REQUEST FOR INFORMATION- Comms Readiness and Deployment 12082022.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

1. DESCRIPTION

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Trade (OT) is seeking information from interested vendors as part of an acquisition to establish an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity

(IDIQ) contract for maximizing long term efficiencies in communications, training, operations, and deployment support services related to the following:

- Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), a centerpiece of CBP’s modernization efforts and is one of the largest business process and technology transformation investments undertaken by a Federal Government agency;

- Advanced Trade Analytics Platform (ATAP), a single, organized point of access for all

CBP’s internal and external sources of information, enhanced predictive and prescriptive analytic capabilities, and a unified case management system that allows for enterprise collaboration and data sharing between offices;

- Forced Labor Prevention in conjunction with Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

(UFLPA), which codified new trade enforcement powers and responsibilities that represent a major paradigm shift in the execution of CBP’s trade enforcement mission;

- 21st Century Customs Framework, a strategic initiative that seeks to improve the timeliness and quality of data received in both the entry and de minimis trade environments, expand information sharing with the international trade community and increase visibility into modern supply chains.

CBP will use the information from this RFI for future acquisition plans.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT. It is for informational purposes only. A solicitation is NOT being issued. This Request for Information

(RFI) from industry will allow the Government to identify interested sources capable of meeting all requirements. The information sought will be used for planning purposes only.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The Government will not award a contract based on this RFI, nor will the Government pay for any information submitted by respondents.

All proprietary or sensitive corporate information must be clearly marked.

This announcement in no way obligates or commits the Government to acquire any product or service. There shall be no basis for claims against the Government, as a result of information submitted in response to this RFI.

2. BACKGROUND

The mission of CBP within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to secure the nation’s borders to protect against the entry of dangerous people and goods and unlawful trade and travel, and to ensure the efficient flow of legitimate trade and travel across United States borders. CBP has direct responsibility for enhancing U.S. economic competitiveness. CBP enables legitimate trade, contributes to American economic prosperity, and protects against risks to public health and safety by reducing costs for the international trade community and enforcing trade laws against counterfeit, unsafe, and fraudulently entered goods. The Office of Trade (OT) consolidates trade policy and compliance measurement functions and promotes trade facilitation for the agency. OT consolidates the trade policy, program development, and compliance measurement functions of

CBP into one office. OT aims to streamline the flow of legitimate shipments and foster corporate self-governance as a means of achieving compliance with trade laws and regulations. The services required under the proposed IDIQ constitute professional and management services within the definition provided by FAR 37.201.

Working closely with other federal agencies and the international trade community, OT is continuing to modernize its programs and processes to enhance information sharing, leverage advanced analytics, improve, or replace existing systems. There are several programs and initiatives that the Contractor will support. A few of those programs and initiatives are highlighted below.

The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is a centerpiece of CBP’s modernization efforts and is one of the largest business process and technology transformation investments undertaken by a Federal Government agency. Having recently achieved full development, ACE program continues to develop and deploy new capabilities, enhancements, and maintenance improvements during the sustainment phase of the program’s lifecycle. ACE is the commercial trade processing system that serves as the backbone of the U.S. trade facilitation and enforcement mission and provides a single, centralized way to connect CBP, the international trade community, and other federal agencies. ACE is the primary means by which agencies with trade-related responsibilities receive data and other relevant documentation required for the release of imported cargo and the clearance of cargo for export. A range of change management activities are required to prepare and train headquarters and field personnel as ACE continues to develop and deploy system enhancements.

The Advanced Trade Analytics Platform (ATAP) program also supports CBP’s trade mission by providing CBP with a single, organized point of access for all CBP’s internal and external sources of information, enhanced predictive and prescriptive analytic capabilities, and a unified case management system that allows for enterprise collaboration and data sharing between offices.

ATAP is currently in development and is based a service delivery model that allows CBP to develop customized solutions for unique trade analytics questions presented to CBP on a frequent basis. The delivery of ATAP will allow CBP to increase efficiency in executing the trade mission through integrated information and data sharing, stronger analytic capabilities, and resource management. These capabilities will strengthen a proactive risk management posture for

CBP and enable the agency to respond to the needs of stakeholders, from the highest levels of government to front line officers on the border.

