In-House, Background-Investigative Services (Multiple Award)

Amendment / Modification

This document, Amendment #0002, modifies the original solicitation (15A00025Q00000094) with several key changes:

• Solicitation Closing Date Extended: The closing date and time for the solicitation has been extended to June 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET.

• BOA Award: The solicitation is reopened to allow for one additional Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA).

• Evaluation Factors Reordered: The order of evaluation factors has been changed: Qualifications & Experience (Factor 1), Capabilities (Factor 2), Price (Factor 3), and Past Performance (Factor 4).

• Contracting Officer Change: The Contracting Officer has changed from Sheray Millhouse to Cheryl Hickman.

• Technical Updates: The estimated hours for Item 0001 have been corrected, and specific sections of the RFQ and SOW have been updated (noted in red font).

• Clause Updates: Several FAR clauses have been added, removed, or replaced, including the addition of 52.222-90 and 52.243-1, and the removal of 52.204-20, 52.204-24, 52.204-26, and 52.212-3. Other clauses related to specific topics like invoicing and security have also been updated.

• Q&A: Questions received after the initial close date will be addressed with responses posted at a later date, prior to the new closing date.

• Solicitation closing date and time.

• Evaluation factor order and numbering.

• Contracting Officer contact information.

• Specific sections within the RFQ and SOW.

• Incorporated FAR and agency-specific clauses.

• Offerors have an extended deadline to submit their quotations.

• Offerors must ensure their submissions reflect the updated evaluation factor order and any revised RFQ/SOW sections.

• The updated list of clauses should be reviewed for compliance.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a survey form to be completed by organizations that have employed the offeror's services, specifically for Factor 4: Past Performance. It is used to gather information about the offeror's performance on previous contracts.

• Organization's Name & Location: The government/commercial entity that employed the offeror.
• Contact Information: Name, title, phone, and/or email of technical/contractual personnel.
• Contract Details: Contract number, award date, period of performance, contract type, dollar value (awarded & final), and delivery schedule (original & final).
• Project Information: Project/Program Title and Scope.
• Work Details: Complexity of work (difficult vs. routine), Offeror's legal-business name, UEI, address, and role (prime, subcontractor, teaming partner).
• Subcontractor Details: If applicable, type and extent of work performed by the offeror as a subcontractor.
• Problem Resolution: Any problems encountered and corrective actions taken.

Bidders must ensure that the organizations providing this survey have accurate and complete information. This survey directly contributes to the Past Performance evaluation factor, which is crucial for assessing the offeror's ability to successfully perform the work required by this opportunity. Completing this form accurately and thoroughly is essential for a strong proposal.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the specific questions and requirements for bidders related to Factors 1 (Qualifications and Experience), 2 (Capabilities), and 3 (Price) of the opportunity. It serves as a guide for vendors to detail their qualifications and pricing structure.

Factor 1: Qualifications and Experience

• Requires bidders to specify if they hold a four-year college degree and provide details.
• Asks bidders to select and detail their experience in one of three categories: federal background investigative (BI) experience, specialized investigative experience (non-federal), or general investigative experience.
• Inquires about any training received for federal BIs, suitability, or security adjudication.
• Seeks bidder understanding of the purpose of federal BIs, current Tiered Investigations, investigative coverage requirements for Tier 5 BIs, and differences between Tier 2 and Tier 5 coverage.
• Requires a definition of personally identifiable information (PII) and the investigator's responsibility for safeguarding it.

Factor 2: Capabilities

• Requires bidders to describe their abilities and provide at least one example for each of the following:
  • Promoting a positive teamwork environment.
  • Researching federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations, including research goals and outcomes.
  • Reading and implementing written directions for policy and procedure changes.
  • Switching priorities while maintaining organization and processing flow.
  • Assessing written communication skills.
  • Effectively communicating with clear and concise thoughts.

Factor 3: Price

• Asks if the offeror agrees to the agency's pre-determined rates as detailed in the Statement of Work.

SAM Registration

• Requires verification of SAM registration and provision of the Unique Entity Identifier.

This document is critical for bidders as it directly dictates the information required for their proposal submission. It details the specific qualifications, experience, capabilities, and pricing commitments that must be addressed to be considered for the opportunity. Bidders must carefully review and respond to each section to ensure their submission is compliant and competitive.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding Solicitation #15A00025Q00000094 for In-House, Background-Investigative Services.

• Required Submissions for Award: Offerors must submit:
  • Completed FAR provisions & clauses (fill-ins) as per "Quotation Requirements" in the RFQ, unless already updated in SAM. Full text can be found at acquisition.gov.
  • Complete responses to the Survey for all four (4) Factors (Attachments 1 & 2), including the professional resume for Factor [1], the Price section, and both parts of the "SAM Registration" section. An additional survey may be needed for Factor [4] if applicable.
  • An interview may be offered by ATF after submission.
• Submission Deadline: Quotation packages must be sent to Cheryl.Hickman@ATF.gov and CC SIAdministration@ATF.gov by 1:00 PM Eastern Time on June 9, 2026, for the 2nd Evaluation period under Amendment #0002.
• Submission Method: Offerors must use the attachments provided under the active RFQ, Amendment #0002, via SAM.

