Tangles Subscription Services

DHS OCSO ITD intends to procure brand name Tangles software-as-a-service (SaaS), manufactured through PenLink, LTD, in accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(ii).  The exception is based on FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), only one source can provide this type of SaaS because the Tangles platform is a unique and highly specialized Cloud SaaS combining both publicly/ commercially available information search, analysis, monitoring, and geolocation along with dark web information. 

No alternative solutions exist that meet all the operational requirements of DHS OCSO ITD:

• A single interface that combines internet intelligence (including open and dark web

analysis)

• Social network mapping
• Web & social media monitoring
• Warrant return ingestion
• Geo location data
• Cryptocurrency analysis
• Case management
• Dossier management
• Report generation

Likewise, no alternative solutions exist that meet all of the technology requirements:

• AI-Powered analysis for image & visage matching
• Landmark recognition
• Video transcription & optical character recognition
• Capable of operating when running in a virtual, physical hybrid or on a Cloud environment
• Single sign on (SSO) capability and two factor authentication
• Microsoft Azure certified
• Ability to gather information from the dark web sites which are inaccessible by standard commercial web browsers
• Ability to access all major social media providers without a customer requirement to maintain Personas or Avatars
• No device or network attribution when running queries in the system

Market research revealed no companies on the GSA schedule or under the FEDLINK program that could provide similar capabilities to PenLink, LTD’s Tangles SaaS platform in a single package. Specifically, Bloomberg Government and Factiva, Inc. were reviewed. Bloomberg is only able to provide information on U.S. publicly traded and privately held companies and analysis and analytic tools from thousands of journalists and multimedia specialists worldwide.  Factiva, Inc. provides access to global collection of licensed news, web content, and company data from nearly every country worldwide.  These companies do not provide open source information on wide areas of interest as well as the deep dives into dark web information and the image analysis for image & visage matching, landmark recognition, and video transcription & optical character recognition.

The Tangles SaaS platform has specifications that are mission-critical to the success of the ITP program due to the access to open-source information as well as dark web information and image analysis.  Market research also revealed that this SaaS was previously in use by DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis and is currently employed by DHS CBP.