7._SOW.pdf

(Attachment # 7)

REQUEST FOR QUOTE

DOG CARE SERVICES

DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA

SOLICITATION NO.: DJM-17-A44-Q-0020

STATEMENT OF WORK

1) PARTIES AND PURPOSE

a) This contract is between the contractor and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) through which the contractor will provide full case support and subsequent care of approximately 60 pit bull terriers (dogs) involved in a dog fighting operation.

b) The purpose of this requirement is to provide onsite seizure/evidentiary support, transportation, daily care, treatment, food, kennel boarding, expert witness services as needed and disposal services for the dogs.

c) The 60 dogs are currently located in three different locations within the in the state of South Carolina.

a. Due to confidentiality, the only information regarding the locations of the dogs that can be disclosed at this time is that they are located in Richland County.

Information regarding the specific locations of the dogs will be provided after award.

2) DEFINITIONS AND TERMS

a) ASSET ID NUMBER (AIN): This is the asset identifier which is assigned, by the seizing agency, to each asset at the time that it is seized.

b) BASIC VETERINARY CARE: The routine veterinary procedures for the well-being of the dogs often performed on a regular basis to include but not limited to regular vaccinations, worm testing, de-worming, veterinary examinations, routine blood tests, and routine or non-invasive veterinary treatment and procedures necessary to ensure the health of the seized dogs.

c) BUSINESS HOURS: Hours between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal Government holidays.

d) CONTRACTING OFFICER (CO): A person with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings.

e) CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR): A Government employee who provides technical direction to the contractor. The COR is designated in writing by the

CO.

f) EXPERT WITNESS: Certified individual who will provide forensic and/or behavior analysis to a court of law in relation to the criminal or civil cases pursued for the animal fighting violations

g) KENNELING: Services to include but not limited to housing, feeding, bathing and grooming. Kenneling shall be billed per dog kenneled.

h) OFFSITE FOSTER CARE: Boarding rate for any dog(s) which may be housed at a foster care home versus the main storage facility. Contractor must demonstrate how this

DOG CARE SERVICES

method of care is best for the dog(s) behavioral growth and development. Any offsite foster care must have COR approval.

i) SPECIAL VETERINARY CARE: The care for the dogs not done on a routine basis to include but not limited to non-routine/specialized treatment(s), undertake invasive procedures, or performing of humane euthanasia. Appropriate methods should be utilized to humanely euthanize an animal and the euthanized animal should be disposed of properly. Prior COR approval is required before special veterinary care is performed.

j) TRANSPORTATION: Includes initial relocation of dogs from seizure location to the vendor’s facility(ies), additional transportation to/from veterinary facilities while in custody and any return to owner/third party. Transport shall be billed per dog transported.

k) TRAVEL: Includes any necessary costs associated with travel of expert witness services performed.

3) CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

a) Contractor shall prepare and transmit to the USMS an Operational Plan that includes:

i. Point of contact for operational coordination prior to the time of seizure

ii. Proposed strategy to house the dogs after the time of seizure. This strategy may be a centralized location, a series of partnered facilities/shelters or a combination of the two.

iii. Proposed strategy for maintaining security at the facilities where the dogs are housed.

iv. Relocation strategy to transport the dogs from the various seizure locations to the contractor’s storage location(s).

b) Contractor shall provide the following key personnel:

i. A designated point of contact for 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year access for operational matters

ii. Expert witnesses as needed for the criminal or civil cases for the dog fighting operation

iii. A centralized point of contact for billing and administrative issues

4) TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENT

a) The contractor shall obtain COR approval prior to transporting any dog

b) All dogs shall be transported via automobile.

i. If a dog must be transported via airplane, the contractor shall provide a written statement to the COR which outlines why the dog cannot be transported via automobile.

DOG CARE SERVICES

c) All dogs shall be transported in crash-rated travel crates. Travel crates must be secured within the vehicle to prevent movement during transport

d) All dogs shall be kept inside the transport automobile during the time the vehicle is in motion

e) All dogs shall be transported at a temperature which will prevent heat stress or exposure to cold

f) Dogs shall be crated individually except where otherwise indicated for health or welfare reason.

g) The contractor shall provide food and water, be in prior to loading or in the crates, to the dogs before placing them in the crate to be transported.

h) All dogs shall be taken out of the vehicle at least once every 5 hours during transportation

5) FACILITY(IES) REQUIREMENTS

a) Each facility must limit both physical and visible access to the dogs to approved persons.

b) Must possess active liability insurance policy.

c) Contractor must be compliant with all applicable Federal, State and local laws, regulations and ordinances regarding kenneling and care of dogs.

