Grand Jury Court Reporting Services; U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan (Marquette)

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding Solicitation #15JA0526Q00000029.

• Incumbent Information: The incumbent contractor is Rutkowski Court Reporting LLC, contract #15JA4024P00000030. Contract value will not be provided.
• Required Attachments: Bidders should refer to Section 7, "Addendum to 52.212-1- Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" (pages 14-15) of the solicitation for exact submission requirements. This includes a Cover Page, Volume I: Technical, Volume II: Past Performance, and Volume III: Price.
• Past Performance References: Offerors must submit up to three (3) past performance references for similar work completed within three (3) years of the solicitation closing. Evaluation will be based on the relevancy of recent efforts.

This Q&A document clarifies submission requirements and provides incumbent information, directly impacting how bidders should prepare their proposals, particularly regarding past performance references and required volumes.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for Grand Jury Court Reporting Services for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation, and a written solicitation will not be issued. The acquisition is being conducted as an SBA-Certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Set-Aside.

• Provide Grand Jury Court Reporting Services.

• Services include recording and transcribing Grand Jury testimony on an "as needed" basis.

• Location: U.S. Courthouse 330 Federal Building, 202 West Washington St, Marquette, MI 49855.

• Transcripts required within various timeframes: 10 Business Days, 5 Business Days, 3 Business Days, Next Business Day, and Same Business Day.

• Condensed transcripts are also required.

• All contractor personnel accessing Grand Jury material will need to be cleared.

• Specific recording and transcription equipment requirements are detailed, including monitored multi-microphone recording systems, steno mask recording, real-time recording, and Computer Aided Transcription (CAT).

• Contract type: Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Time-and-Materials (T&M).

• Period of Performance: Base Year (05/01/2026-04/30/2027) with four (4) one-year options.

• Minimum guaranteed amount: $1,000.00 during the life of the contract.

• Minimum order limit: $100.00.

• Maximum order limit: TBD.

• Contract ceiling: TBD.

• Department of Labor wage rates are applicable (Wage Determination #2015-4871).

• Questions due: February 26, 2026, at 1:00 PM Eastern.

• Quotes due: March 10, 2026, at 1:00 PM Eastern.

• Quotes must be submitted via email to brandon.wish@usdoj.gov.

• Evaluation will be based on best value, considering Technical (Key Personnel), Past Performance, and Price. Technical and Past Performance are significantly more important than Price.

• Offerors must verify WOSB status under NAICS code 561492.

• Quotes must include a cover page with specific information and be submitted in three volumes (Technical, Past Performance, Price).

• This acquisition is a SBA-Certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Set-Aside.

• Offerors must verify WOSB status under NAICS code 561492.

• No Government Furnished Property will be provided.

• Travel reimbursement restrictions apply; travel outside a 50-mile radius of Marquette requires pre-approval.

• Specific security requirements for Grand Jury information and personnel are detailed, including background investigations and access controls.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 1 - Authorized Individuals & Sample Documents," provides a sample work order form and outlines the process for designating authorized individuals to place work orders under the contract. It serves as a template for how work orders will be issued and managed.

• Authorized Individuals: A section lists the "Individual Name," "Dollar Limitation," and "Phone Number" for individuals authorized to place work orders. Currently, the "NAME (TBD)" is listed with a "Dollar Limitation" of "Up to $ (TBD)" and a placeholder for the phone number.
• Sample Work Order Form: A "SAMPLE COURT REPORTING/WORK ORDER" form is provided, which includes fields for:
  • Date
  • Contract Number
  • Order Number
  • Services Required
  • Time, Place and Duration of Services
  • Special Packaging or Shipping Requirements (if any)
  • Signatures for "USAO Designated Authorized Individual" and "Contractor."

This attachment informs potential bidders about the administrative process for issuing and managing work orders once a contract is awarded. It clarifies who will be authorized to place orders and provides the template that will be used for such orders, helping bidders understand the operational aspects of contract execution.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment 2 - Pricing Schedule for the solicitation 15JA0526Q00000029. It outlines the pricing structure for various transcript and related services.

• Supplies/Services: Includes different types of transcripts (e.g., 10 Business Day, 5 Business Day, Same Business Day, Next Business Day, Condensed), Attendance Fee, Cancellation Fee, and Travel in accordance with Federal Travel Regulation (FTR).
• Provider: All services are listed under "Marquette".
• PSC Code: R606 is listed for all items.
• Quantities and Units: Specific quantities and units (PA for transcript pages, HR for hours, EA for each) are provided for each item.
• Line Period of Performance: Details the performance period for each item, spanning from 05/01/2026 to 04/30/2031, including a Base Period and multiple Unexercised Options (Option 1, Option 2, Option 3, Option 4).
• Pricing Fields: Columns for Unit Price and Amount are provided for bidders to complete.

This pricing schedule is critical for bidders to understand the expected costs associated with the services required by the solicitation. Bidders must complete the Unit Price and Amount columns to submit their proposals. The detailed breakdown of services, quantities, and performance periods will inform pricing strategies and proposal development.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment 3 - Wage Determination, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, under the Service Contract Act. It provides the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in the state of Michigan.

• Lists specific occupation codes and titles.
• Provides the minimum hourly wage rate for each occupation.
• Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing (though specific fringe benefit details are not listed on the provided pages).
• Includes notes on Executive Orders 13706 and 13658 regarding paid sick leave and minimum wage rates for federal contractors.
• Outlines the process for requesting additional classifications and wage rates (Conformance Process).

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the minimum labor costs associated with performing services under a federal contract in the specified area of Michigan. Bidders must ensure their proposed labor rates meet or exceed these minimums to comply with the Service Contract Act. It helps in accurate cost estimation and proposal development.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a security checklist for "EOUSA AI-10-1E Federal Grand Jury Court Reporter" services. It outlines essential security requirements that the contractor must adhere to regarding Grand Jury (GJ) material.

• Personnel Security: Requirements for approved personnel lists, sub-contractor compliance, and background investigations.
• Information Protection: Guidelines for approved rooms, protecting information from unauthorized disclosure, and restricting access.
• Physical Security: Mandates for approved door and lock systems, alarm monitoring, and alarm testing.
• Storage: Requirements for approved storage containers, container combinations, and marking of storage media.
• Technology Security: Rules for approved computers, sharing of computers/storage media, and destruction of materials.
• Logistics: Procedures for packaging, transporting, and shipping materials.
• Incident Reporting: Contractor's preparedness to report incidents that place GJ information at risk.

Potential bidders must review this checklist to understand the stringent security protocols required for handling Grand Jury material. Compliance with these requirements is critical for contract performance and may influence resource allocation, operational procedures, and overall bid strategy.