Sources Sought forEPA Vehicle Insurance Coverage for Travel into CanadaThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a Sources Sought Announcement (SSA) to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classifications relative to NAICS code 524210 - Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (size standard of $7.0M). EPA requests demonstration of capability by interested vendors through submittal of a capability statement.DisclaimerThis is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a sources sought announcement only. Responses to the SSA shall not constitute responses to a solicitation. As stipulated in FAR 15.201, responses to this SSA are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The decision to solicit for a contract shall be solely at the Government's discretion. This SSA is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. Respondents will not be notified of the results of any government assessments. The information received will be utilized to assist in formulating a strategy for competitive procurements.DescriptionThe EPA is responsible for responding to environmental emergencies, including releases of oil and hazardous substances due to accidents, natural disaster, acts of terrorism and other causes. EPA has agreements with agencies in Canada to support each other during incidents that may occur along shared international borders. The Government of Canada requires proof of insurance for any non-Canadian vehicles entering into Canada. EPA is therefore mandated to have insurance coverage for any U.S. Government vehicle that will travel into Canadian territory on behalf of EPA. The insurance shall cover the vehicle(s) and the potential liabilities that may emerge from the operation of U.S. Government vehicles while on Canadian soil.The Government anticipates a single contract award to fulfill this requirement for up to five (5) years. Due to the nature of this requirement, knowledge of exactly when or how many policies are needed is unknown. However, knowledge of the cost for each policy can be obtained prior to use. Therefore, the Government anticipates an award of a fixed rate - indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.Statement of Work (SOW)A draft Statement of Work (SOW) is attached.Capability StatementThe Government requests demonstration of capability by interested vendors in performing this requirement as a prime contractor through submittal of a capability statement. All capability statements shall include the following:1. Include company name, address, DUNS, phone number and principal owners including partners, subcontractors and/or joint venture arrangements as it relates to the attached SOW.2. All interested vendors shall show proof of registration in the Central Contractor'sRegistry (CCR).3. Include specific examples of work previously performed in all task areas described inthe SOW within the past five (5) years. Experience as a subcontractor, partner, joint venture, or key personnel is considered in the same manner as primary experience. include reference(s) for each example.4. Include detailed, documented proof of your company's past experience and/orcapability to perform all task areas described in the attached draft SOW.5. Proof of capability shall not exceed 5 pages in length, excluding a cover page. Thepages may be printed double-sided, each side counting as one page toward the total page limit.6. Avoid use of excessive marketing lexicon, submission of fancy brochures, unnecessary sales literature and product puffery.Submission InformationThe Government intends to consider all comments and the responsive qualification packages when developing its final acquisition strategy and resulting RFP. The synopsis, amendments and other information related to the SSA, as well as any subsequent acquisition notifications, will be posted via FedBizOps (www.fbo.gov) and the EPA website (www.epa.gov/oam/srpod/index.htm). All information related to this acquisition will be available at these sites through the date of any awards. All interested parties are encouraged to continue to regularly check these sites for updates.Please provide the above information via email no later than 2:00 pm ET, March 16, 2012 to Elaine Scott at
[email protected]. No faxes, mail or phone calls will be accepted.Attachments1. Draft Statement of Work (SOW):Vehicle Insurance CoverageFor theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)During Emergency Response and Exercises in CanadaSTATEMENT OF WORKPURPOSEThe Government of Canada requires proof of insurance when U.S. Government vehicles are driven into Canada to attend planning meetings, participate in exercises, or respond to actual releases on the border (usually in a waterway/river). This insurance shall cover the vehicles and any potential liabilities that may emerge from the operation of U.S. Government vehicles while on Canadian soil.BACKGROUNDThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for responding to environmental emergencies, including releases of oil and hazardous substances due to accidents, natural disaster, acts of terrorism, and other causes. EPA has agreements with agencies in Canada to support each other during incidents that may occur along shared international borders. These agreements call for EPA personnel and equipment to enter into Canada to respond to environmental emergencies. EPA also works with Canadian counterparts to perform joint exercises of contingency plans and to discuss preparedness and response issues. These planning and preparedness activities also necessitate cross-border travel of EPA personnel and equipment. At this time, EPA is requiring insurance coverage for vehicles that will travel into Canadian territory.TASK DESCRIPTION1. A U.S. Insurance Services Office?s Business Auto Policy (ISO BAP) shall provide third party automobile liability insurance coverage for U.S. Federal government EPA vehicles traveling in Canada.a. the maximum duration of each trip would depend on the circumstances, ranging from a few days for planning meetings to weeks or months for environmental emergency responses;b. the limit of liability per occurrence shall be $1,000.000 with accidents benefits per statutory requirements;c. the ISO BAP shall include a ?Permission to Rent of Lease Endorsement? and a ?Blanket Basis Fleet Endorsement?;d. the anticipated period of performance for the ISO BAP shall be annually with the possibility of four (4) Option Periods (based on EPA?s fiscal year which begins 10/01/yr and ends 09/30/yr) with the first year being pro-rated from the date of acceptance.Potential Border Crossing Locations from the United States into Canada; Canada into the United States1. Milltown, Maine St. Stephen, New Brunswick2. Ft. Kent, Maine Clair, New Brunswick3. Derby Line, Vermont Rock Island Quebec4. Massena, New York Cornwall, Quebec5. Niagara Fall, New York Niagara Falls, Ontario6. Detroit, Michigan Windsor, Ontario7. Port Huron, Michigan Sarnia, Ontario8. Sault St. Marie, Michigan Sault St. Marie, Ontario9. International Falls, Minnesota Fort Frances, Ontario10.Baudette, Minnesota Rainy River, Ontario11. Pembina, North Dakota Emerson, Manitoba12. Neche, North Dakota Gretna, Manitoba13. Sweetgrass, Montana Coutts, Alberta14. Seattle/Port Angeles, Washington Victoria/Vancouver, British Columbia**Note: The aforementioned listings are the most likely identified crossing locations by EPA however, EPA is not limited to these crossing locations.EPA anticipates the need for up to 18 vehicles from our border regional offices to cross into Canada (25 kilometers inland) on an annual basis, with five or fewer vehicles in Canada at any one time. Some of these vehicles, which may include SUVs, 4-door sedans, pick-up trucks and recreational vehicles (RVs) serving as mobile command posts and laboratory units, could include specialized equipment. The average value of the EPA response vehicles varies from $25,000 up to $500,000 (as some contain specialized response equipment) (see attachment for more detailed information per each vehicle: Ie: VIN Number, estimated value of each vehicles, type/model of vehicle) All government issued vehicles shall have government license plates and no vehicle will be used for towing any other vehicles, equipment and/or materials. All EPA vehicles are currently covered by the Federal Government?s self- insurance clause within the United States.Depending on the nature of the border crossing (exercises or response to incidents), different employees may drive these vehicles. No driver shall be under the age of twenty-one (21). All drivers shall be certified through EPA?s Motor Vehicle Safety Program which provides safety provisions for all emergency responders. Each emergency responder must successfully complete each driving element of EPA?s Motor Vehicle Safety Program to be a certified safety driver. This Motor Vehicle Safety Program meets and exceeds the federal laws and regulations that govern operation of Government Owned Motor Vehicles: 49 CFR part 571, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, 49 CFR Parts 172-177, NIOSH Work-Related Roadway Crashes; American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations. All drivers of government vehicles must possess a valid State or territorial motor vehicle operator?s license. No licensed driver shall have permission to operate a government veh icle without proof of the EPA?s Motor Vehicle Safety Program driver?s training certification