1. Are you “viable”? The VA is discouraging “nonviable entities” from bidding. If your firm cannot strictly meet the small business requirements, the best strategy is to join a team or no bid. Your company must receive 51 percent of contract revenue. Make sure your small business certification will apply during the whole term of the contract.

2. Does your organization have the capacity to provide new technology needs? HITSS II will focus on current pressing needs, such as cybersecurity, mobility, and virtualization.

3. Does your organization have the ability to perform both within CONUS and OCONUS? With over 200 locations globally, can your organization provide support outside of the country? Before saying yes, do you understand the tax laws of each country and the specific insurance, health, and travel requirements that must be met? Do you have the capital up-front to perform? A larger partner already has the capability to preform OCONUS work.

4. Do you have what it takes? Past work performance is the most important factor considered in the evaluation process. What past work have you performed at State? Was the work IT service related? Having a high-performance HITSS I contractor on your team can enhance your ability to meet future requirements.

5. If you are the prime, do you have experience working an IDIQ contract? Remember, it takes more than showing you have won an IDIQ contract. You need to show that you have won task order awards through the contract. Each award can help you support your proof points, such as transition, implementation, performance, scheduled adherence, and close out.

6. Contract performance of similar scope and size. It’s highly likely your offer will receive the highest scores when the work was performed for the Department of State. In terms of dollar amounts or personnel, are your contracts comparable to the work envisioned for HITSS II?

7. Is their a real quality management system in place? Too often, responses are abstract when describing the quality management system that will be used during the performance of the work. Plan a system that provides useful insight and accountability.

 

clickhere