QAs.pdf

93310024Q0015 Trusted Workforce 2.0 Implementation And Security Support Services Questions and Answers #1

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Please confirm if this is new requirement or is there an incumbent currently providing these services? If this is not a new effort, please provide the incumbent contract details.

This is a brand-new requirement.

2. Is there an incumbent vendor currently supporting PERSEC systems and/or business processes or is this all being supported internally by the government staff?

All PERSEC systems and business processes are being supporting by FMCS personnel.

3. Is the existing SharePoint environment support provided by government personnel or a vendor?

Both.

4. Have any of the existing PERSEC processes, workflows, and related been configured in SharePoint or is this work within the scope of this solicitation as indicated in Section 2.0 Purpose?

The vendor’s proposed security support processes (TW2.0, Badging, InsiderThreat, and OPSEC) should leverage tools, attributes, and workflow’s available or can be built inside in the FMCS M365/SharePoint system.

5. What is the user base for this request? Is it to build an enterprise approach or specific to FMCS office only?

This requirement is just for FMCS to implement the ODNI TW2.0 requirements and align our internal business practices to ensure compliance and accurate/timely reporting.

6. Is there an enterprise strategy to implement TW2.0 that this needs to align to?

Please see ODNI’s TW2.0 enterprise strategy for guidance.

7. Will there be an implementation contract as a result of this strategy given this solicitation is only 12 months?

As FMCS is already in compliance with TW1.25 and TW1.50, it is expected that all tasks under Section 5.0, including implementation of the new Investigative Standards and transition into TW2.0, will be completed within the 12-month Period of Performance.

8. Approximately how many FCMS personnel will be subject to TW2.0?

250.

9. Is FCMS currently in compliance with TW1.25 and TW1.50 directives?

Yes, FMCS is in compliance.

10. What is the overarching contract vehicle under which this solicitation will be released?

Should offerors respond using their GSA MAS Schedule?

If vendors have a GSA MAS Schedule contract, they may respond using those prices.

Otherwise, a regular Purchase Order will be awarded.

11. Is this a Small Business set aside?

This is not a small business set-aside.

12. Is there an allocated budget for this project??

FMCS cannot provide this information.

13. Is there a site visit scheduled for this project?

No site visit will be scheduled for this project.

14. What are the Government’s criteria for evaluating Past Performance information in accordance with the four evaluation levels identified in Attachment 2?

FMCS will evaluate the quoter’s past performance to determine how relevant a recent effort accomplished by the quoter is as compared to the effort stipulated in the SOW.

15. While the Technical approach is limited to 7 typed pages, Key Personnel does not appear to have any page limitations beyond a not-to-exceed of 3 pages per resume for all staff.

Please confirm that resumes do not count against the Technical page count of 7 pages.

Key Personnel and Technical Approach are separate subfactors under Technical Acceptability. As such, Resumes do not count against the Technical Approach page count.

16. Attachment 2 states, "Provide a narrative demonstrating technical understanding and approach to meeting the requirements of the SOW." Given that the Technical Volume is only seven (7) pages, please confirm that a technical approach is desired only for Section

5.0 Tasks of Attachment 1 Statement of Work.

As Stated in Attachment 2, the Technical Approach should “demonstrate comprehensive and feasible methods and plans to accomplish general requirements as well as specific tasks. The narrative should also include a general timeline for completing the effort.”

17. May the offeror provide a signed cover letter, a title page, and a table of contents outside the allotted page count?

Yes. Only the Technical Approach is limited to 7 pages.

18. Please confirm that Offerors can provide an Appendix outside the 7-page limit to highlight the customer references that received the Past Performance Questionnaire and the date it was submitted directly to FMCS within the Technical Volume.

Yes. Only the Technical Approach is limited to 7 pages.

19. In Section 5.0, Tasks, the government states that the contractor will be responsible for providing “a technically qualified individual” who meets the requirements. In other areas of the solicitation, it is suggested that the government seeks a team. Is it the government’s intent for vendors to propose an individual or a team of individuals to meet the needs of this RFQ?

It is up to each vendor to determine how many FTEs are required to complete all of the tasks described in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work.

20. Attachment 4 - Vendor Quote Sheet contains 11 pricing rows, conflicting with SOW 5.0 referencing a technically qualified individual which usually means 1 and also SOW 8.1 which states per FTE, which infers there are multiple FTEs. Please clarify the number of FTEs and labor categories required to price this effort.

It is up to each vendor to determine how many FTEs are required to complete all of the tasks described in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work.

21. Paragraph 8.1 states "The contractor shall provide up to forty (40) hours per week, per contractor, of remote support to the Security and Continuity of Operations. Please clarify how many FTEs are being referenced.

It is up to each vendor to determine how many FTEs are required to complete all of the tasks described in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work.

22. If an anticipated staffing level for this effort is not available, can the government provide anticipated deliverables or metrics that can assist offerors as they develop their staffing solution?

FMCS is unable to provide this information at this time.

23. Paragraph 2.0's requirement is to enlist contractor support for development and implementation of FMCS’ personnel security (PerSec) and operational security (OpSec) programs, establishment of a trusted workforce program, development of an insider threat program, badging support services (HSPD-12), business process mapping and analysis, drafting system of records notices (SORN), and establishment of an operations security program in accordance with NSPM-28. Please clarify how many FTEs are required by functional area and their corresponding skills, years of experience, clearance, and qualifications.

It is up to each vendor to determine how many FTEs are required to complete all of the tasks described in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work.

24. Paragraph 3.0 states the requirement is for services in 1) Personnel Security, 2) Business Analytics, and 3) Sharepoint. It is rare to find all three functional skillsets in one labor category. Please clarify how many FTEs are required, their labor category, their qualifications, years of experience, clearance, and skill level.

It is up to each vendor to determine how many FTEs are required to complete all of the tasks described in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work.

25. Will personnel on the awarded contract work with classified information or have access to classified information?

No.

26. Would the Government please clarify the FINAL level of security investigation needed by contractors to begin work? It appears that contractors only need a favorably adjudicated Tier 1 investigation, but the rest of the paragraph implies that contractors will actually need a favorably adjudicated Tier 2 investigation within 90 days of award. Are contractors required to have a Tier 1 or Tier 2 investigation to work on the contract?

Section 12.0 Security and Confidentiality should be as follows:

All key personnel must 1) be a US citizen or have Legal Permanent Resident status; 2) sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA); and 3) either have a completed and active background investigation at the Tier 2 moderate risk level (formerly NACI) with a favorable adjudication prior to starting work or be able to pass a background investigation at the Tier 2 moderate risk level (formerly NACI) with a favorable adjudication within ninety (90) days of award.

27. In our experience, efforts like this may require access to government systems or information, and generally PII, that may require a higher-level clearance (i.e., Tier 5). In order to avoid any unnecessary clearance delays or prevent the contractor from being able to conduct as thorough of an analysis as necessary, we recommend that the government change Section 4.3 Personnel Requirement to require a Top-Secret clearance (Tier 5).

T5 not required, T2 minimum will suffice.

28. The inclusion of an applicable wage determination, as well as inclusion of FAR clause 52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standards, typically indicates that the contract is subject to SCA labor; however, this work requires professional consulting services, which are not subject to SCA. Please clarify the inclusion of this clause and the associated wage determination.

As this work requires professional consulting services, this contract will not be subject to SCA, and no such clause will be included in the resultant contract.