Q A.doc

State of Maryland PSO services

RFP # HSHQE3-11-R-00003 – P00003

Section 1 – Questions and Answers Question 1: I can not find a proposal preparation section or evaluation criteria section for the RFP. Are these sections available?

Answer 1: Instructions to Offerors and Proposal Submission Requirement are available beginning on Page 55 of Attachment entitled Contract Clauses of the RFP posted on FedBizOps on August 16, 2011.

Question 2: Are the current CBA wages included within the RFP?

Answer 2: The wages currently being paid to the contractor are included. However, as of December 1, 2011 the rates will increase. Those rates are now included as an attachment to this amendment. All known wages are now available.

Question 3: Who is the incumbent contractor?

Answer 3: The incumbent contractor is ARES Group, Incorporated, 8625C Engleside Office Park, Alexandria, VA 22309

Questions 4: Does FPS require a “guard mount” period each day for muster, inspection, and instruction? If so is there a specified amount of time?

Answer 4: The determination regarding guard mount is to be made by the contractor.

Question 5: What were the training requirements in terms of hours for the current contract: basic, firearms, orientation, screener?

Answer 5: 72 hours (Basic), 40 hours (Firearms), 8-hours (Orientation), 8-hours (X-ray/ Magnetometer) as per Section 10-Training, Part B of the existing contract.

Question 6: Is the weapons platform changing under the new contract or do the guards currently use the 9mm?

Answer 6: The Weapons Platform will change; the firearm to be used under the new contract SOW is a 9mm.

Question 7: Presuming the Physical Ability Test is new to this contract, are all incumbent guards going to be required to pass the physical prior to the new contract start date?

Answer 7: Yes.

Question 8: Are weapons storage areas available at any government site or are individuals weapons issued to officers desired/ required?

Answer 8: Per Section 4.3.3 of the SOW, “PSO’s are authorized to travel to and from duty stations armed, with assigned duty weapon(s), unless prohibited by law.

Question 9: Are there any clearing barrel areas designated at any location?

Answer 9: Per Section 14.4.3 and 14.4.4 of the SOW, “Contractors shall supply applicable accessories such as clearing barrels, trigger locks, gun lockers, etc.” and “Contractor shall designate an area off Government property for PSO’s to clear and clean duty weapons.”

Question 10: Is there any office space/ furnishings in any government locations provided for a PM, Supervisors, other contract staff? If so what utilities such as internet, land lines, are provided?

Answer 10: No. None of the locations have furnished space for the PM. There are no utilities provided.

Question 11: Will contractor employees be allowed to use local facility fax machines?

Answer 11: As needed basis for official government business only.

Question 12: Per the Proposal Submission Requirements, (Attachment 3, Section E, Instruction to Offerors, Proposal Submission Requirements) the technical proposal is limited to 20 pages. Will the government please clarify if the table of contents, acronym list and section dividers be excluded from the page count of 20 pages? This section also states 11 pt. font; however, are headers /footers, tables exempt from the 11 pt font parameter.

Answer 12: The Government will not include such pages as table of contents, acronym list, and dividers as part of the 20 page total. All pages inclusive of narrative will be allotted toward the 20 page total. Header/Footer and tables are not mandated to be 11 pt font.

Question 13: Will the government provide a seniority roster for the incumbent workforce?

Answer 13: Incumbent workforce seniority list is attached for vendors review.

Question 14: Will the government provide incumbent workforce training records?

Answer 14: No.

Question 15: Can the Government identify any contract standards in Attachment 2- Post Exhibits that are new contract requirements?

Answer 15: It is the responsibility of the contractor to review the RFP in its entirety.

Question 16: Will the Government clarify if the current incumbent workforce is trained to the standards cited in Attachment 2 – Training Exhibits?

Answer 16: The incumbent contractor is required to turn over qualification/certification and expiration data during the transition period with government assistance if necessary.

Question 17: Will the Government confirm that shotguns are not required on this contract and therefore, shotgun qualification is not required?

Answer 17: Confirmed.

Question 18: If there are posts included on the Post Exhibit 1 for Hanover and Rockville, MD, can the government provide the applicable WD/CBA for these areas?

Answer 18: All sites listed on Post Exhibit 1 are covered by the attached CBA.

