FY24_IO_Contract_ATLAS_SOO.docx

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT

HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

ANALYTICAL, TECHNICAL, LOGISTICAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT (ATLAS)

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

1. Purpose:

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is seeking to acquire the services of a qualified professional contracting business to support the entirety of its integrated international mission set and strategic goals. The contractor should be capable of performing tasks in furtherance of the operational areas of HSI’s international mission, as well as the critical underlying and complementing management and programmatic support elements that ensure the most effective, efficient, and successful execution of operations and initiatives. The contractor will be responsible for providing the personnel needed to conduct, supervise, and manage the comprehensive array of services required by HSI to execute its international operational mission and the critical corresponding elements that help manage and advance these operations. The purpose of this Statement of Objectives (SOO) is to obtain information from businesses that demonstrates their ability to perform these activities and how they intend to implement support for HSI’s international objectives and underlying requirements.

2. Background:

HSI is the principal investigative component of the DHS, responsible for identifying, investigating, disrupting, and dismantling transnational criminal organizations, terrorist networks, and other criminal elements that threaten the national security and public safety of the United States.

HSI has unique and expansive legal authority to conduct federal criminal investigations into the illicit movement of people, goods, money, technology, and other contraband into, out of, and throughout the United States and across our borders, physically and virtually. HSI utilizes these authorities to investigate a wide array of criminal offenses, including violations involving terrorism; national security threats; narcotics trafficking; transnational gang activity; child exploitation; human smuggling and trafficking; illegal exports of controlled technology and weapons; money laundering; financial fraud and scams; cybercrime; intellectual property theft and trade fraud; identity and benefit fraud; wildlife trafficking; and human rights violations and war crimes.

In collaboration with its strategic partners in the U.S. and abroad, HSI special agents gather information and evidence in an effort to identify and illuminate threats, and to take actions designed to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations, terrorist network and facilitators, and other criminal actors operating within the United States and beyond our borders. These efforts safeguard U.S. national, border, and economic security; protect vulnerable populations and victims of crimes; and ensure the safety of the public and our communities.

HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, including special agents, criminal analysts, and mission support personnel assigned to offices throughout the United States and around the world. Most of HSI’s approximately 7,000 special agents are assigned to one of HSI’s domestic field offices located in over 200 cities across the nation. HSI’s international footprint is DHS’s largest investigative presence abroad, anchored by special agents assigned to U.S. embassies, consulates and Department of Defense (DoD) combatant commands around the globe. Collectively, this worldwide presence equips HSI with an unparalleled capability to combat crime on a global scale – detecting and deterring national security and public safety threats before they reach the homeland and launching and pursuing investigations into criminal actors operating within our borders.

3. Requirements:

With a robust international footprint spanning over 90 offices in more than 50 countries, HSI has the largest international investigative presence within DHS, and one of the most expansive within the U.S. government. HSI’s cadre of internationally deployed special agents, criminal analysts, and mission support personnel work alongside foreign law enforcement counterparts and U.S. government partners to advance the HSI and DHS mission around the world. HSI’s global network of attachés and liaisons is supported by HSI headquarters (HQ) personnel assigned to the International Operations (IO) Division within the National Capital Region.

Broadly, HSI’s international mission centers on operational efforts undertaken by HSI personnel internationally and at HQ, to identify, investigate, and mitigate threats to U.S. national security and public safety. HSI’s screening and vetting operations, investigative activities, criminal and intelligence analysis/support, and lead generation and development efforts are all components of this mission set.

The operational elements of HSI’s international mission require a complementing suite of programmatic, administrative, and strategic support activities that enable success on the operational front. These efforts include, but are not limited to, program management; external and internal communications; performance analysis; financial and logistics management; budget execution and controls; long-term strategic planning; automation and efficiency; and training support.

Over the last several years, HSI IO has expanded its global presence and capabilities and the overarching nature and focus of the IO mission has similarly evolved. As IO continues to expand its international footprint in furtherance of HSI’s mission, the need for enhanced and integrated contract support across the full spectrum of IO’s activities is required to successfully and efficiently achieve mission objectives. This necessity is driven by the ever-evolving landscape of transnational criminal organizations, sophisticated terrorist operations, and other criminal threat actors that consistently develop new methods to exploit emerging vulnerabilities and jeopardize the security of the United States. The evolving, dynamic, and complex nature of these modern security threats requires an equally nimble, forward leaning, and strategic response by HSI. Establishing an IO-wide integrated contract solution will not only enable IO to more efficiently perform its core responsibilities now, but critically, will also equip IO with the flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing operational and strategic demands as they unfold.

