Competition Advocates and Task-Order and Delivery Order Ombudsman

There are two senior agency positions dedicated to ensuring full and open competition as a part of the federal contracting process: Competition Advocates and Task-Order and Delivery Order Ombudsman.

Competition Advocates are responsible for:

• Promoting full and open competition;
• Promoting the acquisition of commercial items;
• Removing barriers to full and open competition such as unnecessarily restrictive statements of work, overly detailed specification and burdensome contract clauses.

Each federal agency and procuring activity will have a Competition Advocate.

Task Order and Delivery Order Ombudsman are responsible for:

• Addressing contractor concerns regarding compliance with task/delivery order award procedures;
• Reviewing contractor complaints on task/delivery order contracts;
• Ensuring all contractors are afforded a fair opportunity to be considered for each task/delivery order, consistent with FAR 16.505(b); and
• When requested, maintaining strict confidentiality of the contractor requesting assistance.

The Task Order and Delivery Order Ombudsman may also be the agency’s Competition Advocate.

Agency and Component Competition Advocates and Task-Order and Delivery Order Ombudsman

Below lists the Competition Advocates and Task-Order and Delivery Order Ombudsman for the Department of Homeland Security and our component agencies.  Please note that both positions may be filled by a single individual.

Department Competition Advocate

Tom Mason, Director of Policy and Acquisition Workforce
Office of the Chief Procurement Officer
tom.mason@dhs.gov
202-447-5263 (office)

Procuring Activity Competition Advocates (PACAS)

Department Headquaters

Jan Wisor, Director, Policy, Oversight and Customer Support
Office of Procurement Operations
jan.wisor@dhs.gov
202-447-5547 (office)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Clifford Oliver, Branch Chief, Acquisition Program and Planning Branch
clifford.oliver@dhs.gov
202-646-4631 (office)

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)

Gregory Carver
Deputy Assistant Director for Administration
gregory.carver@dhs.gov
912-267-2401 (office)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Denis Catalano, Executive Director, Program Analysis and Acquisition Support
denis.catalano@dhs.gov
571-227-3263 (office)

U.S. Coast Guard

Michael Tangora, Deputy Assistant Commandant for Acquisition
michael.f.tagora@uscg.mil
202-475-3000 (office)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Competition Advocate

James A. (Mouse) Neumeister, Director, Investment Management
Office of Finance
mouse.neumeister@dhs.gov
202-447-5132

CBP Task/Delivery Order Ombudsman

Diane Sahakian
diane.sahakian@dhs.gov
202-344-1123
202-344-1190 (fax)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Theresa Bertucci, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management
theresa.bertucci@dhs.gov
202-514-1900 (office)

U.S. Secret Service (USSS)

Gregory Stieber, Deputy Assistant Director
gregory.stieber@usss.dhs.gov