Department of Homeland Security Government Contracts — Contractor Guide
Researched by the BidStride Research Team
The Department of Homeland Security was created after 9/11 and consolidates border security, immigration, cybersecurity, emergency management, and transportation security functions. DHS components include CBP, ICE, TSA, FEMA, USCG, USSS, and CISA. DHS is a major buyer of IT and cybersecurity services, surveillance technology, border infrastructure, and emergency management support.
Department of Homeland Security awards approximately $20B+ in contracts annually with a 25% small business contracting goal. Typical contract types used include IDIQ, FFP, T&M, BPA, GWAC. All DHS solicitations above the simplified acquisition threshold are posted on SAM.gov.
$20B+
25%
of prime contract dollars
Key Procurement Offices
Department of Homeland Security contracting is distributed across these offices and commands. Target your business development toward the offices most aligned with your capabilities, and build relationships before solicitations are released.
- CBP (Customs and Border Protection)
- ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
- TSA (Transportation Security Administration)
- FEMA
- USCG (US Coast Guard)
- CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)
Top NAICS Codes — DHS Contracting
These NAICS codes appear most frequently in Department of Homeland Security solicitations. Ensure your SAM.gov registration includes the codes matching your services.
Small Business Goals — DHS
Department of Homeland Security has a statutory small business prime contracting goal of 25% of annual contract dollars. This applies across all socioeconomic categories including 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, and SDVOSB.
Ensure your certifications are current on SAM.gov to qualify for set-aside competitions. Contracting officers are required by law to first consider whether requirements can be met by small businesses before opening competition to all offerors.
Key Regulations — DHS Contracts
Contractors bidding on Department of Homeland Security contracts should understand these regulations and clauses. Review them before submitting any proposal.
- HSAR (Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation)
- FAR
- CMMC
- CISA Cybersecurity Requirements
Always verify applicable clauses in the actual solicitation. Clause applicability depends on contract type, value, and specific program requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions — DHS Contracting
DHS awards contracts for IT and cybersecurity services, border surveillance technology, physical infrastructure, training and exercise programs, immigration services support, and emergency management consulting. CBP is one of the larger component buyers with needs in border technology, logistics, and support services. CISA drives significant demand for cybersecurity assessment and incident response services.
CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) within DHS is a major cybersecurity buyer. Entry points include the CISA Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program, EINSTEIN monitoring services, and incident response task orders. Cybersecurity contractors typically need cleared personnel and experience with federal agency networks. GSA's EAGLE II and CIO-SP3 vehicles are used for DHS IT and cybersecurity work.
Many DHS contracts require personnel with security clearances, particularly Top Secret/SCI for sensitive programs. CBP, ICE, and USSS work on sensitive law enforcement operations that require cleared staff. TSA and FEMA have some unclassified work but still require background investigations. Build your cleared personnel pool early as the clearance backlog can be substantial.
DHS EAGLE (Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading-Edge Solutions) is a multiple-award IDIQ for IT services used across DHS components. Having an EAGLE position gives you streamlined access to task orders from CBP, ICE, TSA, and other DHS buyers. EAGLE II was the most recent iteration. Watch SAM.gov for the next-generation DHS IT IDIQ acquisition.
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