1.2.1- Performance Work Statement_Attachment 1.docx

Performance Work Statement (PWS) Maritime Operations Support Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) May 26, 2026

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is the principal investigative arm of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the second largest investigative agency in the Federal government. HSI’s primary mission is to promote homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of Federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration. HSI has a complex and broad public safety mission to enforce, collect, analyze and share timely, accurate and actionable information on criminal suspects, Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) with HSI field offices and its domestic and foreign partners. This effort is being led by HSI and FBI’s newly formed Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), National Coordination Center (NCC), created specifically in response to President Trump’s Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The HSTF NCC serves as the primary coordination entity for the United States Government to ensure law enforcement, Department of Defense, and intelligence efforts are deconflicted and aligned to reduce duplicative efforts, increase officer safety, and enhance United States Government collaboration for all established and future task forces, fusion cells/centers, and/or other coordination efforts with a focus on countering cartels, designated foreign terrorist organizations, and transnational organized crime impacting the United States. The HSTF NCC’s mission is to prevent, protect against, and respond to threats to the homeland presented by TCOs and FTOs involved in criminal activities.

DHS Joint Task Force – Maritime (JTF-M), CBP, ICE/HSI, USCG task force, unifies action to secure the United States border and maritime approaches by integrating DHS agency resources and authorities. This approach allows JTF-M to address a wide range of threats in the maritime domain and quickly adapt to new national security challenges. JTF-M’s primary focus area includes support to the newly established HSTFs, specifically focusing on maritime threats posed by FTOs. JTF-M coordinates and employs the full range of capabilities, capacity, and authorities of DHS components in the maritime domain through the modernized Maritime Operations Coordination Plan (MOC-P). The MOC-P’s framework directly supports and is integral to the HSTF NCC and all regional HSTF Central Operations and Regional Enforcement (CORE)s.

Furthermore, HSI and DHS Science and Technology (S&T) are engaged in a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) focused on transforming how ICE/HSI utilizes commercial vendor data to support HSTF’s investigations. The CRADA is focused on improving the analysis of HSI’s post-seizure data, resulting in intelligence that leads to increased visibility and understanding of the networks used to produce and distribute fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.

The HSTF NCC has formalized its organizational structure and established operational groups. The next priority is to develop and sustain a Maritime Operations Group dedicated to addressing maritime threats associated with Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). It is mission critical that HSI utilizes a Subject Matter Expert (SME) with strong experience working with JTF-M and the MOC-P, to ensure the completion and incorporation of the investigative processes developed by the CRADA into the HSTF NCC Maritime operational group.

3.0 SCOPE

The contractor shall design, development and implement a Maritime Operations Group and shall lead the planning, creation, and maintenance of a Maritime operation group within the HSTF NCC.

To achieve this, the contractor shall demonstrate the capability to conduct any of the activities or a combination of the following:

· Provide a cleared SME that possesses an in-depth understanding of the HSTF NCC, regional HSTFs, JTF-M, the MOC-P, and joint initiatives such as the CRADA focused on transforming how HSI utilizes commercial vendor data to support investigations related to the disruption and dismantling of FTOs.

· Draft all necessary Maritime operational group documents essential to HSTF NCC and the regional HSTFs.

· Ensure SMEs collaborate with DHS components, federal partners, and regional HSTFs.

· Deliver weekly threat briefs.

· Develop target packages and network analysis.

· Document after-action reports.

· The Contractor shall document operational tasks in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

· Identify correlating data points and transform them into actionable insights.

· Maintain effective working relationships, both within and outside of ICE, including members of the intelligence and law enforcement communities and other government agencies or government contractors.

· Protect all data consistent with DHS/NIST standards and HSI policy.

· Ensure SMEs and staff maintain required security clearances.

· Surge Only: provide cleared Intelligence Analysts for targeting, investigative case support, and operational surge.

4.0 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this contract is for the contractor to design, develop, and implement a dedicated maritime operational group in support of HSTF NCC and regional HSTFs. The contractor will be expected to analyze processes, automated business workflows, and visualizations. The contractor will be responsible for standing up the Maritime group, ensuring it is operational, and sustaining its ongoing operations. This Maritime group will serve as a critical resource for drafting operational documents, facilitating interagency collaboration, and supporting joint initiatives aimed at enhancing maritime security and disrupting illicit networks.

This would allow HSI HSTF NCC to create an operational Maritime operations group that will be established at the HSTF NCC and provide support to all regional HSTFs. It will address a wide range of maritime threats and further combat the criminal activities of FTOs and TCOs. The contract will incorporate CRADA, which will imp the analysis of HSI’s post-seizure data, resulting in intelligence that leads to increased visibility and understanding of the networks used to produce and distribute fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.

