US DHS selects Unisys for border security systems support

Unisys has received a contract from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Border Enforcement and Management Systems Program Office (BEMS) to operate, manage and enhance systems used to improve security at America’s borders and ports of entry.

Under the $460m single-award, indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, Unisys will operate, manage and enhance border enforcement management systems for Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The BEMS contract may also include enhancements and modernisation of existing BEMS systems in addition to potentially developing new systems to meet evolving border security requirements.

Unisys Federal Systems homeland security group vice president Steve Soroka said, "This new work builds upon Unisys’ successful partnership with CBP and broadens our longstanding support of the mission-critical solutions that help protect the U.S. homeland."

BEMS is a part of the CBP Office of Information and Technology and is responsible for CBP information technology systems’ design, development, testing, implementation, training, and maintenance.

BEMS will also support CBP’s administrative office systems which range from public website to core personnel and financial management systems to applications that track and record border intercepts and seized property.

BEMS systems support CBP’s key border enforcement activities which are conducted by CBP’s operational offices.

The contract has one-year base period of performance and four one-year option periods while all options can be exercised for specific services at the discretion of the government.