SeaPort Next Generation final request for proposal is likely to be issued very soon. The Navy has made a variety of technical changes. Learn more about the details of the opportunity and start preparing your response for the award.
SeaPort Next Generation is a great contracting opportunity, the final RFP of which is expected to be released by the end of March according to Bloomberg Government. All companies that meet the eligibility criteria are allowed to compete for the award. Nevertheless, companies that have previously worked for the Navy have better chances according to Navy contracting officials. At an event held by Professional Services Council on January 17, contracting officers disclosed details of the acquisition strategy.
According to the pre-solicitation notice with N0017818R7000 ID number issued in the official website of Federal Business Opportunities, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) intends to replace the expiring SeaPort-e to a new Seaport – Next Generation (NxG) contract.
The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, on behalf of the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Navy SYSCOM partners SPAWAR, NAVFAC, NAVSUP, ONR and USMC, will conduct a competition to award Multiple Award ID/IQ contracts to allow SeaPort-NxG MAC contractors to compete for future task order awards in Seaport- NxG. The NAICS code for this procurement is 541330 and the revenue size standard for Small Business is $38.5 million.
The Department of Navy has stated that the transition from SeaPort-e to SeaPort-NxG will undergo some significant changes, including:
- Reduction of zone requirements
- Reduction of functional groups
- Reduction of ordering offices
- Usage of a single NAICS code
- Off-ramps for contract holders that win no task order
The Navy will alter from a single vendor carrying NGEN’s portfolio across the entire enterprise to a multi-source approach for NGEN-R. In addition, the contracts will be divided into two sections: hardware and software. These two primary contracts are:
- NGEN-R, End-User Hardware (EUHW) which covers end-user hardware-as-a-service and hardware for purchase;
- NGEN-R, Service Management, Integration, and Transport (SMIT), which covers network services, including print services, systems integration, software core build services, service desk, and computer network defense.
Very probably, the same companies that are currently contract holders of Seaport-e will continue to win work in the SeaPort NxG. This implies continued domination of companies such as Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. ($3.3 billion), Science Applications International Corp. ($3 billion); CSRA Inc. ($3 billion), BAE Systems Plc ($1.9 billion), General Dynamics Corp. ($1.7 billion), which are among those that have generated the most of the $53 billion in revenue on SeaPort-e since fiscal 2004.
What should interested contractors know?
Joint ventures will not be allowed, and companies that are interested in competing for the award must have experience in direct support of the Navy, at least within the last five years. The experience must be related to one of the 23 functional areas covered by SeaPort-NxG, either as a prime or a subcontractor. Each SeaPort-NxG MAC will have a base ordering period of five years, with the possibility for another five-year ordering period.
Besides three industry days (ID) that were held industry days held in November 2015, May 2016, and January 2017, there are not planned any additional in-person ID for the moment. However, for any change related to this issue, contractors will be notified through FedBizzOpps early enough, so that they can have sufficient time for industry feedback prior to the final RFP release.
Other significant details discussed on Jan. 17 were about the expectations of about 3,000 proposals with no limit to the number of awards from qualified companies. Furthermore, each contract holder will obtain access to the engineering and program management pools; and, a draft request for proposal has been prepared and is waiting for approval.
Obviously, offerors must be registered in SAM, have no federal debt or owe taxes, and not be sanctioned. Large businesses that want to compete for the award must submit a compliant small business-subcontracting plan.
According to the Contracting Officer, the Government may exclude price, cost and past performance as an evaluation factor for SeaPort-NxG. SeaPort-NxG MACs will be awarded based on full and open competition to all qualified contractors, based on experience.
