The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its intent to recompete a vital systems support contract for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations Center.
This recompete signals an opportunity for technology providers to compete for the work, currently performed by CACI Federal, which supports critical Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) systems. The contract holds an estimated value between $50 million and $100 million.
The new award will ensure continued maintenance and enhancement for the core C4I infrastructure, directly enabling CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) to secure the nation’s borders. These systems are foundational to AMO’s ability to detect, interdict, and prevent acts of terrorism and illicit trafficking across air and maritime domains.
Securing the Border with Advanced C4I
CBP relies on a sophisticated suite of integrated technologies to execute its national security mission. The winning contractor actively supports several high-priority surveillance and intelligence platforms:
- Air and Marine Operations Surveillance System (AMOSS): The vendor will maintain and enhance AMOSS, which provides real-time surveillance data across a significant portion of the Western Hemisphere. Operators use this data to immediately distinguish between routine and suspicious air, sea, and land activity.
- Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems: Support extends to these critical systems, which form a network connecting analysts, field operators, and CBP law enforcement decision-makers. The ISR systems facilitate shared, real-time mission data, enhancing situational awareness for frontline personnel.
- Kestrel Cloud Application: Modernization efforts also encompass the Kestrel cloud-based application, a crucial tool that integrates sensor data with predictive threat intelligence.
The successful vendor will manage the complex task of integrating these advanced tools with existing legacy systems, ensuring continuous, high-efficiency operations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Acquisition Strategy and Timeline
DHS details its plan to procure the work through the Alliant 2 governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC). The department selects a full and open competition strategy, ensuring all qualified contractors can bid, and the procurement will not be set aside for small businesses.
The department anticipates releasing the official solicitation on March 25, 2026, targeting a final contract award in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026. The awarded contractor performs the necessary systems support work in Washington, D.C., with the period of performance extending through November 2031.
This recompetition underscores the strategic importance the Department of Homeland Security places on modernizing command, control, and surveillance capabilities in the fight for national resilience.
