The Department of Homeland Security says it is using a streamlined acquisition mechanism to rapidly test, acquire and field new products that can be used to help fight the COVID-19 and similar threats.
The department’s Office of Procurement Operations late last Thursday night posted a special notice on the federal government’s business opportunities website saying it “seeks to rapidly accelerate the testing and fielding of new capabilities, employing innovative commercial products to detection of exposure, prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19 and similar microbial threats.”
The new solicitation will employ the Commercial Solutions Opening Pilot Program (CSOP) that DHS uses to competitive acquire commercial products and services using simplified contract terms meant to be efficient and economical. DHS was authorized to used CSOP in the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.
DHS is seeking products and technologies in the areas of personal protective equipment, expedited screening, rapid facility cleaning, testing, support of the COVID-19 response, and converting existing production and logistics operations in support of the response effort.
The DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency is working with the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies, and state, local, tribal and territorial governments to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses to the solicitation are due by Aug. 31. Contact: [email protected].
The department plans to make awards under the solicitation this fiscal year.