R -- Request for Comment From Industry - Draft RFP

This is a draft RFP being posted to get comment from industry. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The U.S. Department of State intends to procure Worldwide Personal Protective Services to plan, organize, train, deploy and operate contractor protective service details for the protection of high level U.S. and foreign government officials. All logistic support for the teams may be required by the task order. In certain circumstances contractors may be required to recruit, evaluate, and train local/third-country foreign nationals for security operations overseas. It may also require trained protective security personnel for special domestic security situations. A TOP SECRET facility clearance will be required prior to award of a contract. A DRAFT copy of the performance based Statement of Work and other portions of the RFP are attached to this synopsis. The Department anticipates two or three IDIQ awards with task orders competed between the awardees. It is anticipated that the task orders will be firm fixed price. At least one yet to be determined task order will be competed at time of contract award. Contract type is based on the belief that while the work being performed is risky, the business proposal is not. The attached RFP is not complete but a draft for comment. Quality Assurance and incentive plans have not been written yet and we welcome comments from industry in these areas. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. In accordance with FAR 15.201, this DRAFT RFP is an "exchange with industry before receipt of proposals". The purpose of exchanging information is to improve the understanding of Government requirements and industry capabilities, thereby allowing potential offerors to judge whether or how they can satisfy the Government's requirements, and enhancing the Government's ability to obtain quality services at reasonable prices, and increase efficiency in proposal preparation, proposal evaluation, negotiation, and contract award. There is no FAR requirement for a reply to the questions or comments received from posting a draft RFP. The Department may choose to answer the questions received but there is no duty to do so. The Draft RFP may be amended based on feedback provided by industry if warranted. The final RFP will be released on or about March 30, 2004. It is anticipated that there will be a down-select based on technical experience on contracts of similar size with those most qualified providing full proposals with pricing on at least one task order that may be awarded without discussions. The closing date for the receipt of offers will be 30 days after issuance of the RFP. Questions or comments on our anticipated methods and on the draft sections of the RFP should be submitted by email only to the contracting officer, Raymond Bouford, contact@example.gov, no later than March 19, 2004. NO PHONE CALLS WILL BE RETURNED.