Offerors should keep in mind that the NIST standard referenced is NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-161—NIST’s flagship supply chain risk framework. While there is some overlap between control families in NIST SP 800-161 and NIST SP 800-171 (the foundation for the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification), offerors should evaluate how efforts toward CMMC could provide coverage for a NIST SP 800-161 Internal Controls gap assessment. The frameworks are different and require focused attention, especially if GSA is encouraging adherence as part of being an approved Alliant 3 vendor.
General volume items
While there were no omissions within general volume items from the first draft RFP to the second draft RFP, there were three additions:
Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) Compliance Form
- C-SCRM Compliance Form attesting to their adherence of federal law and regulation governing cybersecurity supply chain risk management
Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Form
- OCI Form prescribes responsibilities, general rules and procedures for identifying, evaluating and resolving organizational conflicts of interest
Price Proposal
- To establish maximum ceiling rates at the Master Contract Level for the time-and-material (T&M) and labor hour (LH) contract types.
GSA noted that the Price Proposal requirements are still being developed and are anticipated to change in the final RFP to include the evaluation of fully burdened rates for each of the 31 labor categories listed in Attachment J-3 at the senior skill level for T&M and LH contract types. The government anticipates making a fair and reasonable price determination based on Total Evaluated Price and does not anticipate requiring certified cost and pricing data at the Master Contract level.
Proposal submission portal
Similar to the recent OASIS+ GWAC solicitation, GSA will utilize Symphony as the official electronic proposal submission portal. Upon release of the final solicitation, offerors are instructed to submit all questions via Symphony. Offerors should register and gain familiarity with the portal before the final solicitation is released.
Upcoming important dates and deadlines
Public comments can be submitted to GSA and must be received by Jan. 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). All comments must be submitted to a3draftrfp@gsa.gov in the formats provided in the following links:
The draft RFP indicates GSA does not intend to provide direct responses to public comments or suggestions. Any changes resulting from public comments will be included in the final version of the RFP.
While there is no official release date for the final Alliant 3 RFP, offerors would be wise to start preparing now as GSA has hinted that they are still on track for a final RFP release in the spring (late April or May) of 2024. Offerors can track Alliant 3 updates via GSA Alliant 3 GWAC Community Interact.
How can Baker Tilly help?
With the final solicitation expected to be released in the spring of 2024, many companies are working diligently to understand the RFP requirements and how to prepare qualified, high-scoring proposals within the allotted timeframe. Timely, accurate and responsive proposals will be critical to moving through the phased evaluation process set forth by GSA in the RFP.
Baker Tilly stands ready to assist in the following areas:
- Third-party review/validation of RFP- specified business systems
- Scorecard/RFP readiness
- Proposal support and preparation
- Proposal compliance assessment
- C-SCRM plan development
Baker Tilly has a well-established methodology for third-party review of business systems. Our reports have been included in client proposals as evidence of client system acceptability for many years. We are business system specialists.
Baker Tilly is familiar with the self-scoring methodology employed for complex GWAC vehicles like Alliant 2, HCaTS, ASTRO, CIO-SP4, OASIS and OASIS+. These types of acquisitions place a maximum burden on the offeror to prove that they have the requisite experience and capabilities to meet government requirements.
Baker Tilly has assisted leading government contractors through the relevant experience review process, facilitating the successful selection of the right combination of projects to achieve an organization’s maximum score. Baker Tilly has also advised during the pre-proposal stage on teaming and partnering arrangements should it appear an offeror’s ability to achieve a successful award is in doubt. Whether an offeror is seeking support in making a bid/no-bid decision or would like assistance with ‘soup-to-nuts’ proposal preparation, we offer tailor-made assistance to address your unique needs.
