TALON RFQ_12-19 Rev 1_1.6.2026.pdf

SECTION A: SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Technology for Applications, Logistics, Operations, and Network

Blanket Purchase Agreement

Request for Quotation

The Transportation Security Administration and the Quoter hereby agree to enter into a single award Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) utilizing the Quoter’s General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) for the services as detailed in this agreement.

BPA DISCOUNT TABLE

The BPA contains the minimum discounts to be applied against the GSA MAS contract prices existing at time of order issuance.

The discounts stated in this BPA apply only to the prices in the underlying GSA MAS contract at time of order issuance. The discounts do not apply to anything not priced on the underlying GSA MAS price list or specified in the individual BPA call orders. For the purposes of this BPA, the term call order is interchangeable with task order.

SECTION B: SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

This is a Request for Quote (RFQ), under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.4, to establish a single award Blanket Purchase Agreement, hereinafter referred to as “BPA”, for Technology for Applications, Logistics, Operations, and Network (TALON) services. The services procured via this BPA will provide information technology engineering services for the Transportation Security Administration.

The BPA will be established pursuant to the terms of the Quoter’s GSA MAS – Information Technology Professional Services (54151S). The ordering of “Order Level Materials (OLMs)” may occur at the Government’s discretion. Occasional travel is expected and will be reimbursed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations contained at 41 Code of Federal Regulations.

The Quoter that receives the award for this single award BPA is also referred to as the “BPA Holder.” The terms and conditions of the BPA Holder’s GSA schedule will flow down to any Calls placed against this BPA. In addition to the BPA Holder’s GSA Schedule, the terms and conditions listed in Sections H and I of this BPA will flow down to any Calls placed against this BPA. Additional terms and conditions may be specified at the BPA Call level. When BPA Call level terms and conditions are specified, the BPA Holder and TSA will execute such terms in writing.

Authorized BPA Users

The BPA may be used by the Transportation Security Administration contracting activities as authorized by the Head of Contracting Activity for TSA. Federal Agencies other than TSA, Federal Contractors, State Governments, and Local Governments are not authorized to place orders under this BPA.

B.1.1 Estimated Value of BPA

The total estimated value for the BPA is $125.6 million dollars. There is no guaranteed minimum or maximum award amount.

B.1.2 Term and Contract Type

The Term of the BPA will be a one-year base period and four (4) one-year option periods.

Contractors may be awarded BPAs that extend beyond the current term of their GSA Schedule contract, so long as there are option periods or a successor contract that if exercised will cover the BPA’s period of performance. In the case of the expiration of a schedule contract, TSA reserves the right to enter a stand-alone contract with the expiring schedule holder should TSA and the contractor mutually choose to do so.

The BPA holder shall notify the BPA Contracting Officer (CO) no less than 60 calendar days prior to the expiration of the contractor’s Schedule contract that its contract is about to expire.

The BPA will not extend beyond the final expiration of the contractor’s Schedule contract in absence of a successor Schedule contract. The Contractor will be responsible for managing any task orders awarded prior to the expiration of the BPA in accordance with the terms specific to the individual task order. Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) orders are preferred by TSA.

The ordering activity shall develop a requirements document for each order covered by the BPA. All orders under the BPA shall specify a price and period of performance of the tasks identified in the task order requirements.

The Government reserves the right at its sole discretion to terminate any BPA call for convenience, for cause, or for default and transfer the remaining work to a different TSA contractor.

B.1.3 Applicable Schedule/Special Item Numbers (SINs) under this BPA

The BPA consists of the following GSA Multiple-Award Schedule SINs:

GSA MAS Information Technology Professional Services (54151S)

B. 2 DISCOUNT PRICING TABLES

MAS Discount Table (To be quoted via Attachment 3 TALON Pricing Workbook)

SECTION C: SCOPE OF SERVICES

See Attachment 1 – Scope of Services

C.1 TSA-RQMTS: Mandatory Training for Contractors Who Require a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Card, Access to TSA Facilities or Networks, or Other Government Resources.

MANDATORY TRAINING FOR CONTRACTORS WHO REQUIRE A PERSONAL

IDENTITY VERIFICATION (PIV) CARD, ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY

ADMINISTRATION (TSA) FACILITIES OR NETWORKS, OR OTHER GOVERNMENT

RESOURCES (JUNE 2024)

The Contracting Officer’s Representative has identified specified government training required for contractors who require a PIV card, access to TSA facilities or networks, or other government resources. Contractors are required to complete the assigned training as a necessary component of performance required under the contract.

The specific classes and time to complete each varies depending on the requirements of the contract and location of performance. However, the Government’s estimate of the total time required to complete assigned classes is 12 hours annually. If the time necessary to complete the classes varies substantially from this estimate, the Contractor should notify the Contracting Officer to discuss appropriate consideration.

