How to Win the ANG ISR and C2

How to Win the ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services Contract

Introduction

The ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract is a federal contract opportunity that aims to provide technical and analytical support for the Air National Guard (ANG) Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and Command and Control (C2) mission sets. The contract is issued by the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of the Army, National Guard Bureau (NGB), which is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities of the ANG ISR and C2 Directorate (NGB/A2/A3). The contract has an estimated value of $28 million and a duration of five years, with one base year and four option years. The solicitation number is 23A2013.

The ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract is a strategic initiative that supports the NGB’s vision of enhancing the readiness, capabilities, and effectiveness of the ANG ISR and C2 forces. The contract seeks to provide the NGB/A2/A3 with a staff that can provide analytical support and technical expertise for ANG ISR and C2 mission sets, such as:

• Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)
• Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS)
• Distributed Mission Systems (DMS)
• Cyber ISR
• Targeting
• Unit Level Intelligence (ULI)
• Federated Intelligence Program (FIP)
• All Source Intelligence
• C2

The ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract is open to all qualified vendors that can demonstrate their ability to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, and relevant support services to the NGB/A2/A3 and the ANG ISR and C2 customers. The contract will use a performance-based approach, which means that the vendors will be evaluated and rewarded based on the outcomes and results of their services, rather than the inputs and processes. The contract will also use a best value trade-off method, which means that the NGB will consider both technical and price factors when selecting the best proposal.

Historical Background

The ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract is not the first of its kind in the NGB. In fact, it is a follow-on to a previous contract that was awarded in 2018, called the ANG ISR Directorate Technical Support Services contract. The ANG ISR Directorate Technical Support Services contract had a similar scope and objective as the ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract, but it was limited to only supporting the ANG ISR Directorate (NGB/A2). The ANG ISR Directorate Technical Support Services contract had a value of $24 million and a duration of four years, with one base year and three option years. The ANG ISR Directorate Technical Support Services contract was awarded to one vendor: Booz Allen Hamilton.

The ANG ISR Directorate Technical Support Services contract was successful in providing support services to over 100 ANG units and organizations in executing their ISR mission sets. However, it also faced some challenges and limitations, such as:

• Inadequate staffing and resources to handle the volume and complexity of support tasks
• Lack of visibility and coordination among different stakeholders and parties involved in the support process
• Limited scope and flexibility to address emerging issues and needs beyond the ISR domain
• Insufficient alignment of support services with the evolving goals and priorities of the NGB/A2/A3

The ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract aims to address these challenges and limitations by expanding the scope and scale of the support services to cover both ISR and C2 domains. The ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract also intends to leverage best practices, lessons learned, and feedback from the ANG ISR Directorate Technical Support Services contract, as well as from other relevant sources.

RFP Description

The RFP for the ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract is expected to be released on November 15, 2023 by the NGB’s Operational Contracting Division. The RFP provides detailed information about the requirements, evaluation criteria, submission instructions, terms and conditions, and other relevant aspects of the solicitation.

The RFP requires that each vendor submit two separate volumes for their proposal: a technical volume and a price volume. The technical volume should demonstrate how the vendor will meet or exceed the technical requirements specified in the PWS. The technical volume should also include information about the vendor’s corporate experience, past performance, key personnel, management approach, quality control plan, transition plan, security plan, innovation plan, subcontracting plan, small business participation plan, etc. The price volume should provide a detailed breakdown of the vendor’s proposed price for each contract line item number (CLIN), as well as the basis of estimate, assumptions, and supporting documentation. The price volume should also include information about the vendor’s indirect rates, fee structure, escalation factors, etc.

The RFP states that the NGB will evaluate each proposal using a best value trade-off method, which means that the NGB will consider both technical and price factors when selecting the best proposal. The RFP also states that the technical factors are significantly more important than the price factor. The RFP identifies the following technical factors, in descending order of importance:

• Technical Approach
• Corporate Experience
• Past Performance
• Key Personnel
• Management Approach

The RFP specifies that each technical factor will be assigned an adjectival rating, such as:

• Outstanding
• Good
• Acceptable
• Marginal
• Unacceptable

The RFP also specifies that the price factor will be evaluated for reasonableness, realism, and completeness. The RFP indicates that the NGB will conduct discussions with vendors if necessary, and request final proposal revisions (FPRs) before making the award decision. The RFP also indicates that the NGB reserves the right to make an award without discussions, based on the initial proposals.

Who Should Participate

The ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract is a competitive and lucrative opportunity for vendors that have experience and expertise in providing support services for ISR and C2 mission sets. The contract is open to all qualified vendors that can meet the minimum requirements specified in the RFP, such as:

• Having a Top Secret Facility Clearance (TS/SCI) with Polygraph
• Having a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) approved accounting system
• Having a Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) approved purchasing system
• Having a CAGE code and a DUNS number
• Having a valid SAM registration

The contract is also open to vendors that have relevant certifications and accreditations, such as:

• ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System
• ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

The contract is also open to vendors that have strong partnerships and relationships with other support providers, such as:

• ANG ISR and C2 units and organizations
• NGB/A2/A3 staff and leadership
• DoD ISR and C2 agencies and entities
• Industry experts and consultants
• Subject matter experts and instructors

The contract is also open to vendors that have innovative and creative solutions and approaches, such as:

• Agile methodologies and practices
• Cloud-based platforms and tools
• Data analytics and visualization techniques
• Customer feedback and satisfaction mechanisms
• Continuous improvement and learning processes

Challenges

The ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract is not without challenges and risks for vendors that want to pursue it. Some of the potential challenges and risks include:

• High competition from other qualified and experienced vendors
• High expectations and standards from the NGB/A2/A3 and the ANG ISR and C2 customers
• High complexity and diversity of the ANG ISR and C2 mission sets and requirements
• High security and compliance requirements for the ANG ISR and C2 data and information
• High uncertainty and volatility of the ANG ISR and C2 budget and priorities

To overcome these challenges and risks, vendors need to have a clear understanding of the ANG ISR and C2 Staff Tech Support Services contract objectives, scope, specifications, evaluation criteria, terms and conditions, etc. Vendors also need to have a robust proposal development process, team, strategy, solution, etc. Vendors also need to have a proactive risk management plan, mitigation strategy, contingency plan, etc.

If you are interested in the ANG ISR and C2 contract, please contact us at www.gdicwins.com and let us help you with winning the opportunity.