Advanced Explosives Destruction Techniques (AEDT) Instructor

Amendment #2 for this combined synopsis solicitation is to add ATF Clause 04, see clause below:

ATF CLAUSE 04
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION REQUIREMENTS (Revised December 13, 2012)

May 2010

Personnel Security Requirements

The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that all Contractor employees assigned hereunder shall undergo a background investigation or other applicable personnel security procedures to determine their suitability for access to ATF information, information technology systems, and/or facilities. For the purpose of this contract, the term background investigation will be utilized to also reference other personnel security procedures that may be applied in lieu of a full background investigation.

The background investigation will be conducted by or under the auspices of the Personnel Security Branch, Office of Professional Responsibility and Security Operations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It is the responsibility of the Contractor to provide the necessary personnel suitability and security package in a timely manner, through the assigned Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), to ATF's Personnel Security Branch (PSB) so that a background investigation can be conducted.

The Contractor shall screen and review each potential Contractor employee and ensure that each potential Contractor employee to be assigned to this contract possess a personal history that is in compliance with Department of Justice (DOJ) and ATF agency specific qualifications and will permit each employee to successfully pass a background investigation conducted by the ATF. The Contractor shall not submit a personnel suitability and security package to the COR until the Contractor has screened the following aspects of each potential Contractor employee's personal history:
1.Criminal conduct
2.Financial responsibility
3.Drug use
4.Employment history
5.Employment eligibility
6.Selective Service registration, if applicable
7.U.S. Residency
8.Country of citizenship

During the Contractor's review of each potential Contractor employee's personal history, the Contractor is required to review each potential Contractor employee's personnel suitability and security package to ensure the forms are fully complete, signed, and dated.

Prior to submitting a personnel suitability and security package, the Contractor shall utilize E-Verify to verify the employment eligibility of all Contractor employees, regardless of citizenship status. The Contractor will not submit a personnel suitability and security package when employment eligibility cannot be verified. The Contractor can register for E-Verify on-line at https://www.vis-dhs.com/employerregistration/. This website provides instructions for completing a Memorandum of Understanding required for official registration. Contractors requesting additional information about the program can visit the E-Verify website at www.dhs.gov/E-Verify or call the E-Verify program office at 1-888-464-4218.

The Contractor must submit a copy of a tentative employment offer with the personnel suitability and security package when it is submitted on a potential Contractor employee.
The Contractor is hereby advised that a background investigation may take sixty (60) days or more to complete, depending on the complexity of the background investigation. The Contractor is encouraged to fill all positions with employees who have recently been the subject of a Federal background investigation.

At the conclusion of the background investigation, the Personnel Security Branch will make a favorable or unfavorable determination and advise the COTR and the Contracting Officer (CO). The CO or the COR is responsible for advising the Contractor of ATF's determination.

Contractor employees are not authorized to access ATF proprietary information, information technology systems, and/or facilities, until a favorable determination has been made by the Personnel Security Branch in accordance with agency specific qualifications, DOJ policy, Federal suitability, and/or adjudicative guidelines.

All background investigations will be adjudicated applying the suitability standards under 5 CFR, part 731, as well as the following DOJ policy and ATF agency specific qualifications:

(1)DOJ Residency Requirement. Immediately prior to gaining access to ATF information, information technology systems, and/or facilities the PSB staff ensures all Contractor employees have:

(a)Resided in the United States for three (3) out of the last five (5) years; and/or

(b)Worked for the United States in a foreign country in a Federal or military capacity for three (3) out of the last fives (5) years; and/or

(c)Been a dependent of a Federal or military employee in a foreign country for three (3) out of the last five (5) years.

(2)Allied Nations List. Contractor employees that only require access to ATF facilities must be United States citizens or foreign nationals legally permitted to reside in the United States. Their country of citizenship must be listed on the Allied Nations list published by the Department of State, Office of the Assistant Legal Advisor for Treaty Affairs. Since countries on this list are subject to change, refer to the following website for current information: http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/collectivedefense/.

(3)Drug Policy. ATF Drug Policy for ATF Applicants, is applied. The PSB ensures that ATF Contractor employees are compliant with the policy prior to authorizing access to ATF information, information technology systems, and/or facilities.

(4)Selective Service. PSB will verify that all laws of the Selective Service are adhered to.

(5)Financial Responsibilities. The PSB ensures compliance with DOJ guidance surrounding financial obligations.

