Here you will find a series of frequently asked questions and answers about the DHS Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL):
When was the PIL created?
- The Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL) was established in March 2015, a year before the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo on March 9, 2016, requesting Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Act agencies to create acquisition innovation labs or similar initiatives to help programs achieve better results for the taxpayer.
Where does the PIL fit into DHS organizationally?
- The PIL reports directly to the DHS Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It supports the CPO’s strategic goals of empowerment, collaboration, innovation, and enhancing the DHS Procurement Experience.
How does the PIL measure its success?
- The PIL measures success through a mix of quantitative and qualitative data, along with the annual Competing Values Framework (CVF) assessment. We track progress in shifting the DHS procurement organization’s mindset from risk avoidance to proactive risk management, as well as fostering continuous learning and adaptation to meet operational needs. As of March 2025, the PIL:
- Engaged 209 procurement teams, including 31 from partner agencies initiating their own procurement innovation labs.
- Guided 39 process improvement initiatives across the DHS acquisition workforce.
- Delivered 297 workshops of various lengths and topics to both the DHS and federal-wide workforce.
How does a procurement team engage with the PIL?
- Innovation in procurement thrives when it’s voluntary. Program managers or contracting officers bring their requirements and challenges to the PIL, which engages with the team through the planning, solicitation, evaluation, and award phases of the procurement process. The program managers and contracting officers remain in control, ensuring experiential learning.
How many people work in the PIL?
- The PIL is an agile team of five procurement professionals who have relinquished our contracting officer warrants to promote procurement innovation across the DHS enterprise.
Contact Us: Do you have an innovative idea or question? We would like to hear from you at PIL@hq.dhs.gov