A nest of opportunities

The Homeland Security Department has several major projects in the works. Some will fall under the Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading Edge (EAGLE) solutions contract, while others will be separate. Here are the most important ones to watch.

EAGLE TASK ORDERS

Information Technology Network Operations Virtual Alliance

Purpose: For operations, maintenance and program management of IT services and infrastructure through DHS' Office of the Chief Information Officer

Expected value: $300 million to $600 million over five years

Comment: "The vendors have the [request for proposals], and they are taking it apart," said Jeremy Potter, senior homeland security analyst at Input Inc., of Reston, Va. He predicts IT-NOVA will be a one-year contract with four one-year options. Industry sources say the Homeland Secure Data Network is now part of IT-NOVA.

USCIS Business Transformation Initiative

Purpose: Updating U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' IT infrastructure

Estimated value: $235 million

Comment: "The USCIS is investing in new businesses processes and platforms," said Ray Bjorklund, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at FedSources Inc., of McLean, Va. "It could be a big investment."

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Technology Enterprise Automation Management Support

Purpose: To support desktop PCs at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau

Estimated value: $500 million over five years

Comment: "We believe this task order has been evaluated under EAGLE, and we are anticipating an award," Potter said.

Second DHS Data Center

Purpose: To build a redundant data center to supplement the one DHS operates under an agreement with the Navy

Estimated value: $300 million to $500 million

Comment: "This will be a template for how IT infrastructures are combined," said Jim Ballard, president of Perot Systems Government Services Group. "It is not a small effort."

Resource Management Transformation Office's Shared Baseline Initiative

Purpose: To integrate IT networks in the chief financial officer's office

Estimated value: Not available

Comment: "This is a good-sized procurement," said Michael Smith, program manager at DHS' Enterprise Solutions Office. He described the initiative as a transformation and system-consolidation contract. It is a follow-on to the second Electronically Managing Enterprise Resources for Government Effectiveness and Efficiency contract.

TSA's IT Managed Services

Purpose: To support and update airports' IT infrastructure for the Transportation Security Administration

Estimated value: $1 billion

Comment: DHS has confirmed that this contract is part of EAGLE.


NON-EAGLE CONTRACTS

Coast Guard's Integrated Deepwater System

Estimated value: $24 billion

Comment: Although the Coast Guard awarded the Deepwater extension contract to Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. in June, contractors with special expertise might be able to team with the prime contractors because of the Coast Guard's and Congress' dissatisfaction with the program's progress, Bjorklund said. The incumbent contractors will stay on because of the huge investments in the program, he added.

SBInet

Purpose: For the first phase of building an electronic border-surveillance system

Estimated value: $8 billion for a system on the southwestern U.S. border

Comment: Although Boeing Co. has the initial contract and is expected to do the bulk of the work, DHS officials have said they want proven solutions. The company has encountered technical problems in deploying the first 28-mile phase of the system in Arizona, and the speed with which it overcomes them could affect the rest of the contract. Teaming opportunities are expected.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Purpose: For the People Access Security Service (PASS) card to be issued to people who frequently cross U.S. borders

Estimated value: Not available

Comment: DHS might place this opportunity under EAGLE. However, congressional action on passport delays related to the initiative and the need to test and validate radio frequency identification technology for the PASS cards could postpone implementation, said Jeremy Grant, senior vice president and identity solutions analyst at Stanford Group Co. DHS' support for enhanced driver's licenses that also serve as border-crossing cards could reduce the size of the PASS card opportunity, he said.