REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Checkpoint ILS final.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

for

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for

Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Services

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP. The RFI does not commit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to contract for any supply or service. The TSA is not at this time seeking proposals.

Responders are advised that the TSA will not pay any cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the TSA. All submissions become the property of the TSA and will not be returned.

I. PURPOSE

The TSA is issuing this RFI to seek industry’s input concerning TSA’s requirements for Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) services in support of Transportation Security Equipment (TSE) at federalized airport checkpoints and other designated facilities. Through this RFI, TSA seeks input from qualified vendors that are capable of providing ILS services, concepts, methods, and Service Level Agreements (SLA) that would allow TSA to compete these requirements effectively, efficiently, and affordably. The information obtained through this RFI will be used in the development of a RFP to be released in Fiscal Year 2024.

II. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

TSA was established as a result of Public Law 107-71, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. TSA is charged with the mission of protecting the Nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. To that end, TSA is responsible for identifying, testing, procuring, deploying, and sustaining equipment that detect threats carried by or concealed on the passenger’s body to include explosives, weapons, and other prohibited items, as the passenger enters the screening checkpoint. TSA operates at over 430 airports throughout the United States and its territories. All of the currently fielded checkpoint technologies are listed below:

Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), Quick Personnel Security (QPS) Scanners, Advanced Technology X-Ray (AT X-RAY), Automated Screening Lanes (ASL), Bottled Liquid Scanner (BLS), Enhanced Metal Detector (EMD), Explosive Trace Detector (ETD), Walk-Through Metal Detector (WTMD), Chemical Analysis Devices (CAD), Credential Authentication Technology (CAT), Advanced Technology Computed Tomography X-ray (AT/CT), and Checkpoint Property Screening System X-ray (CPSS).

For additional information about the TSA mission, organization, locations, customer services, and current initiatives, vendors should refer to the DHS website at https://www.dhs.gov/topics/do-business-dhs and the TSA website at www.tsa.gov.

Currently, the TSA has one (1) third party Maintenance Service Provider (MSP) integrator in place for checkpoint ILS support. The Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) contract is a combination of firm fixed price for program management; firm fixed unit pricing for all https://www.dhs.gov/topics/do-business-dhs http://www.tsa.gov/ preventative and corrective maintenance actions; and time and labor hour for emergent logistics services and out of scope maintenance actions.

The current checkpoint ILS contract is 70T04019C9DAP3006 with Leidos, Inc. for maintenance of out of warranty checkpoint equipment, regardless of manufacturer, with a ceiling of $926,574,251.63 and a period of performance of October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2024.

TSA’s objective is to seek industry’s ideas on how to efficiently and effectively compete the checkpoint ILS service requirements. Through white paper submissions, TSA’s intent is to determine market capabilities for ILS services and collect ideas and suggestions on the best strategy to procure the required ILS services.

III. RESPONSES TO THIS RFI

TSA is seeking information from vendors with experience and expertise in logistics support and optimizing equipment maintenance services. The following sections provide a recommended outline for a response to this RFI. This outline is intended to minimize the effort of the respondent and structure the responses for ease of analysis by the Government.

All responses must:

• Not exceed, and will be restricted up to, twenty (20) pages, size twelve (12) Times New Roman font.

• Provide company name, DUNS number and business size

• Provide the company’s point of contact, to include name, telephone number, and email address.

• Be submitted electronically via email to Lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov

Note – The contractor is not required to answer or comment on all content in this RFI in order to respond to this notice. Interested vendors are encouraged to share as many ideas and suggestions to all or some of the topics presented herein.

Section 1 – Corporate Expertise (2 pages)

Briefly describe the company, product and services, history, ownership, business size, and other information deemed relevant.

Section 2 – Capabilities Statement (2 pages)

In order for the TSA to improve its understanding of market capabilities and identify qualified vendors that are capable of providing ILS services, respondents must briefly describe what experience it has providing performance based logistics and equipment maintenance services to other Federal agencies.

Section 3 – White Paper Solutions (16 pages)

The TSA is interested in industry’s ideas on how to efficiently and effectively structure checkpoint ILS services. Respondents are not limited to the questions below. Respondents may mailto:Lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov provide recommendations on such items as acquisition strategy, contract type, more efficient/effective SLA metrics, incentive concepts and support concepts at a reasonable price, whether some requirements should be competed separately based on industry’s capabilities, areas for increased small business participation/set-asides, etc.

TSA Challenges/Questions for Industry

TSA is seeking industry feedback to the following challenges and questions:

1. Given the quantity of equipment and locations requiring ILS support, what contract type, price structure, SLAs, and performance metrics would you recommend to achieve and sustain high TSE availability and reliability at all checkpoint locations while promoting contract efficiency and limiting cost? Please address the following elements and describe how TSA would benefit from each approach.

a. Maximize TSE Equipment Operational Availability/Minimize Downtime

b. Rapid response to equipment failures

c. Streamlined process to rapidly address issues outside the scope of the fixed unit price sustainment CLIN, such as catastrophic maintenance

d. Parts stocking and shipping processes and enhancements to minimize downtime

e. Contract transition/subcontract management

2. Are there contractual enhancements or other features that could be included to mitigate impacts of equipment failures at remote locations, such as those in the Pacific and Alaska, in an efficient and affordable manner?

3. What are the benefits and challenges if the checkpoint ILS support contract Period of Performance is extended from the current contract span of 5 years to 7-10 years in length?

4. Identify and explain any suggestions for contract incentives/penalties that would best motivate contractors and ensure performance meets TSA requirements.

5. What information and support is required for respondents to successfully achieve an Authority to Operate (ATO) for a Moderate/High/High ticketing and metrics capture system in 6 months?

6. What are your challenges and the approaches taken to hire and retain experienced technicians in today’s work climate?

7. Non-critical failures are those that do not impact the detection capability of equipment but may adversely impact operational efficiency or lead to critical failures if not promptly addressed. What do you recommend to ensure these repairs are addressed in a timely manner?

8. In the TSA model, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) are responsible for managing parts obsolescence and qualifying parts to ensure parts obsolescence doesn’t impact operations. What are the challenges and recommendations to ensure parts obsolescence is addressed in a timely manner?

9. Do you have any other recommendations regarding the contract to improve performance and administration and/or decrease cost?

Submissions should be organized in accordance with the instructions in this document in order to permit a thorough and accurate review and evaluation by the TSA. Responses to this RFI must be submitted to the TSA via electronic mail not later than 5 PM EST, July 24th, 2023 to lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov and Heather.karle@tsa.dhs.gov. Responses not received by the closing date and time may not be considered or evaluated by the TSA.

IV. POINTS OF CONTACT

All comments, inquiries, and responses should be directed to the following individuals:

Heather Karle Contract Specialist Heather.karle@tsa.dhs.gov

Lindsay Alexander Contracting Officer Lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov

V. Other

This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation.

All information received in response to this RFI that is marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly. The Government will not return or pay for any information provided in response to this RFI; no basis for a claim against the Government shall arise as a result from a response to this notice or Government use of any information provided. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this announcement.

mailto:xxxxx@tsa.dhs.gov mailto:Josh.Lim@tsa.dhs.gov mailto:Lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov