EAGLE's new keeper

The Homeland Security Department's EAGLE acquisition program is just getting off the ground, with 49 procurements awarded thus far and several major projects on the way, said Michael Smith, its new program manager."We're pleased," Smith said in one of his first interviews since becoming manager of the Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading Edge solutions program June 30. "There are a lot of major projects in the pipeline."They include projects in the offices of the chief information officer and chief financial officer, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Smith is no stranger to the EAGLE acquisition vehicle. He helped put it together when he was a contracting officer. Smith also helped set up and operate First Source, a small-business contract developed with EAGLE.Smith temporarily keeps his title of associate director of strategic initiatives for the acquisitions center. He replaced Sara Schroerlucke, who has moved to the Secure Border Initiative procurement office.EAGLE, established a year ago to consolidate information technology purchasing at DHS, is starting to fulfill its potential for an anticipated $42 billion in contracts over seven years. DHS has awarded about $574 million in task orders so far, the department said.Larger projects are on the way. "Phase 1 was the standup, and Sara did a great job," Smith said. "In Phase 2, the question is, 'How do we help program officials implement and get the maximum value in utilization?' We are pleased with the success of EAGLE and the reception from the component agencies."Although EAGLE initially is focusing on IT infrastructure, there are mission-critical IT systems in programs, such as Integrated Deepwater Systems and SBInet, a portion of which may come under EAGLE in the future, Smith said. "We're looking at where that makes sense," he added.Asked about transparency concerns related to EAGLE, especially the lack of public information on task orders, Smith said DHS is making an effort to post information about the largest programs on its Web site. That might consist of a request for proposal for the program, a description of the functional category in which there are teaming opportunities, and contact information for the teaming coordinator, he said.For example, DHS recently posted on its Web site the statement of work and other information on the upcoming IT-NOVA contract for EAGLE."That will allow for greater teaming opportunities," Smith said. "That is our goal."