Question 19: The second paragraph of the CBA agreement preamble (Attachment 6) states, “Why is Eris deleted, don’t employees in Western MD work for a subsidiary of ARES? Will they be covered?

Answer 19: See attached CBA added via this amendment. This document supersedes previous CBA documents.

Question 20: Will the government provide the frequency band that FPS utilizes for radio communications so that the applicable license cost can be obtained?

Answer 20: Radio communications are determined by the contractor.

Question 21: Will the government confirm if respirator fit testing is required annually or every three years? (29CFR 1910.134(f)(2) state that employees be tested prior to initial use and once a year thereafter, FPS SOW states every 3 years.

Answer 21: Per Section 14.5.3 of the SOW, “FPS will require Contractor to medically evaluate and clear contract PSOs for use of respirators, at least every three years, in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134.” Further stating that, “Contractor is responsible for employee fit testing, at such time a public health authority declares use of respirators to be mandatory.”

Question 22: Will the government provide a post by post price schedule or is a blended rate for all posts desired?

Answer 22: A blended rate is required.

Question 23: The price schedule indicates there are unarmed hours to charge, however, the post exhibits does not indicate any post are unarmed? Can the Government clarify which posts are unarmed and what training is necessary?

Answer 23: The requirement for unarmed guards has been removed from the RFP.

Question 24: Are supervisors permitted to work in a capacity other than a supervisory capacity? If yes, are supervisors working in non-supervisory capacity permitted to provide relief and or stand post?

Answer 24: Section 11.3.2 states “Under no circumstances shall Supervisors perform productive hours while working in the supervisory capacity. “ Question 25: Will the Government confirm that Reps and Certs IAW FAR 52.212-3 is to be included with the price proposal submission for teaming partners?

Answer 25: Confirmed.

Question 26: Can weapons be stored on government property? Will PSO weapons be taken home or issued daily? Is the storage box intended for additional overage weapons to be the individually assigned PSO weapon?

Answer 26: Per Section 14.4.4 of the SOW, “Contractor shall designate an area off Government property for PSO’s to clear and clean duty weapons.” Per 4.3.3 of the SOW, “PSOs are authorized to travel to and from duty stations armed, with assigned duty weapon(s), unless prohibited by law.”

Question 27: Can the Government identify locations within the state where the PSO required government provided training and weapon requalification reviewed by an FPS official training will be conducted and where FPS officials will be available for weapons qualification observation for the purposes of capturing PSO travel costs?

Answer 27: Government provided training (i.e. Orientation) is TBD. Firearms qualification location is determined by vendor. Time and date should be coordinated with FPS COTR.

Question 28: Can the Government identify locations where PIV cards can be obtained for the purposes of capturing PSO travel costs?

Answer 28: TBD Question 29: The post Exhibit published within amendment 1 does not indicate which posts require physical relief when post officer is taking a break or lunch. Are we to assume that all posts require physical relief during breaks?

Answer 29: Yes.

Question 30: The post exhibit includes mileage for SSA Woodlawn mobile patrol at 100 miles per day, 26,600 appears in the hour column for this entry. Should not this be removed from the hour’s column?

Answer 30: Please reference amended Exhibit 1 attached.

Question 31: It appears all posts listed as 7 days service only have 266 days listed in the day’s column, was this meant to be 366 for the 2012 leap year?

Answer 31: Yes. Exhibit should read 366 and hours have been adjusted accordingly.

Question 32: The physical abilities testing is a new requirement. Will the incumbent officers have to complete this requirement prior to contract start or will they be grandfathered?

Answer 32: No grandfathering. All PSOs must take Physical Abilities Testing.

Question 33: Will the awarded contractor be required to maintain an office in the Baltimore area?

Answer 33: Yes.

Question 34: Per Exhibit 8 vehicles must be blue and white. Will the government allow vehicles to be gray?

Answer 34: The government will allow for vehicles to be gray as long as the vehicle has the distinctive markings of the company as per exhibit 8F.

Question 35: Will the government identify which buildings require cellular phones and which require radios?

Answer 35: Determined by vendor.

Question 36: MD1059 and MD1091 have scheduled days listed as TBD. Will the government advise if the specified hours for these buildings are a government place holder or the anticipated hours for these buildings?

Answer 36: Monthly Schedule is forwarded in advance as hearings are scheduled by ODAR.

Question 37: Will the Government advise if any of the buildings require a lead officer?

