Amendment 000004.pdf

(x)

HSSCCG-08-R-00008

x x copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

CIS

South Burlington VT 05403

70 Kimball Avenue

Department of Homeland Security

USCIS Contracting Office

CIS

South Burlington VT 05403

70 Kimball Avenue

Department of Homeland Security

USCIS Contracting Office

10/20/2008000004

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

08/22/2008

CHECK ONE

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT:

Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The Government requires 3rd party testing of sample cards in accordance with the RFP.

The Government must receive all 3rd party testing results by the time proposals are due

, as these test results will be evaluated with Technical proposals. Interested parties may still submit cards for 3rd Party Testing; however, it is up to industry to ensure the

Government receives the 3rd party testing results on time.

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16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Laura B. Zuchowski

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

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Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

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1. Please clarify if the Government will supply the artwork or whether the offeror will be required to originate artwork for approval by the

Government.

Government Response: The government will provide artwork to facilitate the customary artwork and design task. Please see section 7.0 page 23 of the RFP.

2. To assure compatibility with laser engraving equipment, request the Government identify the laser equipment to be used for engraving.

Government Response: Please see section 3.1 page

12 of the RFP.

3. Please specify the desired frequency and protocol for the RFID circuit, e.g. ISO 18000-6

A, B, C.

Government Response: Please see section 3.1 page

11 of the RFP.

4. The RFP reads “"A complete card shall include a holographic overlay/hologram stamp, and polyester laminate patch/clear overlay, as well as the card stock itself.” This sentence suggests that the offeror would apply overlay and laminate to an un-personalized card. Confirm that this is not the intention of the Government.

Government Response: The Offeror shall not apply overlay and laminate to an un-personalized card.

5. Section B, 3.1 Para 12 – RFP reads

“Non-Optical Laser Engravable Poly-Carbonate Card

Stock All personal information including a photograph, signature, alphanumeric data and machine readable lines shall be laser engraved on either the front or back of the card”. Is the offeror to personalize the cards prior to delivery to the Government?

Government Response: The Offeror shall personalize sample cards to the Government;

however, after award the Offeror shall not personalize cards.

6. The RFP reads” CR80 PVC Card Stock. The card

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Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

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stock will be capable of being personalized in the IDP Card Personalization System (CPS).” To assure compatibility, please provide the specifications of the IDP Card personalization

System.

Government Response: See section 3.1 pages 11 and

12 of the RFP.

7. RFP Section 3.1 Reverse transfer System -

Please provide the operating parameters of the reverse transfer system, e.g. temperature, pressure, lamination speed.

Government Response: The Retransfer module is the

Datacard Artista VHD retransfer color printing module for the Datacard MX6000 card issuance system, which is a commercially available product from Datacard Global Services. Information concerning the operating parameters of this module can be found on the Internet.

8. RFP Section 3.2 Holographic Overlays - Please provide the specifications on the equipment that will be used to apply the holographic overlays to the cards. Are the specifications for the core of these rolls?

Government Response: See section 3.1 pages 11 and

12 of the RFP. The cores will be provided as

Government Furnished Equipment, see Section 7.0, page 24 of the RFP.

9. RFP Section 3.3 Protective Laminate Patch

Rolls for Non-Optical Cards - Please provide the specifications on the equipment that will be used to apply the protective laminate to the cards.

Are the specifications for the core of these rolls?

Government Response: To obtain the specification for the equipment please see section 3.1 pages 11 and 12 of the RFP. The cores will be provided as

Government Furnished Equipment, see Section 7.0, page 24 of the RFP.

10. RFP Section 3.4 Clear Overlay Rolls for

Non-Optical Cards - Please provide the specifications on the equipment that will be used to apply the clear overlay to the cards. Are the

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specifications for the core of these rolls?

Government Response: To obtain the specification for the equipment please see section 3.1 pages 11 and 12 of the RFP. The cores will be provided as

Government Furnished Equipment, see Section 7.0, page 24 of the RFP.

11. RFP Section 5.1 Stage 1 testing - Will the

Government personalize the cards to be used in these tests or is the offeror to personalize these cards for these tests?

Government Response: No, offerors shall personalize the cards for these tests.

