Centers of Excellence (COEs) - Phase I and II BOA

The Office of University Programs (OUP) at Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has established Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs) with the university-based Centers of Excellence (COEs).  Through the BOAs, DHS Components can issue task orders for homeland security-related research, analysis, and related services aligned with the unique expertise and thrust area focus of the respective COEs. The COEs have significant homeland security related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics capabilities inclusive of subject matter expertise, laboratories, engineering, and other testing facilities, databases, analytical capacities, etc.

Currently, S&T competitively selects the COEs and funds its research and educational programs with the designated COEs under grants and cooperative agreements. These grants and cooperative agreement funds are limited and are intended to establish a baseline capability at the COEs for basic unclassified research and educational program. The BOAs allow DHS Components to be more prescriptive in the requirements for the proposed task orders and requested deliverables and permit sensitive and classified work.

Task Orders may be issued on a cost-reimbursement or firm-fixed price basis as determined and documented in accordance with FAR Part 16 Contract Types.

OUP is implementing a phase-in approach to pursue new Department-wide COEs BOAs, extending or replacing those currently in place. Phase I and Phase II are currently available for use.

Mandatory (with exceptions)

No

Benefits

The BOAs will enable all DHS components, not just DHS S&T, to acquire homeland security-related research, analyses, and services, from the designated lead research COE for each thrust area. Each BOA will facilitate the ordering of specific requirements aligned with the respective COE’s thrust area and unique expertise. Each BOA is itself unfunded and does not commit DHS to pay any cost as a result of entering into these agreements. Funds will be committed by each component through the issuance of their task orders under the respective BOAs.

Period of Performance (POP)

Phase I: Five years + a 24-month (Class J&A) extension (7/1/2010 – 6/7/2017). Task Order performance may continue after the BOA ordering period for additional 12 months.

Phase IIa: Five years (1/7/2016 – 1/6/2021). Task Order performance may continue after the BOA ordering period for additional 12 months.

Phase IIb: Five years (8/15/2016 – 8/14/2021). Task Order performance may continue after the BOA ordering period for additional 12 months.

Post Award Teaming

For teaming opportunities, please contact the applicable awardee(s)

Number of Awardees

Phase I: 10 large businesses; Phase IIa: 6 large businesses; Phase IIb: 4 large businesses

Contractor Information

Phase I

Name: University of Southern California
For: Terrorism Risks, Economics and Operations Research
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA19

Name: Northeastern University
(This BOA was replaced in Phase II)
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA30

Name: University of Minnesota
For: Food Protection and Defense
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA31

Name: University of Arizona
For: Border Security and Immigration
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA32

Name: Texas A&M University
For: Agriculture Defense
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA33

Name: Purdue University
For: Visualization Analytics
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA34

Name: Stevens Institute of Technology
(This BOA was replaced in Phase II)
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA35

Name: University of Maryland
(This BOA was replaced in Phase II)
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA36

Name: University of North Carolina
(This BOA was replaced in Phase II)
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA37

Name: University of Connecticut
For: National Transportation Security
BOA #: HSHQDC-10-A-BOA38

Phase IIa

Name: University of Maryland
For: Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0001

Name: University of Alaska Anchorage
For: Arctic Security
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0002

Name: Stevens Institute of Technology
For: Maritime Security
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0004

Name: Rutgers University
For: Data Analytics
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0005

Name: Kansas State University
For: Zoonotic Disease
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0006

Name: Jackson State University
For: Coastal Engineering
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0007

Phase IIb

Name: Northeastern University
For: Explosives Detection, Mitigation and Response
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0008

Name: University of Illinois
For: Critical Infrastructure Resilience
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0009

Name: University of Houston
For: Borders, Trade and Immigration
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0010

Name: University of North Carolina
For: Coastal Resilience
BOA #: HSHQDC-16-A-B0011

Contact Us

To contact us regarding a Strategic Sourcing Vehicle or future initiative, please email SSPOInquiry@hq.dhs.gov.