Refer to Section 4.2 of the RFQ (most recent posting, including Amendments) and this "Questions+Responses" file for detailed requirements. The submission deadline for the second evaluation period is specified.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to Solicitation 15A00025Q00000094 makes the following changes:

• Extends Solicitation Closing Date: The closing date and time have been extended from September 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET to September 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET.

• Updates Security Clause (ATF-04): The addendum to ATF-04 has been updated to select "TOP SECRET, SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (SCI)" instead of "TOP SECRET."

• Revises Clause (ATF-14): Clause ATF-14 has been revised.

• Updates Line 0001: The phrase "per year per [BOA]" in Line 0001 has been updated to include "BOA."

• Removes Level of Effort: The "level of effort" has been removed from Section 7.0 of the Statement of Work.

• Solicitation Closing Date/Time

• ATF-04 Addendum (Security Requirements)

• ATF-14 Clause

• Line 0001

• Statement of Work, Section 7.0

The proposal submission deadline has been extended. Offerors must acknowledge receipt of this amendment. The changes to security requirements and the SOW may impact proposal preparation and should be reviewed.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Request for Quotation (RFQ) is for In-House, Background-Investigative Services. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) requires contractor support for its personnel security program, specifically for conducting background investigations (BIs).

• Services include scoping, reviewing, and adjudicating federal background investigations.

• Contractors will apply federal suitability factors and adjudicative guidelines.

• Tasks include writing and reviewing reports of investigation (ROIs), preparing investigative instructions, and conducting quality assessments.

• Personnel must be available during specified hours and meet specific experience and education requirements.

• Contractors must comply with all ATF and DOJ policies, procedures, and federal regulations related to personnel security.

• The solicitation anticipates multiple-award Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs).

• The period of performance for each BOA will be 60 months (5 years).

• The contract type will be firm-fixed-price, level of effort.

• The estimated value for each BOA is $725K for the 60-month period of performance, with ATF reserving the right to adjust this amount.

• Quotations must be submitted electronically via email by 7:00 pm ET on September 17, 2025.

• The evaluation will be based on four factors: Past Performance, Qualifications and Experience, Capabilities, and Price.

• Past Performance, Qualifications, and Capabilities are considered significantly more important than Price.

• Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• A "Satisfactory" or higher rating is required for overall evaluation to be considered for a BOA.

• This RFQ is a 100% competitive set-aside for small businesses under NAICS code 561611 (Investigation and Personal Background Check Services) with a size standard of $25M.

• ATF reserves the right to amend the RFQ, update policies, and modify or terminate BOAs.

• Contractors must undergo and receive a favorably adjudicated Tier 5 (or successor) background investigation.

• ATF will issue official ATF credentials and PIV cards to awarded contractors.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the DJA-25-APSD-PR-0470 solicitation for In-House, Background-Investigative Services.

• Submission Requirements: Offerors must refer to the "INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS" (Section 4.2 of the RFQ) and the "Questions/Responses" file. They need to complete all applicable FAR provisions and clauses, fill out the "Survey for ALL four (4) Factors" (including Factor 2 resume and Price section), and potentially complete an additional survey for Factor 1. An interview may be offered by ATF.
• Quotation Submission: Quotation submission packages must be sent to Sheray.Millhouse@ATF.gov and Cc SIAdministration@ATF.gov by 7:00 pm Eastern Time on 9/17/2025. Offerors must use the attachments available under the Active RFQ via SAM.
• FTEs and BOA Requirements: The RFQ does not specify the number of FTEs currently supporting the BOA requirements. Offerors should refer to the SAM Notice for details on the current BOA number and the number of BOAs the government intends to award.
• Period of Performance Staffing: The contractor must be ready to provide full-time efforts immediately upon BOA award. While the SOW limits work to 40 hours per week per BOA (unless authorized overtime) and 2,000 hours per ordering period, immediate full-time staffing capability is required.
• Labor Rates: ATF's pre-determined labor rates are fully burdened/loaded.
• SAM Registration: Offerors experiencing issues with SAM registration or verification should contact SAM directly for assistance, provide the RFQ number, and include proof of pending status in their submission to avoid an incomplete quotation package.

These clarifications provide specific guidance on submission procedures, required documentation, and contractual expectations, directly impacting how offerors prepare and submit their quotations. The deadline for submission remains 9/17/2025.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding Solicitation #15A00025Q00000094 for In-House, Background-Investigative Services.

• Required Submissions: Offerors must submit completed FAR provisions & clauses (if not updated in SAM registration), responses to the Survey for all four factors (Attachments 1 & 2), including a professional resume for Factor 2, the Price section, and both parts of the "SAM Registration" section. An additional survey may be needed for Factor 1 if detailing more than three efforts within the last three years.
• Interview: An interview may be offered by ATF after submission, if applicable.
• Submission Deadline: Quotation packages must be sent to Sheray.Millhouse@ATF.gov with a CC to SIAdministration@ATF.gov by 7:00 pm Eastern Time on September 17, 2025.
• Submission Method: Offerors must use the attachments provided under the active RFQ via SAM.

This Q&A clarifies submission requirements and deadlines. Offerors should refer to Section 4.2 of the RFQ and the "Instructions to Offerors" for detailed requirements. The deadline for submission remains September 17, 2025.

Other / Unclassified

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