Bureau of Diplomatic Security

The Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security, a civilian sub-agency within the State Department, procures security services, protective equipment, and operational support for the diplomatic establishment worldwide and at domestic facilities. The Bureau carries out the security functions of the State Department, including facility protection, personnel security, and threat assessment.

The Bureau operates a large and active contract portfolio totaling 46,017 awards with $63.92 billion in combined potential value since 2000. Recent activity has declined: 2,380 awards in 2022, 2,080 in 2023, 1,680 in 2024, 1,291 in 2025, and 799 year-to-date in 2026. The combined dollars obligated across the portfolio stands at $36.18 billion, representing 57 percent of combined potential value. The most recently recorded award date is December 18, 2026.

The contract competitive base is highly fragmented. Over the last five years, the top five primes by award count account for 33 percent of recent awards: Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees lead with 1,290 awards and $36.4 million combined potential value, followed by a second category of Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees with 570 awards and $21.5 million, ZLC Solutions LLC with 357 awards and $34.3 million, Human Technologies Corp with 281 awards and $50.2 million, and New TECH Solutions, Inc. with 246 awards and $9.6 million. The Bureau works with 4,275 distinct prime contractors across its portfolio history. By potential value, the top-five coverage is 0 percent, indicating unreported value across the current winner set—consistent with heavy reliance on Schedule task orders, BPA calls, and modifications. Ninety-two percent of all awards carry no set-aside designation; small-business set-asides represent 5 percent of awards, with HUBZone at 1 percent and 8(a) sole source at 1 percent, and other designations together below 1 percent.

The Bureau has awarded 27 federal grants totaling $6.7 million in federal dollars obligated since 2012. Grant activity is sporadic and now inactive: 1 award in 2014, 5 in 2015, 2 in 2016, 3 in 2017, and 1 in 2024. The most recent grant award closed on July 17, 2024. Eleven distinct recipients have received awards. The grant portfolio is predominantly Cooperative Agreements (17 awards, 63 percent) with Project Grants comprising 37 percent. Recent recipient concentration is 100 percent by count and 0 percent by federal dollars among the top recipient, Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees, indicating unreported dollar data in the current window.

An open solicitation for Domestic Guard Services (19AQMM21R0010, no set-aside) for uniformed protective guard services at State Department facilities nationwide, including Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico, closed on October 9, 2026. The requirement calls for 24/7 armed uniformed protective services under a one-base-year plus four-one-year-option structure, NAICS 561612, with offerors required to demonstrate at least 10 years' experience in armed protective guard services.