A04_FWS_OLE_Ops_and_Policy_SOW_-_updated_OCT_2022.pdf

FWS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Operations and Policy Statement of Work (SOW) – v15Jul2021

MISSION OBJECTIVE

The mission of the Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) is to protect wildlife and plant resources through the effective enforcement. By working with partner enforcement agencies and other conservation partners, domestically and abroad, we help protect endangered species, conserve migratory birds, preserve wildlife habitat, safeguard fisheries, combat invasive species, and promote international wildlife conservation. We focus on potentially devastating threats to wildlife and plant resources including illegal trade, unlawful commercial exploitation, injurious species, habitat destruction and degradation, environmental contaminants, and industrial hazards.

Our work remains critical in the U.S. and around the world as wildlife and plant populations and their habitats face uncertainties with continuing threats such as transnational trafficking of imperiled species.

In the past decade, wildlife trafficking – the poaching or other taking of protected or managed species and the illegal trade in wildlife and their related parts and products – has escalated into an international crisis. Wildlife trafficking is both a critical conservation concern and a threat to global security with significant effects on the national interests of the United States and the interests of our partners and allies around the world. Illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be a multibillion-dollar business involving the unlawful harvest of and trade in live animals and plants or parts and products derived from them. Wildlife is traded as skins, leather goods or souvenirs; as food or traditional medicine; as pets, and in many other forms. Illegal wildlife trade runs the gamut from illegal logging of protected forests to supply the demand for exotic woods, to the illegal fishing of endangered marine life for food, and the poaching of elephants to supply the demand for ivory.

Illegal wildlife trade is also often unsustainable, harming wild populations of animals and plants and pushing endangered species toward extinction. Endangered animals and plants are often the target of wildlife crime because of their rarity and increased economic value. Furthermore, illegal trade negatively impacts a country’s natural resources and local communities that might otherwise benefit from tourism or legal, sustainable trade. Thousands of wildlife species are threatened by illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. For example, recently significant media attention has gone to the plight of the world's rhinoceros species, which are facing increased poaching as demand for their horns increases in Asia. In some parts of Asia, rhino horn is considered to be a powerful traditional medicine, used to treat a variety of ailments. While there is little scientific evidence to support these medicinal claims, the dramatic rise in poaching to supply this demand is pushing rhinos toward the brink of extinction—some species already there.

The Office of Law Enforcement investigates wildlife crimes. This includes working in partnership with international, federal, state, and tribal counterparts to conserve wildlife resources. This work includes:

• Breaking up international and domestic smuggling rings that target imperiled animals and plants

• Preventing the unlawful commercial exploitation of protected U.S. species

• Protecting wildlife from environmental hazards and safeguarding critical habitat for endangered and other protected species

• Enforcing federal migratory game bird hunting regulations and working with states to protect other game species from illegal take and preserve legitimate hunting opportunities

• Inspecting wildlife shipments to ensure compliance with laws and treaties and detect illegal trade

• Working with U.S. and international law enforcement counterparts to combat illegal trafficking in protected species

• Training other federal, state, tribal, and foreign law enforcement officers

• Using forensic science to analyze evidence and solve wildlife crimes

• Conducting outreach to increase public understanding of wildlife conservation and promote compliance with wildlife protection laws

OLE has been conducting this type of work for decades. The mission focus has historically been domestically, yet more and more often, domestic cases have international elements to them (e.g.

protected domestic species illegally being exported to another country, but also U.S. involvement with imperiled foreign-originated species). And with the increasing profitability of wildlife trafficking, other commodities illicitly trafficked are being interchanged and comingled. The profits derived from wildlife trafficking have also been seen to fund other types of illegal activities by transnational organized criminal elements.

In recent years, OLE came to the stark realization that mission focus must be expanded overseas if the problem is going to be tackled effectively. This has been the impetus for the placement of OLE special agent attachés overseas in its fairly new International Operations program in the past few years. OLE currently has seven attachés stationed abroad in Tanzania, Botswana, Gabon, Mexico, Peru, China, and Thailand. Generally, the attachés: support regional capacity building; coordinate transnational investigations and information sharing; assist in leveraging USG assets for use in counter wildlife trafficking (CWT) efforts; support and conduct U.S.-led investigations in the region; and, support local and regional CWT investigations in an advisory capacity. This young international operations program has already made huge strides with its goal of assisting foreign governments to better investigate and apprehend violators who unlawfully exploit their wildlife and timber resources. This program is helping to build capacity in countries that drive or enable the market for illegal wildlife by supporting direct partnerships with foreign governments to share and coordinate intelligence, expand training programs, and provide technical assistance in customs monitoring.

