DHS Forecast Transition, NITAAC Closure and New IT Vehicles Reshape Access

Federal IT contractors face several simultaneous changes to how they identify and pursue agency opportunities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stopped legacy data entry in its Acquisition Planning Forecast System (APFS) on October 30 as it transitions to updated Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) data standards. DHS forecast access is scheduled to return on November 5, but the transition is staged: email alerts are unavailable through December 9, while automated notifications and search functions are scheduled to resume in December. The interim changes affect opportunity monitoring and make contractors’ own tracking practices especially important.

For companies pursuing DHS work, the immediate operational step is to obtain forecast files from DHS.gov while email alerts are offline, then check APFS again when access returns. Contractors should not assume that the November 5 access date means all platform functions will be restored at once. With automated notifications and search functions scheduled to resume later in December, firms may need to manually review available forecast information, maintain internal watchlists, and confirm the timing of solicitations through appropriate agency channels. The transition to common OFPP data standards could also change how forecast information is structured and used, so capture teams should be prepared to adapt their data workflows.

A separate change affects the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC). NITAAC ceased operating on October 29, ending new task-order placements on its CIO-SP3, CIO-SP3 Small Business, and CIO-CS contract vehicles. Existing task orders and future procurement pathways should be assessed under the applicable transition plans; the closure means contractors can no longer rely on these vehicles for new placements. NITAAC Director Ricky Clark framed the disruption as a possible opening for other contract channels, saying, “I think there’s a perfect opportunity to provide on-ramps to GSA vehicles.” That observation is a market signal, not a guarantee of a specific replacement route: contractors should evaluate which government-wide acquisition contracts and other vehicles align with their capabilities and customer demand.

At the same time, NASA’s SEWP VI awards provide a new route for eligible agency IT purchases. Each award carries a $20 billion ceiling and a 10-year ordering period beginning November 1, 2026. The ceiling is stated per award and should not be interpreted as guaranteed spending. For agencies and industry, the long ordering period makes SEWP VI a significant vehicle to monitor as government buyers plan technology acquisitions. Separately, the U.S. Navy is conducting market research through a request for information (RFI) on a future enterprise network model. Companies serving Navy enterprise networks can use the RFI process to understand the government’s planning direction and provide relevant input. Leidos is identified as the incumbent NGEN program manager, making the effort relevant to incumbent and potential competitors alike; the RFI is market research, not a contract award or solicitation.

• DHS APFS: Legacy data entry stopped October 30 during migration to updated OFPP data standards; forecast access is scheduled to return November 5.
• DHS interim access: Contractors can download forecast files from DHS.gov while email alerts are unavailable through December 9.
• DHS platform functions: Automated notifications and search are scheduled to resume in December, so teams should plan for manual monitoring in the interim.
• NITAAC closure: Operations ceased October 29, ending new task-order placements on CIO-SP3, CIO-SP3 Small Business, and CIO-CS.
• NITAAC transition planning: Contractors and agencies with relevant task orders should review applicable transition plans and assess alternative acquisition channels.
• Potential vehicle shift: NITAAC Director Ricky Clark said there is a “perfect opportunity to provide on-ramps to GSA vehicles”; firms should evaluate fit rather than presume a specific replacement.
• NASA SEWP VI: Awards carry a $20 billion ceiling each and a 10-year ordering period beginning November 1, 2026; ceilings do not represent guaranteed spending.
• Navy enterprise network: The U.S. Navy is using an RFI for market research on a future enterprise network model, creating an opportunity for industry to inform planning.
• Incumbent context: Leidos is identified as the incumbent NGEN program manager; the Navy RFI is a planning exercise, not an award announcement.