WASHINGTON, July 15, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The organization representing the leading companies that provide homeland security solutions to the marketplace testified today regarding the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) procurement policies and procedures, proposing recommendations for improvement and calling for greater communication between industry and government.
Marc Pearl, President & CEO of the Homeland Security & Defense Business Council (Council), testified before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management, at a hearing entitled "Homeland Security Contracting: Does the Department Effectively Leverage Emerging Technologies."
"Council members – all providers of homeland security solutions for our nation – together with DHS and Congress, share the same goal: to achieve the capabilities needed by DHS for mission success through a process that is transparent, accountable, timely, cost effective, and that encourages competition, innovation, and investment in the homeland security marketplace," said Pearl. "With greater communication between industry and government prior to and throughout the entire procurement process, we can leverage existing technology, experience, expertise, and dollars to accomplish our shared goal."
While the challenges associated with contracting and procurement are complex, the Council called for focus in three areas to improve the process:
- A long term acquisition strategy;
- Open and transparent process, practices, and procedures that facilitate well-defined contract requirements, generate competition, and provide incentives for the private sector to participate in the process; and
- A strong organization with a standardized and centralized procurement process and a workforce capable of planning and executing the process.
View the testimony at: http://www.homelandcouncil.org/pdfs/digital_library_pdfs/hsdbc_testimonycontracting_and_emerging_technologies.pdf
About the Council
The Homeland Security & Defense Business Council is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization of the leading companies that bring homeland security solutions to the marketplace. It works to ensure that the perspective, innovation, expertise and capabilities of the private sector are recognized, respected and integrated with the public sector. For more information, please visit www.homelandcouncil.org.