What are the primary aspects of HCaTS to consider going forward towards a Bid/No Bid decision?

• GSA will use a full & open and small business set-aside structure to award contracts. Each will have two (2) contractor pools based on NAICS codes (see draft RFP) for past performance with 40 awards in each pool for a total combined 160 maximum awards across all of HCaTS. Considering that the 20+ incumbent contractors are almost certain to win HCaTS contracts, that leaves a lot of room for newcomers to win a contract.

• They are NOT going to allow new joint ventures. However, existing joint ventures will be allowed.

• Consistent with earlier language, GSA is sticking to their strategy of NOT allowing subcontractor past performance to be evaluated – only Prime contract holders.

• When we consider GSA’s scoring examples, it is clear how more complex, long-term and large (dollar value) past performance will lead to a better chance of winning. Less complex and small examples are not going to score well. If your past performance is weak or only marginally related to the spirit of HCaTS, you should not consider this as a viable opportunity to prime.

• GSA will evaluate offers based on a series of Pass/Fail requirements, but the way they plan to score your offer comes down to past performance and “price reasonableness.” What does this really mean? GSA describes their approach as “Highest Technical Rated with Fair and Reasonable Prices.”

• This is a hybrid of best value (focused on technical ratings) and Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) which has a pricing based determination on a simple pass/fail system. Once GSA has scored proposals on a technical level, they take the top 40 proposals into a pricing reasonableness review. If any of the top 40 proposals fail to be deemed reasonable in terms of pricing, those proposals are removed from consideration. “Runners-up” are not entered into consideration until GSA has decided to award contracts to the top 40 in each pool based on highest technical scores and most reasonable prices.

Note: FedSavvy Strategies and Organizational Communications Inc. (OCI) are partnering to help HCATS bidders. FedSavvy Strategies is offering a full opportunity review starting at $199. This will help you better understand the likely HCaTS customers, the alternatives those customers have, and who might be a useful HCaTS prime contractor if you decide not to prime. Other blog posts on the HCaTS opportunity are available on the FedSavvy Strategies website.

Partner company OCI is offering the full range of proposal preparation services. OCI has 30 years experience helping prepare over 3,000 proposals. They can provide proposal consultants to fill gaps in your team or a whole proposal team. Please contact John Cook at jcook@ociwins.com for more information.

About the author:  Brian Lindholm is CEO of FedSavvy Strategies. With nearly 20 years in the industry, Brian has a substantial background in the business development and capture of the HCaTS program.