U.S. Department of State Domestic Uniform Guard Services

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has an on-going requirement for uniformed domestic guard services which provides security protection for DOS facilities across the United States of America (to include U.S. Passport Offices and other DOS domestic field offices). Currently these services are being performed at the following regions and cities: 1. DC National Capitol Region 2. New York City, New York 3. Portsmouth, New Hampshire 4. Los Angeles, California 5. Miami, Florida 6. Fort Lauderdale, Florida 7. Charleston, South Carolina 8. San Francisco, California 9. Houston, Texas 10. Boston, Massachusetts 11. Seattle, Washington 12. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 13. Chicago, Illinois 14. New Orleans, Louisiana 15. Honolulu, Hawaii 16. Stamford, Connecticut 17. Williamsburg, Kentucky 18. Denver, Colorado 19. Hot Springs, Arkansas 20. Tucson, Arizona 21. Dallas, Texas 22. Detroit, Michigan 23. Minneapolis, Minnesota 24. Buffalo, New York 25. San Juan, Puerto Rico Note; DS/DFP oversee's security at ALL DOS facilities across the USA, however does NOT have a uniform guard presence at ALL facilities. The DOS is conducting market research to assist in the acquisition planning of a potential future competitive solicitation. Specifically, the DOS is interested in the capability of U.S. Small Businesses to provide uniformed domestic guard services in the aforementioned areas. The NAICS code for this guard services opportunity is 561612. In order to be qualified as a small business for this opportunity your firm's average past three (3) year's annual sales must be less than or equal to $19 million per year. Only firms that meet that criterion will be reviewed under this announcement for acquisition planning purposes. The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security's mission is to protect information and property at all domestic Department facilities and to ensure all visitors and employees working in these facilities are safe from harm. The Office of Domestic Facilities Protection, which falls under the Domestic Operations Directorate of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, is comprised of two Divisions; the Security Support Division which manages the nationwide DS Access Control System, and its Security Identification Credentialing Program (Building ID and Access Badge). The Uniformed Protection Division which manages the Uniformed Protective Security Program, the Special Events Security Program and the Domestic Security Officer Program at all domestic Department facilities, including the flagship Harry S. Truman Building, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and the Blair House. The Uniformed Protection Division provides security for all domestic Department offices. The Division is responsible for the oversight, management, and administration of the Uniformed Guard operations at Department facilities throughout the U.S.A and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Division manages the domestic Security Control Center, (the operational command center of the Uniformed Protective Officer force) oversees the VIP Desk and also provides security and Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) support for special events, such as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), VIP visits, domestic and international classified and unclassified conferences, Treaty Room and 8th floor events. As necessary, worldwide EDD capabilities may be provided in support of the Secretary of State. Physical Security at the Department of State is of the utmost importance in countering the terrorist threat. In order to ensure a stable and experienced work force, the Contractor shall maintain in this successor contract the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits identified in the current CBA for all employees covered under the CBA in accordance with FAR 22.1008-2. For locations not currently included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) established rates, the formula provided by the current CBA shall been used to calculate hourly rates (to be provided at the time of soliciation. In order to ensure full accountability and control over all Management, Supervisory and Operational personnel of this contract, complete autonomy over these select individuals is essential to the success of the DS mission; ensuring the protection of People, Information and Property. Therefore, it is anticipated that subcontracting for personnel assigned under all personnel CLIN's of this contract is prohibited. If your firm is interested in participating in this voluntary market research opportunity, we'd request that your firm submit a response to this notice clearly demonstrating capabilities through examples of previous and/or current guard security contracts and experiences closely related to the below requested information as follows: 1. Company name, address, points of contact including phone numbers and e-mail addresses, along with office locations domestic and overseas; 2. Company Cage Code and DUNS Number, Business size (large or small business, and if small indicate what types of small business concern (e.g. EDWOSB, Hub Zone, 8(a), woman-owned, etc.) if applicable; 3. Please report your firm's current Facility Clearance Level (SECRET, TOP SECRET); 4. Please provide Past Performance information along with brief descriptions of previous large, similar, scoped guard force experience of managing approximately a 1000 guards, points of contact and contract numbers for services in corporate, or Government settings, domestic or overseas, which include responding on additional experiences related to Collective Bargaining Agreements; Transitioning, working with GSA Fleet for vehicles; Dog Handling Experience related to NORT Phase I & Operational Phase II canine teams testing; Equipment Inventory processes; De-Centralized Guard Training and Refresher Training Experience; Decentralized breaker and gear/up, gear/down tracking experience; proficiency in "Honor Guard" ceremonial duties such as marching in cadence and presenting arms [both colors (flag) and weapons (rifle)] experiences; Weapon system experiences; Your firm's current attrition rate on each guard contract referenced in past performance; your firm's recruitment and retention process, vetting applicants/hiring process; Your firm's ability to maintain a guard staff on a 24 hour 7 day a week basis with the ability to immediately backfill vacant positions or unstaffed posts with like trained and cleared security officers due to call offs, resignations, rotations and unexpected circumstances; Your firm's management experience in leading a decentralized work force across large geographic regions with inter-changing personnel between disjointed locations. 5. Current licenses, work authorizations in compliance with local, city, county, state and federal laws required for the execution of work, including firearms permits and licenses. Licenses must be in the name of the U.S. small business. 6. Knowledge of and compliance experience with U.S. Department of Labor wage laws related to Guard Services which may require bonuses, specific minimum wage levels, uniform allowances, premium pay for holidays, payments for social security, pensions, severance pay, sick or health benefits, childcare or any other benefits. 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). 7. Furnishing COR approved guard force equipment such as uniforms, leather goods and practice ammunition, and manages and maintains all Government Furnished Equipment inclusive of GSA vehicles, , and weapons. 8. Location of firm's training site within the DC Metropolitan Area or other area, and experience qualifying personnel in the use of firearms, first responder, use of force, active shooter training, as well as x-ray equipment and radio equipment experience, including obtaining access to a firearm training facilities nationwide. It is requested that all interested parties submit their capabilities by e-mail to Vincent J. Sanchez at sanchezvj@state.gov addressing each of the above requirements by 5:00 pm EST, August 6th, 2014. If you have any questions or comments, please reference this Sources Sought Notice when emailing in the subject header. All of the items above should be addressed in your firm's response to this notice and any questions can be made to the point of contact listed on this notice. Please address each of the items above to the best of your firm's ability, given time and resources. There will be NO compensation for responses to this sources sought notice. All participation is purely voluntary and shall incur no costs to the Government. All submissions should be sent in via email to SanchezVJ@state.gov by the notice response date referenced on this sources sought notice.