Vendor_Questions_and_Answers_HSSCCG-15-R-00012.pdf

HSSCCG-15-R-00012

Vendor Questions & Answers

1. Attachment 1, Page 3, section 5.1.1: Please confirm the term “customizable masthead” indicates you require only one design of a two-sided card artwork and the personalization process will assign PRC, EAD etc to the masthead. Please confirm our conclusion that only one card type will be needed for any PRC, EAD or future document under this solicitation?

The requirement is for only one type of cardstock; however, the PRC and EAD may vary in design.

2. Attachment 1, Page 8, section 5.2: A PMP certification for a Project Manager does not guarantee competence. We suggest experience and references are more valuable. Request remove section titled “Key personnel minimum certification and experience requirement”, or remove PMP requirement, or just remain with the definition shown in the box labeled “Experience”.

PMP certification shall remain as part of this solicitation requirement.

3. Attachment 1, page 9, section 5.3: Please confirm the lead-time for samples post-award.

The lead time for test cards required during First Article Testing (page-9) and government evaluation (page-10) prior to acceptance is to be determined by the Offerors and should be included in their preliminary Milestone Schedule submitted as part of the Program Management Project Plan.

4. Attachment 6, page 2, Section 2, 2.2: Why are PIV and Cryptographic certifications cited; SP 8000-73, FIPS 201 & FIPS 140? These do not apply to non-chip cards. Please confirm this has been included for background information purposes for the original use of the document.

Attachment 6, page 2, Section 2, 2.2, SP 8000-73, FIPS 201 & FIPS 140 information is included for the purpose of providing an understanding of the current CPSTR System Performance Specification. The Offerors should be aware the Solicitation Synopsis and SOW Introduction on Page-1 clearly indicated USCIS/DMD required PRC and EAD cards that represent an integrated design solution utilizing polycarbonate card stock with RFID and embedded holographic images.

5. Attachment 6, page 2, Section 2, 2.3: Why are optical memory card specifications cited; ISO 11693, 11694? Our understanding is there is no requirement for optical memory to be included in the polycarbonate including RFID based cards as requested in this solicitation. Please confirm this has been included for background information purposes for the original use of the document.

Attachment 6, page 2, Section 2, 2.3, ISO 11693, 11694 information is included for the purpose of providing an understanding of the current CPSTR System Performance Specification.

Although there is no specific requirement for optical memory, it is up to the Offerors to determine if they want to include it as part of their overall card design solution. We are not specifying any specific security/technology feature as we don’t want to limit the range of possibilities during the design phase. We want Offerors to provide recommendations in the proposals, but the design stage can exclude or include any number of elements.

6. Attachment 6, page 4, Section e.: Why are Optical Memory Card Encoding tower performance cited? Our understanding is there is no requirement for optical memory to be included in the polycarbonate including RFID based cards as requested in this solicitation. Please confirm this has been included for background information purposes for the original use of the document.

Attachment 6, page 4, Section e information is included for the purpose of providing an understanding of the current CPSTR System Architecture supporting the current PRC with optical memory stripe.

7. Will the USCIS share with the vendors a clear percentage of the card materials that must comply to “buy America?” Is it possible the contract officer would consider a project plan that begins production with an outside American resource with a clear migration strategy and time-line to America?

Offerors shall comply with the BAA. Specific percentages not mentioned in the act shall not be added to this requirement. Offeror solutions compliant with the Act shall be considered.

8. In the Next Generation Card Consumables Statement of Work, Section 4, it states that "USCIS is seeking an integrated solution for secure identification to include 100% polycarbonate solid body card stock." Would USCIS consider a polycarbonate card body with a single layer of varying material due to the common issues of card fracturing when embedding an RFID chip into a 100% polycarbonate card base?

USCIS will consider a polycarbonate card body with a single layer of varying material due to the common issues of card fracturing when embedding an RFID chip into a 100% polycarbonate card base.

9. Are there any location restrictions with respect to card manufacturing?

Offerors may submit any manufacturing solution that complies with the solicitation.

10. In the Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items, a base ordering period is set to commence on 06/01/2015. Can USCIS please confirm the anticipated first delivery of card stock?

The Standard Form 1449, Base Ordering Period 06/01/15 – 05/31/16 will be updated to reflect the new Contract Award Date upon actual Award. First delivery shall be confirmed once award is made and a design is approved.

11. How did USCIS arrive at a guaranteed minimum of $3.7 million for each ordering period? Does USCIS have a monthly estimate forecast for card consumables?

The guaranteed minimum quantity is more than a nominal quantity, but does not exceed the amount that the government is fairly certain to order. The guaranteed minimum reflects a stable burn rate throughout the year.