5.0 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS TASKS

The Subject Matter Expert (SME) shall be considered the lead for this contract and shall be responsible for the ultimate performance of the tasks specified in the performance work statement. Additionally, all tasks will be completed in compliance with HSI policies and procedures.

5.1 TASK 1 – REVIEW EVALUATION OF PROCESSES

· Review all current procedures and processes within HSTF NCC, HSI, and JTF-M.

· Evaluate processes that are working and those that need to be evolved.

· Provide a comprehensive evaluation summary to HSTF NCC leadership.

5.2 TASK 2 – CREATION OF A MARITIME GROUP

· Establish a dedicated Maritime Group to enhance operational effectiveness in maritime domain awareness, response and case support.

· Establish processes and procedures to address tasks intake and assignments, standardize information sources, implement protocols for data validation and quality assurance,

· Establish analytic frameworks for maritime risk assessment, thread identification, and situational awareness.

· Develop case tracking procedures and ensure secure storage and access controls for sensitive information.

5.3 TASK 3 – PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

· Establish seamless collaboration and information sharing across all federal agencies with maritime responsibilities to enhance operational effectiveness and support national security

· .Coordination with primary federal agencies involved in maritime operations. Coordination may also involve state and local law enforcement, port authorities, and international partners.

· .Lead or support projects and teams as required.

5.4 TASK 4 – DOCUMENTATION OF PROCESSES

· Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)s to document the creation of a HSTF NCC Maritime group.

· Document all process flows that are developed.

5.5 TASK 5 – TRAINING SUPPORT

· Provide maritime training support to HSTF NCC for multi-agency, multi-disciplinary maritime operations.

· Joint operational planning and coordination

· Incident command system training

· Maritime tactics and procedures

· Interagency communications and interoperability

5.6 TASK 6 – PROGRESS REPORTS

· Monthly and quarterly progress reports will be submitted by Contractor that will include the comprehensive details from the prior and ongoing month of work performed to include type and response time related to technical support request.

5.7 TASK 7 – FIELD SUPPORT

· As directed, Subject Matter Expert (SME) will provide technical support to ongoing HSTF maritime investigations and operations.

5.8 TASK 8 – JOINT OPERATIONS WITH HSTF PARTNERS

· Consolidation to assist HSI in joint initiatives with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Unites States Coast Guard (USCG), and other HSTF partner agencies.

5.9 TASK 9 – OPTIONAL SURGE CLAUSE

· In the event of a documented need identified by HSTF NCC leadership for an operational surge, the Contractor shall provide five (5) additional Intelligence Analysts to assist. The Intelligence Analysts will ensure that surge work is completed in accordance with the PWS and documented in reporting requirements. (See 6.0 Contractor Personnel for details).

6.0 CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL

The total number of required contractor employees is one (1) subject matter expert with a surge capacity of five (5). The Contractor shall propose the staffing plan/labor mix to perform the tasks described above. No later than 15 days into transition/performance, the contractor will be required to provide resumes to be submitted as part of contract administration. During contract administration, these personnel will require Government approval prior to replacement: the Contractor shall submit a written notice of intent to replace the Key Personnel along with the resume of the proposed replacement(s) to the CO a minimum of ten (10) business days prior to the proposed date of change. All proposed replacement(s) shall possess qualifications equal to or superior the requirements for the position.

6.1 Continuity of Support

The Contractor shall ensure that the contractually required level of support is maintained at all times. The Contractor shall ensure that all contract staffing levels are maintained for all hours of the workday. If for any reason the Contractor staffing levels are not maintained due to vacation, leave, appointments, etc., and replacement personnel will not be provided, the Contractor shall provide e-mail notification to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and related investigative unit program lead POC prior to employee’s extended absence. Otherwise, the Contractor shall provide a fully qualified replacement.

6.2 Key Personnel

Before replacing any individual(s) designated as Key Personnel by the Government, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer no less than ten (10) days in advance, submit written justification for replacement, and provide the name and qualifications of any proposed substitute(s). The Contractor shall not replace the Key Personnel without approval from the Contracting Officer. The following Contractor personnel are designated as Key Personnel for this requirement. Note: The Government may designate additional Contractor personnel as Key Personnel during contract administration.

The Key Personnel under this contract is minimally required to meet the following requirements:

6.2.1 (1) One Senior Subject Matter Expert The SME will be responsible for the contract activities: planning, organizing, directing, controlling, staffing as well as reporting status, deliverables and schedules to the Government.

· United States Citizen

· Master’s degree in International Security, Criminal Justice, Data Science, or related field.

