Transboundary Flows Risk Mitigation: Infrastructure and Technology Solutions
Request for Information (RFI)
CBP Wastewater Initiative
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This is an RFI released pursuant to FAR 15.201(e). This RFI is issued solely for information, planning purposes, and market research only; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is not seeking proposals at this time. CBP will not pay for any cost associated with responding to this RFI. All costs will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. If a solicitation is released, it will be posted in the Federal Business Opportunities (http://www.fbo.gov). Interested parties are advised to monitor this website for any information that may pertain to this RFI. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. All submissions become the property of the Federal Government, and will not be returned.
Background:
CBP is a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) whose mission is to prevent the illegal flow of people and goods across U.S. air, land, and sea borders while expediting the safe flow of lawful travel and commerce. As the nation's single, unified border agency, CBP's mission is vitally important for the protection of the American people and the national economy. CBP represents the first line of defense of America's borders.
The Tijuana River and several adjacent canyons flow north from Tijuana, Mexico, into the United States. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers routinely inspect culverts in the canyons that run under the border fence for illegal immigrants and smugglers. The culverts should be dry, except when carrying stormwater runoff, but failing wastewater infrastructure in Mexico frequently results in dry-weather flows. Several canyons have diversion structures (aka, "canyon collectors") in the U.S. that collect dry-weather flows for pumping to the International Wastewater Treatment Plant (located in the U.S.) for treatment.
The lack of proper wastewater infrastructure in Tijuana, coupled with suspected illegal dumping, results in a high volume of recurring transboundary wastewater and hazardous flows. Known and unknown contaminants pose operational and health risks to Border Patrol Agents operating in the area. New technologies may support improved situational awareness for hazardous flows as they occur, enabling the appropriate operational, safety, and investigative response. Additionally, engineering solutions might exist to minimize the amount of wastewater that currently pools in the canyon collectors or there might be technologies that check grate and canyon collector infrastructure integrity so that agents no longer need to physically transit the collectors as part of their operational duties.
Purpose:
The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information and comments from industry to aid in the refinement of requirements and the formation of an acquisition strategy.
Small businesses are encouraged to respond to this RFI in order to assist CBP in determining the potential level of interest, adequate competition, and technical capability of the Small Business community to fulfill this requirement. However, responses to this RFI are solicited from all interested parties.
Scope:
CBP is interested in a wide range of solutions to this issue, to possibly include:
•· Automated equipment that eliminates the operational need for Border Patrol agents to patrol these hazardous areas.
•· Engineering fixes to the canyon collector infrastructure to neutralize the risk of the hazardous material contained in the water or eliminate the water that pools in the collectors.
•· Suite of technology to remotely monitor grate integrity and spillways that alerts personnel of imminent risks so they can take precautionary measures to limit exposure.
It is imperative that all proposed technology is easily operated by CBP, so any proposed equipment should be easy for trained CBP staff to:
•· Calibrate instruments according to the manufacturer's instructions before and after every use.
•· Connect the system to off-site locations for remote access to real-time monitoring data.
•· Analyze the data results that the real-time equipment provides.
•· Power the system.
Interested parties are requested to provide the following information. Please limit the response to each query up to 3 pages (8.5" x 11" inch pages, Times New Roman font size 12)
•· Company Name, Company Address, Point of Contact, Telephone Number, e-mail Address.
•· Please indicate whether your organization is a Small Business, HUBZone Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Women-Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) small business, etc.
•· Does your firm have a CBP, DHS, or GSA contract suitable for this type of work? If so, please include a copy of your contract(s) with your response.
•· Please provide a description of the technology you manufacture or would procure and install and/or your technical approach to address CBP requirement. The description shall address how it will benefit the Imperial Beach, CA Border Patrol Station.
•· Cybersecurity is a concern for CBP. Please include your approach to address cybersecurity concerns. Note that cellular service at some CBP facilities is poor due to the remote locations.
Contractors should respond to this RFI by e-mail (only) to Keisha.M.Benford@cbp.dhs.gov
RFI responses will NOT be shared with other parties and will solely be used as part of the procurement planning process.
Please submit electronic responses (via email) to the POC above no later than April 3, 2018 at 3:00pm EST.
As part of its ongoing market research for the wastewater initiative, CBP plans to host an Industry Day.
Additional information will be provided by Amendment.
Industry Day - Wastewater Initiative
Date: April 2018
Location: San Diego, CA
Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED and completely separated. Be advised that no submission will be returned.
*** CBP Wastewater Initiative INDUSTRY DAY ***
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be holding an Industry Day at the CBP, Imperial Beach, Border Patrol Station, CA, on April 9 - 11, 2018.
This Industry Day is not classified and therefore attendance is not limited to individuals with clearances. However, all personnel that will participate will submit the information listed below to the Contract Specialist. Please provide your information no later than 3 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, April 3, 2018.
NOTE** CBP Industry Day and Presentation attendance will be open to interested firms ONLY.
Any vendor employee that will attend the Industry Day and Site Visit must provide the following information:
For US citizen:
Full Name (Last, Middle, First)
Date of Birth
Social Security number
For Non US Citizen:
Name (Last, Middle, First)
Date of Birth
Supporting Immigration documentation
Attendance at the Industry Day is voluntary. CBP will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred to participate in this Industry Day. The Industry Day announcement does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or abstracts. Interested parties are cautioned that nothing herein obligates the Government to issue a future contract.
Industry Day Objective:
Providing Ideas and Solutions
To provide Industry the opportunity to aid CBP in the refinement of requirements and the formation of an acquisition strategy. To provide industry the opportunity to present recommendations. All information received is solely for planning purposes and market research.
The CBP Industry Day will be held April 9th through April 11th.
April 9, 2018:
•· CBP Presentation 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•· Lunch Break 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Lunch will not be provided
•· Site Visit 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
• Limited to 2 attendees per vendor
• Transportation will be provided
• Recommend durable shoes during site visit
• Pictures are allowed at the border but MAY NOT include the pictures of any agents.
•· Q&A 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
April 10, 2018
•· Vendor Presentations 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• Each vendor will be limited to 30-45 minutes of presentation time
• Limited up to 5 attendees per vendor
• Projector available
April 11, 2018
•· Vendor Presentations 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• Each vendor will be limited to 30-45 minutes of presentation time
• Limited up to 5 attendees per vendor
• Projector available
NOTE** Each Vendor will be notified of their presentation date and time by April 5, 2018.
All Questions that each vendor has as a result of the Industry Day shall be provided in writing by 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on April 18, 2018 to the Contract Specialist. During the individual presentations, CBP may ask for clarification and the vendor may respond verbally.
POC: Keisha Benford, Contract Specialist, Phone: 202-325-3561 Email: Keisha.M.Benford@cbp.dhs.gov
Keisha Benford, Contract Specialist, Phone 202-325-3561, Email keisha.m.benford@cbp.dhs.gov - Barbara Wilson, Contracting Officer, Phone 317-614-4933, Email BARBARA.B.WILSON@cbp.dhs.gov