As OLE conducts further reaching and increasing complex investigations, it is also more often experiencing wide informational and intelligence gaps during these operations and investigations. These gaps prevent OLE from achieving the maximum amount of effectiveness and impact in enforcement actions. OLE also lacked the structure that it needed to effectively lead the USG CWT community in a coordinated intelligence sharing and enforcement environment and needed to be able to better provide a comprehensive and clear CWT enforcement strategic picture to aid how USG resources should be allocated. Correspondingly, OLE recently expanded its intelligence program to transition from a small and reactive staff, to a larger, more structured and coordinated staff for purposes of having an intelligence-led wildlife enforcement program.

Combating Global Wildlife Trafficking

The global community today struggles to protect more than 30,000 different animal and plant species from unsustainable trade under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES). That number has increased by more than 75 percent in the last 20 years. Black market trafficking in fish, wildlife, timber, and plants involves transactions each year worth billions of dollars worldwide despite efforts by nations across all continents to fight it.

The U.S. remains one of the world’s largest markets and is increasingly becoming a source country for wildlife and wildlife products, both legal and illegal. The U.S. also ranks very high as a demand country for illicitly obtained wildlife and goods, and is a transit country, as well.

Illegal global trafficking represents a threat to the continued viability of thousands of fish, wildlife, and plants around the world. In some regions, it threatens to undermine not only natural areas, but also destabilizes governments, economies, and the rule of law itself.

The Department of the Interior is among the leading agencies addressing the requirements of the Executive Department Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, co-chaired by the Secretary of the Interior. The task force’s National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking identifies strengthening enforcement as a key strategic priority. Specifically, the National Strategy tasks agencies to strengthen interdiction and investigation efforts collaborate with domestic and foreign governments to build enforcement capacity, and support the development and use of effective technologies and analytical tools. To help meet this responsibility, the Service is building upon its wildlife intelligence program, its international attaché program and its long-term covert investigations that span transnationally.

SCOPE

The contractors shall assist the Service in expanding efforts to pursue complex investigations by coordinating investigations and operations that cross international boundaries. We stand ready to assist law enforcement partners domestically and worldwide in protecting wildlife resources. The contractors shall look for new ways to engage investigative agencies in other nations to apprehend profiteers from this unlawful activity and increase capacity to stop the poaching where it starts, disrupt trafficking movement, and disrupt the demand structure. The contractors shall assist the Service in assessing the FWS OLE footprint internationally focusing on programmatic deficiencies and corrective measures to be taken. And contractors shall assist the Service in the development of a multi-faceted intelligence unit of a single-mission federal law enforcement agency which is involved in domestic, international, and intelligence community efforts.

OBJECTIVE

The contractor shall provide senior-level subject matter expertise in the area of International Law Enforcement Consulting Services:

• The contractor shall provide analytical and operational support to the OLE special agents engaged in international investigations, operations, and activities. The contractor will identify and analyze wildlife trafficking investigative leads and prepare presentations, reports, conduct analysis and/or data exploitation, or prepare other documentation regarding the strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence of the investigations.

• The contractor shall assess OLE’s international presence and interactions. The contractor will look at all aspects of a single-mission federal law enforcement program with an international presence including operations, inspections, policies, and capacity building.

The contractor will provide a comprehensive assessment and recommendations to bring the international elements of the OLE directorate up to industry standard. The contractor will work closely with other US Government agencies and international partners to establish and assist international operations OCONUS, for example, Thailand.

• The contractor shall provide subject matter expertise of establishing and institutionalizing an intelligence-led intelligence unit in a federal law enforcement program. This contractor will aid in the development of a program that is responsive to tactical and operational needs of OLE agents and inspectors, and also a strategic program that leads a more informed direction of the OLE mission, as well as a resource for other USG efforts in the CWT arena.

• The contractor shall provide subject matter expertise and assess OLE’s current administrative capabilities and vulnerabilities as it relates to international operations. The Contractor will identify areas of concern and formulate a strategy to ensure compliance and cost effectiveness. The contractor will review all administrative aspects of a federal law enforcement program with an international presence including ICASS, the NSDD-38 process, benefits and pay issues. The contractor will provide a comprehensive assessment and recommendations to bring the international administrative elements of OLE up to government standards.

