Release Date: 07/02/10
Due Date: 09/07/10
Solicitation #:QTA010ABA0023
ESTIMATED VALUE: $35 Billion
The General Services Administration (GSA) may have a continuing requirement for a range of telecommunications infrastructure equipment and services for federal customers within federally owned or leased buildings or campuses. This may include a variety of customer premise equipment, cable and wiring, analytical services, implementation, integration, and installation services, operations, equipment purchasing and/or leasing, and equipment maintenance. It may also include emerging technologies for the purpose of facilitating the convergence of voice, data, video and transmission elements into a single integrated telecommunications system within the Federal workspace.
Program Name: Connections II (CNX II)
History: The General Services Administration has a continuing requirement for a range of telecommunications infrastructure equipment and services for government agencies or offices within federal buildings or campuses. This solicitation is a follow-on to Connecdtions-2003. Awarded in January 2003, Connections is an 8-year (three base years + five one-year options) government-wide, multiple award, and indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract. It's a one-stop shop for any office building, campus, or base environment to deliver any level of demand for equipment (e.g., Routers, Switches), support services (e.g., Project Managers, Web Architects), or customized solutions (e.g., Systems Integration, Operations Support). More than half of the awardees were small business.
Solicitation Number: QTA009ABI0002
Agency: General Services Administration (GSA)
Office: Federal Acquisition Service
Estimated Value: Over $30
Description: GSA's goals for Connections-2010 are that the contract will:
• Offer the flexibility to meet any solution at the best price - it extends the scope and scale of previous GSA contract offerings, giving customers a large range of products and services to choose from under one contract vehicle.
• Evolve with the changing marketplace - it streamlines processes and procedures to make sure that the latest technologies (i.e., products and services) are available for purchase.
• Define a revolutionary way of doing business with GSA - it makes the procurement process simpler and easier than ever with its key innovations to the scope of offerings, ordering authority, and program oversight.
• Continue GSA's legacy of value-added customer support - with offices around the nation, it positions GSA to assist customers in a manner that is efficient, cost-effective, and worry-free.
• For more information, the GSA website is [http://www.gsa.gov/connections ].
Contract Type and Other Characteristics: Connections 2003 was a multiple award IDIQ contract. It is assumed that this contract will follow suit.
Goals and Objectives: GSA desires that Connections will foster price reductions and quality offerings in a performance-based environment. When used in combination with GSA's local and long distance telecommunications contracts, customers can look to GSA as their true end-to-end solution provider.
Areas of Technology: Network and Telecom Services are the overall primary areas of required, providing end-to-end solutions integrating voice and data traffic into a single communications system at any location worldwide. Additionally, a broad range of telecommunications/network services will be requested e.g., including the tailoring of a customer's needs to COTS products/services and/or developing a completely unique approach. It is anticipated that the RFP will require specific experience in defining requirements, assessing alternatives, designing solutions, and installing, operating, upgrading, and maintaining equipment, products and services.
Structure of the RFP: This solicitation is still in the pre-RFP stage. GSA anticipates that the RFP will be released in late February 2010 with an award date in October 2010. The evaluation and awarding of contracts under Connections will be performed in three major steps. These steps are divided by geographic region. A national set of awards will be first awarded to offerors who elect to provide service across the nation, including territories. International awards will be made subsequently to offerors who propose products and services in foreign countries.
Proposal Preparation Challenges: This is a full and open competition. As a full and open competition, both large and small businesses are encouraged to respond. Large businesses will be required to have SB/SDB subcontracting plans to ensure significant small business participation. Small or small and disadvantaged businesses will be encouraged to compete as prime contractors.
Resources of OCI can be beneficial:
This is a significant procurement. Washington Technology (10/2009) calls this one of the top 20 procurements to watch. A competitive and compliant Connections proposal will require forward and detailed planning, especially in the areas of teaming and subcontracting for maximum benefit.
OCI has the expertise and resources of professional proposal consultants to assist you with:
1. Capture planning
2. A Black Hat Review
3. Competitive analysis
4. Proposal Management
5. Proposal Writing
6. Pricing analysis
7. Proposal Production
8. Red Team Review
9. Whole Proposal Team