Attachment_5_Questions_ _Answers_from_RFP-_Nov_4.pdf

Attachment 5 RFP #H92237-16-R-8000 31 Oct 2015 Private Security Services Offeror Questions & Answers

1. QUESTION: Solicitation Made in Advance of Receipt of Funds: When does the Government expect to receive funding for this contract? What is the Contracting Agency’s degree of confidence that funding will be approved?

ANSWER: Funding for this requirement is sufficiently programmed for execution

2. QUESTION: PWS 1.3.7, Equipment, requires the contractor to provide protective equipment, but PWS 1.3.2.1 requires attendance at CRC at Ft. Bliss. Does the contractor have the option of drawing government furnished protective equipment from CRC?

ANSWER: The contractor must provide protective equipment and attend CRC in accordance with PWS 1.3.7

3. QUESTION: Does the base commander have a limit on number of vehicles contractor can use?

ANSWER: No.

4. QUESTION: Will the contractor have dedicated area for vehicle maintenance? If so, how large and are there any structures?

5. QUESTION: Are contracted laundry services (by other support contracts) available for use by the security force?

ANSWER: See Clause 5152.225-5908, Government Furnished Contractor Support, in the

RFP.

6. QUESTION: If the Contractor must import US weapons for use on this contract, can the mobilization time be extended based on the time it will take to obtain the required DDTC license/approval to export arms?

7. QUESTION: Will this contract be tax exempt under Afghan law?

ANSWER: Taxes will be implemented IAW 252.229-7999.

8. QUESTION: Will the US Government consider allowing non-cleared western expatriate security professionals to hold the management and guard positions currently identified in the PWS for Secret cleared US citizens? In other words, can British expatriates (or Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders) be used in place of Secret cleared US personnel? This would require the Facilities Security Clearance requirement to be removed from the RFP. All proposed personnel would have a recent and traceable criminal records check confirming their fit for employment.

9. QUESTION: PSC 1 - 2012 Compliance. Clause 252.225-7039 Defense Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (Jan 2015) on Page 34 of the RFP requires Private security contractors to comply with the American National Standard, Management System for Quality of Private Security Company Operations.

To ensure that Special Forces Command (SOCOM) receives the highest quality security services, recommend that the final Request for Proposal require offerors to be members in good standing of the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoC) and have documentable PSC-1 certification.

10. QUESTION: Mobilization. PWS Paragraph 1.3.2 - Mobilization, authorizes a 60-day mobilization period.

Because of the requirement for all armed U.S. personnel to attend the CONUS Replacement Center (CRC) at Fort Bliss, recommend that SOCOM release the final RFP with a 90-day mobilization. This additional time allows the successful offeror to work with CRC to schedule placement for all its candidates.

CRC usually requires 30- day notice to schedule contractor employees for a class, recommend that SOCOM reserve the spaces in CRC ahead of award to ensure the successful offeror has spots in the classes in order to meet the mobilization requirements.

ANSWER: No, the mobilization period will remain 60 days.

11. QUESTION: 1.3.2 Mobilization states the following: “…As part of the mobilization period, the contractor shall submit accurate and complete arming authorization packages on each person who will be armed in the performance of this requirement to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) within 10 calendar days of contract award.

2.6 Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) states the following: “…During this period, the contractor shall submit an accurate and complete arming authorization pkg on each employee to be armed with 45 calendar days of contract award to the COR.

Recommend SOCOM allow the awardee 45-days to provide the arming packages and that the language reflects that in both references in the PWS.

ANSWER: Verbiage Modified as: “…As part of the mobilization period, the contractor shall submit accurate and complete arming authorization packages on each person who will be armed in the performance of this requirement to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) within 45 calendar days of contract award (or another time specified by the Contracting Officer)…” in both references in the PWS.

12. QUESTION: Getting personnel with proper arming authorizations on time is critical and requires a security services provider with on-going experience deploying personnel into Afghanistan. The nuances of the requirements and the changes to Presidential Decrees on PSC operators in Afghanistan mean that an offeror new to the country may have more difficulty meeting the Full Operational Capability (FOC) date.

