Introduction
The Depot On-site Contract Augmentee Teams 5 (DOCAT 5) is a lucrative opportunity for contractors who can provide technical and engineering support services to the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) at various locations across the United States. The contract has a 10-year duration and an estimated value of TBD. The solicitation number is FA822423R0002.
GDI Consulting (GDIC) is a leading provider of capture and proposal services for government contractors, with a proven track record of winning federal contracts in various industries and agencies. GDIC has the expertise, experience, and resources to help you prepare a winning proposal for the DOCAT 5 contract. In this article, we will provide an overview of the historical background, RFP description, eligibility criteria, and challenges of the DOCAT 5 contract, and explain how GDIC can help you achieve success.
Historical Background
The DOCAT 5 contract is the fifth generation of the Depot On-site Contract Augmentee Teams program, which was initiated in 1998 to augment the organic depot workforce with contractor personnel. The program aims to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness of depot maintenance operations by providing flexible and scalable support services in various technical and engineering disciplines.
The previous generations of the DOCAT program were awarded to multiple contractors through competitive bidding processes. The most recent one, DOCAT 4, was awarded in 2013 to six contractors: AECOM Technical Services Inc., ARINC Engineering Services LLC, Jacobs Technology Inc., M1 Support Services LP, PAE Applied Technologies LLC, and URS Federal Services Inc. The DOCAT 4 contract had a five-year base period and five one-year option periods, with a total ceiling value of $11.4 billion.
The DOCAT 5 contract is expected to be a follow-on to the DOCAT 4 contract, with similar scope and requirements. However, there may be some changes or updates in the RFP that reflect the current needs and priorities of the AFMC.
RFP Description
The RFP for the DOCAT 5 contract was released on August 8, 2023 as a draft document for industry feedback. The final RFP is expected to be released in November or December 2023. The RFP provides detailed information on the scope of work, performance locations, evaluation criteria, proposal instructions, and contract terms and conditions.
According to the draft RFP, the scope of work for the DOCAT 5 contract includes:
– Providing technical and engineering support services to augment depot maintenance activities at AFMC locations
– Performing tasks such as engineering analysis, design, development, testing, troubleshooting, repair, modification, installation, calibration, certification, inspection, quality assurance, configuration management, data management, documentation, training, and logistics support
– Supporting depot maintenance operations for various weapon systems and platforms such as aircraft, engines, missiles, munitions, space systems, electronics systems, software systems, ground vehicles, and test equipment
– Supporting depot maintenance functions such as production planning and control, material management, facility management, safety management, security management,
environmental management,
and business management
– Supporting depot maintenance initiatives such as process improvement,
technology insertion,
innovation,
and modernization
The performance locations for the DOCAT 5 contract include:
– Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC) locations such as Hill AFB (Utah), Tinker AFB (Oklahoma), Robins AFB (Georgia), Ogden Air Logistics Complex (Utah), Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex (Oklahoma), Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (Georgia), and other AFSC sites
– Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) locations such as Wright-Patterson AFB (Ohio), Hanscom AFB (Massachusetts), Eglin AFB (Florida), Robins AFB (Georgia), Tinker AFB (Oklahoma), Hill AFB (Utah), Edwards AFB (California), Kirtland AFB (New Mexico), Los Angeles AFB (California), Peterson AFB (Colorado), and other AFLCMC sites
– Air Force Test Center (AFTC) locations such as Edwards AFB (California), Eglin AFB (Florida), Arnold AFB (Tennessee), Holloman AFB (New Mexico), White Sands Missile Range (New Mexico), and other AFTC sites
– Other AFMC locations such as Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) sites, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) sites, and Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) sites
The evaluation criteria for the DOCAT 5 contract include:
– Technical approach
– Management approach
– Past performance
– Price
The proposal instructions for the DOCAT 5 contract include:
– Submitting a technical proposal that addresses the scope of work, performance locations, and evaluation criteria
– Submitting a management proposal that addresses the organizational structure, key personnel, staffing plan, subcontracting plan, quality control plan, transition plan, and risk management plan
– Submitting a past performance proposal that provides relevant and recent examples of similar contracts performed by the offeror and its major subcontractors
– Submitting a price proposal that provides a breakdown of the proposed labor rates, indirect rates, other direct costs, fee, and total price for each contract line item number (CLIN)
– Submitting a proposal summary that provides a concise overview of the offeror’s capabilities, strengths, and differentiators
The contract terms and conditions for the DOCAT 5 contract include:
– Awarding the contract to multiple contractors through a best value trade-off process
– Establishing the contract as an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) type with firm fixed price (FFP) and cost reimbursement (CR) CLINs
– Setting the contract duration as a five-year base period and five one-year option periods
– Setting the contract ceiling value as TBD
– Issuing task orders to the contractors on a competitive or direct award basis
– Requiring the contractors to comply with various federal, state, and local laws and regulations
Who Should Participate
The DOCAT 5 contract is open to all contractors who can meet the eligibility and qualification requirements stated in the RFP. The contractors should have:
– A valid System for Award Management (SAM) registration
– A valid Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) approved accounting system
– A valid Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) approved purchasing system
– A valid Facility Security Clearance (FCL) at the Secret level or higher
– A proven track record of providing technical and engineering support services to depot maintenance operations for various weapon systems and platforms
– A strong team of qualified and experienced personnel who can perform the tasks required by the scope of work
– A competitive and realistic price proposal that reflects the offeror’s understanding of the requirements and risks
The DOCAT 5 contract is a strategic opportunity for contractors who want to expand their business in the federal market, especially in the AFMC domain. The contractors who participate in the DOCAT 5 contract can benefit from:
– Accessing a large and stable source of revenue for up to 10 years
– Establishing or enhancing their reputation and relationship with AFMC and other Air Force customers
– Leveraging their existing capabilities and resources to provide high-quality support services to depot maintenance operations
– Developing or acquiring new capabilities and technologies to support depot maintenance initiatives and innovations
The Challenges
The DOCAT 5 contract is also a challenging opportunity for contractors who face various obstacles and risks in pursuing it. Some of the challenges include:
– Understanding and responding to the complex and dynamic requirements of the RFP
– Developing and demonstrating a comprehensive and compelling technical approach that meets or exceeds the expectations of AFMC
– Developing and demonstrating a robust and effective management approach that ensures successful performance of the contract
– Providing relevant and positive past performance references that showcase the offeror’s capabilities and experience in similar contracts
– Offering a competitive and realistic price proposal that balances cost, quality, and risk factors
– Differentiating themselves from other competitors who have similar or superior qualifications and credentials
Conclusion
The DOCAT 5 contract is a rare and valuable opportunity for contractors who can provide technical and engineering support services to depot maintenance operations for various weapon systems and platforms. The contract has a 10-year duration and an estimated value of TBD. The solicitation number is FA822423R0002 and the proposal deadline is February 1, 2022.
