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Section 3

Green Canine Statement of Work

1. 0 Introduction

The United States Capitol Police (USCP) mission is to protect the Congress, its legislative processes, Members, employees, visitors, and facilities from crime, disruption, or terrorism. We protect and secure Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional responsibilities in a safe and open environment. Chief of Operations (COO) is responsible for providing direction and leadership for the Department's Operational Services Bureau, (OSB). The Operational Services Bureau (OSB) Canine unit provides specialized and emergency response support. They also provide for the health and well-being of all working canines. The Canine Unit continually assesses staffing, additional canine units and replacements.

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   1. General Requirements
   
   
   
   

The Contractor shall meet all requirements as stated within the statement of work for the purchase of Green (untrained) canines. At any given time, the USCP may require as many as 10 canines. USCP shall perform all training for our canine teams. The working canine environment is determined by operational requirements and can work in a variety of environments to include pedestrians, buses, cars and trucks.

3.1.1 Standards:

Prior to rewarding the contract, an onsite visit from USCP Canine Training Personnel will be required to ensure compliance with Title 9 - Animals and Animal Products Chapter I - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture Subchapter A - Animal Welfare Part 3 – Standards, Subpart A. Specifications for the Humane Handling, Care, Treatment, and Transportation of Dogs and Cats.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2022-title9-vol1/pdf/CFR-2022-title9-vol1-part3-subpartA.pdf

Upon contract award the vendor must maintain compliancy with the CFR-2022-title9-vol1 regulation during all onsite canine evaluation. Failure to maintain compliance may result in contract termination.

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   1. Green Canine Physical and Mental Attributes: Washington DC pedestrian and vehicular traffic congestion requires specific canine personality, temperament and physical health.
   
   
   
   

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   1. Acceptable Breeds for Green Canines:
   
   
   
   

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      1. Labrador Retrievers, Golden or Chesapeake Bay Retriever, German short-haired pointers (GSP) and German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois.
      
      
      2. Other sporting/herding breeds will be considered with a written request for consideration as an exception.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

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   1. Health Records, Immunizations and Origin:
   
   
   
   

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      1. The Contractor must provide documentation of the following:
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   


2. Origin of the canine: Country and /or State of Origin.


3. Identification: All canines must have a collar with the canine's name. All canine's with a microchip implant must have a microchip ID tag.


4. Comprehensive Medical history and immunization records (include influenza vaccine)

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   1. Physical health. Any canine submitted as a candidate must meet the following health criteria.
   
   
   
   

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      1. Canine age must be a minimum of 10 months and not to exceed 36 months at the time of evaluation.
      
      
      2. Height 22"- 30" from the ground to the highest point of the shoulder blades.
      
      
      3. Weight must be appropriate to height.
      
      
      4. The canine must pass a comprehensive physical examination by a veterinarian under contract with U.S. Capitol Police.
      
      
      5. The contractor must provide Complete Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) quality radiographs issued by a licensed veterinarian, with the canine to ensure that the bones, joints, and muscles are healthy. If the canine has a microchip implant it must be displayed on radiographs.
      
      
      6. Limbs and Joints. Any condition of the bones, joints or muscles that might hamper or restrict the normal performance of duty is grounds for disqualification. Examples include: Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. A malformation of the hip and elbow joints, respectively, which usually results in degenerative joint disease, arthritis and chronic lameness. Radiographic evidence of hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia or degenerative joint disease, as determined by a veterinarian shall disqualify a canine.
      
      
      7. Fractures, which are unhealed, are disqualifying. Healed fractures resulting in significant bone or joint conformation changes or lameness arc disqualifying.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

Document Number: OSBQ202300001 Page 8 of 14

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      1. Ligament damage, osteoarthritis, etc., of the limb joints is generally disqualifying.
      
      
      2. Transitional vertebrae of the caudal lumbar spine, lumbosacral junction or sacrum are disqualifying. Asymmetric pelvic attachment is also disqualifying.
      
