How to Win the USCENTCOM Information Technology Services (CITS) Contract

Introduction

The U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the Department of Defense (DoD), responsible for overseeing U.S. military operations and interests in 20 countries in the Middle East and Central and South Asia. USCENTCOM relies on information technology (IT) services to support its mission of deterring and defeating threats, advancing partnerships, and promoting stability in the region.

The USCENTCOM Information Technology Services (CITS) contract is a new opportunity for IT service providers to compete for a share of the $731 million estimated value of the contract. The CITS contract will provide a range of IT services, including network operations, cybersecurity, systems engineering, service desk, end-user support, cloud computing, data center management, and IT project management. The CITS contract will replace the existing Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Enterprise Support (C4ES) contract, which expires in September 2023.

In this article, we will provide an overview of the CITS contract, its historical background, its scope and requirements, who should participate, and the challenges and opportunities for potential bidders. We will also explain how GDI Consulting can help you prepare a winning proposal for this contract.

Historical Background

The CITS contract is the latest iteration of USCENTCOM’s IT service contracts, which have evolved over time to meet the changing needs and challenges of the command. The previous contracts were:

• The CENTCOM IT Support Services (CISS) contract, awarded in 2009 to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) for a base year and four option years. The CISS contract provided IT support services for USCENTCOM headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, as well as its forward headquarters in Qatar and other locations in the area of responsibility.
• The C4ES contract, awarded in 2017 to SAIC for a base year and four option years. The C4ES contract expanded the scope of IT services to include cloud computing, data center consolidation, network modernization, cybersecurity enhancement, and IT project management. The C4ES contract also increased the number of supported locations to include USCENTCOM’s component commands and subordinate units.

The CITS contract is expected to build on the achievements and lessons learned from the previous contracts and align with USCENTCOM’s strategic priorities and IT vision. The CITS contract will also incorporate the latest industry best practices and standards for IT service delivery and management.

RFP Description

The CITS contract is a single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a one-year base period and five one-year option periods. The solicitation number is 47QFCA23R0045 and the response deadline is February 18, 2023. The estimated value of the contract is $731 million.

The CITS contract will provide USCENTCOM with comprehensive IT services across six functional areas:

• Network Operations: This includes network design, installation, configuration, maintenance, monitoring, troubleshooting, optimization, and security for USCENTCOM’s enterprise network infrastructure.
• Cybersecurity: This includes cybersecurity governance, risk management, compliance, assessment, authorization, incident response, threat hunting, vulnerability management, penetration testing, and security awareness training for USCENTCOM’s IT systems and data.
• Systems Engineering: This includes systems engineering lifecycle management, architecture development, requirements analysis, design, integration, testing, deployment, documentation, configuration management, and change management for USCENTCOM’s IT systems and applications.
• Service Desk: This includes service desk operations, incident management, problem management, request fulfillment, knowledge management, and customer satisfaction measurement for USCENTCOM’s IT users and customers.
• End-User Support: This includes desktop support, mobile device support, video teleconferencing support, collaboration tools support, and printer support for USCENTCOM’s IT end-users.
• Cloud Computing: This includes cloud strategy development, cloud migration planning, cloud service provisioning, cloud service management, cloud security management, and cloud cost optimization for USCENTCOM’s IT systems and data.
• Data Center Management: This includes data center operations, data center consolidation, data center optimization, data backup and recovery, and data storage management for USCENTCOM’s IT systems and data.
• IT Project Management: This includes project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closure for USCENTCOM’s IT projects and initiatives.

The CITS contract will require the contractor to perform these services at various locations within USCENTCOM’s area of responsibility as well as at its headquarters in Tampa. The contractor will also have to comply with various performance standards and service level agreements (SLAs) as well as adhere to various policies and regulations governing IT service delivery in the DoD environment.

Who Should Participate

The CITS contract is open to all qualified IT service providers who have the capability and experience to deliver the required services. However, the CITS contract is not for the faint of heart. The CITS contract will pose significant challenges and risks for potential bidders, such as:

• The complexity and diversity of USCENTCOM’s IT environment, which spans multiple domains, platforms, systems, applications, and data sources.
• The dynamic and unpredictable nature of USCENTCOM’s mission, which requires agility, flexibility, and responsiveness from the IT service provider.
• The high expectations and demands of USCENTCOM’s IT users and customers, who require reliable, secure, and efficient IT services to support their operations and decision-making.
• The stringent and evolving requirements and standards for IT service delivery and management in the DoD context, which require compliance, quality, and innovation from the IT service provider.

Therefore, potential bidders should carefully assess their capabilities and readiness to take on the CITS contract before submitting a proposal. Potential bidders should also consider partnering with other IT service providers who can complement their strengths and fill their gaps.

How GDI Consulting Can Help

GDI Consulting is a leading provider of capture and proposal services for government contractors. We have extensive experience and expertise in helping our clients win federal government contracts in various industries, including IT and cybersecurity. We have a proven track record of success, with a win-rate of 82% and over $16.6 billion worth of successful proposals for the federal government in 2022 alone.

We can help you prepare a winning proposal for the CITS contract by providing the following services:

• Capture Management: We can help you develop and execute a capture strategy that will position you as the best choice for the CITS contract. We can help you conduct market research, competitive analysis, customer analysis, win theme development, teaming strategy, solution development, pricing strategy, and risk management.
• Proposal Development: We can help you create a compelling and compliant proposal that will showcase your value proposition, technical approach, management approach, past performance, key personnel, and cost/price. We can help you with proposal planning, outline development, storyboarding, writing, editing, graphics, desktop publishing, and quality assurance.
• Proposal Review: We can help you improve your proposal by providing an independent and objective review that will identify strengths, weaknesses, gaps, and errors. We can help you with color team reviews, compliance reviews, technical reviews, management reviews, and best value reviews.

We are confident that we can produce a high-quality product with a high win-probability for you. We are always there when you need us and work 24/7 to ensure timely delivery of the documents as well as provide effective consultation to ensure proper management of your bid opportunities.

Conclusion

The CITS contract is a lucrative opportunity for IT service providers who can meet USCENTCOM’s IT needs and challenges. However, winning the CITS contract will require a strong capture strategy and a persuasive proposal that will demonstrate your capabilities and value. GDI Consulting can help you achieve this goal by providing you with professional capture and proposal services that will give you a competitive edge. Contact us today at www.gdicwins.com to find out how we can help you win the CITS contract.