Q A_3_(Amended_)_W911RZ-15-R-0002_Ft_Carson_BOS __22_Sep_2016.pdf

Questions & Answers #3 (Amended, 22 September 2016) Fort Carson Base Operations Support

W911RZ-15-R-0002

QUESTION 29: PWS Question. C.1.7.3.1-Security Clearances-Will the supervisor overseeing the locksmith be required to obtain and maintain Secret level security clearance?

ANSWER 29: Paragraph C1.7.3.1 of the PWS has been rewritten. Secret Security clearances are not required for Contractor employees during performance of work identified in the PWS. An amendment addressing this issue is forthcoming.

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: Paragraph C1.7.3.1 of the PWS has been rewritten. Secret Security clearances are not required for Contractor employees during performance of work identified in the PWS. An amendment addressing this issue is forthcoming.

QUESTION 218: I see in section L 1.6 that a secret security level clearance is required for the performance of this contract. Is the offeror required to have this clearance at the time of proposal submission or at award of the contract? If at the award, will the government consider sponsoring a company for security clearance?

ANSWER 218: A Secret security clearance is not required. An amendment addressing this issue is forthcoming.

Questions & Answers #3 (Amended, 22 September 2016) Fort Carson Base Operations Support

W911RZ-15-R-0002

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: Paragraph C1.7.3.1 of the PWS has been rewritten. Secret Security clearances are not required for Contractor employees during performance of work identified in the PWS. An amendment addressing this issue is forthcoming.

QUESTION 220:

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: Please confirm that DD254, Items 6(a, b and c) are the only sections of the DD254 that are required to be completed and returned by an offeror.

Recommendation: Please clarify that Item 6a-c are all that’s required for an offeror to complete in order to be responsive to this requirement.

ANSWER 220: A DD254 is no longer required for this solicitation. Paragraph C1.7.3.1 of the PWS has been rewritten. Secret Security clearances are not required for Contractor employees during performance of work identified in the PWS. An amendment addressing this issue is forthcoming.

QUESTION 221:

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: Was a draft DD254 attached to the RFP in advance because offerors need access to classified before submission? If so, will a sponsorship letter be issued by the agency before offer submission?

Recommendation: Please clarify the purpose of the draft DD254.

ANSWER 221: A DD254 is no longer required for this solicitation. An amendment addressing this issue if forthcoming.