THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS/QUOTES - THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED WILL BE USED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
Description:
This Sources Sought/Request for Information (RFI) is for information, planning and market research purposes only and shall not be construed as either a solicitation or obligation on the part of the United States Department of State (“State”). The purpose of this RFI is to identify ALL INTERESTED VENDORS that are capable of providing the services described in this RFI, draft Section C Performance Work Statement (PWS) and draft Section H Special Contract Requirements. State will use this market research information to assess the market's capability to successfully meet State’s need for local guard services at the U.S. Mission Philippines. State does not intend to make a decision or award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise reimburse interested sources for the preparation of any information submitted for State's use of such information. State reserves the right to contact vendors if additional information is required.
Overview:
The Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security plays an essential role in ensuring that foreign policy missions are accomplished in a safe and secure environment. The primary mission of the local guard service is to provide protection for United States personnel, facilities, and equipment from damage or loss due to violent attack and theft. The local guard services shall prevent unauthorized access; protect life; maintain order; deter criminal and terrorist attacks against employees, dependents, and property; and prevent damage to all U.S. assets. The NAICS code for these services is 561612.
Responses must clearly demonstrate capabilities through examples of previous and/or current guard security contracts or experience closely related thereto.
Vendors must specifically address the following capabilities:
- Current licenses, work authorizations in compliance with host country law required for the execution of work, including firearms permits and licenses.
- Knowledge of and compliance with host country labor law which may require bonuses, specific minimum wage levels, premium pay for holidays, payments for social security, pensions, severance pay, sick or health benefits, childcare or any other benefits
- Knowledge of and compliance with host country tax law
- Ability to provide all types of insurance coverage required by host country in performance of services, such as automobile liability, comprehensive general liability, worker’s compensation, employer’s liability, etc.
- Furnishing, operating, and maintaining a radio network, including acquiring all licenses and permits that may be required for frequencies and the operation of all communications equipment
- Familiarity or experience with associated security equipment such as Guard Electronic Monitoring System (GEMS), Central Alarm Monitoring systems (CAMS), closed-circuit television systems, x-ray and explosive detection equipment
- Furnishing guard force equipment such as uniforms, vehicles, and weapons
- Ability to overcome language barriers
- Capability of instructing, providing, and qualifying personnel in the use of firearms, as well as x-ray equipment and radio equipment, including obtaining the access to a firearm training facility
- Ability to maintain a guard staff on a 24-hour, 7-day a week basis with the ability to immediately backfill vacant positions due to resignations, rotations and illnesses due to a variety of reasons such as flu and food poisoning
- Capability of dealing with organized actions by direct labor personnel such as strikes (anticipated and unanticipated) and labor unrest (work slowdowns and/or organized failure of employees to report for shift changes)
- Ability to hire, train and retain, including English language training and weapons training, a guard staff consisting of host country nationals
- Ability to provide trained equipment technicians for all vehicles, radios and weapons required in the performance of the contract
- Ability to train a sizeable workforce to adapt quickly to unfamiliar laws and customs as well as the ability of company officials to gain quickly information regarding the laws and customs needed to maintain and equip such a workforce
- Experience or capability of getting contractor-furnished equipment and goods through customs and/or similar governmental agencies of the host country
- Understanding import and export regulations
- Understanding and familiarity of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) and the capability of complying with both by the performance date of any contract awarded requiring the execution of this Statute (22 U.S.C. 2778-2780)
- Managing smooth contract transition efforts, and ability to stand-up the new contract within the estimated 90 calendar days
- Ability to safely keep and track Government-Furnished Property
- Ability to screen personnel to meet suitability requirements for guard force positions
- Strong skill in instant, situational decision-making, e.g., response to threats
- Organized billing and invoicing procedures, and understanding of myLGP, a Government database to track schedules.
Questionnaire:
1. The Government intends to award a contract that limits subcontracting of Standards Services, (i.e. labor and all cost associated.) Does the prospective contractor have the resources to stand-up and fully perform this contract requirement without partnering agreements?
For questions 2, 3, and 4, interested offerors must provide a detailed description of their experience in providing the requested services, to include: contract numbers, performance period, types of security services provided, contract value, and customer name.
2. Has the prospective contractor performed armed guard services in the Philippines, specifically in the locations identified in Draft Section C?
3. Has the prospective contractor performed local guard services, under the NAICS code 561612-Security Guards and Patrol ervices, in the Philippines?
