Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group
Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group
Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group
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Tactical Communications<br />
Q: What are the initial challenges that<br />
prompted the Tactical Communications<br />
contract to be awarded?<br />
A: The contract was the result of a DHS<br />
Efficiency Review initiative by the Secretary. The Department<br />
of Homeland Security needed a streamlined sourcing vehicle to<br />
leverage the department’s buying power to receive high volume<br />
discounts and the lowest prices possible.<br />
Q: How will the Tactical Communications contract enhance<br />
the communications capabilities of the DHS and other<br />
agencies?<br />
A: This DHS-wide Tactical Communications contract is a<br />
multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity [IDIQ]<br />
vehicle specifically designed to be the preferred source for procuring<br />
tactical communications equipment and services. The<br />
DHS has a manageable number of contractors that have passed<br />
a competitive process. Many of these contractors have done a<br />
significant amount of business with DHS and are familiar with<br />
its organizations, requirements and tactical communications<br />
12 | BCD 1.1<br />
meeting seRviCe neeDs—quiCkly, effiCiently anD Cost effeCtively.<br />
JoHn santo, exeCutive DiReCtoR, DHs Joint WiReless pRogRam<br />
architecture. All of them will get a chance to specialize in helping<br />
DHS improve its communications capabilities. Because<br />
contractors have been through a competitive process and will<br />
specialize in serving DHS, they should become adept at quickly<br />
preparing proposals that exploit their strengths. The government<br />
will only need to evaluate proposals from a select group<br />
of qualified contractors. With this contract, DHS has a flexible<br />
means of meeting tactical communications equipment and service<br />
needs—quickly, efficiently and cost effectively.<br />
Q: What will be the process of awarding the individual<br />
contracts among the 30 contract awardees?<br />
A: The contract includes five technical categories [TCs] for<br />
Subscriber Equipment [TC1], Infrastructure Equipment [TC2],<br />
Infrastructures Services [TC3], Operations & Maintenance Services<br />
[TC4] and Test Equipment [TC5]. DHS awarded contracts<br />
to each of 30 contractors in one or more of these TCs. TCs 1,<br />
3, and 4 have two competitive tracks: Small Business—only<br />
small businesses are eligible to compete for orders, and Unrestricted—large<br />
and small businesses are eligible to compete<br />
for orders. All orders are placed by the individual component<br />
www.BCD-kmi.com