The Department of Homeland Security is creating a new strategic sourcing contract vehicle for small-scale X-ray systems used by several of its components to scan parcels, personal baggage, pallets and mail at government facilities and ports of entry.
Strategic sourcing is typically used to institute more efficient acquisitions and allow agencies to acquire capabilities faster and at lower costs.
Customs and Border Protection, which is the executive agent for the new DHS contracting vehicle, on Monday released a draft Request for Quote for small-scale non-intrusive inspection (NII) systems that will be used by the agency as well as the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
CBP has a requirement for improving inspection of travelers’ baggage and or packages, large parcels, pallets and mail items. The Secret Service has a requirement for improving inspection of personal items and packages carried in by individuals and arriving large parcels. USCIS needs to improve the inspection of personal items and packages, large parcels, and pallets to detect and interdict weapons and suspect items entering its facilities.
DHS is planning a five-year contract vehicle with a one-year base ordering period and four one-year options.
CBP has a wide-range of currently installed small-scale NII systems from OSI Systems’ [OSIS] Rapiscan Systems division, Astrophysics, Smiths Detection, and Integrated Defense & Security Solutions.