• The contractor shall provide intelligence liaison services, working with state and local stakeholders. This contractor will participate in conferences with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and provide support and serve as an intermediary to the OLE and National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs (NACLEC).

GENERAL R EQUIREMENTS

The contractor tasks shall include the following:

• Assess and construct criminal wildlife trafficking networks and linkages. Provide identification and recommendations to OLE investigative personnel of top commodities, networks, routes, countries, trends, and provide input so that the OLE personnel may disrupt and take actions that lead to prosecution.

• Evaluate and combine tool enhanced all-source, commercial data, non-government, and government data sources to assist in wildlife trafficking case investigations, identification of networks and analysis activities.

• Perform information development and dissemination. In addition, the Contractor shall produce, manage content, and disseminate reports, to include liaison activities, intelligence analysis, evaluation, and case integration.

• Assess the Service’s law enforcement presence and activities linked to and outside of the United States.

o Conduct an in-depth evaluation of the entirety of OLE’s program considering all aspects of international operations, communications, networking, administration, policies, inspections, and training.

o Compare and contrast the assessment with the successes and failures of another single-mission federal law enforcement agency with an international presence.

o Produce and disseminate a comprehensive report of this outlining this assessment and a development and mitigation plan.

• Apply expert knowledge pertaining to analytical tactical, operational, and strategic experience to the detailed construction of a wildlife intelligence unit operating domestically and abroad. Provide mentorship to OLE regarding the institutionalization of intelligence in the investigative and inspection mission.

• Evaluate the status of the intelligence function of OLE in relation to past, current, and planned activities and in tandem with local, state, tribal, federal and foreign partnerships.

Work with OLE personnel on quality of current data (collection, gaps, structuring, and dissemination, etc). Develop products and collaboration tools that the CWT law enforcement community, led by OLE, can benefit from. Develop processes, policies and procedures that mitigate deficiencies in current program.

• Provide subject matter expertise and assess OLE’s current administrative capabilities and vulnerabilities as it relates to international operations.

o The Contractor will identify areas of concern and formulate a strategy to ensure compliance and cost effectiveness.

o The contractor will review all administrative aspects of a federal law enforcement program with an international presence including ICASS, the NSDD-38 process, benefits and pay issues.

o The contractor will provide a comprehensive assessment and recommendations to bring the international administrative elements of OLE up to government standards.

• Assist the FWS management and other staff members by being an intelligence liaison to the state chiefs. The individual will be assigned to participate in conferences with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) to provide support and serve as an intermediary to the OLE and National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs (NACLEC). The individual will interact with representatives of other law enforcement and intelligence agencies, as well as the senior leadership of the OLE. The individual will review available intelligence information and identify intelligence that could potentially impact conservation efforts. They will then further query the source agency of this intelligence, analyze it as to the potential conservation threat or zoonotic diseases concern, prepare reports, make recommendations to mitigate the potential threat, and pass this information to OLE. In addition, the individual will serve as a conduit for information or requests for information from NACLEC and AFWA Intelligence requests.

• Support assigned project meetings, reviews, and technical interchanges as required

• Prepare factsheets, briefing presentations, technical analysis, graphics, etc.

• Support assigned project meetings, reviews, and technical interchanges as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Services required include providing Senior Subject Matter Experts (SME) and Consultants who shall support tactical, operational, and strategic intelligence analysis; shall support OLE’s CWT operational and intelligence leaders; and shall support program and policy leadership and Interagency efforts as detailed in the following paragraphs:

International Law Enforcement (ILE) Operations SME o The contractor shall provide a SME to work with OLE and multiple USG agencies, US military organizations, international agencies, and other foreign and domestic entities to support the implementation of interagency and international investigations and strategies to dismantle, disrupt and bring accountability to those involved in illicit trafficking. ILE Operations SME shall provide support to an interagency effort to best utilize authorities of law enforcement assets and enforcement mechanisms to support US Fish & Wildlife priorities.

o Research, interpret, evaluate, analyze, and integrate all-source information to assess the relevance and significance of developments in the assigned area. Analysis can include interaction with OLE field personnel, national authorities, reporting entities, collectors, and collection managers.

o Perform liaison functions with personnel in other law enforcement and intelligence agencies, as well as organizations with a vested interest in CWT efforts.

o When approved by OLE, participate in interagency and/or multinational meetings and conferences that are directly related to the scope of this contract in order to present and receive mission-related functional information.

o Operate computer-based analysis systems and tools, and use a variety of analytical applications, computer systems, software, and ancillary equipment. The Government will also provide training on any computer-based tool/systems provided.