Contractor employees are responsible for providing required evidence of timely training completion when the Government assigns such training. Training includes, assigned training through the TSA On-Line Learning Center, attendance at seminars, symposia or user group conferences. Training will not be authorized for the purpose of keeping contractor personnel abreast of advances in the state-of-the-art or for training contractor employees on equipment, computer languages and computer operating systems that are available on the commercial market or required by a contract. This includes training to obtain or increase proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and electronic mail.

The Contractor shall include the terms of this special contract requirement in all subcontracts awarded under this contract.

C.2 TSA-RQMTS: Requirements for Contractor Employees Performing at or in Airport Locations.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES PERFORMING AT OR IN AIRPORT

LOCATIONS (JUNE 2024)

A. All airport security screening requirements which include criminal history, background and fingerprint check. Contractor employees working in this facility will be required to obtain, possess and display a Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge in accordance with the airport’s physical and personnel security requirements. The Contractor is responsible for any fees associated with obtaining and/or replacing SIDA badges. For further information regarding Security Requirements, please contact [Insert name and contact information (phone # and email address) for Specific AIRPORT Point of Contact POC](Details to be provided in applicable call orders) B. If this contract requires contractor performance involving work at airports or locations under the control of airport authorities, the contractor shall obtain all necessary permits and approvals from regulatory authorities at the airport location(s) to allow for the timely completion of the work required under the contract. For further information regarding Permitting Requirements, please contact [Enter the name of the airport “permitting” office POC to include phone # and email address at the airport] (Details to be provided in applicable call orders)

C. If the airport requires insurance, the Contractor must have approved insurance on file with [Enter the AIRPORT(s) name(s)]}. The Contractor is required to procure at its own expense, and keep in effect at all times during the term of the contract, the types and amounts of insurance specified. Typically, companies whose work is performed within buildings and terminals are required to have a minimum of (Enter the amount of insurance) of liability insurance. Companies who require tools and/or equipment, and airfield access must have a minimum of (Enter the amount of insurance) of liability insurance. Air Carrier Operating Permits and Leases may have additional insurance coverage requirements.

The Contractor shall include the terms of this special contract requirement in all subcontracts awarded under this contract.

Requirements to be performed at airport locations will be defined in applicable call orders.

C.3 TSA-RQMTS: Contingency and/or Continuity of Operations Support of Transportation Security Administration Operations.

CONTINGENCY AND/OR CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS SUPPORT OF TRANSPORTATION

SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONS (JUNE 2024)

A. The definitions of specific contingency or emergency-related terms can be found in the National

Response Framework available from the National Response Framework Resource Center glossary at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nrf/.

B. Force and effect of this requirement. The Contractor shall provide surge capacity, reestablish functions, and reconstitute capability and performance under this contract as quickly as possible in response to an incident and/or as ordered by the Contracting Officer in order to meet the requirements necessitated by occurrences or conditions as described in any of the following clauses:

1. “Excusable Delays” paragraph of FAR 52.212-4, “Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial

Products and Commercial Services” clause

2. FAR 52.249-14, “Excusable Delays” clause

3. Related conditions as described in other clauses such as FAR 52.249-8 “Default (Fixed-Price

Supply and Service)”, FAR 52.249-9 “Default (Fixed-Price Research and Development)”, or FAR 52.249-10 (Fixed-Price Construction)” when included in the contract.

C. Response functions and capabilities. The Contractor shall establish and maintain the following capabilities as a requirement of this contract.

1. Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan. The Contractor shall establish a written continuity of operations plan in accordance with “Continuity Guidance Circular (CCG), FEMA National Continuity Programs” of February 2018. In general, COOP plans must be designed in order to:

a) Minimize loss of life, injury, and property damage.

b) Mitigate the duration, severity, or pervasiveness of disruptions that do occur.

c) Achieve the timely and orderly resumption of essential functions and the return to normal operations.

d) Protect essential facilities, equipment, records, and assets.

e) Be executable with or without warning.

f) Meet the operational requirements of the TSA. Continuity plans need to be operational within minutes of activation, depending on the essential function or service, but certainly should be operational no later than 12 hours after activation.

g) Meet the sustainment needs of the TSA. An organization may need to plan for sustained continuity operations for up to 30 days or longer, depending on resources, support relationships, and the respective continuity strategy adopted.

h) Ensure the continuous performance of essential functions and operations during an emergency, including those such as pandemic influenza that require additional considerations beyond traditional continuity planning.

i) Provide an integrated and coordinated continuity framework that takes into consideration other relevant organizational, governmental, and private sector continuity plans and procedures.

