Several Big Multiple-Award Contracts on the Horizon The Homeland Security Department is planning a follow-on to its First Source set-aside contract for IT commodities, which expires next year. According to a request for information, DHS plans set-asides in all socioeconomic categories, including economically disadvantaged woman-owned businesses. First Source II is an IDIQ task order contract. Like its predecessor, it will be the vehicle of choice for the department’s IT hardware acquisitions. DHS said the new contract will emphasize value-added reseller services. Eleven small firms were chosen for the original First Source in 2007. The contract had a ceiling of $3 billion. Responses to the request for information are due April 18. The notice is RFI-FirstSourceII. The RFP is also due shortly for the Army’s Global Tactical Advanced Communication Systems and Support Services (GTACS) contract to provide secure and unsecured communications to deployed and mobile forces. It is a partial small business set-aside, according to the research firm Input. The Air Force is overdue for release of the final RFP for its Strategic Rhythm Generation 1 multiple-award contract to support acquisition management at the Air Force Materiel Command. The contract, formerly known as Consolidated Acquisition of Professional Services II (CAPS II), is a small business set-aside with a ceiling of $3 billion. Eleven incumbents are competing for task orders on the original CAPS contract. The final RFP was originally set for March, but has been postponed with no new date announced. The solicitation number is FA862210R8526. A final RFP is also due this spring for the Army Missile Defense Command’s Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance Contract (SETAC), a small business set-aside. The multiple-award contract will provide systems engineering and technical assistance support. It carries a maximum value of $2.75 million. The solicitation number is W9113M10R0001. The Navy intends to open an on-ramp this month to add contractors to its giant Seaport-e contract. Services include research and development, engineering, modeling and simulation, prototyping, software engineering, configuration management, information systems development, training, and administrative support.