NM_HSHQC7-13-R-00001_QAs.docx

New Mexico Questions and Answers

HSHQC7-13-R-00001

Request: Please confirm that the address below is the correct proposal delivery address, per the SOLICITATION PROVISIONS, Page 262 OF 390 Proposals are due no later than (2:00 P.M.), (Pacific Time), (January 27, 2014).

Submissions shall be made via hard copy to:

Department of Homeland Security Office of Procurement Operations Attention: Jennifer Goss 32125 32nd Ave S Federal Way, WA 98001 See Amendment 0003

Question: Is the Table of Contents included in the 20-page limitation for the Technical Proposal?

Yes.

Question: Should the Management Approach section to be submitted on the disk be redacted?

Question: Should the Pricing Schedule and Price Element Breakdown be redacted?

Question: Should the CD label be redacted?

The electronic copy and the CD label should be in the original format, including both the Management Approach and Pricing, without redactions.

Request: Please provide a Contractor-Provided Uniform Items list for the State of New Mexico

See Amendment 0003

Request: Please provide a list that shows the status of the incumbent’s personnel licenses/permits.

All personnel are currently up to date.

Question: Do incumbent personnel on the current/existing contact meet the Medical Standards, Physical Demands, and Clearance requirements stated in the RFP or are these new requirements for the new contract?

Incumbent contractor personnel meet all requirements under the current contract. The medical/physical requirements of this RFP differ from those contained in the current/expiring contract.

Question: Are the training requirements stated in the RFP the training requirements for the current/existing contract or is there a change in the training requirements for the new contract?

Incumbent contractor personnel meet all requirements under the current contract. The RFP requirements differ from the current contract requirements. All PSOs are required to complete all of the required training that is set forth in this RFP, which may vary from the type and quantity of training required under the expiring contract, prior to standing post.

Question: Is the Contract Manager required to be onsite Monday – Friday during normal working hours?

No; however, IAW 11.2.5 of the SOW “CM shall be available during normal working hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) within 30 minutes by telephone or in person to discuss deficiencies. After normal duty hours or on weekends and holidays, CM shall be available within two hours.”

Question: Does the Government require offerors to provide a full-time, 100% dedicated Contract Manager to manage this contract?

Yes

Question: Is it permissible for the Contract Manager to simultaneously manage/oversee other similar Government and/or commercial contracts while serving as the Contract Manager on the State of New Mexico contract, or is the Contract Manager a dedicated, full-time, position exclusively for this contract?

No, the Contract Manager is a dedicated full-time position for this contract.

Question: Please provide the building/location where the Contract Manager currently resides?

The current Contract Manager resides in their company provided office space.

Question: Will the Government provide office space for Key Personnel?

No, the successful offeror is required to provide any necessary office space and furnishings as well as any equipment.

Question: If office space is provided, will the Government provide internet connectivity for the Contract Manager?

Refer to question 12 above.

Question: Are these types of records required to be stored onsite or can they be maintained electronically offsite?

IAW 7.3.1.2 of the SOW, Contractor must maintain legible, paper or computerized system (electronic/scanned) files containing training, certification, licensing, and permit information required in SOW.

IAW 7.3.1.1 of the SOW, Contractor shall maintain personnel files for employees who work under this contract. These files shall reside in Contractor Manager’s office and be made available to Government immediately upon request.

Question: What are the Guard Mount requirements for this contract?

There are no Guard Mount requirements for this contract.

Question: Is the required .40 S/W used on the current contract or is the .40 S/W a change in firearms platform for the new contract?

The only requirement is for a .40 caliber handgun. There is no platform change.

Question: Will the Government provide free parking for the required vehicle?

See Amendment 0003

Question: Please provide the city and zip codes for the following posts? NM1536 and NM1577

See Amendment 0003

Question: Please provide the days of the week when each post is open?

See Amendment 0003

Request: Please identify the Level III and Level IV Facilities listed on the Post Exhibit

This information will be provided to the awardee.

Although the Government is exempt from state and local Gross Receipts Tax, contractors are not and would need to include this cost in our price model. The state and local Gross Receipts taxes vary by locality and are between 6% and 8%.

Question: Should Contractors include the New Mexico State Gross Receipts Tax in the fixed hourly rate?

Question: Should Contractors include the New Mexico Local Gross Receipts Tax in the fixed hourly rate?

Question: Will the Government provide a tax exemption certificate that will allow the gross receipts from this contract to be exempt on a State and local basis?

1) IAW FAR Clause 52.212-4 (k), Taxes. The contract price includes all applicable Federal, State, and local taxes and duties.

2) See the answer above.

3) No.

Question: Please clarify whether any or all of the following constitute Fringe benefits and whether offerors must honor these Fringe benefits during the term of the contract: uniform allowance, shoe allowance, Health & Welfare, paid vacation, and paid holidays.

Uniform Allowance and shoe allowance are not fringe benefits. H&W, paid vacation and paid holidays are fringe benefits.

Question: Do all PSOs require Government-Provided Screener Training, or is this training only required for PSOs who will be working with Magnetometers or X-Ray machines? If so, please provide a list of which posts have such equipment?

