Private information technology companies stand to gain hefty profits through a Department of Homeland Security project.
DHS announced last week that it would hold a conference on its Eagle Project, a program seeking IT support to centralize purchases across the 22 agencies under DHS supervision. In a request for proposals that’s open until the end of this month, DHS states that small and large businesses can submit proposals. The project is expected to draw millions, if not billions, of dollars over the next several years.
Specifically, the department is seeking bids for infrastructure engineering design, development, implementation and integration; software development; management support services; operations and maintenance; and independent testing, verification and evaluation.
DHS and specifically the Federal Emergency Management Agency are under scrutiny for their response to Hurricane Katrina. Computer problems - including an inability to network with responders in the field and share information across organizations – have been identified as a key reason behind poor coordination of rescue and relief efforts.
DHS is requesting more than $41 billion for its 2006 budget, up about 7 percent from this year.
The department will hold a conference on the project and related proposals Oct. 13 at the Commerce Department.
