Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., have introduced a bipartisan bill that would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to extend through fiscal year 2031 its use of the other transaction authority as a tool to procure advanced technologies to meet border security, supply chain security and other critical homeland security requirements.
OTA, which is set to expire by the end of September, reportedly provides DHS the flexibility to collaborate with innovative companies, including vendors that have not previously worked with the federal government, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said Tuesday.
“Agencies like the Department of Homeland Security can better protect our nation from a wide range of threats by staying at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies,” said Peters, chairman of the Senate panel.
The Better Enabling Secure and Trustworthy Technology for the Homeland Act “will ensure DHS has the ability to keep pace with global competitors and procure the latest technologies to effectively secure our nation,” he added.
The OTA was last extended as part of a bill in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023.
