Q A 8-18-10.doc

Consolidated Guard Questions & Answers

Timestamps represent beginning of question (date/time sent by requestor)

2/24/2010 2:34 PM

I am contacting you regarding the pre-solicitation notice for Armed Security Guard Services and I was wondering if you might be able to tell me if this is a new requirement or a follow on from a previous/current contract? If so, would it be possible to tell me the following info:

· Contractor

· Contract #

· Award date

· Value This is a new requirement.

Previous award numbers:

Fresno, California: TIRWR-06-C-00003.; $14,468,681.04; 6/1/2006

Ogden, Utah: TIRWR-05-C-00002; $10,891,591.38; 6/1/2005

5/25/2010 12:35 PM

Is the current contractor 8(a) and if not, who is the current contractor.

Ogden, UT - small business set aside Fresno, CA - 8(a) competitive

5/26/2010 5:23 PM

1. I saw on a previously posted solicitation that K-9 services were required. Is that still a requirement for TIRMS10R00004?

K-9 services will not be included in this acquisition.

2. Since the Austin, TX site was removed from the original pre-solicitation posting, can we expect Austin to come out as a separate solicitation?

A contract for the Austin campus was awarded in September 2009. It is anticipated vendors will be solicited for the Austin guard services in FY 2014/FY 2015.

7/19/2010 3:31 PM

I’ve been going through the FedBizOps solicitation attachments and am unable to find Attachment 5, Past Performance Questionnaire.

Am I looking in the wrong place?

Attachment 5 is now uploaded in FBO.

7/20/2010 9:21 AM

1) The Schedule of Supplies/Services begins with CLIN 0001B Ogden; while subsequent CLIN series being with xxxx1A Fresno…should the contractor simply add in the missing CLIN 0001A Fresno?

The solicitation does reference this specific CLIN as 0001A.

2) Under “Contract Pricing” it states that all guard mount and walk time must be factored into pricing; what period of time, in minutes, is required for guard mount and walk time? Can all posts we walked to/from in 5 minutes, 7 minutes? Is 10 minutes or 15 minutes appropriate for gearing up/down and receiving verbal pass down?

7 minutes is acceptable in both locations.

3) With differing starting time for various posts, are all posts required to attend a formal muster or only those that begin at the “start” of a shift?

Ogden: The IRS is not requiring a formal muster.

Fresno: Formal musters are not required. Security officers receive verbal and written turnover at the beginning of their shift.

4) Section 5 denotes government provided equipment.

The IRS will not provide the Contractor with equipment.

Is a Project Manager office provided to include a desk, chair and file cabinet?

Yes, the project manager is provided an office, desk, chair and file cabinet in both locations.

Is internet connectivity provided?

Yes, the Contractor is provided with internet connectivity at both locations; however, in Ogden the Contractor is also provided access to the LAN, ICMIS & OL5081.

Is a government computer provided with email capability to communicate with IRS COTR?

Yes, a computer is provided at both locations, however, in Fresno the Contractor must provide their own Internet Service Provider (ISP).

5) Under Section 6.2.2.5 administrative duties are discussed. Is an Administrative Assistant required to perform these functions, or can they be performed by the Contract Manager?

We require that these functions be performed by the Contract Manager or by an Administrative Assistant provided by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense. No guard is to be used during on-post time to perform these actions.

6) Section 6.4.1.2 requires physicals; are new physicals and drug screening for incumbent employees required at start up or are these individuals grandfathered until they reach their next tri-annual requirement?

As stated above, the IRS will look at this as a new contract and all documentation should be new as well.

7) Section 6.5.3 states “All Contractor employees shall either be U.S. citizens.” Should the word “either” be deleted as it infers that there is an option?

Yes, delete.

8) Section 7.2.1 states: it is the intent of the IRS to have posts described herein staffed by the guards on a daily rotational basis, to reinforce proficiency and maintain guard alertness while on post. Is this section stating that guards shall not be allowed to “bid” a regular “post” but instead shall be assigned a different post each and every day?

It is the IRS’ position that not all guards are cut out for “all” posts. Rotation should be possible at the request of the COTR, Project Manager or Supervisor. Rotations should shift no sooner than monthly.

Fresno: We rotate as necessary. Guards are not normally assigned a different post each day. All Security Officers receive training for all posts.

9) Para 4.16 of Exhibit 3 mentions “off site” training, while the government provided equipment/facilities indicates that government class rooms are available on a pre-scheduled basis. How often, historically, have off-site training sessions been required due to scheduling conflicts? Is there any training (other than firearms qualification, specifically, that would require off site administration?

Yes in Ogden, No in Fresno. Training rooms are always available by schedule.

10) Para 4.16(g) of Exhibit 3 denotes an “Officer Proficiency Exam” which is a 100 question test administered prior to class room training. Is classroom training still required if an officer passes the exam?

Yes. Officers are required to take all training prior to coming to work. They are given a booklet to study prior to testing in Fresno. Electronic copies have been provided and we would like to make this standard for the entire contract.

11) Exhibit 4, para B-1 indicates deductions for failure to provide manhours. If a post is filled within 1 hour of the scheduled start time is a deduction taken?