4. Does the prospective contractor have experience in the Philippines assuming performance of contracted, armed security services/operations from another contract? If so, please explain.
5. Provide a list of all active licenses/permits to perform both unarmed and armed local guard services in the Philippines, pursuant to the Philippines Private Security Agency Law. What is the timeframe to obtain each license? What is the renewal process?
6. If the prospective contractor currently provides armed services in the Philippines, please provide the types of firearms utilized and describe the licensing requirements and processes for both the company and private security professional. What is the timeframe to obtain each license? What is the renewal process?
7. Can the prospective contractor obtain or currently possess all required security licenses, business enterprise registration, and all requirements of the Philippines Private Security Agency Law under your legal business name or joint venture entity name?
8. What challenges has your company experienced when applying for new or renewal licenses and permits? What challenges do you anticipate in the future?
9. What challenges do you expect when recruiting personnel with the appropriate English language skills required to perform the contract?
10. Can the prospective contractor provide the current number of private security professionals employed within its business structure?
11. Does or has the prospective contractor provided security services to any embassies and/or international organizations in the Philippines?
12. Are there any requirements in the draft Statement of Work that present excessive cost, schedule, or performance risks? If so, please provide detailed information and suggested recommendations to eliminate, reduce or mitigate the risks.
13. Does the prospective contractor have any comments/feedback on the DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS) and/or Special Contract Requirements? Interested offerors are highly encouraged to provide detailed comments/feedback on the DRAFT documents.
14. To do business with the United States Government, companies must have an active registration in the System of Award Management (SAM.gov) at the time of proposals, time of award and throughout performance. Does your company have an active account in SAM? If not, would you need any guidance on registering in SAM?
15. The Government is contemplating having an industry day in Manila in early October 2024. Would your company be interested in attending to learn about the requirement and/or becoming registered in SAM?
16. What quality control practices does your company employ? Is your company familiar with the Quality Assurance and Compliance Report. (QACR)?
17. Is your company familiar with the typical solicitation timeline?16
18. Is your company familiar with the different section of a contract solicitation?
19. Has your company ever performed a service contract for the U.S. government? If so, please describe the contract services provided and the U.S. government agency.
20. How does your company typically price and present security services to their clients?
21. Does the company understand how to prepare and submit an invoice to the U.S. government? Has your company ever submitted invoicing via an electronic program such as myLGP?
22. The U.S. government only pays for services provided. That means that the contractor provides the services, then prepares the invoice, the U.S. government makes payment approximately 30 days after a proper invoice is presented for payment. This means that the contractor will not see the cash flow from the services provided between 30 and 60 days after the services are provided. Can your company sustain that kind of restricted cash flow?
23. Is your company 100% Philippine owned?
24. Is your company able to legally own, procure, and possess firearms, OC spray, handcuffs, radios, and/or batons?
25. What wages, salaries, and benefits are paid to your employees?
26. What is the typical shift length (e.g., 8 hours per shift, 12 hours per shift, etc.)
27. What is your company’s drug testing policy?
28. What initial and refresher training do you provide each guard?
29. Does your company have access to a firearms range?
30. Does your company maintain and utilize hand-held radios? And/Or Radio repeaters?
31. Does all of your electronic equipment comply with NDAA Section 889 that prohibits the use of equipment and services from Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, and Dahua Technology Company?
32. Is your company familiar with the vetting and nomination process required for each employee before they can begin work on a U.S. government contract?
33. Does your company know where to monitor this potential contract opportunity?
34. How does your company establish pay parity between the various ranks within the guard force?
Attachments:
1. Draft Section C PWS and DRAFT Section H Special Contract Requirements: See attached DRAFT PWS and Special Contract Requirements, which are subject to change. Interested contractors responding to this notice are highly encouraged to review the attached DRAFT PWS DRAFT Special Contract Requirements and provide any comments and/or feedback
2. Contractor Information Form – Interested contractors must complete the attached response sheet and submit with their RFI submission.
3. Vendor Restricted Access Form- Interested contractors will need to fill out the Restricted Access form in order to download the DRAFT PWS and Special Contract Requirements in SAM.gov.
It is requested that all interested contractors submit their capabilities by e-mail to Kenneth P. Bailey at baileykp@state.gov addressing each of the above requirements by 13:00 EST, October 2, 2024. Interested parties shall also complete the attached Contractor Information Sheet.
