DHS previews new data lakehouse software licensing pact

The Homeland Security Department is working to create a blanket purchase agreement with the goal of continuing to operate its enterprise data lakehouse environment and intelligence platform built on Databricks.

DHS has set up that platform to act as the foundation for its overall data fabric, providing users a scalable environment for analytics and reporting functions. Users also have access to artificial intelligence initiatives and the ability to share data within DHS itself and across government.

DHS is setting up a firm-fixed-price BPA to hire a contractor that would help renew and expand the department’s itinerary of Databricks licenses and related services, according to a notice Thursday in the Acquisition Planning Forecast System.

Multiple DHS components use the platform such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Coast Guard.

The department is eyeing March 31 as the date to release the solicitation for the BPA, which would have a five-year ordering period and a ceiling value north of $100 million.

DHS’ advance notice of the BPA also describes its alignment with the department’s plan for Cumulus, an enterprise commercial cloud contract first previewed in January that would be a centralized mechanism for acquiring these services.

A solicitation for Cumulus appears to still be under construction.