· 20 years of experience in maritime intelligence, transnational crime investigations, or federal law enforcement operations.

· Five (5) or more years’ experience leading interagency coordination with DHS, DoD, DOJ, or Intelligence Community partners.

· Five(5) or more years’ experience in planning, coordinating, identifying deliverables, and implementing the job according to government specifications.

· Five (5) or more years supporting intelligence operations in the US Federal Government.

· Five (5) or more years law enforcement experience.

· Five (5) or more years managing in a Joint Interagency environment.

· Five(5) or more years’ experience with AI/ML assisted analytics and data exploitation tools.

· Five (5) or more years’ experience conducting proactive targeting, network analysis, and high-level briefings.

· Five (5) or more years’ experience in the development of training materials to assist federal employees in making the best use of the developed tools in executing their duties.

· Strong written and oral communication skills, including preparation of threat briefs and target packages.

Security Clearance Requirement: Active Top Secret with SCI

6.3 Non-Key Personnel

In the event of a surge requested by HSTF NCC leadership, the Contractor shall provide additional personnel to support operations. The surge capacity of five (5) Intelligence Analysts is detailed by the labor category as follows:

· 2 Intelligence Analysts (Mid-Level)

· 3 Intelligence Analysts (Junior Level)

6.3.1 (2) Two Intelligence Analysts Mid-Level (IAML) The Intelligence Analyst Mid-Level (IAML) shall identify individuals, entities and organizations of interest to HSTF NCC investigations. IAML shall use digital methods to conduct open-source intelligence research and analysis on matters of national security to support federal law enforcement investigations. IAML shall assess foreign and domestic-based publicly available information to identify trends, patterns, and relationships that provide unique insights and compile them to validate intelligence support requirements. -IAML shall identify trends, detect high-risk areas for TCOs and FCOs and prioritize enforcement approaches by applying research and advanced analytics. IAML shall perform data collection and perform analysis on collected data.

Intelligence Analysts Mid-Level (IAML) at a minimum must have:

· Four (4) or more years’ experience in open-source intelligence data support, of collected data and follow-up research.

· Four (4) or more years’ experience in utilizing United States Government and Federal Law Enforcement Databases.

· Four (4) or more years’ experience in researching and interpreting investigative information and extrapolating data for collection, analysis, evaluation, and produce reporting for the appropriate officials of United States Government and Federal Law Enforcement agencies.

· Four (4) or more years’ experience in social media exploitation, trend development, illicit network analysis, and identification of hidden associations.

· Four (4) or more years’ experience providing specialized intelligence and threat analysis and production support.

· Three (3) or more years’ experience in data analysis including trend analysis, link analysis, and identification of hidden associations

· Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited University or ten (10) years of experience working in a related field.

Security Clearance Requirement: Top Secret

6.3.2 (3) Three Intelligence Analysts Junior-Level (IAJL) The Intelligence Analyst (Junior-Level) (IAJL) shall identify individuals, entities and organizations of interest to HSTF NCC investigations. IAJL shall use digital methods to conduct open-source intelligence research and analysis on matters of national security to support federal law enforcement investigations. IAJL shall assess foreign and domestic-based publicly available information to identify trends, patterns, and relationships that provide unique insights and compile them to validate intelligence support requirements. IAJL shall identify trends, detect high-risk areas for TCOs and FCOs and prioritize enforcement approaches by applying research and advanced analytics. IAJL shall perform data collection and entry and perform analysis on collected data.

Intelligence Analysts Junior-Level (IAJL) at a minimum must have:

· Four (4) or more years’ experience in open-source intelligence data support, of collected data and follow-up research.

· Four (4) or more years’ experience in utilizing United States Government and Federal Law Enforcement Databases.

· Four (4) or more years’ experience in researching and interpreting investigative information and extrapolating data for collection, analysis, evaluation, and produce reporting for the appropriate officials of United States Government and Federal Law Enforcement agencies.

· Four (4) or more years’ experience in social media exploitation, trend development, illicit network analysis, and identification of hidden associations.

· Four (4) or more years’ experience providing specialized intelligence and threat analysis and production support.

· Three (3) or more years’ experience in data analysis including trend analysis, link analysis, and identification of hidden associations

· Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited University or ten (10) years of experience working in a related field.

Security Clearance Requirement: Top Secret

6.4 Employee Conduct

Contractor’s employees shall comply with all applicable Government regulations, policies and procedures (e.g., fire, safety, sanitation, environmental protection, security, off limits areas, wearing of parts of DHS uniforms, and possession of weapons) when visiting or working at Government facilities. The Contractor shall ensure Contractor employees always present a professional appearance and that their conduct shall not reflect discredit on the United States or the Department of Homeland Security. The Contractor shall ensure its employees understand and abide by Department of Homeland Security established rules, regulations and policies concerning safety and security.