12. The solicitation covers several consumable variants. To prepare a proper proposal response, we respectfully request that the Government provide relevant information about the personalization equipment (i.e., printers) that will be used. This should cover details about machine supplier and machine type or model. This is important to know as the security material formats are different for different printers and in order to price these accurately, the exact machine type must be known in advance.

Government Response: Please see section 3.1 pages

11 & 12 of the RFP.

13. The solicitation covers several different types of cards. To prepare a proper proposal response, we respectfully request that the

Government provide the required personalization technique for each card type (laser engraving;

dye sublimation; thermal re-transfer,..), as well as the overlay foil that each card type may require for personalization (Holographic Overlay, Holographic Stamps, Polyester Laminate, Clear

Overlay).

Government Response: The personalization technique for the laser-Engraveable polycarbonate card is via laser engraving. These types of cards will also have a hologram stamp applied to the card. The personalization technique for the CR80

PVC card stock is via dye sublimation or thermal re-transfer. Once personalized, the CR80 PVC card will have a holographic overlay and/or a

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polyester laminate patch/clear overlay applied to the front of the card. The back of the card will have a clear overlay applied to the surface once it has been personalized.

14. Please provide information on the type of equipment that will be used for hot stamping process. Equipment type has implications on security material and cost.

Government Response: The hot stamping process uses Kurtz stampers and the specifications for these stampers is publicly available.

15. What are the requirements regarding expected life time for the different card types and card bodies indicated in the RFP?

Government Response: Please see Section 3.1, page

11 of the RFP.

16. Are we required to bid on all CLINs?

Government Response: Yes

17. What is the deadline for submitting materials to IDP for visual inspection?

Government Response: Items due for visual inspection shall be due with proposals.

18. The RFP requires that the cards should be sent to Eclipse Laboratories for testing prior to the submission of our response. We are planning to do this and have contacted Eclipse. However, they were not sure of the tests that were required by the Government for this solicitation.

We respectfully request that the Government clarifies this with Eclipse, so they can provide us with a pricing proposal and test schedule.

Government Response: The Government has contacted

Eclipse and the following tests are removed entirely from the requirement in the RFP:

Alternating Electric Field and Alternating

Magnetic Field Section 5.1Design Task / Customary

Artwork Testing; reference section 5.1, page 19.

19. The RFP indicates different types of overlays. Please define the difference between

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"Polyester Laminate Patch Rolls" and "Clear

Overlay Rolls"

Government Response: See Sections 3.2, 3.3 and

3.4 on pages 14 & 15 of the RFP.

20. There is a brief mention of ISO/IEC 18000-6.

This standard defines a UHF RFID Card. Is UHF the required technology? If so, please confirm and provide the required band (i.e., U.S. band?) as this standard covers different bands and frequencies.

Government Response: See Section 3.1, page 11 of the RFP.

21. What is the expected reading distance and method of use for the RFID card? (i.e., will the card be used in outdoor or indoor conditions?)

Government Response: The Government anticipates the card will be used in an outdoor environment.

22. Please provide the reader and antenna information for the RFID cards so we can provide the correct card type and correlate measurements.

Government Response: The RFID card is Epcglobal

Gen 2, See Section 3.1, page 11 of the RFP.

23. Is there a specific requirement or preference for any particular chip type for the RFID card?

Government Response: See Section 3.5, page 15 of the RFP.

24. What is the expected RFID memory size and the reader type?

Government Response: Memory size is variable and will be determined during the Design and

Customary Artwork task in section 3.5, Page 15.

25. Please confirm that only PVC card stock will require a HiCo magnetic stripe and the

Non-optical Polycarbonate Cards do not require a magnetic stripe.

Government Response: The Government does not require HiCo magnetic stripe on the Non-optical

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Polycarbonate Cards, Section 3.1, page 12 of the

RFP.

26. The requirement states that “Cards shall be supplied with preprinted graphics, based upon the requirements of the individual delivery orders".

To provide an accurate cost proposal, we would need to know the approximate quantity concerning production run for each design and each order.

Please provide information on how many different card designs will be required. Each card design will require a separate production set up and effect on the cost. Will the Government entertain separate pricing for each card design if the quantity for each card design is not determined at this time?

Government Response: There is a single CLIN in each of the years for design work, which will be facilitated by the Government through the transfer of artwork graphics to the vendor.

