How to Win the BLS IT Infrastructure Support Services Contract

Introduction

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the principal federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. The BLS collects, analyzes, and disseminates essential economic information to support public and private decision-making. To fulfill its mission, the BLS relies on a robust and secure IT infrastructure that supports its data collection, processing, dissemination, and storage functions.

The BLS is seeking a contractor to provide IT infrastructure support services, including network, server, storage, backup, cloud, security, and help desk services. The contractor will be responsible for maintaining, upgrading, and optimizing the BLS IT infrastructure to ensure its availability, reliability, performance, and security. The contractor will also provide technical assistance and guidance to BLS staff and users on IT-related issues and requests.

Historical Background

The BLS has been outsourcing its IT infrastructure support services since 2009. The current contract was awarded in 2016 to GDIT, a leading provider of IT solutions and services to the federal government. The contract has a base period of five years and three option years, with a total estimated value of $217 million. The contract is set to expire in September 2023.

The BLS has issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for a new contract to replace the current one. The RFQ number is RFQ1631337. The RFQ was posted on SAM.gov on August 31, 2023, and the deadline for submitting quotations is October 15, 2023. The RFQ is open to small businesses only, under the NAICS code 541513 (Computer Facilities Management Services).

RFP Description

The RFQ states that the BLS requires a contractor to provide the following IT infrastructure support services:

• Network Services: The contractor will manage and maintain the BLS network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, wireless access points, VPNs, and network monitoring tools. The contractor will also design and implement network enhancements and upgrades as needed.
• Server Services: The contractor will manage and maintain the BLS server infrastructure, including physical and virtual servers, operating systems, applications, patches, backups, and restores. The contractor will also design and implement server enhancements and upgrades as needed.
• Storage Services: The contractor will manage and maintain the BLS storage infrastructure, including SANs, NASs, disk arrays, tape libraries, backups, and restores. The contractor will also design and implement storage enhancements and upgrades as needed.
• Cloud Services: The contractor will manage and maintain the BLS cloud infrastructure, including AWS and Azure environments, cloud services, cloud security, cloud backups, and cloud migrations. The contractor will also design and implement cloud enhancements and upgrades as needed.
• Security Services: The contractor will manage and maintain the BLS security infrastructure, including firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion detection systems, encryption tools, vulnerability scanning tools, security policies, security audits, and security incident response. The contractor will also design and implement security enhancements and upgrades as needed.
• Help Desk Services: The contractor will provide help desk services to BLS staff and users on IT-related issues and requests. The contractor will use a ticketing system to track and resolve issues and requests. The contractor will also provide training and documentation on IT-related topics.

The RFQ specifies that the contractor will perform the services at the BLS headquarters in Washington DC and at various field offices across the country. The RFQ also states that the contractor will use an ITIL-based framework to deliver the services.

The RFQ indicates that the contract will have a base period of one year and four option years. The estimated value of the contract is $45 million.

Who Should Participate

The RFQ is open to small businesses only. According to the SBA size standards, a small business under the NAICS code 541513 must have annual revenues of $30 million or less.

The RFQ also requires that the contractor have relevant experience in providing IT infrastructure support services to federal agencies similar in size and scope to the BLS. The contractor must demonstrate its past performance by providing at least three references of previous or current contracts.

The RFQ also requires that the contractor have qualified personnel with relevant certifications in network administration (CCNA or higher), server administration (MCSA or higher), storage administration (EMC or NetApp), cloud administration (AWS or Azure), security administration (CISSP or CISM), and help desk support (ITIL or HDI).

The RFQ also requires that the contractor have a Top Secret Facility Clearance (TS/FC) or be able to obtain one within six months of contract award.

Challenges

The RFQ poses several challenges for potential contractors who want to win the contract. Some of these challenges are:

• Competition: The RFQ is open to small businesses only, which means that there will be many qualified and experienced competitors vying for the contract. The contractor will have to differentiate itself from the rest by offering a competitive price, a high-quality technical approach, and a strong past performance record.
• Complexity: The RFQ covers a wide range of IT infrastructure support services, which means that the contractor will have to demonstrate its expertise and capability in all aspects of network, server, storage, cloud, security, and help desk services. The contractor will also have to show its understanding of the BLS mission, goals, and challenges, and how its services will align with them.
• Compliance: The RFQ requires that the contractor comply with various federal laws, regulations, standards, and policies related to IT infrastructure support services. These include the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publications, and the BLS IT Security Program.

Conclusion

The BLS IT Infrastructure Support Services contract is a lucrative opportunity for small businesses that specialize in IT infrastructure support services. The contract will provide a steady source of revenue for five years and a chance to work with a prestigious federal agency. However, the contract also entails significant challenges that require careful planning, preparation, and execution.

If you are interested in pursuing the BLS IT Infrastructure Support Services contract, contact us today at www.gdicwins.com. We will help you craft a winning proposal that will showcase your strengths, address the challenges, and meet the requirements of the RFQ.