2. The Contractor’s COOP Plan is intended to be executed in response to an incident, and the COOP Plan shall address each of the following requirements in depth, in addition to the essential functions described in CCG:

a) Communications. In the case of an applicable incident or a notification per paragraph (D)

“Response Requirement” below, the Contractor shall maintain or be able to re-establish active, real-time communication with its employees under the contract during the 24-hour day period on all days during the week such that the Contractor can ensure performance under the contract will continue at such alternate locations under the contract to meet specified deliverables and/or response to surge capacity. Likewise, the Contractor shall ensure that effective communication about its contract performance can continue with the Contracting Officer, taking into account the operational profile or location of TSA facilities or assets in response to an incident in order to meet specified deliverables and/or response to surge capacity orders from the Contracting Officer.

b) Facilities. In the case of an applicable incident or a notification per paragraph 2(e) “Response Requirement” below, the Contractor shall be able to re-constitute contractor presence at self-provided facilities or at Government-provided facility space as may be required in order to meet specified deliverables and/or response to surge capacity orders from the Contracting Officer.

c) Information Systems/Network. In the case of an applicable incident or a notification per paragraph 2(D) “Response Requirement” below, the Contractor shall maintain and be able to re-constitute an information systems network at its facilities or for use at alternate facilities as may be necessary in order to meet specified deliverables and/or respond to surge capacity orders from the Contracting Officer.

d) Annual or Periodic COOP Exercise. Under the monitoring of the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), the Contractor shall conduct an annual exercise to test the capabilities of its COOP Plan, or the Contractor may be included in periodic TSA COOP exercises as a means of fulfilling this requirement. Typically, a simulated scenario for the exercise will be developed, and the contractor’s management team will place the scenario into action on a simulated basis. As with all exercises, responses to the exercise must be based on the known capacities and capabilities of the contractor’s personnel and assets and take the actual disposition and locations of personnel and assets into account at the initiation and during the conduct of the exercise. Thus, while the exercise’s scenario is simulated, the contractor’s ability to initiate and to plan the execution of a response to the scenario via the COOP Plan is actual and will be assessed by the Government.

The Contractor shall implement recommendations as a consequence of the Government’s assessment of its performance in response to the exercise. The Government’s assessment of COOP plan practice may be likewise included at the Government’s discretion as a portion of the “management” element assessed under the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System. Initiation of an exercise in response to the requirements of this term does not entitle the Contractor to an equitable adjustment or otherwise constitute a change to this contract.

e) Surge capacity and Continuity of Operations (COOP). The Contractor may be required to provide either surge capacity and/or a COOP response to conditions related to this term.

“Surge capacity” means that the volume and pace of the contractor’s performance is required to increase to meet the TSA’s increased volume of work and tempo of operations in an emergency situation. “COOP” means that the contractor may have to conduct various activities to re-establish or reconstitute operations in response to an incident, which could also include a necessity to provide for surge capacity.

D. Response Requirement. The Contractor shall provide surge capacity to implement an increased workload within (Fill in the amount): hours of notification by the Contracting Officer in the event of:

1. A specific declaration of national emergency by the Executive Office of the President and/or the occurrence of an Incident of National Significance or Major Disaster;

2. A contingency operation initiated by DHS and/or the TSA;

3. A continuity of operations re-establishment of DHS and/or its components' locations, deployments, or operational profiles;

4. An emergency or event that affects DHS or TSA operations, requires a specific response as directed by the President, Secretary of Homeland Security, or Principal Federal Official so designated, and/or actuates part or all of the requirements within the National Response Framework;

5. An increase in the Threat Levels published via the Homeland Security Advisory System, either on a national or an industry/sector specific basis (especially with respect to the Threat Conditions of “High,” and/or “Severe”); and/or

6. The establishment of a specific TSA Critical Incident Management Group related to the functional area supported by this contract.

Staffing requirements may increase dramatically during such contingency operations or events. During the beginning of a contingency, the contractor shall be prepared to augment staffing for the duration of the contingency in order to not impact the timeliness of other tasks, which may also be critical during a contingency.

E. Ordering Surge Support. When the contractor’s support to provide surge capacity in response to the requirements of this term is required under the contract, a duly appointed and warranted Contracting Officer will order such support in writing. Only such a designated Contracting Officer is authorized to direct Contractor’s performance in support of the requirements of this term.

F. Annual Statement Affirming Compliance. During each year of performance while this contract is in force, the Contractor is required to submit to the Contracting Officer, on the first day of December or the next following business day, a statement affirming the contractor’s intent to comply fully with the requirements of this term and to indicate sufficient internal capacity to do so.

The Contractor shall include the terms of this special contract requirement in all subcontracts awarded under this contract.

SECTION D: PACKAGING AND MARKING

The contractor shall provide electronic copies of each quote for task order requests to be placed against the prospective BPA via email. The requirements for task order responses will be specified at the task order level by the TSA Contracting Officer.

All requirements for task order deliverables will be specified in each order.

SECTION E: INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

The Quoter’s MAS contract clauses for inspection and acceptance flow down to this BPA and all subsequent task orders placed.

