Questions_July_25.pdf

Part I

The following information is hereby provided as a result of questions posed from Industry:

1. Is the Physical Abilities Test referenced in this section a requirement of this solicitation as it is not mentioned within Section 5.2 Medical and Physical Qualifications in the

SOW?

Response: Yes, the Physical Abilities Test is a requirement.

2. If the above test is required, has the incumbent work force currently gone through a

Physical Abilities Test or is this a new requirement?

Response: It is a new requirement.

3. Does the incumbent work force currently have valid PIV cards or is this a new requirement?

Response: PIV card is a new requirement (Section 13.5 of the SOW).

4. What are the approximate TAS hours annually that are currently being performed by the incumbent?

Response: The question is not relevant for purposes of the current solicitation.

5. How many of the 5 vehicles required, if any, are designated primarily for roving patrols? (therefore not available for supervision use)

Response: They are designated for roving patrol.

6. In order to have equitable pricing for all bidders, what is the approximate (percentage or number) of employees that currently take the lower H&W amount in Cash as opposed to the higher Health & Welfare amount in Union Benefits?

Response: Unknown to the Government. It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that any costs associated with the solicitation requirements are included within pricing for services.

7. If the Contractor recruits the existing workforce and there is no significant break in service from one contractor to the next are they required to undergo another medical exam. Could their date of their last examination be used to determine their next examination and if so would certification of passing the exam be available to the new contractor?

Response: All PSOs inclusive of new hires will have to comply with all requirements set forth in the solicitation.

8. PSO’s required to undergo a pre-assignment psychometric test but how long are these tests valid? Would PSO’s be required to undergo this type of testing following an extended leave of absence?

Response: The psychological exam is required prior to the PSO working on the contract. If there is extended break in service, the PSO will need to go through suitability, training, medical process as if he/she were a new employee. Contractor shall require PSOs to undergo a pre-employment medical/physical examination and every three years thereafter.

9. 5.3.3.2 states that a favorable EOC decision allows employees to commence work

“temporarily” prior to completion of the full investigation. What is the average time frame for the full investigation to be complete and is there a time limit on the amount of time that an employee can work “temporarily”?

Response: A Final Suitability Determination may take anywhere from 3 months to

6 months. There is no time limit on how long a PSO can work with a favorable

Preliminary Suitability Adjudication; if there are any issues that cause a delay to the Final Adjudication being completed, the regional contract suitability office staff will send a notification to the vendor requesting additional information and/or clarification.

10. How long is the test result valid on this test? In the event the contractor hires existing employees and there is not a significant break in service will this test have to be retaken?

Response: New hire PSOs take the written exam after they complete basic training and receive a favorable preliminary suitability. The test would not need to be re-taken; however, if there is a significant break in service, the individual would need to retake the exam. All PSOs inclusive of incumbents will have to comply with all requirements set forth in the solicitation.

11. SOW sections 5.4.1 through 5.4.6 refer to the possibility of PSOs having clearances, but also say “not applicable”. Does FPS anticipate that PSOs on this contract will require security clearances, and if so, what level clearances?

Response: No security clearance required for the contract. A Background

Investigation (BI) Suitability is the requirement.

12. SOW Section 14.4.6 mentions possible storage of weapons on-site, but leaves the acceptability of such storage to “the solicitation”. Is on-site storage of weapons and ammunition acceptable?

Response: Yes The specific facility for storage of the weapons and ammunition will be provided at the time of award.

13. Can the government provide records of the training certification status of incumbent

PSOs, and the specifics of their training vis-à-vis the new training requirements of the

RFP?

Response: No, the Government cannot provide the records because the

Government does not maintain them. Records can be requested from the incumbent contractor pursuant to SOW 2.2.2; however, given the changes in training and other requirements, all PSOs, including those employed by the incumbent contractor, must meet the specific requirements set forth in the SOW.

14. Can the government provide records of the medical standards status of incumbent PSOs, and the specifics of their medical certifications vis-à-vis the new medical requirements of the RFP?

Response: No, the Government cannot provide the records because the

Government does not maintain them. Records can be requested from the incumbent contractor pursuant to SOW 2.2.2; however, given the changes in training and other requirements, all PSOs, including those employed by the incumbent contractor, must meet the specific requirements set forth in the SOW.

15. Which posts (if any) require use of, and qualification with, a shotgun? May offerers assume for any posts that require a shotgun qualification, that 9mm qualification is also required?

Response: There is no Shotgun requirement for this contract.

16. Have incumbent officers already completed the revolver to 9mm weapons platform change?

Response: There is no platform change. The existing contract requirement is a

9MM.

17. The Form 1449 shows a period of performance of 10/01/2014 to 09/30/2015, with successive years on a 10/1 through 9/30 cycle. The pre-proposal Power Point

Presentation shows a period of performance of February 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, and successive options thereafter, and establishes an award date of October 1, 2013, with a 120 day transition, corresponding to a start date of February 1, 2014. Which is correct?