      
      3. Nervous System and Basic Senses: Any defect in the nervous system, to include the basic senses of vision, hearing and sense of smell, is disqualifying. Examples include, but are not limited to, opacities of the cornea, eyelid deformities, cataracts, retinal degeneration, chronic otitis, acute or chronic rhinitis/sinusitis and spinal disease. No active infectious disease.
      
      
      4. Gait: All canines shall display normal mobility at a walk and run. Canines will be disqualified for any gait abnormality, which could affect the canine's ability to perform normal USCP duties.
      
      
      5. Skin and Coat: Skin and coat shall be healthy in appearance, displaying no evidence of chronic dermatitis, allergies, infections, injuries or marked external parasite infestation (e.g., mange, fleas, etc.). A matted, unthrifty hair-coat may not be grounds for disqualification but will raise concern about the canine's general health.
      
      
      6. Teeth and Jaw: Canines shall have normal dentition and dental occlusion, not overshot or undershot jaws. All four (4) canine teeth shall be present and not he weakened by notching, enamel hypoplasia or abnormal, excessive wear. They shall not have more than 1/3 inch of the lip missing or have pulp cavity exposed. Oral infection or excessive periodontal disease may be grounds for disqualifying a canine. Broken teeth or excessively worn teeth may be disqualifying.
      
      
      7. Heart and Lungs: Heart sounds, rate and rhythm shall be normal (e.g., no murmurs, arrhythmia, etc.). In general, the cardiovascular and respiratory system shall be normal al rest and upon exercise.
      
      
      8. Heartworms: All canines submitted for purchase shall be free of heartworm infection (Dirofilaria immitis). The presence of
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

heartworm infection will be determined by using a heartworm antigen test. A negative heartworm concentration test (filtration or Knott's) is not sufficient evidence to declare the animal heartworm-free.

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      1. Intestinal Parasitism: Infection with intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, etc.) may not be disqualifying, depending on the level of infection and the overall condition of the animal. Presence of intestinal parasites is, however, an indication of poor care and shall raise concern about the canine's general health.
      
      
      2. External Parasitism: Presence of fleas, ticks, lice or mange mites may not be disqualifying, depending on the amount of infestation, the degree of associated skin disease, and the overall condition of the canine. Presence of external parasites is, however, an indication of poor care and shall raise concern about the canine’s general health.
      
      
      3. Reproductive and Urinary System: Any congenital or conformational abnormality is disqualifying, if the defect requires long­ term medical treatment or results in a shortened working life of the canine. (e.g., cryptorchidism is not disqualifying unless the retained testicle results in medical complications not treatable by simple orchiectomy. A juvenile vulva resulting in urine scalding is disqualifying). All female canines selected for purchase must be spayed prior to delivery. Male canines may be neutered or intact.
      
      
      4. Immunization: All canines must have been vaccinated within the previous 12 months for rabies, canine distemper, canine adenovirus (TYPE 2), coronavirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus and leptospirosis. Vaccination certificate must include the individual canine identification (ID)
      
      
      5. The candidate must be free of the following common Medically-Disqualifying Conditions: The following list is provided as a helpful guide and example and is not intended to be a complete list.
      
      
      6. Hematological abnormalities consistent with severe parasitism, infection, or metabolic disease.
      
      
      7. Poor body condition, either emaciation or obesity.
      
      
      8. Severe periodontal disease.
      
      
      9. Severe, non-resolving or intractable otitis extema or dennatitis.
      
      
      10. Radiographic signs of hip or elbow dysplasia or radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease.
      
      
      11. Transitional vertebrae of the caudal lumbar spine, lumbosacral junction or sacrum.
      
      
      12. Previous musculoskeletal injury which has or may lead to degenerative joint disease or conformational abnormality.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

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   1. Green Canines
   
   
   
   

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      1. Temperament: the canine candidate must display:
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   


2. Acceptance when working amongst small and large groups of people and canines.


3. Willingness to comply or cooperate with handlers/evaluators.


4. Willingness to work in proximity to people or other canines even if there is a display of pronounced aggressiveness from a distractor canine.

