A01_Customs Broker PWS_AIT-CERTEX-TS25_MEU.pdf

31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Customs Broker Services in support of Exercise Talisman Saber 25

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

1. GENERAL: Contractor shall provide Customs Broker/Officer support to 31st MEU. The services to be provided through performance consist of the management of Customs Broker Transactions, integration into unit in-progress-reviews and Port synchronization meetings, coordination of clearing DoD and other required equipment through Australian Border Force Customs and other nations customs, as ordered, and any other organization to enable a US Carrier Vessel to dock or US Aircraft to land and unload.

1.1. Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall conduct all planning assistance and administration support functions as identified in paragraph 2.2 below (specific tasks) in a timely and professional manner.

1.2. Background: During the 31st MEU’s 25.2 patrol which includes Amphibious Integration Training (AIT), Certification Exercise (CERTEX), and Exercise Talisman Saber 25 (TS25), DAFF, Customs and Immigration Brokerage services are required to facilitate the unloading of cargo from US Flagged vessels or US Aircraft and importation into Australia.

1.3. Objectives: Successfully accomplish Customs and Immigration Brokerage services as requested in the period of performance prescribed in this PWS.

2. SCOPE OF WORK:

2.1. General Scope: The contracted vendor shall furnish all the necessary management, materials, equipment, and transportation necessary to provide the Customs and Immigration services required, in accordance with this PWS. Using information (per format specified by broker) provided by the unit for Import Declaration, the Customs Broker shall complete entries in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) or any other required/updated system to provide customs clearance and advance notification to Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) for the unit’s cargo. The contractor will ensure all required trainings, certifications, etc. to access the ICS are current or any other required/updated system is completed.

2.2. Specific Tasks: The contractor shall be required to conduct the following tasks on a daily basis, or as required, during the period of performance specified.

2.2.1 The services to be provided through performance consist of the management of Customs Broker Transactions, integration into unit in-progress-reviews and Port synchronization meetings, and coordination of clearing DoD and other required equipment through Australian Border Force Customs and other nations customs, as ordered. DoD units/organizations will provide cargo information to the customs broker NLT 5 calendar days prior to arrival/departure to/from Australia or other Pacific nation; the customs broker must process, and customs clear all equipment, vessels, or aircraft within these 5 calendar days. Customs Broker, during an order’s performance, must be able to respond within 2 hours of any contact from the Government Representative or Contracting Officer for any unanticipated, un-forecasted, or emergency requirements. During known events or large exercises, the Customs Broker must be able to be reached 24 hours a day during the known event timelines.

2.2.2 Using information (per format specified by broker) provided by the unit for Import Declaration, the Customs Broker shall complete entries in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) and/or any required system to provide customs clearance and advance notification to Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) for the unit’s cargo. The contractor will ensure all required trainings, certifications, etc. to access the ICS or any other required system are current.

For countries other than Australia, the contractor must abide by host nation requirements for customs clearance to occur properly.

2.2.3 Customs Broker shall attend DoD organization synchronization meetings, Australian Port Authority synchronization meetings, or other host nation meetings to provide business advice and daily statuses to supported DoD organization’s Government Representative as to the Customs Pre-Clearance Status.

2.2.4 Customs Broker will be provided the following information for Chartered & Military flights and Chartered & Military Sealift with equipment and Commercial Shipments, i.e.

FEDEX, UPS, DHL: that are required to clear customs:

a. Flight/Sealift itinerary

b. Port of debarkation and estimated date/time of landing

c. Copy of the unit deployment list (UDL)/manifest/invoice that shows the value of the goods (DD 1750, excel spreadsheet, or similar).

2.2.5 Customs Broker, once pre-clearance is granted, shall provide the following deliverables:

a. Customs clearance number to the supported unit and all points of contacts designated by the Government Representative/Contracting Officer.

b. Copy of the manifest/invoice that shows the value of the goods, number of pieces, description of goods, weight in KGs of goods (DD 1750 or excel spread sheet).

c. Advise the Contracting Officer and Government Representative of cleaning requirements required by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (or other host-nation inspection agency) and provide options, cost and schedule for the required cleaning.

