Army Modern Software Development Multiple Award IDIQ: Proposal Support

We offer comprehensive proposal support for the Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground’s (ACC-APG) $10 billion Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Modern Software for Defense (MSD), designed to procure software enablement efforts for the United States Army and its operating agencies. Our services help large and small businesses navigate the complexities of the MSD IDIQ contract, ensuring high-quality, compliant, and competitive proposals.

Contract Overview

ACC-APG is developing a vehicle to procure software enablement efforts in support of Army systems. The IDIQ aligns to and supports the three DoD modern software strategy core goals and objectives:

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Goal 1: Accelerate the DoD enterprise cloud environment
Goal 2: Establish department-wide software factory ecosystem
Goal 3: Transform processes to enable resilience and speed

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“Software enablement effort” is defined as: development of a custom software solution; configuration, customization, integration, or modification of a software solution; software as a service enablement; or software security and hosting modernization. The IDIQ will support ongoing software enablement efforts including:

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Software delivery through modern infrastructure and platforms
Software delivery through true process transformation and people development
Rapid and secure delivery of resilient software capabilities
Software modernization that considers security, stability, and quality at speed that prioritize execution of stability, quality, and dependable cyber-survivability via the adoption of Modern Software for Defense practices that effectively integrate performance and security throughout the software development lifecycle
Cloud adoption to enable software modernization and proactively manage data
Enhancement of modern software enterprise capabilities
Software modernization framework to procure software a multitude of ways such as (1) adoption of existing applications and platforms available through DoD component-sponsored capabilities; (2) buying software or the components for developing software through traditional software licenses to include those for low-code/no-code platforms; (3) cloud software-as-a-service subscriptions; and/or (4) custom develop software
Continuous adoption of new and latest technologies and approaches from the emerging digital landscape to support mission requirements, enable interoperability, and ensure security specific but not limited to DoD enterprise cloud environment, design patterns, DevSecOps / tooling and/or enterprise services
Support process transformation(s) that take consideration to business operations, acquisition, cyber survivability, testing, and workforce

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Task orders (TOs) will include cost plus fixed fee (CPFF), cost reimbursement (CR), labor hour (LH) / time and materials (T&M), and firm-fixed price (FFP).

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The initial IDIQ awards will go to the highest technically rated Offerors. The next highest technically rated Offerors will be eligible for on-ramping during the first year of the contract. Future on-ramping may allow new Offerors to participate.

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The Government will establish a Qualified Subcontractor Pool (QSP) of small businesses at the start of the first TO and will continuously add subcontractors throughout the ordering period. MA IDIQ contractors must first consider QSP firms before non-QSP concerns when proposing subcontractors at the TO level. MA IDIQ contractors may sponsor companies for inclusion in the QSP. Teaming arrangements must be non-exclusive. QSP vendors will be eligible for on-ramping to the IDIQ contract.

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On October 11, 2024, ACC-APG posted a second draft RFP. Changes include:

Clarification of Digital Engineering: PWS revisions address digital engineering and specifically the use of models for creating software, digital engineering artifacts for requirements traceability, and digital engineering for test planning and evaluation.
Security Facility Clearance: Task orders, not the IDIQ, will now establish security requirements.
Technical Corporate Experience: experience performed as a subcontractor is now acceptable. The eight areas formerly identified as Phase 2 strengths are now included in Phase 1 and offerors must address at least five across their three experience examples.
Pivot Challenge: This new technical factor will require offerors in Phase 2 to provide a video response to a scenario within 2 hours of receipt. The Pivot Challenge will serve as the gate for participation in Phase 3.
Streamlined Pricing: Labor hour rates are no longer established at the IDIQ level. Each task order will provide floor and ceiling rates. A basis of estimate will be required.
Ultimate Technical Challenge: The format of the ultimate tech challenge has changed, Part A will continue to require a two-week real time development task and will have an assigned GitLab environment. Part B is a live rapid-fire virtual session and will include five focus areas over two hours, including Q&A.

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On October 7, 2024, ACC-APG Digital Contracting Capabilities Center of Excellence (DC3oE) announced the first in a series of quarterly virtual industry forums called DC3oE Unplugged. The first event takes place Thursday, November 7, 2024, 1:00-2:30 PM ET and will describe, among other things, an overview of MSD ordering procedures and changes to the RFP. Register free here.

Contract Details

Agency: Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG)
Status: Pre-RFP
Solicitation Dates:
- RFI: May 2024
- Draft RFPs: August 16, 2024, October 11, 2024
- Provide feedback on Draft RFP: January 08, 2025, by 10:00 am
- DC3oE Unplugged (with MSD RFP update): November 7, 2024
- Final RFP: Estimated December 2024
Period of Performance: 5-year base period plus one 5-year option period (total 10 years)
Award Date: Estimated March 2025
Validity: All proposals must be valid for 5 years beyond award so offeror(s) in the “awardable but not selected” pool can be on-ramped without further proposal evaluation.
Competition Type: Unrestricted/full and open; 20% of awards reserved for small business
NAICS: 541512, $34M size standard (other applicable NAICS codes may be selected at the order level for work within the scope of the PWS)
Subcontracting Goals: Mandatory Qualified Subcontractor Pool of small businesses
Number of Awards: Multiple (~20)
Contract Value: $10B
Proposal Due Date: TBD; estimated 30 day turn

