On The Wings of an EAGLE  

By Jeff Erlichman

DHS IT buyers use EAGLE and FirstSource to define and then compete their IT services requirements from a pool of vetted contractors familiar with the DHS infrastructure.

EAGLE is a DHS-wide multiple award contract (MAC) designed to provide specialized IT services geared to the expressed needs of the DHS community.

Consisting of both large and small businesses, EAGLE is divided along five functional categories where companies within the functional categories compete for tasks orders (TO).

The five functional categories are:

*Engineering Design, Development, Implementation and Integration

*Operations and Maintenance

*Independent Test, Evaluation, Validation and Verification

* Software Development

*Management Support Services.

“Under EAGLE, you define your requirements. You hold the competition for TOs. You negotiate pricing. You make the award. And you choose from a pool of vetted contractors very familiar with the DHS infrastructure,” Soraya Correa, DHS Director of Procurement Operations (OPO) told 1105 Government Information Group Custom Media in a June interview.

Correa said every DHS component has used EAGLE and orders total more than $6.8 billion since FY2006. 

However, EAGLE is not a governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC) and is only for use by DHS components and other government agencies that have a homeland
security requirement (e.g. State, DOD or Justice). Those agencies must seek DHS permission to use EAGLE.

“Components are in control of their own order,” explained Correa. “At the same time, we are there to help them every step of the way from defining the requirements to competing the task order to making the award.”

What the OPO did when developing EAGLE was take a very prudent approach. “We said EAGLE is not mandatory for use; it is mandatory for consideration,” Correa explained. “What that means is if you have an IT requirement, before you go out and try and get it using other means, you should first consider using EAGLE (and FirstSource).”

To support EAGLE, DHS awarded a companion set of contracts called FirstSource – a 100% small business set-aside IDIQ – allowing components to buy commodities explained Correa. FirstSource offers:

* A total array of IT commodity products and services

*Commercial-type pricing

* Ongoing competition between qualified contractors

*Ease of use

*Total reporting capabilities.

ESO Charges No Fees

“Since its inception, we have said that EAGLE and FirstSource are not a 100% solution, but we certainly think they are an 80% solution to the department’s IT needs,” Correa noted.  “Everything we buy isn’t going to happen under EAGLE, we acknowledge that; the IDIQ contracts are there for components to consider for use and make effective business decisions on behalf of DHS.”

Another reason for the program’s success is unlike GWACs or GSA Multiple Awards Schedules (MAS) contracts, there are no fees associated with using EAGLE.

“We established the program so that each component within DHS can place its own orders,” added Correa. “They do not pay any fees; they are responsible for implementing and managing their own orders.”

Through the Enterprise Solutions Office (ESO), DHS provides outreach, education and assistance. “It is a unique organization charged with the responsibility of going out
and educating our customers on how to use the EAGLE program,” explained Correa.

As part of their mission, the ESO developed both the EAGLE and FirstSource Ordering Guides and templates. They provide hands-on training on how to prepare the orders; how to work with vendors on soliciting proposals and awarding TOs.

“The ESO also works with our vendor community,” noted Correa. “They hold regular meetings with our vendors to get lessons learned and talk about what we can do better and how to better manage the program.”

Conversely the ESO addresses vendor concerns and helps them do a better job of writing their proposals by giving them suggestions and ideas on how they can improve their communications with their customers – the DHS components. For further information on how to use EAGLE or FirstSource, please e-mail dhseso@dhs.gov.