Amendment_A00001_(QA).docx

HSFE20-17-R-0007 Questions and Answers (Q&A) and site visit attendees Amendment A00001 Armed Security Guard Services for the CDP

List of companies that attended the May 23, 2017 site visit at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP).

Blackstone Security Services, Inc.

Orion Technology, Inc.

Crescent Guardian, Inc.

APSI – Centerra JV, LLC Choctaw Ikhana/Murray Guard, Inc.

Controlled F.O.R.C.E., Inc.

Ansible Government Solutions, LLC Workable Solutions Investigative & Protective Services, LLC Excalibur Associates, Inc.

Universal Protection Agency Miller Private, LLC The Whitestone Group CenCore, LLC Swanson Services, Inc.

{Note: There will be no additional site visits. Also, any small business offeror is encouraged to submit a proposal, even if they did not attend the site visit.}

Questions and Answers:

1. During the site visit, there was mention about the Key Control/Administrative Officer changing locks. In SOW section 4.7.1.2.3, the only skill requirement was, "must have three (3) years’ experience in administrative office work."

a) Is this position to be staffed by a certified locksmith? No. The locksmith position is with the Facilities Operations & Maintenance Contract.

b) If yes, is the incumbent Key Control/Administrative Officer a certified locksmith with three (3) years’ experience in administrative office work?

2. In regard to Executive Order 13706 "Paid Sick Leave for Workers on Federal Contracts," please confirm that all employees working on this contract are to get 56 hours of annual sick leave pursuant to the order. Requirement is directed by EO 13706.

3. SOW section 3.1 states in part, “Weapons and the basic load of ammunition, both .40 caliber and 12 gauge shotgun are provided as GFP. The contractor shall provide all other ammunition, e.g., for training and qualifications purposes…” Section 3.7.2.2 says, “Ammunition for authorized firearms shall be provided by the Contractor.” Section 5.9.9.2 states, “Ball ammunition will be used for firearms training and qualification and shall be provided by the contractor.”

Question Please clarify the GFE/CFE ammo requirements for both .40 caliber and 12 ga. Weapons and basic load ammunition, both .40 caliber and 12 gauge shotgun, are GFP. Ammunition used for training and qualification are to be provided by the contractor. When required, replenishment of basic load ammunition will be coordinated with CDP Asset Management.

4. SOW section 3.4.3 states in part, “The contractor shall be responsible for having locks on firearms cabinets changed at least annually or more often if warranted.”

Question

a) What is the brand and cost of the locks that must be changed every year? The annual, or as needed, lock changes are accomplished through submission of a work request to the Facilities Operations & Maintenance Contract locksmith.

b) Are these X-09 type GSA locks for Class 5 containers to change combinations, complete X-09 locks changed out or padlocks for some other type safe? NA

c) If X-09 type, is this the only function that would require a locksmith? NA

5. SOW section 3.7.2.3.2 states in part, "All employees performing under this contract, except the Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager, Training Officer, AMDO Lead and Key Control/Administrative Officer, shall wear the same color and style of uniform. The five listed key personnel will wear distinctive uniforms and accessories identifying them as contractor security personnel."

Question Please identify the nature of this distinction. The purpose of the uniform (shirt) color variation is to provide immediate physical differentiation between the management team and security officers. The color choice is left to the contractor with CO/COR approval.

6. SOW section 3.7.2.3.7 states in part, "The boots are considered part of the uniform to be furnished by the contractor. The color of the shoe shall match the color of leather equipment accessories."

Question Must the duty gear be leather or can it be cooler and lighter nylon as was observed during the site visit? Leather is preferred; however, nylon will be considered with approval by the CO/COR.

7. Other than Attach D - Government Furnished Equipment, the only mention of body armor is in SOW section 3.7.2.3.9.

Question Please confirm whether body armor is GFE or CFE. Body armor is GFE; however, the contractor is responsible for providing specific gender and size measurements for its employees.

8. SOW section 4.8 states that the Contractor will be reimbursed for the CERP medical exam. The Att. 6 CERP Manual Chap. 2-1 states, "The expense incurred to perform background and medical checks and to provide copies of documents for the CO is borne by FEMA for Federal personnel and by the contractor for contract personnel."

Question

a) Please confirm that the Contractor is reimbursed for the CERP medical IAW section 4.8. The contractor will be reimbursed for these examinations.

b) Does the Government reimburse or cover the cost of the eQip and other Background Investigations or other clearances? The Government conducts background investigations for contractor employees. The contractor must provide a “Contract Fitness/Security Screening Request”, (FEMA Form 121-3-1-6), for each new employee for processing by the COR.

c) Att. 6 mentions Secret or higher clearances in a discussion about reciprocal agreements. Are any S, TS or TS/SCI clearances required for any Contractor employees in this effort? Security clearances are not required. However, all contractor employees must successfully undergo a favorable OPM Tier 4 background investigation.

d) If no, what is the cost to the Contractor of the Background Investigations or clearances? NA

9. SOW section 4.24.2.5 states simply, "Quarterly drug screenings" as an element of a monthly technical progress report. This is the only mention of Quarterly drug screenings in the SOW. Section 4.7.6 says, "Contractor personnel shall be drug screened prior to employment. Security officers assigned to the COBRATF are subject to random drug screening."

