Coast guard to manage DHS procurement system.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 Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States , its parent agency, with a new contracting vehicle for the procurement The fancy word for "purchasing." The procurement department within an organization manages all the major purchases. of a full range of information technology products and services. The project--known as DHS DHS Department of Homeland Security (USA) DHS Department of Human Services DHS Department of Health Services DHS Demographic and Health Surveys DHS Dirhams (Morocco national currency) SPIRIT, for security, planning and integrated resources for information technology--will result in the award of multiple contracts to vendors in support services support services Psychology Non-health care-related ancillary services–eg, transportation, financial aid, support groups, homemaker services, respite services, and other 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 HUBZone is a reference to a US Small Business Administration (SBA) program for small companies that operate and employ people in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB Zones). vendors in all areas. The Coast Guard originally proposed SPIRIT to overhaul its aging information technology infrastructure, but in 2003, after the service was inserted into DHS, the department claimed the project to help reorganize re·or·gan·ize v. re·or·gan·ized, re·or·gan·iz·ing, re·or·gan·iz·es v.tr. To organize again or anew. v.intr. To undergo or effect changes in organization. the structures of all of its 22 agencies. The Coast Guard is still managing SPIRIT, but it is reluctant to talk about the project. "Because of the acquisition status of the program we are limited as the nature of the discussion we can engage in," said spokesman Chief Petty Officer Paul Rhynard. The service, however, did provide key milestones in the contract. A final request for proposals is planned for the third quarter of fiscal year 2004, with a contract award in the first quarter of 2005. |
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