HS0021-24-RFI-Support - CPO 14 June_(CUI).pdf

CUI

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY

CASE PROCESSING OPERATIONS CENTER (CPOC) SUPPORT SERVICES

1.0 DESCRIPTION:

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quote (RFQ) or a promise to issue an RFP or RFQ. Furthermore, those who respond to this RFI should not anticipate feedback with regard to its submission—other than acknowledgment of receipt if a request for an acknowledgment is requested by the submitter. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) is not at this time seeking proposals. Responders are advised that the Government will not pay any cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP or RFQ. If a solicitation is released, it will be via the Governmentwide Point of Entry at https://sam.gov or on General Services Administration (GSA) website. It is the responsibility of the potential Offerors to monitor the website for any information that may pertain to this RFI. All submissions become the property of the Federal Government and will not be returned.

2.0 PURPOSE :

This is an RFI used to identify potential business sources that are interested in, and capable of, providing case processing operation center services related to Federal Background Investigations, as managed by DCSA’s Personnel Security Office. In addition, we seek vendor ideas or solutions that may aid in developing a future contract that can support emerging requirements; such as, Trusted Workforce 2.0, continuous evaluation bookmark1 and continuous vetting2, as defined by Executive Order 13467. In anticipation of significant changes to the background investigation and personnel vetting mission, DCSA seeks innovative solutions from vendors on how to accomplish this mission with increasing effectiveness through the use of new technologies and business processes that could be supported under a forthcoming procurement.

3.0 NOTICE TO RESPONDENTS:

Development of this case processing services requirement is evolving due to uncertainty surrounding the future scope and timing of anticipated statutory, policy and technological changes and the impact said changes, known and unknown, will have on current investigative standards and operating procedures. Additional uncertainty exists given limitations in the Government’s ability to predict future volumes of background investigations. The Government therefore requires a significant amount of contract flexibility and reserves the right to make changes to this requirement, in part or in whole, and to add or delete products as the need may arise.

4.0 REQUIREMENT:

DCSA requires contractor support to provide case processing operation services related to Federal Background Investigations in accordance with the Federal Investigative Standards. This work currently includes application ingestion, electronic case maintenance, record searches, item level processing with scheduling and messaging the required investigative components, file releases, hard copy application ingestion into an electronic format, support the electronic delivery of cases, handling and processing of F50 messages, switchboard services, telephone liaisons to support requests, completion of initial investigations, periodic reinvestigations and investigations of continuous evaluation and/or vetting alerts. Continuous vetting, which provides checks on an individual more frequently and aims to promote delivery of real- time information, may replace periodic reinvestigations during the anticipated contract period of performance. Successful performance of these case processing services for the Government is required without fail or risk to National Security or other Agency missions.

5.0 QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS:

Questions and Comments regarding this requirement shall be submitted in writing via the Question-and-Answer (Q&A) Excel template provided. Contractors are being asked to review this RFI and all its attachments (PWS, etc.) then fill out the provided Q&A document with their questions and/or comments. Please see the submission instructions in S ec t i on 6 .0 below. DCSA reserves the right to respond, or not respond, to any question or comment at its discretion.

Questions or Comments shall NOT contain proprietary information. Answers to questions may be posted at https://sam.gov/ with a draft solicitation, which is anticipated in Fall 2024.

https://sam.gov/

6.0 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

All written responses submitted in response to the RFI should be in the form of a .pdf file, with the exception of the Question and Comments excel document referenced in Section 5.0 above. Contractors are being asked to provide a total written submission of no longer than 15 pages with type face no smaller than 10 points and the name of the company represented by the respondent. This document should include all pertinent company information and responses to the Information Requestion in Section 7.0 below. Each respondent shall provide the company’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and identify its business size for each NAICS code provided. The written submission .pdf file and Question and Comment excel document, shall be e-sent as an attachment with an e-mail subject line must contain RFI number HS0021-RFI-CPOC. All CPOC submissions shall be submitted in writing via e-mail to alexander.c.delguidice.civ@mail.mil no later than 5 July 2024. All responses should be unclassified and reviewed to ensure consideration of operational sensitivities. Proprietary information will be accepted and handled appropriately.

Respondents should indicate which portions of their responses are proprietary and mark them accordingly.

7.0 INFORMATION REQUESTED:

Please demonstrate your company’s ability to provide the services described in the requirement above by addressing the items below:

1. Provide the company name; company address; point-of-contact name, phone and email; CAGE code; DUNS;

business size (large or small) and socio-economic status for all NAICS codes under which the company operates.