This strategic shift is essential to enable HSI to more effectively execute both the operational elements and the corresponding support elements of its international mission. IO’s operations, investigations, and initiatives play an indispensable role in identifying and responding to the multitude of rapidly changing security threats facing our nation. However, the focus of these operational efforts and the underlying activities that support them should not be stagnant; they should instead be adaptable and scalable, positioning IO in an optimal position to respond to and implement change. This revised approach, which seeks to integrate the entirety of the support necessary to equip IO with the tools it needs to accomplish its critical mission, will create efficiencies and foster unity of effort within the HSI IO Division, underscoring IO’s commitment to adaptability and foresight in combating transnational threats.

4. General Performance Objectives:

IO’s operational activities are inextricably linked to the programmatic, administrative, and strategic functions it performs in support of these efforts. The overarching objective of a comprehensive contract supporting the entirety of the IO mission is to integrate and streamline current activities; create organizational efficiencies; facilitate unity of mission and cohesion of effort across IO; and foster an environment of increased adaptability to respond to evolving and future threats.

The performance objectives HSI is seeking through this integrated contract solution will center on two core lines of effort: 1) Operational Support and 2) Management & Program Analytics Support. Required activities will predominantly occur within and in support of the following areas of IO’s organizational structure:

· Eastern Hemisphere Operations

· Western Hemisphere Operations

· International Programs

· Financial and Logistics Management

· Policy and Strategic Planning

Within this framework, businesses should be able to demonstrate how they intend to maximize IO’s ability to successfully advance and achieve the following general objectives:

· Advance investigations conducted or supported by HSI attaché offices, through criminal and intelligence analysis and other operational support measures.

· Analyze information to identify and illuminate threats to national security and public safety.

· Support screening, vetting, and other efforts designed to identify and investigate terrorist and criminal threats and prevent their ability to enter the United States.

· Analyze data to identify and distribute leads for action across HSI.

· Support efforts to equip foreign partners with the capabilities needed to advance the HSI mission abroad.

· Support efficient HQ management of IO operations, programs, and initiatives.

· Create tools and platforms that automate and streamline management of organizational activities, processes, and personnel.

· Develop internal and external communications products relating to IO’s operations, programs, and initiatives.

· Enhance HSI and IO brand awareness through the implementation of a strategic communications plan and campaign across multiple communications platforms and targeted to key audiences and constituencies.

· Create and enhance performance management and analysis capabilities.

· Enhance financial management capabilities, such as budget planning and execution and the management of outside funding sources.

· Perform administrative and logistical functions required to execute the IO mission.

· Support strategic planning efforts designed to plan for and facilitate IO growth and adaptability and identify and implement short- and long-term organizational goals.

5.0 Specific Performance Objectives:

5.1 Operational Support

IO’s screening and vetting efforts, investigative activities, criminal and intelligence analysis/support, and lead generation and development efforts are all components of IO’s operational mission set.

5.1.1 Screening and Vetting: IO plays an integral role in the nation’s multilayered screening and vetting process to identify and prevent threats to the homeland. To ensure the screening and vetting processes continue to address immediate challenges and remain ahead of evolving threats, IO requires skilled analysts to screen and vet various entities including but not limited to persons, businesses, and other entities of interest, criminal organizations, and other threat actors. The purpose of these activities is to assess the potential safety and security risks they pose and to use any identified derogatory or other information to disrupt threats, initiate investigations, or inform other potential actions. Due to the international nature and nexus of HSI’s screening and vetting actions, the process requires specific staffing and coordination outside of normal business hours. Additionally, at the start of contract, personnel must be able to obtain and maintain proper clearance to access and utilize law enforcement classified systems and information at the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level. Additionally, the contractor must possess national American industry classification system (NAICS) for investigative services (561611) knowledge. The contractor should be able to demonstrate an ability to do the following:

· Use advanced data analysis techniques and access law enforcement and classified databases and networks to identify potential security threats and criminal actors/organizations and to develop quality work products based on that information.

· Employ sophisticated data aggregation and analysis tools to effectively identify and assess potential threats, ensuring scalability and adaptability to changing security landscapes.

· Integrate open-source and publicly available information into screening and vetting review processes for more comprehensive risk assessments, developing efficient methodologies to parse and utilize vast amounts of public data.

