Last week, we hit pause due to the holiday season and a quieter news period. Our focus is on delivering news that directly impacts your GovCon operations and aids in securing contracts. Before we dive in, are you interested in an opportunity to network with fellow GovCon leaders? We're talking about an exclusive Slack channel, a place where you can learn and share about opportunities and receive expert advice from a former CO, COR, and CS on current solicitations.

Interested? Just answer the one-question survey below to let us know. 🚀🤝

Awarded Contracts

Let's review the awarded contract from November 19th to December 2, 2023. The VA led the spending spree with a whopping $6.5 billion, closely followed by the DOJ at $3.1 billion and HHS at $2.9 billion. It was a fierce competition, with an average of 13.08 proposals per solicitation. The popular award methods were the internal BPA and IDIQ contracts, so we normal people probably never got a chance to see the solicitation (unless you created a partnership with a BPA/IDIQ holder 🤔). A notable 63% of these awards went to small businesses. The set-aside categories were predominantly SDVOSBC and 8(a) ANC 👀.

In a significant move, the DOJ rolled out a multiple-award BPA with six contract holders for IT Support Services. HHS wasn't far behind, awarding a six-vendor BPA for HSPD-12 support. Each of these contracts has a potential maximum value of $400 million, clarifying the substantial expenditures by these agencies. However, securing a BPA doesn't automatically guarantee $400 million; they must earn each dollar through competition with only six other vendors.

Here's a key insight: internal BPAs and IDIQs are crucial for winning government contracts. They provide direct access to the agency. So, next time a BPA solicitation pops up, consider bidding. Remember, BPAs are always solicited through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). Both mentioned BPAs received between 13 and 11 quotes (explains the high proposal response number), meaning nearly 50% of bidders clinched a win! This is a stat that should definitely bring a smile to your face. 😊📈🏆

🔥GSA MAS Application Help with Blackfyre🔥

Regarding the GSA Multiple Award Schedule and BPA, our friends at Blackfyre are rolling out a special offer on their turn-key service for GSA Schedule applications. Spearheaded by a former Contracting Officer and GSA Contract Specialist, this team has the insider know-how to secure you a competitive GSA Schedule. They're standing by their promise to complete your application within 30 days and six months of free support after the award. And here's the cherry on top: mention our referral to snag that exclusive discount. Don't miss out on this opportunity! 🌟📝💼

Contract Opportunities

Exciting news is on the horizon! Next week, we're gearing up to launch our comprehensive database called CAPTURO, a tool designed to sift through contract opportunities spanning various agencies. This is a game-changer for those looking to stay on top of the contracting landscape. Just a friendly reminder: stay subscribed to get full access. And let's make sure our updates reach you – take a moment to ensure our emails aren't landing in your spam box.

In today's update, we've included a fresh list of upcoming contract opportunities from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). And that's just the start. Throughout December, we're diving deep into HHS's spending patterns; we put our initial analysis at the bottom. With a budget of $1.7 billion, HHS is definitely an agency you'd want to consider for potential business opportunities. Stay tuned and make the most of these insights! 🌟📊📬

CLICK HERE to see the spreadsheet with the HHS opportunities.

GovCon News

IRS BPA Opportunity

Speaking of BPA’s here is a big one to go after if you can commit resources up until December 11th. Based on this year stats, you have a 50% chance of winning this BPA if you bid. Just saying….

📈 Big Moves at IRS: Tech Overhaul & Mega Contracts!

The IRS is shaking things up with a massive tech overhaul. Picture this: a tech scene straight out of the '60s getting a 21st-century facelift. We're talking about the IRS ditching their old-school systems (yeah, those relics from the 1960s) for some shiny new upgrades.

💰 The Price Tag? A Cool $1.9 Billion

Now, here’s where it gets even more interesting. They're rolling out a whopping $1.9 billion blanket purchase agreement. That's right, a billion with a 'B'.

⏰ Tick-Tock: Deadline's Looming

Industry giants, mark your calendars! The quotes for this lucrative deal dubbed the Enterprise Program Project Integration System BPA (or EPPIS for short) must be on the IRS's desk by 12 p.m. Eastern on December 11. This isn't just any contract; it's the golden ticket to be part of the IRS’s grand plan, fueled by a hefty $80 billion from last year's Inflation Reduction Act.

🏆 Deloitte Leading the Pack

A little flashback: the current contract, IT-EMPSS, was a $1.1 billion affair back in 2019, spread across nine companies. Fast forward to now, and Deloitte's already pocketed a cool $176 million from it, with ETelligent Group trailing at $53 million. But with only 26% of that budget tapped, plenty of play remains in the game.