Answer 37: There is no requirement for lead officers.

Question 38: The vehicle required for SSA Woodlawn Mobile patrol includes estimated mileage sheets required for invoicing. Will the government advise if fuel cost for this vehicle will be on a cost reimbursable basis or are mileage sheets required for proof of patrol time only? If mileage will be cost reimbursable for Woodlawn, will this also apply to mileage for building MD1055 vehicles and gator?

Answer 38: Fuel cost will not be reimbursable.

Question 39: Will the government please clarify if the phase in period is 180 days as stated or if the start date for the period of performance should be adjusted?

Answer 39: The transition period will be 120 days from award. This 120 day transition time shall supersede any other reference to period of performance or transition time periods.

Question 40: Building MD0440 has a start date of 1/12/11 and an end date of 1/12/11. Will the government clarify the end date for this building?

Answer 40: Typo. End date should read 12/31/2012 Question 41: Bldg MD0055 is listed as a 24 hr post M-F (no W, no H). Will the government confirm that this post should only be 5 days a week less holidays, rather than 24 hr 7 day a week?

Answer 41: MD0055 Post # 2 is 24hrs/7days; Post # 3 is 24hrs/5 days. Reference Exhibit 1.

Question 42: Will the Government identify which model of the Gator is required?

Answer 42: The Government is not specifying specific model type.

Question 43: What type of weapons are incumbent PSO currently carrying?

Answer 43: The incumbents carry semi-automatic 40 caliber firearms Question 44: Do the incumbent PSO already have PIV cards?

Answer 44: No Question 45: Building MD1055, column G contains the words “vehicle and Gator”. Column J indicates 24 hrs a day and 1 hrs a day respectively for these items. Will the government provide the locations and make up of these required post/hours?

Answer 45: Contractor will be provided location during transition period.

Question 46: Can the Government confirm the number of cell phones and radios as they don’t account for all posts?

Answer 46: Confirmed.

Question 47: Can the Government Please provide the CBA “trust agreement” as this contains provisions that will need to be factored into proposal submissions?

Answer 47: The latest CBA is attached.

Question 48: Who will negotiate the new CBA wage rate which will be effective during the period of 2012? If the incumbent, how will there be equity among others submitting cost proposals.

Answer 48: Attached to this amendment are rates that will be effective beginning 12/1/2011 through 11/30/2012.

Questions 49: Amendment 1 specified that this is an 8(a) set-aside solicitation. Can you please clarify which type of competition is being utilized?

Answer 49: This requirement is being solicited as a total 8(a) set aside.

Question 50: There is an annual requirement for Screener training. Is screening training covered in the Basic training curriculum or would there be a requirement for both basic and screener training?

Answer 50: FPS provides 8 hours of screener training annually.

Question 51: Must the technical proposal include only the past project (attach 4) and not the past performance questionnaire (attach 5) that was sent to the projects” contract Officer’s for completion?

Answer 51: Yes. The Past Performance Questionnaire (attach 5) will not be submitted as a part of your technical proposal. Attachment 5 should be submitted to FPS AD by the CO/POC that you supplied it to.

Question 52: Is it acceptable to only include the key personnel resumes in the Transition Plan or are they also required to be in the technical proposal?

Answer 52: Resumes are only required within the Transition Plan.

Question 53: Section B lists 385,800 hours while the post manning schedule shows 383,077 hours. Please clarify.

Answer 53: All hours presented by the Government are estimates. Please reference latest Exhibit 1 for “snapshot”. Please use hours listed on Attachment entitled Schedule of Supplies Services and Prices to complete your price proposal.

Question 54: Should there be a separate line item on the Schedule B for COOP or should it be included in the proposed hourly labor rates?

Answer 54: Please use Attachment entitled Schedule of Supplies Services and Prices to complete your price proposal.

Question 55: How does the scope of work under this solicitation differ form this scope of work under the current contract with the incumbent?

Answer 55: It is the responsibility of the contractor to review the RFP in its entirety.

Question 56: Several building locations only have street addresses and do not contain the city. Will the government please provide full addresses?

Answer 56: Exhibit was revised to include full addresses.

Question 57: Currently the incumbents carry semi-automatic 40 caliber firearms. Will the Government allow this type of firearm to be utilized on the new contract?

Answer 57: No. The new weapons platform is 9mm.