URL: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/avm/military

2.2.6 Urgent Air Shipments or emergency cargo or late USG requirements: urgent air shipments of repair parts or other items must be customs cleared and agriculturally/DAFF inspected within 48 hours of contractor’s receipt of goods at the APOD. Urgent Air Shipments may be captured as a fixed or estimated CLIN on the contract, if ordered. The contractor must obtain a firm-fixed price for urgent air shipment processing, have the effort approved by the Government Representative or contracting officer, and price approved by the contracting officer prior to the contractor’s execution of the service. A contractor’s failure to obtain proper authorization to commence work may lead to the USG denying payment of these services. Emergency or late items (fewer than 10 days’ notice) are to be completed in accordance with this paragraph (48 hours or less processing) and invoiced under this line item.

2.2.7 Generally, this contract’s orders are competed based on UDL/manifest information.

However, the USG may order customs brokers on a full-time, part-time, daily, hourly, or other basis with period of performance identified in the contract.

2.3. Basic Services. The Contractor shall provide Customs Broker services, in accordance with this PWS. The Contractor must provide detailed contact information to the unit in order to be reached whenever they are needed. Information shall include name, cell phone number, land line number, email, and any other pertinent contact information.

2.4. Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at Sydney Port, and RAAF Darwin in Australia.

2.5. Period of Performance: The total period of performance shall be from 4 June to 4 July 2025.

The customer broker services will be required at the port of Sydney for equipment and personnel (14-18 June), and RAAF Darwin for equipment and personnel (4-5 June) and (1-4 July).

2.6. Customs Broker provides information for agricultural cleaning of the contract stated equipment at the location(s) found on the order (if required). Agricultural cleaning may require the full disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly of equipment, to include complex military weapons systems, rolling stock, and containerized cargo. All DAFF coordination and expenses must be inclusive in the contractor’s offer. The US Government may provide maintenance advisors to aid the contractor is the disassembly and reassembly of armored and complex systems; this will be identified in the order. The contractor is responsible to follow, in detail, the host nation’s rules and regulations regarding agricultural hazardous transport and agricultural cleaning so that delays are not incurred, and inspectors pass equipment at first inspection. The contractor must use host nation approved agricultural sites, subcontractors, or facilities if required by that host nation. The US Government is not required to pay additional amounts to the contractor for failed equipment that was cleaned by the contractor, though the contracting officer may consider equitable adjustments on a case-by-case basis. The contractor is also responsible for coordinating the appropriate inspectors to be present when needed to maintain the schedule.

2.7. Customs Broker will coordinate and execute the remediation of any equipment that does not meet the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) standard, or any other countries agricultural requirements, for entry into Australia, or other contract specified Pacific nation, at the request of the Contracting Officer. Only authorized actual work performed by the contractor on contract CLINS will be paid by the Government. The contractor must obtain a firm-fixed price for all services covered under this PWS. A contractor’s failure to obtain proper authorization to commence work may lead to the USG denying payment for these services

2.8. When multiple items require remediation, the Government Representative will determine priority for the DAFF or other specified nation’s agricultural cleaning clearance remediation.

2.9. Generally, firm-fixed priced contract offers include all port storage fees. However, in the event of unanticipated frustrated cargo and port storage fees, that occurred due to no fault of the contractor, the costs may be covered by the US Government. Only authorized actual work performed by the contractor on contract CLINS will be paid by the Government. The contractor must obtain a firm-fixed price for all services covered under this PWS. A contractor’s failure to obtain proper authorization to commence work may lead to the USG denying payment of these services.

2.10. Due to the variables at sea and the volatility of US Marine Corps Military Exercises and Operations, contractors must remain flexible to changes in the periods of performance, quantities, and potential for the addition/reduction of services within the general scope of the contract.

