DHS Outlines Vets’ Set-Aside The Homeland Security Department plans to set aside up to $1.5 billion in services contracts for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses over the next five years DHS issued a presolicitation notice for its Program Management, Administrative, Clerical and Technical Services, known as PACTS. The multiple award IDIQ contract will provide “a significant portion” of the department’s non-IT services, according to the notice. The department gave no indication of how many awards will be made. Awards will be made in four functional categories: Program management, NAICS 541611; Administrative support, NAICS 561110; Clerical support, NAICS 561410, 561421, 561431; and Technical services, NAICS 541330. “The major goal of this acquisition is to create a streamlined portfolio of contract vehicles accessible DHS-wide,” the department said. DHS has been aggressive in creating enterprise-wide IDIQ contracts. Last year it awarded the EAGLE contract for IT services and the FirstSource contract, a small business set-aside, for IT commodities. The department said FirstSource vendors have received 1,507 task orders totaling $390 million. But the contract may be in for some changes. Three of the 11 FirstSource contractors are mentor-protégé joint ventures between an 8(a) firm and a large partner. Government Executive magazine reported DHS officials are unhappy that several big awards have gone to those JVs, with the large protégé getting most of the money. The contract’s first option comes up in February 2009. The magazine reports SBA officials indicated some changes may be made at that time.