MARKET RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE - FCI PEKIN.pdf

U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons Administration Division

Field Acquisition Office 346 Marine Forces Drive Grand Prairie, Texas 75051

MARKET RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

Vocational Training Welding and Metal Fabrication FCI Pekin

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) is conducting market research in compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Part 10. The services are for the provision of a Vocational Training Program. These services will be performed at the Religious Services Department located at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Pekin, Illinois. The physical address is 2600 South 2nd Street Pekin, Illinois 61554.

The resultant contract shall consist of a base year, four (4) 12-month option years and a 6-month extension. It is estimated that the following sessions will be needed for Transition Coach services:

280 sessions for 12-month Base Year and four (4) 12-month option years. The NAICS Code is 611210 for Junior Colleges. The size standard is $32.5 million.

A draft copy of the Statement of Work is attached to this market research questionnaire. Additional details are forthcoming in the solicitation. A Government solicitation document will be provided, these services are being developed, and a contract may or may not result. Market research is being conducted to determine interest and capability of potential sources for this requirement. The information gathered from the market research will be vital in the formation and set aside status of the solicitation. The information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary and the Government will not pay for the information requested nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government.

Please answer the following questions:

1. Based on the North American Industry Classification System Code 611210 what is your business size?

_____ Small _____Other than Small

2. Is your firm eligible for participation in one of the following small business programs? If so, please indicate the program.

_____8(a) SB

_____HUBZone SB

_____Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned SB

_____Women-Owned SB

3. Will your firm be compliant with FAR 52.219-14?

_____Yes _____No

4. Can your firm provide the services in compliance with the requirements listed in the draft Statement of Work?

Yes_____ No_____

5. The Federal Acquisitions Regulations requires the following insurance’s: Workers’ Compensation and Employer’s liability not less than $100,000; and General Liability no less than $500,000 per occurrence. Are these rates and requirements consistent with regulatory requirements in Illinois?

_____Yes _____No

If these are not the rates, what are the standard rates?

6. Can your firm provide firm fixed unit prices (i.e., per session/hour) for future contract years?

(For example: a contract with a base year and four 12-month option years)?

Yes_____ No_____

7. Please indicate the maximum number of years you can provide firm-fixed unit prices.

_____5 years _____4 years _____3 years _____2 years _____1 year

8. How many days do you need to prepare a quote in response to a resulting solicitation?

_______30 _____15 Days _____7 Days _____Other

9. If awarded a contract, how many calendar days following an award would it take your firm to begin providing services to the institution? (Please note that all individuals providing services at the institutions must undergo a security clearance investigation. This investigation may take 30 calendar days or longer to complete).

__________Calendar Days

10. Is your company registered, and active, in the System for Award Management?

Yes___ No____ SAM UEI Number__________________

All potential offerors are advised if a solicitation is issued it will include the provision at FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management. This provision requires all contractors doing business with the Federal Government after September 30, 2003, to be registered in the SAM database. If your company is not registered in SAM, registration can be completed at https://www.sam.gov

11. The procurement will be in accordance with FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items. In accordance with FAR 12.301 (e), Discretionary use of FAR clauses and provisions, the Contracting Officer may include the appropriate provisions and clauses in the solicitation(s) and contract (s) by addendum when their use is consistent with the limitation contained in 12.302.

https://www.sam.gov/

Therefore, the following FAR Clauses/Provisions will be included:

• FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• FAR 52.203-17, Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights and Requirement to Inform

Employees of Whistleblower Rights will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• Because the successful contractor will be required to maintain and/or operate a system of records on individuals, FAR 52.224-1, Privacy Act Notification and FAR 52.224-2, Privacy Act, will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• FAR 52.228-5, Insurance – Work on a Government Installation, will be included in the solicitation and resulting contract.

• DOJ-01, Whistleblower Information Distribution will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• DOJ-02, Contractor Privacy Requirements will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• DOJ-03, Personnel Security Requirements for Contractor Employees will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• DOJ-04, Federal Workplace Response to Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, And Stalking will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• DOJ-05, Security of Department Information and Systems the contractor or subcontractor may access, collect, store, process, maintain, use, transmit, or dispose of DOJ Information will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• DOJ-07, Prohibition on Access by Non-U.S. Citizens to DOJ IT System- acquisition in which contractors will have access to DOJ IT Systems will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• DOJ-08, Continuing Contract Performance During a Pandemic Influenza Emergency – when supplies or services are considered critical to mission accomplishment will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Products and Commercial Services will be incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract.

