How to Win the AFDW BPR Contract: A Guide for Government Contractors

Introduction

The Air Force District of Washington (AFDW) is seeking a contractor to provide business process reengineering (BPR) services to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations. The solicitation number is FA701423R0060, the duration of the term is 1 year base plus 4 x 1 year options, and the estimated value is $15 million. This article will provide an overview of the historical background, RFP description, who should participate, and the challenges of this opportunity, as well as some tips on how to prepare a winning proposal.

Historical Background

The AFDW is the Air Force component for the National Capital Region (NCR), providing mission support, ceremonial honors, contingency response, and operational oversight for the NCR. The AFDW consists of three wings, four direct reporting units, and 79 operating locations. The AFDW has a complex and diverse mission set that requires a high level of coordination and collaboration among its various units and stakeholders.

The AFDW has been undergoing a transformation process since 2018, when it launched its Strategic Plan 2018-2022. The plan outlines four strategic goals: optimize mission execution, enhance readiness and resilience, foster a culture of innovation and excellence, and strengthen partnerships. To achieve these goals, the AFDW has been implementing various initiatives and projects to improve its processes, systems, and capabilities.

One of these initiatives is the AFDW BPR project, which aims to streamline and standardize the AFDW’s core business processes across its units and functions. The project was initiated in 2020 with an internal assessment of the current state of the AFDW’s processes, followed by a gap analysis and a future state design. The project is now in the implementation phase, where the AFDW is seeking a contractor to assist with the execution of the BPR recommendations.

RFP Description

The AFDW BPR RFP was released on October 18, 2023 on SAM.gov. The RFP states that the contractor shall provide BPR services to support the implementation of the future state design of the AFDW’s core business processes. The contractor shall perform the following tasks:

• Conduct detailed analysis of the current state processes and identify opportunities for improvement
• Develop detailed process maps, workflows, standard operating procedures, performance metrics, roles and responsibilities, and training materials for the future state processes
• Implement the future state processes using agile methodologies and best practices
• Provide change management support to facilitate the adoption and sustainment of the future state processes
• Monitor and evaluate the performance and outcomes of the future state processes and provide feedback and recommendations for continuous improvement

The RFP specifies that the contractor shall use the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) standard for process modeling and documentation. The contractor shall also use Microsoft Visio or equivalent software for process mapping and workflow design.

The RFP requires that the contractor shall have at least five years of experience in providing BPR services to federal government agencies. The contractor shall also have relevant certifications or credentials in BPR methodologies or frameworks, such as Lean Six Sigma, Business Process Management (BPM), or Agile.

The RFP states that the contract type will be a firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract with performance-based incentives. The RFP also states that the evaluation factors will be technical capability, past performance, price, and small business participation.

The RFP indicates that the proposal due date is November 18, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. The proposal shall consist of three volumes: technical proposal, past performance proposal, and price proposal. The proposal shall not exceed 100 pages in total.

Who Should Participate

The AFDW BPR opportunity is open to all contractors who meet the eligibility criteria stated in the RFP. However, some contractors may have a competitive advantage over others based on their experience, expertise, and reputation in providing BPR services to federal government agencies.

Some examples of contractors who may have a strong chance of winning this contract are:

• GDI Consulting: GDI Consulting is a leading provider of capture management and proposal development services to government contractors at the federal, state, and local level. GDI Consulting has written over 2938 successful proposals for federal government contracts worth over $16.6 billion just in 2022. GDI Consulting has extensive experience in providing BPR services to various federal agencies, such as Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Department of State (DoS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), General Services Administration (GSA), and U.S. Air Force (USAF). GDI Consulting has a proven track record of delivering high-quality BPR solutions that optimize processes, reduce costs, improve quality, and increase customer satisfaction.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Booz Allen Hamilton is a global consulting firm that provides management and technology solutions to government and commercial clients. Booz Allen Hamilton has been serving the federal government for over 100 years, with a focus on defense, intelligence, homeland security, health, and civil markets. Booz Allen Hamilton has a strong reputation and expertise in providing BPR services to federal agencies, using various methodologies and frameworks, such as Lean Six Sigma, BPM, Agile, and DevOps. Booz Allen Hamilton has helped federal agencies achieve significant improvements in process efficiency, effectiveness, and agility.
• Accenture Federal Services: Accenture Federal Services is a subsidiary of Accenture that provides consulting, technology, and outsourcing services to federal government agencies. Accenture Federal Services has been serving the federal government for over 30 years, with a focus on digital transformation, cloud, cybersecurity, analytics, and artificial intelligence. Accenture Federal Services has a wealth of experience and knowledge in providing BPR services to federal agencies, using innovative approaches and technologies, such as design thinking, human-centered design, robotic process automation (RPA), and blockchain. Accenture Federal Services has helped federal agencies achieve remarkable results in process innovation, optimization, and modernization.

Challenges

The AFDW BPR opportunity is a challenging and complex project that requires a high level of technical and managerial skills from the contractor. Some of the potential challenges that the contractor may face are:

• Understanding the AFDW’s mission, vision, goals, culture, and stakeholders
• Analyzing the current state processes and identifying the root causes of inefficiencies and gaps
• Designing the future state processes that align with the AFDW’s strategic objectives and customer needs
• Implementing the future state processes in a timely and cost-effective manner
• Managing the change and resistance from the AFDW’s personnel and units
• Measuring and reporting the performance and outcomes of the future state processes
• Ensuring the quality and compliance of the BPR deliverables

To overcome these challenges, the contractor will need to demonstrate the following capabilities:

• Technical expertise in BPR methodologies, frameworks, tools, and standards
• Experience in providing BPR services to federal government agencies, especially in the defense sector
• Knowledge of the AFDW’s mission, operations, functions, and systems
• Ability to communicate effectively with the AFDW’s leadership, staff, and stakeholders
• Ability to work collaboratively with the AFDW’s BPR team and other contractors
• Ability to adapt to changing requirements and expectations
• Ability to manage risks and issues

Conclusion

The AFDW BPR opportunity is a lucrative and rewarding contract for government contractors who have the skills and experience in providing BPR services to federal government agencies. The opportunity offers a chance to work with one of the most prestigious and influential Air Force components in the NCR. The opportunity also offers a chance to make a positive impact on the AFDW’s mission performance, readiness, resilience, innovation, excellence, and partnerships.

However, the opportunity also poses significant challenges and risks for government contractors who are not prepared or qualified for this project. The opportunity requires a high level of technical expertise, experience, knowledge, communication skills, collaboration skills, adaptability skills, and risk management skills.

Therefore, government contractors who are interested in pursuing this opportunity should carefully assess their capabilities and resources before submitting their proposals. They should also seek professional assistance from capture management and proposal development experts who can help them craft a compelling and competitive proposal that meets the AFDW’s expectations.

If you are interested in learning more about how GDI Consulting can help you win this contract or any other federal government contract opportunities please contact us today at www.gdicwins.com. We will be happy to provide you with a free consultation and proposal review.