(a)Public Trust Positions - All financial obligations imposed by law must be favorably resolved through proof of payment and/or participation in a payment plan. For all other debt-related issues a risk management decision may be made in lieu of requiring payment or a payment plan. (Depending upon the position and debt history, PSB may require proof of payment and/or participation in a payment plan for financial delinquencies that are not imposed by law.)

(b)National Security Positions - All delinquent financial obligations, even those not imposed by law, must be favorably resolved through proof of payment, and/or participation in a payment plan, or otherwise resolved.

(6)Foreign Nationals Accessing Information Technology Systems. DOJ Order 2640.2F Information Technology Security, states non-U.S. citizens shall not be authorized to access or assist in the development, operation, management or maintenance of Department IT systems.

(7)Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12. The PSB will conduct Personal Identity Verification to confirm the identity of the Contractor employee. Contractor employees must personally present two forms of identification in original form prior to accessing ATF information, information technology systems, and/or facilities. At least one document must be a valid State or Federal government-issued picture ID.

In the event a contract employee is found to be non-compliant with the agency specific qualifications, PSB will notify the COR and the CO. The request for investigation will be terminated and the contractor may be requested to submit another name and complete personnel suitability and security package. Additional agency specific qualifications may be implemented without notice to the Contractor.

Denial or Disapproval of Access to ATF Information, Information Technology Systems, and/or Facilities

In the event that a Contractor employee is denied or disapproved for access to ATF information, information technology systems, and/or facilities due to issues found during the background investigation, the Personnel Security Branch will notify the COR and the CO. The contractor may be requested to submit another name and complete personnel suitability and security package.

Freedom of Information Act Requests

Once a determination has been made by the PSB, a Contractor employee may receive a copy of his/her background investigative file by submitting a written Freedom of Information Act request. The request must be addressed to the Disclosure Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 99 New York Avenue, NE, Suite 1E-400, Washington, DC 20226. It is the responsibility of the Contractor employee to assume all monetary liabilities associated with such request.

Police Check Inquiries

In those instances where the Contractor believes that its employees will not need unescorted access to ATF facilities, or access to any ATF proprietary information, data or information technology systems, the Contractor shall notify the COR. The COR will then apprise ATF's PSB of the Contractor's initial determination, citing the reasons thereof. The PSB, in consultation with the COR or the CO, will make the final determination as to whether or not the Contractor employee will need to undergo a background investigation. The nature and specific degree of background investigation will be determined by the PSB, depending upon the nature and degree of risk associated with the contract position. When ATF's PSB determines that the Contractor will require escorted access to ATF facilities, and/or ATF construction sites, or will only be provided with access to ATF non-sensitive information, the Contractor employee must undergo a criminal history check. The Physical Security Programs Branch or the respective field division/office is responsible for conducting the criminal history check and making the favorable or unfavorable determination.

Access to Classified National Security Information

In the event the Contractor employee requires access to classified National Security Information (NSI), in order to fulfill contractual requirements, the COR or the CO must contact the PSB. The PSB will assess the requirements and make a determination if access to NSI is required at the Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret level (which may or may not include access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. If the PSB determines that access to NSI is required, the contract must be modified to incorporate the requirements of the National Industrial Security Program (NISP). The PSB will provide additional personnel security language to the CO and coordinate all additional personnel security requirements of the NISP with the COR.

(End of Clause)

Amendment #1 for this combined synopsis solicitation is to state that NAICS 541330 with a size standard of $14 million was determined to be the best suited for this requirement, but if a similar NAICS number is presented by a contractor and it meets the small business requirement for that NAICS number, it will be accepted.

This is a combined synopsis solicitation for the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for an individual instructor for a specialized law enforcement course that pertains to Advanced Explosives Destruction Techniques (AEDT). Course participants cover a broad range of students, including inspectors, technical specialists, special agents and management personnel.

ATF intends to award a single Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) covering a five-year period that will be available for placing calls/orders for services at National Center for Explosives Training and Research in Huntsville, AL.
Please note that a BPA is not a contract. A BPA is a streamlined method for acquiring services on an as-needed basis from qualified sources that are readily available and services and thus eliminate the need for repetitive costly re-procurements. There is no minimum or maximum guaranteed quantity. All calls/orders must be acknowledged by the selected vendor/instructor in order to be retained on the ATF BPA calling list.

See attached SOW and Solicitation