Provision of Dog Search and Security Patrol Services

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Request for Information (RFI)

Provision of Dog Search and Security Patrol Services

Contents

Page 3The GEO Group UK Ltd

Page 3Request for Information

Page 3Timescales

Page 4Confidentiality

Page 4Responses

Page 6Evaluation and Selection Criteria

Page 6Questions

Page 7Appendix A – Part 1

Page 12Appendix A – Part 2

Page 18Appendix A – Part 3

1.The GEO Group UK Ltd

The GEO Group UK Ltd (GEO) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the GEO Group Incorporation, a world leader in providing private prison and detention management as well as escorting services to governments around the world. Our goal is to become the provider of choice for the UK and European Governments in custody, care and control.

GEO currently manages two Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) on behalf of the UK Border Agency: Harmondsworth, near Heathrow Airport, the largest IRC in Europe with 615 beds and Dungavel House in Strathaven, Scotland, with 217 beds.

2.Request for Information

GEO is tendering the provision of Dog Search and Security PatrolServices,including dog handlers at both Centres.Searching will include visitors, staff, detainees, living and working accommodation and vehicles. Security patrols will include the perimeter of the facility and courtyards.

This will be a 12 month contract, subject to annual extensions. Two months’ notice will be given by either party of any decision not to renew the contract or to terminate early.

We invite companies who are interested in providing these services to complete and return this Request for Information (RFI).

As part of the RFI process, GEO wishes to assure itself that any provider of services has the resources and capabilities to provide the relevant services with consistent quality and which provide value for money through a competitive price.

Our requirements are detailed in Appendix A below.

3.Timescales

Following submission and evaluation of the RFI, biddersmay be invited to give a formal presentation explaining their proposal and to participate in a question and answer session. We may also require a practical demonstration of dogs and handlers at work and to see the conditions in which dogs are accommodated when away from the work-place.

Timescales for this tender are set out in the following table:

Date / Activity
W/E 22 March 2013 / Request for Information (RFI) issued
5 April 2013 / Deadline for return of the RFI
April 2013 / RFIs reviewed by GEO
April 2013 / Short-listed bidders to attend a presentation session
May 2013 / Contract award

The above outline timetable is for guidance only at this stage of the process and remains subject to change.

4.Confidentiality

The nature of this tender may involve the passage of sensitive information about the nature of our business. It is a requirement that bidders do not share details of the service, prices or any other sensitiveinformation to any third party without prior written agreement of GEO. In return, GEO will treat all information provided by bidders strictly confidential. Bidders who are short-listed will be asked to sign and accept a non-disclosure agreement in advance of any discussionabout their proposal or its further consideration.

5.Responses

5.1Submitting a Response

Bidders should send responseseither by e-mail to or in person or by post to:

GEO Group UK Ltd

Horizon Building

Honey Lane

Hurley

Berkshire

SL6 6RJ

Responses must be received no later than 5pm on 5 April 2013.

Bidders will be responsible for meeting all costs of preparing and submitting a response to this RFI.

Bidders should use the template provided in Annex AParts 1 and 2 as part of their response.

The template provided in Annex A Part 3 may be used to detail the overall serviceproposal or bidders may use an alternative format of their choice. However, bidders are asked to keep their responses as succinct as possible while ensuring the detail required in Annex APart 3 is provided.

The signed declaration form must be completed and submitted with the bidder’s response.

Supplementary supporting evidence should be submitted where appropriate to evidence answers or to show how the proposal will add significant added value to the requirements.

All responses are to be in Times New Roman 14pt.

Unless explicitly stated, participation in this RFI will be assumed as compliance with the instructions in the various sections.

5.2Meeting GEO’s Requirements

Bidders may submit proposals for providing services at Harmondsworth or Dungavel or at both Centres.

Bidders’ responses are expected to:

Provide GEO with a proposed solution(s) for the minimum requirements.
Demonstrate how their service, experience and expertisewill provide added value to what has been set out in the requirements.
Provide full details of all costs for delivering the service, including any:

-Initial implementation/set-up costs

-Recurring costs

-Any other costs applicable to the service.