Other related programs and projects aim to respond to new statutory requirements, improve trade business processes, and enhance data analysis and availability, such as Forced Labor Prevention and the 21st Century Customs Framework. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) codified new trade enforcement powers and responsibilities that represent a major paradigm shift in the execution of CBP’s trade enforcement mission. Operational readiness and change management support is needed to meet these new statutory demands and engage stakeholders to meet CBP’s mission goals and prevent the importation of goods sourced from regions and actors engaged in forced labor. CBP employees processing imports at ports of entry and the private actors engaged in international trade require highly tailored training regarding the new law and updated policies and procedures. The 21st Century Customs Framework is a strategic initiative that seeks to: improve the timeliness and quality of data received in both the entry and de minimis trade environments; expand information sharing with the international trade community and increase visibility into modern supply chains; provide a more flexible and streamlined enforcement process; and explore alternative funding sources above and beyond annual appropriations.

These and other OT programs and initiatives require additional support to facilitate stakeholder engagement internally with CBP personnel and externally with Partner Government Agencies

(PGAs) and the international trade community. Accordingly, change management, communications, training, operational and strategic planning, and systems deployment support activities encompass the vast majority of the work envisioned under this contract.

OT seeks information from industry regarding services to support a variety of CBP OT’s trade facilitation and enforcement programs and initiatives within the following task areas:

• Communications

• Training

• Operations

• Deployment

This RFI is not soliciting information on alternatives to major hardware elements or alternate architectures other than those already planned by the government. If it becomes necessary to explore alternative approaches and/or architectures; CBP will seek those solutions under a different RFI.

3. REQUESTED INFORMATION

CBP seeks information from vendors that can provide commercially available capabilities and services that satisfy the attached draft Statement of Work. Citing examples, please describe your capabilities and experience meeting requirements similar in scope and complexity to the requirements of the SOW. In addition to a description of capabilities and experience, CBP seeks responses to the following questions:

1. Discuss expected lead times for onboarding personnel based on the requirements outlined in the draft SOW.

2. Are there any obstacles for potential contractors that CBP should consider when deciding on the type of task order to issue under this IDIQ contract (e.g. firm fixed price, labor hour, time and materials, etc.)?

3. Discuss approaches for transitioning in contactor personnel in absence of incumbent contractor personnel. Please include in responses your company’s experience using these recommended approaches and lessons learned.

4. Describe any government contract terms and conditions, special contract clauses, processes or requirements that your company recommends removing to reduce cost, spur innovation, and enable a successful outcome,

5. CBP seeks industry input on what are prevalent business practices associated with launching the next generation of ACE using Agile practices in the areas of communications and training?

6. What challenges do you see in making communications Section 508 compliant at the

WCAG 2.0 Level AA?

7. Web based training may not be producing the results seen in pre-COVID classroom or in person training. What new techniques should CBP look to improve better information retention in remote learning environments to train primary audiences who include CBP personnel including Import Specialists, Entry Specialists, Officers, Managers, Executives, Headquarters Personnel, Port Leadership; the Trade Community including

Importers, Brokers, Carriers, and Filers. PGAs; who are government entities who are not a part of CBP but who use or will use automated systems.

4. RESPONSE FORMAT AND LIMITS

Interested parties should submit a written response, maximum of 20 pages in length single sided;

no less than font size 10 that:

1) Demonstrates the respondent’s ability to meet or exceed the capability requirements;

2) Addresses each of the requests for information;

3) Provides the company name and address, point of contact with phone number and e-mail, business size, DUNS number, and available contracting vehicles;

4) Cost/price estimates and an identification of potential cost drivers, tradeoffs, and/or savings; and,

5) Any other pertinent information such as assumptions made relating to the ability to satisfy specific requirements or questions regarding ambiguous or poorly defined requirements.

All responses shall be submitted electronically (Adobe PDF format). Responding to this RFI is not a prerequisite to bid on a subsequent RFP, if one is issued. Responses may include links to available product demonstration websites or videos.

Responses are due no later than December 22, 2022, at 4:00 pm ET. Responses must be submitted via e-mail, if possible, to the contract officer: jared.a.tritle@cbp.dhs.gov

5. SUMMARY

THIS IS ONLY A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI).

The information derived from this RFI will assist CBP in identifying sources that can satisfy the requirements of the SOW. The information and specifications provided in the RFI are subject to mailto:jared.a.tritle@cbp.dhs.gov change and are not binding on the Government. CBP has not made a commitment to procure any of the items presented, and release of this RFI should not be construed as a commitment or authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.