Synopsis - Further Pre-Solicitation SSI Information.docx

FURTHER PRE-SOLICITATION SSI INFORMATION

A. Background. Sensitive Security Information (SSI) may be available to offerors in preparing responses to this acquisition. Potential offerors must obtain specific authorization in order to obtain SSI. SSI will not be available or otherwise provided or disclosed to any person not specifically authorized to receive it. SSI provided under this acquisition may only be used to satisfy acquisition requirements.

B. Senior Corporate Official. Each offeror must designate in writing to the Contracting Officer a single, corporate official who will serve as the single point of contact for sensitive information. This official must certify to the Contracting Officer every 60 days that all appropriate protections have been followed, only authorized individuals have access to the sensitive information, and that those individuals with access adequately understand their responsibilities to protect the information. This official will also ensure that the Contracting Officer is notified of staffing changes or circumstances in which individuals no longer need access to the information.

C. Offeror Responsibility. The Contracting Officer will review the Excluded Parties List, Dunn and Bradstreet, and the Central Contractor Registry to ensure that the corporate entity would not otherwise be precluded from receiving a contract award. While this review does not replace the responsibility determination required by FAR part 9, it may prohibit offerors from receiving SSI information during the solicitation phase of the acquisition.

D. Criteria for Release. As part of this acquisition, SSI may only be accessed by individuals which have successfully passed a Security Threat Assessment. This assessment may include a verification of site facility clearance in the National Industrial Security Program (NISP), contractor suitability determination or other federal background investigation, individual security clearance(s), and if required, a criminal history records check (CHRC) and/or a check against terrorism databases.

E. Information Requirements. Consistent with the criteria release described above, offeror’s Senior Corporate Officials must provide the appropriate information to the TSA as identified below. Note that this requirement applies likewise to any prospective subcontractor, joint venture partner, or team/company whose access to the specified SSI and consequent input into the planned proposal is necessary to prepare and complete the proposal.

(1) Senior Corporate Officials shall provide the Contracting Officer via email with the CAGE code of the offeror’s facility that will manage the proposal; and

(2) Senior Corporate Officials shall provide the following information for all employees in a single password protected Microsoft Excel spreadsheet emailed to the Contracting. The password for the password protected spreadsheet shall be sent to the Contracting Officer in a separate email, at the same time.

Employee Full Name:

Employee Gender: (i.e., Male or Female) Employee Birth Date:

Employee Citizenship:

Social Security Number:

F. Privacy Act Statement. TSA will use the information provided to conduct a security threat assessment on individuals who seek access to Sensitive Security Information (SSI). The information will be shared within DHS with personnel who need the information to perform their official duties. Additionally, DHS may share the information with law enforcement, intelligence, or other government agencies as necessary to identify and respond to potential or actual threats to transportation security in accordance with the routine uses identified in the applicable Privacy Act system of records notice (SORN), DHS/TSA 002, Transportation Security Threat Assessment System (T-STAS). This SORN was last published in the Federal Register on May 19, 1020, and can be found at 75 FR 28046-28051. Authority: 49 USC 114. Furnishing this information is voluntary. However, failure to furnish the requested information may delay or prevent the completion of your security threat assessment, without which you may not be granted access to the SSI.

G. Notification of Assessment. If it is determined that covered individuals are not eligible to receive access to particular SSI based on the threat assessment, TSA will provide the individuals and company point of contact a written determination that provides notification that the individual does not qualify to receive SSI. Appeal of the determination will not be permitted due to the time sensitive nature of the acquisition process, however, the potential offeror may nominate another individual to receive SSI access. In the event that an individual is determined to be a security threat and the individual believes that the results of the screening are inaccurate, he or she will be informed by TSA on how to pursue redress from TSA, however due to the demanding acquisition schedule, TSA will not delay an acquisition to resolve redress issues.

H. Non-Disclosure Agreements. Each offeror employee who is granted access to SSI as specified herein will be required to execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to receiving or reviewing SSI. The Offeror should understand that employees granted access to SSI and signing a non-disclosure agreement are bound by the terms of that agreement indefinitely, notwithstanding their employment status or any other background checks or clearances granted by any Government agency.

I. Return of SSI. Any SSI provided to the offeror must be returned to the Government upon demand. Any offeror not returning SSI promptly thereafter will be subject to penalties as prescribed by law and otherwise rendered ineligible for further consideration in the evaluation.

J. Upon release of the RFP, all information related to SSI shall supersede the information contained herein.