Amendment_0002.pdf

(x)

SECHQ115R0003

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5 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

WASHINGTON DC 20549

MAIL STOP 4226

SEC-OA - 02

100 F STREET NE

OPERATIONS SUPPORT BRANCH

OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

01/12/2015000002

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

12/19/2014

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of Amendment 0002 is to provide answers to questions received during the open period.

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

REGINA MUMFORD-RUSH

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

Amendment #2 - Questions and Answers to Solicitation SECHQ1-15-R-0003

Q1: Please provide a possible asset holdings list (Excel if possible) to include any/all domestic and/or global assets.

A1: Initially, the only asset will be cash held in a business savings-type account that will be eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance. In the future, the SEC may consider directing that a portion of the assets be held in Certificate(s) of Deposit, Treasury securities, or similar highly-secure investments that are not directly regulated by the SEC. The Plan’s objective will not include maximizing return on the principal.

Q2: If global assets are applicable, please include “home” country and currency.

A2: Global assets are not applicable.

Q3: Please provide a plan schematic if applicable showing number of accounts expected by type.

A3: Initially, a single omnibus business savings-type account.

Q4: According to the Solicitation that was released for Trustee and Custodian, a separate RFP will be released for Record Keeper. I would just like to ask if you have a time frame for releasing the Record Keeper RFP.

A4: The RFP solicitation for Recordkeeper Services should be released no later than the last week in January 2015.

Please provide a list of all anticipated applicable transactions and the anticipated annual number of each:

Q5: DTC/Fed Trades?

A5: There will be no DTC/Fed Trades.

Q6: Foreign Trades?

A6: There will be no Foreign Trades.

Q7: Options/Futures?

A7: There will be no Options/Futures.

Q8: Wires/Transfers?

A8: Bi-weekly deposits will be made by wire transfer from the SEC’s payroll vendor (currently the Department of the Interior) to the Custodian. Discretionary deposits may also be authorized by the SEC from time to time. Per year, there will be a minimum of 26 bi-weekly deposits; the SEC estimates that annually the number of periodic discretionary wire transfer deposits will be 4 or fewer. In addition, Benefit Payments (see response below) will be made by wire transfer directly to the participant in accordance with instructions from either the SEC or the Recordkeeper. The SEC estimates the annual number of those withdrawals will be 300 or fewer. The SEC may also direct that any amount attributable to benefits forfeited by non-vested employees that collectively exceeds $250,000 (or then-governing FDIC insurance limits) be returned to the SEC.

The SEC estimates the annual number of those wire transfers will be 4 or fewer.

Q9: Benefit Payments (if applicable)?

A9: At least initially, the SEC anticipates that participants will have limited rights to make withdrawals beyond the rights afforded by law. All employees will initially be vested in 100% of their balance, but the SEC may impose a vesting requirement for future participants or investments.

Q10: Number of retirees receiving benefits?

A10: The estimated number of retirees receiving benefits is 40 during the 5 year period of the contract.

Q11: Annual # of ACH payments with Advice, # without advice?

A11: The question is being interpreted as the number of payments that will be made electronically through Automated Clearing House (ACH) either with details (advice) or no details as to the nature of the transaction. Based on this interpretation, we anticipate that 95% of the transactions attributed to withdrawals and age related distributions will be made by ACH w/Advice. Issuing payments as ACH with Advice will provide a clear audit trail for all parties involved.

Q12: Annual # of Lump Sum payments with Advice, # without advice?

A12: The question is being interpreted as the number of payments that will be issued via paper check not electronically. Based on this interpretation, we anticipate that 5% or less of these types of transactions annually.

Q13: Annual # of Stop Payments?

A13: Anticipate authorizing no more than 4 stop payments annually.

Q14: Please identify any unique assets/reporting needs that are of particular interest/”hot buttons”?

A14: The SEC does not anticipate that the Trustee or Custodian will generally have reporting requirements beyond what is usual and customary for a trustee or custodial relationship, but it may need to request interim reports or other similar assistance if required to respond to Congressional or other requests/audits/investigations.

