RFI - TACTICS_NMR_TC1.pdf

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) for Technical Category 1: Equipment for

Nonmanufacturer Rule Waiver Consideration

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Tactical Communications and Technical Investigative Comprehensive Solutions

(TACTICS)

THIS NOTICE IS SOLELY FOR MARKET RESEARCH AND PLANNING PURPOSES.

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP).

RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE ARE NOT OFFERS AND CANNOT BE ACCEPTED

BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FORM A BINDING CONTRACT. IT DOES NOT

COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT TO SOLICIT OR AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR

IN THE FUTURE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT REIMBURSE RESPONDENTS

FOR ANY COSTS INCURRED IN PREPARATION OF A RESPONSE TO THIS

NOTICE.

I. INTRODUCTION

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) for informational and planning purposes only. The purpose of this RFI is to identify small business manufacturers of specified Technical Category (TC) 1: Equipment under NAICS code 334220, Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing.

This market research is focused strictly on equipment, not services. This market research will support acquisition planning for the TC1 Equipment track and determine whether there are small business manufacturers capable of producing specific classes of supply. The results may be used to support DHS’s consideration of requesting waiver(s) of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR), as appropriate, before release of the final solicitation.

DHS is not seeking a blanket waiver for all TC1 equipment. Rather, DHS intends to assess manufacturer availability at the individual product-line or class-of supply level. Where capable small business manufacturers exists, DHS anticipates that the NMR would continue to apply.

DHS may consider seeking an NMR waiver only for those specific classes of supply for which market research demonstrates that qualified small business manufacturers are unavailable. The information gathered may be used to formulate acquisition strategies for competitive solicitations.

II. BACKGROUND

In support of its mission and strategic goals, DHS requires commercial commodity solutions for a wide variety of applications throughout the Department and its Components. DHS intends to create a new multiple-award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Multi-Agency Contract for Tactical Communications and Technical Investigative Comprehensive Solutions (TACTICS). TACTICS will consist of TC1 Equipment and TC2 Services.

III. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR TC1 EQUIPMENT

DHS requires access to a wide and renewable variety of TACTICS commodity equipment from multiple Original Equipment Manufacturers as made available from published commercial and General Services Administration’s catalogs. While contractors may provide ancillary support or services for certain requirements, waiver considerations under the NMR apply exclusively to the physical equipment, hardware, and manufactured supplies. Service-only components, such as satellite airtime, data subscription plans, or professional labor, are not subject to the NMR and are excluded from waiver consideration. The equipment scope includes, but is not limited to:

• Cameras

• Modems

• Encoders

• Mesh Radios

• Batteries

• Power Supply

• Cabling

• Enclosure

• Antennas

• Mounting HW (sets)

The above list of Technical Category 1 equipment is not all inclusive; equipment may be procured as part of, or in support of one or the more of the following tactical communications and technical investigative requirements or efforts:

• Subcategory 1: Radios and Accessories – includes end-user equipment, devices, push-to-talk applications, interfaces, user equipment (cellular devices), networking functions, associated accessories and power systems; also includes equipment that uses the non-radio part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

• Subcategory 2: Infrastructure – includes software, hardware, communications infrastructure, microwave, backhaul, control/base stations, radios, repeaters, comparators, encryption, antennas, network, management, dispatch, Radio over Internet Protocol, push-to-talk (working with any network connection), private cellular networks, distributed antenna systems, cellular signal boosters, test equipment, enclosures, shelters, towers, and power systems.

• Subcategory 3: Maritime/Air – includes communications, sensor, or surveillance equipment and accessories to outfit and interface with boat, shipboard and aircraft systems.

• Subcategory 4: Mobile Command and Control, Communications, and Surveillance Vehicles – includes specialized vehicles or trailers that are outfitted with capabilities to support mobile command functions, mobile communications capabilities, or technical surveillance capabilities.

• Subcategory 5: Satellite – includes end-user equipment, associated accessories, interfaces, antennas, and related infrastructure.

• Subcategory 6: Collection, Process, Exploitation, Dissemination, or Presentation of Tactical Information – includes any devices, software, hardware, systems, networks, or accessories that may assist in planning operations, collecting information, sharing information, managing communications, directing operations, presenting information in a geographic information systems context, enhancing officer safety, providing situational awareness, recording/storing/saving/logging/ analyzing/managing/translating information, or any other aspect that assists with law enforcement; this includes any integration to administrative or business systems.

• Subcategory 7: Other Tactical Devices and Capabilities – includes acoustic signaling devices, acoustic receivers, long-range acoustic hailing devices, seismic detectors, motion detectors, radar sets, smart helmets, and tactical devices that provide situational awareness or communications capability, including those using remotely controlled or autonomous platforms. Includes any device or system for detecting, tracking, identifying, or countering unmanned systems that do not include kinetic countermeasures.

• Subcategory 8: Video, Audio, Sensor, Tracking, and Communications Intercept Capabilities – includes equipment, devices, systems, accessories, interfaces, or mounts/enclosures/concealments for collecting, processing, powering, transporting, disseminating, storing, exploiting, analyzing, or managing video, audio, sensor, tracking, or communications intercept information. Also, includes body worn devices. Transporting information includes wireless, wired, or the use of physical storage media.

The TACTICS equipment/solutions/capabilities shall support DHS and the federal Government in the United States and foreign locations.

The Government’s minimum specifications for TC1 equipment are provided in Attachment 1, TC1 Minimum Requirements. Offerors must submit their specific product and manufacturer information using Attachment 2, TC1 Capability Matrix.

IV. INSTRUCTIONS

Review the Purpose, Background, and Description of Requirement for TC1 Equipment, along with Attachments 1 and 2.

If, after reviewing these documents, you wish to participate in this market research, complete both tabs of Attachment 2, TC1 Capability Matrix.

The Government requests responses only from small business concerns with the expertise, capabilities, and experience to manufacture the required solutions in one or more subcategories.

All solutions manufactured by the respondent must meet the minimum requirements identified in Column D of Attachment 1, TC1 Minimum Requirements.

Please submit the completed TC1 Capability Matrix no later than 12 pm Eastern Time on November 4, 2026, to Sohl Han, at Sohl.Han@hq.dhs.gov and Brittani Peyton, at Brittani.Peyton@hq.dhs.gov. The email subject line shall include the RFI number and “TACTICS.” Any questions and inquiries must be submitted via email at the email addresses above.

Attachments:

1. TC1 Minimum Requirements

2. TC1 Capability Matrix mailto:Sohl.Han@hq.dhs.gov mailto:Brittani.Peyton@hq.dhs.gov