70 -- INCITS Executive Board Membership

The Department of Homeland Security plans to award a sole-source purchase order to the Information Technology Industry Council for membership to the INCITS Executive Board, securing representation for one principal/voting member from the Department. This contract is critical as the INCITS Executive Board is the exclusive forum for stakeholders involved in the creation and maintenance of formal Information and Communications Technologies standards. The purchase order falls under statutory authority allowing non-competitive procurement, reflecting the absence of any other organization that provides this unique platform needed by the Department. This membership ensures that the Department maintains its influence and timely participation in developing standards crucial for homeland security, cybersecurity, and biometric technologies. Failure to secure this membership would significantly compromise the agency’s ability to impact vital standards development, potentially hindering mission objectives. The contract is issued without solicitation for competitive proposals, acknowledging the unique nature of INCITS, and all inquiries about competition or additional information will not be entertained. Key contacts for this contract include the Contracting Officer SusanKelly D. Haskett and Contract Specialist Elizabeth S Clark, supported by the Contract Administration Services Division of DHS.