Most_Frequently_Asked_Questions.docx

Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers PSO Services South Texas HSHQC7-14-R-00005 West Texas HSHQC7-14-R-00007 Dallas HSHQC7-14-R-00008

The government does not dictate to the contractor the level of supervision or numbers of management personnel required to administer the contract. That determination will be made by each vendor.

In accordance with the solicitation instructions, to ensure the submission of an adequate price element breakdown for purposes of this RFP, the Government suggests that the Contractor complete the attached worksheet, “Price Element Breakdown” (Attachment 6). The worksheet serves as a proforma for the expected format of the price element breakdown. The Government may use this breakdown to conduct a price realism evaluation for the purpose of measuring the Contractor’s understanding of the solicitation requirements and for assessing the performance risk inherent in the Contractor’s price.

IAW the Proposal Submission Requirements Page Limitation - Excluding the cover page, headers and footers (headers and footers shall be in at least 10pt. font) and past performance forms and questionnaires, the technical proposal (covering all non-price factors) is limited to twenty (20) pages in at least 11pt. font and 1” margins. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be evaluated.

No. PSOs are not required to carry a specific weapon by serial number. However PSOs are required to carry the exact same make and model weapon in which they have qualified with.

No. At this current juncture and do to the inability to close post location with screening stations during normal business hours, the majority of all WDTP training will be accomplished after hours and on weekends. In accordance with Section 6.7.3.4.1 of the SOW, the awarded contractor will have up to 90 days after the performance start date to have all PSOs who will operate screening posts WDTP trained and certified.

Yes. See Exhibit 9E – Government Provided Property HSPD-12 PIV Card Employee Application Process, C. Enrollment, 5.

Refer to Question 3 above.

The Socio Economic Factor should be addressed in the RFP Attachment 11.

The government has no preference.

No, the Government does not have a preference. It is up to each offeror to determine the appropriate length of transition needed to successfully meet the requirement.

Reference:

6.4 Training Requirements by Position

6.7.3 Weapons Detection Training Program (WDTP)

No. The 16 and 8 hour WDTP-X-Ray and NONX-Ray training are a new requirement.

Reference:

13.5 HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Cards

No, incumbent PSOs do not have PIV cards.

Reference: 5.2.2 Medical Standards

No. This contract has a new medical standard that must be met by all PSOs.

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

Yes.

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 which will require additional training for incumbent personnel?

Question: If this is not a change in the training requirements, can the government provide a roster with the incumbent staff’s training status/expiration?

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.

The incumbent contractor will provide the incumbent personnel records to the awardee.

Question: Is the Contract Manager required to be onsite, and/or in-state, Monday through 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, IAW 11.2.1 of the SOW “Contract Manager (CM) position is a dedicated fulltime position and requires a minimum of five years of specialized experience…”

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

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 1: Is the required .40 caliber S/W used on the current contract, or is a change in weapons platform part of the new contract?

Question 2: If the required .40 caliber S/W is the same weapon as the incumbent contract and the offeror chooses to use the same weapon, is only Transitional Weapons Training required?

Question 3: If this is not a change in the platform, can the government provide a roster with the incumbent staff training status/expiration?

Question 4: Does the government provide storage space for weapons on site?

Question 5: If weapons storage is provided, would the government provide the buildings where weapon storage is available?

The current weapon is an S/W .40 caliber. The request for the use of 40 caliber weapons is not a platform change. Please note that Exhibit 8C only specifies that the Contractor issues 40 caliber weapons. It does not distinguish between S/W and Glock etc...

Yes, transitional weapons training is required even if the same weapon is utilized.

Yes. Upon award of the contract a roster or spreadsheet will be provided.

No weapons will be stored on site.

No weapons will be stored on site.

Question: Please clarify whether any or all of the following constitute Fringe benefits and whether offerors must honor these Fringe benefits during the first period of performance and any additional terms of the contract: uniform allowance, paid time off, Health & Welfare, paid vacation, paid sick leave, annual benefit, pension, and paid holidays.

Of the items you listed, paid time off, health & welfare, paid vacation, paid sick leave, pension and paid holidays are included among fringe benefits. Uniform allowance is not a fringe benefit. It cannot be determined what is meant by ‘annual benefit’.