No, See Amendment 0003

Request: Please provide guidance on what offerors should use in the place of binders for the submission of both the Technical and Price proposals.

Offerors may secure their proposal submissions together with a binder clip, paper clip, etc.

What is the purpose of the difference of 23,477.62 PSO Service Hours?

The hours in the post exhibit represent the current known requirement. The hours in the SF 1449 are the maximum hours the government may order under the contract and include more hours than those contained in the post exhibit in order to accommodate potential increases and fluctuations in demand.

1) Considering that SOW 5.4.4.3 states that DHS will not accept interim TOP SECRET clearances, how many incumbent PSO’s hold final TOP SECRET clearances?

2) If answer to 1) is none or an insufficient number of PSOs to staff these two post, will PSOs need the TS clearance for the building prior to contract start?

1) The incumbent contractor has had a sufficient number of Top Secret Clearance Personnel to staff the required posts under the current contract.

2) PSOs will need a TS clearance prior to standing post.

The current language in section 9.21.1 which references the PSO using a PIN is under review. The PTS system is incomplete and at this time the PSOs will continue signing in on the DHS form 139.

1) With the listed COR located in Oklahoma City and CO in Federal Way, Washington who is the CM required to respond to within these specified time frames?

2) What restrictions are there on the location of the CM within and/or outside the State of New Mexico?

3) Will the CM ever be required to meet the time deadlines in person, since the COR is in another state?

1) The CM is responsible for responding to both the CO and the COR. The SOW does not separate who the CM responds to; however, they are both Government employees that administer contract oversight.

2) The SOW does not include any specific location requirements where the CM must be located.

3) No.

1. As discussed at the December 18th Pre-Proposal Conference, is the vehicle called for in this exhibit required for this RFP?

1. If so, is the requirement 12 miles or hours a day?

2) Exhibit 1 – Post Exhibit does not reference a vehicle; what post is this required vehicle assigned to?

1. If the contractor places vehicles on the contract for supervisors, will the marking requirements of Exhibit 8F apply?

The vehicle requirement has been removed from the solicitation. See Amendment 0003

1) Which of the three (3) listed locations (Albuquerque, Artesia, El Paso) are valid locations for FPS PIV processing?; (this information is important to accurately allow the contractor to calculate the cost of PIV processing)

2) Will PSO’s be required to possess a PIV to stand post on contract start?

3) If not required to possess a PIV by the contract start date, what is the “drop dead” date for the PIV requirement?

4) Will a government mobile unit for PIV processing be available?

5) Will contractor cost associated with the PIV processing be reimbursed through an equitable adjustment process after start up or does the cost of this process need to be included in the proposal pricing?

1) See Amendment 0003

2) Not at this time.

3) Unknown at this time.

4) Unknown at this time.

5) The cost associated with PIV processing should be built into the proposed hourly rates.

1) Is the sixteen (16) hour Government Provided Screener Training, as provided for in the Arkansas RFP and as discussed at the December 18th Pre-Proposal Conference applicable to the New Mexico RFP?

2) If the sixteen (16) hour course is applicable, will PSOs be required to have completed this training in order to stand post on the contract start date?

3) If no, will PSOs with NWDTP training be allowed to stand screener post until the sixteen (16) hour training is complete:

4) Will PSOs with no screener training be allowed to stand non-screener post until the government has provided the sixteen (16) hour course for all PSOs?

1) Yes, See Amendment 0003.

2) Yes, see revised 6.7.3.1 of the SOW in Amendment 0003.

3) No, see revised 6.7.3.1 of the SOW in Amendment 0003.

4) Yes.

1) Is it possible to get a revised Post Exhibit to include this column of information?

See Amendment 0003

Yes.

QUESTION: will the government establish a CLIN for TAS or want offerors to provide a TAS rate?

No. The estimated hours for both Basic Services and TAS services are included under the CLINs titled PSO Services. The basic services and TAS services are to be priced as a weighted average hourly rate.

QUESTION: Will the government require or incorporate the NWDTP standards of 16 hours initial screener training on this contract?

Yes, See Amendment 0003

QUESTION: will the government specify location, mission of vehicle, and estimated annual miles that vehicle will travel.

The vehicle requirement has been removed from the solicitation. See Amendment 0003

QUESTION: Since contract covers multiple locations with varying wage rates will the government provide seniority list by location.

An updated copy of the seniority list has been revised by location and included with Amendment 0003.

What is site or address where the vehicle is required?

The vehicle requirement has been removed from the solicitation. See Amendment 0003

Question/Request for Clarification: Will the Government be providing this record?

No.

IAW Section 4.1.1 of the SOW: Contractor must obtain, renew, and possess required licenses and permits as specified under this contract and applicable federal, state, and/or local regulating agencies.

A revised Exhibit 1-Post Exhibit has been incorporated to identify which days each week each post is operational. See Amendment 0003

The information on the Exhibit 1 is correct. This is a seasonal post that operates during the months of April – October.

The contractor may have multiple training instructors who are certified in multiple areas. A contractor can utilize contractors to teach certain topics however, if a contractor is utilized the requirements outlined IAW Section 11.4 of the SOW remain in effect.

Yes, See Amendment 0003