WOSBs gearing up to compete on $200M+ DHS Digital Transformation Support BPA

Updated 03/27/2023 

Women-owned small businesses were clearly heard, as, after a series of market research activities in late 2022 and early 2023, the Department of Homeland Security recently announced its intent to compete this 5-year multiple-award digital transformation support blanket purchase agreement as a woman-owned small business set-aside action.  

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency hosted an industry day last week, with more than 200 companies registered to attend and learn more about this important 5-year contract to support the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to include the CISA OCIO, MEOs and Divisions, as they seek to implement innovative transformation technologies and support services to address current and anticipated challenges across the agency.  

As a focus for this BPA, CISA is seeking to establish innovative digital transformation technologies and support services to address several current and anticipated challenges, which include the need for the following: Centrally managed and delivered IT capabilities through cross-agency coordination and collaboration; Innovate and rapidly execute as a unified agency across mission areas; Employ best engineering and security practices that support rapid responsiveness to emerging threats and technology capabilities; and to Establish transparency and accountability in the planning, delivery, and completion of large-scale enterprise-wide IT initiatives 

CISA is currently planning to make four awards on this multiple-award contract. The notional timeline for the competition is included below but do note that these dates are subject to change. 

Follow the latest updates on SAM here for all of the latest details, to include the complete set of slides from the industry day and a complete list of registered attendees.   

Looking to Partner? 

A few of the more noteworthy and most-viewed woman-owned small businesses in 2023 on the OrangeSlices platform that were in attendance are included below.

** Business Size was self-reported by the companies in attendance 

** An Elev8 GovCon Honoree, noted for a corporate culture that demonstrates its own excellence, making the company a beacon for talent, for partners, and for clients.  

On a separate, but related and timely note, we share here that just last week, the newly formed Digital WOSB Alliance did two things 1) they announced and welcomed the 15 FOUNDING members of this new alliance, which is made up of a collection of leaders (many of whom are established and emerging Digital Services players at DHS today) working to create more opportunities for women-owned, women-led small businesses to deliver digital services in government; and 2) they announced their first event, which will bring together members of the Digital WOSB Alliance and representatives from #government and #industry to discuss the future of women-owned small businesses. More here.  

12/08/22 

A research request was recently provided to OS AI from a rapidly emerging 8(a) small business Digital Services, Modernization and Cybersecurity specialist looking for details related to a potential 2023 competition of this high profile and new Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security (CISA) Office of the CIO (OCIO) requirement.  

We at OrangeSlices AI do believe in the need for more and better-informed competition, so provided below are 1) opportunity details provided by the requestor; 2) some key points of contact; and 3) related pursuit/capture data.  

Competitive Details (if known) related to the predecessor contract: 

• Funding Agency: DHS / CISA 
• Incumbent: This is a new requirement 
• Contract Vehicle: Expected to be out on GSA MAS with potential restrictions to SINs 54151S, 54151HACS and 518210C.  
• OS AI Note: The vehicle and related NAICS could change as several companies are known to have been actively working to influence how any final RFQ might be released.        
• Expected Competition Date: Fiscal Year 2023 – date tbd  

Scope: According to the recent sources sought released on GSA MAS “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) CISA Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO) intends to establish multiple award Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) against eligible GSA Schedule contract(s). DHS/CISA is seeking to implement innovative transformation technologies and support services to establish and acquire DHS/CISA Digital Transformation Support Services to address several current and anticipated challenges across the agency such as the following: 

• Lack of a DHS/CISA owned and managed IT environment – As the mission and requirements of the agency continue to evolve, DHS/CISA must have the flexibility and agility to innovate, deploy, and evolve capabilities at speed.
• Disparate business and mission systems – Core business systems vary widely across the agency which leads to incapability and inconsistency of systems. This impacts DHS/CISA’s ability to integrate the organization, streamline business operations, and maintain visibility into the status of basic business operations.
• Disparate data management, analytics, and collaboration environments – DHS/CISA data assets are spread across and outside the agency. DHS/CISA collaboration environments vary across the agency and, in most cases are inoperable and not consistent. This impacts DHS/CISA’s ability to achieve its full mission through an operating model that enables an agency-wide approach to operational issues.
• Insufficient mechanisms to move quickly – DHS/CISA has access to commodity-type IT services but lacks a DHS/CISA owned contract vehicle with the mechanism to quickly add technical SMEs and standup environments required to test, prototype, and transform the agencies IT capabilities rapidly.
• Enterprise IT governance and stakeholder engagement – DHS/CISA requires the ability to engage internal agency stakeholders, identify common needs, and plan and implement enterprise-wide solutions in a coordinated manner.”