6.4.1 Removing Employees for Misconduct or Security Reasons

The Government may, at its sole discretion (via the Contracting Officer), direct the Contractor to remove any Contractor employee from DHS facilities for misconduct or security reasons. Removal does not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility to continue providing the services required under the contract. The Contracting Officer will provide the Contractor with a written explanation to support any request to remove an employee.

7.0 CONTRACTOR QUALITY CONTROL

The Contractor shall establish and-maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP) to ensure the requirements of this contract are provided as specified. The Contractor shall provide a QCP describing the inspection system that they intend to use for the requested services listed. The Contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The Contractor's draft QCP shall be required as part of their quote submittal. The CO will notify the Contractor of acceptance or the necessity for QCP modification of the Plan no later than 10 business days after award. The Contractor shall provide a final QCP to the COR no later than 20 business days after award. The QCP shall be updated as changes occur and shall be submitted to the COR for review and subsequent CO acceptance by the Government.

8.0 OTHER APPLICABLE CONDITIONS

8.1 Period of Performance

The period of performance for this contract is a one-year base with four (4) one-year options:

8.2 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The Contractor shall report to the HSTF NCC duty location located at 2675/2677 Prosperity Ave. Fairfax, VA 20598 once cleared with a favorable Entrance on Duty (EOD). Changes to reporting location are at the discretion of HSTF NCC provided it is within the DC Metro area.

Any classified work will be done at the government site or a site designated by the HSTF NCC at the appropriate classification level, within the DC Metro area.

8.3 HOURS OF OPERATION

Contractor employees shall generally perform all work between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00PM ET, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). However, there may be occasions when Contractor employees shall be required to work other than normal business including weekends and holidays, to fulfill requirements under this PWS.

8.4 TRAVEL

Travel may be required for this contract. Additionally, the Contractor may be required to travel to HSI offices throughout the country as determined by HSTF NCC leadership.

The Contractor shall request all travel in writing and provide the names of individuals traveling dates, destination(s), purpose, and estimated costs. All travel is subject to advance government approval by the COR. Approval shall be provided in writing. Approved travel outside of the defined local area will be reimbursed in accordance with the limits set forth in FAR Part 31.205.46 Travel Costs and the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR).

No profit is allowed for travel. Indirect costs may be applied to travel in accordance with the Contractor’s established accounting practices consistent with FAR 31.2 Contracts with Commercial Organizations. Travel will be a separate not-to-exceed contract line-item number on the contract .

The travel costs will be minimized, to the maximum extent possible, by taking advantage of discounted airfare rates available through advance purchase. The Government will only pay travel expenses in accordance with FTR rates. Local travel within the DC Metro area is considered within scope of this contract and will not be reimbursed.

8.5 POST AWARD CONFERENCE

The Contractor shall attend a Post Award Conference with the federal team which may include the Contracting Officer, COR, and the Program Manager within two (weeks) after contract award. The purpose of the Post Award Conference is to discuss technical and contracting objectives of this contract.

8.6 PROGRESS MEETINGS

The Contractor shall be available to meet with the COR or Program POC upon request to present deliverables, discuss progress, exchange information and resolve emergent technical problems and issues. These meetings should communicate performance progress throughout the performance period of this contract and ensure contractor activities are aligned with the terms and conditions of this contract.

8.7 GENERAL REPORT REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide all written reports in electronic format with read/write capability using applications that are compatible with DHS workstations (current Windows OS and Microsoft Office Applications).

8.8 PROTECTION OF INFORMATION

Contractor access to information protected under the Privacy Act is required under this SOW.

Contractor employees shall safeguard this information against unauthorized disclosure or dissemination in accordance with the law and Government policy and regulation.

Contractor access to proprietary information is required under this SOW. Contractor employees shall safeguard this information against unauthorized disclosure or dissemination in accordance with the law and Government policy and regulation.

Contractor employees shall safeguard this information against unauthorized disclosure or dissemination in accordance with DHS MD 11042.1, Safeguarding Sensitive but Unclassified (For Official Use Only) Information. The Contractor shall ensure that all Contractor personnel having access to business or procurement sensitive information sign a non-disclosure agreement (DHS Form 11000-6).