Provide case studies and references to support their proposal.
Bidders should attach evidence wherever possible to support their response.

5.3Pricing

Bidders’ should show their prices as a fixed monthly fee for each of the services for which they are bidding:

Security patrols at Harmondsworth
Person/room/area/vehicle searches at Harmondsworth
Security patrols at Dungavel
Person/room/area/vehicle searches at Dungavel.

Fees for providing additional work detailed in Annex A Part 2 Section A3 should be shown as an hourly rate.

Bidders may additionally propose alternative pricing mechanisms as part of variant proposals if they so wish.

5.4Variant Proposals

Bidders may submitone or more variant proposals which meet GEO’s requirements in a different way or which will provide significant added value to GEO. Bidders should show such proposals separately, make clear that it is a variant and set out clearly the impact on the price.

6.Evaluation & Selection Criteria

GEO will be looking for the tender which offers the best value for money based on a sound operational solution at the most competitive price. Our evaluation of the RFI will therefore look for:

Demonstration of capability to deliver the minimum requirements
Significant added value which goes beyond the minimum requirements
Whole life costs of the service
Reputation of the bidder, using references and/or case studies.

GEO reserves the right to select any or none of the bidders.

7.Questions

Any clarification questions about this procurement should be sent to .

Appendix A

PART 1

Company Information, Qualifications, Experience and Costs

1.Company Profile

Response
1.1 / Name of your company
1.2 / Registration Number
1.3 / VAT Number
1.4 / Date company formed
1.5 / Head Office Address
1.6 / Registered Office Address
(if different from the above)
1.7 / Location of other offices
1.8 / Name of registered Directors
1.9 / Number of employees:

Dog handlers
Trainers
Others

2.Your business / references

Response
2.1 / What is your core business?
2.2 / Do you provide any other services in addition to Dog Search and Security Patrol Services?
If so, what are they?
2.3 / Please provide a synopsis of your top 3 contracts in the previous 12 months, including:

Scope of the work
Name of the customers
Contact details for the customers (address, telephone number and e-mail address)
Details of turnover

2.4 / Will you provide all of the services required by GEO set out in Parts 2 and 3 of this RFI from your own resources?
If not, please explain how you intend to deliver them.
2.5 / Please provide names and addresses of two directly relevant customer references.

3.Previous work

Response
3.1 / Have you conducted business with any HMGovernment departments or agency (e.g. UKBA) in the last 3 years?
If so, please provide details.

4.Professional Bodies

Response
4.1 / Does your company belong to any professional bodies relevant to Dog Search and Security Patrol Services?
If so, please provide details.

5.Health & Safety / Adherence to Regulations

Response
5.1 / How does your company adhere to relevant Health & Safety legislation?

6.Costs

Response
6.1 / Please provide full details of your costs for delivering your proposed dog search and security patrol services, including:

All initial implementation /set-up costs

All recurring costs of providing the service

Any other anticipated one-off or recurring costs for providing the service.

Bidders are reminded of the requirement to show the breakdown of their price for each IRC and for security and searching services separately.

PART 2

Compliance

Please confirm you will comply with the following requirements.

If you cannot comply, please explain why not.

Response

Hours of attendance

A1 / Security patrols of the perimeter will take place every day of the year between the hours of 18:00 hours and 06:00 hours
A2 / Passive and active dog searches will take place at each IRC up to three days each calendar month, dates and times of attendance to be decided by the IRC Managers. Attendance will be for 9 hours per visit, including breaks for dogs and handlers.
A3 / Additional security patrols and searches will take place according to operational requirements:
Security dogs and handlerswill be at the IRCwithin 2 hours of a call from GEO.
Passive and active search dogs and handlers will be at the IRC within 12 hours of a call from GEO.

