The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Procurement Operations (OPO) in support of Office of the Chief Procurement Officer will use the Commercial Solutions Opening Pilot Program (CSOP) procedures to acquire innovative, commercial items, technologies and services currently in the production/commercialization phase as well as adaptations of existing commercial products.

The DHS Commercial Solutions Opening Pilot Program (CSOP) is a non- Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) based solicitation authority for acquiring innovative and commercial solutions. Section 880 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 (Pub. L. 114-328) authorized DHS to implement a pilot program to competitively procure innovative commercial items, technologies, and services using commercial solution opening procedures. CSOP is a new acquisition mechanism that provides a streamlined acquisition process and simplified contract terms that is designed to maximize efficiency and economy and minimize burdens and administrative costs for both the Government and industry.

DHS seeks to determine the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) can assist contracting officers make more efficient and effective use of Contract Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) data by rapidly identifying potentially relevant records to support past performance evaluations. The CPARS is the official source for past performance information. Past performance information is relevant information, for future source selection purposes, regarding a contractor’s actions under previously awarded contracts or orders.

The Government desires one or more demonstrations of a proof of concept / viable prototype to determine the extent to which AI can assist contracting officers conducting past performance evaluations in making efficient and effective use of CPARS information. The Government hopes, as a threshold, that the demonstrations will show that AI can help the contracting officer identify which records in CPARS contain the most relevant information to the source selection in question.

The Government also desires data-driven and evidence-based recommendations about opportunities to improve the data quality of the past performance information inputted by contracting officers into the CPARS, based on the provided test data set and informed by the development of the proof of concept / viable prototype. 

Full information is available here.

Source: FedBizOpps

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“Today’s vote is a significant step to stand up a federal government cybersecurity agency,” said DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. “The cyber threat landscape is constantly evolving, and we need to ensure we’re properly positioned to defend America’s infrastructure from threats digital and physical.  It was time to reorganize and operationalize NPPD into the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.  I thank Chairman Michael McCaul and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson for recognizing our critical role and both starting and completing this transformation in the House of Representatives.  I also thank Chairman Ron Johnson and Ranking Member Claire McCaskill for their tireless support of the CISA Act in the Senate.”

“I also want to thank all the hardworking men and women of NPPD for carrying out our important cybersecurity mission each day within DHS. CISA will help bring the recognition this team deserves and will empower the team to more effectively execute its vital mission.”

“The CISA Act passing Congress represents real progress in the national effort to improve our collective efforts in cybersecurity,” said NPPD Under Secretary Christopher Krebs. “Elevating the cybersecurity mission within the Department of Homeland Security, streamlining our operations, and giving NPPD a name that reflects what it actually does will help better secure the nation’s critical infrastructure and cyber platforms.  The changes will also improve the Department’s ability to engage with industry and government stakeholders and recruit top cybersecurity talent.”

Source: DHS

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