DHS establishes interim acquisition regulations

The Homeland Security Department has released interim acquisition regulations governing how it will perform procurements and establishing a mentor-protégé program.

The interim regulations, published Dec. 4 in the Federal Register, are now in effect.

According to the notice, DHS issued the interim regulations without the usual step of inviting public comment, because "urgent and compelling reasons" required action. Mainly, the combination of agencies from other departments, each of which had followed their own procedures, required new rules to allow continued acquisition and contracting operations.

While the regulations will govern procurement activities, comments will be accepted through Jan. 5. Comments should be sent via e-mail to acquisition@dhs.gov; or via regular mail to DHS, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Acquisition Policy and Oversight, Attn: Kathy Strouss, 245 Murray Drive, Bldg. 410 (RDS), Washington, DC 20528. Comments submitted on the collection of information must be mailed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attn: Desk Officer, DHS.