Yes. Posts must be covered all of the scheduled post time. Any post that is left unmanned for 1 minute will result in a deduction

12) Exhibit 6 training hours: Is the 3 hours of requalification firearms instruction in addition to any state-mandated training, or can the state mandated training apply toward the 3 hours of instruction required?

It is required in addition to state mandated training in Fresno, but the state time will suffice in Ogden.

13) Exhibit 6 training hours: When you state “additional as needed” is this to be interpreted as minimum annual training with additional as needed?

Yes

14) Exhibit 6 lists training topics but does not distinguish if all topics listed are included in a “Basic Training Package” per hours specified? Is this the entire basic package of training requirements, with those listed as “annual” also required annually?

These hours are mostly on-the job training and are also mandated by the states. Applicants may have some of this training at the time of applying because of the state’s mandate.

Or, is the state required training for permits the only “Basic Training” required? (Please clarify if Exhibit 6 is “in addition to state requirements”) and, if “in addition, do those topics listed equate to 38 hours of “basic” training for all new hires?

Not in addition.

15) Exhibit 7 training. Is this government provided training “one” time for new hires, or annual for all officers?

One time for new hires, to include all offers transferred from the old contract to the new.

16) Exhibit 8: Will the IRS COTR review all targets fired upon to verify scores? If a target mark is in dispute, who will settle?

Range master normally does this. It will not be the IRS COTR.

17) Exhibit 9: Is there a specific regime for fire arms instruction prior to initial and subsequent annual qualifications, or is this based on “state requirements”?

Yes, it is required by the state and the Officer training course required for a guard card for that state.

If based on state requirements, is a guard hired who possesses a current state firearms permit required to re-attend the state course, or just to qualify?

Fresno – required to attend twice annually (between 4-6 months)

Ogden – A current license is good.

18) Exhibit 14 – Vehicles. If a contractor vehicle is in for an oil change and off property for a couple of hours, is a replacement vehicle required?

Yes.

19) If a vehicle is damaged in an accident, can a rental vehicle (without markings) be provided for a short term duration?

Yes, for a period not to exceed five days.

20) Can we get a copy of the entire CBA between Ares and the Union? Attachment 3 only contains the latest wage rates and not the basic agreement.

Attached to the solicitation in FBO.

7/20/2010 9:26 AM

1) The RFP mentions providing reliefs for breaks; while breaks are required in California, they are not required in Utah under state law. Does the IRS specifically require—such as in California—the provision of a 10-15 minute rest period each four hours, and a 30 minute meal period of working 4 hours?

No for Ogden.

Fresno: Any work performed to exceed 5 hours gets a 30 minute lunch. Work performed to exceed 4 hours gets 1 (one) fifteen minute break. State law requires 10 for break, but due to the size of our facility we give 15 minutes.

2) Will the IRS provide a name redacted seniority list to offerors to enable accurate computation of vacation/sick leave entitlements for both Fresno and Ogden?

This is not an IRS concern. We will look at this as a new contract. We just want to make sure that the posts are manned in accordance with the contract.

Fresno: Available at request.

7/20/2010 10:03 AM

I am requesting a copy of the FPS Uniform Policy PBS P 5930.17C from the CO per paragraph 4.0 of RFP.

No longer applicable. Please refer to updated manual titled “FPS, Security Guard Information Manual.”

7/20/2010 2:14 PM

2) Para 4.12 discusses radios. Is the contractor required to provide base station(s), repeaters, or only the radios and radio equipment discussed? Is the contractor required to have an FCC license?

In both Fresno and Ogden they are required to provide radio equipment (radios only) base station and repeaters are gov’t owned and provided. The radio frequency is provided by the gov’t also.

3) Para 4.2 states: The Contractor shall provide all official bonds required and pay all fees or costs involved or related to the authorization for arming all employees engaged in providing onsite services specified under this contract.

Does this paragraph pertain to the bidder’s “company” license, or is the contractor required to pay for all individual guard license renewals?

Contractor pays for both “company” and individual guard licenses. Contractor also obtains insurance that all guards are covered under (bond) in the line of duty.

4) Is the contractor required to pay for “outside” annual training required to maintain guard permits? For example, the state of California requires semi-annual range qualifications to maintain armed guard permits; is the contractor required to pay the officers either wages and/or provide ammunition, targets, range fees, etc, beyond the “annual” requirement in the contract?

The contractor is required to pay for all “outside” training required to maintain guard permits, to include guard wages while attending training/requalification, ammunition, targets, range fees, etc… Bottom line, the individual guard should not be required to cover expenses to gain or maintain employment with the company.

7/21/2010 7:51 AM

2) Is each guard required to have a “duty weapon” specifically assigned to them, or may weapons be passed “shift to shift”?

Fresno: Weapons are not “assigned” to individual officers.

3) Will the IRS establish a “start-up/transition” Clin for the start up expenses for this contract?

4) In the Solicitation Document, it states the base period is 11 months followed by four 12 month options followed by one 1 month option to total 60 months; however the Form 1449 lists the base period as 12 months followed by four 12 month options. Is the offeror supposed to bid an 11 month base period (and change the form 1449 accordingly) or a 12 month period for the base period followed by four 12 month options as depicted on the 1449?

Corrections have been made, please refer to the most current solicitation dated 8/18/2010.