Solicitation released: 12/27/11

Proposals Due: 02/29/12

Solicitation #: RFIFIRSTSOURCEII

Estimated Value: $3 Billion

Update 02.06.12: The contracting office announced on February 3rd that the due date for proposals has been extended to February 29th. The Government's anticipated award date is May 2012.

FirstSource is a DHS-wide multiple-award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract vehicle, specifically designed as the preferred source to acquire information technology (IT) commodity products (equipment and supplies and associated services) within DHS. FirstSource is considered "mandatory for consideration" throughout DHS, and uses the concept of "fair opportunity" for conducting delivery order competitions.

DHS FirstSource 2 SYNOPSIS

Program Name: DHS First Source Information Technology Commodity Solutions 2 (FirstSource 2)

History: This will be a follow-on contract to the existing FirstSource Program, which has consolidated the acquisition process for IT commodity products throughout the Department of Homeland Security. In Fiscal Year 2007, DHS competitively awarded a suite of Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity contracts under a Department-wide program called FirstSource. The FirstSource contracts facilitated streamlined purchase, delivery, and installation of IT commodity products and solutions. The contracts supported the DHS goal of establishing a functionally integrated Department, demanding integrated methods of operation among and between the various Components with the support systems that enhance mission effectiveness and create economies of scale through consolidation of requirements. This has facilitated establishing a functionally integrated, centrally coordinating IT infrastructure, and ensuring compatibility within "One Network" and "One Infrastructure."

Prior to FirstSource, DHS acquired the IT commodity products needed to fulfill the specific missions of individual components through the issuance of separate contracts utilizing differing terms and conditions under a variety of contractual arrangements. With FirstSource II, DHS intends to further its efforts to standardize commodities and procurement processes and reduce acquisition lead-times.

Solicitation #: RFIFIRSTSOURCEII

Agency: Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Directorate for Management

Office: Chief Information Officer

Estimated Value: $3 Billion

Description: In support of its mission and strategic goals, DHS requires commercial IT commodity solutions and value-added reseller services for a wide variety of applications throughout the Department and its 22 Operating Components. DHS needs to access, as they occur, technological advances and new business practices that may increase productivity, efficiency, and/or reduce costs while leveraging DHS' Department-wide buying power to obtain the lowest available prices. The scope of this contract is to provide DHS with value-added reseller services and access to a wide and renewable variety of IT commodity products (hardware and software) from multiple Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and made available through delivery order competitions. Any commercially available IT product may be made available through this contract. Equipment is categorized as follows:

1. Small Form Factor Device: Portable mobile computing device with a display screen that provides an interface for viewing and processing data that can be transported for normal human-computer interaction. (For example, laptops, netbooks, tablets, smart phones, bar code readers, RFID readers)
2. Static Device: A computing device, equipment storage system or visual display device that would remain in a permanent location and would be not transported for normal business functions. (For example, desktop workstation, monitor, security card reader, server and network racks)
3. Domain Device: Capability that provides information technical service management for the optimization, administration and security of data, voice, and video transmission and all interrelated interfaces to support network and application protocols and processing, storing, replication, recovering, monitoring and auditing of all information system processes. (For example, router, switches, servers and blade servers, SAN, security appliances, firewalls, software, tape backup device, Uninterruptable Power Supply)
4. VDI Device (desktop virtualization): Capability shall support distributed applications for wired and wireless heterogeneous and homogenous network environments for mobile small factor devices and static devices for the transmission, processing, creating, storing, retrieving and manipulating of images. (For example, virtual machines and applications that operate within a centralized, decentralized or hosted infrastructure interface device, such as virtual desktop infrastructure device or thin client application)
5. Peripheral Device: Auxiliary hardware and software for system management, productivity and collaboration, monitoring and sustainment for small factor devices, static devices, domain devices and VDI devices. (For example, printers, USB sticks, scanners, DVD recorders, RFID tags, cameras)

Contract Type and Other Characteristics: Still in the pre-RFP stage and based on the Draft RFP, this will be a multiple award IDIQ contract set-aside for small business, with a size standard of 150 employees. The ordering period of the contracts will be a five (5) year base with two (2) one-year options for a total term, if all options are exercised, of seven (7) years.

