70RDAD20R00000007-002 Questions-Responses.pdf

RFQ No. 70RDAD20R00000007-0002 Questions / Government Responses

No. Question 1 There were two documents; one with your requirements and the other based on Past Performance which needs to be filled out. I only saw the Unit info and price on the first document and I am just trying to be sure that I am filling out what is needed.

Government’s Response: Please refer to section viii regarding Instructions to Offerors of the combined synopsis/solicitation.

Offerors shall submit their pricing inclusive of any discounts and fees in accordance with the Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) structure outlined in Attachment 1 Schedule of CLINS and Statement of Work.

2 How many of the scheduled hearings given in your historical data were attended by representatives?

Government’s Response: No representatives attended any hearing in person on behalf of DHS during CY2019. Prior year data is not available at this time.

3 On page 3 of Attachment 1, ten Components are listed. The chart of historical data lists 15 Components. Are the five not listed on page 3 to be included in the proposed services?

Government’s Response: The ten components on page 3 of Attachment 1 and the chart of historical data represents the same population. The Office of the Secretary (SEC), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and Science and Technology (S&T) are sub-components of DHS Headquarters (DHS HQ). Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) has been reorganized to Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Administration (CISA). UNKWN is unknown.

4 With respect to the services requested, is there one file format (Attachment B Payroll File #1 Layout from NFC) that applies all the Components with respect to the data feed for unemployment claims?

Government’s Response: All DHS Components receive payroll services through USDA National Finance Center (NFC). NFC will transmit a single file bi-weekly, with updated DHS-wide (all Components) data. Components are differentiated via TP-ORG- STRUCTURE-CODE-DEPT/ AGCY/ 2ND-LEV/ etc. See Section 2.2.1 of Attachment 1.

5 With respect to the services requested, is there one file format (Attachment C Payroll File #2 Layout from NFC) that applies all the Components with respect to the data feed for verification services?

Government’s Response: All DHS Components receive payroll services through USDA National Finance Center (NFC). NFC will transmit a single file bi-weekly, with updated DHS-wide (all Components) data. Components are differentiated via position 1- 5 and 69-80. See Section 2.2.1 of Attachment 1.

6 Who is the current contracted provider of Unemployment Claims for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)?

Government’s Response: The incumbent is TALX Corporation.

8 Are these services currently provided to all agencies listed within the RFP?

Government’s Response: Yes.

9 Is DHS looking to switch from one provider or multiple providers from the different agencies?

Government’s Response: This requirement is for all DHS Components. Services currently are received from one provider.

10 What are your current provider’s fees to DHS per claim, per hearing attended? a. If a flat fee was in effect, what was the flat fee per month/per quarter/annually?

Government’s Response: Contract pricing is considered procurement sensitive and not available at this time.

11 Who is your current provider of Verification of Income and Employment services (VOI/E)? Do all agencies currently utilize the same provider?

Government’s Response: The incumbent for DHS and its Components is TALX Corporation.

12 For VOI/E purposes, how does DHS process payroll for its separate agencies? If DHS utilizes a third-party provider, which provider is used, and is the same third-party provider used? If no third party provider is in use, is there an internal system being used? If yes, is this payroll system used by all agencies? If no, are all agencies ‘self-serve’ in finding a payroll provider?

Government’s Response: All DHS Components receive payroll services through USDA National Finance Center (NFC).

13 How many different providers will the chosen contractor need to ingest data from?

Government’s Response: NFC will transmit a single file bi-weekly, with updated DHS-wide (all Components) data.

14 Of the reported 1,368,973 VOI/E requests received in 2019, approximately how many were commercial requests?

Additionally, how many of these requests were “Work History” reports. Can a full breakdown of the type of requests received in 2019 be provided?

Government’s Response: Please reference the following table for currently available information;

2019 CY19-Q1 CY19-Q2 CY19-Q3 CY19-Q4 Grand Totals

Social Services 13,298 4,642 4,627 4,480 27,047

Verify Employ 156,854 9,172 9,297 12,338 187,661

Verify Salary 169,729 283,193 318,906 382,437 1,154,265

Grand Totals 339,881 297,007 332,830 399,255 1,368,973

15 How many total SUI accounts would be involved across all states and territories?

Government’s Response: This information is not currently available.

16 How many references are required for submission purposes? The RFP only has an attachment with details for a provided reference, but does not detail how many are required.

Government’s Response: Please reference section ix, Criteria #2 of the combined synopsis/solicitation, “The Offeror shall NOT submit more than three (3) past performance references.”

17 Does this contract require FedRAMP Moderate or FedRAMP High certification?

Government’s Response: FedRAMP certification is not required. A federal ATO will be required following award. See Section

4.2 and DHS 4300A.

18 Given the circumstances surrounding the recent COVID-19 pandemic, would DHS consider extending the submission deadline by 2 weeks?

Government’s Response: The allotted two (2) week period will not be extended at this time.

19 “Training may be virtual instructor led or online recordings”

Would DHS accept a repository of training recordings at the end of the application development in place of ongoing/quarterly training sessions

Government’s Response: Yes. Online recordings are sufficient assuming content remains accurate and relevant.

20 "The Contractor shall provide EV and UC Management Reports quarterly at Level 2- Bureau

Code (aka Component, e.g. TSA), with cumulative quarterly and annual data."

Will a full set of reports be sufficient in place on ongoing/quarterly reporting

Government’s Response: At a minimum, EV and UC Management Reports must be delivered/ or otherwise accessible quarterly including all data elements defined in Section 2.2.4.

21 How many documents need to be generated during the verification process?

Government’s Response: A single verification output must include the data elements defined in Section 2.2.2.

22 Can you provide a list of the external systems that will need integration?

Government’s Response: NFC for secure transport of EV and UC files. ICON for state UC process.