DHS Awards $30,000 No-Bid Contract for Sniper Training
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently awarded a $30,000 no-bid contract for specialized sniper and combat training to a Virginia-based company, Target Down Group, led by Dan LaLota, the brother of U.S. Representative Nick LaLota (R-NY). This contract, finalized on September 2, focuses on a five-day precision fires and observation course for the Homeland Security Investigations’ Special Response Team (SRT).
Contract Details and Purpose
The precision fires and observation course aims to enhance the operational strategies of the SRT, which operates similarly to a SWAT team. Members of the SRT, comprised of specially trained agents, are equipped for high-risk situations that traditional law enforcement personnel may not be able to handle. Their training encompasses various aspects of tactical operations, including sniper techniques, breaching, and close-quarters combat.
Records indicate that this contract was assigned on a sole-source basis, which officials justified by citing Target Down Group’s previous collaborations with Homeland Security Investigations and its authorization for live-fire exercises at a specialized facility in Arizona.
Congressional Relations
Congressman Nick LaLota, who previously served on the House Homeland Security Committee, was unavailable for comment regarding the contract. Attempts to reach his congressional offices in New York and Washington, D.C., went unanswered. DHS also did not respond to inquiries regarding the contract.
In a statement, Dan LaLota emphasized that the relationship between his firm and DHS does not derive from his brother’s congressional position. He mentioned that his company is among a limited number of qualified providers capable of delivering the requested training, asserting that the exclusivity of their contract is justifiable.
Company Background
Dan LaLota is a retired Marine sniper and serves as the president of Target Down Group. His military background includes extensive experience, having spent two decades in the Marine Corps and earning a Bronze Star with Valor for his service in Fallujah, Iraq. He has also spent seven years as a scout sniper instructor.
Notably, while federal procurement records identify Target Down Group as a Virginia entity, the company’s status as a Virginia corporation has been terminated since November 2024 due to failure to meet regulatory filing requirements. Despite this, records show a separate registration in Florida since July.
Federal Contracting Rules
Federal procurement regulations permit sole-source contracts under specific circumstances, effectively streamlining the process and bypassing normal competitive bidding. A redacted memo from DHS indicated that Target Down Group was the only suitable vendor available for this training, citing an urgent operational timeline and pre-existing connections with law enforcement in Arizona.
Dan LaLota declined to discuss any previous government-related work, indicating that he could not divulge proprietary information.
Context of Law Enforcement Deployments
This training contract comes in the wake of reports about SRT units preparing to deploy to various cities with Democratic leadership, including Philadelphia, Chicago, and Seattle, following immigration raids in Los Angeles that led to widespread protests. Local officials in these cities have expressed concerns that such deployments are politically motivated rather than focused on public safety, a narrative that has been repeatedly contested by former President Donald Trump, who claimed that these areas suffer from significant crime issues.
As developments unfold, further scrutiny of federal contracts and law enforcement measures is expected.
