US Capitol building in Washington DC — seat of federal government
Government & Defense Desk  ·  GSA Sch. 48  ·  ITAR-Aware

Cleared Carriers.
Audit-Ready Documentation.
Federal-Grade Logistics.

Federal contracts demand carriers with clearances, audit trails that survive an IG review, and zero tolerance for documentation gaps. Qeep Logistics brings GSA Schedule capability and ITAR-aware handling to every government and defense shipment.

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GSA
Schedule-listed
C-TPAT
Validated
100%
Chain-of-custody documented
<2 hr
Government expedite response
Section 1 — Overview

Government & Defense Logistics — Cleared, Documented, Audit-Ready

GSA Sch. 48Schedule-capable pricing
C-TPATValidated carrier network
100%Chain-of-custody documented
<2 hrGovernment expedite response
Government and defense freight operates under a distinct set of requirements that commercial logistics rarely addresses: security-cleared personnel, chain-of-custody documentation surviving an Inspector General audit, GSA Schedule 48 or PWGSC Standing Offer pricing structures, and ITAR/EAR compliance for defense-related commodities. Qeep Logistics maintains a government logistics desk staffed by personnel with experience navigating federal contracting requirements on both sides of the border. Our carrier network is C-TPAT validated, and our documentation protocols generate the timestamp-level audit trails that federal agencies and prime defense contractors require.
US Capitol dome with the American flag flying — symbol of federal government authority
Federal authority demands federal-grade logistics
Security Clearance & Custody Protocol

The audit trail that survives
an Inspector General review.

Every Qeep government shipment is processed through a formal clearance and documentation protocol — rendered here exactly as it appears in our chain-of-custody audit record.

QEEP LOGISTICS — GOVERNMENT FREIGHT RECORD
FORM QL-GOV-COC
✓
Field 1 — Carrier Clearance Status
Security-Cleared Carrier Network

Pre-vetted carriers with personnel security clearances (Confidential / Secret). Driver US Person eligibility confirmed before tender. Facility clearances verified per DCSA / 32 CFR Part 117.

✓
Field 2 — Pricing Authority
GSA Schedule 48 — Transportation Services

Schedule-compliant ceiling rate pricing. CLIN-mapped invoicing. FAR/DFARS clauses incorporated. PWGSC Standing Offer call-up capability for Canadian federal departments.

✓
Field 3 — Trusted Trader Status
C-TPAT / PIP Validated Network

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (US CBP) and Partners in Protection (CBSA) validated. Expedited border processing, reduced inspection rates, program integrity maintained.

✓
Field 4 — Export Control Compliance
ITAR / EAR Defense Freight Protocol

ITAR (22 CFR 120–130) and EAR (15 CFR 730–774) commodity review before booking. US Person eligibility screening. No foreign transshipment routing. 5-year record retention.

✓
Field 5 — Custody Documentation
Full Chain-of-Custody Audit Trail

Timestamped pickup receipt, intermediate transfer records, GPS transit log, POD with recipient signature. Consolidated audit PDF + CSV export retained per FAR/DFARS requirements.

✓
Field 6 — Acquisition Compliance
FAR / DFARS Structured Operations

Operations structured around Federal Acquisition Regulation and DFARS supplement clauses. Record retention, small business plans, Buy American / TAA applicability confirmed per task order.

All fields verified prior to dispatch — not afterInitiate a government shipment →
Section 2 — Challenges

Five compliance burdens that expose
commercial brokers as unqualified.

Security Clearance Requirements for Carriers and Drivers

Some government and defense shipments require cleared personnel at every handoff — not just cleared facilities. Identifying carriers with personnel security clearances (Confidential, Secret) and available cleared drivers on short notice is a specialist task that general brokers cannot fulfill. Qeep maintains a pre-vetted cleared carrier roster for sensitive government lanes.

Chain-of-Custody and Audit Trail Documentation

Federal agencies and prime contractors require documented chain-of-custody at every transfer point, with timestamps, signatures, carrier identification and cargo description matching the contract line item. Gaps in this chain can trigger contract non-compliance findings or trigger investigations. Qeep’s documentation system generates complete, exportable CoC records for every government shipment.

