Local Guard Services at the U.S. Embassy Panama City   3

***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 capability by small businesses only in providing local guard services at the U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama. 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 performed in Panama.

Vendors must specifically address the following capabilities:

Provide copies of current licenses and/or work authorizations in compliance with host country laws 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 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 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 System (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 x-ray equipment, radio equipment and the use of firearms, as well as, obtaining 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 such things as resignations, rotations and illnesses.
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 and train, including English language training a guard staff consisting of host country nationals
Ability to hire and train a guard staff consisting of host country nationals on use of weapons training if required.
Ability to provide trained equipment technicians for all vehicles, radios and weapons required in the performance of the contract
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.
Resources to safely keep and track Government-Furnished Property
Established process to screen personnel to meet suitability requirements for guard force positions
Strong skill in immediate, situational, decision-making, e.g., immediate response to threats
Organized billing and invoicing procedures

It is requested that all interested parties submit their capabilities by e-mail to Yenny Guillory at GuilloryYR@state.gov addressing each of the above requirements by 1:00 pm Eastern Time, November 24, 2017. Interested parties shall also complete the Contractor Information Sheet which is attached.

If you have any questions or comments, please reference this Sources Sought Notice when calling or emailing.

At this time, the U.S. Department of State does not guarantee that any future contracts may be awarded covering the aforementioned duties and responses to this Sources Sought notice do not bind the U.S. Department of State to any agreement with the responder, be it explicit or implied