Global Advisory Draft Section C.docx

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 BACKGOUND

The Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, Office of Regional Peace and Security (AF/RPS) and Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Global Programs and Initiatives (PM/GPI) and Office of Security Assistance (PM/SA) have ongoing needs for Professional Support Services to provide advisory and reporting services globally.

C.2 REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide advisory services through qualified personnel that provide guidance and support for the U.S. government’s assistance to international partners. The Contractor shall be knowledgeable about the diverse environments they will be expected to function in and attuned to the mores and customs of the countries in which they will operate. Further, they shall have a working knowledge of the languages, cultures, rules, regulations, and practices of the various defense sectors and governments to which they will be exposed. They shall be aware of the austere conditions in, and difficult access to, many of the locales and countries in which they will be expected to perform. The Contractor shall also be knowledgeable of U.S. government rules, regulations, and requirements for operating in these environments.

The critical nature of the services requires that the Contractor shall be capable of providing the highest quality services in a timely, cost effective, and professional manner, with effective standard operating procedures in place to reduce the Government’s administrative burden. Performance will be carefully monitored, and delays will not be tolerated. The Government may use cure notices and terminations for default if the Contractor fails to perform in an acceptable manner. It is critical that the Contractor have effective quality control procedures and processes in place.

C.2.1 – CORE ACTIVITIES FOR ADVISORY SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide advisory services through qualified personnel to provide guidance and support for the U.S. government’s assistance to international partners. The Contractor shall be prepared to place advisors within Host Nation institutions, organizations, and military units, including potentially units deployed on operations. The Contractor advisory personnel shall be subject matter experts in one or more of the below core elements, as dictated by the unique requirements under each Task Order. The Contractor advisory personnel shall be required to advise and mentor Host Nation officials on one or more of the core elements listed within section 2.1. Additional elements may be determined at the Task Order level. It should be anticipated that advisory Task Orders will be of extended duration, although exact deployment durations will be determined at the Task Order level. Although the exact requirements will vary at the Task Order level, generally, advisors shall be expected to do one or more of the following:

1. Assist the Host Nation to develop and implement sustainable institutions and national level strategies in the security sector that promote good governance principles.

2. Assist the Host Nation institutions/organizations/units to develop professional, effective, and accountable systems and doctrine related to the core elements listed within 2.1.

3. Assist the Host Nation to apply the skills acquired during previous training events in real-world and operational settings.

4. Assist the Host Nation personnel in adapting their tactics, techniques, and procedures to reflect changes in the operational environment.

5. Support U.S. foreign policy objectives by ensuring close coordination with and support to, where appropriate, the Embassy.

While some advisory support activities may primarily take place in a traditional office setting, others will require that the contracted advisors operate primarily in the field alongside the Host Nation forces. The Contractor shall still be prepared to support its contracted advisory teams with the full range of equipment (including computers, personal protective equipment, reliable and secure communications, and other needed IT equipment), transportation (air, sea, and ground), and life-support services (shelter, rations, potable water, medical supplies, and medical evacuation services) required to carry out advisory activities in austere and dangerous conflict and post-conflict environments. It should be expected that the Host Nation forces will provide only force protection to the contracted advisory personnel.

Below are examples of the advisory services that may be required under the IDIQ. However, the following sections are not an exhaustive list of all the services that might be required under this IDIQ and additional advisory services may be determined at the Task Order level. All supplies and services that may properly support the work described below are within the scope of this contract.

1. Professional development programs

2. Budgeting and strategic planning

3. Project monitoring and surveillance

4. Doctrine development

5. Development of operational combat training centers

6. Evaluations and assessments

7. Logistics support and equipment maintenance

8. Military staff

9. Human resource management

10. Military justice

11. Military intelligence

12. National security strategy

13. Security sector reform

14. Interagency coordination and collaboration

15. Maritime security

16. Cybersecurity

17. Force development and management

18. Organizational assessment design and structuring

19. Professional military education systems/training institutions

20. Counterterrorism

21. Border management and security

22. Law enforcement

23. Inspector general institutions

24. Counterinsurgency

25. Peacekeeping and humanitarian affairs/aid

26. Military/security forces pay and human resources systems

27. Information operations

28. Intelligence analysis/collection

29. Cease-fire monitoring/verification processes

30. Human rights/Protection of civilians

31. Conference facilitation (e.g., maritime security conference)

32. Women participation in the defense sector

33. Emergency Response Management

C.2.2 – RECRUITMENT AND VETTING

The Contractor shall be tasked with recruiting personnel with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to accomplish DOS foreign assistance objectives as specified at the Task Order level. The Contractor must be able to demonstrate that proposed candidates meet certain minimum requirements to include level of education, prior years of experience in particular sectors/organizations/geographic regions, foreign language abilities, management/leadership experience, specialized certifications, and medical fitness to live and work in austere environments of developing, fragile, post-conflict, and/or conflict-affected countries. The Contractor must be able to recruit and vet advisor candidates, justify their qualifications, and highlight ways in which candidates can bring additional benefits to the DOS foreign assistance program.