Dog Handlers

B1 / Dog Handlers must comply with any current requirements of theSecurity Industry Authority (SIA), including holding an SIA licence if necessary.
Please set out the type of licence your handlers will hold or how they/your company is exempt from licencing under SIA regulations.
B2 / Dog handlers will hold a full drivers licence.
B3 / Dog Handlers will hold relevant qualifications to work as a dog handler.
Please detail the qualifications your dog handlers will hold.
B4 / Your companywill have sufficientemployee and public liability insurance cover.
Please detail the level of insurance you will provide.
B5 / Dog handlers will wear a company uniform provided by the successful bidder, to be approved by GEO at contract award.
B6 / Handlers of dogs for security patrols will need to pass Home Office security clearance as they will be expected to hold keys.
GEO will assist with the submission of application forms, but bidders will need to meet any associated costs of doing so.
B7 / Handlers will comply with GEO’s security policies and procedures, including our current Prohibited Items List, a copy of which is attached to this RFI. This includes contents of vehicles.
B8 / Handlers will have in their vehicle a copy of the dogs’ Service Records, including:

Registration documents
Training history
Work schedules
Veterinary history
Weight chart

Dog Service Records will be made available for inspection on request.
B9 / Handlers will complete GEO reports as necessary, training for which will be provided by GEO.

Passive searching

C1 / Dogs will be able to detect as a minimum the following prohibited items secreted on a person on in their property:
-Class A drugs
-Class B drugs
-Class C drugs

Active searching

D1 / Dogs will be able to detect as a minimum the following prohibited items secreted on a person, in their property, in a room/area or a vehicle:
-Class A drugs
-Class B drugs
-Class C drugs

Security Patrols

E1 / Dogs and handlers will patrol perimeters at least once an hour, alternating between internal and external perimeters as a deterrent against escape and aiding escape.
The perimeter fences are:
Harmondsworth – 402 metres
Dungavel – 593 metres.
E2 / Dogs and handlers will search each courtyard following evening roll count and lock-down.
E3 / Handlers will carry a radio at all times and report their whereabouts where anything suspicious is encountered. Radios and training in their use will be provided by GEO.

Vehicles

F1 / Vehicles will be suitably adapted for carrying dogs securely and safely and for the dogs to rest during shift.
F2 / Vehicles willbe clearly and appropriately identifiable as a security vehicle carrying dogs.
F3 / Vehicles will carry evidence that they comply with all statutory motoring regulations (e.g. MOT, Tax and Insurance) and their full service history.

Compliance and Auditing

G1 / GEO will be provided with any documentation requested for the purposes of auditing compliance with the contract. This will include, but will not be limited to:

Dog records
Vehicle records
Training records for handlers and dogs

G2 / GEO will be provided with access on request to dog accommodation to inspect the facilities.
G3 / GEO will be permitted to observe training provided to handlers and dogs on request.

PART 3

Provision of the service.

Please describe how you will provide the overall service to GEO.

In particular, your response should includeas a minimum:

-The type of dogs you will use.

-Where you will source your dogs from and how you will select them to provide the service.

-How you will select, recruit and security vet your staff.

-The training you will provide to your dogs and handlers.

-On-going training needs and development of dogs and handlers.

-Where dogs will be accommodated when not at work and the conditions in which they will be kept.

-How dogs will be transported to and from the IRCs, including the vehicle type.

-How dogs and handlers will take account of sensitivities of searching people and their frequented areas (e.g. their rooms, a mosque, etc.) who have a wide range of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

-Arrangements to provide precautionary and responsive veterinary treatment to dogs.

-Your contingency plans to provide continuity of service in the event of an unexpected event such as a handler being sick.

Bidders are reminded of how to submit responses and of the evaluation criteria set out in Sections5 and 6 of this RFI.

Response:

Declaration

I hereby certify that the response provided in this RFI is full, true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

By submitting this RFI I agree that The GEO Group UK Ltd may:

Perform a check with Companies House and/or a Credit Reference Agency to confirm the financial viability of the company and registered Directors