Introduction:

The U.S. Army is seeking to award a Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) for the Product Director (PD) Aerostats program, which provides elevated command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) platforms equipped with various payloads to support force protection, operations support, communication extension, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ is a highly competitive and lucrative opportunity for government contractors who have the capabilities and experience to provide aerostat systems and services to the Army and other potential customers. This article will provide an overview of the historical background, RFP description, eligibility criteria, and challenges of this opportunity, as well as some tips and best practices for preparing a winning proposal.

Historical Background:

The PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ is not a new requirement, but rather a follow-on to a previous contract that was awarded in 2014. The predecessor contract was called the Persistent Surveillance Systems – Tethered (PSS-T) program, which was managed by the Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF). The PSS-T program involved four contractors: TCOM L.P., Raytheon Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Drone Aviation Holding Corp. The PSS-T contract had a ceiling value of $1.5 billion and a period of performance of five years with one base year and four option years. The PSS-T contract supported various aerostat systems, such as the Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS), the Persistent Ground Surveillance System (PGSS), the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment (RAID) system, and the Winch Aerostat Small Platform (WASP). The PSS-T contract provided aerostat systems and services to the Army, as well as other customers such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and foreign military sales (FMS) partners

The PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ is a continuation and expansion of the PSS-T program, which is now under the management of the Program Executive Office Intelligence Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEWS). The PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ will cover a wider range of aerostat systems and payloads, as well as new capabilities such as low-altitude platforms, common mooring platforms, improved tethers, varied envelope sizes, and agile data approaches. The PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ will also support more customers, such as the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other federal agencies

RFP Description:

The PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ is expected to be released in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023. The solicitation number is W56KGY23AEROSTATMULTIPLEAWARDTASKORDERCONTRACT. The estimated value of the contract is $4 billion over a period of 10 years, with a five-year base period and five one-year option periods. The contract will be awarded to multiple contractors using a best value trade-off approach. The contract will be open to both large and small businesses under NAICS code 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing), with a size standard of 1,500 employees

The scope of work under the PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ will include engineering, logistics, operations, and program management services for various aerostat systems and payloads. The contractor will be responsible for providing fully integrated aerostat systems that can perform persistent surveillance missions in different environments and scenarios. The contractor will also be responsible for providing training, maintenance, repair, upgrade, modification, and technical support for the aerostat systems and payloads. The contractor will be required to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures related to aerostat operations and safety

Who Should Participate:

The PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ is an ideal opportunity for government contractors who have extensive experience and expertise in providing aerostat systems and services to the U.S. Army and other federal customers. The contractor should have proven capabilities in designing, developing, integrating, testing, deploying, operating, maintaining, repairing, upgrading, modifying, and supporting aerostat systems and payloads that can meet or exceed the performance requirements of the PD AEROSTATS program. The contractor should also have relevant past performance references that demonstrate successful delivery of similar or related contracts in terms of scope, complexity, value, and customer satisfaction. The contractor should also have a strong team of qualified personnel, subcontractors, and partners who can provide the necessary skills, resources, and capabilities to execute the contract tasks. The contractor should also have a sound understanding of the aerostat market, the customer needs and expectations, the competitive landscape, and the potential risks and challenges of the contract.

Challenges:

The PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ is a highly competitive and challenging opportunity that requires the contractor to overcome several technical, operational, and managerial hurdles. Some of the potential challenges are:

  • Technical: The contractor will have to provide aerostat systems and payloads that can perform in various environments and scenarios, such as high-altitude, low-altitude, maritime, urban, desert, mountainous, arctic, and tropical. The contractor will also have to provide aerostat systems and payloads that can integrate with multiple C5ISR platforms and networks, such as the Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A), the Tactical Intelligence Ground Station (TGS), the Global Command and Control System-Army (GCCS-A), and the Joint Battle Command-Platform (JBC-P). The contractor will also have to provide aerostat systems and payloads that can comply with all applicable standards and regulations, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
  • Operational: The contractor will have to provide aerostat systems and services that can support 24/7/365 operations in various locations around the world. The contractor will also have to provide aerostat systems and services that can withstand harsh weather conditions, such as high winds, storms, lightning, snow, ice, fog, dust, sand, and humidity. The contractor will also have to provide aerostat systems and services that can ensure safety and security of the personnel, equipment, data, and airspace. The contractor will also have to provide aerostat systems and services that can adapt to changing mission requirements and customer needs
  • Managerial: The contractor will have to manage multiple task orders under the PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ with different scopes, schedules, budgets, and deliverables. The contractor will also have to manage multiple subcontractors and partners who may have different roles, responsibilities, and expectations. The contractor will also have to manage multiple stakeholders who may have different interests, priorities, and perspectives. The contractor will also have to manage multiple risks and issues that may arise during the contract execution.

Conclusion:

The PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ is a great opportunity for government contractors who want to leverage their aerostat capabilities and experience to win a share of a $4 billion contract with the U.S. Army and other federal customers. However, the opportunity is also very competitive and challenging, requiring the contractor to demonstrate superior technical, operational, and managerial skills and solutions. To prepare a winning proposal for the PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ, the contractor should conduct thorough research, analysis, and planning; develop a clear, concise, and compelling value proposition; highlight relevant past performance and qualifications; address all solicitation requirements and evaluation criteria; propose innovative and feasible solutions; mitigate potential risks and challenges; and follow best practices and standards for proposal writing and presentation. Contact us today at www.gdicwins.com to learn more about how we can help you win the PD AEROSTATS MATOC IDIQ.