QuestionsAnswers.doc

SOLICITATION # S-FI300-08-R-0002

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1) Question:

B.2 What are the historical annual inflation rates and minimum wage increases in Finland over the past five years that have affected the current contract?

Answer:

There have been no Economic Price Adjustments made to the current contract.

2) Question:

B.2.1 How and by whom is”satisfactory performance” defined?

The Contracting Officer’s Representative is responsible for determining satisfactory performance in accordance with the Performance Standards in Exhibit C.

3) Question:

C.1.1.1 What constitutes “reasonable prior notification” in regard to schedule changes provided in writing by COR?

Prior notification is on a “case by case basis” however, the cumulative adjustments to the daily work schedule shall not exceed the total weekly hours described on Exhibit A for this post.

4) Question:

C.1.2.1.1 Is the Surveillance Detection Supervisor equal to SD-2 (in Exhibit A)?

Reference Exhibit A, Amendment A001. Yes. The Surveillance Detection Supervisor is equal to SD-2.

5) Question:

C.1.3.2 Are the General and Post orders required to be translated to Finnish?

Yes, as stipulated in paragraph C.1.3.2

6) Question:

C.1.6 Is there any opportunity for compensation to the Contractor if the Surveillance Detection program is adapted to include increased labor costs (i.e. increased evening- and night-shift operations etc.)?

Yes. See FAR Clause – 52.243-3

7) Question:

C.2.2 In what scope of time of COR notification is the Contractor required to provide additional or emergency service?

This will depend on the situation. In an emergency, a sudden and unforeseen event that presents an immediate danger to life or property, the COR will expect a response in as little as two hours. In other non-emergency situations the COR will provide as much advanced notice as feasible. In some cases the notice may precede the event by several weeks.

8) Question:

C.3.1.2 Is the Contractor required to have two Senior Guards in every night shift (C-2, 23h-07h) in order to ensure proper relief of the Senior Guard?

The Senior Guard positions are to be staffed in accordance with Exhibit A, Section C.3.1.2, and all other applicable contract provisions. How this is accomplished is an an internal operational matter for the service provider to determine.

9) Question:

E.4 What constitutes unacceptable performance or non-performance, and what are the amounts of the deductions/negative incentives?

See Exhibit C.

10) Question:

H.4.3. Since the contract requires the Surveillance Detection personnel to work in civilian clothing:

a) Is the contractor responsible for providing civilian clothing?

b) Or is a special clothing allowance to Surveillance Protection personnel required?

c) If a special clothing allowance is required, how much per month/year?

d) What is the procedure for having items of civilian clothing for SD use approved by the Contracting Officer?

a) The US Government has no position on this question. It is an internal administrative matter for the service provider to determine.

b) The US Government has no position on this question. It is an internal administrative matter for the service provider to determine.

c) The US Government has no position on this question. It is an internal administrative matter for the service provider to determine.

a,b,c, collectively – The US Government will be responsible only for charges as calculated in accordance with B.2. No additional costs or fees will be accepted. There is no procedure for clothing approval. Currently SD members’ wardrobe is determined by personal preference and the training received to help ensure that they do not stand out.

d) The Project Manager will coordinate directly with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

11) Question:

H.4.9 Please clarify re-keying procedure and cost allocation in case of lost or improperly duplicated keys.

See section H.4.9, the Government shall deduct from the Contractor’s next invoice the cost of rekeying any compromised system.

Rekeying is defined as the cost associated with replacing a compromised system.

12) Question:

H.5.2 Please define “well proportioned” in regard to employee weight and height

Guards should be neither morbidly obese nor excessively skinny. They should possess the physical capabilities, i.e. strength, stamina, etc to perform all duties as stipulated in the contract.

13) Question:

Should the cost of the physical/medical examination undertaken by guards initially, and annually, be met by the contractor, or can it be charged back to the individual?

The US government has no position on this question. It is an internal administrative matter for the service provider to determine. The US Government will be responsible only for charges as calculated in accordance with B.2. No additional costs or fees will be accepted.

14) Question:

The U. S. Government provides both the initial and annual training for the Explosive Detectors and X-Ray equipment operations. Should additional costs incurred for this specific training to be included in overhead or are they to be invoiced under additional or emergency services?

Yes. They are considered overhead. See L.1.3.2. Volume 2: Price proposal and Section B.