· Maximize existing screening and vetting processes to identify and illuminate criminal actors and networks, develop investigative leads, share actionable information with stakeholders, and initiate and support investigations.

· Develop and maintain high standards in reporting accuracy through the intermittent review and revision of processes/procedures.

· Coverage consideration can include that at least one position during normal business hours will be covered by IO.

· Continually provide feedback and analysis on workflows and methods to improve efficiencies and target results.

· Establish comprehensive quality control protocols across operations to standardize excellence in analysis, resulting in reliable and accurate information and intelligence dissemination.

5.1.2 Intelligence and Investigative Analytical Support: Implementing a comprehensive approach and methodology to support IO’s investigative mission through intelligence analysis is central to executing IO’s mission. Prioritizing investigations and criminal analysis requires skilled intelligence analysts to be able to compile, analyze, and synthesize information using threat detection methods that support and drive new and ongoing IO investigations. Additionally, at the start of the contract, personnel must be able to obtain and maintain proper clearance to access and utilize law enforcement classified systems and information at the TS/SCI level. The contractor should be able to demonstrate an ability to do the following:

· Develop comprehensive and in-depth evaluations on subjects of interest in support of IO using classified, law enforcement sensitive, and unclassified/open-source data.

· Collaborate with international and domestic HSI offices to provide support and analysis on investigations and threats across the entirety of HSI’s investigative portfolio.

· Utilize geospatial analysis to deliver actionable insights for IO using various technologies and software.

· Develop standardized reporting methodologies to address ad hoc requests and quickly produce qualitative reports of analysis ensuring timely response for stakeholders.

· Enhance the precision and speed of data ingestion processes to efficiently identify and analyze information.

· Data cleansing and deploying advanced data processing techniques to ensure rapid and accurate assessments of potential national security risks.

· Define, manipulate, aggregate, and use both structured and unstructured “big data” to support law enforcement investigations.

· Continually provide feedback and analysis on workflows and methods to improve efficiencies and target results.

· Establish comprehensive quality control protocols across operations to standardize excellence in analysis, resulting in reliable and accurate intelligence dissemination.

· Conduct comprehensive criminal analysis utilizing network analytic techniques to include but not limited to social network analysis, financial analysis, or supply chain analysis.

5.1.3 Surge Task Support for Dynamic Operational Needs: In an environment in which security demands are constantly evolving, the ability to dynamically scale and adapt operational capabilities is key. This task focuses on enhancing the operational flexibility and responsiveness of IO, particularly during periods of heightened activity or emergent challenges. This task underlines the necessity for a flexible and scalable approach to operational management, ensuring IO is equipped to meet both current and future challenges effectively. The contractor should be capable of achieving the following:

· Resource Management: Efficient allocation of resources to address fluctuating operational demands, ensuring consistent performance levels.

· Operational Scalability: Capability to expand or contract operational efforts in line with shifting requirements, maintaining quality and effectiveness.

· Responsive Deployment: Quick mobilization and deployment of resources to effectively handle sudden increases in workload or emerging threats.

· Integrated Coordination: Seamless integration and coordination of efforts, both internally and with external entities, to support the overarching mission goals.

· Continuity and Improvement: Emphasis on sustaining long-term operational effectiveness and contributing to the continuous enhancement of IO strategies and capabilities.

5.2 Management and Program Analytic Support:

Positioning HSI with a robust management and programmatic support element is crucial to enable HSI to successfully accomplish its operational mission and effectively navigate the dynamics of its global investigative and security requirements. By investing efforts into several core initiatives, IO will enhance the efficacy of its global operations, initiatives, and programs and enable IO to meet its strategic priorities while improving security measures and strengthening relationship with other law enforcement and intelligence communities.

5.1.1 Analytics and Performance Management

· Utilize data-driven methodologies to enable IO to make more informed expansion decisions that are rooted in data and strategic priorities. This will need to incorporate financial impact assessments, resource levels, and law enforcement and open-source data sets at a minimum.

· Develop and manage products, tools, and other capabilities designed to document, track, analyze, and report the outputs and outcomes of IO investigations, programs, initiatives, and operations.

· Analyze programs and operations through the lens of agency and departmental strategic mission and goals in order to produce streamlined reporting and analysis of accomplishments and highlights as digestible executive leadership and annual reporting requirements. This will include coordination with high level executive and support staff, official records management team(s), and other agencies as necessary.

5.1.2 Budget, Finance, and Logistics

· Support management of the entire portfolio of interagency agreements to include forecasting, budgeting, managing reimbursements, reporting, communications, and other logistical elements.