GSA Schedule Compliance and Pricing Structures

Shipping under a GSA Schedule 48 task order or PWGSC Standing Offer Arrangement requires pricing discipline—rates must align with schedule ceiling prices, modifications must follow contracting officer approval channels, and all invoicing must map to CLIN or task order line items. Navigating this outside standard commercial TMS requires specialist knowledge.

ITAR and EAR Export-Control for Defense Components

Defense articles and dual-use goods controlled under ITAR (22 CFR 120–130) and EAR (15 CFR 730–774) may not be transported by foreign nationals or via routing that constitutes a deemed export. Qeep’s government desk reviews commodity classifications, applies authorized routing, and ensures carrier personnel eligibility before booking ITAR-flagged freight.

Emergency and AOG-Equivalent Response for Mission-Critical Freight

Governments and defense contractors occasionally require same-day or overnight movement of critical components, field repair parts or humanitarian supplies under urgent contract requirements. These are effectively the civilian equivalent of Aircraft on Ground (AOG) events, requiring immediate carrier sourcing, priority routing and continuous status updates to the contracting officer or program manager.

Section 3 — Protocol

Five-step clearance protocol.
One specialist government desk.

  1. 01

    Security-Cleared Carrier Vetting and Assignment

    Qeep maintains a pre-screened roster of carriers with personnel security clearances, C-TPAT validation and facility clearances where required. For each government or defense shipment requiring cleared handling, we confirm clearance level, driver eligibility and facility approval before tendering—not after.

  2. 02

    Chain-of-Custody Documentation System

    Every government shipment through Qeep generates a time-stamped chain-of-custody record: pickup signature and timestamp, intermediate transfer records where applicable, proof of delivery with recipient signature, and a consolidated audit package exportable in PDF or CSV for contract compliance filing. Records are retained for the minimum period required under FAR and DFARS.

  3. 03

    GSA Schedule 48 and PWGSC Pricing Alignment

    Qeep works with federal program offices and contracting officers to structure transportation task orders compliant with GSA Schedule 48 (Transportation Services) or PWGSC Supply Arrangement pricing. We maintain rate transparency, provide Schedule-aligned invoices mapped to CLIN line items, and support modifications through established contracting channels.

  4. 04

    ITAR / EAR Compliant Routing and Carrier Eligibility

    For commodities flagged under ITAR Category or EAR ECCN controls, Qeep’s government desk reviews the commodity description, confirms carrier personnel US Person eligibility, applies authorized routing restrictions (no foreign trans-shipment points), and archives the compliance decision record with the shipment file.

  5. 05

    Expedited and Emergency Government Freight Response

    A dedicated 24/7 government expedite line provides sub-2-hour response on urgent government and defense freight requirements. Sprinter, straight-truck and team-driver capacity is pre-identified for priority government lanes. Status updates are delivered on the contracting officer’s preferred cadence—email, secure portal or direct call.

Section 4 — Regulatory Framework

The regulations governing
federal freight procurement.

GSA Schedule 48 — Transportation Services (USA)

GSA Schedule 48 is the federal supply schedule covering domestic and international transportation, relocation, and related services. Transportation under this schedule must comply with published ceiling rates, minimum order requirements and FAR clauses incorporated by reference. Qeep’s Schedule-capable pricing and invoicing supports federal agencies procuring transportation through Schedule task orders.

PWGSC / PSPC Standing Offer — Transportation (Canada)

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC, formerly PWGSC) issues Standing Offer Arrangements for transportation services used by federal departments. Qeep’s Canadian operations team is familiar with call-up procedures, Departmental Individual Standing Offer (DISO) structures and PSPC invoicing requirements for transportation services.

ITAR — International Traffic in Arms Regulations

ITAR (22 CFR 120–130) controls the export, import, transfer and brokering of defense articles and services on the US Munitions List. Transportation of ITAR-controlled items requires carrier personnel to be US Persons, routing must avoid deemed-export scenarios, and records must be maintained for five years. Qeep applies ITAR eligibility screening to every flagged shipment.

EAR — Export Administration Regulations

EAR (15 CFR 730–774) governs dual-use goods, software and technology with both commercial and potential military application. Shipments with EAR ECCN classifications require license determinations before routing through certain carriers or crossing certain borders. Qeep’s government desk coordinates EAR classification review with shipper compliance teams before booking.