• FAR 52.252-1, Provisions Incorporated by Reference will be incorporated into the solicitation.

• FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management will be incorporated into the solicitation.

• FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Products and Commercial Services and to identify any tailoring.

• FAR 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options will be incorporated into the solicitation.

• FAR 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services and Equipment will be incorporated into the solicitation.

• JAR 2852.233-70, Protest Filed Directly with the Department of Justice, Service of Protest, will be incorporated to notify offerors of the location whereby the Contracting Officer shall be served will be incorporated into the solicitation.

• BOP 2852.237-71, Requirements for Religious Services will be incorporated into the solicitation.

• FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial. Product and Commercial Services if not current in sam.gov will be incorporated into the solicitation.

12. Please furnish the following information in reference to your firm:

Name: ________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________

Point of Contact: _______________________________________________________

Phone Number: ________________________________________________________

Email Address: ________________________________________________________

If there are any questions or concerns regarding any of the requirements of the attachment statement of work, or if you can provide any information that could make this program more successful, please indicate below:

I am very appreciative of the time you have taken to complete this questionnaire. Please submit your completed market research questionnaire and any other supporting documentation via eBuy on or before Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT). Please feel free to contact me via email at llwheeler@bop.gov if you have any questions.

mailto:llwheeler@bop.gov

Sincerely, LaQueta Wheeler LaQueta Wheeler Contracting Officer

NOTE: The resulting solicitation will be distributed solely through the General Services Administration System for Award Management website – www.sam.gov. Hard copies of the solicitation will not be available. The website provides downloading instructions to obtain all documents relating to the solicitation. All future information concerning this acquisition, including the pre-solicitation notices, solicitation, and any subsequent amendments, will be distributed solely through the website. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring the website to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about the acquisition.

OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDER

STATEMENT OF WORK

VT Welding and Metal Fabrication

SUBJECT

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Field Acquisition Office, Grand Prairie, Texas intends to make a single award to a post-secondary institution, vocational training or industry-based school that will be responsible for providing a Contracted Welding and Metal Fabrication Program for the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Pekin located in Pekin, Illinois. This contract will service female offenders in FCI Pekin’s satellite camp. The successful completion of the training program must qualify inmates for at least entry-level employment in a specified field upon release.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Occupational training instruction will be performed at the awardee’s accredited institution or facility.

Live work will be performed at FCI Pekin as necessary.

SCHEDULE

The Supervisor of Education or their designee will be responsible for defining each schedule. These schedules are subject to change based on the unpredictable nature of the correctional environment. The services provided, being professional in nature, will be provided in the method as considered normal in the local community. These services, although not directly supervised, will be reviewed and verified by the Supervisor of Education or their designee. Any changes to the schedule identified in this Statement of Work/Contract must be coordinated with the Supervisor of Education or designee.

The contractor will provide 4 (2) hour sessions a week, Monday through Thursday for 16 weeks. Friday will consist of a 5-hour block of time. This will exclude Federal Holidays. The contractor shall not normally exceed 15 hours per week. The work hours will be as follows:

Monday through Thursday 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm

Friday 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Inmates must return to the institution before 4:00 pm daily.

Due to the nature of the correctional setting, delays in performance of work may be experienced. Such delays may include but are not limited to inclement weather, electrical or mechanical problems, or other security matters. When the institution is unable to transport the inmates to the training site, or the contractor has to cancel classes for the day, the contractor will not be paid for those sessions. Normally any missed sessions will be rescheduled at the convenience of both the contractor and the institution. If the contractor fails to provide coverage, the Government may seek contractual remedy.

The Government intends to place approximately 10 students in the program during the contract year.

The Contractor agrees to abide by the rules and procedures of FCI Pekin, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations in effect during the term of this contract. The manner and method in performing the task outlined in the statement of work are the sole responsibility of the contractor as approved by the Supervisor of Education or their designee.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

The contractor shall not be a self-employed individual or individual employed by a post-secondary institution. The contract must be between FCI Pekin and a post-secondary institution, vocational training school or industry-based school.

The contractor must use a trained instructor who has the appropriate level of education and experience in the welding industry. Documentation authorizing the contractor to conduct certification testing must be attached to the proposal.

The contractor’s place of instruction must be within a 20-mile radius of Federal Correctional Institution, Pekin Illinois.

The occupational education program must fall under the provider’s umbrella of accreditation and lead to transferrable credits resulting in a college certificate, A.A., A.A.S., or A.S. degree. Industry-accepted certification is also acceptable. Providers must be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency. If required for employment, certification tests from outside organizations may be administered to individual inmates upon completion of a specific occupational education program. However, the individual skill competency certification will not replace the training program’s overall accreditation.

The occupational education program must lead to an industry-recognized certificate qualifying inmates for at least an entry-level position of employment.

SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

The contractor will provide the following supplies, equipment, and curriculum materials: (1) textbooks, supplies, and equipment necessary for course instruction, (2) All personal protective equipment, (3) tools specific to the Welding trade.

The contractor will make recommendations to the Supervisor of Education pertaining to the selection and purchase of additional supplies and equipment.

The institution will provide the following supplies, equipment, and curriculum materials: space for practice/work, safety equipment on institution grounds, supplies needed for the work on institution grounds and additional practice time via their work detail.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The contractor will provide instruction and testing for Welding and Metal Fabrication in accordance with Bureau of Prisons Program Statement 5353.01, Occupational Education Programs, and Bureau of Prisons Program Statement 5300.21, Education, Training and Leisure Time Program Standards.

Contractor shall supply the documentation, assistance, and funds for the Welding Certificate (following successful completion of all required classes and competencies). A minimum of 200 classroom hours will be completed.

Twenty to forty percent (20 – 40%) of the curriculum’s competencies must be hands-on replication of the actual work environment. Application of hands-on work must be occupational in nature. An institution live work project may be utilized to demonstrate or apply hands-on competencies. Electronic or computer-based simulation does not satisfy the hands-on or live work requirement.

The Supervisor of Education must approve live work projects.

Marketable programs shall afford inmates the opportunity to gain in demand skills in a specific occupation, industry, or trade. The marketable program must qualify inmate graduates for at least an entry-level position in Production Welding. As a precondition of the proposal for the contract, the contractor shall specify in writing to the Supervisor of Education the intent to include the students in any job fairs or visits to local companies for job familiarization, specifically to educate students on position(s) of employment for which inmate graduates will be eligible to apply.

The Supervisor of Education shall determine the minimum and maximum number of enrollments.

Instructors for the contractor are responsible for the maintenance of transcripts, student attendance records, statistics, and certification records.

The contractor will provide a written curriculum which establishes measurable behavioral objectives and procedures. The curriculum must include clear criteria which establish minimum expectations for program completion, provisions for the assessment of student progress, must identify the hands-on competencies and must require the students to demonstrate them.

In addition to the contractor providing the core classes needed to attain an industry-accepted certificate, the Institution will provide a resume development component prior to certificate completion.

The contractor shall assist in the recruitment of employers affiliated with the trade to participate in the institution mock job fair.

INMATE MANAGEMENT

Provisions of service under this contract will require instructors to have frequent and unsupervised contact with inmates. The inmates eligible for this program are minimum security. Instructors will not be responsible for the management of inmates other than to ensure those inmates involved in activities within the contractor’s scope of work shall abide by all rules in effect to ensure their safety and well-being. The contract employee shall attend the Institution Familiarization Orientation program prior to assuming institution involvement. Reimbursement to the contractor for the time spent in the institution orientation or other specific security related training is included in the cost. The contractor is to be constantly aware of security and always maintain a professional relationship with inmates. Instructors will report any infraction of institutional rules and regulations by inmates to the appropriate institutional staff. The contractor will be required to provide documentation to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or designee, of any infractions of institutional rules and regulations by inmates for proper action. Additionally, the contractor will provide an on-site security officer to aide in ensuring inmate students are following Institution and contractor rules and regulations.

Classes offered to the inmate students will be attended by persons from the public. The contractor will ensure that inmate students do not have unsupervised contact with persons under the age of 18 within their training facility.

The Government will cooperate with the contractor in identifying potential problems students may be having that affect their classroom behavior or educational progress. The COR, or designee, may observe the classes conducted by the contractor.

The contractor will refrain from allowing inmates to participate in computer use. Inmate students may not utilize the contractor services above and beyond the use of the Welding program. This includes but it not limited to, vending machines, cell phones, landline phones, and computers.