The Council provides a variety of opportunities for members to interact directly with federal agency officials, Congressional leaders, and other important stakeholders, allowing member company executives to share their thought leadership and educate the government about industry’s perspectives and best practices.

Reverse Industry Days

In addition to supporting DHS-wide Reverse Industry Days (RIDs), the Council develops and leads our own RIDs with DHS components and other federal agencies.

The Council has a unique understanding of these events, and played a major part in the creation of the first RID. Our leadership and involvement in numerous efforts, including developing the Framework for Engagement, holding small group meetings on procurement phases, and facilitating industry perspective seminars at the Homeland Security Acquisition Institute, led to DHS agreeing to host the first formal agency wide RID. These events have become an important and meaningful forum for knowledge sharing and engagement between the public and private sectors.

The Council has led the following RIDs:

  • USCIS Reverse Industry Day (October 2018)

  • Coast Guard Reverse Industry Day (April 2018)

  • DoD Contracting Conference – Industry Bid / No Bid Role Play (June 2017)

  • TSA Reverse Industry Day (November 2016)

  • NPPD and the Office of Selective Acquisitions (July 2014)

  • DHS Management Directorate (March 2013)

Acquisition Innovation Roundtables

The Council also helps coordinates Acquisition Innovation Roundtables (AIRs), reciprocal learning events hosted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Chief Procurement Officer under the auspices of their Acquisition Innovation in Motion (AliM) initiative. These events typically involve small groups of government and industry leaders who work together to discuss and propose improvements to targeted business processes. Past AIRs include:

  • Suitability and Security Program AIR, which focused on identifying knowledge gaps from a DHS and industry perspective regarding the contractor fitness and security vetting process, and potential ideas for improving the speed, transparency, and communication with industry further consideration by DHS that might improve the system.

  • Request for Information (RFI) AIR, which focused on identifying knowledge gaps related to the RFI process, understanding cost drivers, motivators, and the industry decision-making process, as well as the unintended consequences of specific communications or actions related to RFIs.

  • Industry Perspective AIR, which focused on identifying information on industry practices and decision-making that should be incorporated into training programs at the Homeland Security Acquisition Institute

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