Question_-_Answer_Tracker.pdf

780T02018Q9NOTD408

TSA Canines Solicitation

Question – Answer Tracker

1. Section 5. Assessment Requirements, 5.3 Phase III Testing, 5.3.1 pg. 12 (PSC Ready).

Question: “Canine will be required to navigate through luggage areas and confidently work on and around baggage handling equipment such as baggage carousels. The canine will be subjected to Rail Cars or Aircraft.” In an effort to provide an effective training environment that produces the optimal canine for assessment, or in the event that the evaluation is conducted at the vendor location, will TSA assist in facilitating support under CFR 49 Subpart 1542.07 for vendor access to the above required operational training/evaluation areas?

Answer: No

2. Section 5. Assessment Requirements, 5.3 Phase III Testing, 5.3.2 pg. 12 (PSC Basic).

Question: “PSC searches in Phase III will be conducted in terminal environment with seated Role Players.” In an effort to provide an effective training environment that produces the optimal canine for assessment, or in the event that the evaluation is conducted at the vendor location, will TSA assist in facilitating support under CFR 49 Subpart 1542.07 for vendor access to required operational training/evaluation area i.e. terminal environment?

Answer: No

3. Section 5. Assessment Requirements, 5.3 Phase III Testing, 5.3.4 pg.12 (PSC Basic).

Question: “All canines being evaluated under Phase III, will be evaluated in an operational airport environment at San Antonio International Airport or other suitable airport.” In an effort to provide an effective training environment that produces the optimal canine for assessment, or in the event that the evaluation is conducted at the vendor location, will TSA assist in facilitating support under CFR 49 Subpart 1542.07 for vendor access to required operational training/evaluation areas i.e. suitable airport?

Answer: No

4. Section 5. Assessment Requirements, 5.4 Phase IV Pages 11 -12. 5.3.1thru 5.3.4 (PSC Ready).

Question: “Successfully locate the full complement of explosive odors in all six of the required EDC areas. EDC Search Areas are airport style terminals, cargo warehouses, luggage, aircraft, vehicles, rail cars and any of the associated equipment.” (As further defined in 5.4.1.1 thru 5.4.1.6). In an effort to provide an effective training environment that produces the optimal canine for assessment or in the event that the evaluation is conducted at the vendor location, will TSA assist in facilitating support under CFR 49 Subpart 1542.07 for vendor access to the above required areas for operational training and evaluation areas?

Answer: No

5. Section 5. Assessment Requirements, 5.4.2 PSC Search Areas 5.4.2.1 and 5.4.2.2 Pages 13-14.

Question: “First area will consist of the canine searching an airport terminal style facility.” In an effort to provide an effective training environment that produces the optimal canine for assessment or in the event that the evaluation is conducted at the vendor location, will TSA assist in facilitating support under CFR 49 Subpart 1542.07 for vendor access to the above referenced required areas for operational training and evaluation areas?

Answer: No

6. Section 5. Assessment Requirements, 5.4.2 PSC Search Areas 5.4.2.1 and 5.4.2.2, 5.4.2.2.1 Pages 13- 14.

Question: “The group will be comprised of up to 40 Role Players.” In the event that the assessment is being conducted at vendor location, is the vendor responsible for these man power requirements and the associated labor cost incurred with the requirement?

Answer: All canines presented for PSC related orders will be evaluated at the Canine Training Center.

7. Section 5. Assessment Requirements, 5.4 Phase IV Page 12.

Question: “The number of Non-Productive Responses (NPR) and missed explosive training aids will be determined by the current CTC Evaluation standard.” What is the current CTC evaluation standard on NPR and missed explosive training aids?

Answer: The Evaluation Standards are classified as Sensitive Security Information and will be distributed when it is determined there is a need for PSC Ready or PSC Advanced canines

8. Section III, Statement of Work, 3. Canine requirements (3.5 – Sex - surgical altering), page 6.

Question: Males and Females may be purchased intact. Does this mean TSA will purchase both altered and unaltered canines?

