In late March 2024, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) released a much-anticipated final solicitation for their $12.5 billion multiple award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The contract, Base Infrastructure Modernization (BIM), will span 10 years with a 5-year base period and then a follow-on 5-year option to extend. The solicitation was released via PIEE under the primary North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 517111, Wired Telecommunication Carriers.
The primary scope of this IDIQ is to modernize Base Area Networks (BAN) infrastructure by utilizing services, methodologies, and industry leading practices. The DAF intends for task orders under this contract to upgrade network infrastructures of bases worldwide. Let’s dive into this IDIQ, including the scope, contract evaluation, and key takeaways so you can learn more about this opportunity.
Purpose and Scope of the BIM IDIQ
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Enterprise IT & Cyber Infrastructure Division (AFLCMC/HNIB) Program Management Office (PMO) is looking to industry for modernization support through this contract.
The scope of contract includes the wired and wireless Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router (NIPR or NIPRNet) and Secure Internet Protocol Router (SIPR or SIPRNet) networks for Air Force Base Area Networks (DAF BAN). This includes performing certain tasks such as:
- Site Surveying (SS)
- Operating and maintaining the DAF BAN
- Design Modernized BAN
- Installation, Test and Execution of Design
- Operate and Sustain Modernized BAN
The Air Force has promised a minimum of 5 set-aside awards for 8(a) firms, a minimum of 3 awards each for HUBZone, Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and general small business categories. The small business standard for the primary NAICS Code (517111) is 1,500 employees.
BIM Contract Components and How They Will Be Evaluated
Responses to this proposal are due on April 22nd, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET, so let’s breakdown each volume in this contract and how the DAF will evaluate them.
Volume 1: Contracting Information
This volume will not be evaluated, the government will simply verify that all information is provided in this section.
Volume 2
This section is divided into 2 factors: Prior experience and facility clearance
Factor 1: Prior experience
- This factor assesses whether the Offeror has experience performing similar efforts. Similar efforts include types of contracts considered, recency of the experience, and the experience/tasks completed.
- The government will rate this factor as “Acceptable” or “Unacceptable” based on the government Prior Experience Scorecard (PES) rating score.
Factor 2: Facility Clearance
- This factor assesses whether the Offeror currently holds a sufficient clearance to process classified information as applicable to the acquisition.
- The current facility security clearance of at least “Secret” as validated by NISS, meets the requirements of the solicitation.
- This factor will be rated as “Acceptable” or “Unacceptable”.
Volume 3: Technical Proposal
This volume is broken into two subfactors: Global Management Support Plan and Task Order Support Plan.
Subfactor 1: Global Management Support Plan (GMSP)
- This subfactor assesses the Offeror’s understanding of the requirements for implementing a GMSP that covers the scope and scale of the BIM IDIQ Performance Work Statement (PWS). This IDIQ is intended to support Air Force Bases worldwide, so the contractor much be ready to describe how they will support those needs as well as others.
- The government will evaluate the Offeror’s GMSP for viability, comprehension, clarity, and completeness to determine whether the plan is acceptable.
- As the volumes above, this subfactor will be rated on an “Acceptable” or “Unacceptable” basis
Subfactor 2: Task Order Support Plan (TOSP)
- The offeror will need to provide a Task Order Support Plan that covers the plans for technical, programmatic, and administrative solutions.
- This plan will need to include a comprehensive quality control plan, a management plan for the responsibilities identified in the Sample Base Prompt, as well as a response to all 5 phases provided in the sample base prompt.
- The government will evaluate the Offeror’s TOSP for viability, comprehension, clarity, and completeness to determine whether the plan is acceptable.
- This section will be rated as “Acceptable” or “Unacceptable”.
Volume 4: Small Business Participation Commitment
This factor assesses whether the Offeror’s ability to the Small Business Participation Commitment requirements. The Offeror shall submit a Small Business Participation Commitment Document (SBPCD) as part of the solicitation response.
Key Takeaways of the BIM IDIQ
It’s important to note, the government will NOT be evaluating a pricing component. This is becoming a common theme for agency-specific contract vehicles such as NASA SEWP. They are relying on the competitive nature of this marketplace to determine competitive pricing. Additionally, there will be no limitation on awardees, awards will go to each and all qualifying offers according to the Request for Proposal (RFP).
Preparing for Contracting Opportunities
We are in the season of large, best in class, agency-specific contracting vehicles such as CIO, NASA SEWP VI, SEAPORT NXG 2024 on-ramp and now the Air Force is joining the market. While it may be an investment to ensure your company is compliant with the security requirements, you don’t want to miss your opportunity to get this $12.5B contract. If you want to learn more about preparing a solicitation response, check out our blogs:
- How to Break Down a Government Solicitation
- 6 Common RFP Mistakes Contractors Make and How to Avoid Them
- A Guide to Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
If your company is interested in responding to opportunities like the BIM IDIQ but needs additional support, team Winvale is here to help.