Q15: Please identify all possible separate account managers (if applicable) by firm name.

A15: No separate account managers will be required.

Q16: Please identify if there is a particular business day following month end that you would need statement/reporting to be made available.

A16: No later than the fifth business day of the month.

Q17: Do you require trade date/settlement date reporting?

A17: No trade date/settlement date report is required.

Q18: Do you require performance analytic reporting?

A18: The Plan will expressly designate that all deposits are to be held in a business savings (or similar) account, at least initially. If the SEC later decides to hold a portion of the assets in a different form, it expects that the Plan will be amended to specify the amount(s) to be invested in each form. Requirements for performance analytic reporting will be developed as the plan’s portfolio becomes diverse. See response to Question 24 for performance reporting requirements.

Q19: Do you require compliance monitoring services?

A19: The Recordkeeper will be responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with applicable tax-deferral limits, vesting periods, and eligibility for withdrawals. The SEC expects that the Trustee and Custodian will each be responsible for compliance monitoring that is usual and customary for such roles.

Q20: Do you require investment guideline monitoring services?

A20: No investment guideline monitoring services are required/necessary.

Q21: Are we being hired as directed trustee or custodian (or other)?

A21: Yes. The SEC expects that the Plan will designate that all deposits are to be held in a business savings-type account, at least initially. The Trustee and Custodian will be responsible for handling deposits in accordance with the Plan’s design, and will be responsible for handling withdrawals in accordance with specific instructions from the Recordkeeper or the SEC.

Q22: What is your expectation our capacity and services that we will provide?

A22: The SEC’s expectation is that the Trustee will be qualified to serve in that role for a plan that will have an initial value of approximately $14 million, with a total potential value by the end of the contract period (including options) of approximately $50 million. The SEC’s expectation is that the Custodian will be able to make and receive wire transfers of significant sums, that the Custodian will accurately and promptly comply with instructions from the SEC or the Recordkeeper, and that the Custodian will be of sufficient size and stability to securely maintain a cash deposit account of $14 to $50 million. If the Trustee or Custodian has experience with periodically determining the optimal allocation of assets between cash, Certificates of Deposit, Treasury securities, or other similar highly-secure investments that are not directly regulated by the SEC, then the SEC expects that such services will be made available to it upon request.

Q23: Who manages assets?

A23: The purpose of the Plan will be to hold plan assets in highly-secure investments that are not regulated by the SEC. Maximizing return will expressly not be a purpose of the Plan. The Plan will expressly designate that all deposits are to be held in a business savings (or similar) account, at least initially. If the SEC later decides to hold a portion of the assets in a different form, it expects that the Plan will be amended to specify the amount(s) to be invested in each form. In making any such decisions, if the Trustee or Custodian can provide advice on optimal allocations without becoming subject to regulation by the SEC, then the SEC would expect to avail itself of such service. Accordingly, you should provide information about the likely cost of any such advice.

Q24: Do you require unitized accounting, donor accounting, performance reporting or any other specialized financial reporting services?

A24: The plan’s portfolio of assets will be limited to cash and highly-secure investments, such as Treasury securities, Certificates of Deposits and similar instruments. Accounting methods should be sufficient to attribute earnings, expenses and forfeitures to individual participants, and support compliance testing and reviews by the General Accountability Office (GAO) and the Internal Revenue Service.

Performance reporting should at a minimum provide account holdings, rate of return, account values, expenses, and transactions. Once asset allocation targets are developed, the reporting should include performance against the stated targets. The reports should be provided on a quarterly basis, no later than the 10th business day following the close of the quarter. A summary year-end report should also be provided no later than 30 days after the end of the calendar year for the reporting period.

Q25: Are we making any sort of benefit payments?

A25. Please refer to Q/A 9.

Q26: Has a contractor performed similar work to this for the government in the past? If available, please provide the incumbent contract number.

A26: This is a new requirement for this effort.

Q27: If you are unable to provide a contract number, is it safe to assume this is a new requirement for the government?

A27: Please refer to Q/A 26.