Open-Source Intel (OSINT) Training

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is soliciting bids for a comprehensive Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Training contract under solicitation number 405-24R0010854. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide a robust training bundle that includes live and on-demand virtual training courses, webinars, public/open registration training courses, and OSINT news reference subscriptions. Required training content must cover critical areas such as ethical investigations, search engine capabilities, social media platform usage, emerging trends, and analytical capabilities. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience training law enforcement personnel on OSINT and provide specific course modules including OSINT Basics, OSINT Comprehensive, Creating Social Media Research Accounts, and Social Media Basics - Emerging Apps. The solicitation requires two primary line items: 250 On-Demand Open Source Intel Training Bundle licenses and ongoing as-needed basis licenses. Responses are due by December 13, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. Central Time, with an anticipated contract award date of December 31, 2024. The contract term is five years from the effective date, with a possible six-month extension for transition purposes. Evaluation will be conducted using a best value standard, considering factors such as past performance and vendor tracking system ratings.

The solicitation includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) subcontracting goal of 26% for "All Other Services" contracts, requiring all bidders to submit a HUB Subcontracting Plan regardless of whether they intend to use subcontractors. Respondents must provide Texas Vendor Identification numbers or federal Employer Identification Numbers when identifying potential HUB subcontractors. The contract requires contractors to carry appropriate insurance coverage and submit to criminal background checks for all personnel. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the solicitation indicates that DPS will not guarantee minimum compensation and all payments are subject to approval by the agency's Contract Monitor. Bidders must be prepared to provide comprehensive documentation, including W-9 forms, direct deposit authorization, and various state-specific certification documents. The solicitation is open to vendors who can demonstrate expertise in OSINT training for law enforcement, with a focus on comprehensive, ethical, and technically advanced training methodologies.