ASC_RFI_final.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

Application Support Center (ASC) Operations and Facilities Services

1 PURPOSE

This RFI is for informational and planning purposes ONLY and is NOT to be construed as a solicitation or a commitment to issue a solicitation. It is issued for the purpose of conducting market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, to determine common and customary industry practices and to allow industry an opportunity to provide comments concerning this requirement. No solicitation is being issued at this time and the

Government makes no assertion that a solicitation will be issued. The Government is not obligated to, and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice.

2 BACKGROUND

The Department of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies

Appropriation Act, 1998 (Public Law105-119) contains language prohibiting the acceptance of fingerprint cards made by any individual or entity other than the Immigration and Naturalization

Services (INS), presently known as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

(USCIS), certain consulate offices under the jurisdiction of the Departments of State and

Defense, or a state or local law enforcement agency.

USCIS is required to obtain biometrics and biographic data from applicants seeking certain immigration benefits. To comply with this requirement, USCIS established the Application

Support Center (ASC) program in 1997 to collect applicant biometrics internally within the controlled environment of ASCs and ASC mobile routes.

The Biometrics Division (BD) under the Immigration Records and Identity Services (IRIS)

Directorate of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was established to plan, implement, and oversee the capture, transmission, and storage of biometrics and biographical data for USCIS.

Biometric and biographic data, such as fingerprints, photographs, and signatures, are collected using specialized scanning equipment that electronically captures and transmits digitized biometrics images to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and USCIS processing centers for background checks and benefits processing. Types of biometrics collected may change in the future if initiated by FBI request or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy.

Current ASC operations consist of 138 ASC sites nationwide (ref DRAFT PWS, para 2., pg C-

3); Currently, the pricing structure consists of :

(i) firm fixed price (FFP) line items for operation of the contractor’s Program

Management Office, refer to task 4 in the PWS (attachment 1) and the ASC pricing template (attachment 3);

(ii) fixed unit price sub line items with a price per applicant for specific ranges of applicants above the baseline; and

(iii) cost-reimbursable line items for facilities, equipment, supplies and travel (ref section 9 of PWS, attachment 1, and ASC Pricing Template, attachment 3).

ASC operations utilize established ASC standard operating procedures, a quality control program, and contract performance standards to promote efficient operations requiring the contractor to meet specific performance objectives. BD measures the effectiveness of ASC operations through surveys and management reports and ensures that contract employees focus on providing courteous service during the capture of biometrics and biographic data. A scheduling system was developed that provides time/date specific appointments to all applicants.

The USCIS/IRIS/BD centrally administers contractor-operated ASCs in 138 locations in 50 U.S.

states and the U.S. territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ASC operations are currently composed of the following main elements:

1. 77 Stand-alone ASCs, which are contractor-leased and contractor-operated (NOTE:

DRAFT PWS, will be revised);

2. 61 contractor-operated ASCs co-located (COLO) at a federal building. Contractor is not responsible for real property leasing requirements (NOTE: DRAFT PWS, will be revised);

3. Contractor-operated ASC mobile routes, which is an outreach arm of the program that collects biometrics data from applicants in very remote U.S. areas. Mobile routes are associated with and staffed by specific ASCs (ref DRAFT PWS, attachment C);

4. Biometrics Wide Area Network (WAN) by which biometrics images are transmitted from

ASCs to appropriate processing offices (WAN covered under separate contract);

5. Electronic biometrics scanning systems by which biometrics images are captured at the

ASCs (Biometrics machines/maintenance covered under separate contract);

6. Various scheduling processes are used to accomplish Biometrics Scheduling.

3 OBJECTIVE

ASC Operations and Facilities Services elements may require revisions during the term of this contract to meet fluctuating workloads resulting from new DHS initiatives and incorporation of more efficient immigration processes and technologies. Examples of possible changes include, without limitation: new or relocated domestic ASC site locations/mobile routes, closure of specific ASC sites, new overseas ASC sites/mobile routes, and additional operational tasks such as incorporation of additional applicant processing as a result of a large surge requirement.

Large surge plans and implementation are unknown and dependent on legislation if passed.

Based on the government’s current understanding of potential work, it is anticipated a large surge could increase workloads to over 3,000,000 applicants per month for a short time. This would require double shifts, six days per week and the lease of numerous additional short term facilities.

BD’s objectives, through the ASC program, are to:

Promote creative, timely, and flexible management solutions to meet fluctuating immigration benefits workload;

Protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII);

Collect quality biometrics data with minimal rejects;

Maintain cost control and high customer service standards while performing in diverse environments;

Prevent immigration fraud;

Strengthen security within our country’s borders;

Provide the personnel, equipment, supplies, and facilities to capture biometrics and biographic data elements for over 10,000 individuals per day as well as to be prepared to work any surge requirements or increase in applicant processing due to new initiatives, policy, on-going transformation initiatives or large surges which includes possible expansion for over 110,000 applicants per day;

Provide options to support future state technological improvements or changes in

DHS policy; and

Meet all program requirements.

4 INFORMATION SOUGHT

USCIS invites your comments in developing requirements for Application Support Center

(ASC) Operations and Facilities Support in the following areas:

(1) Appropriate contract type (fixed price, time and material, labor hour, or cost reimbursement) for other direct costs ( facilities, travel, equipment, and operating supplies)(See question 1 in RFI Attachment 2).

(2) Appropriate pricing volume bands (Quantity of applicants per CLIN)based on

DRAFT PWS requirements and RFI Attachment 3. (See question 2 in RFI Attachment 2)

(3) Comments/questions in regards to areas that are not clear and suggested revisions to the DRAFT Performance Work Statement.

(4) Other industry questions/comments/concerns regarding this requirement.

5 RESPONSE FORMAT AND GUIDELINES

5.1 Format, delivery date, point of contact

Responses shall be in Microsoft Word for Office 2010 format and are due no later than July 18, 2016. Responses shall be limited to 10 pages, Times New Romans text, and 12 font. All responses shall be submitted via email to the point of contact listed below:

Point of Contact: Paul Shannon

Phone: 802-872-4515

Email: Paul.A.Shannon@uscis.dhs.gov

Responses to this RFI provided via facsimile, hard (paper) copies, and telephone calls will NOT be accepted.

Do NOT provide proprietary information.

Do NOT provide pricing information.

6. CONCLUSION

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. The information in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. This RFI does not constitute a commitment to procure any of the items/services discussed, nor is it a commitment or authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

3 Attachments

1. DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS)

2. Market Research Questions

3. ASC Pricing Template