** Please note that OS AI will not speculate here as to the accuracy of any scope details provided and/or any current plans related to the timing, details, and likelihood of any recompete.  

Related Data:  

• DHS CISA Leadership Page 
• Delivering Innovative IT Solutions to Meet Mission: A Conversation with Bob Costello, CIO, CISA, Business of Government Podcast 
• CISA’s CIO talks about the cyber agency’s growth and expanding mission, FCW 
• CISA’s CIO Talks About the Cyber Agency’s Growth and Expanding Mission, GTSC 
• The stakes ‘could not be any higher’: CISA chief talks about the tech challenges ahead, ZD Net 
• CISA Assistant director for cybersecurity discusses trends like digital transformation and hybrid work, Venture Work 
• Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency 
• 20 of the top RFP/RFQ Targets for (the rest of) DHS in 2023 
• New Small Business Alliances formed for some leading GovCon companies in FY 2022 
• 20 Federal National Security Focused Woman-Owned Small Businesses making big noise as we enter FY 2023 
• 20+ Federal DHS Focused Companies drawing a lot of attention this Summer 
• Related Forecast Item – CDTSS CISA Digital Transformation Support – CDTSS – F2022058168 
• OS AI Resource: Grading the Federal Agency Opportunity Forecasts for fiscal year (FY) 2023 

Sample of Key Potential Points of Contact (current or past): 

• DHS Contract Specialist: Nathalie Riley – nathalie.riley@cisa.dhs.gov 
• DHS Contracting Officer: Dr. Eva Shaw-Taylor – eva.shaw-taylor@cisa.dhs.gov 
• DHS Contract Specialist: Bill Dunlap – william.dunlap@cisa.dhs.gov 
• Tisha Blue-Warren, DHS OPO Industry Liaison
• Ryan Comber – DHS NPPD – ryan.comber@cisa.dhs.gov
• DHS CISA Chief Information Officer (CIO): Bob Costello 
• DHS CISA Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Brian Gattoni 
• DHS CISA Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at Cybersecurity: Eric Goldstein 

Looking for an 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone or SDVOSB to partner with at DHS? Click Here 

You can filter the list by several key indicators, including socio-economic status, NAICS, Contract vehicle, etc.  

If you are a small business with capabilities and socio-economic status that might support this effort, comment below and we will add you to the list. 

Firms drawing the most attention: 

Included below is a list of the large and small companies we have noted as drawing the most views by Government and industry leaders on the OrangeSlices AI consultant directory over the past month and that bring direct past performance and/or related relationships in support of CISA. 

• MetaPhase **
• Cybermedia Technologies (CTEC) 
• Concept Plus 
• AVER 
• CACI 
• Nexight Group 
• Savvee Consulting 
• Chevo Consulting 
• GDIT ** 
• Deloitte 
• Sev1Tech 
• SiloSmashers 
• Ardent 
• Capgemini / Rudram-Capgemini JV 
• JAMS 
• Ironclad Technology Services 
• Innovative Management Concepts (IMC) 
• Strategic Operational Solutions (STOPSO) 
• Iron Vine Security / ECS 
• Booz Allen Hamilton 
• WWC Global 
• Foxhole Technology 
• CGI Federal ** 
• Knowesis 
• Leidos 
• S&K Engineering & Research 
• RAND Corporation 
• IVA’AL/NAIS Technologies 

** An Elev8 GovCon Honoree, noted for a corporate culture that demonstrates its own excellence, making the company a beacon for talent, for partners, and for clients. 

We cannot and will not speculate here as to the reasons for the increased interest, but whether it is a company evaluating them as a potential partner; a federal acquisition leader doing their due diligence; or a consultant weighing their next job move, this group of companies has been receiving increased interest. 

Please note that the research requestor for this item received a Premium OS AI Opp Segment report including 1) known details about how/if/when/where this contract will be competed; 2) a list of the top companies that are in position to win today (as well as those who have been making key investments and moves of late to position for a win); and 3) a detailed list of the top potential opportunity influencers any potential bidder will want to get to know.  

About OrangeSlices AI  

Developed by a team of government and industry contracting subject matter experts, the OrangeSlices AI data driven platform is a publicly available searchable listing of the top information technology and consulting services contractors doing business with the Federal government today. Driven by a robust and comprehensive set of authoritative and trusted data sources, the OS.ai tool is intended to help government and industry leaders find the right partner to help deliver on the important missions of the Federal government.

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