8.9 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED RESOURCES (Government Furnished

Equipment (GFE)/Government Furnished Property (GFP))

ICE will provide facilities for on-site work as necessary. The Government will provide the Contractor with basic equipment and property (e.g., laptops, desktops, thumb drives and mobile smart phones). The Government will also provide access to ICE mandated tools and other applications as needed to support this effort. ICE reserves the right to add, delete, or modify at its discretion any hardware or software at any time during contract performance, based upon what, in ICE’s judgment, is necessary to perform the mission most effectively and efficiently.

All GFE/GFP provided to the Contractor to perform work under this contract shall be returned to the Government at the end of the period of performance. The Contractor shall keep an inventory of GFE/GFP, which shall be made available to the COR or CO upon request. The Contractor shall ensure that all GFE/GFP provided for their use shall be secured. The Contractor shall manage, maintain, and control all GFE/GFP in support of this contract. Within 24 hours after initial request from the COR, the Contractor shall provide a GFE inventory report. The report shall include asset tag information, serial number, assigned resource, primary office location, the date issued, and a description of the asset.

The Contractor shall use Government furnished information, data and documents only for the performance of work under this contract and shall be responsible for returning all Government furnished information, data and documents to the Government at the end of the performance period. The Contractor shall not release Government furnished information, data and documents to outside parties without the prior and explicit consent of the Contracting Officer.

8.10 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Contractor shall furnish materials, equipment and services necessary to fulfill the requirements of this contract, except for the Government Furnished Resources specified in Section 7.9.

8.11 GOVERNMENT ACCEPTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE PERIOD

Deliverables shall be deemed acceptable if the document adequately covers all required topics meets general quality measures, is professionally prepared in terms of format, clarity and readability, and is delivered as an electronic copy on time to the designated delivery location.

General quality measures, as set forth below, shall be applied to each work product received from the Contractor.

• Accuracy: Work Products shall be accurate in presentation, technical content, and adherence to accepted elements of style.

• Clarity: Work Products shall be clear and concise. Any/All diagrams and graphics shall be easy to understand and be relevant to the supporting narrative.

• File Editing: All text and diagrammatic files shall be editable by the Government.

• Format: Work Products shall be transmitted via e-mail and in media mutually agreed upon prior to submission.

• Timeliness: Work Products shall be submitted on or before the due date specified in this PWS or submitted in accordance with a later scheduled date determined by the government.

The COR and/or HSTF NCC leadership will review deliverables prior to acceptance and provide the contractor with an e-mail that provides documented reasons for non-acceptance. If the deliverable is acceptable, the COR will send an e-mail to the Contractor notifying it that the deliverable has been accepted.

Items must be approved by the COR and/or the appropriate Government authority to be considered “accepted.” The documents shall be considered final upon receiving government approval.

8.12 Transition In and Transition Out

8.12.1 Transition In

The contractor shall present a Post Conference Award Briefing within two (2) weeks after contract award to include an overview of the project team, scope of work, deliverables, transition activities, communication approach, initial risks and next steps. The Contracting Officer will establish the time and place for the conference and act as the chairperson. The Government will host a Kick-Off meeting within 7 days after contract award. The Post Conference Award Briefing will focus on introductions between Government and contractor personnel and contractual matters, whereas the Kick-Off meeting will focus on technical matters.

The contractor shall be responsible for the transition of all technical activities identified in this PWS. The Contractor shall submit a final transition-in plan within two (2) weeks after contract award reflecting all necessary activities and a project schedule 30 days after award. All transition-in activities must be completed within two (2) weeks after the Kick-Off Meeting. The following technical activities must be included as part of the Transition-in plan:

• Inventory and orderly transfer of all Government Furnished Equipment and Property (GFE/GFP), software, licenses and current content and work product if applicable.

• Workplace logistics and staffing plan: Identification of the key personnel transition team members by name, position, EOD, clearance, start date, and responsibilities.

• Favorable EOD for all Contractor staff from the ICE Personnel Security Unit (PSU).

• Coordination of transition with HSTF NCC Leadership. The Transition-in Plan shall be approved by the COR and describe the Contractor’s process for transitioning with no disruption in operational services.

8.12.2 Transition Out

The contractor shall be responsible for the transition-out of all technical activities identified in this PWS during the final, awarded period of performance. The Contractor shall submit the Transition-out Plan two (2) months prior to the completion of the period of performance.

The Transition-out plan shall be approved by the COR. The following technical activities must be included as part of the Transition-out Plan:

• Inventory and orderly transfer of all GFE, software and licenses.

• Submit all contract deliverables to date, including designs, documents, briefings, reports, spreadsheets, security scripts, user manuals, data models, source code, all digital infrastructure including data warehouse interface control documents, technical descriptions of the software and scripts, and user operations manuals.