Design pricing is not required for each different card type; rather design work shall be priced as a single CLIN and will be executed as required by the government for redesign efforts. All costs associated with redesign shall be built into the redesign CLIN.

27. Will the Government provide the artwork or is the contractor expected to develop the artwork for each card design?

Government Response: The government will provide artwork to facilitate the customary artwork and design task. Please see section 7.0 page 23 of the RFP.

28. Please specify the graphics and security requirements. What are the required security features (and security levels) and printing requirements?

Government Response: The security printed features are yet to be determined and Offerors should propose their capability with regard to security printed features. The description of the expected security printed features will be determined through the Design and Customary

Artwork Task; reference section 3.5, page 15.

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29. What are the printing requirements for the

PVC card stock (i.e., how many colors on front and reverse side)?

Government Response: The cards will be preprinted with color artwork. The determination of colors used will be done during the Design and Customary

Artwork task in Section 3.5. USCIS IDP believes that cards will use 4 colors on the front and two colors on the back; however, the government reserves the right to change the color composition of cards and this will be done in accordance with the Design and Customary Artwork task in section 3.5, Page 15.

30. Is the card manufacturer required to laser engrave the barcode and serial number or is this to be done by the Government after the card stock has been delivered?

Government Response: The card manufacturer is required to laser engrave the barcode and serial number.

31. Are the barcode and serial number meant to be controlled and administered by the card manufacturer for tracking the card stock from point of manufacture?

Government Response: The card manufacturer shall track card stock by the barcode and serial number after award. The Government will provide the starting serial number sequencing after award.

32. Does the laser engraving requirement apply to the PVC card stock as well or is this a requirement for non-optical polycarbonate cards only?

Government Response: No. The laser engraving requirement applies to the non-optical polycarbonate card stock only. However, PVC card stock shall have the barcode and serial number laser engraved.

33. This section requires that the contractor price requested design and topology changes for each year, but the frequency of the changes are not known.

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Government Response: The customary artwork CLIN shall be priced in each of the five performance periods.

34. Are 25,000 test cards required for each different design and each product type?

Government Response: No. The requirement for cards to be testing is seen in section 5.1, page

17 of the RFP. The requirement for 25,000 test cards seen on page 15 of the RFP shall be removed. The bottom of paragraph 2 in section

3.5 shall be amended to now read “…the Contractor shall price this requirement in each of the five years to address the unknown frequency, to include sample testing of cards, which is further explained in Section 5.1”.

35. We respectfully suggest that the requirement be modified to include separate line item pricing or CLIN for each design change. In this way, the guess work is gone and bidders can provide a more accurate pricing proposal, providing the

Government with best value.

Government Response: There is a single CLIN in each of the years for design work, which will be facilitated by the Government through the transfer of artwork graphics to the vendor.

Design pricing is not required for each different card type; rather design work shall be priced as a single CLIN and will be executed as required by the government for redesign efforts.

36. Section 5.0 (page 15) – Testing - Please confirm these tests are done on card stock before personalization by the Government. Note that some tests, especially the chemical exposure, Sutherland rub and other tests, will affect overlays or patches applied during card personalization.

Government Response: See Section 5.1, pages 16 &

17 of the RFP.

37. Section 6.7 (page 22) - Card Stock and

Consumables - The requirement specifies production ramp up of 500,000 units, but storage quantity of 1,000,000 cards. Please clarify.

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Government Response: See Amendment 000002.

38. Section 13.3 (page 25) - Background investigation - Does background investigation requirement apply to the contractor, or to the contractor and all his suppliers (i.e., supplier of consumables)?

Government Response: The background investigation applies to all employees working on the contract including suppliers and sub-contractors.

39. Respectfully requests that FAR 52.246-23 provision for limitation of liability be included in the contract.

Government Response: This clause will not be included.

40. Section 6.3 (Page 21) - Please clarify what type of clearance is being requested (i.e., confidential, secret, top secret, etc.).

Government Response: The clearance required is not secret or top secret. It is a suitability determination for employees to handle sensitive but unclassified information.

41. What is the difference between an IDP clearance and the background investigation from

OSI that will be required (Section 13.3, page 25)?

Government Response: There is no difference, only one clearance is required and that is the suitability determination done by OSI.

