How to Win the IRS Enterprise Program, Project, and Integration Services (EPPIS) Contract – Value is $1,898,012,000.00

Introduction

Solicitation number RFQ1642864 – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking small businesses that can provide enterprise program, project, and integration services to support its information technology (IT) missions. The contract, known as Enterprise Program, Project, and Integration Services (EPPIS), is expected to be worth up to $2.1 billion 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 EPPIS contract 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 EPPIS 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 EPPIS contract will also support the IRS Enterprise IT Program Management Office (EPMO) and other IRS IT organizations. The EPPIS contract will also include additional services such as cybersecurity services, engineering and architecture services, enterprise testing services, cloud services, and optional surge support.

RFP Description

The IRS plans to issue a solicitation for the EPPIS contract by September 30, 2023. 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 million. The IRS 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). The estimated value of the contract is $2.1 billion, but it may not exceed $2.5 billion over 10 years.

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

Who Should Participate

The EPPIS contract is a great opportunity for small businesses that have experience and expertise in providing enterprise program, project, and integration services to federal agencies, especially in the IT domain. The EPPIS contract will require contractors to perform a wide range of tasks such as:

  • Providing program and project planning, program/project management and administration, integration services, customer consultation/coordination, requirements specification analysis, planning, Enterprise Life Cycle (ELC) processes and documentation.
  • Supporting cybersecurity service provider program maturation and recertification activities for CGCYBER.
  • Providing engineering and architecture services such as system design, development, integration, testing, deployment, maintenance, and enhancement.
  • Providing enterprise testing services such as test planning, test execution, test reporting, defect management, test automation, test environment management.
  • Providing cloud services such as cloud migration planning and execution, cloud architecture design and development.
  • Providing optional surge support such as rapid response teams or staff augmentation for short-term or urgent needs.

To be eligible for the EPPIS 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 EPPIS SOW.
  • Have qualified key personnel that meet or exceed the minimum education, certification, and experience requirements specified in the SOW3. The key personnel positions are: program manager; project manager; integration manager; cybersecurity manager; engineering manager; testing manager; cloud manager; surge support manager.
  • Have a small business participation plan that demonstrates how the offeror will meet or exceed the small business subcontracting goals established by the IRS.

Challenges

The EPPIS 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 IRS 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 enterprise program, project, and integration services to federal agencies, especially in the IT domain.
  • Identifying and securing qualified key personnel that meet or exceed the IRS’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.

GDI Consulting can help you leverage your capabilities and experience to create a winning proposal for the EPPIS contract. Please contact us today.