In the interest of all Americans and because computers fail and hard drives are destroyed, here’s the posting for this job:
Procurement Type: Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought
Title: Escort Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children
Classification Code: V- Transportation/Travel/Relocation
NAICS code: 561612
Primary POC: Rachel Ali, Contract Specialist/ Rachel.Ali@ice.dhs.gov
Secondary POC: Tony Ross, Contracting Officer/ Tony.Ross@ice.dhs.gov
A. Introduction
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has a continuing and mission critical responsibility for accepting custody of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) from U.S. Border Patrol and other Federal agencies and transporting these juveniles to Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) shelters located throughout the continental United States. ICE is seeking the services of a responsible vendor that shares the philosophy of treating all UAC with dignity and respect, while adhering to standard operating procedures and policies that allow for an effective, efficient, and incident free transport. The Contractor shall provide unarmed escort staff, including management, supervision, manpower, training, certifications, licenses, drug testing, equipment, and supplies necessary to provide on-demand escort services for non-criminal/non-delinquent unaccompanied alien children ages infant to 17 years of age, seven (7) days a week, 365 days a year. Transport will be required for either category of UAC or individual juveniles, to include both male and female juveniles. There will be approximately 65,000 UAC in total: 25% local ground transport, 25% via ICE charter and 50% via commercial air. Escort services include, but are not limited to, assisting with: transferring physical custody of UAC from DHS to Health and Human Services (HHS) care via ground or air methods of transportation (charter or commercial carrier), property inventory, providing juveniles with meals, drafting reports, generating transport documents, maintaining/stocking daily supplies, providing and issuing clothing as needed, coordinating with DHS and HHS staff, travel coordination, limited stationary guard services to accommodate for trip disruptions due to inclement weather, faulty equipment, or other exigent circumstances. In emergency situations, the Contractor shall be called on to provide temporary shelter locations (such as trailers) with shower facilities for juveniles who are pending placement with HHS when bed space is unavailable nationwide for extended periods of time. The Contractor shall provide temporary guard services and other support as necessary during these emergencies.
In addition, the Contractor shall have personnel who are able to communicate with juveniles in their own designated language(s). While this may not require each employee to be fluent in all of the encountered languages, personnel should have access to and knowledge of translation services.
B. ICE Standards/Special Requirements
The contractor is required to perform in accordance with the ICE Performance Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS 2011), all ICE policies related to the transportation of juveniles (see the ICE Family Residential Standards at http://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/family-residential/) as well as the Flores Settlement Agreement, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, and the Homeland Security Act of 2002. In cases where other standards conflict with DHS/ICE Policy or Standards, DHS/ICE Policy and Standards will prevail. ICE Inspectors will conduct periodic inspections to assure compliance of the aforementioned standards.
Personnel shall have the knowledge and experience to transport individual children with special needs. Often times, children with special needs may require a transportation method that is time saving and direct, i.e. by commercial airline. Contractor shall also provide for accompanying medical care. Additionally, due to exigent circumstances, the Contractor shall be required to transport juveniles via ground to HUB airports or other staging areas that are not located within the area of initial apprehension.
The Contractor shall follow a fully developed training curriculum and transporting staff shall have the highest level of competency possible. Areas of training shall include, but are not limited to the following: Airport rules and regulations for travelers, crisis intervention, child development, working with and transporting youth with special needs, transporting youth with behavioral problems, CPR & First Aid training, non-secured UAC policy and procedures and the implementation of contingency plans in the event of a crisis during transport, which include de-escalation techniques.
• Background Investigations and Suitability Screenings will be conducted on all Contract Employees by the Office of Professional Responsibility and Personnel Security Unit (OPR-OSU).
• The Contractor shall agree that each employee working on this contract will successfully pass the DHS Employment Eligibility (E-Verify) program operated by USICS to establish work authorization and U.S. Citizenship.
• Employees must reside in the United States.