42. Our production facilities are Visa/MasterCard certified and background checks (criminal, financial) and drug tests are conducted on all employees prior to hiring. Is it the

Government’s intent to have all production employees obtain the requested clearance?

Government Response: Yes, all employees working on this contract must have the suitability determination performed by OSI.

43. Is the Government’s intent to ensure that the finished card stock is secure? If the later, we respectfully suggest that the Government consider

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using the laser engraved serial number/serialized card stock described in Section 3.1.1. for this purpose, along with the security requirements used by Visa and MasterCard. Additionally, this serial number can also be read during personalization and used to create a check-digit on the card as an additional security feature.

Government Response: Card stock shall be secure.

44. Section 6.3.1 (Page 22) - The anticipated card production facility is located outside the

U.S. That would mean that employees working on the production of cards are likely not U.S.

citizens and do not have Social Security Cards.

What type of proof of citizenship would be appropriate for non-U.S. citizens?

Government Response: This contract must be executed within the United States and Non-U.S.

citizens are not permitted to work on this contract.

45. Would the government accept proposals for cards produced in a secure facility in Canada and other friendly countries (i.e., Germany or other

European Union countries)?

Government Response: This contract must be executed within the United States and Non-U.S.

citizens are not permitted to work on this contract.

46. Section 6.3.1, Page 22, please explain the referenced "USCIS Waiver", i.e. what is it used for, how is it obtained.

Government Response: Based upon an initial back ground investigation the USCIS waiver may be issued on an employee by employee basis, allowing them to begin work in advance of the suitability determination being issued.

47. Section: Addendum Two – Instructions to

Offerors – Commercial Items. Paragraph: 9.

Testing of Card Stock; Page 50. New language was added to old: Additionally, Offerors will send personalized card stock and components at their own expense to the USCIS Contracting Office for visual inspection during the Technical

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Evaluation. Offers shall supply product samples that are a best representation of their products with artwork of their choosing. Cards sent for visual inspection shall be supplied within the

Technical Proposal. The card/consumable quantities and shipping addresses are below:

The language in the paragraph description (“shall be supplied within the Technical Proposal”) conflicts with the heading instructions in the table (“# To IDP Program Office”). Should cards be supplied with the Technical Proposal or sent to the IDP Program Office?

Government Response: Cards shall be supplied with the technical proposal.

48. The language in the paragraph description

(“Offers shall supply product samples that are a best representation of their products with artwork of their choosing”) would indicate that we should send some limited number of samples but the table indicates 25 cards of each card type.

Since the three PVC card types (with mag stripe, without mag stripe, and with RFID) are all the same substrate (i.e., PVC) can we submit one group of PVC cards without trying to reproduce the three variants (with mag stripe, without mag stripe, and with RFID)?

Government Response: Offerors shall supply the required amount type as stated in the RFP.

49. Regarding the quantities of cards, 25 is a large sample of cards to illustrate a “best representation of their products”. Can we submit just 5 cards instead?

Government Response: Offerors shall supply the required number of cards, by type, as stated in the RFP.

50. For the Holographic Overlay Rolls (Contractor

Samples), Hologram Stamps (Contractor Samples) –

25K/lot, Polyester Laminate Patch Roll and Clear

Overlay Rolls, can we submit these with the

Technical Proposal?

Government Response: Yes, all samples shall be submitted with the technical proposal.

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51. For the Holographic Overlay Rolls (Contractor

Samples), Hologram Stamps (Contractor Samples) –

25K/lot, Polyester Laminate Patch Roll and Clear

Overlay Rolls, does CIS want one complete roll of each or just a 24-inch long strip of the material of each type of product within the technical proposal?

Government Response: See Amendment 000002, vendors should provide the roll(s) with a minimum of 150 images per roll.

52. The Government issued Amendment # 2 on

October 1, 2009, answering some vendor questions and clarifying certain ambiguous areas of the original RFP and Amendment #1. While Amendment

#2 was helpful in providing the vendor community with some of the needed clarifications, it also presented new requirements and challenges to meet them within the allowed extension to respond to the RFP. Because of this, the two week extension to the original proposal due date does not provide sufficient time to address the new requirements, and, provide sample cards to the test lab within five days of the Amendment #2 issue date. Amendment #2 did not provide for the opportunity for additional vendor questions for clarification of the new requirements. We respectfully request that the Government grants a question and answer period.