C.2.3 – PRE-DEPLOYMENT

Provide administrative and logistical support services that facilitate efficient deployment of advisors overseas. The Contractor shall provide all required support necessary to deploy advisors within 60 calendar days of a task order award. Pre-deployment support must include:

1. Ensuring personnel have current and valid passports.

2. Ensuring appropriate visas for international travel and residence.

3. Coordinating and obtaining screenings, testing, and meeting any other travel requirements imposed by the host country or otherwise necessary to ensure the traveler’s safety, including measures necessary for travel affected by epidemics and quarantine restrictions.

4. Ensuring personnel receive appropriate immunizations to mitigate health risks.

5. Ensuring personnel complete the online DOS Counter Threat Awareness Training (CTAT).

6. Facilitating administrative actions for personnel to receive necessary security clearance.

C.2.4 – LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES

The Contractor shall be tasked to perform a broad range of logistics and support services that are identified in Sections 2.4.1 – 2.4.4 but are not an exhaustive list of all logistical support services that will be required under this IDIQ. Additional logistical support supplies and services may be determined at the Task Order level. All supplies and services that may properly support the work described in Section 2.4.1 – 2.4.4 are within the scope of this contract.

C.2.4.1 – Transportation Provide ground, sea, and aviation transportation services. The Contractor shall provide all required support necessary to transport advisors and operational equipment to destinations required by the Task Order, to include labor, parts, material, fuel, transportation, drivers, and supervision. Transportation services will be designed to support mission requirements in the preparation and sustainment of operations. Individual Task Order requirements may require transportation to/from/between sites with underdeveloped infrastructure (e.g., dirt runways, poorly maintained roads). The Contractor shall be prepared to provide transportation support, to include:

1. Procurement of vehicles and drivers, both through leasing/rental arrangements and direct procurement. Note: The Contractor will be required to comply with relevant vehicle procurement restrictions to include submitting waiver documentation as appropriate.

2. Procurement of charter flights and commercial airfare for advisors and monitors.

3. Transportation of equipment (to include vehicles, personal protective equipment, communications, and information technology equipment).

4. Provision of evacuation support for personnel under this contract for medical, security, or other reasons.

C.2.4.2 – Operational Equipment Provide operational equipment in support of mission requirements. The Contractor will be required to deliver the equipment directly to the mission area, using a combination of sea, air, and ground transportation as required. Equipment shall be delivered in fully operable condition, along with any spare parts specified at the individual Task Order level. All equipment provided shall be appropriate for use in austere, conflict and post-conflict environments. Operational equipment requirements may include:

1. Global positioning systems.

2. Accommodations equipment for contractor personnel (including tentage, containerized housing units, cots, storage).

3. Personal protective equipment (including helmets and body armor).

4. IT equipment (including laptops, printers, scanners, copiers, and digital cameras) and related accessories and supplies to ensure functionality of the IT equipment.

5. Communications equipment (including VHF and HF communications, satellite phones, and cell phones) and related accessories and supplies to ensure functionality of the communications equipment.

6. Regular connectivity to phone and internet services.

7. Simultaneous interpretation equipment (including mobile microphones and headsets).

C.2.4.3 – Sustainment Services Provide sustainment services in support of mission requirements. For most Task Orders, the Contractor will be able to source all sustainment services through the local economy, but the Contractor shall be prepared to provide these services in austere conflict and post-conflict environments. The Contractor shall be required to provide all labor, parts, material, fuel, transportation, drivers, and supervision necessary to execute these tasks. Constant coordination and collaboration with Host Nation/Partner Nation/regional mission leadership will be required in order to execute these tasks such that they address all mission requirements in a rapidly shifting operational environment. Sustainment services may include:

1. Laundry services

2. Provision of fresh and dry rations

3. Cleaning services for office space

4. Facilities management

5. Morale/health/welfare/recreation

6. Information management

7. Postal operations

8. Security support (only as requested)

9. Provision of portable water

10. Banking Services

C.2.4.4 – Housing and Office Space The Contractor shall provide housing and office space to support mission requirements. The Contractor shall be required to provide necessary housing and office space at various locations, as required at the Task Order level. Housing and Office space may include:

