The final request for proposals for a new contract to support the Department of Homeland Security's internal security operations will be here in March, according to procurement officials.
The Next Generation Security Operations Center (NextGen SOC) contract will give the DHS CISO access to cybersecurity support services, with a focus on securing the networks at the Office of the CIO, National Protection and Programs Directorate and Science and Technology Directorate, among others.
Download: Draft NextGen SOC RFP
"The task orders issued hereunder will be designed to acquire a broad range of services and solutions—under various contract types—to fulfill the department's mission" as it pertains to cybersecurity, according to the synopsis. That mission includes a mandate to "prevent, detect, contain and eradicate cyber threats through monitoring, intrusion detection and protective security services to DHS information systems."
DHS plans to make a single award for indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity, according to a draft RFP released in August.
The final contract will have a ceiling of $395 million over seven years, with a base of one year and six additional one-year options. Individual task orders will range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10 million.
Specifically, contractors will asked to offer operational services in nine main support areas:
- Monitoring and analysis;
- Digital media analysis;
- Cyber intelligence;
- Vulnerability assessment;
- Penetration testing;
- Incident assessment and response;
- Insider threat hunting;
- Intrusion defense chain; and
- Future requirements as they emerge.
The draft RFP includes detailed requirements and deliverables for each of the nine areas.
The winning vendor will also have to offer program management, architecture, engineering and communications services, which are detailed as separate functional areas in the RFP.
While contracting officials did not give an exact date for the final RFP, they said a synopsis of proposed contract action will likely be posted "within the next few weeks," a precursor to the actual solicitation.
Aaron Boyd is an awarding-winning journalist currently serving as editor of Federal Times — a Washington, D.C. institution covering federal workforce and contracting for more than 50 years — and Fifth Domain — a news and information hub focused on cybersecurity and cyberwar from a civilian, military and international perspective.
