SEC070 Q A.docx

HSTS03-09-R-SEC070 Q&A

1. To assist us in determining the size of the facility space necessary to support TSA what is the average anticipated case load per month. Answer: Based on the performance requirements under Section J of the SOW the anticipated case load per month per adjudicator is 640 cases. These numbers are estimates and could increase or decrease based upon TSA’s hiring. Additionally, the facility space shall have space for the adjudicators, analysts and the three spaces for Government personnel.

2. In reference to Section 4.B.1 (page 5) can we assume that a case is complete and we may invoice TSA when a case is referred to the Federal Team Lead with an eligible/ineligible suitability or favorable/unfavorable security clearance recommendation.

Answer: This is correct, please refer to pg. 21 of the RFP for the completed case criteria under Section E “Inspection and Acceptance”

3. Paragraph C3 of the RFP states a requirement for employees to be “…eligible or have been the subject of a favorably adjudicated SSBI within the last five years”. The RFP also indicates at C5d that Security Analysts will have OPM Portal access. According to OPM, this requires investigation at the ANACI level only.

a. Since there are no individual (personnel) clearance requirements (PCL) associated with this contract, why do employees have to have a completed SSBI (a level of investigation sufficient for a Top Secret clearance)? Answer: TBD expect response to be posted COB August 20th, 2009.

b. On what basis can the contractor request SSBI-level investigation to satisfy this requirement? Answer: TBD expect response to be posted COB August 20th, 2009.

c. Is use of this solicitation appropriate basis to meet the requirement for initiation of investigation? Answer: TBD expect response to be posted COB August 20th, 2009.

d. In addition, the RFP indicates at H.5(e) that TSA will affect scheduling of “a full background investigation” of employees for the purpose of suitability determination. Does TSA intend this investigation to be at the SSBI level? Answer: TBD expect response to be posted COB August 20th, 2009.

4. Are the required certifications (Paragraph C7c) of training for the Managing Adjudicator to be attached to the “Technical Proposal” part of the 20-page limitation of Volume 1 – Past Performance/Corporate Experience? (Please note that Section L2.(d) does not identify a “Technical Proposal”) Answer: Volume 1, Past Performance/Corporate Experience and the requirements associated with it are considered to be the technical proposal. The required certifications will not be counted as part of the 20 page limitation for Volume 1.

5. The CLINs identified at Paragraph B.1 include only one labor category – that of Security Analyst. There are no identified CLINs for Managing Adjudicator or Adjudicators – both clearly outlined in requirements in the solicitation. Does the government intend for the offeror to submit a blended rate under the single labor category of Security Analyst for the positions outlined in Sections C.4C2, 4, 5, and 7 thru 9, or will there be a change to the CLIN structure presently appearing in the solicitation?

Answer: Contract requires a Managing Adjudicator, Adjudicators and Security Analysts. Only the Security Analysts will be billed and paid on an hourly basis. The efforts of the adjudicators will be reimbursed based on the number of completed cases a month.

6. Will the government provide a list of “accredited institutions and training organizations recognized by the Federal Government” as referred to at Paragraphs C7c and C8b? How is the offeror to make this determination if not provided by TSA?

Answer: USDA Grad School is one of many recognized training institution that provides agency approved suitability and adjudication training. Institutions and training organizations that deal with adjudication training and courses will let you know if they are accredited and recognized by the Federal Government.

7. At Paragraph I.2, clause 52.204-2 Security Requirements, indicates potential access to classified information and references DD Form 441. No DD Form 441 was received with the solicitation, and there is no indication that DD Form 254 will be generated as a result of this solicitation. Will the government please verify that there will be no access to classified information in performing contract requirements and that personnel security clearances (PCL) will not be required?

Answer: A completed Form DD254 will be provided at contract award.

8. The instructions posted at www.fbo.gov regarding this solicitation state that “Proposals shall be submitted in accordance with the attached tailored instructions of 52.212-1…..”.

e. Where in the solicitation can these instructions be found? This clause cannot be located in the body of the solicitation. Answer: Section L: Instructions, Conditions and Notices can be found on pages 67 and 68 of the RFP.

f. Does the government have specific instructions regarding proposal delivery, and if so, when will they be published? Answer: Please refer to Section L.1(b) Submission of Offers for instructions on how to submit the final proposal.

9. As part of the requirement listed at paragraph C5 for Security Analysts, contractor personnel “…shall be responsible for performing tasks in the Scanning and Data Entry Unit…”.

g. Will this entire unit be located at the contractor facility? Answer: Yes, all work to be performed is at the contractors’ facility.

h. If not, how will contractor personnel have access to “scanned data”? Answer: Cases that require scanning will be sent to the contractors’ facility via Government courier.

i. How is “processing all new paperwork” defined for the contractor to accomplish at the contractor site? Answer: Answer: New paperwork includes, but is not limited to the gathering of all the required papers for an investigation, any documents relating to a Letter of Interrogatory, and anything else that might be required. It would be inclusive of everything required to complete the action.

10. Based on the significance of the items addressed in questions regarding this solicitation, will the government consider an extension of the submission date of proposals? Answer: Currently, the Government plans on extending the submission date for proposals by two (2) days. The new date for submission of proposals is August 28th, 2009 at 12:00PM EST.

