The Department of Homeland Security agency in charge of legal immigration has tapped Virginia-based ECU Communications following an RFP process to support outreach for two tech initiatives to verify citizenship and immigration status.

ECU is a seven-year old multicultural agency in Gainesville, Va., led by Jackie Krick. The firm was named lead contractor on a maximum $10M pact, which includes one base year and two option years. It has handled federal assignments for the National Institutes of Health and National Guard.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, part of the DHS, issued an RFP in August for outreach to increase employer participation and educate workers about its e-Verify and SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) programs. Only about four percent of businesses use the optional services, which are controversial in some sectors like agriculture and food service.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) is drafting a bill to mandate e-Verify for every U.S. employer.