To mitigate this added risk, recommend that SOCOM requires offerors to have current on-going contracts providing security services in Afghanistan.

ANSWER: No, the RFP will remain as written.

13. QUESTION: Volume II – Factor 1: Qualifying Criteria

(f) Possess a Government approved accounting system and provide the agency which approved the system.

Many service contractors working under fixed price contracts do not have Government approved accounting systems. However, some of us do have accounting systems which have been deemed adequate by third party accounting firms. Recommend that the language in the final RFP be amended to say the following:

f) Possess a Government approved accounting system and provide the agency which approved the system. Or audit reports and an adequacy determination, by a qualified external independent accounting firm

This change will ensure you have adequate competition.

ANSWER: No, the RFP will remain as written.

14. QUESTION: In Section B the contract period of performance is three years. Section F

Deliveries or Performance indicates a three year period of performance, from 20 Nov 2015 through 19 Nov 2018. However, PWS Section 1.1 Period of Performance says that there are four 12 month periods. Is the reference to ‘four” years a typo?

ANSWER: Verbiage corrected. The period of performance has been updated to state there are two 12 month option year periods.

15. QUESTION: On page 14 of the RFP, it lists services that the Government will provide to

Local National Employees. Included is billeting, DFAC, Laundry, MWR, and intra theater MILAIR. Please clarify that the Government is indeed providing these services to LN employees.

ANSWER: LN employees will have access to DFAC and MWR.

16. QUESTION: Is the Facility Security Clearance a requirement for proposal submission or will the government sponsor the contractor for the FCL?

ANSWER: In accordance with Section L, Proposal Instructions, Volume II-Factor 1:

Qualifying Criteria, d), the offeror must have a Secret Facility Clearance as accredited by the Defense Security Service (DSS).

17. QUESTION: I do not see any dates listed for a site visit in the RFP. Will a site visit be provided to prospective bidders?

ANSWER: There will be a site visit provided to prospective bidders scheduled for

Saturday, November 7, 2015.

18. QUESTION: The contractor asked if he can use western expats but I do not see where The PWS requires a "Facility Secret Clearance" for the company. Can you clarify this?

ANSWER: In accordance with Section L, Proposal Instructions, Volume II-Factor 1:

Qualifying Criteria, d), the offeror must have a Secret Facility Clearance as accredited by the Defense Security Service (DSS).

19. QUESTION: Is this requirement considered a new requirement? If not, who is the incumbent and what was the contract number?

ANSWER: This is a new requirement.

20. QUESTION: Has a contractor performed similar work to this for the government in the past? If available, please provide the incumbent contract number. If you are unable to provide a contract number, is it safe to assume this is a new requirement for the government?

ANSWER: There are currently multiple PSC contracts in Afghanistan.

21. QUESTION: Confirm that this opportunity has been released unrestricted and is not being set aside for small businesses under $20.5 Million?

ANSWER: In accordance with FAR 19.000(b), this effort is not being set aside for small business.

22. QUESTION: Would a Prime Contractor be eligible to operate under a PSC license that is assigned to one of their sub-contractors?

ANSWER: IAW Section L, Proposal Instructions, Volume II-Factor 1: Qualifying Criteria, b), a winning offeror must, “possess a valid AISA Business License and PSC license from the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) with English translations.” The USG will not award the contract to an offeror that does not possess the above.

23. QUESTION: If a company has the capability to do this requirement with an AISA license on the logistic & construction, supplies services can we bid with this license?

ANSWER: No. IAW Section L, Proposal Instructions, Volume II-Factor 1: Qualifying

Criteria, b), a winning offeror must possess a valid PSC license from the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) with English translations. The USG will not award the contract to an offeror that does not possess the above.

24. QUESTION: Please confirm the correct closing date.

ANSWER: The correct closing date is November 15, 2015.