· Create, manage and utilize tools to support IO accounting needs.

· Conduct analysis on current and projected budgetary allocations to utilize and forecast annual budgets and proposals.

· Increase collaboration and efficiency between HQ budgeting staff and operational and programmatic areas.

· Ensure efficient and effective management of all IO budget and funding needs across all operational and programmatic aspects of IO.

· Support IO logistical and administrative needs involving travel processes and management and property management.

5.1.3 Communications and Training:

· Create or improve upon communications through the development of standardized materials for both internal and external stakeholders.

· Work with stakeholders to identify areas of improvement in current training curricula and provide tailored support based on programmatic areas.

· Utilize multiple forms of media including but not limited to video, photography, and webpage content to improve IO’s image to government and public audiences.

· Deliver training and guidance to IO on product, tool, and application use as requested or as tools/platforms are developed.

· Create library of up-to-date training materials, presentations, and guidance.

· Create and develop professional communications and reporting products for multiple audiences (i.e. Leadership, Congressional, Media).

· Develop a strategic communications plan and campaign to highlight HSI and IO mission and value across multiple platforms and directed towards multiple audiences. Advance the initiative through data analysis, creation of communication products, videos, social media campaigns, and website development, and provide recommendations on best practices including content, usability, and design.

5.1.4 Executive Strategic Policy and Planning

· Planning – assist in the analytical and technical support of IO in areas of strategic planning, resource/workforce management and organizational design to improve overall division efficiency and ensure best use of resources. Develop tools and recommend solutions for future needs and growth.

· Policy - assist with the development and refresh of policy and process-related narrative documents. Establish a cadence for review and updating documents to ensure they remain current.

5.1.5 Web Development Support

· Manage and maintain large scale web-based platforms which are utilized by operations and programs across IO. This includes processing and input of small to large data sets, roster management, access controls, design and content development, maintaining proficiency and institute regular program feedback.

· Promote coordination and collaboration across operational and program areas to reduce redundancy and improve efficiency.

· Integrate analytic data collection for existing and new operational and programmatic tools, workflows, and data sets to create or produce executive level review summaries.

· Establish predictive analytics to better prioritize large datasets and identify critical problem sets and/or threats based on operational and programmatic areas of responsibility.

· Consolidate information across various storage methods (i.e. individual emails, shared drives, printed materials, etc.) through web-based platforms which provide access control as determined by associated program. Recommend best practices to improve efficiencies throughout.

6.0 CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL

6.1 Required Personnel:

The Contractor shall provide and maintain qualified personnel that meet or exceed all requirements specified in this SOO. With approval by the COR and CO; additional labor categories and qualifications may be incorporated or proposed by the vendor to ensure the appropriate level of support is attained.

6.2 Continuity of Support

The Contractor shall ensure that the contractually required level of support for this requirement is maintained at all times.

6.3 Key Personnel:

The Government has identified the below position types as essential for this requirement:

· Program Manager

· Project Manager

· Intelligence Analyst (Sr – Jr levels)

· Data Scientist

· Program Analyst

· Criminal Analyst

· Writer/Editor

· Branding/Strategic Communications Specialist

6.4 Additional Requirements:

· At least two positions need to be fluent in foreign languages (Spanish, Mandarin and/or French)

6.5 Minimum Security Requirements

At the start of contract, personnel must be able to obtain and maintain proper clearance to access and utilize law enforcement classified systems and information at the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level.

7.0 CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

7.1 Government Holidays

The following Government holidays are observed by Government personnel: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday, Presidential Inauguration Day President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and any other day designated by Federal Statute, Executive Order, and/or Presidential Proclamation, or administrative leave granted by the Government.

7.2 Transition

The Contractor shall be responsible for the Transition-In and Transition-Out of all technical activities. The Contractor shall ensure smooth transitions from/to the current activities and responsibilities of the incumbent. The Contractor shall provide Transition-In and Transition-Out Plans and a supporting project schedule identifying the support necessary to coordinate the transfer of all activities. The Project Schedule will incorporate the transition management activities for both Transition In and Transition-Out plans. The Government will designate a transition period for the incoming Contractor to coordinate and work with the incumbent Contractor.

7.3 Commencement of Work

The Contractor shall commence all operations required by the contract as of the first (1) day of the contract period. Therefore, on the initial day of performance, the Contractor shall provide a workforce that is fully qualified and capable of performing all work required under the contract to include security clearances and requirements.

