DHS signs $2.7B Carahsoft software deal, raising competition concerns

The Department of Homeland Security has consolidated software purchases under a five-year, $2.7 billion blanket purchase agreement with reseller Carahsoft covering biometrics, identity verification and cybersecurity tools. The sole-source justification was posted 97 days after signing instead of the promised 14, with roughly $97 million already obligated across 30 orders.

• Deal signed July 15; sole-source justification published October 20
• About $97M obligated across 30 orders, including $29M for ServiceNow and $10.6M for Zscaler
• DHS said requirements were limited to OEMs distributed solely by Carahsoft
• Thales got $11.2M to maintain fingerprint matching because the government lacks source code