DHS 'Racing' to Fill Border Patrol, Customs Vacancies

The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) has come up with a new idea to help secure the nation's borders and airports: by sponsoring NASCAR racing teams.  DHS is soliciting bids from marketing firms capable of arranging the placement of Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) advertising on the cars of winning racers in competitions in the coming years. The goal of the endeavor is to entice potential recruits to fill critical vacancies at CBP. According to a Request for Proposals that The Peacock Report located via a routine search of the FedBizOpps database, DHS wants to secure "Primary sponsorship of a vehicle in 29 domestic races during the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series and the transportation and setup of a Government-furnished recruiting booth at these events." DHS did not disclose the estimated value of the contract.