Introduction

The US Army Force Management Support Agency (USAFMSA) is a field operating agency of the Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) G-3/5/7. It develops, maintains, and distributes the Army’s organizational requirements and authorization documents and data, such as Tables of Organization and Equipment (TOE), Modified Tables of Organization and Equipment (MTOE), Tables of Distribution and Allowance (TDA), Basis of Issue Plans (BOIP), and Joint and Common Tables of Allowance (JTA/CTA). It also maintains the Army’s documentation data production and distribution systems, such as FMSWeb, which provides web-based access to force structure documents.

The USAFMSA requires professional support services to assist in its mission of providing accurate and timely force management data and documents to the Army and other stakeholders. The services include document integration/technical and analytical support, technical support/information technology/automation customer service, and technical support/global force management data initiative (GFMDI).

The Mission Installation Contracting Command – Fort Belvoir (MICC-FB) has issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for this requirement under the solicitation number RFQ1656226. The RFQ is open to all contractors who can provide the required services. The estimated value of the contract is $17 million, and the duration is 12 months base plus four 12-month options.

This article will provide an overview of the historical background, the RFQ description, who should participate, and the challenges of this opportunity. It will also offer some tips on how to prepare a winning proposal for this contract.

Historical Background

The USAFMSA was established in 1991 as a result of the Army’s Force Management System (FMS) initiative, which aimed to improve the quality and timeliness of force management data and documents. The USAFMSA consolidated several functions that were previously performed by different organizations within HQDA G-3/5/7.

Since then, the USAFMSA has evolved to meet the changing needs and demands of the Army and its customers. It has implemented several enhancements and innovations to its systems and processes, such as web-based access, electronic document distribution, automated document generation, data quality assurance, data standardization, data integration, data analysis, and data visualization.

The USAFMSA has also expanded its scope of services to support various initiatives and programs related to force management, such as the Global Force Management Data Initiative (GFMDI), which aims to provide a common framework for managing force structure data across the Department of Defense (DoD).

The USAFMSA has been using contractors to provide professional support services since its inception. The current contract for these services was awarded in 2019 to GDI Consulting (GDIC), a leading provider of capture and proposal services for government contractors. GDIC has been providing document integration/technical and analytical support, technical support/information technology/automation customer service, and technical support/GFMDI for the USAFMSA under this contract.

The current contract is set to expire in August 2024. Therefore, the MICC-FB has issued a new RFQ to solicit proposals from qualified contractors who can continue to provide these services for the USAFMSA.

RFQ Description

The RFQ for the USAFMSA Professional Support Services was issued on April 27, 2023. The RFQ is open to all contractors who can provide the required services under a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract. The RFQ is posted on SAM.gov under the solicitation number RFQ1656226.

The RFQ states that the contractor shall provide professional support services that include data collection, data analysis, data management, document integration, document integrator cross-training, organizational analysis, and other supporting functions. The contractor shall also provide personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items necessary to perform these services.

The RFQ specifies that the contractor shall perform these services at the USAFMSA headquarters located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The contractor shall also be able to travel to other locations as required by the USAFMSA.

The RFQ indicates that the period of performance for this contract is 12 months base plus four 12-month options. The estimated value of the contract is $17 million. The RFQ also states that the evaluation factors for award are technical capability, past performance, and price.

The RFQ requires offerors to submit both non-price and price proposals by May 27, 2023. The non-price proposal shall include a technical approach, a staffing plan, a quality control plan, a transition plan, and relevant past performance information. The price proposal shall include a detailed breakdown of the proposed price for each contract line item number (CLIN).

Who Should Participate

The RFQ for the USAFMSA Professional Support Services is a great opportunity for contractors who have experience and expertise in providing professional support services for force management data and documents. The RFQ is open to all contractors who can meet the requirements and offer a competitive price.

The RFQ is especially suitable for contractors who have:

  • A thorough understanding of the USAFMSA’s mission, functions, systems, processes, and customers
  • A proven track record of providing high-quality document integration/technical and analytical support, technical support/information technology/automation customer service, and technical support/GFMDI for the USAFMSA or similar organizations
  • A team of qualified and experienced personnel who can perform the required tasks efficiently and effectively
  • A robust quality control plan that ensures the accuracy, completeness, consistency, and timeliness of the deliverables
  • A smooth transition plan that minimizes disruption and risk to the USAFMSA’s operations
  • A strong past performance record that demonstrates customer satisfaction, contract compliance, and problem resolution

Challenges

The RFQ for the USAFMSA Professional Support Services is not without challenges. The offerors will have to overcome some potential obstacles and risks to win this contract. Some of these challenges are:

  • The incumbent contractor, GDIC, has a significant advantage over other offerors, as it has been providing these services for the USAFMSA since 2019. GDIC has established a good working relationship with the USAFMSA and has gained valuable knowledge and experience in performing these services. GDIC may also have access to proprietary or sensitive information that other offerors do not have. Therefore, other offerors will have to demonstrate how they can match or exceed GDIC’s performance and offer a better value proposition to the USAFMSA.
  • The RFQ is highly technical and complex, as it involves various aspects of force management data and documents. The offerors will have to show a deep understanding of the USAFMSA’s mission, functions, systems, processes, and customers. The offerors will also have to provide a detailed technical approach that addresses all the requirements and objectives of the RFQ. The offerors will have to explain how they will collect, analyze, manage, integrate, and distribute the force management data and documents in accordance with the USAFMSA’s standards and specifications.
  • The RFQ is very competitive and price-sensitive, as it is open to all contractors who can provide the required services. The offerors will have to submit a realistic and reasonable price proposal that reflects their technical approach and staffing plan. The offerors will also have to justify their proposed price and show how it provides the best value to the USAFMSA. The offerors will have to balance between offering a low price and maintaining a high quality of service.

Conclusion

The RFQ for the USAFMSA Professional Support Services is an attractive opportunity for contractors who can provide professional support services for force management data and documents. The RFQ is open to all contractors who can meet the requirements and offer a competitive price. The contract has an estimated value of $17 million and a duration of 12 months base plus four 12-month options.

However, the RFQ is also challenging and complex, as it involves various aspects of force management data and documents. The offerors will have to overcome some potential obstacles and risks to win this contract. The offerors will have to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the USAFMSA’s mission, functions, systems, processes, and customers. The offerors will also have to provide a detailed technical approach, a staffing plan, a quality control plan, a transition plan, and relevant past performance information. The offerors will also have to submit a realistic and reasonable price proposal that reflects their technical approach and staffing plan.

To prepare a winning proposal for this contract, the offerors should:

  • Conduct extensive research on the USAFMSA’s mission, functions, systems, processes, and customers
  • Analyze the RFQ carefully and identify all the requirements and objectives
  • Develop a clear and concise technical approach that addresses all the requirements and objectives
  • Provide a staffing plan that shows how they will recruit, retain, train, supervise, and evaluate their personnel
  • Provide a quality control plan that shows how they will ensure the accuracy, completeness, consistency, and timeliness of their deliverables
  • Provide a transition plan that shows how they will minimize disruption and risk to the USAFMSA’s operations
  • Provide relevant past performance information that shows their experience and expertise in providing similar services
  • Provide a detailed breakdown of their proposed price for each CLIN
  • Justify their proposed price and show how it provides the best value to the USAFMSA

If you need any assistance with writing your proposal for this contract, you can contact us at www.gdicwins.com for any help with this contract.