o Conduct training in relevant counter illicit trafficking operations and intelligence analysis, as required. The contractor shall advise and train investigative/support personnel in the art of analytical tools and products, as and where needed.

o Provide support to the planning, organizing, and coordinating of foreign counter wildlife trafficking activities and recommend whether the activities meet the operational needs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office of Law Enforcement, foreign partner agencies and organizations, and any partner USG agency. Analyze, develop courses of action, and recommend specific operational alternatives to investigations pertaining to wildlife trafficking and related activities and as requested by USG agency/departments. Coordination of operational requirements shall, on a routine basis, necessitate close interface with government personnel and international attachés, the International Operations, the Wildlife Intelligence, OLE field personnel supporting investigations with a foreign focus, various USG and Non-Governmental Organizations, and high-level officials from law enforcement agencies.

o Provide intelligence support. ILE Operations SME shall be responsible for the development of CWT-wide operations-intelligence products to support intelligence and operational activities. Efforts shall include operationalizing Intelligence Community (IC) assessments, fusing intelligence and law enforcement information in compliance with legal constraints, identifying wildlife trafficking networks, developing critical vulnerability analysis on subject wildlife trafficking, recommending courses of action to disrupt wildlife trafficking and financial centers of gravity, and recommending collection strategies to the IC to address intelligence gaps.

o ILE Operations SME will brief operational-intelligence issues /products weekly to agency leadership (GS-14 and15 level), work side-by-side with agency counterparts (GS-14/13 and action officer level), and write for / and brief agency seniors (GS-15/SES-level) as required.

o The ILE Operations SME shall routinely draft correspondence and briefings for US Fish and Wildlife personnel and civilian interagency equivalents, provide intelligence consultation and advice to operations and planner personnel within the command HQs and relevant partners.

o Provide analytical support. Responsible for all activities associated with identifying, detecting, providing targeting and interdicting recommendations for wildlife traffickers and trans-national criminal organizations’ activities. Activities can include support for information operations and planning. This support consists of conducting research and analysis of AOR issues relevant to strategic effects planning, including review of available open source media and web data, polls, blogs, and academic and various intelligence information analysis/assessments. Specific skills and understanding of the media environment are required to successfully satisfy this requirement.

o Review extensive investigative records and reports, both seized and collected via subpoena and through open source and government database searches and then prepare detailed summary reports regarding the information. These reports will include suggested investigative Operational Plans to best exploit the investigative evidence collected.

o Provide recommendations as to how to maximize the use of all federal criminal, civil statutes relating to wildlife trafficking and other statutes and regulations under the authority of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as tools of other foreign partner agencies and organizations.

o Assist in the debriefings of Confidential Sources (CSs) and witnesses regarding wildlife trafficking intelligence to guarantee the maximum use of the evidence.

o Due to specific international investigative mission, the contractor shall ensure that all investigative tools, including all applicable USG and international sanctions are considered for application as warranted.

o Enhance reports with link charts that visually diagram associations of varying data points.

o Provide research skills to help provide a better understanding of command structures of transnational and foreign criminal organizations so that OLE and partner law enforcement agencies can better disrupt and dismantle them.

o Provide proactive leads and intelligence to the field in furtherance of the disruption and dismantlement of transnational organized crime (TOC) groups and their infrastructure.

Using modern day tools and capabilities identify persons, businesses, financial data, and Internet presence to expand the scope of active investigations and develop viable leads to facilitate new investigations.

o Track deliverable statistics and deliverable feedback, with the goal of initiating additional interaction and discussions with case agents to enhance the quality of deliverables to best suit their needs in the field.

o Collect, analyze and provide social media and other open-source reporting for incorporation into OLE deliverables, typically generating additional leads for the International Operations program. With its integration into routine analytical product development, the Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) capability has supported law enforcement investigations with greater link analysis driven by foreign language searches, connection identification between cases, and searches that may identify other information not available in government databases.

o Travel to domestic and/or foreign law enforcement agency offices, case coordination locations to support OLE investigations and work products.

o Develop a training and mentorship intelligence analysis curriculum for OLE’s foreign law enforcement partners who have jurisdiction over wildlife trafficking and other illicit trafficking.

