Religious Services at ICE Service Processing Centers

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), has a requirement for chaplains and support staff to establish and administer a Religious Services Program consistent with the roles and responsibilities outline in the Performance Based National Detention Standards 2011 (Revised 2016) (PBNDS 2011) at each of five (5) dedicated ICE detention facilities located in Batavia, NY, Miami, FL, Los Fresnos, TX, Florence, AZ, and El Paso, TX. The primary goal of this contract is to provide detained noncitizens access to a structured and consistent opportunity to practice religion consistent with the PBNDS 2011 and applicable federal law. This goal will be accomplished through an onsite chaplain and program support staff who must fulfill the obligations set forth in the PBNDS 2011, which states, the facility chaplain, who shall, in cooperation with the facility administrator and staff, plan, direct and supervise all aspects of the religious program, including approval and training of both lay and clergy volunteers from faiths represented in the detained noncitizen population. It is the policy of ICE to extend to all detained noncitizens the greatest amount of freedom and opportunity to pursue their individual religious beliefs and practices consistent with the safety and security of the facility. Per the PBNDS 2011 the Contractor shall: coordinate worship services and instructional opportunities by providing detained noncitizens of recognized faith groups with reasonable and equitable gatherings subject to space availability at each ICE Detention Facility. The Contractor shall coordinate pastoral care in a one- on-one setting with sensitivity, approachability, and availability to all detained noncitizens. The Contractor shall also approve religious meals (meals provided by the ICE Food Services contractor per ICE Policies and Standards) and advise ICE on religious property matters and instructional material for detained noncitizen use, and other appropriate duties related to religious practices and accommodation in ICE detention setting.