USMS - National Seized Animal Program

BACKGROUND 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Asset Forfeiture Program (AFP) plays a critical role in disrupting and dismantling illegal enterprises, depriving criminals of the proceeds of illegal activity, deterring crime, and restoring property to victims. The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) serves as the primary custodial agency of the DOJ AFP. As part of its custodial responsibilities the USMS inventories and safeguards seized property assets, deposits and reconciles funds in the Seized Asset Deposit Fund and Assets Forfeiture Fund, disburses funds to innocent owners, third parties, victims, and State, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, and procures asset management contracts to assist with the management and disposition of seized and forfeited assets. In addition, the USMS also provides vital support to U.S. Attorney’s Offices and investigative agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, by assisting with pre-seizure planning and financial investigations.

As the custodian for seized property assets, the USMS oversees and operates the Seized Canine Program employing a network of approved animal care vendors. Through this Program, the USMS facilitates the care of dogs seized pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act’s Animal Fighting Venture Prohibition 7 U.S.C. § 2156(e). The Program provides for coordination of an on-site seizure with trained animal care professionals to facilitate a safe and orderly intake of the dogs. The dogs are triaged, assessed, and transported to an approved kenneling facility, and provided all necessary care while the animals remain in Government custody. Once title to the dogs clears either via a surrender of ownership, or by final order of forfeiture, the animal care vendors will work to permanently place adoptable dogs.  

Since 2016, the USMS has participated in an average of 10 on-site seizures annually and has provided for care and management of over 3,200 animals. Although most of the seizures are in the Southeastern United States, cases have occurred as far as California and Maine.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) 

The USMS is posting this announcement as an RFI only, for a potential solicitation to be posted on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) website. This RFI is issued for the purpose of identifying interested, industry vendors able to demonstrate expertise in the transportation, kenneling, care, and/or disposal of canines seized from illegal dog fighting operations. Also, this RFI is being issued to ascertain if sources exist that can provide such services nationwide (to include the continental United States as well as all territories) for a recurring inventory of seized and forfeited canines. The Seized Canine Program contract requirement(s) is anticipated to be for a base year and four one-year options.

All interested companies must complete the RFI survey questions. Please find the survey hyperlink here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WXJX6RZ

In addition to the RFI survey, please provide a capability statement outlining your company’s ability to provide one or more of the stated services via email to:

• Christopher Benca, Contract Specialist, Christopher.Benca@usdoj.gov
• Eliana York, Contract Officer, Eliana.York@usdoj.gov
• AFP Procurement, Team Inbox, AFP.Procurement@usdoj.gov

You are advised that no entitlement to payment, nor indirect costs, nor charges by the Government will arise because of company submission of responses to this RFI or the Government’s use of such information. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any company’s input resulting from this RFI. In addition, you are advised that providing responses to the survey questions will not automatically include you in the acquisition process for this solicitation. All responses are due by 12:00 pm EST on Friday 27 September, 2024. 

NOTE:  The solicitation will be posted at SAM.gov.

NOTE: All survey questions must be answered with no blanks.