RFI.Operational Analysis Support Services.4 10 24.docx

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Operational Analysis Support Services

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Release Date:- April 10, 2024 Response Date: April 24, 2024 Purpose:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is conducting market research to determine the availability and technical capability of SBA HUBZone-certified firms to provide subject matter expertise and support for all phases of operations analysis conducted by CBP Enterprise Analytics Division (EAD) for the purpose of informing policy formulation and decision support to CBP and related entities.

This is an RFI released pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 – Market Research and Part 15.201(e). This RFI’s purpose is to obtain market information on viable sources, industry practices, answers to specific questions, and industry comments.

Background:

CBP is the largest federal law enforcement agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is the country’s primary border control organization. Among its missions, CBP enforces U.S. customs and immigration regulations at ports of entry, along U.S. borders, and from the air and sea. Within CBP, the Enterprise Analytics Division (EAD) completes discrete, product-driven analytic projects; ensures CBP mission-focused perspective in the validation and prioritization of operational requirements; and provides analysis advice and decision support to enhance CBP executive decision-making.

CBP is interested in obtaining responses to this RFI from prospective HUBZone-certified offerors that could provide the services required to support the identified requirements outlined below. The Government encourages the responders to this RFI and prospective offerors to provide the most innovative, cost-effective method to achieving the desired objectives and results.

Objective:

CBP is seeking qualified HUBZone-certified firms that can demonstrate the following capabilities required for this effort:

Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Support: Skills and experience required to set up and run M&S tools such as the Migrant Models Integration (MMI) simulation, discrete event simulation, and the ability to use commercially available tools such as Tableau and ArcGIS, as well as freeware tools such as OCTAVE and JaamSim to develop analyses.

Support to Existing Models: Expertise and ongoing production support of the Operational Performance Simulator (OPS). This will involve monitoring the performance of OPS and troubleshooting any technical issues that arise.

Analytical Programming Support: Interdisciplinary expertise/skills needed to support and conduct projects requiring the identification, selection, set up, operation, training, and system administration of discrete event, stochastic, and agent-based simulations used in operations research projects.

Analytical Modeling: The Contractor shall provide a flexible mix of subject matter expertise for tools and technologies used by EAD for developing operational and process models.

Analysis of Alternatives Support: Experience developing the analytical portions of Alternatives Analyses (AA) and Analyses of Alternatives (AoA) Study Plans and all aspects of evaluation of the operational effectiveness, operational suitability and operational risk of viable alternatives.

Systems Analysis Support: Expertise in systems analysis of CBP’s organizations, processes, procedures, architectures, and materiel that helps allow CBP to create new systems, modify existing systems, expand systems, and document existing systems to increase their efficiency and effectiveness as well as effectively communicate these analyses to senior leadership.

Prioritization Methodology Analytical Support: Subject matter expertise and demonstrated experience in the efficient and effective use of integrated assessment and prioritization of current and planned capability programs to provide CBP with a defensible methodology for identifying and investing in its most important and impactful programs.

Management Sciences Analytical Support: Expertise in decision analysis including value-focused decision making, analytical hierarchical process, neural networks, Bayesian networks, predictive analytics, geospatial analysis, big data analysis, optimization, game theory, forecasting, process and mathematical modeling, probability and statistics, operational insight to provide operator insight into complex problems, operational performance, as well as supporting value added analysis and providing quantitative techniques to support operations, tactical planning, and strategic planning Preliminary Studies Reports: Ability to lead studies examining such things as new methods of conducting operations or innovative approaches to providing operational support and sustainment. Indirect studies may involve collaboration with research centers, academic institutions, industry, and the operational community.

Requirements Related Cost and Business Case Documents: Expertise in Capability cost estimation in accordance with established DHS Cost Estimating Standards. Business Case Analysis (BCA) to support a variety of decision-making processes, operational and sustainment needs ensuring use of industry accepted best practices.

Program Management Support: Experience delivering training and knowledge management tools that inform and facilitate development of operational policies that enhance CBP’s efficiency and effectiveness with current and/or future operations.

Opportunity:

EAD wishes to identify suitable HUBZone-certified firms who can demonstrate credible experience and capability supporting CBP with the above requirements.

Schedule:

CBP anticipates awarding a contract by the end of Q3 FY24.

Responses Requested:

Please provide responses to the following:

1. Please provide and discuss your prior performance with similar efforts.

· Specifically address experience with the Migrant Models Integration (MMI) simulation.

· Specifically address experience with the Operational Performance Simulator (OPS).

2. Please indicate whether your firm is currently SBA HUBZone-certified.

Instructions and Response Guidelines:

RFI responses are due on or before 5:00 p.m., EST, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, and shall be no more than a total of 5 pages. Page size is limited to 8.5 x 11 inches, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins in Microsoft Word format.

Please provide the information you deem relevant to respond to the specific inquiries of the RFI. To support budget and planning purposes you may also include rough cost estimates based upon the objectives outlined in the RFI. Information provided will be used solely by CBP as market research and will not be released outside of the CBP Enterprise Analytics Division (EAD) requirements team. This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid, or Request for Quotation, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response to this request. All information contained in this RFI is preliminary as well as subject to modification and is in no way binding on the Government. Include your company’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Cage Code, and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. Responses shall be submitted electronically via email to the Contract Specialist and the secondary point of contact listed below, on or before 5:00 p.m., EST, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The subject line shall read: “CBP ENTERPRISE ANALYTICS DIVISION (EAD) RFI RESPONSE”. NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

Contact Information:

Contract Specialist Talaya Barnett Email Address: Talaya.A.Barnett@cbp.dhs.gov Secondary POC:

Josh Bedregal joshua.bedregal@cbp.dhs.gov

The Government is not required to respond to any information provided in response to this RFI. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor SAM.gov for additional information pertaining to this RFI.