7.4 Transition-In Plan

The Contractor shall propose a transition of operations plan to ensure uninterrupted support and services are rendered while the transfer of knowledge and files are accomplished. The Transition-In Plan shall begin at a date specified by the COR. A draft transition in plan is due with proposal submission. The final Transition-In Plan is due five (5) business days after contract award. The Contractor shall develop a Plan to transition services that shall include:

· Availability of Key Resources

· Timelines/Milestones

· Coordination with Government Representatives

· Review and evaluate transition of current support services to determine extent to which any of the plans or projections can be used in the formation of planning for the execution of the current effort

· Orientation to introduce Government personnel, programs and users to the Contractor’s team, tools, methodologies and business processes

· Documentation and inventory

· Provide briefing and personnel in-processing procedures

· Continuance of any scheduled deliverables

· Continuance of standard operations during the transition period

· Transition of records, knowledge, files, procedures and/or other designated information critical to the success of this requirement

· Submission of security information package as required for all contractor employees assigned to contract performance

· Shadow/mentor the incumbent for ten (10) business days

7.5 Transition-Out Plan

The Contractor shall propose a (20) business day Transition-Out Plan, describing how the incumbent Contractor shall ensure the timely and efficient transition of current operations to the successor Contractor in the event of a follow on effort. A draft Transition-Out plan is due within 180 days of the contract award period of performance start date. The final Transition-Out plan is due within five (5) business days of Government's review, comments and approval.

The transition may be to a Government entity or another Contractor if award does not remain with the incumbent Contractor. In accordance with the Government approved plan, the Contractor will assist the Government in planning and implementing a complete transition to the successor that will include formal coordination with Government staff and successor staff and management. The Transition-Out Plan will include delivery of copies of existing policies and procedures, and delivery of required metrics and statistics, as well as the full range of plans and activities required to bring the contracted work effort to logical completion where possible and record of all work-in-progress that will be delivered to the Government for use at the Government’s discretion. The transition plan will include, but is not limited to:

· Coordination with Government representatives

· List of key events, activities and tasks

· Summary of all work-in-progress activities and projects which shall include any technical documents developed, delivered and maintenance during the performance of work under this contract

· Review, evaluation and transition of current support services

· Transition of historic data

· Transfer of all necessary business and/or technical documentation

· Applicable de-briefing and personnel out-processing procedures

· Participation in exit interviews as deemed appropriate by COR

· Allowing new Contractor to shadow/mentor for 15 business days

· Submit Transition-Out bi-weekly reports to the COR on progress toward completing the transition out tasks.

· Final report to the COR once transition out is complete.

7.6 Staffing Plan

The Contractor shall provide a Staffing Plan that establishes clear organizational lines of authority and responsibility to ensure effective management of the resources assigned. A draft Staffing Plan is due with quotation submission. The final Staffing Plan is due five (5) business days after contract award date.

The Contractor shall identify all proposed key and non-key personnel to include labor category, FTE, task responsibilities, teleworking program/policy, qualifications and security clearance level.

The Staffing Plan shall include the Contractor’s overall approach to hire the required staff and maintain adequate staff during the period of performance and to ensure that personnel are able to successfully pass an ICE background investigation.

The Staffing Plan shall include a detailed staffing matrix showing the following:

· Name of each Contractor personnel proposed by labor category and his/her skills and qualifications

· SOO Task Area

· Company of proposed Contractor Personnel (prime or sub-Contractor)

· Estimated start date for each proposed Contractor Personnel

· Current hiring status of the proposed Contractor Personnel which should include whether or not he/she is a current employee and has/has not signed a letter of intent for employment

7.7 Subcontract Management

The contractor shall be responsible for any subcontract management necessary to integrate work performed on this requirement and shall be responsible and accountable for subcontractor performance on this requirement. The prime contractor will manage work distribution to ensure there are no Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) considerations. Contractors may add subcontractors to their team after written notification to the CO and COR and approval from the CO is received in writing.

8. Project Management Plan

8.1 Initial Project Management Plan

The Contractor shall develop a Project Management Plan, outlining resources, activities, and milestones necessary to accomplish work specified in the SOO. A Project Management Plan will demonstrate the understanding of the SOO requirements, a strong plan for accomplishment of schedule and deliverables, and an effective methodology for preparatory and transition activities. The Project Management Plan will not exceed (12) months, and will thoroughly address the requirements and deliverables identified in the SOO. Technical activities in the schedule will be at a level of detail sufficient for the Contractor to manage the task. The Contractor shall provide the draft project management plan with their proposal. The final Project Management Plan is due (30) business days after the period of performance start date.

