QA2_17R3102.pdf

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

N32205-16-R-3102 Security Services SBX-1

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #2

The following are answers to questions received from potential offerors. The answers provide clarification only and DO NOT constitute an amendment to the solicitation.

1. CDRL A017 lists ‘radios’ as being provided by the contractor. However, Attachment A (GFP), lists numerous handheld radios and a base station. Question: Who is responsible for providing the radios, the government or the contractor? If the contractor is responsible, what are the required performance characteristics/specifications?

ANSWER: The Government will provide the following equipment (considered Government Furnished Property (GFP) and listed as GFE in Attach A-GFP List Rev-1 (GFP List)): 16 HARRIS P7100 VHF radios, 19 chargers and one base station. The provision of radios, base station, chargers and any ancillary equipment (headsets, external microphones, ear pieces etc.) beyond what the Government provides as GFP shall be for the contractor’s account.

2. C1.12.f states, “A minimum of one roving security watch must be active at all times. Roving watch duties include alarm investigation, patrolling, and armed response.” C1.15.4 states, “A minimum of two people shall form the SBX-1 on-duty guard force while the vessel is underway LTSS utilizing sponsor security. These include one Assistant ATO or Shift Lead and one Security Console Operator. The remaining off-duty security personnel shall form the Designated Immediate Response Force.” C1.15.5 states, “In-Port Manning (utilizing Sponsor Security Requirements) A minimum of two people shall form the SBX-1 on-duty guard force while the vessel is in port in a non-operational (Sponsor Security Requirements) status. Furthermore, These include one Entry Controller and one Alarm Monitor/Security Console Operator.” C1.12.f conflict with C1.15.4 and C1.15.5.

Question: What are the actual manning requirements while the vessel is in In-Port Manning (Operational SSL-A) and In-Port Manning (utilizing Sponsor Security Requirements)?

ANSWER: Per C1.15, Staffing, manning requirements are provided as follows:

C1.15.4.1 In-Port Manning (Operational SSL-A) A minimum of seven people shall form the SBX-1 on-duty guard force while the vessel is in port in an operational (SSL-A) status.

These include one Assistant ATO or Shift Lead, one Security Console Operator, one Entry Controller, two Roving Security Patrol/Response Force personnel, and two Line-of Detection Waterside Compensatory Rovers as covered in the SI-538-2 and VSP.

C1.15.5 In-Port Manning (utilizing Sponsor Security Requirements) A minimum of two people shall form the SBX-1 on-duty guard force while the vessel is in port in a non-operational (Sponsor Security Requirements) status. These include one Entry Controller and one Alarm Monitor/Security Console Operator. Two Vessel O&M contract personnel will form the designated in-port Response Force. Use of force by Vessel O&M contract personnel will be in accordance with MSC ALMSC message 018/2012, which references DODD 5210.56 of 1 Apr 2011 (Carrying of Firearms and the Use of Force by DoD

Personnel Engaged in Security, Law and Order, or Counterintelligence Activities). The on duty guard force shall only carry arms within the lifelines of the vessel in accordance with ALMSC message 018/2012 para 4.A, with the exception of using the portable toilet on the pier. During these short-duration breaks, the entry controller will notify the security console operator and pier sentry when leaving and returning in to his post.

3. C1.4, Rotation Schedule for Contract Security Force in an Underway (SSL A) Scenario, states, “Full operational status is planned for 120 days per year (two 60 day periods). A SSL A security posture will be in effect during this time. The entire vessel crew will serve without relief during this period. In the event the vessel is underway for longer than 60 days in an SSL-A status, contractor personnel may be relieved on a rotation schedule determined by the frequency of helicopter flights, Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) runs or other means to transport personnel (OSV runs are expected every 30-60 days).”

Question: Since the contractor will need to pay personnel while in transit to and from the vessel during OSV transfers, what are the estimated OSV transfer times?

ANSWER: OSV transfer times vary due to the location of the vessel and weather/sea state, the most recent transfers at sea took between 07-10 days transit (each way). An amendment to the solicitation will add this information to the section.

4. C1.24.t states, “SERE 100.1 J3TA-US1282. DVD available from kyrm.hickman@navy.mil (CDRL A010)”. This course is no longer valid.

Question: Will the government accept SERE 100.2 Level A SERE Education and Training in Support of the Code of Conduct (J3TA-US1329) for contractor personnel?

ANSWER: SERE 100.2 is the only active SERE Course and is acceptable. The required periodicity is every 3 years, if the contractors have completed any of the previous courses within the last 3 years, it satisfies the requirement. The SERE 100.2 Combined course can be found at https://jkodirect.jten.mil/Atlas2/faces/page/login/Login.seam . There is also a disk for SERE 100.2 and Mr. Hickman (kyrm.hickman@navy.mil) is the point of contact.