ILE Policy SME o ILE Policy SME will leverage extensive background and experience of conducting U.S.

federal law enforcement efforts on transnational illicit trafficking investigations while stationed abroad would conduct an assessment of OLE’s current capabilities and vulnerabilities of the international operations program. A corresponding post-assessment recommendation and mitigation plan would be devised and provided including development of all applicable policies, procedures, protocols and advisories.

o ILE Policy SME will formulate a strategy and implementation plan to ensure OLE has the proper infrastructure in place for employees being sent to conduct work assignments out of the country, including pre-deployment preparation and briefing schedule, training, assets and capabilities at their disposal to ensure their safety, compliance and operational effectiveness.

o ILE Policy SME will develop the best methodology and procedures for attachés to communicate in a manner which ensures their safety and security as well as safeguards the operational information at their disposal.

o ILE Policy SME will provide a plan to integrate FWS OLE into the overseas law enforcement network already established by factions of the USG, as well as full integration into the USG fabric which has relevant overlap into the FWS mission.

o ILE Policy SME will Develop a plan to safeguard the health, safety and wellness of the attachés and their families while deployed overseas.

o ILE Policy SME will develop methodology for recruitment and retention of OLE employees for the overseas positions.

o ILE Policy SME will assess, enhance, and formalize criteria for selecting overseas locations, as well as develop criteria for closing and/or relocating offices currently operating.

o ILE Policy SME will provide guidance into navigating with and around cultural nuances, foreign law enforcement agencies, and inner workings of geographical areas of responsibility.

o ILE Policy SME will work with other SMEs on this program to determine methodology in creating a foreign list of top wildlife trafficking offenders, major countries of concern, trends, routes, strategies, coordination with other entities involved in problem set, top commodities of concern, and develop a strategy for disruption or prosecution.

o ILE Policy SME will work with other SMEs on this program on devising policies and procedures on items where OLE’s international activities impact the intelligence program.

ILE Programs SME o ILE Programs SME will leverage his/her extensive background and experience in intelligence and analysis in a federal law enforcement agency shall conduct an assessment of OLE’s current capabilities and vulnerabilities and formulate a strategy to construct the unit in a seamless manner.

o ILE Programs SME will routinely access classified information and will develop specific internal procedures for OLE to provide and receive classified information, as well as protocols for our interactions with the intelligence community.

o ILE Programs SME will develop policy, procedures and protocols for all interactions between the WIU and the OLE field personnel, including utilization and sharing of third party information. Included is addressing status quo domestic issues, and application to the international scene.

o ILE Programs SME will test and provide recommendation on analytical tools o ILE Programs SME will provide investigative support for ongoing and active investigations o ILE Programs SME will provide a data assessment, review, and changes o ILE Programs SME will develop hiring criteria, standardized training, mentorship program and evaluation and metrics for analysts and managers.

o ILE Programs SME will formulate a strategy to build up the intelligence unit to full staffing and capabilities in compliance and consideration of all applicable laws, regulations and policies. Will provide recommendations on most effective staffing model to integrate intelligence into our operations.

o ILE Programs SME will conduct an analysis of the data we currently house in comparison with our strategic goals. This includes current intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities and vulnerabilities. Will identify intelligence gaps and provide recommendations on changes and alterations to our intelligence at all and any parts of the intelligence cycle. Aim to eliminate or reduce USG duplication of efforts.

o ILE Programs SME provide recommendations and develop analytical products (including how to incorporate elements in other languages, financial and document exploitation, etc.) to benefit OLE and the greater FWS and wildlife trafficking community.

o ILE Programs SME develop specific internal procedures for OLE to provide and receive classified information, as well as protocols for interactions with the intelligence community, including IIRs, for both US and non-US persons.

o ILE Programs SME work with the Intelligence Community in the establishment of and formalizing of an analytical community of interest (ACOT) within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for CWT.

o ILE Programs SME will capture and capitalize on the data we have at our disposal that is currently underutilized o ILE Programs SME will formally address OLE’s relationship, roles and interactions with other agencies that have concurrent jurisdiction on wildlife trafficking investigations so that we may have the full wildlife trafficking intelligence picture and that issues are addressed in a coordinated manner.

o ILE Programs SME will work with the CWT greater community (including NGOs, educational institutions, other law enforcement agencies with overlapping jurisdiction, intergovernmental agencies, etc.) to gain access to their data with related agreements and establish a mutually beneficial partnership.

o ILE Programs SME will assess OLE’s capabilities and weaknesses regarding document and media exploitation, threat finance and communications exploitation and develop a plan to remedy.

o ILE Programs SME will identify, test and provide identify on analytical tools, data and capabilities in the US federal law enforcement community that would be beneficial to the OLE mission and work to integrate into the WIU.

