Q A_3_(Amended_)_W911RZ-15-R-0002_Ft_Carson_BOS __12_Sep_2016.pdf

Questions & Answers #3 (Amended) Fort Carson Base Operations Support

W911RZ-15-R-0002

QUESTION 199:

RFP Reference: DD254 and PWS C.1.7 Security, C.1.7.3.1. Obtaining Contractor Personnel Security Clearances, page C.1-27 Question/Comment: Is it the government’s intent to sponsor offerors for purposes of applying for a facility clearance pre-award, post award, or at some other time? Is the government prepared to sponsor an offeror pre-submission in order to allow an offeror access to classified information for purposes of a proposal?

National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) Chapter 2, Security Clearances, Section 1. Facility Clearances (FCLs), 2-102. Eligibility Requirements.

(Page 2-1-1) provides in pertinent part that:

A contractor or prospective contractor cannot apply for its own FCL. A GCA or a currently cleared contractor may sponsor an uncleared company for an FCL.

A company must meet the following eligibility requirements before it can be processed for an FCL:

The company must need access to the classified information in connection with a legitimate U.S. Government or foreign government requirement.

The company must be organized and existing under the laws of any of the fifty states, the Districts of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, and be located in the United States or its territorial areas.

The company must have a reputation for integrity and lawful conduct in its business dealings. The company and its key managers must not be barred from participating in U.S. Government contracts.

The company must not be under FOCI to such a degree that the granting of the FCL would be inconsistent with the national interest.

Our company is fully capable and prepared to apply for and gain a SECRET facility clearance upon award but need guidance regarding when a facility clearance is needed in order to be eligible for award and how to show that we are “able to perform at the highest level (SECRET)” to be eligible.

ANSWER 199:

The Offeror is required to obtain a Secret clearance in accordance with the PWS sections stated below:

C.1.3.1 During the Phase-In period, the Contractor shall perform, at a minimum, all of the following tasks:

establish the Project Management Office;

recruit and hire necessary personnel;

obtain all required certifications;

obtain minimum required security clearances;

participate in joint inventories of the GFP;

develop and submit any required deliverables;

obtain necessary access to Government computer network system;

attend post-award meetings as required; and complete all necessary training to support the services listed in each functional area.

C.1.4.11.2 The Contractor shall be responsible for requesting the investigation or clearance that is required through the G2 Installation Security Personal security prior to any access to Government databases per AR 380-5 Department of Army Information Security Program and AR 25-1 Army Information Management.”

C.1.7.3.1 The Contractor shall begin processing security clearances for Contractor employees requiring access to secure areas at least 30 days prior to end of phase in, as identified in the Phase-In plan.

The correction on C.1.7.3.1, highlighted in yellow above, is contained in a pending amendment.

QUESTION 219:

RFP References: DD254 and PWS C.1.7 Security, C.1.7.3.1. Obtaining Contractor Personnel Security Clearances, page C.1-27 Question/Comment: DD254, Item 13, requires the contractor to “provide, within 3 working days of contract start date, a Visitor Authorization List (VAL) on every employee under this contract who will visit Fort Carson or whose performance of work is on Fort Carson. The VAL will contain at a minimum Employee’s Name, Position, SSN, Citizenship, Place of Birth, Level/Type Clearance, Granted by/Investigation Date.”

Recruitment is conducted and finalized early during the Phase-in period. Is the ‘contract start date’ different from the award date? If we must follow the DD254 timeline, the ‘contract start date’ must be after phase-in is completed as it would be difficult to impossible to comply with this requirement without access to the JPAS system, which in and of itself will likely take longer than 3 working days to accomplish.

Recommendation: Please clarify the minimum time prior to contract start to provide VALs.

ANSWER 219: The VAL shall be provided three days before the end of the phase-in period.

QUESTION 224:

RFP Section: Attachment 1 - Final Re Acq PWS 7 June 2016-1, Section C.1.4.11.1.2, Qualifications, Project Manager Page: C.1-13 Discussion: PWS Section C.1.4.11.1.2 requires a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration (BBA) for the Project Manager along with a minimum of 10 years’ operations experience with a minimum of two years as the PM on a O&M contract greater than $20 million per year. Requiring a BBA for the Project Manager restricts the Contractor's ability to identify a fully qualified individual. Typically, a Contractor's O&M PM has a technical background/degree since the scope of the contract calls for such a background.

Question: Will the Government consider changing the requirement to a BBA or equivalent degree?

ANSWER 224: An amendment that addresses this issue in the PWS is forthcoming.