Functional Areas

The MSD contract will provide the Army with software solutions that comply with the guidelines established in Army Directive AD 2024-02 for Enabling Modern Software Development and Acquisition Practices. The directive highlights the importance for software contracts and programs to use modern principles including employing agile methods, software metrics, modernized testing, DevSecOps, CI/CD, and future modern software practices as they develop. The Performance Work Statement areas include:

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Agile Software Objectives
- Configuration and Integration of Software
- Low Code Software Solution
- Custom Software Development

Modern Software Focus Areas
- Modern Software Hosting & Operations
- Software Security
- Data Mesh Principles
- Agile Program Management

Proposal Requirements

Submitting a successful proposal for the MSD IDIQ requires meticulous attention to detail and thorough preparation. The proposal requirements include:

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Phase One:
- Volume I: General
  - Element 1: Cover Letter
  - Element 2: Property Management Plan
- Volume II: Factor 1 Technical Corporate Experience
Phase Two:
- Volume III Factor 2 Technical Scenario Pivot Challenge
  - Offerors will submit a 7-minute video response to the technical scenario, providing an approach and plan
  - Videos must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of 3 of 8 focus areas (Army secure development practices; DevSecOps software development practices which includes agile software development; modular open system development; API first development practices; data centricity development practices; human centered design development practices; integration of AI into workflows; and use of digital engineering and model based system engineering practices to develop software)
  - Offerors will receive approximately 3 business days’ notice of their scheduled Challenge session. On the assigned date they will have 2 hours from receipt of the scenario to submission.
Phase Three:
- Volume IV: Factor 3 – Price
- Volume V: Factor 4 – The Ultimate Technical Challenge
  - A. The Ultimate Technical Challenge
  - B. Technical Challenge Solution Rapid Fire Session
- Volume VI: Factor 5 – Management Approach (3 pages)

View MSD IDIQ solicitation documents on SAM.gov

Evaluation Criteria

The Government will review the proposals to determine the HTRO based on the non-price factors of Factor 1 – Technical Corporate Experience, Factor 2 – Technical Scenario Pivot Challenge (unless bypassed), Factor 4 – The Ultimate Technical Challenge, and Factor 5 – Management Approach. Factor 4 – The Ultimate Technical Challenge Factor is significantly more important than Factor 1 – Technical Corporate Experience, Factor 2 – Technical Scenario Pivot Challenge, and Factor 5 – Management Approach.

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Critical Insights for MSD IDIQ Offerors:

To secure a position on the MSD IDIQ, Offerors must have a team of technically adept, engaging developers able to think and work quickly to survive the Technical Scenario Pivot Challenge and the Ultimate Technical Challenge.

Start building the Challenge team early
Video presentations are job interviews as much as technical demonstrations! Prepare accordingly: choose a mix of people considering both engaging personalities and technical qualifications.
Plan a series of test runs to practice brainstorming and presenting solutions. Record the presentations to refine your on-camera performance.

Summit Strategy Services

We provide a full spectrum of proposal support services tailored to help both large and small businesses secure a position on the MSD MA IDIQ. Our expert team is equipped to guide you through every stage of the proposal process, from draft solicitation and final solicitation review to initial planning to final submission.

Understanding and Analysis: We analyze the final RFP to provide a clear understanding and insights.

Scoring Systems: Our experts explain the scoring system and offer strategic tips to maximize your score.

Proposal Planning: We assist with compliance matrix creation, proposal initialization, proposal outlining, template development, and detailed planning to ensure a well-structured and compliant proposal.

Full Proposal Development: Our dedicated proposal managers, along with supplementary resources such as writers, graphic designers, and desktop publishers, work to develop a top-notch high-scoring proposal. We will also actively monitor for RFP amendments and Q+A releases, and adjust your strategy as needed.

Reviewing and Auditing: We conduct thorough reviews, including compliance, color reviews, and QC checks, to optimize your proposal and enhance its competitiveness.

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Success Stories

Hear from our satisfied clients who have benefited from our expert proposal support and secured significant federal contracts.

Game-Changing Win

"Partnering with Summit Strategy was a crucial strategic decision for us. Their extensive experience in assisting companies like ours pursue large, complex opportunities was instrumental in managing our team and the phased approach for this proposal effort. Winning this contract is incredibly impactful for our small firm, serving as a launch pad to pursue similar large contract opportunities. We look forward to relying on Summit for all our future proposal efforts, big or small, as our go-to proposal management team."

- CEO,
GovCon IT Consulting Firm

Elite Team

"It has been wonderful partnering with Summit Strategy. I highly recommend this elite team to any organization looking to take your performance to the next level.”

- Chief Growth Officer,
GovCon Intelligence + Security Solutions Firm

Exceeded Expectations

“My previous experiences with companies that do this type of work led me to have very low expectations, and you blew us out of the water! Everyone assigned to the [proposal] was professional, calm, helpful, thorough, and a pleasure to work with. You provided expertise and guidance to us throughout, and we really appreciated all you and your staff did. Thank you!

- Director of Contracts,
GovCon IT Consulting Firm

Ready to maximize your chances of securing a position on the MSD MA IDIQ?

Contact us for more details and inquiries about our proposal support services.

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