Homeland Security Dept. Unveils IT Set-Asides The Department of Homeland Security will consolidate its information technology spending through two multiple-award contracts that could be worth up to $42 billion over seven years. DHS plans to issue final RFPs in mid-September for EAGLE, an IT support services contract that is a partial small business set-aside, and First Source, an IT commodities contract totally set aside for small firms. Greg Rothwell, the department’s chief procurement officer, said the contracts are intended to handle the vast majority of DHS’s $6 billion in annual IT spending. They will be awarded for a five-year base period with two one-year options. Officials said the contracts are part of DHS’s Infrastructure Transformation Program, intended to combine the eight separate IT infrastructures that now exist and to leverage the department’s buying power. The target for awards is the first quarter of next year. DHS officials outlined their plans at a crowded industry day in Washington Aug. 16. Because of widespread interest, the event was broadcast on the Web to those who could not get into the auditorium. The webcast is available at www.vodium.com/goto/dhs/industryday.asp. The department said pre-proposal conferences will be scheduled after the final RFPs are released. EAGLE: IT Services “This will not be an ‘everybody gets a contract’ procurement,” said Bill Thoreen, the EAGLE contracting officer. “I want to make that very clear. It will be very competitive.” He declined to predict how many awards will be made, but said there will be enough to provide for competition among both large and small businesses. He said there will be separate evaluation tracks for small and large firms. The draft RFP, number HSHQDC-05-R-00010, says contracts will be awarded in comprehensive functional service categories, and offerors may submit proposals in one or more categories: *Infrastructure Engineering Design, Development, Implementation, and Integration, NAICS 541512; *Operations and Maintenance, 541513 and 811212; *Independent Test, Validation, Verification, and Evaluation, 541512; *Software Development, 541511 and 518210; and *Management Support Services, 541611. Rothwell said the EAGLE contract will not be a mandatory source for DHS buyers, but will be “mandatory for consideration.” He said that means agencies will have to get departmental approval to buy elsewhere. “The more we make this [contract] work, the more mandatory it will become,” he added. First Source First Source will be a mandatory source for EAGLE contractors when they buy IT equipment, according to the draft RFP, number HSHQDC-05-R-00001. The multiple-award contract is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541519. “DHS is seeking the absolute best prices available, coupled with world class service,” said Mike Smith, the contracting officer. He said there will be no discussions with offerors; contracts will be awarded on the basis of prices quoted in the company’s catalog. Smith envisions First Source as the department’s online shopping mall where customers can compare products and prices and buy with their purchase cards. The contract will cover the following products: IT equipment and software; Networking equipment; Wireless technology; Imaging products; Voice recognition technology; and On-line data reporting services for order, delivery, warranty, asset, and spend tracking; and associated product maintenance, installation, and support.