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The threat level in the airline sector is High or Orange. Read more.
A: If your product is ready for market, first try to determine if your product is most likely to be purchased directly by Homeland Security or a state or local government. If your product is a candidate for direct Homeland Security procurement, first you'll want to identify those organizations that might potentially buy what you sell. That can be done by:
In rare cases, firms may have an innovative and unique idea for which submission of an unsolicited proposal may be the right approach. Before beginning this process, however, you should carefully and objectively assess your idea to ensure that it is, in fact, innovative and unique, and that it is not already commercially available to the government. Unsolicited proposals are offered with the intent that the government will enter into a contract with the offeror for research and development or other efforts supporting the Government mission. Additionally, you should research Part 15.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) which provides simple but specific criteria that must be met before an unsolicited proposal can be reviewed. Once you have reviewed these requirements and made the determination that you have a valid unsolicited proposal, then you should submit your proposal to the most appropriate point of contact.
A: Yes. The Homeland Security Office of Science and Technology offers several programs in the research and development arena. These include opportunities announced as Broad Agency Announcements (BAA) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects. For additional information, please visit the Research section of the DHS website.
A: Your efforts in this area should be similar to the other efforts you have undertaken in the past to secure contracts with other federal agencies. According to numerous discussions with small businesses that have been successful in the federal marketplace, typically these firms have undertaken the following efforts:
A: Homeland Security provides grant funding through several grants programs. Recipients of the grants funding are primarily state and local municipalities. A listing of grant recipients can be found by contacting the individual state homeland security offices in which you have an interest. Marketing your firm's services directly to the grant recipient may enhance you ability to compete for a state or local contracting opportunity.
A: Yes. Homeland Security components follow the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been exempt from the FAR in the past but as of June 23, 2008, a change required by the 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Signed in December 2007 requires TSA to adhere to the FAR. Additional information on TSA's small business program can be found on the TSA website.
This page was last reviewed/modified on October 10, 2008.