Deliverables to be provided at the BPA level will be inspected and accepted according to the Quoter’s MAS clauses. Deliverables to be provided via orders placed against this BPA will be inspected and accepted according to the Quoter’s MAS clauses, as well as any specialized inspection and acceptance criteria defined in the respective task order award. The inspection and acceptance of all deliverables shall be completed by the task order’s Contracting Officer’s Representative or other authorized Government representative designated in each task order placed against the BPA.

SECTION F: DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.1.1 BPA Period of Performance

The duration of the ordering period for the BPA is for a base period of one-year. The BPA may be unilaterally extended for an additional four (4) years for a total ordering period of five

(5) years if all options are exercised. Option years are contingent upon annual review in accordance GSAR 538.7104-1(c) to be conducted by the TSA CO. The BPA will cease if:

The BPA is terminated by the TSA Contracting Officer in accordance with the Quoter’s GSA MAS terms and conditions, The BPA is terminated by the TSA Contracting Officer in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 52.212-4(l) – Termination for convenience, and 52.212- 4(m) – Termination for cause, or The TSA Contracting Officer decides not to exercise an option to extend the BPA ordering period.

If the Contractor’s GSA MAS expires during the ordering period of the BPA, the Government reserves the right to transition from the vendors awarded GSA MAS contract number to the vendor’s successor GSA Schedule Contract, provided that the following conditions are met:

a. The successor GSA Schedule Contract represents the same offering, to include, but not limited to, a similar mix of products and services, labor categories, and labor specifications and qualifications.

b. All contract specific requirements are maintained; and

c. If the successor GSA Schedule Contract contains lower labor rates than the base BPA pre-negotiated labor rates, then the Base BPA labor rates shall be adjusted downward accordingly. The same percentage of discount applied by the Contractor in support of the proposed labor categories and rates of the award of the Base BPA shall be provided to the Government with the use of the successor GSA Schedule Contract.

This transition may include reissuance of the BPA to reflect the new GSA Schedule Contract number. The Contractor shall take all necessary actions requested by the Government in order to support the transition to a successor GSA Schedule Contract.

F.1.2 Task Order Period of Performance

Each order issued against the BPA will list the specific period of performance that applies to the order. Orders issued prior to but not completed before the BPA is either terminated or expires shall be completed in accordance with the BPA holder’s GSA Multiple Award Schedule Contract. GSA Schedule contract holders are responsible for maintaining their latest clauses applicable to their contract according to the requirements of the GSA Contracting Officer, and specifically within the required GSA eLibrary.

F.2 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

A significant majority of the work will occur at the Contractor’s site. Occasional work will occur at the Government site. The place of performance under the BPA will be specified in the order and may be a Government site or a Contractor site, which includes Government site and/or Contractor site locations within the continental United States (CONUS).

F.3 TASK ORDER TERMINATION

The TSA Contracting Officer may cancel any individual task order by providing written notice via email to the Contractor’s task order administrator. Confirmation by the Contractor of receipt of the cancellation is not required for the cancellation to take effect. Upon cancellation, the Contractor will take an expedited approach to terminating all order activities and utilize the least costly methods to responsibly stop task order activities. Any in process work or completed deliverables will be provided to the TSA Contracting Officer’s Representative upon task order cancellation. The contractor is required to coordinate with TSA, and TSA’s third-party contractors, to transition any cancelled task order activities.

FFP milestones that are achieved by the Contractor prior to cancellation will be eligible for invoicing to TSA. Partial FFP milestones are ineligible for invoicing to TSA upon cancellation of a specific task order. The Contractor must submit supporting cost and price documentation to the TSA Contracting Officer to support a payment determination for partial FFP milestones not achieved prior to task order cancellation. Requests for payment under these circumstances will be handled by the Contractor’s GSA MAS terms and conditions, and specifically FAR 52.233-1 Disputes (May 2014).

F.4 DELIVERABLES

F.4.1 Reporting Requirements

The Contractor shall submit electronic copies of document deliverables to the CO and COR (and other cc’s as may be specified by the CO and/or COR) to the defined collaborative space in the format specified. The link to all document deliverables shall be provided via e-mail by close of business 4:30 pm local time Monday through Friday, unless stated otherwise.

The initial format for most deliverables will be a standard Microsoft Office format. However, TSA is continuing to evolve its application development process and practices including the adoption of new technologies to enhance the management of applications development efforts. The contractor shall use these new technologies in the submission of deliverables.

Additional deliverables may be specified at the BPA call level.

SECTION G: CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 BPA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS

Upon award, the Contracting Officer may designate a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to oversee the performance of the BPA. A written notification shall be sent to the BPA Contractor indicating the administrative functions assigned to the COR.

The BPA CO is the only person authorized to make or approve any changes to the requirements or terms and conditions contained in the BPA. In the event the Contractor makes any BPA changes at the direction of any person other than the BPA CO, the change will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made to cover any increase in cost or change to period of performance incurred as a result thereof.

