How to Win the Air Force DCGS Requirements Support Services (ADReSS) Contract

Introduction

The Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS) is the Air Force’s primary Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) planning and direction, collection, processing and exploitation, analysis and dissemination weapon system. The weapon system employs a global communications architecture that connects multiple intelligence platforms and sensors. The Air Force is seeking small businesses that can provide requirements support services for the AF DCGS, such as acquisition management, project management, performance and process management, service management, asset and enterprise logistics support, workforce support, strategic planning, portfolio management, business process planning, process integration planning, facilities planning, marketing and communications planning services, life cycle cost estimation services, cybersecurity service provider program maturation and recertification, acquisitions lifecycle support, enterprise life cycle logistics and engineering support. The contract, known as Air Force DCGS Requirements Support Services (ADReSS), is expected to be worth up to $500 million over 10 years. This article will provide an overview of the historical background, the RFP description, the eligibility criteria, and the challenges of this opportunity. It will also highlight how GDI Consulting can help you prepare a winning proposal for this contract.

Historical Background

The ADReSS contract (Solicitation Number FA852721R0013) is a follow-on to the Business Support Services III (BSS III) BPA, which was awarded in 2019 to Telesolv Consulting LLC for a base period of one year and four option years. The BSS III BPA provided a range of services such as acquisition management, project management, performance and process management, service management, asset and enterprise logistics support, and workforce support services to the Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Cyber and Intelligence Service Center (C5ISC) and Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER). The BSS III BPA had a ceiling value of $99 million.

The ADReSS contract is expected to expand the scope of services and the number of customers beyond the BSS III BPA. According to the draft statement of work (SOW) released in May 2023, the ADReSS contract will also support the Coast Guard Chief Information Officer’s (CIO) Office, Commandant (CG-4, CG-6, CG-7; and CG-93). The ADReSS contract will also include additional services such as strategic planning, portfolio management, business process planning, process integration planning, facilities planning, marketing and communications planning services, life cycle cost estimation services.

RFP Description

The Air Force plans to issue a solicitation for the ADReSS contract by September 30, 20234. The solicitation will be a small business set-aside under NAICS code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services) with a size standard of $24.5 million3. The Air Force intends to award multiple blanket purchase agreements (BPAs) under FAR Subpart 8.4 for a period of 10 years (five-year base period with five one-year option periods)3. The estimated value of the contract is $500 million.

The Air Force will evaluate proposals based on the following factors: technical approach, past performance, key personnel qualifications, small business participation plan, and price. The Air Force will use a trade-off process to select the best value proposals for award.

Eligible Participants

The ADReSS contract is a great opportunity for small businesses that have experience and expertise in providing requirements support services to federal agencies, especially in the C5I domain. The ADReSS contract will require contractors to perform a wide range of tasks such as:

  • Providing consulting services on acquisition management, project management, performance and process management, service management.
  • Supporting cybersecurity service provider program maturation and recertification activities for CGCYBER.
  • Supporting acquisitions lifecycle activities such as market research.
  • Providing enterprise life cycle logistics and engineering support services such as material management.

To be eligible for the ADReSS contract, small businesses must meet the following requirements:

  • Have a valid DUNS number and be registered in SAM.gov.
  • Have an active GSA Schedule 70 or Professional Services Schedule (PSS) contract with SINs that match the scope of work.
  • Have relevant past performance within the last five years that demonstrates successful performance of similar or greater scope and complexity as the ADReSS SOW.
  • Have qualified key personnel that meet or exceed the minimum education. The key personnel positions are: program manager; project management consultant level III; acquisition consultant level III; performance & process consultant level III; service management consultant level III; asset & enterprise logistics consultant level III; workforce consultant level III; strategic planning consultant level III; portfolio management consultant level III; business process consultant level III; process integration consultant level III; facilities planning consultant level III; marketing & communications consultant level III; life cycle cost estimation consultant level III; cybersecurity service provider consultant level III; acquisitions lifecycle support consultant level III; enterprise life cycle logistics & engineering support consultant level III.
  • Have a small business participation plan that demonstrates how the offeror will meet or exceed the small business subcontracting goals established by the Air Force.

Challenges

The ADReSS contract is a highly competitive and complex opportunity that poses several challenges for small businesses. Some of the challenges are:

  • Understanding the needs and expectations of the Air Force and its customers, and tailoring the technical approach to address them effectively and efficiently.
  • Demonstrating relevant and successful past performance that showcases the offeror’s capabilities and experience in providing requirements support services to federal agencies, especially in the C5I domain.
  • Identifying and securing qualified key personnel that meet or exceed the Air Force’s requirements, and providing compelling resumes and letters of commitment.
  • Developing a realistic and reasonable price proposal that reflects the offeror’s understanding of the scope of work, the labor mix, the labor rates, and the other direct costs.
  • Complying with the solicitation instructions, terms, and conditions, and submitting a compliant and responsive proposal by the deadline.

If you are interested in working with GDI Consulting for the ADReSS contract opportunity, please contact us today. We would love to hear from you and discuss how we can help you achieve your business goals.