C. Contract Type
The Government anticipates awarding a five (5) year Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle consisting of a one year base period, and four (4) option years. The Service Contract
Act is applicable to this acquisition. All required clauses, provisions will be included in the solicitation and resulting contractual instrument.
The anticipated release date of the solicitation is March 3, 2014. The solicitation closing date will be thirty (30) days after release of the Request for Proposal (RFP).
Projected Set-Aside: All business sizes are welcome to participate; however, ICE is trying to determine small business interest, particularly HubZone companies. All information received in response in to this notice will be used to determine the appropriateness of any small business set-aside for this requirement.
D. Place of Performance:
Service Area: Throughout the Continental United States (US)
The area(s) or region(s) serviced may occur either with a phased approach over a period of several months to a full year. Alternatively, the Contractor shall perform the entire transportation function upon full funding. For example, the following two circumstances may occur: (1) The contractor could initially provide transportation services only in the Southwest Region of the U.S. for those juveniles who are apprehended in the state of Texas; or, (2) The Contractor may be required to provide transportation services for all juveniles who are in DHS custody throughout the continental U.S.
E. RFI Purpose/Requirements
The purpose of this RFI is to obtain market information and capabilities for planning purposes and to determine appropriate strategies to meet the Agency’s requirements. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment for an RFP in the future. Responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this announcement and information submitted in response to this RFI will not be returned.
Interested parties are instructed to submit the following information: (Note: Please do not exceed 5 pages per RFI submission)
• POC information (name, title, phone number, address, email address, etc.)
• Socio-economic status
• Brief Company Capability statement (to include addressing all special needs as stated above)
F. Submissions and Point of Contact Information
Submit written or electronic submissions via email to Rachel.Ali@ice.dhs.gov by 1:00pm EST on Monday, February 19, 2014.
End of RFI
This has been going on SECRETLY for about a month. Just a coincidence, I'm sure.
If you have an IQ above that of a pile of dog sh*t and believe ANYTHING that comes from the mac daddy administration of mindless sock puppets you must be a total moron or have just arrived from the planet zork and wear a tin foil hat.
These progressives are ruining all their chances.
65,000 coyotes
All part of the grand plan. See post #3 for the particulars of the contract.
Scandal number......what? I’ve lost count.
Our own government is hiring coyotes so the country can be illegally invaded by people who may have disease, may be associated with Islamist terrorists, and/or may be drug cartel operatives.
How is this anything but a regime declaration of war on the citizens of the United States of America?
Jim, et al, this was leaked by the WH; they WANT impeachment in order to have any chance of 2014 turnout. All they have is illegals voting, demoncrats voting 10 times each and other cheating methods. Otherwise, I hope impeachment occurs after the election - that’s if there is an election.
bkmk
Because our government is paying for these kids to be brought here. The question is “why”.
Until a huge majority of Americans get enough of this nothing will be done about it and it will only get worse.
Ping
Bm
So they knew they were coming?
That’s what it sounds like. This is June. This didn’t hit the media until May at the earliest.
“Why would DHS and ICE be claiming “surprise” by the current influx of unaccompanied minors on the border in June, when they were taking bids for an exact contract to handle the exact situation in January?”
Uh, maybe its because they think we’re all stupid and will never find out about it; or that we don’t care because we’re too busy watching Duck Dynasty and Swamp People?
Every one of us on FR should contact their Representative about this article. If enough of us send it to them, surely the Congress critters will listen to their constituents.
I already have.
This had to be a coordinated attack on our borders. I believe it is a conspiracy between the WH and the immigration lawyers who are pushing amnesty to put out the word in Latin America that Obama will not deport them.
Personally, I am more concerned about Redskins right now than brownskins. What difference does it really make? /sarc
Interesting that the Contract (in Part D) focuses especially on Texas. As if a pilot program would begin in Texas and then be expanded. Isn’t that the pattern we have seen play out?
Quite curious.
This latest surge of illegal aliens into the US illustrates why amnesty for illegal aliens is a failed policy that can never be repeated.In this case.