Government response: The Government has extended the due date for receipt of offers to October 31, 2008. Additionally, this amendment will answer all outstanding questions.

53. Item 9, Amendment #2 (Page 4 of 11) - The requirement states that “Cards sent for visual inspection [to the USCIS Contracting Office] shall be supplied within the Technical Proposal.”

We have submitted sample cards to the USCIS separately under the previous requirements. Are we required to provide a second set of samples with our proposal?

Government Response: No, you are not required to submit another set of samples and the Government will not ship back cards. Offerors may make arrangements to retrieve cards shipped to the

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program office.

54. Item 8, Amendment #2 (Page 7 of 11) - The

RFID requirements have been clarified in this section. However the Government is requesting provision of sample cards within five days of the date of issue of Amendment #2. It would be virtually impossible for any vendor to provide a specific card type in such short notice, unless they already have the cards on the shelf. We respectfully request that the proposal due date is extended until October 31 to provide sufficient time to properly produce and deliver these cards.

Government Response: The Government has extended the due date to October 31, 2008.

55. Item 15, Amendment #2 (Page 9 of 11) - The new RFID requirements state that “Memory size is variable and will be determined during the Design and Customary Artwork task in Section 3.5.” The chip memory size has a direct impact on the price per card. We respectfully request that the

Government specify a certain memory size as the base requirement, so that all vendors can bid based on same set of requirements and assumptions. In addition, the RFID card pricing will be subject to increase, if the chip memory size is increased by Government request after the award.

Government Response: The memory size is not known for future cards at this time. The Offeror may propose alternate business CLIN’s in accordance with 52.212-1(e) to address the varying memory sizes for the chips.

56. Item 16, Amendment #2 (Page 10 of 11) - The

Government is requesting that the “Security printed features are to be determined and

Offerors should propose their capability with regard to security printed features.” While we are happy to provide the Government with our capabilities in this area, we cannot price the card based on unknown requirements for printing and security features. Security features vary in complexity and price and we respectfully request that the Government provide clarification on a minimum set of printing and security features

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that we can bid on. The vendors can provide additional capability if they choose. We suggest the following baseline requirements be stated in the RFP:

• CLI lens (for multi-laser imaging)

• Microprint

• Guilloche printing

• Rainbow printing

• UV printing

• IR printing

Government Response: The security features for future cards is not known at this time. The

Government can not provide guidance as to how the

Offeror shall price their proposal based on security features.

57. Item 18, Amendment #2 (Page 10 of 11) - The

Government is requesting that “Cards sent for testing shall be preprinted with a barcode and for the purposes of test cards the sequence numbers many be chosen by the Offeror.” While this clarifies the requirement, we submitted test cards with some printed information vs.

sequential numbering. Provision of another set of sample cards within the allowable time (5 days from the date of Amendment #2) is not possible.

We respectfully request that the Government issue a waiver for vendors that provided sample cards to the test lab as originally requested, well prior to the release of Amendment #2.

Government Response: The Government requires 3rd party testing of sample cards in accordance with the RFP. The Government must receive all 3rd party testing results by the time proposals are due, as these test results will be evaluated with

Technical proposals. It is up to industry to ensure the Government receives the 3rd party testing results on time.

58. Section 3.2-3.4 (Pages 14-15 of the RFP) -

Only three out of four of the consumables specifications are provided within Sections

3.2-3.4 of the RFP. Please clarify and provide the Hologram Stamps specifications.

Government Response: It is anticipated the hologram stamp to be used will be designed as

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part of the design task. There could be variations in size and types of security features within the hologram stamp. The current hologram stamp used by USCIS is .875 inches high and .75 inches wide.

59. Section 5.2 Post-Award Acceptance Testing

(Page 19 of RFP) and Section 6.7 Card Stock and

Consumables (Page 23-4 of RFP) - These sections state that shipping via DHL or similar methods is acceptable. Please confirm that the Government is not asking for secure shipping of the product

(i.e., via armored shipping services).

Government Response: Product shipping shall be in accordance with RFP requirements.

Period of Performance: 01/30/2009 to 01/29/2014

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)