03_BTI BOA SOW_Phase XI_2026.pdf

RFI: 70RSAT26RFI000023

Distribution is authorized to U.S. government agencies only. Contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act. Before this SOW is released to the public, approval is required by the Department of Homeland

Security Science and Technology Directorate.

Statement of Work (SOW) Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Center of Excellence (COE) Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) Center for Borders, Trade, and Immigration Research (BTI)

I. Background

The Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002, as amended, mandated that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) designate university-based centers for the purpose of establishing a coordinated, university-based system to enhance our nation’s homeland security. DHS established its Centers of Excellence (COEs) program to fulfill this mission. The COEs conduct research, analysis, and educational programs to enhance homeland security capabilities. The HSA also identified that S&T could use grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts. The initial suite of COEs were funded as grants. Since then, S&T has utilized the cooperative agreement instrument (allows substantial federal involvement) for COE base funding. In addition, the DHS S&T Office of University Programs (OUP) established COE Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs) in July 2010 to allow for contract funding to the COEs, where appropriate. These two mechanisms support the OUP mission to maximize DHS’s return on investment in university-based research and education.

Traditionally, federal funding for basic and applied research and educational programs by universities is through the use of assistance instruments (grants/cooperative agreements), as the fundamental purpose of the work to be performed by the recipient is in the furtherance of the public good. OUP funds grants and cooperative agreements to the COEs to establish fundamental research and education programs in specific multidisciplinary subject matter areas. DHS S&T expects the universities that comprise the COEs to become self-sufficient over time and to obtain additional sources of funding beyond S&T OUP’s investment in order to support more directed research.

Interest in the work of the COEs has increased, particularly among other DHS components.

Other S&T Divisions and DHS components frequently need to access the capabilities created by the COEs at the lead or partner universities for directed research, analysis, and related technical services, both unclassified and classified. It should be noted, however, research that is more directed and research involving classified information cannot be performed under S&T’s grants and cooperative agreements, as the appropriate funding instrument would be a contract. Also, our customers have identified emerging needs that require a timely response (e.g., research on the effects on the U.S. of emerging threat groups and countering violent extremism) that could be more quickly addressed through issuance of a task order under a Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA).

II. Scope of Work

Based on the success of the current BOA vehicles, DHS S&T, OUP intends to issue a BOA to University of Houston for Center for Borders, Trade, and Immigration Research (BTI). Mission:

Conducts research and education to enhance the nation’s ability to secure our borders and facilitate legitimate trade, travel, and immigration.

Distribution is authorized to U.S. government agencies only. Contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act. Before this SOW is released to the public, approval is required by the Department of Homeland

Distribution is authorized to U.S. government agencies only. Contains information that may be exempt from public release under the

Freedom of Information Act. Before this SOW is released to the public, approval is required by the Department of Homeland

The new five-year BOA will accommodate additional DHS requirements for COE research, analysis, and technical services. The BOA will be issued for a five-year period, ending in 2031. OUP estimates the value of the task orders issued under this BOA to range from $0.25 - $9 million, and $1-$3 million annually depending on the task orders awarded. We based this estimate on the following:

1. The historical funding of projects as assistance supplements.

2. As the COEs mature and build up their capabilities/tools, the DHS S&T’s customers will seek to use those capabilities and tools more.

3. Use of a procurement action in lieu of obtaining assistance authority will allow more DHS

S&T customers to utilize the capacity developed at the COEs.

Potential projects will fall under four focus areas:

Border Security. This area focuses on:

• Developing technologies, tools and advanced methods to balance immigration and commerce with effective border security, as well as assess threats and vulnerabilities,

• Conducting research to improve surveillance, screening, detection, and identification at and near the border,

• Developing tools and technologies to increase the efficiency and operational effectiveness of cargo security, such as wait times of people and cargo at the border,

• Develop biometric solutions for operational environments,

• Enhancing border security decision-making strategies,

• Examining human smuggling and human trafficking migration patterns and trends,

• Analyzing the effectiveness of current border security policies,

• Conducting analysis and assessments to enhance policy and law enforcement efforts as it related to border security, interior enforcement, and immigration and customs.

Legitimate Trade and Travel. This area focuses on:

• Developing tools that will enhance and streamline the flow of people and goods across a U.S. POE without compromising security.

• Examining the value proposition of security-related programs, such as Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT).

• Examining emerging technologies that address cross-border E-Commerce challenges

• Examining the impact of the ongoing Export Control Reform Initiative on U.S.

Government efforts to enforce export controls in support of countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other illicit materials.

• Identifying and interdicting dangerous passengers and cargo from legitimate flows.

• Conducting activities to better measure and understand the balance of trade facilitation, Distribution is authorized to U.S. government agencies only. Contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act. Before this SOW is released to the public, approval is required by the Department of Homeland the expedited movement of commerce, and security.