• Technical walkthrough of the application, environment, interfaces, backlog, help desk logs, etc.

• Briefing on all in-progress and committed items.

9.0 DELIVERABLE AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE

The Contractor shall provide electronic copies of each deliverable. Electronic copies shall be delivered via ICE SharePoint and e-mail. E-mail deliverables should be clearly marked in the subject line as a deliverable (requiring review and/or action by the Government). The electronic copies shall be compatible with Microsoft Office or other applications as appropriate and mutually agreed to by the parties.

The table below depicts the deliverables required during the period of performance.

award

One (1) month before the end of the period of performance

9.1 MONTHLY REPORTS

9.1.1 Status Reports

The Contractor shall prepare a monthly progress report. The initial report is due forty-five (45) calendar days after award and shall cover the first calendar month of performance. Subsequent reports will be provided monthly within thirty days (30) of the end of each calendar month until the last month of performance. The final delivery shall occur ten days before the end of the final option period and shall summarize performance during the period of performance and provide the status of any planned transition activity. The Government will provide a template on the monthly report. The monthly report shall contain at least the following:

• Description of planned work

• Project Overview

• Description of work accomplished

• Summary of Progress Since Last Update/Monthly report

• Analysis of the difference between planned and accomplished

• Work planned for the following month

• Budget/Financial update

• Project Schedule

• Open issues

• Risk Register

• System Performance metrics

• Team and Organizational Status

• Publications (as appropriate)

9.1.2 Financial Reports

The Contractor shall prepare a monthly financial report, by the 15th of the first full month following award and thereafter on the 15th of each month, that consists of a breakdown by cost element (e.g., labor, materials, indirect costs, other directs, travel, etc., including charges from subcontractors) of costs incurred during the reporting period. This report includes the planned budget, actuals, and the variance for each month through contract completion.

9.2 SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION

One month prior to the end of the period of performance, the Contractor shall provide the following:

9.2.1 Plan for transitioning analytic solutions and capabilities to the HSTF federal team.

This will include requirements such as transfer of source code.

9.2.2 Documentation required to meet requirements set forth in DHS Management Directive 102–01, Acquisition Management Directive.

9.2.3 Additional documentation as identified and required for OMB, FISMA and internal DHS government IT projects.

9.2.4 At the end of the period of performance, the Contractor shall provide any work produced under this contract such as configuration scripts, security scripts, software written, user manuals, data models, interface control documents, user manuals, technical descriptions of the software and scripts, user operations manuals, system maintenance manuals, and anything else produced under this contract.

PERSONNEL SECURITY VETTING REQUIREMENTS

GENERAL

Performance under this agreement will require access to Classified National Security Information (NSI) by contractor employees. This contract requires that the contractor, subcontractor(s), vendor(s), etc. (herein known as contractor) may access Classified National Security Information (herein known as classified information). Classified information is Government information which requires protection in accordance with Executive Order 13526 – Classified National Security Information, and supplementing directives.

The contractor will abide by the requirements set forth in the DD Form 254 – Contract Security Classification Specification, included in the contract, and 32 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 117 – National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), for the protection of classified information at its cleared facility, if applicable, as directed by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). If the contractor has access to classified information at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other Government Facility, it will abide by the requirements set by the agency.

In conjunction with acquisition, the contractor shall ensure all investigation, reinvestigation, and adjudication requirements are met in accordance with NISPOM (32 CFR 117.10).

No person shall be allowed to begin work on this contract and/or access sensitive information related to the contract without ICE receiving clearance verification from the Facility Security Officer (FSO). ICE further retains the right to deem a contractor employee ineligible due to an insufficient background investigation or when derogatory information is received and evaluated under a Continuous Evaluation Program. Any action taken by ICE does not relieve the contractor from required reporting of derogatory information as outlined under the NISPOM.

PRELIMINARY FITNESS DETERMINATION

ICE will exercise full control over granting, denying, withholding or terminating unescorted government facility and/or sensitive Government information access for contractor applicants/employees, based upon the results of a Fitness screening process. ICE may, as it deems appropriate, authorize and make a favorable expedited preliminary Fitness determination based on preliminary security checks. The preliminary Fitness determination will allow the contractor employee to commence work temporarily prior to the completion of a Full Field Background Investigation. The granting of a favorable preliminary Fitness shall not be considered as assurance that a favorable final Fitness determination will follow as a result thereof. The granting of preliminary Fitness or final Fitness shall in no way prevent, preclude, or bar the withdrawal or termination of any such access by ICE, at any time during the term of the contract. No employee of the contractor shall be allowed to enter on duty and/or access sensitive information or systems without a favorable preliminary Fitness determination by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), Personnel Security Division (PSD). No employee of the Contractor shall be allowed unescorted access to a Government facility without a favorable Fitness determination by OPR PSD. Contract employees are processed in accordance with 5 CFR 731 and DHS Instruction 121-01-007, Revision 2, dated August 10, 2024, those having direct contact with Detainees will also have 6 CFR § 115.117 considerations made as part of the Fitness screening process. Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Standards implemented pursuant to Public Law 108-79 (Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003)). Those Contract Employees who require access to National Security Information (NSI) must have an industry clearance previously awarded and active that is verifiable within US Government security clearance repositories. ICE will not award initial security clearances for Contract Employees but will accept those that are active via transfer of trust once confirmed in one of the US Government security clearance repositories.

CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE FITNESS SCREENING

Screening criteria under , a5 CFR 731, and DHS Instruction 121-01-007, Revision 2, dated August 10, 2024, that may exclude contractor employees from consideration to perform under this agreement includes:

· Misconduct or negligence in employment;

· Criminal conduct;

· Material, intentional false statement or deception of fraud in examination or appointment;

· Dishonest conduct;

· Excessive alcohol use, without evidence of rehabilitation, of a nature and duration that suggests that the applicant or appointee would be prevented from performing the duties of the position in question, or would constitute a direct threat to the property or safety of the applicant or appointee or others;

· Illegal use of narcotics, drugs, or other controlled substances, without evidence of substantial rehabilitation;

· Knowing and willful engagement in acts or activities designed to overthrow the U.S. Government by force;

· Any statutory or regulatory bar which prevents the lawful employment of the person involved in the position in question (for Excepted Service employees);

· Violent conduct; and

· Any other nondiscriminatory reason that an individual’s employment (or work on a contract) would not protect the integrity or promote the efficiency of the service.

Screening criteria under 6 CFR § 115.117 (Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Standards) implemented pursuant to Public Law 108-79 (Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003) or successor thereto, that WILL exclude contractor employees from consideration to perform under this agreement includes:

· Engaged in Sexual Abuse in a Prison, Jail, Holding Facility, Community Confinement Facility, Juvenile Facility, or other Institution as defined under 42 USC 1997;

· Convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse;

· Civilly or administratively adjudicated to have in engaged in such activity.

Subject to existing law, regulations and/or other provisions of this Agreement, undocumented noncitizens shall not be employed by the contractor.

POSITION DESIGNATION

In accordance with 5 CFR 731, and 5 CFR 1400. Agencies are required to designate position risk and sensitivity level for all contractor employees to determine the commensurate level of background investigation. The public trust risk of a position is the assessment of the degree of potential damage to the efficiency or integrity of the service that could arise from misconduct by the incumbent in the position. The national security sensitivity of a position is determined by the potential material adverse effect on the national security the incumbent of the position can cause by virtue of the nature of the position.

Therefore, once the contract is awarded and before the vendor starts submitting personnel for security vetting, the contractor will provide, through the Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs) a list of all positions, to include titles and specific description of the duties for each of positions assigned to support the contract.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS

Contractor employees (to include applicants, temporary, part-time and replacement employees) under the contract, needing access to sensitive information and/or ICE Detainees, shall undergo a position sensitivity analysis based on the duties each individual will perform on the contract. The results of the position sensitivity analysis shall identify the appropriate background investigation to be conducted. Background investigations will be processed through OPR PSD. Contractor applicant/employees are nominated by a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for consideration to support this contract via submission of the DHS Form 11000-25 and ICE Supplement to the DHS Form 11000-25 to OPR PSD. This contract shall submit the following security vetting documentation to OPR PSD, through the COR, within 10 days of notification of initiation of an Electronic Application for Background Investigations (eAPP), in the automated on-line system:

1. Standard Form 85P (Standard Form 85PS (with supplement to 85P required for those with direct contact with detainees or armed positions)), “Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions” form completed online and archived by the contractor applicant/employee in their eAPP account.

2. Signature Release Forms (Three total) generated by eAPP upon completion of Questionnaire (e-signature recommended/acceptable). Completed online and archived by the contractor applicant/employee in their NBIS eAPP account.

3. Electronic fingerprints taken at an approved facility OR two (2) SF 87 Fingerprint Cards (current revision) sent to OPR PSD. Additional information regarding fingerprints will be sent to the contractor applicant/employee from OPR PSD.

4. Optional Form 306 Declaration for Federal Employment. This document is sent as an attachment in an e-mail to the contractor applicant/employee from OPR PSD.