1. Housing:

1. Air Conditioning

2. Temporary or containerized shelter

3. Potable Water

4. Electricity

5. Furniture

6. Secure storage

7. Catering

8. Upgraded physical security measures

2. Office Space:

1. Air Conditioning

2. Electricity

3. Furniture

4. IT and communications infrastructure

5. Conference rooms/space

6. Upgraded physical security measures

C.2.4.5 – Interpreter and Translation Services The Contractor shall provide interpreter and translation services to support mission requirements as specified at the Task Order level. The subject matter to be interpreted and/or translated may be highly technical. This task may include:

1. Interpreter Services:

a. Simultaneous interpretation

b. Consecutive interpretation

2. Translation Services:

a. Translation of documents or other media from English to a foreign language

b. Translation of documents or other media from a foreign language to English

C.2.5 – SITE MONITORING

The Contractor shall provide personnel capable of providing monitoring and observation services for all U.S. Government contractors and grantees within a specified place of performance. The place of performance for each Site Coordinator (SC) will be specified at the Task Order level.

The SC serves as an in-country observer to assist the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) by monitoring non-Global Advisory IDIQ DOS implementing partners’ performance of technical requirements, by providing findings and recommendations to the COR, and by assisting in the implementation of COR-approved changes. The SC is not authorized to direct other DOS implementing partners to begin work, adjust funding levels, alter periods of performance, authorize deviations from Government requirements, provide technical direction, direct any action, or otherwise modify DOS implementing agreements.

C.2.6 – PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

The Contractor will be required to provide program management services, including:

1. Ensuring Task Order deliverables are submitted on time and to professional quality standards.

2. Monitoring of project performance using data.

3. Regular written reporting on country context, project activities, performance monitoring data, analysis of project impact, and information on future relevant activities/events.

4. Periodic conference call project updates and occasional in-person briefings.

5. Financial management and reporting.

6. Conducting risk assessments and risk mitigation planning.

7. Problem solving to identify ways to achieve DOS programmatic and policy objectives.

C.2.7 – REACHBACK SERVICES

The Contractor shall be prepared to provide reach-back facilitation services to Host Nation institutions, organizations, and military units. Services may include deployment of facilitators or facilitation teams to meet key objectives in the core elements identified in C.2.1, as defined at the Task Order level. Additional elements for facilitation services may be determined at the Task Order level. Duration of the facilitation services will be determined at the Task Order level. Although the exact requirements will vary at the Task Order level, facilitators may be required to:

1. Provide reach-back capability to be able to provide Subject Matter Experts who can facilitate dialogue through meetings or workshops with the Host Nation institutions/organizations/units, the U.S. government, and relevant stakeholders to assess needs, develop strategic, operational or tactical requirements, or monitor and evaluate progress to achieve sustainable institutional reform in the core activities identified in C.2.1.

2. Design effective dialogue processes to facilitate a change management process.

3. Evaluate and report on the meetings and workshops.

4. Recommend follow-on activities to ensure Host Nation institutions/organizations/units develop professional, effective, and accountable systems and doctrine related to the critical activities above.

While some facilitation support activities may take place in a traditional office setting, others may require the facilitators to operate primarily in the field alongside the Host Nation personnel. The Contractor shall be prepared to support its facilitators or facilitation teams with the full range of equipment (including computers, personal protective equipment, and reliable and secure communications), transportation, and life-support services (shelter, rations and potable water, medical supplies, and medical evacuation services) required to carry out facilitation activities in austere and dangerous conflict and post-conflict environments as required in the Task Order.

C.3 IDIQ AND TASK ORDER MANAGEMENT

Written escalation plan to be defined at the Task Order level.

C.4 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Develop indicators that help monitor program performance, and collect and maintain data, as required, in order for the government to assess its accomplishments.

C.5 CONTRACT OPERATIONAL METRICS

The following Performance Standards and DOS Monitoring Method will be applicable to each Task Order:

· Final mobilization plan and budget submitted within three (3) working days of government request.

· Contractor meets budget and timeline estimates for 90% of each line item outlined in the task order mobilization plan upon completion of each contractual period of performance (e.g., option period) or task order milestones.

· 100% inspection by the COR/GTM.

· Periodic inspection by COR, GTM or designee.

· All Task Order deliverables must meet submission due dates 95% of time.

· 100% inspection by the COR/GTM.

· Contractor shall account for all new task order expenditures on current invoices 95% of time.

· Contractor shall respond to CO and COR requests for invoice details within three (3) calendar days 100% of time.

· Contractor shall respond to CO and COR requests for spend rate or other cost breakdowns within three (3) calendar days 100% of time.

· 100% inspection of invoices by the COR/GTM.

· Confirmed receipt of requested information by COR/GTM.

· Using COR-approved testing methodology, at least 80% of the training recipients meet all learning objectives and demonstrate skills retention.

· Systematic surveys by contractor if specified by the task order.