d) Must have, at a minimum, inside and/or outside runs not less than 48 inches wide with a minimum length of 10 feet.

e) Inside pens must be at minimum 16 square feet per dog and must be large enough for the dog(s) to turn about freely, to stand erect and lie down in a natural position. Dogs shall be caged individually except where otherwise indicated for health or welfare reasons.

f) Must be able to provide lighting by either natural or artificial means shall provide a minimum of thirty candle power for at least eight hours per day except where contraindicated for health reasons. A means to control the amount of sunlight entering dog quarters during the warm seasons of the year shall be provided.

g) Facility must have adequate environmental sanitation to keep vermin away.

h) Must have running hot and cold water.

i) Must remove feces and other excreta at least once daily and the runs washed down with hot water and disinfectant cleaner. Excreta shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner.

j) Must be climate controlled and ventilated in such a manner as will provide fresh air at all times.

k) Any offsite foster care locations must:

a. Have a written agreement releasing the United States Government, the

Department of Justice and USMS from any liability for any harm/damages incurred while the dog(s) is in their location

DOG CARE SERVICES

b. Have a written agreement in place with the contractor specifying the terms and conditions of the fostering of the dog(s). The written agreement between the contractor and the offsite kenneling location must be approved by the COR.

c. Bring the dog(s) to the main facility on a monthly basis to allow USMS personnel to perform an inspection of the dog(s). This monthly inspection will be coordinated with the contractor and the USMS; the contractor will then notify the offsite kenneling location of the date/time. Transportation costs will not be cost reimbursable.

d. Offsite foster care shall be billed at the same rate as the kenneling daily rate.

l) Staffing and Access Requirements

a. The contractor shall be available, at its storage facility(s), between the hours of

8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal Government holidays. Contractor shall provide a point of contact for 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year access.

b. USMS COR or COR designee will perform monthly and unannounced inspections of facility, dogs, records, and processes.

6) CARE AND TREATMENT OF DOGS

1. Care of the dogs shall include the following;

a. All dogs shall be segregated for health, welfare or breeding reasons and any vicious animals shall be removed and caged separately.

b. Veterinarian must be on call and available to perform special veterinary care as needed.

c. Facilities for isolating dogs under quarantine of treatment for communicable diseases shall be in a room or area that is separated from other dog-holding facilities.

d. Dogs shall be provided with clean fresh water and sufficient and wholesome food. Food and water containers shall be kept clean and sanitized.

e. Dogs shall be exercised on a daily basis unless the dog is subject to medical treatment(s) which would prevent daily exercising.

f. Provide and/or obtain basic medical care including veterinary treatment (i.e., regular vaccines, de-worming, bi-annual dental exams) as needed in order to ensure the well-being of the dogs. There shall only be one charge per month per dog for basic vet care.

g. Provide any other care deemed necessary in order to ensure humane treatment of each dog.

DOG CARE SERVICES

h. Notify COR immediately of any serious illness or injury that requires veterinary treatment.

i. Only approved USDA, FDA and EPA products are to be utilized on the dogs. These products must be in accordance with the approved product use guidelines.

j. Contractor shall have appropriate staffing with the ability to recognize common health problems and know how to utilize animal health products and other control measures.

k. If prevention and control methods are ineffective, the contractor and/or staff should promptly contact a veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment program to minimize animal suffering and animal losses.

l. Special veterinary care, approved by COR in advance, is to be performed by a certified veterinarian. In the case of emergencies outside of business hours, contractor has the rights to perform necessary care, not exceeding $2,500, to prevent any harm to the animal(s).

m. If any dogs are found to be pregnant, contractor shall:

a. Provide suitable warmed clean area for whelping and care of newborn puppies. This includes a whelping box and other supplies to assure the safe birth of the litter and a small warm box with heating pad for newborn puppies after birth.

b. Consult/provide an individual with experience to monitor the whelping process. This individual will ensure that the puppies are being properly fed, either via suckling from the mother or being hand fed if there are suckling issues with either the mother and/or puppy

c. Provide a report via email to the COR within 48 hours of birthing to include at minimum the quantity of puppies, date of birth and weight for each puppy

d. Provide a safe area for confining the puppies when they become mobile

e. Assure vaccinations are given at six to eight weeks after birth

f. Report any incidents related to the puppies to the COR within 24 hours

2. Contractor will socialize and perform behavioral analysis for all dogs in the care of the contractor. Socialization and behavior analysis should include but not be limited to:

a. Testing and monitoring the dogs’ ability to cue to human gestures

b. Observing, testing and monitoring the dogs’ ability to cue to other dogs

c. If at any time during socialization and behavior analysis the dog(s)’ behavior results in continual regression, the contractor will notify the COR so that the correct action may be taken for the welfare of the contractor’s staff, the dog and the other animals around it.