The following administrative functions apply to the management of the blanket purchase agreement.

The term BPA CO applies to the TSA Administrative Contracting Officer assigned to the administration of the single award BPA.

The term Task Order (TO) Contracting Officer (CO) applies to the TSA Administrative Contracting Officer assigned to the specific task order.

The term GSA CO applies to the General Services Administration Contracting Officer assigned to the administration of the Contractor’s Multiple Award Schedule.

G.2 - TSA-RQMTS: Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System

(CPARS).

CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT REPORTING SYSTEM (CPARS) (JUNE

2024)

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 42.15, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required to report the contractor’s performance under contract. The TSA reporting thresholds, in accordance with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) FAR Class Deviation 11-03 dated August 11, 2011, is $1,000,000 for contracts and orders for services, and $500,000 for contracts and orders for supplies.

In order to support thorough and timely Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) reports, the contractor shall provide a self-assessment of their performance not later than 10 days after the end of the base period, the end of any exercised option period of the contract, and after the end of contract performance. The contractor shall provide a detailed narrative for each of the relevant assessment areas (Quality, Schedule, Cost Control, Management, Utilization of Small Business, and Regulatory Compliance). The contractor may also provide their own self-assessment rating (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal or Unsatisfactory) per FAR Table 42-1 for each area for Government consideration.

The following are elements to be addressed in each area in order to support the narrative and any self- rating:

Quality: Requirements; conformance to specifications; workmanship; accurate reports/data.

Schedule: Milestones; delivery schedules; administrative requirements; schedule variance.

Cost Control: Causes and contractor-proposed solutions for cost overruns/underruns; contractor adherence to total estimated cost; billings current, accurate, and complete. (Not required to be addressed for Fixed Price type contracts unless specifically required elsewhere in the contract) Management: Contractor oriented toward customer; interaction between contractor and Government;

adequacy of the contractor’s accounting, billing, estimating systems and management of Government Furnished Property (GFP); effort devoted to managing subcontractors; risk management practices; supporting key personnel; replace key personnel as necessary.

Utilization of Small Business: Small business participation goals stated in contractor/order;

achievement on each individual goal stated within contract/order or subcontracting plan including good faith efforts if goal was not achieved.

Regulatory Compliance: Contractor complied with contract clause requirements; complied with reporting requirements; complied with Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP); complied with specifications, reporting into databases as required under the contract, and reporting requirements in response to the solicitation provisions and clauses effective under the contract, or other requirements.

Submission of Contractor Self-Assessment: The contractor should utilize the Guidance for CPARS located on the website, https://www.cpars.gov/, to assist in preparation of the self-assessment.

The contractor shall submit their self-assessment, preferably via email, as a MS Word or other MS Office compatible document to the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) identified in the contract within the time period identified above. Standard USPS mail may also be utilized, if required.

TSA may consider the contractor’s self-assessment, along with all available relevant data and information, when completing the contractor’s past performance assessment for each specific performance period. Submission of a contractor’s self-assessment is considered information regarding the contractor’s performance and may not represent the final CPAR rating. Submission of this contractor self-assessment to the Government does not otherwise alter, change, or diminish any rights of the Government as expressed under Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 42 concerning the use of past performance information about any contractual vehicle.

G.3 TSA-RQMTS: TSA Points of Contact.

TSA POINTS OF CONTACT (JUNE 2024)

The primary point of contact for this contract:

Contracting Officer:

NAME: David Little

PHONE NUMBER:

EMAIL: David.Little@tsa.dhs.gov

If a name is included, the Contracting Officer hereby designates the individual(s) named below.

The scope and limitations of the authority so delegated are included in the TSA Requirement entitled, Contracting Officer’s Representative:

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR):

NAME: To be determined at award

PHONE NUMBER:

EMAIL:

Technical Monitor (TM): To be defined at the task order level, if necessary

NAME:

PHONE NUMBER:

EMAIL:

If the clause at FAR 52.216-32 is included, the following applies:

Task-Order and Delivery-Order Ombudsman:

NAME: Elizabeth Harrington

PHONE: (571) 227-1067

EMAIL: TSAProcurementPolicy@tsa.dhs.gov

If the contract includes Government Furnished Property, the following applies:

Government Property Officer:

NAME: Robert Janes

PHONE NUMBER: 571-227-1245

EMAIL: Robert.Janes@tsa.dhs.gov

G.4 TSA-RQMTS: Contracting Officer’s Representative and Technical Monitors.

CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) (JUNE 2024)

The principal role of the COR is to support the Contracting Officer in managing the contract. This is done through furnishing technical direction within the confines of the contract, monitoring performance, ensuring requirements are met within the terms of the contract, and maintaining a strong relationship with the Contracting Officer. As a team the Contracting Officer and COR must ensure that program requirements are clearly communicated, and that the agreement is performed to meet them. The principal role of the Technical Monitor (TM) is to support the COR on all work orders, tasks, deliverables and actions that require immediate attention relating to the approved scope and obligated funding of the contract action.

