Amendment 2_Responses to Vendor Public Questions.docx

BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS GLOBAL SUPPORT STRATEGY (GSS)

SOLICITATION NUMBER: SAQMMA09R0277

VENDOR PUBLIC QUESTIONS/ANSWERS

AMENDMENT NO. 2

OCTOBER 28, 2009

U.S. Department of State Office of Acquisition Management

(A/LM/AQM/IT/ISB)

Suite 200, SA-6 1701 N. Ft. Myer Drive Arlington, Virginia 22209

SAQMMA09R0277

AMENDMENT 2

I. PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT NO. 2. Amendment No. 2 to SAQMMA09R0277 provides Department of State responses to public questions posed by the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Global Support Strategy (GSS) contractors. The amendment also provides the attached change pages (with changes noted in red), as applicable, resulting from due diligence questions and responses. The text of the questions is verbatim (with the exception of identification of contractors).

QUESTION NO. 1.

Reference: M.5 Factor 2 - The Government will also evaluate the extent to which the offeror’s proposal demonstrates relevant experience and adequate past performance for all proposed subcontractors.

Question: To what extent does the proposal need to demonstrate experience and past performance for “all proposed subcontractors”? This could be lengthy, given the large size of the team. Is it DoS intent to have the offeror include this in the subcontract plan or in past performance?

DoS Response: The Contractor is responsible for determining the extent to which its proposal demonstrates experience and past performance for “all proposed subcontractors”. The Contractors response should be in accordance with the established page limitations; Section L - Instructions, L.7.3 Volume I, Part B – Past Performance and Experience; and Technical Evaluation Factor 2: Past Performance and Experience (includes Sub-factors 2a, 2b, and 2c).

QUESTION NO. 2.

Reference: Page 508 H.9.2

Question: We presume that the employees processing information services and appointment services in a central location will still require MRPT security clearance as indicated in Page 511 H.9.5. Please confirm.

DoS Response: The presumption in the question is not accurate. Only employees with access to the Embassy, Consulate, or OFC require a MRPT determination or RSO security certification. Please refer to Amendment 2 – Section H for complete requirements.

QUESTION NO. 3.

Reference: Page 510 H.9.4

Question: We presume that the physical security requirements indicated in H.9.4 will not apply to a central/regional contact center providing information services and appointment services only. Please confirm.

DoS Response: Section H.9.4 applies to Offsite Facilitation Centers only.

QUESTION NO. 4.

Reference: General

Question: The information services and appointment services will be run on systems designed by, and hosted on the contractor’s equipment. We will have access to the forms required by the applicants. We will provide any required translation of the information on these forms. What are the other government applications/information that we will have access to – particularly to support Information/Appointment Services?

DoS Response: Contractors will not have (nor will they require) access to any Government applications in support of GSS information and appointment services. The contractor shall coordinate with consular sections at the task order level to obtain information in support of GSS information and appointment services, such as unique requirements for scheduling applicant interviews (e.g., grouping by visa category, whether to set aside certain numbers of appointments for particular categories, etc.). GSS providers will have access to forms in general and will provide information related to these forms in local languages, but will not access the data in forms completed by the applicant.

QUESTION NO. 5.

Reference: General

Question: What is the total number of languages that NIV/IV applicants from the various locations across the globe are supported in today? Please provide a list of these languages.

DoS Response: The Government will not provide such a list. Minimum language requirements for locations that will receive GSS services will be established in each task order.

III. ADDITIONAL CHANGES

All other terms and conditions of SAQMMA09R0277 remain unchanged.