The requirement will be updated by a future amendment to reflect the above answer.

5. Can we be provided clarification on the number of copies, hard and electronic, that are required for each volume?

ANSWER: Offerors are to provide one electronic copy of their offer IAW Section L-6 of the RFP.

6. I was writing to see if the Set Aside Classification of Solicitation N32205-17-R-3102 is set? The RFI stated that it was an 8(a) Set Aside, is this true? I appreciate your response as soon as you are able to provide.

ANSWER: Yes, solicitation N32205-17-R-3102 is an 8(a) small business set-aside.

7. Reference: Attachment A- Government Furnished Property List

Question: There are items lined through on the attachment, will these items be required and will they be provided? Some items have no cost element identified, please clarify?

ANSWER: A revised GFP list will be provided with a future amendment to the RFP.

8. Reference: PWS, paragraph c1.4.2 Reimbursable Overtime. The second sentence of this paragraph references “Section G-8”, and we are unable to locate.

Questions: Will the government please clarify if this is in error or provide the information that was to be contained in Section G-8?

ANSWER: There is a typographical error in Section C1.4.2. The correct reference is Section G-7. Section C1.4.2 will be updated via a future amendment.

9. Reference: PWS, paragraph C1.23(a) Transition Plan

Questions: Does the government have a time frame in which they plan on allotting for the transition plan?

ANSWER: The timeline for contract turn-over of personnel, property, familiarization, training and weapons accountability shall be conducted in seven (7) to ten (10) consecutive days. Contracting Officer's consent is required for additional days, not to exceed fifteen

(15) days. Section C1.23(a) will be updated via a future amendment. This does not include the time the contractor needs to ramp up/mobilize its shoreside and shipboard personnel.

Contractor shall have from contract award to the start of the turnover period to ramp up/mobilize its shipboard/shoreside organization.

10. Reference: Questions and Answers #1 The Governments Response to Question 1- IAW L-4 of the RFP, offeror shall submit evidence (completed DD 254) of an active SECRET facility clearance in JPAS.

Question: From your response to Question 1, it sounds as if prospective bidders should not bid if they do not have an active security clearance. Can you clarify as to if prospective bidders, who do not currently have an active security clearance, can bid on this contract, with the understanding that one will be obtain once the contract is awarded?

ANSWER: The Government will not be sponsoring the required facility clearance for this contract. IAW L-4 of the RFP, offeror shall submit evidence (completed DD 254 of an active SECRET facility clearance in JPAS. An active security clearance is required to submit an offer in response to solicitation N32205-17-R-3102.

11. Reference: Questions and Answers #3 The Governments Response to Question 3 Question: Is the site visit mandatory? Also, due to the holidays and short notice, is there any chance that the site visit be moved to a later date?

ANSWER: Site visits are not mandatory. Unfortunately, due to mission requirements a later date is not available for site visits.

12. C1.15.4.1, In-Port Manning (Operational SSL-A), states that “A minimum of seven people shall form the SBX-1 on-duty guard force while the vessel is in port in an operational (SSL-A) status.

These include one Assistant ATO or Shift Lead, one Security Console Operator, one Entry Controller, two Roving Security Patrol/Response Force personnel, and two Line-of Detection Waterside Compensatory Rovers as covered in the SI-538-2 and VSP.”

Question 1: With a 15-man guard force, each non-exempt employee would have to work 84 hours/week, incurring 44 hour/week per man of overtime or 528 hours/week total of overtime to cover the 7-man on-duty guard force. Will the OT incurred be reimbursable IAW C1.4.2.?

ANSWER: Yes.

Question 2: Under this scenario and in order to prevent employee attrition, will the government consider expanding the 15-man guard force to an acceptable level where non-exempt personnel will only work 40 hours/week? If so, to what manning level will the government consider and how will this be reimbursed?

ANSWER: There is no requirement for a 15-man guard force. The contractor can utilize whatever size guard force it sees fit to ensure the requirements of the contract. Overtime is reimbursed in accordance with contract requirements. The contractor shall ensure the required manning levels are met through the life of the contract. If the manning levels are not met the Government has the right to take a variety of administration actions to ensure contract compliance, which includes termination of the contract for default.

13. Reference: PWS, paragraph h5.1 Insurance. The first sentence says that the contractor shall obtain liability insurance to the amount of $10 million per person per incident.

Questions: From our experience in this industry this seems quite excessive and we were wondering if the “per person” part of this statement was a mistake. Usually a umbrella policy is required to the amount of $5 or $10 million, and not required per person.

ANSWER: There is no mistake. The requirement is for $10 million per person.