2. Provide responses to the following constraints and/or questions that demonstrate your company’s ability to deliver the services described in the requirement.:

a. DCSA does not have control over the demand for Federal Background Investigations (i.e., volume, case type, timing, location and/or complexity). Historically, this program has been responsible for approximately 1.18 million cases and 4.8 million items in support of the background investigation process per year.

b. DCSA anticipates changes to statutory and policy requirements, such as investigative standards, which may require rapid or expedited implementation. Please describe your company’s experience with, and best practices for dealing with unpredictable changes.

c. DCSA will have changing and emerging background investigation requirements, such as a growing population covered by continuous vetting, which may increase the volume of case and item receipts for case processing.

d. A new IT system may be rolled out during the contract period of performance. At this time, it is anticipated that all new cases will be completed in this new IT system, and any legacy cases will be completed in the existing IT system.

e. As DCSA is developing its own IT system on an iterative basis, describe how DCSA could manage and process both new and legacy cases until the new IT system becomes fully operational.

f. Case management3 is a core tenet of effective investigative fieldwork services, and when rolled out, the new IT system may become the primary case-management system. Discuss how operating only within the new IT system may impact your business operations and describe the system attributes that would be necessary for successfully facilitating case management within a singular IT system.

g. Describe any technology or innovations of which you are aware, or of which your company would be willing to develop, that could further support the personnel security or background investigation requirements referenced in this RFI.

3. Describe alternative approaches to support the case processing of background investigation requirements in an environment that is shifting from periodic reinvestigations to continuous vetting.

4. For informational purposes only, please provide a detailed description of up to two relevant projects (completed or ongoing) in the past three years in which your company provided services similar to those required. Describe your company’s ability and experience with adjusting to customer changes in policy and technology. Relevant projects should be similar in size and scope.

mailto:alexander.c.delguidice.civ@mail.mil

a. Provide the name of the commercial entity or Government agency where the work was performed.

b. Provide the project’s contract number, total dollar value, and the start and end dates.

c. Indicate whether your company performed the work as the prime contractor or subcontractor.

5. Please describe your expected teaming approach for this requirement.

6. If you are interested in making your company information available to other companies for teaming opportunities, please provide the appropriate contact information and a written statement approving DCSA to post this information at https://sam.gov for this purpose.

7. Describe how the Government could decrease barriers for other companies to enter the background investigations market.

8. Please provide your ramp-up and turnaround times for operation (i.e., how quickly you can provide anticipated volumes of trained, suitable staff with Tier 3 (Secret) or Tier 5 (Top Secret) eligibility on location).

9. Does your company currently possess a Top Secret Facility Security Clearance (FCL)?

10. The Government is contemplating utilizing NAICS Code 561611 – Investigation Services. What NAICS code(s) would the Contractor recommend to support the work requirements described in the PWS and this RFI notice? Please explain why?

11. Please provide and explain your suggested contract type for this requirement (e.g. FFP, FPIF, CPIF, etc.)

12. Please provide and explain any recommend performance incentives for this requirement.

13. Please provide your recommendation on whether this requirement should be deemed commercial or non-commercial in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

14. Does the Contractor have any recommendations regarding Government wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) or General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules that could accommodate the scope of the attached draft PWS?

15. Contractors are encouraged to submit proposed innovative solutions that do not necessarily adhere to any of the constraints listed herein. Proposed innovations may encompass areas such as information and other technologies, training, quality control, investigative processes and workload distribution.

16. Contractors are encouraged to outline any information they expect from DCSA necessary to create mutually beneficial business plans.

What areas if anything in the PWS would the Contractor recommend the Government consolidate, eliminate, or improve?

8.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at Boyers, Pennsylvania, St. Louis, Missouri, or at an alternate approved location, as appropriate for the related effort. Please see attachment One (1) for historical details of the current contractor employees who are onsite vs remote.

9.0 ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

One (1) Year Base Period with Four (4) One Year Optional Periods.

10.0 PROJECTED AWARD DATE:

The projected award date is May 2025.

NOTE:

Those who respond to this RFI should not anticipate feedback with regard to their submission other than acknowledgment https://sam.gov/ of receipt if such an acknowledgment is requested. DCSA reserves the right to review late submissions but makes no guarantee that they will be reviewed.

1 “Continuous evaluation (CE)” means a vetting process to review the background of an individual who has been determined to be eligible for access to classified information or to hold a sensitive position at any time during the period of eligibility. CE leverages a set of automated record checks and business rules to assist in the on-going assessment of an individual's continued eligibility. CE is intended to complement continuous vetting efforts.”

E.O. 13764 of Jan 17, 2017.

2 “Continuous vetting” means reviewing the background of a covered individual at any time to determine whether that individual continues to meet applicable requirements.” E.O. 13764 of Jan 17, 2017.

3 “Case management” refers to DCSA’s facilitation of a background investigation from the time it’s ordered through its completion.