Like a supernova, ALLIANT 2 outshines all other IT programs this year. With a ceiling of $65B it is as larger than the next four programs combined.

When will ALLIANT 2 be released?

Insiders have a firm opinion that ALLIANT 2 will come out in April. It could be pushed back to May or even June by circumstances.

What is the value of the contract?

The current ALLIANT program has had the largest ever spend of any GWAC. A total of 63 agencies have used the contract, with a combined volume of $22.8B. The value of ALLIANT 2 is enhanced by the addition of high-volume work needed for DoD health services and other new customers.

Many small businesses have done well in the ALLIANT program, graduating to the mid tier or higher. The top five have ranged from Vistronix with $197M in task orders to ActioNet with $659M. These firms started out within the small business size range of $27.5M.

What is necessary to win?

It is believed the final RFP will not significantly change what is currently in the draft. There is no doubt, the ALLIANT2 RFP is a challenge. For example, only the experience of the prime is considered for past performance and corporate capabilities.

In a nutshell about 40% of the evaluation is based on experience / past performance. Additionally 10% goes mostly to the cost accounting system (CAS) and 10% to Leading Edge Technologies (LET). The other 40% is spread across eight items including accounting system, ISO, CMMI, and security clearance.

The solicitation provides a whopping 75,600 points as maximum score. There are four key areas:
1. Experience: Offerors have to demonstrate experience by Product Service Codes (PSCs) and by Leading Edge Technologies (LETs). Your score depends on — the number of agencies served, as well as the breadth and depth and value of contracts across PSC codes and LET categories.
2. Past Performance: For PSC code projects only
3. Systems and Clearances: The systems listed include items such as CAS and EVMS
4. Certifications (ISO)

Can my company win a contract?

It is estimated that over 200 bidders will submit proposals for the 60 unrestricted contracts, and a similar number of proposals for the 80 restricted. This is close to the usual ratio of nearly three proposals received for every award across Government.

While it is impossible to predict winners with scientific certainty, it is obvious that the greatest opportunity is in the small business set aside area. With a large number of the active small business providers graduated out of the size category, there are many open slots not covered by incumbents.

A seasoned industry consultant offered this paradigm for predicting how a particular bidder might do in the competition. It was recommended that we take OASIS, the model for the ALLIANT 2 procurement, as a parallel standard. To win OASIS, a large business needed 78% of the evaluation points, while a small business needed 62%.

This is not a LPTA competition. The contracts go to the highest technically related with fair and reasonable prices.

Where should you be now?

You can’t get it all done once the RFP is released. If you have not already done so, you need to complete your self scoring, yesterday. This is tricky, especially the first time. If you can’t do a good job of this, then get outside help. Complete the time consuming work of collecting the large amount of documentation needed to demonstrate your financial strength, leading edge technologies (LETS), certifications, experience, past performance, etc.

This is the most attractive IT contract of the season. The race goes to the swift and the victory to the strong.