The small business strategy for FirstSource II provides for prime contracts in categories where set-aside authority exists. The set-aside categories are as follows: (1) 8(a); (2) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone); (3) Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB); (4) Economically Disadvantaged, Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB); and (5) all small businesses (including SB, non-8(a) SDB, non-EDWOSB WOSB, and VOSB).

Goals and Objectives: The primary objective of the FirstSource II acquisition is to establish contracts with experienced Information Technology Value-Added Resellers to provide a variety of commercially-available IT commodity products to support DHS programs in accomplishing their missions. A primary goal of this acquisition is to generate cost avoidance and savings by leveraging the buying power of DHS and its components, ultimately resulting in lower prices to the Government.

Areas of Technology: The primary requirement will be for computer equipment. FirstSource II will use North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519, Footnote #18 (Information Technology Value-Added Reseller).

The purpose of the FirstSource II contracts is to provide DHS with the ability to purchase a full array of value-added reseller (VAR) services for Information Technology (IT) commodities and solutions. VAR services include, but are not limited to those listed below:

• Configuration consulting and design;
• Systems integration;
• Installation of multi-vendor equipment;
• Customization of hardware or software;
• Training;
• Product technical support;
• Product maintenance; and,
• End-user support.

Any commercially available information technology product may be made available through this contract. Equipment is categorized as follows with additional detail provided in Section C.

• Small Form Factor Devices;
• Static Devices;
• Domain Devices;
• VDI Devices (desktop virtualization); and,
• Peripheral Devices.

Structure of the RFP: From the Draft RFP (Chapter E.2.11): This will be a page-limited proposal, consisting of 3 volumes and 7 tabs. The Pricing Tab does contain a Sample Delivery Order to price. Although still in the pre-RFP stage, the stated objectives will help guide the Proposal content:

1. Obtain the lowest prices for all products and related services on catalogs offered by the Contractor as determined through application of fair opportunity and competition in the ordering process.
2. Maintain continuous access to a broad range of IT and new technology as it is introduced to the commercial marketplace.
3. Provide and implement a set of performance measurements and metrics for the Contractor's achievement of the FirstSource Program Objectives, to provide current and accurate data for measuring the Contractor's performance over the entire term of the contact; and to provide current and accurate data for the following areas:
   • Customer Satisfaction Measurement,
   • Spend Management, and
   • Problem Resolution Measurement.
4. Meet dynamic DHS customer requirements for IT commodities, special delivery needs, and related services throughout the term of the contract.
5. Implement standardized IT configurations and solutions consistent with the evolving DHS Enterprise Architecture standards.
6. Provide a flexible and dynamic contract vehicle to access and leverage world-class small business partners.

Proposal Preparation Challenges: The final RFP is scheduled to be released on or before December 30, 2011 with an award in 2012. Proposals will be evaluated against 4 factors – 1. Corporate experience (prime only), 2. Ability to achieve results, 3. Past performance, and 4. Price. Factors 1-3, combined, are more important than Price. The Sample Delivery Order will be a reflection of a current or anticipated Government needs and will include items in all five (5) categories of equipment. Pricing information shall be required for all five (5) years of the base period, as well as the two (2) option periods.

Resources of OCI can be beneficial:

Based on the development of the existing FirstSource proposal, this may not be an easy proposal to develop. A competitive and compliant follow-on FirstSource proposal will require forward and detailed planning – especially in developing teaming agreements, negotiating favorable vendor-supplier arrangements, and pricing the Sample Delivery Order.

OCI has the expertise and resources of professional proposal consultants to assist you with:

1. Capture planning
2. Teaming Strategies
3. A Black Hat Review
4. Competitive analysis
5. Proposal Management
6. Proposal Writing
7. Pricing analysis
8. Proposal Production
9. Red Team Review
10. Whole Proposal Team