Answer: Yes

9. Section III, Statement of Work, 3. Canine Requirements (3.6.6 – Overweight or Underweight Canines), page 6.

Question: Does the TSA have specific criteria regarding overweight or underweight canines?

Answer: The determination that a canine is over/underweight will be determined by the DOD Veterinarian. The scale used is the Body Composition Scale published by Purina.

10. Section III, Statement of Work, 3. Canines Requirements (3.7.16 – Repetitive immature behaviors), page 7.

Question: Can TSA provide examples of “repetitive immature behaviors?”

Answer: These are similar behaviors witnessed with some adult canines however more pronounced.

These include but are not limited to play biting, dependency on the handler, inability to handle stress, lack of sufficient recovery, submissive urination, loss of focus, etc.

11. Section 1, 2nd paragraph (p 2/40).

Question: The Government has indicated that a total quantity of 1,000 canines may be ordered with a ceiling price of $9.5M. This implies a unit price per canine of $9500, well below market rates for high quality canines. Do these numbers indicate TSA’s anticipated price point, or are they just programming estimates?

Answer: Programming estimates.

12. Section 4.5.6.3 (p 9/40).

Question: This section refers to ‘canine…behavior, as defined in Section 5.4’. Section 5.4 details Phase IV/PSC Ready testing requirements, so the reference may need to be checked. Section 5.1 describes canine behaviors and attributes. To ensure we comply, can the Government please confirm the correct reference is 5.1?

Answer: The correct reference is all of Section 5 as applicable to the tier of canine (EDC Basic, PSC Basic, PSC Advanced, and PSC Ready). Section 4.5.6.3 has been updated accordingly.

13. G.5200.242.001 (2) (p17/40).

Question: No Technical Monitor is listed. Are we correct in assuming that there will not be a Technical Monitor, or does the Government intend to name one at a later date?

Answer: A Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will be appointed. There will be no formal appointment of a Technical Monitor.

14. Section VII, subsection 2.0.A (p 34/40).

Question: This section recommends that the initial quote ‘contain your best terms for this work’. We note that the rates we submit in the RFQ Response are ceiling rates, so for some BPA Calls, our terms may be better than conveyed in the BPA response. Can the Government confirm that use of the term ‘best terms’ does not preclude offerors from bidding at less than submitted ceiling rates in response to future BPA Calls?

Answer: Confirmed.

15. Section VII, subsection 4.0.B (p 36/40).

Question: The instructions use the phrase ‘printed on only one side of the paper’. Can the Government confirm its intent that this is an electronic submittal? In addition, can the Government indicate whether a fold-out (11 x 17) counts as one (1) or two (2) pages for purposes of page count?

Answer: Yes, electronic submission. Quoter’s shall adhere to the 8 ½ by 11 inch size requirement as well as the stipulated page limitations for each volume.

16. Section VII, subsection 5.0.D (p38/40).

Question: The BPA Pricing Table (Factor 3) Instructions stipulate that quoters are to submit questions rather than submit pricing with assumptions. To that point, we request TSA provide historical information on the percent of EDC Basic canines presented to TSA at Lackland that ultimately do not pass the assessment phase (whether through behavioral, environmental, or medical reasons). If available please indicate the underlying cause (e.g., behavioral, environmental or medical) of the ‘wash out’. This information will help us build a more responsive price.

Answer: Acceptance rates for showings have ranged from 0% to 100% with rejection reasons included in the SOW. There has been a direct correlation between the success rates versus the trainer’s knowledge of the SOW requirements and continuity of those trainers preparing the canines.

17. Ge L. 5200.225.001.

Question: Is this under Buy America?

Answer: This solicitation identifies the clause at FAR 52.225-5, Trade Agreements, and the Trade Agreements Certificate found under paragraph (g)(5) of solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications. The Trade Agreements Clause recognizes that the acquisition is covered by the WTO GPA and that the restrictions of the Buy American statute are not applicable.