Introduction

The Engineering for Virtualized Enterprise and Remote Access Technology (EVEREST) is a potential requirement for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to enable research, enhancement, and maintenance of Multi-Level Access (MLA) data, information, processes, and systems. MLA solutions are a type of Cross Domain (CD) system that provides authorized users the ability to securely access data from multiple security domains from a single client device, while protecting the security domains from unauthorized access or malicious attack. The EVEREST contract is expected to have an overall performance period of 5-7 years, a contract type of Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), and a funding types of Research Development Test & Evaluation, Procurement, and Operations & Maintenance. The solicitation number is FA875023R1000 and the estimated value is $300 million.

If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, you need a reliable and experienced partner who can help you with capture management and proposal development services. GDI Consulting is a leading provider of federal government capture and proposal services with a proven track record of success. In this article, we will explain why GDI Consulting is the best choice for you to win the EVEREST contract.

Historical Background

The EVEREST requirement is not a new one, but rather a continuation and enhancement of a previous MLA solution called SecureView. SecureView was developed by AFRL in collaboration with the National Security Agency (NSA) and other partners to provide a scalable, certified MLA system for the Department of the Air Force (DAF), Department of Defense (DoD), and Intelligence Community (IC). SecureView has been in use since 2011 and has been deployed to over 100,000 users across various agencies and missions.

However, SecureView has some limitations and challenges that need to be addressed to meet the current and future needs of the DAF, DoD, and IC. Some of these challenges include:

To overcome these challenges, AFRL is seeking innovative solutions that can enhance SecureView and develop new MLA technologies under the EVEREST contract.

RFP Description

The EVEREST contract is expected to be released in June 2023 as a full and open competition. The RFP will include a statement of objectives (SOO), which will describe the desired outcomes and performance standards for the contract. The offerors will be required to submit a performance work statement (PWS), which will detail how they will achieve the objectives and standards specified in the SOO. The offerors will also need to provide a cost proposal that will include their proposed labor rates, direct costs, indirect costs, fee, and other relevant information.

The RFP will likely have several evaluation factors that will be used to assess the offerors’ proposals. Some of these factors may include:

  • Technical approach: The offerors will need to demonstrate their understanding of the requirement, their proposed solution, their innovation and creativity, their risk management strategy, their quality assurance plan, and their past performance on similar projects.
  • Management approach: The offerors will need to show their organizational structure, their key personnel qualifications and experience, their subcontracting plan, their staffing plan, their transition plan, and their communication plan.
  • Cost/price: The offerors will need to provide realistic and reasonable cost estimates that are consistent with their technical and management approaches.

The RFP will also specify the instructions for preparing and submitting the proposals, as well as the terms and conditions of the contract.

Who Should Participate

The EVEREST contract is open to any company that can meet the eligibility criteria set by AFRL. However, not every company has the same chances of winning this contract. Some of the factors that can increase your probability of success are:

  • Having relevant experience in developing MLA solutions or CD systems
  • Having strong technical capabilities in software research, development, integration, deployment, testing, installation, maintenance, and support
  • Having access to cleared personnel who can perform on government facilities and access up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI)
  • Having established relationships with AFRL and other potential customers and stakeholders
  • Having a competitive pricing strategy that can offer the best value to the government

If you have these factors, you are well-positioned to compete for the EVEREST contract. However, you still need a professional and effective capture and proposal team that can help you develop a winning strategy and a compelling proposal. This is where GDI Consulting comes in.

The Challenges

The EVEREST contract is not an easy one to win. It is a complex and highly competitive opportunity that requires a lot of preparation, planning, and execution. Some of the challenges that you may face are:

  • Understanding the customer’s needs, expectations, and preferences
  • Developing a unique and differentiated solution that can meet or exceed the customer’s requirements
  • Demonstrating your technical expertise and innovation in MLA solutions or CD systems
  • Providing sufficient evidence of your past performance and customer satisfaction
  • Managing your resources, schedule, and budget effectively
  • Complying with the RFP instructions and guidelines
  • Writing a clear, concise, and persuasive proposal that can highlight your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses

These challenges can be overwhelming for any company, especially if you do not have enough experience or resources to handle them. That is why you need GDI Consulting as your partner.

Conclusion

The EVEREST contract is a great opportunity for companies that have the capabilities and experience in MLA solutions or CD systems. However, it is also a challenging opportunity that requires a lot of preparation, planning, and execution. To increase your chances of success, you need a reliable and experienced partner like GDI Consulting, contact us at www.gdicwins.com today.