o ILE Programs SME will integrate in the assessment plan how to institutionally integrate intelligence into the activities and operations of OLE so as to have an intelligence-led program.

o ILE Programs SME will develop and implement a WIU marketing plan that educates partners, both internal and external, of our program’s capabilities so that it is used to its fullest potential.

o ILE Programs SME will capture and capitalize on the data we have at our disposal that is currently underutilized (FWS International Affairs, OLE digital evidence, OLE laboratory data; OLE agents’ and inspectors’ data not in case management system, etc.).

o ILE Programs SME will develop a secure network of communication with OLE managers in the field and headquarters elements.

o ILE Programs SME will work with OLE in formally addressing OLE’s relationship, roles and interactions with other agencies (local, tribal, state, federal, foreign and international) that have concurrent jurisdiction on wildlife trafficking investigations so that we may have the full wildlife trafficking intelligence picture and that issues are addressed in a coordinated manner.

ILE Program Consultant o The Consultant will conduct an assessment of the IOU’s current administrative capabilities and vulnerabilities as it relates to international operations. The Contractor will identify areas of concern and formulate a strategy to ensure compliance and cost effectiveness.

o The Consultant will review all administrative aspects of a federal law enforcement program with an international presence including benefit and pay issues.

o Consultant will develop specific internal procedures for the IOU to process and track International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS), as well as protocols for administrative interactions with the inter-agency community and the U.S. Department of State.

o Consultant will implement procedure and protocol for opening of new Attaché Offices, the closing of Offices, and transferring of personnel to include the NSDD-38 process.

o Consultant will assist in writing, reviewing, and implementing Reimbursable Agreements (RA), Interagency Agreements (IAA) and Memorandums of Understanding (MOU).

o Consultant will develop policy, procedures, and protocols for all administrative interactions between OLE/IOU and IOU field personnel relative to U.S. Embassy engagements.

o Consultant will ensure compliance and consideration of all applicable administrative laws and regulations and will provide policy recommendations to integrate into OLE’s existing structure.

o Consultant will aim to eliminate or reduce duplication of efforts within OLE, the USFWS and the Department as a whole relative to administrative issues.

o Consultant will analyze and capitalize on administrative data currently at OLE’s disposal to ensure accuracy and cost effectiveness.

o Consultant will formally address OLE/IOU’s relationship, roles and interactions with other agencies that have an international presence to ensure administrative issues are addressed in a coordinated manner.

o The Consultant will share relevant expertise with existing and new personnel to support the development and implementation of a rigorous, comprehensive and compliant IOU administrative support unit.

Senior Intelligence Liaison o Liaison will administer intelligence projects nationwide.

o Liaison will identify fish and wildlife conservation emerging trends, analyze and communicate those trends appropriately.

o Conduct evaluations of data and intelligence o Evaluate a wide variety of systems and products the maximize intelligence exchange o Perform travel throughout the U.S. and its territories as needed o Use computer networking to monitor equipment and share information and data;

o Train personnel as required; and receive training as necessary o Contractor does not need to provide full time support for this requirement.

All information and data that the contractor develops and encounters in the course of this contract is considered to be controlled by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service OLE and is not releasable to any other entity without the explicit approval of OLE management.

CONTRACT PERFORMANCE

Work hours The contractors will perform forty (40) labor hours per work week during normal Government hours of operation Monday thru Friday, but contractors may be approved to alter work schedule as needed depending on operational needs. The Government facilities shall be closed during federal holidays or similar Government directed facility closings. Support to each requirement shall be full time unless otherwise noted.

Location The principal place of performance at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement Headquarters. Extended assignments to OLE domestic and foreign locations as well as working from home with prior supervisory approval, in support of task objectives is authorized. The contractor may recommend placement of OCONUS staff in support of international operations in Thailand.

KEY PERSONNEL

Subject Matter Experts, Program Consultant, and Senior Intelligence Liaison hired to support this program are considered mission essential personnel.