Question Please clarify the drug screening requirements and any cost to the Contractor other than the pre-employment screening. Quarterly drug screening is not required; however, the contractor is responsible for drug screening payments for its CERP program employees.

a) Are all employees to be drug tested every 3 months? No.

b) Or is there a certain percentage to be screened every 3 months? No.

c) Or does this have something to do with the COBRATF employees that are reimbursed by the Government for medical examination costs associated with the CERP medical surveillance program? CERP employees are subject to the CERP random drug screening program which is managed by the Government’s Occupational Health Nurse.

10. In SOW section 5.6.3 regarding the post hours for CDP Headquarters Complex, Responder Lodging Complex and the Noble Training Facility; all these say, "Includes 15 minutes overtime per employee per shift." Post hours for the COBRATF Complex have the 15 minutes visually included at the beginning of the shift for the post hours shown.

Question

a) For the first 3 locations are the 15 minutes included in the 8, 12 & 24 hours or does the 15 minutes have to be added onto the beginning of the shifts? In other words, with a post that starts at 0600, does the employee report at 0600 for guard mount or 0545 hours? The employee will report 15 minutes prior to scheduled duty, i.e., 0545 for guard mount for a shift that starts at 0600, etc.

b) Do guards always get paid 15 min OT regardless, even if they work less than 40 HPW? Yes. The 15 minutes overtime is based on shift, not on total hours worked.

c) Are the unarmed AMDO employees and Lead to be included in the 15 minute guard mount OT? Yes. Same rationale as Question 10.b above.

11. Regarding the M-F posts; which ones, if any, do not include Holidays? None. The M-F posts are normally not staffed on holidays.

12. SOW section 5.6.3.5.2. 1st Shift (5:45 AM – 2:00 PM, Sat – Sun & Holidays): 1 Static and 2 – Roving Question Does the "1 Static and 2 – Roving" at the end mean "Post 1 Static Supervisor and Post 2 Roving" or does it mean 1 static Supervisor & 2 roving guards? Post 1 is the Supervisor; plus there are two roving guards per shift.

13. SOW section 5.6.3.5.7 states, "Supervisors will be assigned to and be on duty during operational and non-operational hours at the protected facilities."

Question The Noble post hours call out a 24/7 supervisor. COBRATF hours call out a day shift supervisor. Please clarify. There are two supervisors per shift; one for the campus; plus one on site at the COBRATF.

a) Is a supervisor to be on duty at all 4 locations when guards are on duty? No. See above.

b) If yes, may the Supervisor work a productive post where a Supervisor post is not called out? NA

c) Do the PM and DPM fulfill this requirement for CDP Headquarters Complex or is there to be a separate supervisor? The PM & DPM do not fulfill shift supervisory requirements.

14. SOW section 5.7.6.2 states, "The duties of some guard posts require that a guard not leave the post until properly relieved. Where this is required, it is specifically stated on the Guard Post Assignment Record, and identifies those posts which guards are not allowed to leave unless relieved." This is a cost item that has to be included in our offer.

Question Please identify the posts that require relief so we may price this in our offer. This will eliminate the need for an economic adjustment after award and obtaining the Guard Post Assignment Record. All static posts require relief; however, short term/temporary relief, e.g., restroom break, is typically provided by the roving security officers. The specific posts requiring relief are: CDP Headquarters front guard house, rear guard house, & lobby; Responder Lodging guard house; Noble Training Facility entrance; COBRATF Post 1, 5 & 5A; plus one security officer at Faith Wing security desk.

15. To clarify the post manning and supervision requirements, will the Government provide a traditional post exhibit in Excel format by amendment? Also, columns could be added to identify the posts requiring relief personnel and those that exclude holidays. Relief personnel is a cost item that has to be included in our price or economically adjusted after award. See response to Question 14 above.

16. SOW section 5.9.2.2 states that, “Overtime will be necessary to accomplish this training.” Section 5.9.2.2 is only 40 hours of the 80 hours of required annual training.

Question Historically, has overtime been necessary to accomplish all of the annual training? No; the 40 hours of security force incident response is a new requirement in this contract.

17. SOW section 5.9.3.1 states, “To be eligible to perform under this contract each contract employee must meet, to the satisfaction of the COR, the following education, experience, health and security requirements:” Section 5.9.8 states, "To be eligible to perform under this contract, each contract employee must meet the specified training requirements."

Question

a) Are incumbent personnel educated, certified, medically cleared AND trained IAW this SOW? Yes, except security force incident response. (See Question 16 above.)

b) If not, what requirements are new to this RFP? The 40 hours of security force incident response training is new to this contract.

c) Do any of the initial “new employee” training elements have to be repeated for incumbent personnel? No. Incumbent personnel meet contract requirements.

d) Which, if any, training elements for incumbents must be accomplished during the 30 day transition? See above response. New employee training will be required.

18. Is there a firearms range on the base that can be used by Contractors? If no, what range in Anniston is currently being used by the guard force? No; the current security contractor coordinates use of the local FOP range and the APOST certified instructor.

19. Is the incumbent Training Manager certified to instruct all disciplines in the training section of this RFP? If no, please identify the courses the incumbent Training Manager is not certified to teach. Yes.

20. Is the incumbent Training Manager a certified Alabama POST firearms instructor? No. APOST certification has not been available.