Now that OASIS+ Phase II is out, professional services contractors are getting ready to hit the ground running with their proposals. But what many companies may not take the time to do before they get too far in the process, is to make sure they meet the proposal requirements. Unlike the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program, OASIS+ has a definitive proposal scoring method using credits. Any qualifying proposal will receive an award with their respective contract, but they must meet the credit minimum and match all the requirements. In this blog, we’ll outline the basics of the OASIS+ Phase II scorecard, and what requirements you need to meet before you begin your proposal.
What is OASIS+?
Before we launch into the specifics, let’s outline what the OASIS+ contract is and its scope. OASIS+, which stands for One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services Plus, is a Best-In-Class (BIC) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for non-IT professional services. GSA’s Office of Professional Services and Human Capital Categories (PSHC) runs this contract, and its primary purpose is to give government agencies easy and efficient access to innovative services from highly qualified businesses.
OASIS+ was originally organized into 8 domains, but was expanded into 13 in Phase II. They are:
- Technical and Engineering
- Research and Development
- Management and Advisory
- Environmental
- Intelligence Services
- Enterprise Solutions
- Facilities Services
- Logistics
- Business Administration (New)
- Financial Services (New)
- Human Capital (New)
- Marketing and Public Relations (New)
- Social Services (New)
You can submit under multiple domains as long as you have the relevant experience and qualify per the scorecard.
Additionally, you can submit under 6 different solicitations depending on your business qualifications:
- Total Small Business (SB)
- Small Business Administration (SBA) Certified 8(a) Small Business (8a)
- SBA-Certified HUBZone Small Business (HUBZone)
- SBA-Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
- SBA-Certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
- Unrestricted (UR)
OASIS+ Scorecard/Qualifications Matrix
If you offer non-IT professional services under at least one of the domains listed above, then it’s time to decide if you meet the other requirements. The OASIS+ scorecards are broken down into four main sections: (1) Qualifying Project Experience, (2) Federal Experience, (3) Government-approved systems and rates, (4) Other certifications.
We’ll review each one of them in more detail below, but you should understand that these 4 sections will be a little different depending on the domain(s) you’re going after and if you’re a small business or unrestricted business, so it’s important to view the right scorecard. For example, the total credits is 50 for each scorecard, but each domain has a varying qualifying threshold.
It's very important to note here that there is currently NO limit on contract awards for OASIS+. So, if you think you don’t have a chance just because you barely meet the credit minimum—think again!
Qualifying Experience
In this section, the offeror can propose up to 5 Qualifying Projects (QPs). QPs must:
- Be a single contract (including prime contracts, subcontracts, and commercial contracts), OR A single task order awarded under an IDIQ or Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), OR A task order under a Federal Supply Schedule contract (FAR 8.405-2) or BPA (FAR 8.405-3).
- Meet or exceed minimum annual value of $250K ($150K if performed by a Protege in an SBA-approved Mentor-Protege Joint Venture)
- Have some portion of direct labor performed within the past 5 years from the date the solicitation closes
- Have satisfactory or above past performance (on 5 point scale, average of scores >3.0) based on the latest Contractor Performance Assessment Report (CPAR) if available, or a Past Performance Questionnaire if no CPAR is available.
Additionally, each QP must be relevant to the specific domain(s) you are applying under.
This section of the scorecard is shaded in blue and accounts for a larger number of credits than any of the other sections. The amount of credits and their weight in each capability varies, however. For example, in the Enterprise Unrestricted domain, you can earn up to 38 credits among 7 capabilities, but in the Technical & Engineering Unrestricted domain, you can earn up to 40 credits among 6 capabilities. Enterprise unrestricted puts less emphasis on QP relevance than Technical & Engineering Unrestricted does.
Additionally, you can view the minimum average annual value of a QP for each scorecard, so you have a better picture of what projects to use.
Federal Experience
You DO NOT need to have federal experience to qualify for an OASIS+ Phase II proposal, but it will help you earn more credits toward your total. These qualifications do not need to come from the QPs above and can be listed from other projects if needed. These qualifications will also generally apply across OASIS+ domains.
Most scorecards list 1 to 3 capabilities in this federal experience section (highlighted in green), but some domains weigh it more heavily. For example, the Technical & Engineering Small Business scorecard lists that up to 4 credits can be earned for Competition in Multiple Award Environments, but in the Logistics Small Business domain it’s 3 credits.
Government Approved Systems and Rates
These qualifications are based on systems and rates approved by a cognizant federal agency (ex: Government Facility Clearance or Accounting System). These will generally apply across OASIS+ domains. These sections are shaded in red.
Other Certifications
These qualifications are based on certifications issued by third party (i.e. non-Governmental) organizations. Similar to the last section, these qualifications will generally apply across OASIS+ Domains. They are highlighted in a yellow color.
Are You Ready for Your OASIS+ Phase II Proposal?
Now that the solicitations are live and are open for continuous submission, now is the time to start your proposal. If you haven’t already, we suggest you find the solicitation(s) and domain(s) you are hoping to apply for and review each individual scorecard to ensure you hit the minimum credits. While the qualification process may seem simple, the proposal preparation isn’t necessarily a breeze, especially if you are new to the world of government contracting. If you have questions about OASIS+ Phase II, or are looking for help, we offer OASIS+ proposal support to help you navigate the process.
For future OASIS+ and related updates, you can check out our blog and our monthly newsletter. You can also check out the GSA Interact OASIS+ page for routine updates.
