It’s nearly summer and, with the mosquitoes, the OASIS+ is coming to a solicitation request near you. At least that’s what the “tea leaves” say. If you can believe the major tracking sites, the OASIS+ final RFP will be released, perhaps by the time you read this (6/15 is the targeted release date). Based upon what we now know, there will be a total of six RFPs released beginning on that date. They include Full and Open/Unrestricted, Small Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, 8(a), HUBZone, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. Your organization may be eligible to bid in multiple categories.

All this assumes that GSA was able to ensure that the faults found with the Polaris acquisition by the Court of Federal Claims have been rectified within the OASIS+ acquisition.

Meeting the Threshold Wins a Contract

As a reminder, the OASIS+ solicitation is one of the “big guys” in terms of federal acquisition programs. This one, though, has a “twist” in that organizations are not going to be evaluated and scored against each other, but awards are going to be determined by validation of the submitted information and meeting a threshold of points. If you meet the threshold, you get a contract. It doesn’t matter how many bidders meet the threshold.

Another twist to this acquisition is GSA’s stated intent to make this a continually open process. If you don’t qualify for the initial tranche of awardees, then you’ll be able to propose again as soon as that tranche has been awarded. This effectively means that if you don’t succeed at first (or don’t feel you can hit the minimum point total), then try, try again.

Prepare for Success: Strategies to Maximize Your Proposal’s Impact

So how can you prepare for OASIS+ solicitation release? Here are a few ideas:

  • It’s expected that the response timeline will be 90 days. This means, upon release, your organization should perform a Proposal Readiness Review (PRR). If you’ve done one of these before, then you know what it takes and get started on day one. If you’re unfamiliar with the PRR, it’s a step-by-step-analysis of requirements versus capabilities that considers your organization’s posture relative to a potentially successful bid. It will identify exactly what you have and what you need to prepare a successful bid.
  • You need to solidify your proposal team. Consider that there will be a myriad of details required. And this will be particularly true if you are bidding as a Joint Venture, CTA team, or using subcontractors. You’ll need someone detail-oriented to track everything going on. If you’re a small business, consider that your in-house team can easily get swamped if they are understaffed or are tracking OASIS+ and other bids simultaneously.
  • Of course, there will be the usual challenging requirements to demonstrate your capabilities by pulling evidence from your past contracts, task orders, and program reviews.  And coordinating/writing these snippets into coherent and convincing proof points. Make sure your writing team’s skills are up to the task or get some outside expertise to ensure the best response possible.
  • Finally, if you don’t feel you qualify for this initial round, be ready to plan the steps necessary to make yourself eligible for follow-on submittals. Consider what you need to do to improve your scores and set a deadline on how to get there. A third party can assist in this process or, at the very least, review your plan for completeness and realism.

Help for OASIS+ Solicitation 

OCI is here to support your organization in preparing the best possible response for this significant acquisition. With our expertise and guidance, you can navigate the complexities of the OASIS+ solicitation and maximize your chances of securing contracts. Reach out to us today and take a step closer to your proposal’s success.

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