Introduction

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is one of the most important federal agencies in charge of regulating the civilian use of nuclear materials and ensuring public health and safety. The NRC relies on a robust and modern information technology (IT) infrastructure to carry out its mission and support its staff and stakeholders. To achieve this, the NRC has issued a solicitation for the Global Infrastructure and Development Acquisition II (GLINDA II) contract, a follow-on to the previous GLINDA contract that was awarded in 2017. This article will provide an overview of the GLINDA II contract, its historical background, its scope and requirements, who should participate, and the challenges and opportunities for potential bidders.

Historical Background

The GLINDA II contract is the second iteration of the GLINDA program, which was initiated in 2017 to provide a wide range of IT support services to the NRC. The first GLINDA contract was awarded to TekSynap Corporation, a small business that partnered with several other firms to form a joint venture called AESY LLC. The contract had a base period of performance from June 5, 2017 to September 29, 2019, plus three one-year options, and a maximum potential value of $679 million if all options were exercised. The contract covered five core IT service areas: seat services, network services, data center/cloud services, operational security services, and application operations, maintenance, and modernization services. The contract supported the NRC headquarters located in Rockville, MD; four regional offices located in King of Prussia, PA; Atlanta, GA; Lisle, IL; and Arlington TX; as well as the NRC Technical Training Center located in Chattanooga, TN.

RFP Description

The GLINDA II contract is expected to be a competitive recompete of the first GLINDA contract, with similar scope and requirements. The NRC issued a draft request for proposal (RFP) for the GLINDA II contract on October 15, 2023, with an estimated release date of the final RFP in December 2023. The contract is expected to have a one-year base period plus four one-year options, with an estimated value of $679 million. The contract is expected to be awarded as a single-award blanket purchase agreement (BPA) under the General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) IT Category. The contract will require the contractor to provide IT support services in the same five core areas as the first GLINDA contract: seat services, network services, data center/cloud services, operational security services, and application operations, maintenance, and modernization services. The contractor will also be required to comply with the NRC’s IT policies and standards, as well as federal laws and regulations governing IT security and privacy.

Who Should Participate

The GLINDA II contract is open to any contractor that holds a GSA MAS IT Category contract and can demonstrate relevant experience and capabilities in providing IT support services to federal agencies. The contractor must also have a top secret facility clearance and be able to obtain personnel clearances for its staff up to the secret level. The contractor must also have a quality management system that meets the ISO 9001:2015 standard or equivalent. The contractor must also have experience in supporting IT environments that use Microsoft technologies, such as Windows 10, Office 365, Azure, SharePoint, Teams, etc.

The GLINDA II contract is expected to be highly competitive, as it offers a large and stable source of revenue for the winning contractor. The incumbent contractor, TekSynap/AESY LLC, will likely bid to retain the contract, as it has established relationships with the NRC and proven performance records. However, other contractors may also have strong credentials and capabilities to challenge the incumbent. For example, some of the contractors that bid on the first GLINDA contract but did not win include Accenture Federal Services LLC, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., CACI Inc., CSRA LLC (now part of General Dynamics Information Technology), IBM Corporation, Leidos Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, SAIC Inc., Unisys Corporation, etc.

Challenges and Opportunities

The GLINDA II contract poses several challenges and opportunities for potential bidders. Some of the challenges include:

  • Understanding the NRC’s IT needs and expectations
  • Developing a competitive technical and price proposal
  • Demonstrating past performance and customer satisfaction
  • Differentiating from other bidders and highlighting unique value propositions
  • Mitigating potential risks and issues

Some of the opportunities include:

  • Leveraging existing GSA MAS IT Category contracts and BPA vehicles
  • Partnering with other firms to enhance capabilities and qualifications
  • Offering innovative and cost-effective solutions that align with the NRC’s IT strategy and goals
  • Showcasing relevant experience and expertise in supporting federal IT environments
  • Highlighting compliance and quality standards and certifications

Conclusion

The GLINDA II contract is a major opportunity for government contractors that provide IT support services to federal agencies. The contract offers a long-term and lucrative revenue stream, as well as a chance to work with a prestigious and mission-critical agency. The contract is expected to be highly competitive, as many contractors will vie for the award. To win the contract, bidders will need to conduct thorough market research, develop a compelling capture and proposal strategy, and showcase their best capabilities and value propositions. GDI Consulting is a leading provider of capture and proposal services for government contractors, with a proven track record of winning federal contracts worth billions of dollars. GDI Consulting can help bidders prepare for the GLINDA II contract by providing market assessment, bid-no bid analysis, competitor analysis, price-to-win analysis, proposal development and writing, color team reviews, and more. GDI Consulting has the experience, expertise, and resources to help bidders win the GLINDA II contract. Contact us today at www.gdicwins.com to learn more about our services and how we can help you succeed in the federal market.