8.2 Annual Project Management Plan

If Option Years are exercised, the Contractor shall provide an Annual Project Management Plan that reflect the current SOO requirements and strong plan for accomplishment of schedule and deliverables. Annual Project Management Plan is due ten (10) business days after Option is exercised.

8.3 Reference Guides

All new initiatives and processes will have an accompanying SOP, quick reference guide, or manual that outlines the process using text and screenshots in a step-by-step format that is comprehensive in scope. The SOPs, quick reference guides, and manuals will serve as a central repository for training and frequently asked questions. Draft SOPs, quick reference guides, or SOPs are due within 30 business days after training or application demonstration. Final SOPs, quick reference guides and manuals are due within five (5) business days of Government's review, comments and approval and shall be reviewed and updated (if necessary) on a quarterly basis. All reference material should be completed no later than 30 days prior to the contract end date.

8.4 Quality Control/Quality Assurance

8.4.1 Quality Control Plan: The Contractor shall develop and maintain an effective Quality Control Plan (QCP) to ensure services are performed in accordance with this SOO. The Contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of deficiencies. The Contractor’s QCP is the means by which the Contractor assures that the work complies with the requirement of the contract. The draft QCP shall be delivered as part of the proposal submission. The COR will notify the Contractor of acceptance or the necessity for QCP modification no later than ten (10) business days after the award. The final QCP shall be delivered within 25 business days after period of performance start date.

A comprehensive written QCP shall be submitted to the COR within five (5) working days when changes are made thereafter. After acceptance of the QCP the Contractor shall receive the COR’s acceptance in writing of any proposed change to the QCP.

8.4.2 Quality Assurance: The Government will monitor and evaluate the Contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). When an observance indicated defective performance, the COR will notify the Contractor and document in its monthly Contractor assessment report. Any action taken by the CO as a result of surveillance will be according to the terms of this contract. Any matter concerning a change to the scope, prices, terms or conditions of this contract shall be referred to

8.5 Post Award Conference

The Contractor shall attend a Post Award Conference with the Contracting Officer and the COR no later than five (5) business days after the date of award. The purpose of the Post Award Conference, which will be chaired by the CO, COR and Government Lead, is to discuss objectives of this contract and review the Contractor's draft project plan and the SOO. The Post Award Conference will be held at the Government’s current facility, located at the Potomac Center North; 500 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20536 and the COR will notify the Contractor of a specific date, location and agenda within five (5) business days of the award.

8.6 Progress Reports

The Contractor shall provide a weekly progress report to the COR and Government Lead via electronic mail. This report will include a summary of all Contractor work performed during the previous week, as well as on-the-horizon initiatives (incorporating both long-term and short-term objectives).

The first report of each month will include a more detailed report that contains a breakdown of the level of effort in labor hours by labor category, an assessment of technical progress, schedule status, any travel conducted and any Contractor concerns or recommendations for the previous reporting period.

8.7 Progress Meetings

The PM will meet with the COR and Government Lead on an every other week basis to discuss progress, exchange information and resolve emergent technical problems and issues. These meetings will take place at the Government’s current facility at the Potomac Center North; 500 12th St, SW, Washington, DC 20536. Minutes of the meetings, with action items identified, shall be documented by the Contractor with timeline and plan for resolution.

8.8 Period of Performance

The period of performance for this contract is a one-year base period with four option years.

Six (6) Month Extension IAW FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services: September 14, 2030 through March 14, 2031

8.9 Place of Performance

Most of this work will be completed within the NCR region however work for a maximum of two positions may be required in the Tampa Florida area.

8.10 Hours of Operations

Coverage for screening and vetting operations must include at least one person on-duty 24/7/365 and additional staffing (as listed in Screening and Vetting section below) six days per week (Sunday-Friday) at eight hours per day.

8.11 Telework

To meet the requirements in this SOO, the Contractor may authorize contracting employees to telework part-time. Telework may be authorized however, the official place of performance remains at the on-site location, listed in 4.10, Place of Performance, in this SOO. The Contractor’s employees must perform their duties at the on-site location no less than three business days (Monday – Friday) per week.

The Contractor shall define their company’s policies and procedures for implementing and managing the telework program in a Staffing Plan. The Contractor shall include how they plan to monitor telework employees and the tasks performed in the submitted QCP. The QCP and Staffing Plan along with any changes/updates must be pre-approved by the COR and Government Lead prior to implementation.

