December 2003

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued its Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), as an interim rule and with a request for comments.

The rule follows QBS in the Supplement's Part 30036. There are only minor deviations for past performance record keeping and inserting a special clause on work at airports.

Call your attention to section 3037.103-71 Conditional access to sensitive but unclassified information.

"Contractor personnel who will require access to sensitive but unclassified information as part of contract performances shall complete HSIF Form 4024, Sensitive Information Non-Disclosure Agreement, before starting work under the contract. The completed form shall be submitted to the appropriate DHS office as designated in the contract. Additional requirements are established in clause (HSAR) 48 CFR 3052.237-71, Information Technology Systems Access for Contractors."

Below is a link to an article on the Government Executive Magazine website, which contains a hot link to the Federal Register notice and the DHSFARS text.
GovExec Article

March 2003 White House Introduces Homeland Security Geospatial Chief to MAPPS The Bush Administration used a MAPPS briefing at the White House on March 20 to introduce Ryan Cast, the new Geospatial Program Director for the Department of Homeland Security. Nearly 100 MAPPS member firm principals met at the Old Executive Office Building on the White House campus to hear about the Bush Administration's economic growth and jobs plan, and the outlook for use of geospatial services, products and technologies for homeland security. It was Mr. Cast's first week in his position at DHS and his first introduction to a geospatial group. Mr. Cast, who comes to the Department of Homeland Security from the U.S. Border Patrol, told MAPPS members he is focusing on putting geospatial data in the hands government officials at the Federal, state and local level. He expressed a strong desire to work with MAPPS in developing his program, and with the private sector on implementing a geospatial solution to homeland security. Cast said commercial solutions that are presently available are paramount to the task and commented that the Nation cannot give money to universities and wait ten years for academic research. Mr. Cast is developing a program, funding and deployment strategy. Subsequently, MAPPS President Mike Ritchie, Director Kurt Allen and Executive Director John Palatiello met with Mr. Cast to discuss in detail how MAPPS and its member firms can assist DHS. The Department will be launching a contractor registration site, http://vendors.dhs.gov where vendors can register their firm's services with the agency. (Check this link for the site to become available.) The briefing was an exciting conclusion to the Annual MAPPS Federal Programs Conference, held March 18-20 in Washinton, D.C.. The conference included contract, program and budget briefings by Federal agencies as well as more than 200 meetings on Capitol Hill between MAPPS members and their Senators, Representatives and Hill staff.