Coast guard to manage DHS procurement system.

• Author: Kennedy, Harold
• Position: Brief Article

The U.S. Coast Guard is preparing to award five-year contracts worth as much as $5 billion to provide the Department of Homeland Security, its parent agency, with a new contracting vehicle for the procurement of a full range of information technology products and services.

The project--known as DHS SPIRIT, for security, planning and integrated resources for information technology--will result in the award of multiple contracts to vendors in support services in four functional areas: information management analysis and planning, information systems engineering and management, information systems operations and management, and information systems security.

SPIRIT will be available for use throughout DHS contracting activities as an optional tool for information technology customers to consider. The contract structure will allow for full and open competition, and set-asides for small business, 8(a) and HUB Zone vendors in all areas.

The Coast Guard...