V--International Expedited Freight Forwarding Service

What the buyer is asking for

Posted Date: September 8, 2026 Procurement Office: The Department of the Interior (DOI) ¿ Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD) Response Due Date: September 23, 2026, at 1000 AM EST NOTICE OF INTENT SYNOPSIS: The DOI, IBC, AQD on behalf of Peace Corps¿ Office of Operations & Security intends to award three Contracts to Cavalier, EWC, and DBA, on a sole source basis for International Expedited Freight Forwarding Services. These Contracts are anticipated to include a 12-month base period and four 12-month Option Periods. The intended procurement is classified under North American Industry Classification System code (NAICS) Code 488510 ¿ Freight Transportation Arrangement. This is a Sole Source procurement under the authority of Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) Subpart 12 ¿ Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. There are only three responsible sources, and no other services will satisfy agency requirements. Description of Requirement: The Peace Corps Office of Operations & Security (Facilities Management Division) requires specialized international 4PL freight-forwarding, logistics, and customs-brokerage services for shipments originating from Peace Corps Headquarters to overseas Peace Corps posts in more than 60 countries. This requirement directly supports Volunteer health, safety, and operational infrastructure. Primary shipment categories include: ¿ Temperature-Sensitive Medical Logistics: Pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biological materials, and prescription medications requiring continuous temperature maintenance (+2°C to +8°C, -20°C, and -80°C). ¿ Dangerous Goods: IATA Class 9 hazardous materials, including non-removable lithium-ion batteries installed in IT and medical diagnostic units. ¿ Diplomatic Cargo: Cargo requiring U.S. Department of State (DoS) Government Bills of Lading (GBL) and handoff into diplomatic pouch/cargo chains of custody. Peace Corps operating experience, shipping procedures, and market research to date ¿ including review of vendor corporate history, public regulatory filings, and documented service capabilities ¿ demonstrate that standard commercial parcel services do not provide the combined capability required for this requirement, particularly active cold-chain recovery during transit disruptions, specialized pharmaceutical customs support, and integration with Department of State diplomatic freight processes. Market research and Peace Corps operating experience identify three proposed sources as providing distinct capabilities relevant to the Government's minimum need: Cavalier Logistics, Expedited World Cargo (EWC), and Distribution by Air (DBA)/Radiant Logistics. Therefore, this requirement will be established as three BPAs, one each set up as a sole source to each of these vendors, based on the following rationale: ¿ Common couriers do not offer end-to-end active cold-chain custody, in-transit dry-ice replenishment, or re-icing during flight interruptions or customs holds. In addition, standard commercial couriers generally leave destination customs clearance to the receiving Post. At many Posts, staff do not have the specialized brokerage relationships, pharmaceutical import expertise, or regulatory infrastructure necessary to resolve complex Ministry of Health and customs requirements within the validated cold-chain hold period. Failure to maintain temperature control during transit disruptions results in irreversible product excursion, complete inventory loss, and mission failure through delayed medical treatment for Volunteers. ¿ Cavalier is the only source presently documented as providing this complete logistics model. Under Peace Corps' established cold-chain procedure, the Government maintains the required temperature only through the domestic transfer to Cavalier's Sterling, Virginia operation, after which Cavalier assumes responsibility for maintaining the temperature-controlled environment throughout…