5. Social Security Administration 89 form (SSA-89): Authorization for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to Release Social Security Number (SSN) Verification, which requires a hard signature from the applicant. This document is sent as an attachment in an e-mail to the contractor applicant/employee from OPR PSD.

6. If occupying PREA designated position: Questionnaire regarding conduct defined under 6 CFR § 115.117 (Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Standards). This document is sent as an attachment in an e-mail to the contractor applicant/employee from OPR PSD.

7. One additional document may be applicable if the contractor applicant/employee was born abroad. If applicable, the document will be sent as an attachment in an e-mail to OPR PSD from the contractor applicant/employee.

Contractor employees who have an adequate, current investigation by another Federal Agency may not be required to submit complete security packages; the investigation may be accepted under transfer of trust. The questionnaire related to 6 CFR § 115.117 listed above in item 5 will be required for positions designated under PREA. OPR PSD will determine if personnel meet transfer of trust requirements at the initial stage of processing and prior to requesting a new security questionnaire.

Required information for submission of security packet will be provided by OPR PSD at the time of award of the contract. Only complete packages will be accepted by OPR PSD as notified by the COR.

To ensure adequate background investigative coverage, contractor applicants/employees must currently reside in the United States or its Territories. Additionally, contractor applicants/employees are required to have resided within the United States or its Territories for three or more years out of the last five (ICE retains the right to deem a contractor applicant/employee ineligible due to insufficient background coverage). This timeline is assessed based on the signature date of the standard form questionnaire submitted for the applied position. Contractor employees falling under the following situations may be exempt from the residency requirement: 1) work or worked for the U.S. Government in foreign countries in federal civilian or military capacities; 2) were or are dependents accompanying a federal civilian or a military employee serving in foreign countries so long as they were or are authorized by the U.S. Government to accompany their federal civilian or military sponsor in the foreign location; 3) worked as a contractor employee, volunteer, consultant or intern on behalf of the federal government overseas, where stateside coverage can be obtained to complete the background investigation; 4) studied abroad at a U.S. affiliated college or university; or 5) have a current and adequate background investigation (commensurate with the position risk/sensitivity levels) completed for a federal or contractor employee position, barring any break in federal employment or federal sponsorship.

Only U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents are eligible for employment on contracts requiring access to DHS sensitive information unless an exception is granted as outlined under DHS Instruction 121-01-007, Revision 2, dated August 10, 2024. Per DHS Sensitive Systems Policy Directive 4300A, only U.S. citizens are eligible for positions requiring access to DHS Information Technology (IT) systems or positions that are involved in the development, operation, management, or maintenance of DHS IT systems, unless an exception is granted as outlined under DHS Instruction 121-01-007, Revision 2, dated August 10, 2024.

CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY

ICE will exercise full control over granting, denying, and/or restrict facility and information access of any contractor employee whose actions conflict with Fitness standards contained in 5 CFR 731 and DHS Instruction 121-01-007, Revision 2, dated August 10, 2024, or who violate standards of conduct under 6 CFR § 115.117. The Contracting Officer or their representative can determine if a risk of compromising sensitive Government information exists or if the efficiency of service is at risk and may direct immediate removal of a contractor employee from contract support.

The Federal Government is transitioning to Trusted Workforce (TW), which is a government-wide reform effort overhauling the personnel vetting process. One of the principles of this transition is eliminating the traditional five-year periodic reinvestigation requirements, and enrolling personnel into continuous vetting programs. All contractor employees will be subjected to the transition and will be enrolled into the continuous vetting system at a date to be determined. Continuous vetting will replace the traditional five-year periodic background investigation, allowing for background investigations to be conducted if/when derogatory information is discovered.

Enrollment will include multiple requirements from all personnel and potential changes to processes, procedures, and systems. This contract will comply with all requirements that facilitate the mandated transition to TW 2.0.

OPR PSD will evaluate concerns received via multiple sources under the continuous vetting process, to evaluate continued Fitness of contractor employees. If concerns cannot be mitigated, the contractor will be removed from the ICE contract upon notification from OPR PSD.

REQUIRED REPORTS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The contractor will notify OPR PSD, via the COR providing an ICE Form 50-005, Contractor Employee Separation Clearance Checklist, of all terminations/resignations of contractor employees under the contract within five days of occurrence to the ICEDepartureNotification@ice.dhs.gov. The contractor will return any expired ICE issued identification cards and building passes of terminated/resigned employees to the COR. If an identification card or building pass is not available to be returned, a report must be submitted to the COR referencing the pass or card number, name of individual to whom issued, the last known location and disposition of the pass or card. The COR will return the identification cards and building passes to the responsible ID Unit.

IAW DHS Instruction 121-01-007, Revision 2,…