How to Win the USCG Business and Logistics Management Support Services Contract

Introduction

Solicitation number BLMSSFY2405292023 – The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is seeking small businesses that can provide business and logistics management support services to the Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Cyber and Intelligence Service Center (C5ISC) and Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER). The contract, known as Business and Logistics Management Support Services (BL/MSS), is expected to be worth up to $500 million over 10 years. This article will provide an overview of the historical background, the RFP description, the eligibility criteria, and the challenges of this opportunity. It will also highlight how GDI Consulting can help you prepare a winning proposal for this contract.

Historical Background

The BL/MSS contract is a follow-on to the Business Support Services III (BSS III) BPA, which was awarded in 2019 to Telesolv Consulting LLC for a base period of one year and four option years. The BSS III BPA provided a range of services such as acquisition management, project management, performance and process management, service management, asset and enterprise logistics support, and workforce support services to the C5ISC and CGCYBER. The BSS III BPA had a ceiling value of $99 million.

The BL/MSS contract is expected to expand the scope of services and the number of customers beyond the BSS III BPA. According to the draft statement of work (SOW) released in May 2023, the BL/MSS contract will also support the Coast Guard Chief Information Officer’s (CIO) Office, Commandant (CG-4, CG-6, CG-7; and CG-93). The BL/MSS contract will also include additional services such as strategic planning, portfolio management, business process planning, process integration planning, facilities planning, marketing and communications planning services, life cycle cost estimation services, cybersecurity service provider program maturation and recertification, acquisitions lifecycle support, enterprise life cycle logistics and engineering support.

RFP Description

The USCG plans to issue a solicitation for the BL/MSS contract by September 30, 2023. The solicitation will be a small business set-aside under NAICS code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services) with a size standard of $24.5 million. The USCG intends to award multiple blanket purchase agreements (BPAs) under FAR Subpart 8.4 for a period of 10 years (five-year base period with five one-year option periods). The estimated value of the contract is $500 million, but it may not exceed $1.4 billion over 10 years.

The USCG will evaluate proposals based on the following factors: technical approach, past performance, key personnel qualifications, small business participation plan, and price. The USCG will use a trade-off process to select the best value proposals for award.

Who Should Participate?

The BL/MSS contract is a great opportunity for small businesses that have experience and expertise in providing business and logistics management support services to federal agencies, especially in the C5I domain. The BL/MSS contract will require contractors to perform a wide range of tasks such as:

  • Providing consulting services on acquisition management, project management, performance and process management, service management, asset and enterprise logistics support, workforce support, strategic planning, portfolio management, business process planning, process integration planning, facilities planning, marketing and communications planning services, life cycle cost estimation services.
  • Supporting cybersecurity service provider program maturation and recertification activities for CGCYBER.
  • Supporting acquisitions lifecycle activities such as market research, requirements analysis, solicitation development, source selection evaluation, contract administration, and closeout.
  • Providing enterprise life cycle logistics and engineering support services such as material management, configuration management, business management, inventory management, logistics supply support, and planned maintenance development.

To be eligible for the BL/MSS contract, small businesses must meet the following requirements:

  • Have a valid DUNS number and be registered in SAM.gov.
  • Have an active GSA Schedule 70 or Professional Services Schedule (PSS) contract with SINs that match the scope of work.
  • Have relevant past performance within the last five years that demonstrates successful performance of similar or greater scope and complexity as the BL/MSS SOW.
  • Have qualified key personnel that meet or exceed the minimum education, certification, and experience requirements specified in the SOW. The key personnel positions are: program manager; project management consultant level III; acquisition consultant level III; performance & process consultant level III; service management consultant level III; asset & enterprise logistics consultant level III; workforce consultant level III; strategic planning consultant level III; portfolio management consultant level III; business process consultant level III; process integration consultant level III; facilities planning consultant level III; marketing & communications consultant level III; life cycle cost estimation consultant level III; cybersecurity service provider consultant level III; acquisitions lifecycle support consultant level III; enterprise life cycle logistics & engineering support consultant level III.
  • Have a small business participation plan that demonstrates how the offeror will meet or exceed the small business subcontracting goals established by the USCG.

Challenges

The BL/MSS contract is a highly competitive and complex opportunity that poses several challenges for small businesses. Some of the challenges are:

  • Understanding the needs and expectations of the USCG and its customers and tailoring the technical approach to address them effectively and efficiently.
  • Demonstrating relevant and successful past performance that showcases the offeror’s capabilities and experience in providing business and logistics management support services to federal agencies, especially in the C5I domain.
  • Identifying and securing qualified key personnel that meet or exceed the USCG’s requirements and providing compelling resumes and letters of commitment.
  • Developing a realistic and reasonable price proposal that reflects the offeror’s understanding of the scope of work, the labor mix, the labor rates, and the other direct costs.
  • Complying with the solicitation instructions, terms, and conditions, and submitting a compliant and responsive proposal by the deadline.

GDI Consulting can help you leverage your capabilities and experience to create a winning proposal for the BL/MSS contract. Please contact us today.