2.11. The services to be provided through performance consist of husbanding, management and integration services and consist of the following broad categories: general charter and hire. The Husbanding Service Provider (HSP) contractor, shall provide husbanding, management, and integration services which include, but are not limited to, brows, brow stand, tugs, pilot services, line handler services, fenders, crane services, forklift services, port storage lots, security, shore power, potable water, sludge removal, HAZWASTE and waste bins and disposal, repair parts procurement and delivery, fuel procurement and delivery, berthing space, and all other required services to military vessels and its personnel (i.e. rental vehicles with or without drivers, cell phones and wireless plans, Wi-Fi pucks and data plans, and so forth). LOGREQs, order forms, emails, and other formats may be presented to the contractor to aid with submission of quotes.

3. CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATION:

3.1. Business License: The contractor shall possess general knowledge of the Australian Government customs/immigration procedures in accordance with Australia Government procedures and DAFF Inspection procedures in accordance with DAFF regulations and be authorized to provide Customs Broker services in the ports identified in the PWS.

3.2 Host Nation Coordination: The Government Representative will be responsible for ensuring the selected contractors provide the requested services; overseeing initial services; and reporting service interruptions.

3.3 Points of Contact and Authorities: The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to approve any changes to the requirements of this contract and not withstanding provisions contained elsewhere in this contract, the authority remains solely the contracting officer. In the event the contractor effects any change at the direction of any person other than the contracting officer, the change will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made in the contract price as a result of the change.

4. CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS. Contractor personnel shall at all times be under the supervision of the contractor and not under the supervision of the Government or any of its officers or employees. The contracting officer will bring discrepancies or noncompliance with the contract clauses, specifications, or Performance Work Statement to the attention of the contractors’ supervisor or foreman for necessary corrective action.

5. LIABILITY. The U.S. Government accepts no liability for the actions of the contractor or his employees and agents.

6. SITE ACCESS. Contractor will coordinate directly with local military bases to ensure their employees meet access requirements and are able to perform the contract on the host nation base. The US government cannot waive any requirements for access to military bases. The contractor is responsible for executing services on the location specified in this PWS.

Inability to access military or host nation locations are NOT a reasonable justification for failure to deliver. Contractor and employees may be required to attend a security briefing prior to accessing the installation.

7. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS)

Task or Deliverable

Performance Standard Acceptance Quality Level

Surveillance Method

Performance Measure

Customs Broker Services

PWS 2.2.1

The performance standard will be met when the requirements for services detailed in PWS 2.2.1 have been accepted by the Government. Clear all equipment, vessels, and aircraft through customs within 5 days of receipt of cargo/vessel/aircraft information for routine items under this paragraph.

Acceptable performance has been met when 100% of the equipment has been inspected in accordance with PWS.

Customer feedback, Contracting Officer/Government Representative surveillance or feedback of work completed

Accordance with

PWS

Customs Broker Services

PWS 2.2

Complete entries for all equipment, vessels, and aircraft in the Integrated Cargo System to provide customs clearance and advance notification to DAFF or similar entity if DAFF is not applicable on the order.

Acceptable performance has been met when 100% of the equipment has been inspected in accordance with PWS.

Customer feedback, Contracting Officer/Government Representative surveillance or feedback of work completed

Accordance with

PWS

Customs Broker Services

PWS 2.2.3

Customs broker attends DoD meetings, Port Authority meetings, or other host nation meetings to provide business advice and statuses to supported

Acceptable performance has been met when 100% of the equipment has been inspected

Customer feedback, Contracting Officer/Government Representative surveillance or feedback of work completed

Accordance with

PWS

DoD organization’s Government Representative.

in accordance with PWS.

Customs Broker Services

PWS 2.2.6

Customs broker processes urgent air, emergency cargo, or late USG requirements within 48 hours of receipt of need.

Acceptable performance has been met when 100% of the equipment has been inspected in accordance with PWS.

Customer feedback, Contracting Officer/Government Representative surveillance or feedback of work completed

Accordance with

PWS

(End of Performance Work Statement)