8.12 Travel

Travel Requirements: Operational support may require occasional and specific domestic and international travel. Travel would be situational and considered short-term temporary duty (TDY) no to exceed 30-days at a time. Please identify how you would be able to ensure at least some staff assigned operational support would be able to obtain a U.S. passport, requisite visas, and complete any specified medical requirements (such as receiving vaccines) sufficient to travel globally.

8.13 Training

The Contractor shall participate in training supporting application implementation and deployment through technical and end-user training whenever changes to the application are significant to warrant such training.

The Contractor shall ensure prior to and throughout their employment under this SOO all Contractor personnel possess appropriate Industry Standard training, skills, experience, certificates and degrees required to adequately perform all tasks related to their labor category at no cost to the Government. The Contractor must include all fully burden costs for both government furnished as well as contractor furnished training within their monthly costs. Separate compensation for training will not be provided by the Government.

The following DHS mandatory training courses shall be required by Contractor staff to complete according to the specifications of each course. This includes, but is not limited to:

· Classified Information Training for ICE Clearance Holders

· Operations Security Basic

· Privacy Training for SharePoint Collaboration Site Users

· Information Assurance Awareness Training

· Privacy at DHS: Protecting Personal Information

· DHS Basic Records Management

· Vital Records Guidance

· Prevention of Sexual Harassment Training

All training certificates are due to the COR within 45 days of the contract award or successful onboarding of an employee. Thereafter; the contractor shall notify the COR (via email) on an annual basis that all training has been kept up to date. Each employee shall abide by ICE policy and agency wide notifications to ensure they complete and maintain active training certificates. These requirements can be waived for agencies outside of ICE but the contractor may be subject to similar training requirements from the requesting government agency.

8.14 Contract Administration

The Contractor shall establish processes and assign appropriate resources to effectively administer the contract. The Contractor shall respond to Government requests for contractual actions in a timely fashion. The Contractor shall assign work effort and maintain proper and accurate time-keeping records of personnel assigned to work under this contract.

The Contractor shall have a single point of contact between the Government and Contractor personnel assigned to support contracts or task orders. Contractor shall only take direction from the COR or Government Lead, or others delegated to assign work. All modifications to the SOO or scope of the contract shall only be made by the CO.

The Contractor is responsible for all management, supervision, transportation, training, and equipment for their employees unless identified otherwise within this SOO as being government furnished.

The Contractor shall provide all necessary administrative support to its employees in a timely fashion (time keeping, leave processing, pay, and emergency needs).

8.15 Protection of Information

Contractor shall access information protected under the Privacy Act is required under this SOO. Additionally, Contractor shall view and modify information that is Law Enforcement Sensitive. Contractor employees will 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 SOO. Contractor employees shall safeguard proprietary information against unauthorized disclosure or dissemination in accordance with DHS MD 11042.1, Safeguarding Sensitive but Unclassified (For Official Use Only) Information.

Contractor and subcontractors shall not hold any discussions or release any information relating to this contract to anyone not having a direct interest in performance of this contract, without written consent of the CO.

Contractor personnel shall sign Non-Disclosure statements (DHS Form 11000-6) prior to starting to work. Completed DHS 11000-6 forms are due to the COR for all proposed contractors at the time of award or prior to commencing work for onboarding contractors.

8.16 Invoicing

The Contractor shall submit an invoice monthly, no later than (10) business days for services rendered in the preceding month. The Contractor shall invoice in accordance with the Invoicing instruction and provide detail attachments on any travel expenses to the COR.

8.17 Customer Relations

The Contractor shall successfully integrate and coordinate all activities needed to execute the tasks. The Contractor shall manage the timeliness, completeness, and quality of identified issues. The Contractor shall provide corrective action plans and timely identification of issues.

9.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISH EQUIPMENT /GOVERNMENT FURNISH PROPERTY (GFE/GFP)

Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-furnished property (GFP) means property in the possession of, or directly acquired by, the Government and subsequently furnished to the Contractor for performance of a contract. Government-furnished property also includes Contractor-acquired property if the Contractor- acquired property is a deliverable under this contract and accepted by the Government for continued use under the contract.

Government property and telephones shall be used for official Government business only in the performance of this Contract. The Contactor or the Contractor's employees shall not use government property in any manner for any personal advantage, business gain, or other personal endeavor. The Contractor shall reimburse the Government for expenses associated with misuse or abuse of Government furnished property or equipment by the Contractor's employees.

