Inactive

This is a NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE ORDER under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intends to solic... This is a NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE ORDER under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intends to solicit and negotiate directly with OPSEC Security, Inc., 1857 Colonial Village Lane, Lancaster, PA 17601-6702, for High-Security Holographic Overlay Laminate Pouches for CBP Credentials. OPSEC Security is the only provider of these items, and no other product or service will meet the Government's needs. CBP credentials authorize the bearer to perform specific official functions as mandated by law, statute, or position assigned. Issued credentials are used only for official purposes related to CBP duties. Given the importance and sensitivity surrounding a CBP credential, specially designed laminate containing high-level security features are required to prevent unauthorized reproduction, replication, and counterfeiting. All CBP credentials produced and in current circulation (for both active and retired credentials) from the creation date of DHS and CBP are encased with these unique, high security, Security Holographic Overlay Laminate Pouch Sets. The Assistant Commissioner of CBP Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has mandated the usage of a common laminate design on all CBP credentials to ensure all credentials are 100% consistent in order to maintain required security protocols and to protect CBP employees. OpSec Security is the design holder and manufacturer of this DHS/CBP laminate. Credentials must be consistent across all DHS components. An award to any other vendor would result in extra design and development costs, time delays, security vulnerabilities and DHS and its components would be required to re-issue all currently held credentials in order to maintain absolute consistency across the department, which would create significant cost increases across the Department and all of its components. The OPSEC high-security laminate contains DHS seals/insignia, which are protected under DHS branding requirements. If new laminates were designed and developed, there would also be a significant amount of time and effort required to clear other potential vendors to use and secure DHS seals/insignia in their proposed designs and technical specifications. In addition, The Security Holographic Overlay Laminate Pouch Sets are used to add high level, unique and enhanced security features to CBP credentials in support of DHS law enforcement, investigations and inspections which support DHS ’comprehensive national security posture. This assertion is supported by DHS Instruction 121-01-002, which implies that credentials have national security implications. Given the highly sensitive nature of the laminates, disclosure of the specifications and designs to other vendors may compromise national security and create unnecessary vulnerabilities by having the designs released to unknown and un-cleared open market sources. Continuity of DHS Component credentialing via a highly common and consistent laminate design is also a primary objective to ensure that DHS employees and retirees who are carrying DHS credentials are recognized as being in possession of legitimate, authorized and non-counterfeited forms of authority identification. To change the DHS standard and design of credential laminate by procuring other designs and specifications could call into question an employee’s authorities when conducting investigations, accessing highly secure areas, flying while armed, etc. when security personnel (e.g., TSA, etc.) compare the credentials being carried against known and published credential formats for all U.S. Government Departments. It is common for security personnel to have guidelines and procedures that contain photos and/or images of acceptable and authentic Government credentials. No other high security holographic laminate will meet CBP’s requirement. No formal solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, prospective contractors who believe they can successfully quote must provide specific detailed technical documentation to support such claims of abilities. The Government will review any submittals received in response to this notice prior to 4:00 pm Eastern Time on May 11, 2020. All documentation must be submitted via email. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred in the preparation of responses to this announcement. This is the only notice that will be issued for these items. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. For questions concerning this Notice of Intent, please contact the Contracting Officer via email only at Erin.Schwam@cbp.dhs.gov.