***REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS NOT CONSIDERED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. No solicitation document is available, and telephone and email requests for a copy of the solicitation will not be honored. Any response to this notice must accompany details expressing clear and convincing evidence of prospective contractors experience, capability and capacity to perform this requirement. The information collected is for market research. This RFI serves as a market survey to query the capability of the competitive market. *** The Department of State is conducting market research to determine the degree of interest and capability by U.S. Small Businesses only in providing local guard services at the U.S. Embassy Tallinn, Estonia. 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: * Provide copies of current licenses, work authorizations in compliance with host country law required for the execution of work, including firearms permits and licenses. Licenses must be in the name of the U.S. small business.* Knowledge of and compliance with host country labor law which may require bonuses, specific minimum wage levels, limits on the numbers of hours worked each week, overtime pay and limitations, age requirements for security personnel, premium pay for holidays, payments for social security, pensions, severance pay, sick or health benefits, childcare or any other benefit * 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 dedicated radio network, including acquiring all licenses and permits that may be required for frequencies. * 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 radios. * Describe capabilities in providing trained equipment technicians for all vehicles and required equipment in the performance of the contract. * Furnishing guard personnel trained and licensed in the operation of patrol vehicles. * Ability to overcome language barriers with specific information on English language capabilities or vendor's personnel. * Experience in hiring and training a guard staff composed of host country nationals. Describe training facilities and the qualifications of training personnel, and estimate maximum training throughput/capacity of vendor's training program. * Capability and experience in training a sizeable workforce to adapt quickly to unfamiliar laws and customs as well as the ability of company officials to quickly gain information regarding the laws and customs needed to maintain and equip such a workforce. Include size of workforce in capabilities. * 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) * Experience or capability of getting contractor-furnished equipment and goods through customs and/or similar governmental agencies of the host country. * Capabilities and any experience in providing explosive detection canines and trained canine handlers. * Understanding import and export regulations * Managing smooth contract transition efforts. * 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. Ability to produce and deliver administrative reports including GEMS reports and weekly guard schedules. It is requested that all interested parties submit their capabilities by e-mail to Nicolas Wilhelm at WilhelmNA@state.gov addressing each of the above requirements by 1100am EDT, July 12, 2018. Interested parties shall also complete and return the Contractor Information Sheet which is attached. When emailing any questions or comments, reference this RFI. At this time, the U.S. Department of State does not guarantee that any future contracts may be awarded covering the aforementioned duties. Responses to this RFI do not bind the U.S. Department of State to any agreement with the responder, be it explicit or implied.