Document Number: OSBQ202300001 Page 8 of 14

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      1. Evaluation canine must not display:
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   


2. Aggressiveness toward handlers/evaluators.


3. Sensitivity or fear in response to environmental stimuli such as a busy city, interiors of buildings, slick surfaces, elevated surfaces, stairs, noisy objects, crowds of people, working loading dock, slippery and shiny floors, escalators, elevators, stairwells, metal grates and other stressors/distracters.


4. Pronounced or uncontrollable leash-biting


5. Fear, becoming distracted or reacting aggressively, shyness, or nervousness in response to people.

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   1. Environmental Qualifications: Canine performance will be tested under unfamiliar and city environments to determine confidence and independence. USCP shall determine if the canine is initially fearful. As an example, does the canine recover and display sufficient willingness to confront stressful stimuli when coaxed. See 3.6.2 for conditions.
   
   
   
   

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   1. Reward Training Play and Prey Drive Evaluation:
   
   
   
   

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      1. Canine must demonstrate the following:
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   


2. Fetch (Hunt) and Retrieve behaviors the reward in a field.


3. Toy Reward interest and consistency during the evaluation.


4. Speed and Eagerness with which the canine pursues the object and picks it up.


5. Increased desire to possess toy reward.
   
   
   
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      1. Active search behavior is evaluated in terms of intensive sniffing and investigation of environment.
      
      
      2. Canine focused on the USCP evaluator
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

1. A reward object is thrown it into an area of concealment and/or


2. A reward object is pretend to be thrown into area of concealment.

Each time, the canine's visual contact with the search area is broken by spinning the canine in a circle and then the canine is released to search off-leash.

1. The canine search behavior evaluation is based on intensive sniffing and investigation of environment.


2. The canine will not be judged solely on its ability to retrieve.

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   1. Health and Performance Warranty.
      
      
      
      1. Skeletal health warranty is for one (1) year from delivery.
      
      
      2. Genetic or acute illness health (can include but is not limited to IBS and blindness) is for 12 months from delivery.
      
      
      3. Physical ability and mental stability as a trainable and workable detection canine is for 6 months from delivery.
      
      
      4. Note: Contractor must present green canines with no exposure to formal training. The USCP Evaluator's opinion on a canine's performance is the basis upon which the canine is determined to be acceptable or unacceptable for deployment as a USCP canine.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

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   1. Blanket Purchase Agreement Post award: - Canine Delivery Order for Canine Purchase
   
   
   
   

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      1. USCP shall submit a request for green canine stock availability to each of the 4 (four) Blanket Purchase Agreement Contract holders.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   


2. Upon request, the Contractor must provide qualified quantities of each breed and contracted price.


3. The contractor(s) with qualified canines will be contacted to schedule canine examinations.


4. USCP shall travel to each contractor facility and/or nearby city to perform evaluations.


5. The initial examination and evaluation process is 1- 1 ½ days at each of 4 locations (up to 2 weeks).


6. Each Contractor will be notified of the total quantity and name/number of each canine USCP shall purchase.


7. USCP shall issue a delivery order


8. USCP shall Request Contractor ship canines to U.S. Capitol Police Canine Training Facility, 4700 Shepherd Parkway Southwest, Washington, D.C. 20032. Provide USCP with an estimate for shipping charges; OR

USCP shall provide USCP personnel to pick up the selected canines at the Contractor facility.

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      1. Warranty Returns: USCP shall Return Canines that have failed to meet the requirements within the warranty period to the contractor when the Canine Exchange examination is scheduled by USCP.
         
         
         
         
         1. If the contractor does not have sufficient stock to exchange the canine:
            
            
            
            1. When Contractor is requesting an immediate return, then the contractor is responsible for delivery charges from:
            
            
            
            
         
         
         
         
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

U.S. Capitol Police Canine Training Facility, 4700 Shepherd Parkway Southwest, Washington, D.C. 20032.

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            1. When the Contractor stock isn't adequate for a replacement within 60 days of request, the contractor must refund the purchase price and is responsible for return shipping to the kennel.
            
            
            
            
         
         
         
         
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

End Statement of Work

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