25. QUESTION: Can the Government please specify what needs to be included in Volume I –

General?

ANSWER: Volume I-General could include an introduction to the company.

26. QUESTION: PWS Section 1.3.18 states, “… the local COR and the KO will decide the total number of vehicles for each location.” Can the Government please specify the number and type of vehicles the contractor shall provide?

ANSWER: Section L, Proposal Instructions, Volume II, Subfactor 4:

Mobilization/Demobilization Plan has been updated to state, “The contractor should propose the amount/type of vehicles recommended in their proposal to execute the requirement; however, the government reserves the right to decide the total number of vehicles for each location.”

27. QUESTION: Can you please clarify more precisely the operational scope and role of the Guardian Angels. For example, is their anticipated role considered as intimate Close Protection similar to traditional PSD capabilities, or a more general roving patrol providing an over watch and response capability?

ANSWER: Refer to section 1.3.14 and 1.3.15 of the PWS for the operational scope of a static guardian angel and a roving patrol.

28. QUESTION: Taking CRC requirements and Arming Authorization Request Packet approval timelines into consideration, request the Government consider extending the mobilization for Phase I to 45 days with full mobilization completed in 90 days.

ANSWER: The mobilization period will remain as stated in the RFP.

29. QUESTION: Please clarify which submission date is the correct one.

ANSWER: The submission date is November 15, 2015.

30. QUESTION: Instructions for Factor 3: Past Performance defines recent as within the last three years (36 months); however the Evaluation Criteria defines recent as within the last 5 years. Please specify which length of time 3 or 5 years will considered recent.

ANSWER: The solicitation has been updated to show the length considered recent is 5 years.

31. QUESTION: CLINs 0001 AA and AB are two mobilization CLINs with defined requirements for 50% and 100% staffing. Must all arming packages be submitted for 100% of personnel before CLIN 0001AA is paid?

ANSWER: CLIN 0001AA is paid when 50% of personnel is on post. CLIN 0001 AB is paid at 100% of personnel.

32. QUESTION: Motorola no longer manufactures the XTS 2500. Can the Government recommend another radio acceptable for use on the contract?

ANSWER: The PWS States XTS 2500 or equal. If XTS is not an option, then the contractor shall propose an ‘or equal’ item.

33. QUESTION: Paragraph 1.3.7 lists allowable weapons as: AK-47/M-16/M-4 and 9 mm.

Paragraph 1.3.12 lists weapons as M-16/M-4. Please clarify whether the contractor can use AK-47 rifles.

ANSWER: The AK-47 may be used for this effort.

34. QUESTION: In which labor category in Attachment F will the drivers be?

ANSWER: Logistician

35. QUESTION: How many vehicles are the COR and KO authorizing for Mazar-e-Sharif?

ANSWER: Section L, Proposal Instructions, Volume II, Subfactor 4:

Mobilization/Demobilization Plan has been updated to state, “The contractor should propose the amount/type of vehicles recommended in their proposal to execute the

36. QUESTION: What kinds of vehicle(s) are being authorized?

ANSWER: Section L, Proposal Instructions, Volume II, Subfactor 4:

Mobilization/Demobilization Plan has been updated to state, “The contractor should propose the amount/type of vehicles recommended in their proposal to execute the

37. QUESTION: Please clarify, is the surge requirement for 6 personnel, 10 personnel, or 16 personnel/day.

ANSWER: In accordance with Section 1.3.19 of the PWS, the surge requirement shall be for 10 personnel/day.

38. QUESTION: Reference paragraph 1.3.5 does not appear to be correct reference. Believe the correct reference is 1.3.7. Is the requirement one or two weapon (rifle and pistol) per person on duty as specified in paragraph 1.3.7?

ANSWER: Reference updated to 1.3.7. The requirement is two weapons (rifle and pistol) per person.

39. QUESTION: Reference paragraph 1.3.5 does not appear to be correct reference. Believe the correct reference is 1.3.7.

ANSWER: Reference was updated to 1.3.12.

