see also: in How to do Business with CBP:   Acquisition Alert 12-17 WARN Act Guidance (pdf - 286 KB.)   Acquisition Planning: Forecast System (APFS)   CBP Office of Information and Technology (OIT) Procurement Tracker (pdf - 59 KB.)   CBP Key Procurements Tracker (xls - 36 KB.)   CBP Small Business Program   Small Business Questionnaire (doc - 63 KB.) on dhs.gov site:   Small Business Vendor Outreach Sessions on the web:   Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Unsolicited Proposals

(07/14/2011)What is an unsolicited proposal?
An unsolicited proposal is a valuable means by which unique or innovative ideas, concepts, methods, or approaches, which have been originated or developed outside of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), can be made available to CBP for use in the accomplishment of CBP missions. The proposal must be prepared without Government supervision or direct involvement. Unsolicited proposals are offered with the intent that the CBP will enter into a contract with the offer or for research and development or other efforts that support the CBP missions. Capability statements, advertising material, commercial item offers, contributions, and/or correspondence on technical issues are not unsolicited proposals. An unsolicited proposal is a written proposal submitted to an agency on the initiative of the offer or for the purpose of obtaining a contract with the Government and that is not in response to a Request for Proposals, Broad Agency Announcements, Small Business Innovation Research topics, Small Business Technology Transfer Research topics, Program Research and Development Announcements, or any other Government initiated solicitation program.

A valid unsolicited proposal must fulfill all of the requirements set forth by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 15.603(c). ( Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) ) A valid unsolicited proposal must fulfill all of the requirements set forth by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 15.603(c). Please note that unsolicited proposals allow for unique and innovative approaches that have been developed outside the Government to be made available to Government agencies for use in accomplishment of their missions. Advertising material, commercial item offers, routine correspondence, or contributions per FAR 15.601 (concepts, suggestions or ideas presented to the Government for its use with no indication that the source intends to devote any further effort to it on the Government’s behalf) are not unsolicited proposals and will not be considered.

What are the contents of an unsolicited proposal?
Firms interested in submitting an unsolicited proposal to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection should include the contents of an unsolicited proposal as required by the FAR Subpart 15.605.

Please be advised that clarity and completeness of the unsolicited proposal is of primary importance.

Who is responsible for processing unsolicited proposals?
The Procurement Directorate, Office of Administration is responsible for the processing of all unsolicited proposals.

Where do I send an unsolicited proposal?
Offerors with proposals meeting the guidelines in FAR 15.605 should submit an original and one (1) copy of the unsolicited proposal to:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Procurement Directorate
Office of Administration
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
National Place, Suite 1310
Washington, DC 20229

The FAR Subpart 15.6 sets forth the policies and procedures relating to the submission, receipt, evaluation, and acceptance or rejection of unsolicited proposals. For additional information on submitting unsolicited proposals to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, please send email messages to CBPPQAD@dhs.gov.