U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Trade (OT) Trade Regulatory Audit (TRA) Directorate Forensic Audit Services Sources Sought

Active

Contract Opportunity

DESCRIPTION

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking information from interested vendors that could provide specific forensic auditing support in automation of the forensic auditing process and Forensic, Analytical, and Training consulting service requirements for Trade Regulatory Audit directorate (TRA). Project scope shall include professional consulting services supporting all work processes necessary for the successful creation, modification, implementation, monitoring, and management for TRA’s Forensic Support; Improved Analytics and Automation; and Forensic Training and Transformation for TRA personnel to obtain and deploy these mission critical capabilities. The four (4) key task areas are: Forensic Enforcement, Improved Analytics, Process Automation, and Forensic Training & Transformation.

The attached DRAFT Statement of Work (SOW) describes the requirements for the Contractor who shall provide all support services outlined in the DRAFT SOW. Should the Government prioritize and fund this work in the future, the Government will further define specific tasks and deliverables in a subsequent formal solicitation.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT. It is for informational purposes only. A solicitation is NOT being issued. This Request for Information (RFI) from industry will allow the Government to identify interested sources capable of meeting all requirements. The information sought will be used for planning purposes only.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP). The Government will not award a contract on the basis of this RFI. The Government will not pay for any information submitted by respondents. All proprietary or sensitive corporate information shall be clearly marked.

This RFI in no way obligates or commits the Government to acquire any product or service. There shall be no basis for claims against the Government as a result of information submitted in response to this RFI.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plays a critical role in defending America’s economic security by enforcing current trade laws and implementing new measures to protecting American industry and creating jobs by leveling the playing field for American businesses. CBP remains the agency that collects the second largest amount of revenue for the federal government and is committed to its dual role of trade facilitation and revenue protection. Our trade operations are focused on creating a level playing field for American businesses, protecting consumers and reducing trade costs.

The Office of Trade (OT) consolidates the trade policy, program development, and compliance measurement functions of CBP into one office. OT provides uniformity and clarity for the

development of CBP’s national strategy to facilitate legitimate trade and manages the design and implementation of results-driven strategic initiatives for trade compliance and enforcement. OT also directs national enforcement responses through effective targeting of goods crossing the border as well as strict, swift punitive actions against companies participating in predatory trade practices. Through coordination with international partners and other U.S. government agencies, OT directs the enforcement of intellectual property rights, the identification of risks to detect and prevent the importation of contaminated agricultural or food products, and the enforcement of free trade agreement eligibility.

OT provides the legal tools to promote facilitation and compliance with customs, trade, and border security requirements through the issuance of all CBP regulations, legally binding rulings and decisions, informed compliance publications, and structured programs for external CBP training and outreach concerning international trade laws. OT implements a risk-based audit program to respond to allegations of commercial fraud and to conduct corporate reviews of internal controls to ensure importers comply with trade laws and regulations.

TRA Directorate is comprised of field-based operations and headquarters-based operations. The field-based operations are primarily focused on the execution of the national annual audit plan within each of the twelve (12) field offices. The headquarters-based operations include various planning, policy, oversight, special projects, and resource management activities within three (3) headquarters divisions.

REQUESTED INFORMATION

CBP seeks information from vendors that can provide commercially available capabilities and services to satisfy the attached the attached DRAFT SOW requirements. Citing two (2) examples, please describe your capabilities and experience meeting requirements similar in scope and complexity to the requirements of the attached DRAFT SOW. In addition to a description of capabilities and experience, CBP seeks responses to the following questions:

1. What is your experience level and expertise supporting complex Federal forensic investigations involving trade-based money laundering, illegal narcotics trafficking, and import/export trade-based crimes?


2. What forensic experience do you have with Federal import trade-based knowledge for global industries involved in US cross-border trade?


3. What specific foreign countries’ trade processes, legal frameworks, and foreign forensic programs do you have expertise with specific countries?


4. In which specific US Trade Priority Issues do you have forensic auditing experience?


5. In which specific emerging trade issues like Forced Labor, Green Trade do you have forensic auditing experience?


6. What resources would you be able to provide that have Data Analytic experience with Federal law enforcement, or federal forensic auditing experience?


7. Is your existing familiarity or expertise level with CBP auditing standards?


8. What is your existing familiarity or expertise with federally held data use to support forensic audit investigations?


9. What is your existing familiarity or expertise with Commercial data sets related to import/export domain data and CBP domain data?


10. What is your existing familiarity or expertise with commercially available entity data and linking information such as a business name, address or other identifier to import/export cryptocurrency activity?


11. What is your existing experience developing, documenting, and tracking chain of custody of evidentiary documentation to support forensic audit investigations?


12. What is your existing experience training audit specialists in conducting highly complex forensic audit investigations, developing evidence, link analysis, acquiring new data sets, integrating, and interpreting data patterns, while aligning research and audit investigative efforts in support of protecting U.S. national economic interests?

Note: “existing” is defined as resources currently on staff in your company.

RESPONSE FORMAT AND LIMITS

Interested parties should submit a written response, no more than eight (8) pages in length using one (1) inch margins with Times New Roman font size 12, that:

1. Demonstrates the respondent’s ability to meet or exceed the attached DRAFT SOW requirements;


2. Addresses each of the questions;


3. Provides the company name, company physical/mailing address, point of contact (POC) name, POC phone number, POC e-mail, business size, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and available contracting vehicles;


4. Cost/price estimates;


5. Any other pertinent information such as assumptions made relating to the ability to satisfy specific requirements or questions regarding ambiguous or poorly defined requirements; and


6. All responses shall be submitted electronically (Adobe PDF format). Responding to this RFI is not a pre-requisite to bid on a subsequent RFP. If a RFP is issued, responses may include links to available product demonstration websites or videos.

Responses are due no later than 10am ET, Wednesday, January 15, 2025. Responses shall 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 attached DRAFT SOW. 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.

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