C-TPAT / PIP — Trusted Trader Programs

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT, US CBP) and Partners in Protection (PIP, CBSA) are trusted-trader programs providing expedited border clearance and reduced inspection rates for validated participants. Qeep uses only C-TPAT and PIP-validated carriers for government cross-border shipments, maintaining program integrity required by federal security standards.

FAR / DFARS — Federal Acquisition Regulations

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) govern procurement of transportation services by federal agencies and defense contractors. Key clauses affecting logistics include record retention requirements, small business subcontracting plans, and Buy American / Trade Agreements Act applicability. Qeep’s government operations are structured to comply with applicable FAR/DFARS clauses incorporated in task orders.

Secure bonded warehouse racking aisle with high-density storage for cleared government cargo
Cleared & bonded secure storage
American conventional semi-truck on a US highway transporting government and defense freight
Cleared carrier — documented custody every leg
Recommended Modes

The transport modes federal agencies depend on.

Full Truckload (FTL)

Dedicated trailer, single shipper, point-to-point — fastest transit and full chain-of-custody.

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Expedited

Time-critical freight — sprinter, straight-truck and team-driver expedites with under-hour cover.

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Warehousing

Bonded and ambient warehousing, pick-and-pack, B2B and DTC fulfillment with WMS visibility.

Learn more →
Section 5 — Common Questions

Questions federal agencies and
defense contractors ask us.

Is Qeep listed on the GSA Schedule 48 for transportation services?
Qeep Logistics operates with GSA Schedule-capable pricing structures and works with federal program offices to support Schedule 48 task orders. We recommend confirming your specific agency procurement channel with your contracting officer, as Qeep can participate through prime contractor arrangements or direct Schedule task orders depending on your agency&rsquo;s procurement vehicle.
How does Qeep handle ITAR-controlled shipments to ensure only US Persons have access?
Before tendering an ITAR-flagged shipment, Qeep&rsquo;s government desk confirms the US Person status of the assigned driver and any intermediate handlers. Carrier agreements include ITAR compliance representations. Routing is reviewed to ensure no transshipment through jurisdictions that would constitute a deemed export. All compliance records are archived with the shipment file for the required five-year retention period.
What documentation does Qeep provide for chain-of-custody on government freight?
Qeep generates a complete chain-of-custody package including: signed pickup receipt with driver identification and timestamp, intermediate transfer records where applicable, GPS-trackable transit records, and proof of delivery with recipient name, signature and time. The full package is consolidated into an audit-ready PDF and retained in our system with the shipment file.
Can Qeep handle classified or sensitive-but-unclassified (SBU) government freight?
We handle Sensitive-But-Unclassified freight through our cleared carrier network with documented CoC protocols. True classified freight (Confidential or above) requires specific DCSA facility clearances and safeguarding standards under 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM). Qeep can facilitate classified movements through carriers holding appropriate facility clearances; contact our government desk to discuss specific requirements.
How does Qeep support emergency or urgent government freight requirements on short notice?
Our government expedite line operates 24/7 with sub-2-hour cover on most North American lanes. We maintain a pre-identified roster of cleared sprinter, straight-truck and team-driver carriers for priority government lanes. Continuous status updates are provided to the contracting officer or program manager on their preferred cadence for the duration of the shipment.
Does Qeep work with Canadian federal departments on PSPC/PWGSC transportation call-ups?
Yes. Our Canadian operations team is experienced with PSPC Standing Offer Arrangement call-up procedures and can structure transportation service delivery and invoicing to meet DISO or National Master Standing Offer requirements. We support both cross-border Canada&ndash;US moves and domestic Canadian federal freight under PSPC frameworks.
Related Industries

Adjacent verticals with cleared requirements.

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Aerospace & Defense

AOG response, MRO logistics, ITAR-aware handling and certified DG transport.

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Technology & Electronics

High-value, sensitive freight — semiconductors, data centers, consumer electronics, IT hardware.

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Chemicals & Hazmat

All 9 DOT hazmat classes — liquid bulk, ISO tank, IBC, drum and packaged chemicals.

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