The COR and TM may be changed at any time, without prior notice to the Contractor; however, notification of the change, including the name and phone number of the successor, will be promptly provided to the Contractor by the Contracting Officer in writing.

The COR duties are as follows:

Performing surveillance/inspection and acceptance.

Monitoring activities, cost, providing input to contractor performance evaluations, and notifications to the Contracting Officer.

Making recommendations for invoices and payments.

Managing Government-furnished Assets (when applicable).

Managing Contractor Employee Access (when applicable).

The responsibilities and limitations of the TM are as follows:

Coordinating with the COR on all work orders, task, deliverables and actions that require immediate attention relating to the approved scope and obligated funding of the contract action.

Performing surveillance/inspection and acceptance.

Monitoring activities, cost, providing input to contractor performance evaluations, and notifications to the COR.

Making recommendations for invoices and payments.

Managing Government-furnished Assets (when applicable).

Managing Contractor Employee Access (when applicable.

G.5 Travel

All travel must be pre-approved by the ordering activity and be in accordance with the agency’s regulations, policies, and procedures. The Contractor will be requested to provide travel as an element within the firm fixed price for a requested project. If special conditions apply where travel as a firm fixed price element is not possible, the following conditions apply.

G.5.1 Travel Costs

All travel costs associated with the performance of specific task orders (TO) will be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and/or IAW the ordering agency’s regulations, policies, and procedures. Costs incurred for transportation and per diem (lodging, meals and incidental expenses) will be billed in accordance with the regulatory implementation of Public Law 99-234, FAR 31.205-46 Travel Costs, and the contractor’s cost accounting system. These costs are directly reimbursable by the ordering agency if specifically authorized in the TO.

The contractor shall notify the TO CO in the TO quote of the requirement for reimbursement of transportation and per diem expenses, prior to traveling. As such, the TO shall include a “not to exceed” limit on these quoted costs. The Government shall NOT be charged G&A fees for any travel, unless other procedures are specified in the underlying GSA MAS contract.

Contractors shall be reimbursed only for any order level CO authorized and approved incurred travel costs at or below the “not to exceed” amount specified on the TO.

G.5.2 Travel on Firm-Fixed Price Orders

The TO CO may either treat travel as a reimbursable expense or the TO CO may allow travel to be included in the lump sum quote for a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) order. This can be determined at the task order level and at the discretion of the ordering activity.

G. 6 Task Order Ordering Procedures

General Ordering Procedures

1. The TSA Contracting Officer shall issue a task order request for quote to the BPA

Holder that details the requested services and dates of performance.

2. Questions posed by the BPA Holder in response to the request must be sent to the

TSA Contracting Officer, TSA COR, and order level technical monitor within three

(3) working days of the TSA CO issuing the one-page request.

3. For FFP orders, the contractor shall provide TSA with a price for the completion of the work based on the labor categories and rates in the awarded BPA, as well as, FFP milestones for payment, a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plane (QASP), and “the definition of done.” Task order proposals are due within five business (5) days.

4. For labor-hour (LH) orders, the contractor shall provide TSA with an estimated price for completion of the work as well as a schedule to complete the work, a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plane (QASP), and “the definition of done.” Task order proposals are due within five business (5) days.

5. All proposals for LH and FFP orders must include sufficient data to answer the following questions:

• What exactly is being estimated (e.g., services, deliverables, order level materials etc.)?

• What is the estimate based on (e.g., prior similar work in process or complete and accepted by the Government)?

• How was it calculated?

• What risks or assumptions are included in the build up?

6. The TSA CO shall establish FFP orders for work identified to the maximum extent practicable. Additionally, TSA intends to convert from the use of LH orders to primarily FFP orders during the performance of the BPA. The Government will consider the contractor’s approach to convert from LH orders to FFP orders when determining the appropriate time to primarily issue orders as FFP orders.

7. The TSA CO may include agency specific regulations, terms and conditions in the

TO that do not conflict with the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract or the BPA terms and conditions. If there is a conflict in terms between the TSA BPA or TSA TO and the GSA MAS, the GSA MAS will prevail except in cases where specific security requirements are invoked by TSA as necessary exceptions to existing GSA MAS terms and conditions.

8. The TSA ordering activity shall be responsible for administering the resulting task order.

G.7 Task Order Level Pricing Quotes

The BPA contains Labor Categories and a minimum discount percentage that will be applied to the BPA Contractor’s current GSA MAS contract pricing at the time the order is issued.

