DHS releases RFP for NextGen Security Operations Center

The Department of Homeland Security released the final version of a nearly $400 million contract that will support the agency’s cybersecurity services.

The Next Generation Security Operations Center services contract will allow DHS to buy various services to protect its internal networks. The purchased products will be used to protect and mitigate threats to the agency’s wide area networks, Trusted Internet Connections program, servers and workstations.

The contract will be a single-award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with a ceiling of $395 million. The award will come with a base ordering period of one year and six one-year optional ordering periods.

The awardee will operate the NextGen SOC — which will be under the direction of the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the National Protection and Programs Directorate, and the Science and Technology Directorate — around the clock, providing continuous monitoring, intrusion detection, vulnerability assessments and other security services.

Additionally, the SOC may need to work with other parts of the agency, including the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, component agency SOCs, the Computer Security Incident Response Center, and various law enforcement or intelligence offices.

This contract is not for the department’s Einstein program, which protects the networks that connect to other federal agencies.

According to a Q&A posted with the RFP on FedBizOpps.gov, DHS expects to award the contract in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. However, given that the final proposal was dropped on the first day of the fiscal year’s third quarter, the award could come later.

Read the full RFP at FBO.gov.