11. The RFP states that this is a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract. Section B of the RFP shows that the contract will be billed on a fixed unit price basis (i.e., unit prices for each adjudication package completed and submitted to TSA). However, the contract also calls for specified numbers of personnel (e.g., Section B.2.2 states “Fifteen (15) Security Analysts are required at contract award with an additional ten (10) being required at a date to be determined by the TSA Personnel Security Division.” This requirements for a specified minimum Level of Effort (LOE) is inconsistent with a fixed price contract that specifies fixed unit price billings (which equates to deliverables of completed adjudication packages, not a specified number of LOE hours). It is up to the contractor to determine the amount of labor required to complete the work on an FFP contract, not the Government. While the numbers of personnel stated in Section B.2.2 may be a reasonable Independent Government Estimate (IGE) of the work requirements, it is not appropriate for the Government to require that the contractor staff the contract in exact accordance with the IGE. In order to resolve this inconsistency, please either (a) remove the LOE requirements from the RFP, or (b) convert the contract type to Fixed Price/Level of Effort (FPLOE), if the Government desires to retain the staffing requirements.

Answer: The Government will convert CLINs 0004, 0005, 1004, 1005, 2004 and 2005 to Fixed Price Level of Effort (FPLOE).

12. Section L. – The proposal is broken down into 2 volumes to include a past performance/corporate experience section and a price volume. Is TSA not requesting a Technical proposal addressing the statement of work, proposed staffing of this contract, quality assurance procedures for this contract, transition, etc.?Answer: Please refer to the instructions in Section L. The Government will evaluate in accordance with Section M.

13. Section L. – Is TSA not requesting contractors to submit a PMP with their submission?

Answer: See Question 12

14. Section L. – Is TSA not requesting contractors to submit a Quality Control Plan with their submission? Answer: See Question 12

15. Section L. – Is TSA looking for a total of 3 references within the submission or is the TSA looking for 3 past performance references and 3 additional references? Answer: The requirement is for 3 references total to support the claims of the contractor in regards to corporate experience with efforts of similar size, scope and complexity.

16. Pricing – There is no line item for an hourly rate in the event adjudications are requested, only having a per case rate. Are you going to be requesting an hourly rate? Answer: See response to Question #5.

17. Pricing – The RFP states the initial contract will include 15 analysts. Will the initial requirement also include the managing adjudicator within the 15 or in addition to the 15? Answer: See response to Question #5.

18. Pricing – Should we have a blended rate for analysts and adjudicators due to the fact that the contract only calls for a start-up of analysts? Answer: See response to Question #5.

19. Are copies of the Managing Adjudicator’s certifications included in the page count maximum of 20 pages? Answer: The required certifications will not be counted as part of the 20 page limitation for Volume 1.

20. In the Pricing Section – Schedule B, there is a price per case for pre-hire adjudication cases as well as a labor hour for security analysts. Is TSA looking to choose either the pre-hire adjudication price or the security analyst or will they be in conjunction? Answer: See response to Question #5.

21. Do the physical security requirements need to be completed at contract start or ready for TSA inspection at contract start? Answer: The contractors’ facility must comply with physical security requirements and regulations and must be approved within 30 days of contract award. Contractor most demonstrate a plan to accomplish this within Volume 1 of their proposal.

22. Can the contract work commence before the TSA suitability process is complete? Answer: No, the facility must be approved for physical security and IT requirements before contract work may begin.

23. Questions regarding Section C.10, Government Furnished Equipment that reflects for performance of this contract TSA will provide computer desktops as well as VPN Client Access.

a. Does the term “computer desktops” refer to desktop computers with the capability and all software required to meet contract performance requirements? Answer: Yes, all desktop computers provided to the contractor will have standard TSA imaging to include the Operating System, MS Office, virus protection and VPN Client access.

b. Does “VPN Client access” refer to the servers, firewalls, switching, broadband service, and related items such as cabling and other connectivity hardware required to give contractors working on the TSA-provided desktop computers internet access required to meet contract performance requirements? Answer: The VPN Client access only refers to the contractors capability to access TSA Intranet. It is the contractors responsibility to all other capability .

c. If TSA provides all of the hardware and software to establish and maintain access to the internet from the TSA-provided desktop computers, does TSA also provide or arrange the installation? Answer: TSA will provide the installation and maintenance of all Government Furnished Equipment (GFE).

d. Will TSA provide all computer-related maintenance and upgrades of hardware and software necessary to meet contract performance requirements? Answer: Yes, the TSA will maintain all Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) as necessary and in accordance with standard procedures.

e. If TSA will not provide all hardware, software, upgrades, and maintenance required to connect the TSA-furnished desktop computers via the VPN, exactly what hardware, software, and bandwidth is required by TSA to meet contract performance requirements? Answer: Not applicable

24. With respect to Past Performance, can 100% of the Past Performance come from a Sub-Contractor? And if 100% of the Past Performance comes from a Sub-Contractor, can the Past Performance evaluation factor be rated higher than “neutral”? Answer: Please see Amendment 1 for changes to the RFP regarding the type of corporate experience/past performance.

25. Can the Sub-Contractor’s facility be offered as the space availability for work to be completed under the contract? Answer: Yes, as long as it meets the TSA Physical Security and IT Security requirements set forth on page 13, Section C.9 and C.11 of the RFP.

26. Are any resumes required with proposal submission other than that of the proposed Managing Adjudicator? Answer: No, just the resume of the Managing Adjudicator is required. The resume will also not count towards the page count of Volume 1.

27. Section B of the RFP only lists Security Analysts as a labor category. Do you want to see proposed labor hour rates for Adjudicators and the Managing Adjudicator? Answer: Please see the answer to Question #5.

28. Can we submit either a signed SF 33 or a signed SF-1449 with our proposal? Answer: Please refer to 52.212-1 (b) on page 69 of the RFP.