US Central Command (CENTCOM) has developed requirements for a wide variety of professional services under the rubric of the CENTCOM Headquarters Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Professional Services (CHIPS) program. With an RFP rumored to be released sometime within the next 30 days or so, CHIPS represents the opportunity for small businesses to get a nice IDIQ for their marketing efforts.

Key Details of the CENTCOM CHIPS Contract

The CENTCOM CHIPS Contract is valued at approximately $750 million and will be awarded to up to 20 contractors—10 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) and 10 8(a) small businesses. The contract has a base period of one year, with four option years and a potential six-month extension.

Service Areas Covered Under CHIPS

The program is designed to provide support services for various joint military operations across multiple theaters. These services aim to enhance mission support, improve operational efficiency, and ensure specialized expertise is available to meet CENTCOM’s complex operational demands. The key services covered under the CHIPS contract include:

  • Program Management
  • Logistics Management
  • Information Technology Services
  • Data Science Services
  • Operational Contract Support (OCS)
  • Financial Management Services
  • Public Affairs Services

Insights from the Draft RFP

A draft RFP was posted to SAM.gov in late April of this year and requested feedback from the targeted offerors. It’s unknown if CENTCOM intends to issue a revised draft or provide any additional feedback before releasing the final RFP.

Proposal Volume Requirements

The CENTCOM CHIPS solicitation requires a comprehensive proposal consisting of four main volumes:

  • Contracting Information: Necessary documentation related to subcontracting and teaming arrangements, along with required forms and certifications.
  • Technical Proposal: Responses should address the full range of key services mentioned above and demonstrate how your solutions meet CENTCOM’s strategic objectives, including successful teamwork. This volume will have two subfactors: Staffing Approach and Management Approach.
    • Staffing Approach should address:
      • Recruitment and retention of qualified personnel
      • Continuity of service due to personnel absences
      • A staffing matrix listing labor categories, labor hours, and employees for the SEED Project
      • Workload projections for a sample CLIN structure for the SEED Project
    • Management Approach should include:
      • A thorough understanding of CHIPS PWS requirements
      • Planning and management of tasks
      • Draft Quality Control and Communication Plans
      • A Transition Plan for phase-in efforts
      • An employee compensation plan to ensure uninterrupted, high-quality work
  • Past Performance: Up to five past performance citations, split between the SEED project and general program requirements.
  • Price Proposal: Providing a pricing exercise for the SEED project, a rate structure for labor categories, and estimates for travel and surge support.

This will be a best-value source selection. The Technical Volume will be evaluated first on an acceptable/unacceptable basis, and awardees must meet all technical subfactors. Past Performance will then be weighted more heavily than price.

Expected Adjustments to CHIPS Requirements

There may be some shifts in requirements given the draft RFP’s structure. Currently, offerors must be competent in all seven key service areas, which may be challenging for smaller businesses. CENTCOM may change the solicitation to require offerors to address only a majority of the key service areas, potentially making the procurement more competitive.

Steps to Prepare for the CENTCOM CHIPS Contract

Several steps can position your organization for success:

  • Obtain the draft solicitation from SAM.gov and review the SEED Project, along with labor category requirements, to identify any staffing gaps.
  • Assess past performance to provide citations for the SEED project and general requirements. Begin identifying teaming partners and gathering their past performance data.
  • Identify and prepare your proposal team based on the draft RFP requirements.
  • Begin data collection and hold solutioning sessions with your team.

OCI Support for Your Proposal Needs

OCI can assist by providing the right mix of proposal talent at a competitive cost. Our Sales Executives offer a personal touch, understanding your needs and finding the right personnel to support you. Whether you need a single consultant, specialized team members, or a full proposal team, we can help. Contact us at 703-689-9600.