

17. Contractor-Furnished Vehicles – Quantity, Patrol Usage and Estimated Mileage

The PWS identifies patrol vehicles, 4x4 vehicles, vehicle strobe lighting, and all-terrain vehicles as Contractor-furnished equipment when deemed necessary. To support consistent and accurate pricing, please provide:

• anticipated number and type of vehicles required;

• locations/posts where vehicles are expected;

• minimum vehicle specifications and marking/lighting requirements;

• whether a vehicle must be dedicated to a post or may be shared between sites;

• anticipated patrol routes and patrol frequency;

• approximate route distance; and

• estimated mileage per vehicle/per shift, estimated monthly mileage, or historical mileage for the Base and Option Periods.

If exact mileage is unavailable, please provide the Government’s best estimate or historical utilization. Please also confirm whether fuel, maintenance, insurance, repairs, lease/depreciation, mileage, and other vehicle operating costs must be incorporated into the proposed labor/unit rates or may be separately priced.

Answer: No Vehicles are being requested in the performance of this contract.

18. Government-Furnished Equipment and Supplies

PWS Section 6.0 states that the Government will provide certain workspace, equipment, and supplies necessary for on-site performance unless otherwise specified. Please provide an itemized list of Government-Furnished Property/Equipment anticipated at each location, including, as applicable, workspace/furniture, radios and chargers, telephones/cellular devices, computers, internet/communications capability, access-control equipment, screening equipment, magnetometers, guard desks, keys/access cards, surveillance/CCTV equipment, and other post equipment or supplies.

Answer: Each location will have a desk and chair, unless the PSO/Guard is patrolling the facility. Each location. FEMA may have Held Wand/Magnetometer, but in accordance to the PWS 7.1 Uniform and Equipment, this is to be provided by the company.

19. Communications Equipment – Radios and Phones

Please clarify whether radios, radio chargers, cellular phones, and other communications equipment required for guard operations are Government-furnished or Contractor-furnished. If Contractor-furnished, please provide anticipated quantities, minimum specifications, system/network compatibility requirements, and expected coverage areas.

Answer: The government can provide radios, and radio chargers if needed and/or requested by the contractor. The Offeror is responsible for furnishing cellular phones if that is the communication method chosen. The Offeror must ensure all equipment is fully compatible with local commercial cellular networks and any specified regional radio frequencies used for emergency coordination. Continuous, 100% coverage is required across all contract performance locations, including interior building posts, and perimeter patrols. Offeror must provide quantities that fully satisfy the operational coverage requirements outlined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

20. Contractor-Furnished Equipment Identified “When Deemed Necessary” For contractor-furnished items identified as required “when deemed necessary,” including 4x4 vehicles, ATVs, guard shacks, fencing, or similar equipment, please clarify whether FEMA will identify these requirements prior to quotation submission/award or whether offerors should include contingency costs for these items in their proposed rates.

Answer: when deemed necessary equipment is not being requested for this requirement

21. Post-Award Feedback / Debriefing Please confirm whether FEMA will provide post-award feedback or a debriefing to unsuccessful offerors under this RFQ and, if so, identify the procedure and timeframe for requesting such feedback or debriefing.

Answer: the vendor must request a debriefing in writing within the allotted timeframe after the receipt of an unsuccessful offeror notification

22. Quotation Due Time – CT vs. EST The RFQ cover letter states that quotations are due September 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM CT, while the General Information section states September 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST. Please confirm the controlling quotation submission time and time zone.

23. Answer: The RFQ response date has been updated in SAM.gov to reflect a due date of September 8, 2026 at 3:00 pm CT.

24. Weapons Quantity / Assignment Requirement Factor 1 requires submission of Attachment 06 for 15 company-owned weapons located in Mississippi, while PWS Section 7.2.11 requires one contractor-assigned weapon per individual PSO and prohibits weapon sharing. Please confirm whether the 15 weapons identified in Attachment 06 represent only the minimum documentation required with the quotation, or whether the offeror must identify and provide one company-assigned weapon for every PSO required at contract start.

Answer: offeror must identify and provide one company-assigned weapon for every PSO required at contract start, and weapons qualification must match.

25. Request for Quotation Due Date Extension FEMA advised that responses to the vendor questions are anticipated next week. Because several of the outstanding questions directly affect offeror eligibility, staffing, weapons, licensing, insurance, equipment, and pricing assumptions, we respectfully request that the quotation due date be extended from September 2, 2026 to September 10, 2026.

Answer: The RFQ response date has been updated in SAM.gov to reflect a due date of September 8, 2026 at 3:00 pm CT.