(1) Purpose

This is a presolicitation notice for an advisory multi-step process (also known as an advisory downselect process) conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.202. The Government is not requesting proposals at this time; instead, it seeks to better understand the capabilities of Contractors interested in this requirement, and to provide those Contractors feedback on the likelihood of being selected for a contract under the formal solicitation (anticipated to be released in the first half of calendar year 2022).

Interested Contractors are encouraged to submit responses to this notice as explained below. The Government will evaluate all responses in accordance with the criteria stated below and advise each respondent in writing either that it will be invited to participate in the resultant acquisition or, based on the information submitted, that it is unlikely to be a viable competitor. The Government will advise respondents considered not to be viable competitors of the general basis for that opinion.

Notwithstanding the advice provided by the Government in response to submissions, or a Contractor’s decision whether or not to participate in this process, all Contractors will remain eligible to participate in the resultant acquisition. Neither participation in this process nor the nature of the Government’s responses to participants will have any bearing on Contractors’ ability to submit offers or participate as subcontractors under the formal solicitation.

(2) Background

Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) is the Nation’s gatekeeper. Through vetting, industrial security engagement, counterintelligence support, and education, we secure the trustworthiness of the United States Government's workforce, the integrity of its cleared Contractor support, and the uncompromised nature of its technologies, services, and supply chains. Currently, DCSA provides the majority of the Federal Government’s background investigation (BI)s. This requirement is for mission-critical functions necessary for BI mission needs.

(3) Scope

The Contractor shall complete nationwide BI services in accordance with the Federal Investigative Standards. BI services shall include, but are not limited to, conducting enhanced subject interviews, obtaining personal testimony from a variety of sources, conducting record searches, obtaining records from various repositories, and reporting information obtained. Locations where field investigating is required are based on information provided by the individual subjects or developed during the investigation. Approaches for conducting BI fieldwork services will include a combination of in-person data collection and potentially, collaborative technology solutions described in DCSA investigative policies and procedures. This work also includes completion of initial investigations, periodic reinvestigations, and investigations of continuous evaluation and/or vetting alerts. Continuous vetting, which provides checks on an individual more frequently and aims to promote delivery of real-time information, may replace periodic reinvestigations during the anticipated contract period of performance. Successful performance of BI fieldwork services for the Government is required without fail or risk to National security or other agency missions.

Key minimum work requirements include the following:

a. Provide in-person BI fieldwork services (in various languages) in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and all commonwealths and U.S. Trust Territories. Provide these services worldwide if required during the life of this contract.

b. Across potentially tens of thousands (10,000+) of case assignments per month, comply with strict timeliness standards by specific case type in accordance with Intelligence Reform Terrorism Protection Act of 2004 standards.

c. Sustain mission support while adapting to a changing mission environment throughout the life of the contract, which may include large increases and decreases in the volume of assigned BIs and investigative items (from month-to-month and/or long-term permanent changes), significant changes to investigative products and investigative standards associated with Trusted Workforce 2.0, and implementation of a new enterprise case-management technology associated with National Background Investigation Services.

d. Independently fund the completion of phase-in tasks for a period of up to six (6) months following award before beginning full performance. Phase-in tasks include hiring, credentialing, meeting security and information technology requirements, completing personnel training requirements, and finalizing a quality-control plan. (Note: The Government will not directly fund or reimburse Contractors for these phase-in tasks; payment will be made only upon the successful completion of BIs and investigative items.)

e. Ensure that Contractor case-management systems and capabilities have appropriate authorization in accordance with Department of Defense (DoD) Instructions 8510.01, 8582.01, and, when applicable, the DoD Cloud Computing Security Guide. Compliance with these standards will determine a Contractor’s authority to operate.

(4) Submission Requirements

DCSA invites interested Contractors to submit information that addresses the following:

a. Technical and Management Capabilities. The Contractor’s ability to perform BI fieldwork services, with emphasis on ability to meet and adapt to the described geographic, timeliness, and workload variance requirements.

b. Financial Capability. The Contractor’s ability to sustain a phase-in period of up to six (6) months without direct funding or reimbursement from the Government, and to begin full performance immediately thereafter.

c. Systems Authorizations. The Contractor’s possession of, or ability to obtain, the appropriate case-management system authorizations.

d. Corporate Experience. The Contractor’s recent experience performing work similar in nature to the anticipated type of work to be performed under this contract.

Submitted information must be contained within the attached template. The Government will only consider submissions that utilize the template, and will not consider any excess information provided outside the template.

(5) Evaluation

The Government will assess submissions against the criteria contained in the preceding section in determining the viability of each respondent to compete for a contract award. The Government will respond to one submission per respondent (except as indicated in the preceding section) and inform non-viable respondents of the general basis for its opinion. Evaluations will occur on a rolling basis as submissions are received. Contractors may submit responses until the closing date indicated in this posting or upon at least 48 hours’ notice from the Government, whichever occurs first.

(6) Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data

The Government will treat all responses, which must be unclassified, as sensitive information that will not be disclosed outside the Government or duplicated, used, or disclosed—in whole or in part—for any purpose other than to evaluate responses.

(7) Questions

Interested Contractors may send written questions seeking clarification about the content of this notice to Ms. Shelly Thieme ([email protected]) at any time prior to submitting their formal responses. The Government will make a good-faith effort to respond to questions, though it may not respond to all questions. If any questions are deemed highly relevant to all interested Contractors, the Government may amend the notice and/or publicize questions and responses (without attribution) as appropriate.