The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is soliciting proposals for its high-value Cellular Wireless Managed Services, or CWMS 3.0 Contract, an essential vehicle for modernizing the agency’s mobile infrastructure. The DHS Office of Procurement Operations released the request for proposals (RFP) for the new contract, which holds a potential value of up to $3 billion over a decade if all options are exercised.
This critical acquisition will establish a single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to procure comprehensive cellular wireless managed services, supporting approximately 150,000 wireless lines for employees both within and outside the continental United States. The successful contractor will drive cost reduction and operational efficiencies across the department’s vast mobile ecosystem.
Scope and Scale of the Effort
The single-award CWMS 3.0 Contract is a crucial element in the Department of Homeland Security’s strategy to streamline and standardize its telecommunications operations. DHS intends for the contract to serve as the department-wide mechanism for acquiring commercial mobile services from multiple carriers.
The contract includes a 12-month base ordering period followed by nine one-year option periods, extending the vehicle through January 2036. This long-term commitment emphasizes the need for a stable and scalable solution.
The scope mandates that the contractor provide a robust capability that ensures access to multiple commercial cellular carriers—including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and the FirstNet public safety network—and maintain a customized lifecycle management portal.
Furthermore, the contract requires expertise in managing a high volume of assets and decentralized ordering across various DHS components. This large-scale effort represents a significant opportunity for the contracting industry, particularly as it is set aside for small businesses.
Mandatory Services and Key Objectives
Contractors must propose a solution that effectively manages every aspect of the DHS wireless lifecycle. The final solicitation details several mandatory core services the awardee must perform to achieve the agency’s objectives of securing reliable, cost-effective, and up-to-date services.
Mandatory services include:
- Program and Performance Management: Establish clear operational metrics and ensure service-level agreements (SLAs) are met for all services.
- Telecommunications Expense Management (TEMS): Implement streamlined invoicing, billing, and payment services, along with detailed asset control and standardized reporting to reduce expenditures.
- Management Portal: Develop and maintain a customized web portal tailored for each DHS component, allowing for real-time inventory management and account oversight.
- Service Desk Support: Provide comprehensive help desk operations to support all employees and components across all geographic locations.
- Transition Services: Execute a seamless transition from the current contract vehicle to the new CWMS 3.0 platform.
Optional services for contractors to address include providing cellular and satellite wireless devices, licenses, Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions, and in-building cellular enhancement services.
The Department of Homeland Security will evaluate proposals through a two-phase process, with Phase 1 focusing on mandatory pass/fail requirements, such as securing top-secret facility clearance and commitment letters from carriers, before advancing to a Phase 2 trade-off evaluation.