3. Record-keeping

DOG CARE SERVICES

a. Contractor shall maintain on a current basis complete and accurate records and account for all expenditures of funds under this contract in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and instructions provided by COR to facilitate on-site auditing and inspection of such records.

b. Permit COR or designee onto premises at any time during normal business hours for inspection of the dogs, facility, and all records relating to this contract. The contractor shall maintain all records through the duration of this contract.

Unannounced inspections will also be performed.

c. The contractor shall maintain all records pertaining to the health and veterinary treatment of the dogs and provide upon request by CO/COR.

d. The contractor shall maintain all records pertaining to the dogs behavioral analysis conducted during interactions between the contractor and the dogs.

i. The contractor shall annotate the files of all dogs for significant developments and/or regressions occurring during behavioral analysis

7) EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES

1. Contractor will provide personnel able to conduct expert witness services if requested.

All expert witnesses must provide a curriculum vitae (CV) showing their experience in conducting analysis of dogs involved in dog fighting operations.

2. Expert witness services may include but are not limited to:

a. Conducting behavioral analysis of dogs which may been involved in dog fighting operations include hands on behavioral evaluation and report of observation and recommendations

b. Providing written reports and/or opinions to be used as evidence in a court of law on any of the dogs.

i. Any written reports and/or opinions should be delivered within 10 business days of conducting the analysis of the dog(s)

c. Providing testimony in court if required

3. The contractor shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred for expert witness services. These expenses shall include transportation costs, lodging, meals, incidental, and expenses (MI&E). Information regarding Federal Travel Regulations and Procedures can be obtained at the following website: www.gsa.gov. First class airfare and other upgraded methods of travel will not be reimbursed.

8) SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER OF THE DOGS

If at any time while the contractor is caring for the dogs, the U.S. determines that the dogs should be transferred to another facility or location, the COR will notify the contractor as http://www.gsa.gov/

DOG CARE SERVICES

soon as possible. That transfer will be the responsibility of the United States and will relieve the contractor of any further responsibility under this contract.

9) DISPOSAL

1. Upon the conclusion of the judicial proceedings involving the dogs, the contractor will begin the preparing of the dogs for adoption.

2. Preparations should include but not be limited to:

b) Spaying/neutering of the dog(s)

c) If needed, identifying a potential partnering organization licensed to facilitate the adoption of dogs in all geographic locations

d) Preparing all necessary paperwork required for adoption

e) Screening potential candidates seeking to adopt the dog(s)

3) The contractor and the USMS will then coordinate for a mutually agreed upon time frame for the USMS to transfer full ownership of the dogs to the contractor.

4) Once the transfer of ownership is completed, it would then be expected that the contractor will facilitate the adoption process for the dogs to new owners. All adoptions must take place in accordance with the laws of the state in which the dogs are adopted.

Release to Lien Holder, Claimant or Owner

1. Contractor may be instructed to release dogs to a third party as directed by the COR.

2. Disposal Documents Required: Upon disposal via release to claimant, or owner, the contractor shall execute the following documents:

a. USM-102

b. District Hold Harmless Agreement (if applicable)

10) HOLD HARMLESS & INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

1. Contractor agrees to hold harmless the United States for any death, injury, or other harm suffered by any officer, employee, volunteers or other individuals caused by the dogs while in their care.

2. Contractor agrees to indemnify the United States in the event that any suit, cross-complaint, third-party complaint, or counterclaim is filed against the United States, resulting from any death, injury, harm or claim of any kind suffered by third parties caused by the dogs during the period when the dogs are under contractor’s control.

3. Contractor agrees to hold harmless the United States for any personal or real property damage caused by any of the dogs while in their care.

DOG CARE SERVICES

11) CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

1. Except as otherwise set forth in this section, contractor agrees to strict confidentiality regarding this contract and their participation in the evaluation and care of the dogs in this case. Under NO circumstances will any information be released to third parties or any information that will compromise the United States’ investigation, the names or any identifying information about the target of the investigation, evidence, or any association to the dogs.

2. Contractor shall limit access to the subject dogs pertained to in this contract to individuals with an official need for access in order to perform responsibilities under this contract. Representatives of the USMS shall be allowed access to the dogs and the facility at any time during business hours unless there is an urgent need or emergency after those hours.

3. Access is restricted to the contractor or their authorized employees, the CO/COR or his/her designee, or individuals accompanied by USMS personnel that are approved by the CO/COR. A list of all authorized contractor employees will be given to the COR upon award of this contract.