The Contractor will certify in writing all licenses and permits issued to the Contractor or Contractor employees required by law for the use and operation of Government furnished property or equipment. 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 most effectively and efficiently perform the mission.

The GFE/GFP may be used by the Contractor either at the primary worksite or at the teleworking and work from home sites, depending on mission needs and as designated and approved by the Government Lead.

9.1 Accountability of Government Property

All property furnished by the Government under this Contract shall remain the property of the Government. Upon termination or conclusion of the Contract, the Contractor shall render an accounting of all such property that has come into their possession during the course of the Contract. A Government property receipt form will be used for the Contractor to acknowledge the receipt of all Government-issued property.

Any property furnished by the Government to fulfill Contract requirements, which is lost or damaged resulting from improper use or negligence as determined by the Government, shall be repaired or replaced by the Government at the Contractor’s expense. The cost of all repairs or replacement shall be withheld from the Contractor's payment.

The Contractor shall remunerate the Government for expenses associated with the misuse of telephones or other Government furnished office equipment by the Contractor's employees. Contract employees who misuse, willfully damage, or willfully destroy Government property may be removed from the Contract and may face further penalties as deemed necessary by the Government.

Unless otherwise specified, the Government is responsible for the repair and maintenance of Government furnished property. The Contractor is responsible for the timely reporting, as identified herein, to the COR of any property deficiencies or losses. The Contractor shall identify loss or damage to Government-furnished property to the COR as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours after discovery by the Contractor. The Contractor must also obtain a police report identifying the specifications of the incident and provide a copy to the COR within 72 hours after discovery. To ensure timely discovery and reporting, the Contractor shall perform monthly inventories of all Government-furnished property. As appropriate, inventory reports shall be in writing using a Government form or format approved by the COR.

9.2 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT/GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY (GOVERNEMT ACCEPTANCE PERIOD AND DELIVERABLES

/GFP)

Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-furnished property (GFP) means property in the possession of, or directly acquired by, the Government and subsequently furnished to the Contractor for performance of a contract. Government-furnished property also includes Contractor-acquired property if the Contractor- acquired property is a deliverable under this contract and accepted by the Government for continued use under the contract.

Government property and telephones shall be used for official Government business only in the performance of this Contract. The Contactor or the Contractor's employees shall not use government property in any manner for any personal advantage, business gain, or other personal endeavor. The Contractor shall reimburse the Government for expenses associated with misuse or abuse of Government furnished property or equipment by the Contractor's employees.

The Contractor will certify in writing all licenses and permits issued to the Contractor or Contractor employees required by law for the use and operation of Government furnished property or equipment. 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 most effectively and efficiently perform the mission

The GFE/GFP may be used by the Contractor either at the primary worksite or at the teleworking and work from home sites, depending on mission needs and as designated and approved by the Government Lead.

9.3 Accountability of Government Property

All property furnished by the Government under this Contract shall remain the property of the Government. Upon termination or conclusion of the Contract, the Contractor shall render an accounting of all such property that has come into their possession during the course of the Contract. A Government property receipt form will be used for the Contractor to acknowledge the receipt of all Government-issued property.

Any property furnished by the Government to fulfill Contract requirements, which is lost or damaged resulting from improper use or negligence as determined by the Government, shall be repaired or replaced by the Government at the Contractor’s expense. The cost of all repairs or replacement shall be withheld from the Contractor's payment.

The Contractor shall remunerate the Government for expenses associated with the misuse of telephones or other Government furnished office equipment by the Contractor's employees. Contract employees who misuse, willfully damage, or willfully destroy Government property may be removed from the Contract and may face further penalties as deemed necessary by the Government.

- Unless otherwise specified, the Government is responsible for the repair and maintenance of Government furnished property. The Contractor is responsible for the timely reporting, as identified herein, to the COR of any property deficiencies or losses. The Contractor shall identify loss or damage to Government-furnished property to the COR as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours after discovery by the Contractor. The Contractor must also obtain a police report identifying the specifications of the incident and provide a copy to the COR within 72 hours after discovery. To ensure timely discovery and reporting, the Contractor shall perform monthly inventories of all Government-furnished property. As appropriate, inventory reports shall be in writing using a Government form or format approved by the COR.

9.4 Safeguarding Government Property

The Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions, as directed by the Government or, in the absence of such direction, in accordance with sound industrial practices, to safeguard and protect Government property.

If the work under this Contract requires that the Contract employees…