When quoting an order, the quote shall show the GSA MAS contract number, BPA number, current GSA MAS contract labor category, current GSA MAS contract rate, current BPA discount percent and resulting rate or price, and (if applicable) the additional TO specific discount percent and resulting price. See table below as an example:

GSA MAS

Contract Number

BPA Number

GSA

MAS

Contract Labor Category Title

GSA

MAS

Contract Hourly Rate

BPA

Discount

Additional Task Order

Percent

Total

Order

Order Quoted Hourly Rate

GS-YYF-

XXXX

GS00QYYAHAX

XXX

Program Manager

GS-YYF-

XXXX

GS00QYYAHAX

XXX

Project Manager

The TSA Contracting Officer will provide a written task order award that contains the schedule of services, the price for each service, the project statement of work, payment milestones and any other specific terms and conditions that apply to the project. The task order award will be provided via email to the Contractor’s BPA administrator. BPA Calls issued without changes to the contractor’s task order proposal may be issued unilaterally by the TSA CO. BPA Calls that contain changes based on communications between the TSA CO and the Contractor’s BPA Administrator will require execution by both the Contractor and TSA.

G.8 TSA-RQMTS: Submission of Invoices

SUBMISSION OF INVOICES (JUNE 2024)

Background: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) partners with the United States Coast Guard Finance Center for financial services in support of TSA operations, including the payment of contractor invoices. Therefore, all contractor invoices must be submitted to, and will be paid by, the U.S. Coast Guard Finance Center (FinCen).

Invoice Submission Method: Invoices may be submitted via U.S. Mail, or email. Contractors shall utilize ONLY ONE method per invoice submission. It is the responsibility of the contractor to verify that invoices are received, regardless of the method of submission used.

Contractors may inquire regarding the receipt of invoices by contacting the U.S. Coast Guard Finance Center via the methods listed in the paragraph entitled, “Payment Status”. The submission information for each method is as follows (listed in order of preference):

Mail invoices to:

United States Coast Guard Finance Center TSA Commercial Invoices P.O. Box 4111 Chesapeake, VA 23327-4111

Or email invoices to:

FIN-SMB-TSAInvoices@uscg.mil or www.fincen.uscg.mil

Invoice Elements. Invoices that are not proper will automatically be rejected if the information required in the Prompt Payment Clause are not included in the invoice.

Contractors must correct any noted deficiencies and resubmit the invoice directly to the FinCen for verification of error correction.

All invoices must clearly correlate invoiced amounts to the corresponding contract line item number and funding citation. The Contractor shall work with the Government to mutually refine the format, content and method of delivery for all invoice submissions during the performance of the Contract.

Discounts offered after invoice submission. If the Contractor should wish to offer a discount on a specific invoice after its submission for payment, the Contractor should submit a letter to the FinCen identifying the specific invoice for which a discount is offered and specify the exact terms of the discount offered and what time period the Government should make payment by in order to receive the discount. The Contractor should clearly indicate the contract number, invoice number and date, and the specific terms of the discount offered.

Contractors should not structure terms for net amount payments any sooner than the standard period required under FAR Subpart 32.9 regarding prompt payments for the specified deliverables under contract.

Payment Status. Contractors may contact the FinCen via phone or email regarding the receipt of invoices or billing inquiries using (800) 564-5504 or (757) 523-6940 (Voice Option #1) or email: FIN-SMB-CustomerService@uscg.mil.

Frequency of Invoice Submission.

Timely Submission of Invoice s: In order to ensure reimbursement under this contract, invoices shall be timely submitted for payment. Contractors must submit an invoice to the payment office as indicated for all allowable and allocable internal expenditures made during the specified invoice period pursuant to the Contract. Also be advised that under 31 U.S.C.

§1552 and §1553, funds that were obligated to the contract, but that have expired, remain available for adjustments for five (5) fiscal years following expiration of the period for which the relevant appropriation was made. After the respective timeframe, the expired account closes, and the funds are not available for any purpose.

SECTION H: SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 TSA-RQMTS: CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL ACCESS TO TSA FACILITIES,

INFORMATION OR SYSTEMS (FEBRUARY 2025)

A. All Contractor personnel requiring access to TSA facilities, information systems, and/or

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) will be subject to the security procedures set forth in this contract. A fitness determination will be required for all Contractor personnel performing under this contract. When a contractor employee is deemed eligible to commence work on a TSA contract, TSA Personnel Security (PerSec) will notify the appropriate Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) of the favorable determination. Similar notifications will be sent when a contractor employee has not passed the preliminary background check and has been deemed unsuitable.

B. A fitness determination involves the following three phases:

1. Phase 1: Enter On Duty Fitness Determination: a review of a contractor employee’s consumer credit report, criminal history records, and submitted security forms to determine, to the extent possible, if the contractor employee has bad debt and/or criminal offenses and/or falsification issues that would prohibit employment as a TSA contractor. This determination may include verification of citizenship for contractor employees born outside of the United States. A favorable Enter On Duty Suitability Determination is not a final fitness determination; rather, it is a preliminary review of external data sources that allows the contractor employee to commence work prior to the required background investigation being completed.