• Generating innovative ways to differentiate routinely between high- and low-risk people and goods.

Immigration. This area focuses on:

• Conducting analysis of immigration trends (e.g., predicting future immigration flows to and from the U.S., unauthorized child population, etc.),

• Examining push-pull factors, as well as any strategies being used, to deter unauthorized migration to the U.S.,

• Examining impact of immigration-related programmatic activities on the integration of authorized and unauthorized immigrants.

Integrated Education. This area focuses on:

• Developing new hands-on training or new curricula, courses and certificate programs relevant to border security, legal trade and travel and immigration,

• Developing educational offerings for homeland security professionals on topical issues related to border security, legitimate trade and travel and immigration, III. Other Contract Details

1. Period of Performance The sole-source BOA will be for a period of 5 years. BOAs of shorter duration would not provide the time that DHS would need to conduct the initial science, test, pilot, and potentially transition research. This 5-year period of performance (POP) is the historical POP for the issuance of the COE BOAs and allows for DHS components to issue multiple year task orders under the BOAs as a strategic sourcing vehicle. The purpose is to streamline ongoing access of the capabilities available from the COEs. Task Order Request for Proposals (TORPs) POPs will vary based on the requirement.

2. Travel Travel may be required in the performance of the duties listed. All travel will be limited to Contiguous United States (CONUS).

3. DHS-Furnished Information and Property Not applicable.

4. Place(s) of Performance All work is required to be performed within the United States or its territories.

5. Program Status Report/Deliverables The Contracting Officer (CO)and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) responsible for establishing of the BOAs will manage the contractual and technical aspects of the BOAs themselves, whereas the ordering officers and assigned CORs within each ordering component will manage their respective task orders using a combination of monitoring techniques including the use of in-process

Distribution is authorized to U.S. government agencies only. Contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act. Before this SOW is released to the public, approval is required by the Department of Homeland review meetings, monthly status reports, and reviews of all draft and final deliverables to ensure accuracy, functionality, completeness, professional quality, and overall compliance with the terms and conditions of the respective task orders and BOAs.

6. Invoices No invoices will be issued against the BOAs because no funds will be issued on the BOAs. However, the TORP level COs and CORs will address as per current policy. Rate Agreement Pricing is updated annually by the universities.

7. Classified Information The BOA task orders do allow for sensitive and classified work

8. Funding Requirements Obligations of funds shall be accomplished solely through task orders issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the BOAs. It is the responsibility of the DHS component requiring offices to commit and obligate sufficient and appropriate funds in issuing their respective task orders under the COE BOAs. The amount of funds obligated and made available for payment will be specified in each task order. Funding shall be obligated under each task order in accordance with federal appropriations laws, federal acquisition regulations specified in each BOA, and internal DHS component procedures and practices.

9. Foreign Participation Reporting Requirements The admittance of foreign detailees, scientists, and students into DHS sponsored/funded academic and other programs may result in continuous exposure of DHS information, personnel, IT systems, technologies, facilities, resources, and programs by non-U.S. citizens. In order to mitigate this potential security risk, DHS Management Policy 121-08 stipulates all foreign detailees, scientist, professors, principal investigators, and student nominees involved in long-term (greater than 30 days) DHS sponsored/funded academic or other DHS programs must submit a DHS Form 11055 to Director of the Office of University Programs. The University is required to ensure all foreign investigators and students working on DHS sponsored/funded research or receiving tuition or travel support of any kind through this award, complete DHS Form11055, to report all foreign national students/teaching assistants. Within the Form, Section I (Foreign National Information), Section II (Foreign National Information - Passport/Visa), and Section III (Foreign National Information (Employer Information) must be completed. Sponsor information will be completed internally at S&T.

Please complete, save and return Form 11055 by email to the OUP Director. Do Not Use the “Submit” button on the form. For individual engagements with foreign nations, the Recipient will submit Form 11055 at least 30-days prior to the activity in which the foreign nationals participate.

Please indicate your Center of Excellence affiliation and position title in the email.

Newman, Susan If OPO objects to this phrasing, add in “Contact information to be provided by the program POC.”

Distribution is authorized to U.S. government agencies only. Contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act. Before this SOW is released to the public, approval is required by the Department of Homeland

IV. Points of Contact

DHS S&T Technical Representative:

Dr. Chelsea Thompson Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC Phone: 202-996-4873 Email: chelsea.thompson@hq.dhs.gov

DHS S&T Contracting Officer:

Danette Williams Department of Homeland Security Attn: Office of the Chief Procurement Officer Office of Procurement Operations Washington, DC 20528 Phone: 202-996-4873 Email: danette.williams@hq.dhs.gov

DHS S&T may change the individuals designated as POCs upon notice to the awardee.

mailto:jessica.wilson@hq.dhs.gov