Required Experience:

a. Subject Matter Experts:

a. The SMEs shall all have a minimum of a Bachelors’ Degree plus twenty (20) years transnational illicit trafficking network investigative and analysis and development (may be combined time) including high value intelligence tracking and targeting development. In lieu of the educational requirement, SMEs can substitute twenty (20) years of counter wildlife trafficking or counter transnational illicit trafficking network analysis and investigative experience. The SMEs must have foreign experience in a law enforcement or law enforcement support capacity—this includes being stationed outside of the United States and/or long-term details outside of the United States.

b. Law Enforcement Program Consultant:

a. The Consultant shall have a minimum of a Bachelors’ Degree plus ten (10) years of experience as a program analyst in a federal law enforcement agency with an international presence.

c. Senior Intelligence Liaison:

a. Senior Intelligence Liaison shall have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree plus twenty (20) years of law enforcement intelligence experience such as be a prior chief of law enforcement with a state or federal conservation agency, with active and cohesive relationships with NACLEC and AFWA.

Security Requirements:

• SMEs and the ILE Program Consultant shall maintain an active Top Secret Security Clearance for the duration of this effort based on a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) completed within the last five (5) years. Contract personnel shall be required to follow local procedures and policies including protection of classified information, building physical security, and attending and completing required security/safety briefings. These contractors must be eligible to obtain a SCI level security clearance and maintain this level of clearance once on board.

• The Senior Intelligence Liaison is not required to have or maintain an active Top Secret Security Clearance. The Liaison will be required to successfully pass the Fish & Wildlife Service background investigation process (NACI/Public Trust) to successfully obtain a PIV card.

DELIVERABLES

The contractor shall submit all reports, data and deliverables for inspection and acceptance.

Monthly Reports: The contractor shall provide monthly reports on the 15th day of each month summarizing current program activities and accomplishments, problems encountered (including identification of any problems, issues or delays and any corrective action that was taken to correct identified problems), recommended solutions (including risk assessment/abatement plan) to problems, incurred costs, schedule status (planned versus actual with rationale for deviations) and planned activities and costs. The contractor shall ensure that the monthly report consists of one (1) dedicated section per subtask and contains any recommended program plan revisions based on lessons learned. The contractor shall ensure the reports contain both technical and programmatic sections.

Yearly Report: The Contractor shall submit twelve (12) months after contract start, a Final Report that details the effectiveness of the data analysis plan and overall task. The Contractor shall ensure the Final Report details the predicted benefits from the data analysis, lessons learned during this effort, and recommendations for future improvement.

DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULE

Monthly Report 15th day of each month Yearly Report Twelve (12) months after contract start

Contractor shall follow the following deliverables below:

Deliverable Due Date Monthly Report Due the 15 Day of Each Month Yearly Report Twelve (12) Months After Contract Start

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

(a) For Contractor employees performing full-time at the Government's facilities, the Government will provide resources, such as office space, utilities, furniture, computers, and access to Government network systems at no cost to the Contractor. Network/internet access may or may not be provided.

(b) Government-furnished property that is used exclusively at the Government's facilities remains under the control of the Government. The Contractor is not required to maintain accountability or provide reporting on such property. However, the Contractor shall report damage, loss, or theft of such property in accordance with Government procedures.

(c) The Contractor shall maintain accountability of Government-furnished property that is used away from Government facilities in accordance with the Property clause of this contract.

TRAVEL

Contractor personnel may be required to conduct travel in the performance of this contract. All travel must be pre-approved in writing by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). Any expenses incurred by Contractor personnel without prior Government approval will be denied for payment. The Contractor will be reimbursed for travel costs in accordance with Part 31 of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR). Travel requirements shall use the most cost effective and efficient means of transportation. All travel should be scheduled in advance in order to take advantage of discounted rates. The Contractor shall engage only the minimum number of travelers and vehicles needed to accomplish the task(s). Travel shall be scheduled during normal duty hours whenever possible. Commuting and parking expenses between an employee's residence and duty station are not reimbursable and will be disallowed. The contractor will adhere to FTR 41 CFR regulations and DOI policy on extended travel assignment reduced per diem rates.

Under the Federal Travel Regulation, 41 CFR § 301-7.12(b)

When travel to a single location is expected to last for an extended period, per diem should be reduced if the employee is able to obtain lodgings at a weekly or monthly rate that is less than the maximum allowable. [Federal Travel Regulation, 41 CFR § 301-7.12(b)]