Question: Please provide guidance as to whether offerors should use binder clips in the place of three-ring binders for the submission of both the Technical and Price proposals.

Refer to Question 9 above.

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

Incumbent contractor personnel meet all requirements under the current contract. The medical/physica1/clearance requirements of this RFP differ from those contained in the current/expiring contract.

Question 1: Is Guard Mount required for this contract?

Question 2: If guard mount is required, will the government provide space for guard mount?

Guard mount is not required on this contract

See above.

No. IAW FAR Clause 52.212-4 (k), Taxes. The contract price includes all applicable Federal, State, and local taxes and duties.

Question: Would the Government please provide a list that shows the status of the incumbent personnel’s licenses/permits?

All incumbent personnel meet the license/permit requirements contained in the current contract. The incumbent vendor will provide the personnel records to the successful awardee.

Question: Would the Government please identify the Level III and Level IV Facilities listed on the Post Exhibit?

This information will be provided to the awardee.

Question: Would the Government please confirm that the address below is the correct proposal delivery address, per the SOLICITATION PROVISIONS?

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

Department of Homeland Security Office of Procurement Operations Attention: Jennifer Goss – 1st Floor 32125 32nd Ave S Federal Way, WA 98001

Question 1: Should the Management Approach section to be submitted on the disk be redacted?

Question 2: Should the Pricing Schedule and Price Element Breakdown be redacted?

Question 3: Should the CD label be redacted?

1. The electronic copy should be in the original format without redactions.

2. The Pricing Schedule and Price Element Breakdown should not be redacted.

3. The CD label should not be redacted.

Question A: Are all incumbent personnel currently trained for the use of the baton and OC Spray?

Question B: If yes, will they require retraining under the new contract during transition?

Incumbent personnel are trained for the use of the baton only.

All PSOs will have to be certified in OC training and recertify in the use of the baton.

Question A: Please confirm that the Management Approach within the disc is not to be redacted.

Question B: Please clarify if bidders should present each of the following parts of the technical submission separately: (1) two copies of Management Approach not redacted with the Field Level Supervision Exhibit, (2) three copies of the Management Approach redacted with the Field Level Supervision Exhibit (3) and lastly five copies of Past Performances under separate cover, or if bidders should present five copies of the Relevant Past Performance Section together, five copies of the Management Approach (two not redacted, three redacted) together, and five copies of the Field Level Supervision Exhibit together.

Refer to Question 45 above.

(1) two copies of Management Approach not redacted with the Field Level Supervision Exhibit, (2) three copies of the Management Approach redacted with the Field Level Supervision Exhibit (3) and lastly five copies of Past Performances under separate cover

CONTEXT: Exhibit 8C requires that the .40 Caliber firearm be implemented on the contract.

QUESTION: What is the current make and model of the firearm(s) currently being used by the incumbent PSOs?

.40 Caliber S/W.

CONTEXT: The Price Element Breakdown identifies a position classification of Regional Manager.

QUESTION A: Are Regional Managers required under the new contract?

QUESTION B: Are Regional Managers currently used under the existing contract and, if so, how many weekly hours are attributed to the Regional Managers?

No. Regional Managers are not required.

It is unknown if Regional Managers are used under the existing contract, as it is not a requirement.

CONTEXT: Exhibit 8C requires that the .40 Caliber firearm be implemented on the contract.

QUESTION: If the 3 hour training requirement for weapon familiarization is required for all weapons other than the actual incumbent owned weapons currently in use, can the assumption be made that the incumbent provider will sell the current weapons to the winning security provider to level the training assumption playing field?

No. The government has nothing to do with if an incumbent contractor will sell their weapons. That negotiation would take place between the incumbent and the awardee. The transitional weapons training will still be required.

Black pocket flaps and epaulets.

The Contractor’s price shall be inclusive of all the Contractor’s direct costs, indirect costs and profit and shall include all costs associated with providing the services described in the Statement of Work, the Post Exhibits and the Contractor’s technical proposal. Supervision is not billed or invoiced separately.

This is the relief hours for unpaid meal beaks, such as a 30 minute unpaid lunch.