12. 52.209-4 First Article Approval fill in: Is it the intention that the proposal response should indicate the number of calendar days for first article testing or will that be mutually determined between USCIS and the awardee?

The delivery of items for FAT shall be coordinated between the government and the contractor after award.

13. Technical Analysis and future card design requires specialized material science expertise and highly specialized equipment. Should this skill be identified as another key personnel with access to forensic analysis equipment in the USA?

The government considers only the contractor program manager key personnel.

14. Is the CPSTR imaging system capable of writing MLI, CLI or both MLI/CLI?

Refer to Attachment 1, page-2, section 5.1 Card Consumables that stated that “All card stock, and accompanying items, shall match existing material functionality, and shall be capable of being processed in the current card personalization systems, without modification to the existing system configuration.

15. Does it matter which side of the card the MLI/CLI is positioned on?

USCIS/DMD is open to options available. The Offerors should make that determination and recommend as part of their best secure document design concept that can be easily authenticated, and prevent altering or counterfeiting.

16. What USCIS’s target date of initial production delivery?

The anticipated first card stock delivery lead time shall be determined post award as design nears completion and approval.

17. Common profile of linked (front to back) and layered security features that appear on all credentials of a common use environment … Please provide additional detail to clarify what USCIS means by this requirement.

USCIS/DMD envisions a new card design concept that provides a very secure card stock that cannot be altered or peeled with easily detectable security features. We believe certain security features that can link/verify data printed on the front of the card and back of the card, so any data substituted can be easily detectable.

18. What is the defined production lot size for each quantity of 10,000 sample cards?

In accordance with SOW Section 5.3 number 6, each delivery of 10,000 cards shall be shipped in lots of 5,000 cards to the CPF and LPF.

19. When do we need to provide 3rd party lab report as mentioned in Attachment 1/page 9?: (The contractor shall conduct independent laboratory FAT of the newly designed card construction, and provide copies of all FAT Reports to the government (Contracting Officer) for review and approval)

The timing of FAT and delivery of 3rd party lab report depends on when new artwork and security designs are completed.

20. Attachment 1, Page 3, Section 5.1.1: Minimum requirements list: Item 6. You specify the requirement to remove the signature images but are silent on the need to print a fingerprint image as shown on existing cards in Attachment 5. We recommend you also stipulate the removal of the fingerprint image on the contractor provided designs and be replaced with newer security features too. The printed fingerprint image is of no practical visual verification value or any use to a biometric system.

The fingerprint image is required by USCIS and shall be included as part of the new card design.

21. Section 5.3 #2 states: “the card design task shall describe useful life span after being personalized”. Section 5.1.6 states: “All PRC and EAD cards shall have the RFID feature with a 10-year life cycle after being personalized”. Will the Government clarify the specific requirement for card body and RFID feature life span?

The Offerors need to confirm that their proposed new card design concept with RFID will support Section 5.1.6, “All PRC and EAD cards shall have the RFID feature with a 10-year life cycle after being personalized.”

22. In Attachment #6 Section 3.2.1.f.i & ii – the Government defines CPSTR System Laser Marking minimum speeds of 300 PRC cards per hour (+/- 5%) and 280 EAD cards per hour (+/- 5%). Will the Government define conformance with SOW Section 5.1.1 #26 – 29 to be card material compatibility with personalization at the CPSTR minimum speeds of 300 or 280 cards per hour?

It is the Government’s expectation that all cards personalized on the CPSTR system at minimum speeds of 300 or 280 card per hour shall meet the conformance requirements as defined in the SOW Section 5.1.1 #26-29.

23. Will the Government further define the criteria for evaluation of “good quality” laser engraving?

Good quality laser engraving is defined as prevention of the deficiencies such as those listed in SOW section 5.6:

• Bleeding inks;

• Bubbling;

• Burning in the card stock;

• Discoloration or inconsistent background art work print quality.

24. What is the required RFID minimum read-rate percentage for RFID read in the CBP WHTI RFID infrastructure?

The required RFID minimum read-rate percentage for RFID is 98%.

25. How, if at all, will the price per card be adjusted/negotiated/calculated after the design phase?

A Firm Fixed Price contract is contemplated. The price of the card shall not be adjusted once award is made.

26. “Common profile of linked (front to back) and layered security features that appear on all credentials of a common use environment”

Q. Can USCIS please clarify this requirement, as we do not recognize the terminology used?

USCIS/DMD envisions a new card design concept that provides a very secure card stock that cannot be altered or peeled with easily detectable security features. We believe certain security features that can link/verify data printed on the front of the card and back of the card, so any data substituted can be easily detectable.