· Periodic inspections by COR, GTM or designee.

· Reports obtained from independent assessment or auditor teams, including from the U.S. Government and UN.

· Submit all property information at least thirty (30) days prior to end of task order period of performance to COR/GTM, 100% of time.

· Submit final “lost, destroyed or damaged” property plan at least thirty (30) days prior to end of task order period of performance to COR/GTM, 100% of time.

· Complete final “lost, destroyed or damaged” property plan by end of task order period of performance to COR/GTM, 100% of time.

· 100% inspection by the COR/GTM.

· Ensure candidates meet certain minimum requirements to include level of education, prior years of experience.

· Recruit and vet candidates, justify their qualifications, and highlight ways in which candidates can bring additional benefits to the DOS foreign assistance program.

· 100% approval by the COR/GTM of all candidates prior to commencement of advisory support.

· COR/GTM will verify that the candidates are appropriately qualified against established position descriptions.

C.6 TASK ORDER OPERATIONAL METRICS

Additional operational metrics will be determined at the Task Order level.

C.7 SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

1. A facility security clearance at the TOP SECRET level is required for contract performance in accordance with the DD Form 254, Department of Defense Contract Security Classification Specification, attached to this contract.

2. Since it will be necessary for some Contractor personnel to have access to classified material and/or to enter areas requiring a security clearance, each Contractor employee requiring such access must have an individual security clearance commensurate with the required level of access prior to contract performance. Individual clearances shall be maintained for the duration of employment under this contract, or until access requirements change.

3. The Contractor may be granted a Department of State building pass for all employees performing under this contract who require frequent and continuing access to Department of State facilities in accordance with Bureau of Diplomatic Security Instructions.

4. Performance of this contract shall be in accordance with the attached DD Form 254, Department of Defense Contract Security Classification Specification and FAR 52.204-2 “SECURITY REQUIREMENTS”.

C.7.1 - Additional Security Requirements The Contractor shall currently possess and maintain a Top-Secret Facility Security Clearance issued by the Defense Security Service (DSS) in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (DOD 5220.22-M) for the duration of this contract. If necessitated by contract requirements, the Contractor must ensure that Subcontractors maintain the appropriate facility clearances.

In accordance with DOS policies, the Contractor shall ensure that personnel have the required clearances prior to contract performance. The Contractor shall ensure that all personnel meet the approved criteria and satisfactorily complete all screening and selection process requirements.

The Contractor needs to follow its own internal vetting process to ensure there is a reasonable expectation that their employees can obtain the security clearance necessary for contract performance.

The Contractor shall ensure that all personnel assigned in support of this contract are trained and indoctrinated in the absolute requirement to always maintain and be sensitive to operational security.

Subcontracting The Contractor must notify DS/IS/IND and the Contracting Officer of any and all subcontracts before the subcontractor begins contract performance. The Contractor shall obtain for the Department an Organizational Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement or Representation from each intended Subcontractor or consultant.

The Contractor shall not enter into any subcontract nor engage any consultant unless the CO shall have first notified the Contractor that there is little or no likelihood that an organizational conflict of interest exists or that despite the existence of a conflict of interest the award is in the best interest of the Government.

A Subcontractor performing on this contract is subject to the same FCL and security vetting requirements as the Prime Contractor, when subcontractor personnel require access to classified material or to areas where access to classified information cannot be precluded.

All DD Forms 254 for proposed subcontractors shall be forwarded to DS/IS/IND for certification and generation by DS/IS/IND prior to issuance to the subcontractor and prior to access to any classified information or controlled access area (CAA spaces). All requests for subcontractor DD Forms 254 shall be forwarded to DSIND_PSD@state.gov. All requests must include a signed subcontractor agreement clearly indicating the security clearance/public trust requirements of the subcontractor to perform on the contract. DD Forms 254 issued by DS/IS/IND will be forwarded to the prime for distribution to subcontractors. Contractors are not authorized to issue their own subcontract DD Forms 254.

The Contractor must notify DS/IS/IND and the Contracting Officer within two (2) business days when a subcontractor is no longer performing on this contract.

Terminations, Resignations and Cancellations The Contractor shall notify the CO, COR, Program Office and DS/IS/IND within seventy-two (72) hours when an employee or subcontractor employee is no longer performing on the contract.

The individual’s access will be cancelled and, if an investigation is still pending, the investigation will be cancelled. All USG identification media shall be returned to the issuing office or RSO upon an individual's departure from the contract.

Adverse Information The Contractor shall immediately submit to the CO, COR, Program Office, and DS/IS/IND a complete and detailed report of any adverse information pertaining to any employee or subcontractor employee assigned to this contract, in any capacity, regardless of whether the employee is removed from contract performance.