Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group

Tactical Communications
Q: What are the initial challenges that
prompted the Tactical Communications
contract to be awarded?
A: The contract was the result of a DHS
Efficiency Review initiative by the Secretary. The Department
of Homeland Security needed a streamlined sourcing vehicle to
leverage the department’s buying power to receive high volume
discounts and the lowest prices possible.
Q: How will the Tactical Communications contract enhance
the communications capabilities of the DHS and other
agencies?
A: This DHS-wide Tactical Communications contract is a
multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity [IDIQ]
vehicle specifically designed to be the preferred source for procuring
tactical communications equipment and services. The
DHS has a manageable number of contractors that have passed
a competitive process. Many of these contractors have done a
significant amount of business with DHS and are familiar with
its organizations, requirements and tactical communications
12 | BCD 1.1
meeting seRviCe neeDs—quiCkly, effiCiently anD Cost effeCtively.
JoHn santo, exeCutive DiReCtoR, DHs Joint WiReless pRogRam
architecture. All of them will get a chance to specialize in helping
DHS improve its communications capabilities. Because
contractors have been through a competitive process and will
specialize in serving DHS, they should become adept at quickly
preparing proposals that exploit their strengths. The government
will only need to evaluate proposals from a select group
of qualified contractors. With this contract, DHS has a flexible
means of meeting tactical communications equipment and service
needs—quickly, efficiently and cost effectively.
Q: What will be the process of awarding the individual
contracts among the 30 contract awardees?
A: The contract includes five technical categories [TCs] for
Subscriber Equipment [TC1], Infrastructure Equipment [TC2],
Infrastructures Services [TC3], Operations & Maintenance Services
[TC4] and Test Equipment [TC5]. DHS awarded contracts
to each of 30 contractors in one or more of these TCs. TCs 1,
3, and 4 have two competitive tracks: Small Business—only
small businesses are eligible to compete for orders, and Unrestricted—large
and small businesses are eligible to compete
for orders. All orders are placed by the individual component
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