40. QUESTION: Reference paragraph 1.3.10 does not appear to be correct reference.

Believe the correct reference is 1.3.12. Recommend PRS be updated with the requirements of paragraph 1.3.12.

ANSWER: Reference updated to 1.3.12

41. QUESTION: Is the contractor required to provide 4 vehicles for escort? What kind of vehicles? Please clarify?

ANSWER: Attachment F specifies the mobile escort should consist of 4 personnel, and the personnel are intended to be on foot. However, if contractors also want to use the vehicles discussed in 1.3.18 to execute the duties discussed in 1.3.17, it is the contractor’s decision.

42. QUESTION: Do the security tasks include vehicles used for FP/GA Patrols, Shift Supervisors, Site Manager, and Logistician?

ANSWER: No, the vehicles specified in 1.3.18 are to be used as the contractor sees fit to support the requirement and IAW any installation policies of vehicle use.

43. QUESTION: Please clarify the Governments intent for posts with just two shifts. Where two shifts are indicated does this mean there is a shift during which there is no security staffing requirement?

ANSWER: Positions only requiring 2 shifts shall consist of two 8-hour shifts.

44. QUESTION: Please provide an estimate of the additional surge hours for contactor pricing or allow the added labor cost to be negotiated after the surge period.

ANSWER: 336 hours is an estimate of additional surge hours.

45. QUESTION: Will printers also be provided?

ANSWER: No

46. QUESTION: Although there are several references to paragraph 1.4.4 there is no paragraph 1.4.4 in the PWS. Please clarify.

ANSWER: Disregard the 1.4.4 reference and see the corresponding CDRLs attached to the solicitation.

47. QUESTION: Is there an incumbent workforce (US military or PSC) that can provide left seat right seat training for incoming contractor personnel?

ANSWER: Orientations will be provided by US Force Protection personnel.

48. QUESTION: Will in-place US military personnel assist with the delivery of orientation training such as: Threat update and situation brief? Camp orientation? Installation policies and procedures? 3-hour combat first aid or TCCC?"

ANSWER: Orientations will be provided to the extent of familiarizing battlespace and local procedure.

49. QUESTION: There is a disconnect between the roles listed in Attachment F which is tied to the number of people required (92) and the position descriptions in PWS Paragraph

4.3. Would the Government please provide a map between the Attachment F manning table and the Position Descriptions in PWS 4.3?

ANSWER: 1.3.13-1.3.16 and Attachment F updated to reflect use of Armed Security

Guards as detailed in 4.3.1.

50. QUESTION: The proposal instructions do not specify the type style or size to be used in either the body of the proposal nor graphics and tables. Is it acceptable for the body text to be Times New Roman 12pt and graphics and tables to be Arial Narrow 10 pt.?

ANSWER: Times New Roman 12pt is acceptable.

51. QUESTION: Please describe whether the offeror will be required to store classified documents on this contract.

ANSWER: The offeror will not be required to store classified documents on this contract.

52. QUESTION: How would the Government like offerors to provide proof that they hold a

Secret Facility Clearance?

ANSWER: A copy of the Facility Clearance Listing (FCL) is acceptable.

53. QUESTION: Please provide offerors with a list of the tasks they will be required to perform from the DD254 Block 10 table.

ANSWER: Block 10 information will be provided prior to contract award.

54. QUESTION: Please describe what the Government would like included in VOL 1 General.

ANSWER: Volume I-General could include an introduction to the company.

55. QUESTION: In Section L (pg. 69) and Section L Volume V, these references there is a list of what we are to include in our three past performance references. Which list is the one we should follow for inclusion in out Specific Past Performance Sheet?

ANSWER: Both references have been updated IAW 5652.215-9008, Past Performance

Data.

56. QUESTION: Which time period should offerors make our offer firm for, 60 or 90 days?

ANSWER: In accordance with Section L, Proposal Instructions, Volume I-General, (c), offerors shall hold prices in its offer firm for 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers.