Homeland Security to develop Web portal for businesses

The Homeland Security Department is developing an Internet portal for companies that need information about business opportunities with the department, an official told industry representatives Tuesday.

During the second day of the department's two-day industry forum, Kevin Boshears, Homeland Security's director of small- and disadvantaged-business utilization office, solicited ideas for the Web-enabled contact center, which will be called "The Marketplace."

Boshears said the idea is in response to feedback from the business community and agencies within the department to provide companies information on how to do business with the department.

The site would include information on contracts, grants, small-business procurement assistance, research and development and unsolicited proposals, among other issues. The Web site would not duplicate or replace mandatory government-wide portals such as FedBizOpps or the Central Contractor Registration system.

"The basic idea is to create a Web site that serves as a menu," Boshears said.