Specialized Security Training

1. Description

The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Office of Training and Development (T&D), is seeking information from qualified and interested vendors who are capable of providing the Specialized Security Training Program (SST) with a full array of training support services in support of TSA’s evolving mission.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY.  This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes (market research) – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.  This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Respondents are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense.  Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.  If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Government Point of Entry. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement.  Responding to this RFI does not automatically include the responder to any bidders list, if such a list is developed.  This RFI is for information purposes only and shall not be construed as a commitment or a promise of a contract by the Government. 

2. Background

TSA’s T&D established the Specialized Security Training (SST) Program to provide initial and recurring mission critical training enabling the workforce to expertly execute TSA’s security mandate, and respond to emerging threats. Additionally, the SST Program provides TSA with the capability to meet the training requirements outlined in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), Public Law 107-71. SST provides TSA with curriculum design, development, and implementation; image and training aid development; logistics; and systems support for the TSA workforce and TSA stakeholders.

The Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA, Public Law 107-71) requires TSA to develop, implement, and manage training programs for its transportation security workforce. TSA’s security workforce primarily consists of Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), but also includes Inspectors, Explosives Experts, and others. P.L. 107-71 also mandates that TSOs employed as security screeners may not use any security screening device or equipment in the scope of their employment unless they have been trained on that device or equipment and have successfully passed all required assessments for certification or recertification.

Additionally, TSOs must be proficient in using the most up-to-date technology, and in recognizing new threats and weapons, including dual-use items that appear harmless but may be used as weapons. TSA is required to provide both initial and recurrent training and assessments to more than 45,000 security officers based on the standard operating procedures and screening equipment used at the passenger and baggage checkpoints.

3. Special Considerations

Vendors must consider comprehensive, high-level training support required under this vehicle, which include: Curriculum Development; Threat Mitigation, Engineering, and Imaging (TME&I); and program management, integration, and logistics.

Additionally, SST has identified the need to emphasize flexibility to incorporate future and emerging needs – requiring agility of any future partnerships with vendors.

4. Responding to the RFI

RFI responses must include:

• • Name of the primary point of contact for the response
  • Organization or business title
  • Organization affiliation
  • Email address
  • Phone number

Although all comments received will be carefully reviewed and considered for inclusion in any possible later action, the initiators of this request make no commitment to include any particular recommendations. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in the Government Point of Entry.  It is the responsibility of potential offerors/bidders to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

THERE IS NOT A SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for information does not constitute a request for proposals or a promise to contract; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluation will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Further information regarding this opportunity may be found in the DHS Acquisition Planning Forecast System (APFS), Record Number F2020048855.

5. Administrative

A DRAFT Statement of Work (SOW) is provided in ATTACHMENT 1 to this notice.

TSA is requesting responses to the following:

Statement of Work

1. Feedback in respect to the attached draft SOW, such as suggested areas of improvement, lessons learned from similar projects, areas that may require further clarity, and any questions that the Government should consider before releasing the RFP.
2. Are the attachments listed at the back of the draft SOW appropriate for a vendor to review, understand and respond to this requirement?

Catalog Pricing

1. Please describe your organization’s experience in providing and utilizing catalog pricing for developing and maintaining training courses. Include your thoughts on the effectiveness (i.e., pros and cons) of this type of pricing structure in an evolving training environment driven by rapid changes (e.g., emerging threats).  
2. Identify elements within curriculum analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation that would be most suitable for FFP pricing.

Evaluating Small Business Participation

1. Does your organization have experience in responding to evaluating Small Business Participation? If yes, please describe.
2. Please provide an example in which your company successfully utilized small business participation and the learning lessons gained.

Government Furnished Equipment

1. Please describe any experience that your company has in tracking and maintaining an extensive and varied inventory of Government Furnished Equipment and other Accountable Property.
2. What actions could the government take to improve inventory management in partnership with the contractor?

Virtual Training

1. Explain how you would deliver virtual training to the TSA workforce using emerging training methodologies and technologies.

6.0 Response Submission Deadline:

Responses to this RFI must be submitted no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, on May 4, 2020. RFI submissions will be accepted as email attachments only. All responses must be sent to Aubrey.Gainfort@tsa.dhs.gov and Brandon.Prindle@tsa.dhs.gov, with “SST RFI Response” in the subject line.  Feedback for the draft SOW may be inserted via track changes in the Draft SOW or in a separate Microsoft Office 2010 compatible document or Acrobat Adobe PDF. There is no page limitation for feedback.

Respondents are not required to answer or comment on all content contained in this RFI in order to respond to this notice.  Contractors are encouraged to share as many ideas and suggestion to all or some of the topics presented herein. Responses to this RFI are not required in order to be considered for eventual award. Instead, responses are an opportunity for industry to make suggestions, contribute recommendations, and provide input.

Update - August 26, 2020

TSA does not intend to release the SST solicitation under this Request For Information in Fiscal Year 2020. TSA’s tentative plan is to release the solicitation sometime during the first or second quarter of Fiscal Year 2021 with an approximate award date to fall sometime during the third quarter of FY21. Anticipated Procurement Strategy : Full and Open Competitive Single Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract. Please continue to check the Beta.Sam.Gov site for updates regarding this opportunity and thank you for your continued interest in working with TSA.