Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

DHS was created after September 11, 2001 to consolidate 22 federal agencies under a unified homeland security mission. Its acquisition footprint spans a wide range of technology, services, and equipment categories that make it an attractive target agency for many contractors.

What is DHS?

The Department of Homeland Security was established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002. It encompasses major operational components including TSA (transportation security), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the US Coast Guard (USCG), the Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FEMA (disaster relief), and several smaller components. DHS acquisition is managed through the DHS Office of the Chief Procurement Officer and individual component contracting offices. DHS is one of the federal government's largest IT buyers, spending heavily on biometrics, surveillance systems, cybersecurity platforms, cloud computing, data analytics, and border technology. The DHS Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR) supplements the FAR for DHS-specific contracts. CISA within DHS drives significant spending on cybersecurity tools and services used across federal civilian agencies.

Why DHS matters for government contractors

DHS represents a major civilian agency market for technology, security, and professional services contractors who do not want to navigate the full complexity of DoD procurement. Its broad mission creates demand across dozens of NAICS codes, and its size (nearly 250,000 employees) generates substantial administrative and support services contracting.

Example

A cybersecurity firm targets CISA as a core customer. It reviews FPDS-NG data on CISA's cybersecurity spending over the past three fiscal years, identifies the primary contract vehicles used (EAGLE II, DHS CWMD GWACs, and GSA Schedule), and develops a capture plan focused on the next major recompete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DHS have its own GWACs or contract vehicles?

Yes. DHS operates the EAGLE II (Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading-Edge Solutions) vehicle for IT services and other agency-specific vehicles. It also uses GSA Schedules and other GWACs.

Is the HSAR significantly different from the FAR?

The HSAR adds DHS-specific clauses and policies but generally tracks the FAR structure. DHS-specific clauses cover areas like sensitive but unclassified data handling, background investigations, and security requirements.

Which DHS component awards the most contracts?

CBP and TSA are among the largest DHS contract spenders due to their operational scale and technology requirements. CISA drives significant cybersecurity spending.

Does DHS require CMMC?

DHS is not DoD, so CMMC in its current form does not apply to DHS contracts. DHS has its own cybersecurity requirements, and CISA drives governmentwide cybersecurity standards that influence DHS contracting.

How do I find DHS contract opportunities?

DHS opportunities above $25,000 are posted on SAM.gov. Individual component contracting offices also publish procurement forecasts and industry day announcements on their websites.