2. Phase 2: Background Investigation: Once the contractor employee commences work on a TSA contract, TSA PerSec will process all submitted security forms to determine whether the contractor has previously been the subject of a federal background investigation sufficient in scope to meet TSA minimum investigative requirements. Contractor employees who have a federal investigation sufficient in scope will immediately be processed for final fitness adjudication. Those contractor employees who do not have a previous federal background investigation sufficient in scope will be scheduled for the appropriate level background investigation through the National Background Investigations Bureau.

3. Phase 3: Final Fitness Adjudication: TSA PerSec will complete the final fitness determination after receipt, review, and adjudication of the completed background investigation. The final fitness determination is an assessment made by TSA PerSec to determine whether there is reasonable expectation that the continued employment of the TSA contractor will or will not protect or promote the efficiency of the agency. An unfavorable final fitness determination will result in a notification to the COR that the contractor employee has been deemed unfit for continued contract employment and that he/she shall be removed from the TSA contract.

C. The period of performance should not begin until 60 days after contract award to allow for the Enter

On Duty Fitness Determination.

D. Information Requirements. Contractors are responsible for providing the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) with the following information for each contractor employee requiring a fitness determination:

First and Last Name Social Security Number Sex Date, City and Country of Birth Country of Citizenship

This required information shall be provided in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet provided by the COR. Upon completing the requisite information, the contractor shall password protect the spreadsheet and email the spreadsheet to the COR. In order to ensure protection of this information, the password for the password protected spreadsheet shall be sent in a separate email, at the same time.

E. Preliminary Background Check. In order to complete the Preliminary Background Check, TSA

PerSec will contact the contractor with the following:

An invitation for the contractor to complete the Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations (e-

QIP) for Public Trust Positions (SF85-P, SF-85 or SF-86), if applicable.

Instructions on scheduling a fingerprint appointment, if applicable.

Request for submission of the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) Request for submission of the Non-Disclosure Agreement Form 11000.6

The contractor shall submit all requested information to PerSec within the required time.

F. Whenever Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards are required for issuance or re-issuance to contractor personnel for authorized access to Government facilities, under the guidance of the COR, the Contractor is responsible for making all arrangements for affected Contractor personnel to report in-person at the nearest Government issuing facility to initiate and complete procedures for PIV card issuance. The Government will not be able to provide PIV card issuance at any other locations than those officially designated as available. PIV card issuing facilities that are available for the completion of this requirement for TSA contractors are as listed by the TSA Personnel Security Section, and the COR will advise the Contractor about Government PIV card issuing facility locations that are nearby the contractor’s location(s) of performance that will be potentially available for card issuance when required.

G. Failure of any Contractor personnel to pass a background investigation, without timely substitution that meets the contracts requirements, may be grounds for termination of the contract.

H. Non-Disclosure Agreements.

1. All TSA contractor employees and consultants must execute a DHS Form 11000-6, Sensitive but Unclassified Information Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) upon initial assignment to TSA and before being provided access to TSA “sensitive and/or mission critical information.” The original NDA will be provided to the TSA COR for retention for the duration of the contract.

2. The Contractor, and those operating on its behalf, shall adhere to the requirements of the non-disclosure agreement unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer.

I. Computer Access Agreement (when IT access is required). All Contractor employees (users, managers, and operators of the TSA network) must sign TSA Form 1403, Computer Access Agreement. A copy of which shall be provided to the TSA contracting officer’s representative for retention for the duration of the contract.

J. Personnel Security (when IT access is required).

1. Privileged access users are individuals who have access to an information technology (IT) system with privileges of Administrator or above and have access to sensitive network infrastructure data. Privileged access users will be appropriately screened on entry into the privileged access position and the initial screening shall be refreshed every two years.

2. Individuals terminating voluntarily or involuntarily from a Contractor performing under contract at TSA must have an exit briefing, conducted by a supervisory or management-level employee of the Contractor in order to identify and explain their post-employment responsibilities to the TSA.

3. Records of exit interviews will be signed and maintained by the Contractor as part of the individual employment record for a period of not less than two years following the termination of the individual’s employment.

The Contractor shall include the terms of this special contract requirement in all subcontracts awarded under this contract.

H.2 TSA-RQMTS: Temporary Access by Contractors to TSA National Capital Region Facilities.

TEMPORARY ACCESS BY CONTRACTORS TO TSA NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION FACILITIES

(FEBRUARY 2025)

A. Contractors without a DHS Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card but require access to

TSA National Capital Region facilities are subject to a suitability determination. In order for the TSA to conduct this suitability determination, the contractor will be required to submit their date of birth and Social Security Number. Failure to provide the information requested will result in being denied access to any TSA facility.

B. Contractors shall send a password protected Microsoft Excel spreadsheet emailed to the Contracting…