U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Trade (OT) Trade Intelligence Product Solutions (TIPS)

DESCRIPTION

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking information from interested vendors that can provide CBP with access to web-based data analytics platforms, off-platform data product solutions, and integrated data and analytical services that increase the government’s knowledge of U.S. and Foreign trade actors, allows for the discovery and monitoring of trade and supply-chain activity, and improves the government’s ability to combat illicit trade practices.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATIONAL purposes only. This is not a Solicitation. This Request for Information (RFI) from industry will allow the Government to identify interested sources capable of meeting all requirements. The information sought is for planning purposes only.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The Government will not award a contract on the basis of this RFI, nor will the Government pay for any information, or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. All proprietary or sensitive 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 because of information submitted in response to this RFI.

BACKGROUND:

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) charged with the management, control, and protection of the nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws and facilitating legitimate travel and trade. As the United States’ first unified border entity, CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity.

CBP seeks to improve contract administration efficiency, achieve lower costs to the government through competition, and expand the availability data platform solutions across the agency. This RFI is intended to identify commercially available solutions, obtain feedback on the agency’s requirements, and determine potential contracting methods.

REQUESTED INFORMATION:

CBP seeks information from interested vendors that can provide commercially available capabilities listed within the draft Statement of Objectives (SOO) requirements.

1. Please describe your capabilities (platform features / data products / services) and experience (citing examples) meeting requirements similar in scope and complexity to requirements included in the SOO. For this request, respondents who possess a solution that may be proposed under Pool 1, Web-based data analytics platforms, are encouraged to provide a link to a recorded video demonstration of the solution (preferably less than 45 minutes in length).


2. Please describe the sources of data and breadth and depth of available data elements responsive to the government’s objectives.


3. Is this product or service available on any existing government contracting vehicles? If so, please identify all existing U.S government contracts, including GSA schedules, government wide contracts (e.g. NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP)) and agency-specific contracts.


4. Was this product or service included as part of a proposal for GSA’s Supply Chain Risk Illumination Professional Tools and Services (SCRIPTS) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) solicitation? If so, what capabilities were offered as part of the SCRIPTS solicitation and what capabilities are available that were not offered as part of the SCRIPTS solicitation?


5. What licensing/subscription structures are available considering that some tools may be useful for only a few dozen users and other tools may be useful for potentially several hundred users across CBP? What, if any, pricing issues or cost drivers exist in terms of licensing/subscription structures? How might CBP avoid paying for significant excess quantities of licenses?


6. What cost or pricing issues or savings may be present if a contract is available for all of DHS? What cost or pricing issues or savings may be present if the contract is available for all Federal Agencies with related trade and law enforcement missions?


7. What considerations should be made for contracting methods that achieve the government's objective to allow for new innovative products to be included on a contract over a 5-year or longer ordering period? (e.g. On-Ramping, Open Season, and Off-Ramping procedures)


8. Does your platform incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and/or deep learning functionality? If so, how? How might AI, ML, and/or deep learning aid the CBP in accomplishing its stated objective?

RESPONSE FORMAT AND LIMITS

Responses received from interested parties should not exceed twenty (20) pages in length, and:

1. Demonstrate the respondent’s ability to meet or exceed the capability requirements;


2. Address each of the above requests for information;


3. Provide the company name and address, point of contact with phone number and e- mail, business size, UEI number;


4. Address Cost/price estimates and an identification of potential cost drivers; and,


5. Include any other pertinent information such as assumptions made relating to the ability to meet certain objectives, information regarding additionally available capabilities that are related but may not be specifically on-point in respect to the SOO, and recommendations related to contracting, CLIN structures, and solicitation methods.

All responses shall be submitted electronically PDF format, with one-inch margins and not less than 12-point font. 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 Monday, January 27, 2025 at 12:00 pm ET. Responses must be submitted via e-mail to the Contracting Officer – jared.a.tritle @cbp.dhs.gov.

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 SOO. The information and specifications provided in the RFI are subject to 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.