TArticles tagged with: IDIQ

Missteps to avoid when using GSA’s Symphony Procurement Suite

Symphony ensures agencies are purchasing according to fair opportunity laws and rules.

GSA has adopted the Symphony Procurement Suite to manage its IDIQ contracts. This web-based, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) contract management and automation tool from Apex Logic allows government organizations to manage complex contracts. Symphony ensures agencies are purchasing according to fair opportunity laws and rules. GSA is still using eBuy and GSA Assist to manage task order deals—the use of Symphony is optional. However, it is the preferred way of the future. Who is using Symphony? Symphony was first used on the GSA OASIS program to provide oversight and management of the solicitation process, including proposal evaluations. It has also been used or will be used to capture bids for complex IDIQ vehicles like Polaris, ASTRO, OASIS+, Alliant 3, Evolve (Department of State), and OMNIBUS (Defense Health Agency). Symphony operates in the FEDRamp-certified AWS cloud, is completely compliant with FAR 16.5, 100% web-based, and uses open-source technology. GSA claims that to … Continue reading Missteps to avoid when using GSA’s Symphony Procurement Suite →

Opportunity at a glance: OASIS Plus Multi-Agency Contract

On September 15, 2022, the Office of Professional Services and Human Capital (PSHC) released the eighth in a series of program updates to keep industry abreast of the latest news on the development of OASIS Plus (OASIS+). OASIS+ is an opportunity to expand upon the original OASIS successes. Who should bid and why you should bid This is an easy decision. OASIS+ will be one of the U.S. Government’s largest and most valuable Best-in-Class (BIC) Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicles for the next 10 years. It’s likely to award more than $133.75B in task orders. In addition, OASIS+ has swim lanes for 8(a), Small Businesses, Full and Open/Unrestricted, HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), and Woman-Owned Small Businesses. Potential competition OASIS+ combines the One Acquisition Solution For Integrated Services Unrestricted (OASIS), Human Capital and Training Solutions (HCaTS), and Federal Strategic Sourcing … Continue reading Opportunity at a glance: OASIS Plus Multi-Agency Contract →

Best Practices for a Task Order Proposal Factory

A number of best practices will enable success in responding to rapid turnaround TO RFPs.

The trend in Federal procurement is to award more and more work through task orders on multiple award contract (MAC) vehicles. MAC contracts go by many names: Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contracts (single award or multiple award) GSA Schedules (sometimes referred to as Multiple Award Schedules and Federal Supply Schedules) Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) MAC contracts are generally awarded based on qualifications, experience, and merit. Bidders are evaluated for past performance, quality certifications (CMMI, ISO, etc.), corporate experience, security clearances, and internal systems such as cost accounting, estimating, and purchasing. Once the MAC awards are made, specific project work is issued and funded through individual task orders (TOs). Different contract vehicles use different terms for these requests: task order request (TOR), request for task order proposal (RTOP), request for task execution plan (RTEP), task order request for proposal (TO RFP), etc. When a TO RFP is issued, the … Continue reading Best Practices for a Task Order Proposal Factory →

Opportunity Alert: OASIS Unrestricted On-Ramps

Here are five things you can do now to maximize chances of success

The General Services Administration (GSA) on-ramp proposals to the existing One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services Small Business (OASIS SB) Pools 1, 3 and 4 and 8(a) sub-Pools are due on June 27, 2019. OASIS is a Multiple Award (MA), Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract classified as a Tier 3, Best-in-Class (BIC) contract providing solutions for complex professional services requirements. OASIS also helps agencies meet their government-wide spend under management (SUM) goals. SUM is the percentage of an organization’s spend that is actively managed according to category management principles. GSA issued a Pre-Solicitation Notice on June 26 stating that the final OASIS Unrestricted On-Ramp solicitation will be available on or about July 8, 2019. The notice further stated that GSA intends to add 40 contracts to each of the three on-ramp Pools. With only weeks remaining, it is time to get ready. Here are five things you can do … Continue reading Opportunity Alert: OASIS Unrestricted On-Ramps →