LiveTALK: How to Do Business with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

E. Darlene Bullock was appointed as the Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) in January 2020. She served as the Acting OSDBU Director in June 2019 and the OSDBU Deputy Director in June 2015. Ms. Bullock is responsible for implementing the Department’s small business procurement programs across DHS’ $21 billion procurement operation, which awards approximately $6 billion each year to small businesses.

Ms. Bullock joined the OSDBU in January 2011 as the Program Manager for several small business programs to include: 8(a), small disadvantaged, and women-owned. As a Desk Officer, she provided technical procurement and small business support to four DHS operational contracting offices.

Before joining the OSDBU, Ms. Bullock was a Division Director and Contracting Officer in the DHS, Office of Procurement Operations (OPO). OPO is one of the largest procurement divisions in DHS obligating about $4 - 4.5 Billion a year. Her division was responsible for supporting the Office of the Secretary and other high-visibility offices at DHS Headquarters. Ms. Bullock oversaw and managed the award process of the first DHS-wide Program Management, Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Services (PACTS) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts which were set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). PACTS had an estimated value at $1.5 billion. The award of PACTS I enabled DHS to meet and exceed the 3% SDVOSB goal for the first time in Fiscal Year 2010. DHS continues to meet or exceed the SDVOSB goal.

With over 28 years of experience in procurement, federal assistance, and acquisitions management, Ms. Bullock has held leadership positions at several Federal and local agencies including DHS, U.S. Agency for International Development, U. S. Department of Commerce, District of Columbia Government, and the U.S. Army.

Ms. Bullock began her acquisition career with the U.S. Army successfully completing the Department of Defense contract specialist intern program. She was a Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) with the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and maintains her FAC-C Level III Certification in Contracting. She has completed various Federal Executive leadership courses throughout her career. She has an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Business and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park and a MBA in International Management from Southeastern University.