Response: Expected award date is on or before October 1, 2013 with a 120 day transition period, with a period of performance due to start February 1, 2014.

18. SOW section 1.1.2 references providing licenses for jurisdictions in which the contract will be performed. Is licensing required in any states other than Maryland?

Response: No, the solicitation is clear on its face.

19. Must vehicles utilized for this contract be replaced upon reaching any specified mileage mark? May used company fleet vehicles be utilized or shall new vehicles be provided?

Response: Vehicles should be well maintained and in good working order (vendor is responsible for determining if and when vehicles are to be scheduled for repair or replaced).

20. Is this contract being awarded as a GSA Schedule contract?

Response: No, the contract will be awarded as a Department of Homeland Security

Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract with task orders issued on a labor hour basis.

21. Exhibit 8B has nothing listed for quantity for the firearms safe, ammunition and wall lock box. Please confirm that the contractor will not be required to provide these items.

Response: These items are included on Exhibit 8B.

22. Exhibit 8B requires the contractor to provide one (1) weapon clearing barrel. Is this supposed to be one (1) clearing barrel per building? Are there any clearing barrels in the buildings currently that will be made available to the new contractor?

Response: No, there are no clearing barrels in other buildings. The clearing barrel is in the main facility only.

23. CBA – The Agreement has a labor category for unarmed PSOs. Does this contract require unarmed PSOs anywhere? If so, please define which posts may be manned by unarmed PSOs.

Response: All PSOs are required to be armed.

24. Attachment 9, Proposal Checklist – Typically the past performance descriptions are included in the Technical but as an attachment in the Management Do the relevant past performance forms (either 3 or 6 of them) count in the 20 page limit?

Response: Past Performance Forms do not count against the 20 page limit. See page 50 of the clauses.

25. General – Do the incumbent PSOs meet the current SOW requirements for training, physicals, physical ability testing?

Response: Physical Abilities Testing is not a requirement under the existing contract/SOW. All PSOs inclusive of incumbents will have to comply with all requirements set forth in the solicitation.

26. General – Do the incumbent PSOs currently carry OC Spray?

Response: No

27. General – Are the incumbent PSOs currently fitted for and wearing ballistic vests?

Response: No

28. General – Are there any additions/deletions to the SOW in this requirement from recent procurements in Region 3 or NCR, such as the new requirement in section 5.2.6 for

Psychological Screening tests?

Response: The solicitation is clear on its face.

29. Specifically, page 50, item 6 of the Contract Clauses states:

6. Those proposals that fail to comply with the terms of the set-aside clause requiring the prime contractor to perform a specified percentage of the effort by either proposing to do less than the required percentage or not providing the percentage breakdown between the prime contractor and any subcontractor under a teaming arrangement will be deemed to be non-conforming and will not receive further evaluation or consideration for award.

Please confirm that the Prime, which must be an 8(a), may opt to sub-contract out a percentage of this opportunity to a large business under the terms of a Teaming Agreement, Thank you.

Response: 8(a) prime vendor subcontracting agreements shall comply with FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, which states, in part, that the Contractor agrees that in performance of the contract that at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.

30. Recently FPS solicitations have been issued with an Excel version of the current incumbent PSO certifications. Will this be provided for this solicitation as well?

Response An excel document with incumbent PSO certifications will not be provided in this solicitation.

31. Are all incumbent PSOs up to date on their training under the new requirement. If not, what training is required or lacking?

Response: All PSOs inclusive of incumbents will have to comply with all requirements set forth in the solicitation.

32. What make, model and caliber of firearm are incumbent PSOs carrying?

Response: The make, model, and caliber carried by the incumbents is 9mm Smith&

Wesson Model MP9

33. Do all incumbent PSOs have current firearm certification to allow for Transitional or

Platform Change training?

Response: Yes, all PSO’s have firearm certification.

34. The CBA has a premium wage for Alarm Monitors. We understand that all posts are staffed with PSOs.

Question/Request: please advise which posts, if any, are Alarm Monitor/Console type posts.

Response: Posts 1 and 2 at 7500 Security Blvd, Woodlawn, MD 21244

35. Are weapons stored on site?

Response: All weapons are secured and accounted for on site at 7500 Security Blvd.

36. Exhibit 8E Contractor provided Equipment requires radios for the project. Please clarify if:

a. A NiCad Battery or Lithium Ion rechargeable battery is acceptable.

Response: Yes, either are acceptable.

b. Will a repeater system for the radios be required

Response: No, a repeater is in place.

c. Will ear pieces be required.

Response: No.

d. Will remote microphones be required.

Response: No.

e. Is either a digital, analog of either type of radio acceptable?

Response: Either analog or digital radios are acceptable.

