CBP opens next round of donation program

The donation program enables private and government entities to address efficiency problems at local ports of entry that U.S. Customs doesn’t have sufficient funds for through normal appropriations.    U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the General Services Administration have begun accepting proposals from private entities and local governments interested in donating resources to help the agency with its border management mission at ports of entry.
   The open period will run through Dec. 18.
   In 2014, Congress permanently authorized the Donation Acceptance Program to allow CBP and the GSA, which owns and manages most government property, to accept donations of real property, money and non-personal services from private and government entities. Accepted donations may be used for the construction, alteration, operations and maintenance of facilities at ports of entry.
   In July, CBP announced that proposals submitted by the cities of Donna, El Paso and Pharr, Texas, have been selected for further planning and development.
   The City of Donna proposed installing new inspection facilities and technologies to facilitate outbound empty commercial vehicle inspections at the Río Bravo International Bridge. The City of El Paso wants to remove an existing traffic island to facilitate commercial traffic flow at the Zaragoza/Ysleta Bridge. Pharr officials have proposed installing additional commercial booths and renovations to facilitate agricultural inspections at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge.
   New proposals may be sent to 559donationsacceptance@cbp.dhs.gov.
   CBP held a webinar yesterday to explain the program to interested parties.
   The Donations Acceptance Program is part of CBP’s Resource Optimization Strategy. Another new program authorized by Congress allows private companies or localities to reimburse the agency for overtime and extra manpower. Both programs were designed to let communities help address bottlenecks that stymie economic growth.