Throughout 2021 and 2022, we kept you apprised of the Department of Defense’s efforts to solicit bids for its follow-on OMBP contract. We have attached previous AMBAgrams on this topic to refresh your recollection. Unfortunately, despite repeated attempts to interest our banks to follow Bank of America as the Overseas Military Bank, none has expressed interest in submitting a bid. Last week, we received a request from the OMBP contracting officer to ask our membership for its perspectives on the contract and, if our banks are not submitting bids, to ask why not. Following is the text of the note I received from Ms. King:
Good afternoon,
The Government is seeking feedback from industry participants in the banking industry related to the subject Request for Proposals (RFP).
Is your financial institution (FI) interested in and intending to submit a proposal in response to RFP No. HQ0423-22-R-0008 (posted on SAM.gov at: https://sam.gov/opp/81296cc4f0e242eba433904c351c2942/view)?
If not, please provide the Government with insight why your FI is not interested, to include any entry barriers, Performance Work Statement (PWS) requirements, etc. that your FI may see.
Thank you in advance for your response, we look forward to hearing from you
Thank You,
Dana L. King
In addition to this general query, Ms. King advised us that the Government is extending the Proposal Due Date for another four weeks to: Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 3:00 PM EST. Here is the text of her note advising us that this extension is necessary because no financial institutions have indicated an interest in competing for this contract.
Good afternoon,
The Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), is seeking a financial institution to perform a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract for the day-to-day operations of the Overseas Military Banking Program (OMBP). The incumbent Contractor has advised the Government that they do not intend to submit a proposal for this requirement. To date, no other financial institutions have submitted a proposal nor have any indicated an interest in competing for this requirement. The Government is extending the Proposal Due Date for another four weeks to: Thursday – June 16, 2022 at 3:00PM EST to further engage industry on this requirement.
The Contract and OMBP operations have the following important characteristics:
Costs: All costs of operation, including personnel costs, are reimbursable to the Contractor.
Personnel: Per Federal Acquisition Regulation clause 52.237-3 “Continuity of Services”, the existing Contractor shall allow as many personnel as practicable to remain on the job and allow a successor Contractor to conduct on-site interviews with employees. This includes personnel in the U.S. and overseas.
Subcontracts: Existing contracts to perform contract requirements are transferable to a new Contractor.
Systems and equipment: Systems and equipment needed to perform the Contract requirements are transferable to the new Contractor.
Facilities: All facilities to perform contract requirements are provided by the Government or, if acquired for use by the Contractor in performance, are reimbursable to the Contractor.
Logistical support: The Government provides logistical support at overseas locations to include protective services, utilities, use of military post offices, storage facilities, maintenance of facilities, and alarm systems.
Corporate offerings: Upon Government approval and at no cost to the Government, in some instances the Contractor may market services of the Contractor’s corporate financial institution to individuals.
Brand recognition: Upon Government approval, the Contractor may display their corporate name and logo subscript to “Community Bank, operated by” on signage, webpages, and other material.
Amendment 2 to the RFP for the DoD Overseas Military Banking Program was published this afternoon.
The RFP, Amendments, Q&As, and all attachments can be found at: https://sam.gov/opp/81296cc4f0e242eba433904c351c2942/view.
Thank You,
Dana L. King
Contracting Officer
Contract Services Directorate, ZECAC
COMM: (614) 701-3196
DSN 791-3196