Description
Background: The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operates numerous international training and assistance programs. These programs are located in various countries throughout the world and address the entire range of customs and border control operations. To effectively implement these programs, there is a need for the employment and utilization of contractors on an intermittent or short-term basis. Short term is defined as a single assignment for 90 days or less. Intermittent contractors (IC) will be required to perform various tasks such as those associated with training utilizing specialized equipment or to provide professional and technical assistance in specific topical areas. The following is a delineation of the types of general services that ICs are expected to provide. A more specific description of services or tasks shall be provided to the IC upon selection for employment. TRAINING: IC shall serve as a subject-matter expert and/or presenter. He/she may be required to present customs or border control training based on an existing CBP curriculum. Instruction may include but is not limited to the areas of narcotic interdiction, post security, customs investigative techniques, money laundering, intellectual property rights, control of weapons of mass destruction, commercial import/export operations, or customs valuation. In general, the topic and content of the course will be established, in advance, with course material normally provided by CBP. COURSE DEVELOPER: IC shall develop a set of course materials on a given topic for later presentation by either CBP personnel or in-country advisors. Courses to be developed could be in any customs or border control related areas such as those described for “Training” above. ASSESSMENTS: IC may conduct on-site assessments of customs services and other border control agencies located in foreign countries. Assessments may be general in scope or geared to specific areas (e.g., control of weapons of mass destruction or intellectual property rights). Tasks could include such actions as physical border surveys, and broader surveys of the entire governmental enforcement system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: IC may provide technical assistance in highly specialized areas such as legal reform, inspectional technology (high and low tech) port security or specialized field operations. For example, in the area of legal reform, tasks may include the review of customs laws and regulations of a country, making recommendations for improvement of such laws, or providing technical assistance in the preparation of new laws and regulations that meet the needs of a specific country. AUGMENTATION and REPLACEMENT: IC may augment a technical team or temporarily replace a technical team member. As an additional team member, the contractor will undertake general and specific tasks associated with various projects such as the development of an interagency taskforce or the review of personnel policies. As a replacement or “fill in”, the IC may replace and assume the tasks of a technical team member who may be away from post for an extended period of time. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE: The selected candidate(s) is expected to have the appropriate experience and training to perform the general services noted above. Candidates are expected to have the appropriate experience and training to serve as an instructor in general and in specific areas of instruction; to develop courses for one or more related areas described under the training task; to perform an authoritative and professional review of the specific agencies or programs to prepare trip reports, summaries, analyses, and recommendations; and necessary knowledge, experience, and skills to serve as an additional advisor, team member, or a replacement member. TERMS and CONDITIONS: ICs will work in an on-call or a when actually employed capacity. He/shell will be available for deployment to any country where CBP undertakes operations. Most assignments will be less than 30 days, with 5 days notice prior to departure. Some assignments may last up to 90 days. It is not envisioned that an IC would be on duty more than 90 days in a calendar year. If an IC turns down more than two assignments, he or she may be removed from further consideration at CBP’s discretion. COMPENSATION and OTHER REIMBURSEMENTS: Compensation will be fixed-priced at $2000 per week or a proration thereof. It is anticipated, but not guaranteed, that each IC will work at least two (2) one-week assignments. The initial award will include medical evacuation coverage up to $500, and medical examination costs up to $500. Each assignment will be firm-fixed priced based on the estimated time required to complete the assignment. All travel will be under U.S. Government Travel orders and in accordance with applicable U.S. Government Travel Regulations. NOTE: The IC will be reimbursed for all official travel upon completion of a travel voucher in accordance with an approved travel authorization. CBP will purchase airline or other common carrier tickets after approval of travel. The IC will not receive an advance for lodging, meals and incidentals. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: All ICs will be required to undergo updated background investigations to obtain a “secret” security clearance from CBP, Office of Internal Affairs. For some specific assignments, language ability may be a requirement for selection. This will most often apply to work in Central and South America, which requires Spanish language ability. All material provided to the IC or developed by the IC under a resultant contract will become the property of CBP and may not released or disclosed without permission from CBP. DUTY LOCATIONS: ICs must be willing and able to work in any country in which conducts operations. The following countries are provided as an illustrative list of possible duty locations: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cypress, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Ukraine. In addition, ICs may work from their home, CBP headquarters located in Washington, DC, or at other duty locations within the United States. METHOD of OPERATION: Potential ICs will submit their qualifications in resume format to be a part of the “bidders” list. The Office of International Affairs will evaluate candidates for technical ability. Candidates deemed to have the appropriate technical ability would then become part of a “pool” of eligible contractors/selectees who may receive requests for services for future assignments. Selectees will be reimbursed for the cost of medical evacuation insurance and for a physical examination and certification that he/she is fit for travel any where in the world for assignments up to 90 days, in accordance with the paragraph “Compensation and Other Reimbursements” above. The resultant contracts will contain the detailed statement of work for the specific assignment, including required services, estimated time required, duty location, travel dates, materials and topics to be addressed, and any required materials. At the end of the assignment, the IC will submit an invoice for payment. All taxes (federal, state, and/or local) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) income reporting requirements are responsibility of the IC as a 1099 vendor.