The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday said it is delaying until December notifying vendors if they’ve been downselected for a chance to compete in the first phase of the FirstSource III small business information technology program, which overall is potentially worth $10 billion over 10 years.
An overwhelming number of proposals were submitted, 637 offers from 325 vendors, leading to the continued delays, DHS said. The down-select announcements were planned for September and then delayed until October before DHS said they will be delayed again until next month.
Proposals for Phase II of FirstSource III were anticipated to be due this month but have been pushed into January 2022 with awards next August, DHS said. Phase II awards had been planned for Feb. 2022.
The FirstSource II contract vehicle was awarded in 2012 to 40 companies.
For FirstSource III, DHS plans to award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity prime contracts in two functional categories: information technology value-added reseller and software. Within each functional category, contracts will be awarded in five set-aside categories, including the 8(a)-business development program, historically underutilized business zone, service-disabled, veteran-owned small business, women-owned small business, and all small businesses.