So, there you have it, folks! The IRS is not just filing taxes but rewriting their tech story with a multi-billion dollar pen. Stay tuned to see who will be a part of this historic tech revamp! ☕🚀

View the solicitation on SAM, but you can only bid on it if you have a GSA MAS IT SIN, it might be time to talk to our friends at Blackfrye to help you out: https://sam.gov/opp/b986e706bb1a498b8b4e6a584943dc05/view

FedRAMP's Facelift with GSA & OMB

Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Here's a quick shot of government tech news: The General Services Administration (GSA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) are teaming up for a digital upgrade. Their mission? To modernize the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) - think of it as a security makeover for cloud-based government tech.

🚀 Fast-Paced Tech Needs Fast-Paced Solutions

GSA’s head honcho, Robin Carnahan, is all about keeping pace with rapid tech changes, especially with the looming AI wave. It's not just about speed; it's about aligning with values like national security and privacy.

📈 Scaling Up & Streamlining

The plan? To expand the FedRAMP Marketplace, beef up security and risk management, and make the authorization process smoother and more automated. Carnahan’s non-negotiables? Upholding national security, government assets, and personal privacy, all while delivering a digital government that serves everyone efficiently.

📣 Your Voice Matters

The GSA and OMB are all ears for feedback on the draft policy. Got something to say? Chime in on the Federal Register by December 22, click here.

🚀 Welcome Aboard, CAIOs!

We have a new role taking over the Government agencies. The role of Chief AI Officer (CAIO) is being created across multiple agencies. They're tasked with ensuring that AI projects adhere to laws and policies covering a spectrum from privacy to civil liberties. Think of them as the new guardians at the intersection of technology and ethics. 

📈 CAIOs' Strategic Involvement

CAIOs will collaborate closely with other chief officers, setting cybersecurity standards and exploring AI’s capabilities and risks. Their tasks are diverse, from compiling inventories to implementing internal controls, all to ensure compliance with existing laws and policies.

🛠️ Tools for the Task

CAIOs might need external resources like AI-centric environments and SaaS providers. GSA offers multiple acquisition solutions to aid in procuring AI products and services, from FedRAMP-approved tools to contracts that provide targeted AI services.

🔮 Looking Ahead

GSA's AI Community of Practice and AI Center of Excellence have laid the groundwork for implementing EO 14110’s objectives. From prioritizing technologies in the FedRAMP process to supporting national AI talent growth, GSA is at the forefront of this AI revolution.

Company Gets Debarred for Protesting

This isn't directly from the GAO, but it's a fascinating insight, especially for those familiar with the nuances of government contracting. As a former Contracting Officer (CO), dealing with protests can be a real headache, which is why adherence to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is akin to following a sacred text. When a program office suggests a sole-source contract, COs often push for competition to align with FAR and avoid the pitfalls of a protest. There's a bit of a tug-of-war here, as COs and Program Offices don't always see eye to eye, especially when a specific vendor is preferred.

Protests aren't just a minor inconvenience; they're expensive, and time-consuming, and if you lose, it means starting the entire solicitation process all over again. That's a potential 3-6 months of work down the drain, not to mention the blemish it leaves on your professional record as a CO/CS. I have never been protested!

In a revealing post from a CO group, there's an account of a vendor who habitually files protests, presumably to see what might work in their favor. Interestingly, it turns out that excessive protesting could even lead to debarment. A cautionary tale, indeed, for vendors who might consider protest as a go-to strategy. 📚💼🚫

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): FY 2024 budget Insights

1. Procurement and Contractual Expenses:

• Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA): Over $1 billion, a $65 million increase from FY 2023, for developing and procuring medical countermeasures​.

• Contract Support Costs: Fully funded at $1.2 billion for administering contracts and compacts with tribes for Indian Health Service (IHS) programs​.

• Project BioShield: $830 million for developing and procuring medical countermeasures for public health emergencies​.

• Pandemic Preparedness and Biodefense: Additional $400 million for expanding manufacturing capacity and procuring medical countermeasures​​.

• HHS Coordination Operations and Response Element (H-CORE): $83 million, an $8 million increase, for procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics​​.

• Medicare Contractor Operations (CMS): $1.0 billion for claims processing, shared systems, and support functions​​.

• Administration for Children and Families (ACF) – Children’s Research and Technical Assistance: $37 million for program support contracts and other operational costs​​.

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Increased funding for workforce maintenance and regulatory capacity, including contractual support​​.

2. IT Project Funding:

• CMS: $681 million for sustaining cybersecurity capabilities and system upgrades​​.

• IHS Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization: $913 million, plus an additional $1.1 billion annually from FY 2025 to FY 2029​​.

• FDA IT Infrastructure Modernization: $28 million, a $10 million increase from FY 2023​​.

• Cybersecurity Initiatives: $188 million in the Office of the Chief Information Officer, an $88 million increase​​.

• Health IT Modernization in Indian Country (IHS): Focus on modernizing the 50-year-old EHR system​​.

• Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC): $39 million for policy development and coordination, an $18 million increase​​.

These budget allocations across various HHS subagencies demonstrate a significant investment in improving public health infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, and modernizing health information technology.

This month we will dive deep into the contracts HHS, and then let us know if you like our Capture info.