United States Marshals Service's Use of Independent Contractors as Guards

Audit Report 05-24
May 2005
Office of the Inspector General


Appendix II

Glossary of Terms and Acronyms


Affirmation of Work Qualifications: A signed document containing the contractor's qualifications including experience, training, background, and fitness for duty.

Cellblock: Secure area in the USMS district office intended to house prisoners waiting for their court proceedings.

Contracting Officer: Contracts may be entered into and signed on behalf of the USMS only by a contracting officer.

Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR): Official authorized to monitor and administer a contract for the purpose of inspection and acceptance.

Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP): Pursuant to 18 U.S.C., the CAP assists state and local governments in funding the renovation or construction of detention facilities. The state and local governments in return guarantee the USMS bed space for a predetermined period of time.

Court Security Officer (CSO): Contract guard hired under the Court Security Officer Program to provide courtroom and facility security at federal courthouses.

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): Uniform codification of policies for acquisition of supplies and services by executive agencies.

Fed Biz Ops: Publication listing current federal government procurement opportunities over $25,000.

Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA): Payroll withholdings for Social Security tax.

Hand receipts USM-288A: Document used to assign personal accountability to USMS property.

Human Resources Division (HRD): HRD is responsible for performing background and suitability checks on independent contractors.

Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA): Formal written agreement between the USMS and a local or state government for the housing, care and safekeeping of federal prisoners.

Independent contractors: Individual contract with a single contract guard.

Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS): Operated by the USMS, the JPATS transports prisoners between judicial districts, correctional institutions, and foreign countries. According to the USMS, the JPATS averages more than 270,000 prisoner and alien movements annually through a network of aircraft, sedans, vans, and buses. The air fleet includes Boeing-727s and numerous smaller craft. Whether by air or by surface transportation the JPATS routinely serves about 40 cities and provides as-needed service to many others. Air fleet operations are centered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with satellite hubs in Phoenix, Arizona, and Alexandria, Louisiana.

NCIC/NLETS: National Crime Information Center/National Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (Automated background checks)

National Finance Center (NFC): Federal payroll system that issues Bi-weekly payments to government employees and is also used to pay independent contractors.

Personal Qualifications Statement (USM-234): Application for employment completed by independent contractors.

Personal services contract: A contract that enables the government to directly supervise a contractor's personnel. Contracts with security guard vendors represent a typical example of a personal services contract.

Procurement Authority: The dollar contract limitation stated on the contracting officer's "Certificate of Appointment."

Shadow Force: USMS colloquialism referring to the largely unacknowledged workforce of independent contractors.

Statement of Work (SOW): The portion of a contract that describes in precise terms the work (tasks, materials and services) to be provided by the contractor.

USM-7 Bi-weekly: Time sheet used to record all personal service guard hours.



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