Department of the Treasury, U.S. Customs Service, Procurement Division, Room 4210, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20229

R -- MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSITION OF SEIZED PROPERTY AND SALE OF GENERAL ORDER MERCHANDISE POC Celeste H. Rueffert, (202)927-1267 The following is a Request for Comment (RFC). This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal. The U.S. Customs Service is pursuing innovative methods for providing management and disposition services for seized property and sale of General Order(GO) merchandise for the Department of the Treasury, and possibly other government agencies. The purpose of the RFC is to afford industry an opportunity to offer suggestions and comment on the acquisition approach and to allow the government to receive the benefit of industry comments. The government believes industry feedback is important and is receptive to ideas from industry which would result in effective management of the government's property and realization of cost savings. Any comments provided should not be viewed as a vehicle for presenting a specific approach intended to be proposed but as an opportunity to improve a forthcoming solicitation package. The Department of the Treasury Forfeiture program has four primary law enforcement goals. They are to: (1) deprive criminals of property used in or acquired through illegal activities; (2) encourage joint operations among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies as well as foreign countries; (3) convert these assets into law enforcement intitiatives; and (4) protect the rights of the individual. The Treasury Forfeiture Fund Act of 1992 permits the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund to pay for the employment of outside contractors to operate and manage properties or to provide other specialized services necessary to dispose of such properties in an effort to maximize the return from such properties. The program is highly regulated and industry is encouraged to become familiar with applicable law enforcement statutes and regulations. The objectives of the program as supported by the contract are as follows: (1) promote the law enforcement goals of the Department of the Treasury; (2) effectively process the receipt, custody, and disposition of seized property, and the sale of GO merchandise; (3) ensure that all property is effectively maintained with no deterioration or loss in value; (4) maximize revenue for the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund and the government; and (5) minimize the costs associated with maintenance and disposition of the property. The contract supporting the program presently serves the U.S. Customs Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Food and Drug Administration. Service is provided in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and all U.S. territories. Seized property is defined as property that is seized by a Treasury law enforcement agency as a result of an act in violation of law. The commodities of property are aircraft, vessels, vehicles, general property, and real property. GO merchandise is defined as merchandise placed in public stores or general order bonded warehouses by U.S. Customs Service at the risk and expense of the consignee pending release upon submission of entry documentation and payment of duties and taxes. Disposition of property can be by remittance to the owner/violator, retention by government, transfer to another government entity, sale, destruction, or donation. The present inventory of property is approximately 11,000 line items consisting of approximately 6,000 line items of general property, 4,000 vehicles, 250 real properties, 20 operating businesses, 150 vessels, 25 aircraft. Property values may range from a few cents to millions of dollars. Property is continually entering and exiting inventory as the government seizes the property, and the contractor disposes of the property. Therefore, inventory fluctuates and can be affected by any new government legislation or regulations. These services are presently provided for the entire range of property commodities on a national basis by a single prime contractor under a cost plus award fee type contract. Comments are solicited on the following: (1) The government will be using Performance Based Contracting methods in accordance with FAR 37.6; (2) The government may consider awarding more than one contract for this requirement including separation by commodity, and or separation by geographical area; (3) Selection will be made on a best-value basis and significant emphasis will be afforded to past performance in providing property management, inventory control, and/or disposition services as evaluation criteria in determining award; (4) The government will require the eventual awardee(s) to provide comprehensive services 24 hours per day/365 days per year; (5) The government will require the eventual awardee(s) to maintain a government furnished automated asset tracking system. Comments, whether supportive or critical, are earnestly solicited regarding every aspect of the proposed initiative. Replies will be separated from, and have no bearing on, subsequent evaluation of proposals submitted in response to any resulting formal Requests for Proposals. The use of comments received from industry to complete final statements of work and solicitation documents will be at the discretion of the government. Any subsequent solicitations will be synopsized prior to release. Eligibility in participating in a future acquisition does not depend upon a response to this notice. Comments should not be used by offerors to market their services. The government will not pay for the information solicited and will not recognize any costs associated with submission of the RFC. Proprietary information is not being solicited. Responses to this synopsis must be submitted in writing with an original and 2 copies to the contracting officer at the followind address no later than 4:00 p.m. on February 17, 1998: Celeste H. Rueffert, Contracting Officer, Procurement Division, U.S. Customs Service, Suite 4.2-E, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20229. (0317)

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