DHS RFP calls for help recruiting 7,500 border patrol agents
By
Ross Wilkers
Customs and Border Protection kicks off the bids on a five-year, $297 million contract to help add 7,500 officers and agents for Trump's larger border security initiatives.
Customs and Border Protection has started to accept bids on a five-year, $297 million contract for services to help CBP recruit and hire 7,500 additional officers and agents.
A request for proposals posted July 7 says it seeks industry help to reach the hiring goal within the next two-three years. Proposals for the full-and-open competition are due to CBP by Aug. 8 and an award is anticipated in September, according to Deltek data.
The RFP calls for the hiring of 5,000 more Border Patrol agents, 2,000 CBP officers and 500 Air and Marine Interdiction Agents to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border.
The solicitation comes nearly five months after Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly directed CBP in a memo to hire more agents, our sister publication FCW reported in February.
Kelly's memo also showed the first detail on plans to build a wall across the border in response to President Donald Trump's executive orders.
CBP sought $286 million in operations and support funds in an amendment to the current fiscal year's budget that included $65 million for agent hiring capacity.
Trump's fiscal 2018 budget blueprint requests $314 million for the Homeland Security Department to recruit, hire and train 500 new Border Patrol agents and 1,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement personnel.
According to the solicitation, the government wants a contractor that can help with applicant testing, screening for suitability, and application process streamlining.
The contractor will help with market research, data analytics, recruitment and advertising. DHS also wants someone with knowledge of CBP applicant processing, systems integration skills and demonstrated experience with law enforcement recruitment.