(a) STANDARD SERVICES. Complete the pricing schedules in Section B. The hourly rates for all Standard Services shall include:

· All direct costs, such as salaries, fringe benefits, taxes, insurance costs, materials and equipment costs (except vehicles and equipment that are separately priced in Section B, and materials reimbursable for Additional or Emergency Services);

· Maintenance and repair, transition and/or start‑up costs, if any;

· indirect costs, overhead, general and administrative expense, training, relief guards, revision and/or translation of general and post guard orders; and

· Profit.

15) Question:

The U. S. Government provides the initial briefing for the Chemical and/or Biological awareness and Countermeasures, but requires the contractor to provide subsequent briefings and recertification training. What is required for recertification? What documentation will be required? Will the Government provide the course literature to conduct it? Does the certifying official require specialized training? (H.5.4.7).

The Government upon completion of the initial overview, (H.5.4.7) The Government will provide the contratcor the required material to conduct referesher training. Training completed by contarctor employees will be annotated in employee training records (see H.5.4).

16) Question:

Should costs incurred for this specific recertification be figured in overhead or are they to be invoiced separately? (H.5.4.7).

Yes. The costs for recertifaction should be figured into overhead.

17) Question:

The U. S. Government provides the initial briefing for the Closed Circuit TV operators, but requires the contractor to provide subsequent briefings and recertification training. What is required for recertification? What documentation will be required? Will the Government provide the course literature to conduct it? Does the certifying official require specialized training? (H.5.4.7).

The Government upon completion of the initial overview, (H.5.4.8) The Government will provide the contratcor the required material to conduct referesher training. Training completed by contarctor employees will be annotated in employee training records (see H.5.4).

18) Question:

Should costs incurred for this specific recertification be figured in overhead or are they to be invoiced separately? (H.5.4.7).

Yes. The costs for recertification should be figured in overhead.

19) Question:

H.5.4 What is the estimated annual amount of additional Government provided training hours per employee which can not be invoiced by the Contractor?

Answer:

See sections H.5.4.5 and H.5.4.6

20) Question:

H.5.4.1 Will the Contractor be required to keep record of all of the training it has on it’s own cost provided to employees (including 80hr basic training and 16hr annual refresher training)?

See section H.5.4.

21) Question:

Can personnel who perform the functions of administration, i.e. personnel, payroll, accounting, logistic, secretarial and overall business management required for the Embassy contract by the contractor, be shared with other contracts within Finland?

Answers:

Yes, but not in any way which would diminish the services specified in the contract.

22) Question:

Since the Government requires the Contractor to provide vehicles, must they be a distinct entity from other contracts or can it be shared with other contracts held by the Contractor?

See Exhibit D paragraph 2, As long as vehicles used meet these and all other contractual requirements they do not have to be exclusively reserved for this contract.

23) Question:

If the situation presents itself i.e. emergency, will the Embassy permit the use of personnel employed by the Contractor for other clients, but not cleared by the Embassy, in order to ensure manning of Embassy posts?

No. See section H.2.1

24) Question:

Is the contractor allowed to employ guard personnel under this contract to serve other clients in Finland? If the answer is NO, what controls are anticipated to insure that personnel employed for the Embassy contract are not involved with other contracts?

Yes. See section H, As long as personnel used meet all contractual requirements they do not have to be exclusively reserved for this contract.

25) Question:

Is the cost for translation of the General and Posts Orders into Finnish to be included in the overhead rate?

Yes. The cost of translating General and Post Orders into Finnish are to be included in the overhead rate. See section L.1.3.2.

26) Question

How much notice (if any) will the Government provide before adding or removing a post?

Any such decision would be undertaken based upon USG guidance and in consultation with the contractor. All additions/removals would follow the standards for contact modification.

27) Question:

Must the radio communications system provided by the contractor be solely dedicated to the Embassy, or can it be used for other contract operations?

Any radio communications specified under the terms of the contract must solely be dedicated to support operations under the contract. (See exhibit D)

28) Question

How much advance notice can be anticipated for increases in scope of services taking into consideration the length of time for recruitment, clearances and training of personnel prior to using personnel on post?

Any such decision would be undertaken based upon USG guidance and in consultation with the contractor. All additions/removals would follow the standards for contact modification.

29) Question:

Will current employees automatically transfer to possible new service provider?

There is not contractual requirement for this.