BLOG / 🇺🇸 United States · · daily

DHS Homeland Security Contracts — August 28, 2026

DHS Homeland Security Contracts

By Gunpowder Editorial ·

2 total filings analysed

Executive Summary

This digest covers two Department of Homeland Security contracts totaling $782.1 million, both civilian (non-defense) awards, with an average signal strength of 5.5/10. The dominant theme is DHS investment in IT services and aviation support, led by a $580.4 million IBM delivery order for FEMA's EADIS software development, though its negative outlay raises revenue realization concerns.

The highest-conviction signal is a $201.7 million sole-source award to PAE Aviation (Amentum) for CBP aviation maintenance, indicating a strong incumbent position in border security logistics. A key risk is the IBM contract's negative outlay, suggesting potential inactivity or termination, which could mislead top-line revenue expectations for investors.

Materiality, sentiment, and priority are scored by Gunpowder’s analysis pipeline. How we score filings →

Tracking the trend? Catch up on the prior DHS Homeland Security Contracts digest from August 19, 2026.

Investment Signals (2)

  • PAE Aviation (Amentum) Secures $201.7M Sole-Source CBP Aviation Contract (MEDIUM)

    PAE Aviation and Technical Services LLC, a subsidiary of Amentum Services Inc., received a $201.7 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract from DHS Customs and Border Protection for aviation maintenance and logistics, awarded non-competitively, signaling a strong incumbent position and specialized capability in border security air operations.

  • IBM's $580.4M FEMA Delivery Order Shows Negative Outlay, Questioning Revenue (HIGH)

    IBM's $580.4 million cost-plus-award-fee delivery order from FEMA for EADIS software development (2008-2016) has a total outlayed amount of negative $23,548, indicating no actual spending to date, potentially due to contract completion or termination, which undermines revenue expectations.

Risk Flags (3)

  • Execution [HIGH RISK]

    IBM's $580.4M FEMA delivery order has a negative outlay of $-23,548, suggesting the contract may be inactive or terminated, posing a risk to revenue recognition for investors tracking IBM's federal IT pipeline.

  • Budget [MEDIUM RISK]

    The PAE Aviation $201.7M contract has a short performance period (April 2020 to September 2021) and only $4.1 million outlayed so far, indicating slow spending that could be vulnerable to DHS budget reallocations under a continuing resolution.

  • Concentration [MEDIUM RISK]

    Both contracts are from the Department of Homeland Security, creating agency-specific concentration risk for investors; any DHS budget cuts or policy shifts could materially impact both IBM and Amentum's federal revenue streams.

Opportunities (2)

  • PAE Aviation's $201.7M sole-source award for CBP aviation maintenance highlights Amentum's entrenched position in border security logistics, presenting a growth opportunity if options are exercised or the contract is extended beyond September 2021.

  • IBM's $580.4M FEMA delivery order, despite negative outlay, signals DHS's long-term commitment to emergency management IT systems, creating potential for future task orders or re-competitions in the EADIS software development space.

Sector Themes (2)

  • The $201.7M sole-source award to PAE Aviation for CBP aircraft maintenance and repair underscores sustained DHS investment in air operations for border security, a policy priority that supports contractors with specialized aviation logistics capabilities.

  • IBM's $580.4M FEMA delivery order, awarded in 2008 with a 2016 end date and negative outlay, exemplifies the risk of legacy federal IT contracts where reported obligations may not translate to actual revenue, a concern for investors tracking top-line growth in government services.

Watch List (3)

  • 👁

    {"entity" => "Amentum Services Inc.", "reason" => "PAE Aviation's $201.7M sole-source CBP contract has only $4.1M outlayed, with options expiring September 2021; option exercise or extension would confirm revenue trajectory.", "trigger" => "Option exercise announcement or contract modification from DHS"}

  • 👁

    {"entity" => "International Business Machines Corporation", "reason" => "IBM's $580.4M FEMA delivery order has negative outlay, raising questions about contract status; any modification or new task order would signal renewed activity.", "trigger" => "FEMA IT modernization announcement or contract modification filing"}

  • 👁

    {"entity" => "Department of Homeland Security", "reason" => "Both contracts are DHS awards; agency budget developments or policy shifts (e.g., border security funding, CR impact) directly affect IBM and Amentum.", "trigger" => "DHS budget request for FY2027, continuing resolution passage, or NDAA provisions"}

Get daily alerts with 2 investment signals, 3 risk alerts, 2 opportunities and full AI analysis of all 2 filings

$30/mo after a 14-day free trial — no credit card required. See pricing or explore intelligence streams.

More from: DHS Homeland Security Contracts

🇺🇸 More from United States

View all →