Streamlined Procurement Set for Homeland Security; Ridge Begins Restructuring Federal regulators have published an interim rule simplifying the procurement of products and services necessary to combat terrorism or provide for homeland security. The rule implements provisions in the law creating the Homeland Security Department, but it applies to all departments and agencies. President Bush’s 2004 budget proposal asks for $41.3 billion for homeland security programs, including those outside the new department. That is 5.5% more than the 2003 budget request, one of the largest increases for any civilian function. “It is the highest priority in this budget,” Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels told reporters. The interim rule triples the micropurchase threshold, to $7,500, and doubles the limit on purchases under the simplified acquisition threshold, to $200,000. According to law, the new thresholds apply to purchases that, “as determined by the head of the executive agency, are to be used to facilitate defense against or recovery from terrorism or nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack.” The rule also implements the section of the law that requires agencies to conduct ongoing market research to identify capabilities, including the capabilities of small businesses and new entrants into federal contracting, that could be useful in homeland security or the war against terrorism. Separately, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge began restructuring the functions that will fit into the department. He announced creation of two new border units. The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection will merge the Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, including Border Patrol, and the Agriculture Plant Health and Inspection Service. “So, instead of four faces at the border, America will have one,” Ridge said in a Jan. 30 speech to department employees in Miami. “The focus here is to help legitimate goods and people enter our country swiftly, and keep dangerous people and their weapons out.” That bureau will have about 30,000 employees and will be headed by Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner. The second arm of the border and transportation security service, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will enforce the laws once the borders are crossed. “We want to make absolutely certain, to the very best of our ability, that questions of immigration status, customs issues, interdiction laws and detention concerns receive the full attention of our officers and our criminal investigators,” Ridge said. Michael Garcia, acting commissioner of the INS, was named to lead that bureau with about 14,000 employees. Both bureaus report to Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary of the Border and Transportation Security Directorate. In explaining the reorganization, the department said, “It will join the investigators with the investigators and the inspectors with the inspectors to capitalize on expertise and resources.” The agencies involved will formally become part of the Homeland Security Department on March 1.