37. Page 39 SOW Item 9.8 states:

9.8 Control Center Operations

9.8.1 PSOs assigned to Control Center Operations posts serve as point-of-contact for non-emergency and emergency communications and information, as well as operate and monitor security and safety systems.

a) Please clarify which buildings have a control center.

Response: MD0415 - (Central Building)

b) Please clarify the number of guards at each control center

Response: see post exhibit (2 posts)

c) Please clarify the hours of operations at each control center.

Response: (see post exhibit)

d) Please clarify the number or if Supervisors are required at the control center.

Response: (supervision is provided in accordance with the contractor's proposed management approach.

e) Please clarify if the PSO performing services at the Control Center armed?

Response: Yes.

38. Attachment 11, Post Description,

a. Please define what a Rover is.

Response: it is a mobile, patrol post.

b. Please clarify if the Rover is on foot or vehicle.

Response: a rover post may be foot or vehicle.

c. Please define a “Combination” Post.

Response: a post where the PSO(s) execute both fixed and patrol duties.

d. Please clarify if any of the posts are self relieving (Fixed, Rover, Combination, Mobile Patrol)

Response:: There are no self-relieving posts which means the posts must be continuously covered.

Part II

The following changes are hereby incorporated into the RFP as a result of questions posed from Industry:

The hours provided on the 1449 were intended to reflect the hours from the Post Exhibit.

However, MD0507 cited 6,526 hours on the Form 1449, whereas the Post Exhibit totals

5,174 hours. MD 0456 cited as 16,691 hours on Form 1449, while the Post Exhibit totals

19,076 hours.

The Government has updated the hours for MD0507 and MD0456 to match the Post Exhibit.

In addition, an approximate 10% increase in hours is applied to all productive hours to account for any increases that may occur during the course of the contract.

Due to contracting software system constraints, a new 1449 will not be generated to reflect these changes.

In lieu of providing prices on the 1449, a pricing spreadsheet is provided which consolidates all facilities into one productive CLIN, TAS, Emergency, and COOP.

Vendors shall provide pricing via the Pricing Schedule. No pricing shall be provided on the

1449.

1. CLIN's0004/00051004/1005/2004/2005/3004/3005/4004/4005/5004/5005: Question: As these CLIN's appear duplicated with quantities which do not match the attachment 11 post hour exhibit, will these be corrected?

Response: The CLINS are duplicates.

2. The hours shown on the Form 1449 for basic PSO services for Buildings MD 0507 and

MD 0456 do not appear to correspond to the Post Exhibit. MD0507 shows as 6,526 hours on the Form 1449, whereas the Post Exhibit totals 5,174 hours. MD 0456 shows as

16,691 hours on Form 1449, while the Post Exhibit totals 19,076 hours. All of the other

1449 entries correspond with the Post Exhibit, within reasonable rounding errors. Please clarify hours for Buildings MD0507 and MD0456.

Response: The post exhibit provided in the solicitation is a sample of expected hours. The pricing schedule, which consolidates productive hours into one CLIN, provides a ceiling amount of hours. The ceiling hours represent an approximate

10% increase over the hours reflected in the Post Exhibit to account for any increases that may occur during the course of the contract. Vendors shall utilize the hours in the pricing schedule as the basis for the price proposal.

3. As the provided Attachment 11 (Post exhibit) does NOT indicate any relief information, which posts require a PSO relief provision?

Response: An updated Post Exhibit is provided which details the relief requirement.

4. The Pre-proposal conference PowerPoint slides cite a 120 day transition period. SOW section 2.1.1 cites a range of 90 to 180 days for transition. Please clarify.

Response: A 120 day transition period is provided. Section 2.1.1 is updated to specify the transition period timeframe as follows:

From:

2.1.1 A smooth and orderly transition between Contractors is necessary to assure minimum disruption to vital Contractor services and Government activities.

Government will consider no less than a minimum of 90 days and no more than 180 days maximum for start up, from contract award date to performance start date.

To:

2.1.1 A smooth and orderly transition between Contractors is necessary to assure minimum disruption to vital Contractor services and Government activities. A 120 day transition period from contract award date to performance start date is provided.

5. Section 7.1.1 of the SOW is hereby revised

From:

Contractor is required to submit “Company Information” and “PSO Information to

RAMP via Microsoft InfoPath application. Refer to Exhibit 5 on creating, adding, and/or deleting company and/or individual PSO files.

To:

Contractor shall use an FPS provided spreadsheet template to transmit electronic

Contractor and PSO information. This template requires the Contractor to have access to and use of Microsoft Excel (2003 or more recent version) application.”

As a result of the change above, the template is attached via this Amendment and

Exhibit 5, Contractor and PSO Data File, is hereby deleted in its entirety.

6. A revised Exhibit 8E is provided.

7. In consideration of staffing supervisors, what are the physical addresses of the nine buildings?

Response: The updated Post Exhibit provides addresses.

8. Complete versions of the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements are incorporated.

End of document