This is a general solicitation for the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Commercial Solutions Opening Pilot Program (CSOP) to procure innovative commercial maritime capabilities and solutions. The solicitation is open for 12 months, until August 5, 2026, with submissions accepted on a rolling basis. DHS anticipates reviewing submissions approximately every two weeks. Individual CSOP contract awards may not exceed $25 million. All US-based entities are eligible, including foreign companies through US subsidiaries. Companies must be registered in SAM. gov to be eligible for award. The solicitation focuses on several strategic areas, including maritime technology innovation, program oversight, lifecycle sustainment, supply chain resilience, trade enforcement, maritime interdiction, and workforce development. A new strategic focus area for unmanned and autonomous surface vessels has been added. Submissions require a video (max 5 minutes) and a written solution brief. Phase 1 submissions are evaluated on technical merit and innovation. Meritorious submissions may proceed to Phase 2 for further evaluation, potentially including oral presentations or technical demonstrations. Phase 3 involves negotiation and award. All costs associated with submissions are the responsibility of the submitting entity. Protests will be adjudicated under DHS component-level protest procedures. Payment terms will be established during Phase 3, and advance payments are not authorized.
The general solicitation will stay open for a period of 12 months, concluding on August 5, 2026. Industry is invited to respond to this open call for innovative solutions at any time during the stated period. Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis, allowing for continuous engagement and the opportunity to present solutions as they are developed. The government anticipates reviewing the maritime capabilities and innovation CSOP mailbox approximately every 2 weeks to check for submissions.
The CSOP statute does not authorize advance payments. Additional payment terms will be established during phase 3.
Proposals shall be evaluated on their individual merits rather than on a comparative basis. Besides the criterion described below, all proposed solutions must clearly demonstrate how the commercial item is offered in an innovative manner. The evaluation will include an assessment of whether the proposed commercial product or service is innovative within the meaning of the statute. The following evaluation criteria will be used to evaluate phase 1 submissions. The technical merit will be based on the following: does the submission identify a problem being experienced by DHS under one of the strategic focus areas, does the submission describe an innovative viable solution and relevant application to the problem, does the company describe differentiators, providing specific examples, evidence, and/or metrics that demonstrate the innovative value and advantage that it brings in the submission. Eventually, awards will be made based on the following criteria: Criterion I: Technical Merit, Criterion II: Business Viability, Criterion III: Price.
All US-based entities are eligible to participate, including established government contractors, commercial companies, and small businesses as defined by SBA standards. Foreign companies may participate through established US subsidiaries that are incorporated in the United States and registered to conduct business domestically. Nontraditional vendors, such as academic institutions, research organizations, and nonprofit entities are also encouraged to participate. To be eligible for award, companies must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM. gov), prior to DHS making a CSOP award.
Protests under CSOP awards shall be adjudicated as prescribed under DHS component level protest procedures.