27. “Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment on contracts requiring access to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Information Technology (IT) systems…” Q. Can USCIS please confirm that there is no requirement for the Contractor to access DHS IT systems?

There is no need or possibility of contractor accessing DHS IT systems.

28. Would you please advise how to acquire the following documents as referred in the attachment 1 on page 5 of 17 section 5.1.2?

a. CBP Test Plan for Acceptance of Modifications to currently-issued WHTI-approved Travel Documents, February 5, 2013 (CBP Test Plan, v1.2) The document is not part of the Solicitation package

See Attachment 8, EDL Test Plan.

b. CBP Test Plan for Acceptance of Federal/State/Province/Territory Issues WHTI Travel Documents, November 4, 2014 (CBP Test Plan, v3.1))

There is another document as Attachment 8 with same name but different version number. So would you please post the document listed the attachment 1 on page 5 of 17 section 5.1.2.

The November 4, 2014 (CBP Test Plan v3.1) document is replaced by Feb 5, 2013, CBP Test Plan v2.12. See Attachment 8 EDL Test Plan.

29. Main Document: Page 18, section: Proposal Submission Instructions, para (b): The limitation to 3MB for each pdf document is highly restrictive when requiring us to submit detailed card artwork designs and security features as these require high definition drawings which do not compress into pdf format efficiently. Request we would be allowed to submit multiple 3MB pdf files covering artwork designs and security features as referenced attachments to the main technical submission file of 3MB.

The limits are due to firewall restrictions. The limits shall not be changed.

30. The requirement states that the questionnaire “may” be used and provides instructions for returning the questionnaire “if used.” Please clarify if providing a blank questionnaire to references for completion is optional. Is it acceptable if the Offeror only provides the information as part of Volume Two?

Providing a blank questionnaire to references for completion is optional.

31. As to RFP requirements for a Subcontracting Plan, Section E pages 19-20, pursuant to FAR 19.702(a)(1) a plan is required if “consistent with its (i.e. contract performance) efficient performance . . . subcontracting possibilities “ exist. If under the Offeror’s solution small business subcontracting opportunities do not exist, should the Offeror so state in its Proposal Summary? If a Small Business Plan is required, are the percentage goals a matter of good faith estimate of the Offeror or do the percentages listed on page 20 apply to all offerors Small Business Plan?

If under the Offeror’s solution small business subcontracting opportunities do not exist, the Offeror should state so in its Proposal Summary. The government shall accept small business subcontracting goals provided as an estimate of participation.

32. Given the importance of having the proposed solution be compatible with current card production systems, would it be possible to schedule visits to the production facilities ahead of proposal submission?

Site visits were not intended as part of this solicitation.

33. Please provide specifications for the current equipment used at USCIS to personalize cards. This will enable the offeror to propose a set of card features that is optimized for best processing performance in the USCIS facilities.

See Attachment 6, Card Personalization System Technology Refreshment Impacts/Interface with Identification Card Stock.

34. Could the Government provide detailed descriptive information on their current card production systems sufficient for a bidder to better assess whether or not their proposed solution will be compatible?

See Attachment 6, Card Personalization System Technology Refreshment Impacts/Interface with Identification Card Stock.

35. RFP Statement: “The contractor shall propose an integrated card design that can provide highly secure…cards.” Request: While the solicitation does incorporate the Buy American Act – Supplies FAR clause (52.225-1), that clause simply requires the listing of the end product (card stock) country of origin if more than 50% of the cost of components comes from outside of the United States. It does not require only domestic end products. We assume that the Government’s intended requirement is for final card manufacturing to be performed in the United States. In addition, we assume that the Government intends for secure card components, e.g., security printing and holograms, to be provided from a domestic source. Please confirm.

Offerors shall comply with the BAA. Offeror solutions compliant with the Act shall be considered.

36. Would the Government consider removing or expanding the ten (10) page restriction for the Subcontracting Plan to allow offeror responses to adequately address the requirements of FAR 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan?

The government shall not change the size limits for the subcontracting plan.

37. Please clarify the format requirements for Volume 2. In the Proposal Submission Instructions on page 18 and the Summary of Proposal Deliverable section there is a requirement for the two proposal volumes to be prepared in Adobe .pdf format. However, the specific instructions for Volume Two on page 19 require pricing to be in an editable document, such as Excel. Shall offerors prepare Volume Two in two parts: one part in Adobe .pdf and pricing data in Excel?

In accordance with proposal submission instructions, each proposal shall include two volumes, with each volume being a separate Adobe (.pdf) file, unless otherwise instructed. Offerors shall submit their pricing on an editable document.