ICE Will Host Industry Day for ORBIT Contract

The federal agency will discuss its upcoming technology contract on October 29, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Immigration

Bold flat-color editorial illustration featuring a modular geometric pillar in navy, cream, and orange, representing institutional technology integration. — Immigration and Customs Enforcement will host an industry day on October 29, 2026, to outline its transition to the new ORBIT technology contract. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should government agencies prioritize continuous technology assembly over platform-specific approaches in IT procurement?

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has scheduled an industry day for October 29, 2026, to discuss its new ORBIT contract. The event, held in Arlington, Virginia, and virtually, will outline plans to replace the existing SWIFT contract.

Why it matters

The move to the Outcome-Based Rapid Business Integration and Technology contract supports the office of the chief information officer in integrating technical capabilities across the agency. It marks a transition toward a continuous assembly model for technology procurement.

The agency awarded the predecessor SWIFT contract to seven companies in 2022 with a total obligated order volume of $307 million. The upcoming ORBIT vehicle will focus on functional streams such as artificial intelligence and automation.

The players

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

This is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws.

The details

Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to move away from its platform-specific tasking approach used in the previous contract. The upcoming industry day will provide a comprehensive overview of agency goals and procurement plans for the new model.

The SWIFT contract was awarded to seven companies in 2022.
Registration for the industry day closes on October 22, 2026.
ICE will hold the ORBIT industry day on October 29, 2026.
The current SWIFT contract is scheduled to sunset in September 2027.

Political Context

Opponents or interested vendors may challenge the transition to a continuous assembly model if they feel it limits competition compared to the previous task-based structure. Dissenting entities often seek clarity on whether the new requirements unfairly favor incumbent firms involved in the prior contract.

For taxpayers and citizens, the new contract aims to streamline how the agency handles technical integration through artificial intelligence and automation. These changes in procurement influence how government resources are allocated to support large-scale infrastructure projects.

The takeaway

The transition to a continuous assembly model signals a modernization effort in how federal agencies procure complex technical services. Vendors interested in these opportunities must ensure they meet the specific registration deadlines to participate in the upcoming planning discussions.

What happens next

Registration for the industry day closes on October 22, 2026, followed by the event itself on October 29, 2026. The existing SWIFT contract is scheduled to expire in September 2027.