Title: PART 301 - 7-PER DIEM ALLOWANCES

7.2.2 Calculating Per Diem Reimbursement during Extended TDY Assignment The per diem reimbursement rate for travelers on extended TDY assignments is 55 percent of the maximum allowable rate for the locality rounded up to the next whole dollar amount (e.g., a rate of $61.25 is rounded up to $62), unless a different rate is fully justified and approved prior to the beginning of the assignment. The reduced rate begins on the first day of official duty for the extended TDY assignment; the per diem rate is not reduced for enroute travel days to and from the extended TDY site and the official duty station. If the circumstances of the assignment require a higher or lower rate, the approving official may pre-authorize a different rate if a justification is included with the travel authorization. Generally, per diem reimbursement is reduced for extended TDY travel because travelers can obtain long-term lodging and meals at reduced costs (e.g., extended stay hotel rates, lodging with kitchen facilities) or they receive lodging and meals from the Government at nominal cost. If authorizing a per diem reimbursement rate other than 55 percent for an extended assignment, the approving official must consider the options for lodging and meals available to the traveler. The appropriate rate must be documented prior to travel. Bureaus should establish policy to indicate the appropriate approval level for increasing the per diem reimbursement rate for extended TDY assignments above 55 percent of the locality rate. In general, the increase above the 55 percent is only done for lodging.

U.S. Department of the Interior Temporary Duty Travel Policy

2.6.1 Reducing Per Diem during TDY Travel Bureaus may reduce a traveler's per diem rate for any TDY trip when the approving official can determine in advance that lodging or meal costs will be lower than the prescribed per diem rate. When establishing a reduced per diem rate, the lowest authorized per diem rate must be clearly stated on the travel authorization. Approving officials may not include reduced per diem rates on blanket authorizations (e.g., Limited Open travel authorization). For information on when a traveler is on an extended TDY assignment see Section 7.1. A pre-authorized reduced per diem rate is applicable through the entire duration of the TDY trip, unless a supervisor determines a higher per diem rate is appropriate. Different per diem reimbursement rates must be identified for the applicable dates. The M&IE rate should not be further reduced on the first or last day of travel. In other words, the first and last travel days are not calculated at 75 percent of the reduced per diem rate. When TDY assignments with an expected duration of less than 30 days are extended (i.e., becomes an extended TDY), the Bureau must establish a reduced per diem rate for the remaining days of the assignment. The approving official must ensure that the traveler’s travel authorization is immediately amended as soon as it is known that the assignment will surpass 30 days; the travel authorization must include the lowest authorized reduced per diem rate. The approving official must also ensure that the traveler has been notified of the change in per diem.

Domestic Travel

Contractors are authorized to use commercial air, commercial rail, rental vehicle, Government vehicle as a passenger, company authorized vehicle, or privately owned vehicle when travel is approved. When a mode other than commercial air is contemplated, the Contractor shall contact the COR to determine the mode of travel most advantageous to the Government. Domestic U.S.

travel rates (i.e., per diem, mileage, etc.) can be found on the General Services Administration (GSA) website under the Travel Resources section.

Overseas Non-Foreign Areas/International Travel

Maximum rates of per diem allowances and reimbursements for miscellaneous travel expenses for travel in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico and territories and possessions of the United States are prescribed by the Department of Travel Management Office (DTMO) located on DTMO's website at (http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiem.cfm). The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that all employees scheduled to travel to international locations have a valid passport. International travel to specific countries and regions may be subject to additional DoS requirements, as well as host nation requirements, such as visas. The Contractor shall be responsible for complying with any applicable DoS and destination national requirements and notifying the COR of any matters that impact cost, schedule, or performance.

Maximum rates of per diem allowance and reimbursements for miscellaneous travel expenses for travel in foreign areas, including the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, are established by the DoS (http://aoprals.state.gov).

Travel Invoice

Travel expenses shall not include fees calculated as profit. General and Administrative (G&A) expenses shall be allowable on travel costs. US Fish and Wildlife reserves the right to negotiate a ceiling on all travel costs. Travel costs incurred by subcontractors may not be subsequently "marked up" by a prime Contractor's G&A prior to submission. The Contractor must submit a travel invoice upon the completion of travel. The travel invoice must be submitted to the COR in accordance with the invoice clause or the timetable specified in the subject contract. The invoice must contain all required documentation, including receipts supporting the travel costs and evidence of pre-authorization to travel. The documentation shall include the following information: traveler's name(s), purpose of travel, destination, Contract Number, Task Order Number (if applicable), Contract Line-Item Number (CLIN), name of Government official authorizing the travel, date of authorization and a breakdown of actual travel costs. If applicable, the travel cost breakdown for per diem shall include: total number of travel days, lodging, miscellaneous and incidental expenses (including tolls, mileage, etc.), differential and allowances, with subtotals by category and a grand total. Vouchers and receipts shall be attached to invoices.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this shall be issued as follows:

1 base year then options to renew annually up to 2 years http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiem.cfm