How to Win the Global Medical Support Services (GMSS) Contract

Introduction

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued a draft request for proposals (RFP) for the Global Medical Support Services (GMSS) contract, which aims to provide comprehensive medical services to U.S. government personnel and their eligible family members overseas. The GMSS contract is expected to have a base period of one year and four one-year option periods, plus a six-month option, with an estimated value of $1.6 billion. The solicitation number is 19AQMM22R0025. This article will provide an overview of the GMSS contract, its historical background, the RFP description, who should participate, and the challenges involved in pursuing this opportunity.

Historical Background

The GMSS contract is a follow-on to the current Global Medical Services (GMS) contract, which was awarded in 2017 to Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. (CHS), a subsidiary of Caliburn International. The GMS contract has a ceiling value of $970 million and covers medical services such as primary care, emergency care, dental care, laboratory services, radiology services, pharmacy services, medical evacuation services, and medical supply management. The GMS contract supports the Bureau of Medical Services (MED) within DOS, which is responsible for providing preventive, primary, and emergency medical care to U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission authority and their eligible family members in over 200 locations worldwide.

RFP Description

The draft RFP for the GMSS contract was released on June 13, 2021¹, and the final RFP is expected to be issued in late 2021 or early 2022. The GMSS contract will have similar scope and requirements as the GMS contract, but with some additional services and enhancements. According to the draft RFP, the GMSS contractor will be required to provide the following services:

• Medical staffing: The contractor will provide qualified and experienced medical personnel, such as physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, radiology technicians, and other allied health professionals, to staff MED facilities and programs overseas. The contractor will also provide recruitment, training, credentialing, performance evaluation, and retention services for the medical staff.
• Medical operations: The contractor will provide operational support for MED facilities and programs overseas, such as health unit management, quality assurance, infection control, emergency preparedness, medical records management, telemedicine, and health information technology.
• Medical logistics: The contractor will provide logistical support for MED facilities and programs overseas, such as medical supply chain management, inventory control, procurement, warehousing, distribution, disposal, and maintenance of medical equipment and supplies.
• Medical evacuation: The contractor will provide medical evacuation services for U.S. government personnel and their eligible family members who require urgent or specialized medical care that is not available at their overseas location. The contractor will coordinate with MED, local health authorities, transportation providers, and receiving facilities to ensure safe and timely transfer of patients.
• Medical consultation: The contractor will provide medical consultation services for U.S. government personnel and their eligible family members who need advice or guidance on health-related issues or concerns while overseas. The contractor will also provide health education and wellness programs to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases.

Who Should Participate

The GMSS contract is a full and open competition that is open to any qualified offeror that can meet the technical and management requirements of the RFP. However, given the complexity and magnitude of the contract, offerors should have extensive experience and capabilities in providing global medical support services to large-scale organizations or government agencies. Offerors should also have a strong understanding of the DOS mission and culture, as well as the challenges and risks involved in operating in diverse and austere environments overseas. Offerors should also have a robust network of medical resources and partners in various regions and countries where DOS operates.

Challenges

The GMSS contract is a highly competitive and demanding opportunity that poses several challenges for potential offerors. Some of these challenges are:

• Compliance: The offeror must comply with various laws, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines that govern the provision of medical services to U.S. government personnel overseas. These include the Foreign Service Act of 1980, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation standards, the DOS Medical Program Handbook, and other relevant directives and instructions.
• Security: The offeror must ensure the safety and security of its personnel, facilities, equipment, supplies, and information in high-threat or unstable locations where DOS operates. The offeror must also coordinate with DOS security offices and other security providers to implement appropriate security measures and contingency plans.
• Quality: The offeror must ensure the quality and consistency of its medical services across all MED facilities and programs overseas. The offeror must also monitor and evaluate its performance and outcomes, and implement continuous improvement initiatives and best practices.
• Innovation: The offeror must demonstrate its ability to innovate and adapt to the changing needs and expectations of DOS and its customers. The offeror must also leverage new technologies and solutions to enhance its medical services and operations.

Conclusion

The GMSS contract is a strategic and lucrative opportunity for offerors that can provide comprehensive and high-quality medical support services to U.S. government personnel overseas. However, the GMSS contract also requires offerors to overcome significant challenges and risks in delivering these services in a complex and dynamic environment. Therefore, offerors should carefully assess their capabilities and readiness before pursuing this opportunity, and seek professional assistance from experienced capture and proposal consultants, such as GDI Consulting. GDI Consulting is a leading provider of federal opportunity capture and proposal management services, with a proven track record of winning contracts for its clients. GDI Consulting can help offerors with market research, opportunity sourcing, competitor analysis, bid strategy, proposal development, color team reviews, and other support services to increase their chances of winning the GMSS contract. To learn more about how GDI Consulting can help you win the GMSS contract, contact us today at www.gdicwins.com.