Tag: market research

SOURCES SOUGHT: Human Resource, Software as Service

Posted on by Eric Coffie

The Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) – Fort Knox, KY is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support the requirement for Software as a Service (SaaS) Human Resources System. The anticipate period of performance shall commence on or about 1 August 2022 with a base year and four one option periods. The intention is to procure these services on a competitive basis.

The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement, if a requirement materializes. Based on the responses to this sources sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part) or procured through full and open competition. All small business set-aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions.

  • Original Set Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
  • Original Response Date: Nov 12, 2021 02:00 pm EST
  • Product Service Code: DC10 – IT AND TELECOM – DATA CENTER AS A SERVICE
  • NAICS Code: 541511 – Custom Computer Programming Services
  • Place of Performance:North Chicago , IL 60064-3094 USA

Full details via beta.sam.gov

Mastermind Monday: Why are you scared to be in the arena?

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Don’t be afraid to build a relationship and bid on government contracts!

BE THE MAN IN THE ARENA

Do you know what ITA stands for? Well, this stands for In the Arena based off of Theodore Roosevelt’s quote which is called The Man in the Arena:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

The reason why we highlighted this quote is because we want to encourage all of you to get in the arena. Talk to people in your space. Talk to our podcast guests and if you’re similar to them, build a relationship with them.

However, the problem is people are trying to do everything alone. They’re an island by themselves.

They are sitting at home on their computer trying to price jobs, but have no one to overlook their mistakes and do things that are a must for bidding and overall govcon activities. 

Just take our very own Maria Martinez for example. She is a kindergarten teacher who has no govcon background, but when she dive into the arena and started building relationships with others, she succeeded and won multiple contracts. 

“She did not let people say, the cynics, tell her that she couldn’t do it. She tried. What happened when she tried? She succeeded… So again, in the arena. The credit belongs to the man who is in the arena.”

So, what are you going to do now? Well, you need to do the activities. And with this, we have some advice below. 

ADVICE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

1. Learn from people. 

When you jump into the marketplace without learning the basics, it is very easy to get in trouble. 

However, you can avoid this if you are studying from people who are living and breathing all of this stuff every day. 

We actually did have a student that won a contract but his price is 20,000 lower than the production cost. This is a huge problem. Good thing he was able to talk to the manufacturer about this, but what if he wasn’t?

“Learn from people. Listen, learn, learn, learn, first.”

2. Do your market research. 

The government buys everything. The thing is they don’t always buy it the same way that you’re thinking. 

For instance, if you have a specific niche service and you looked it up on FBO but nothing comes up, that service might have been bundled with other services. 

The key is to know where to do your market research and not just rely on things posted on beta.sam.

So, what you’ll do is look based on your NAICS or PSC code and go to USASpending, FPDS, or to similar platforms that showcase past procurement data.

3. Just do the activities.

You need to start doing your govcon activities. This means not just bidding but doing your business development. 

As said above, Maria Martinez didn’t just get lucky, she does the activities. So, what you need to do is to start reaching out to people and building relationships with them. 

4. Be a subcontractor.

In this marketplace, we always do this all the time that if we cannot win a contract as a prime, we’re contacting the prime to be their subcontractor.

The way we do this is we just call them up and tell them that we looked at the project that they won and that we’re all aware of the scope of work that it entails, and with that, we can execute a piece of that work.

8. Stick with the experts.

Stick with the people in your industry that are doing this every day. You can learn from them through our podcasts, but we highly recommend that you build a relationship with them as it is much better. 

RESOURCES

If you want to learn more about how to build a relationship and bid on government contracts, then check our full video below. 

You can also visit the GovCon Giant website or the new GovCon Edu where you learn everything about government contracting!

Why are you scared when bidding government contracts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDrHSxbIPdU

 

SOURCES SOUGHT: US National Sectéra vIPer Universal Secure Phone

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Based on the responses to these sources sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set aside for small businesses or procured through full and open competition, and multiple awards may be made for US National Sectéra vIPer. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified, as detailed in Appendix 1, are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by May 19, 2021.

  • Original Set Aside:
  • Product Service Code:
  • NAICS Code: 541519 – Other Computer Related Services
  • Place of Performance:  Albuquerque, NM 87185 USA
  • Original Response Date: May 27, 2021, 12:00 pm MDT
  • Full details via beta.sam.gov

    govcon logo Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.

SOURCES SOUGHT: SOF Enterprise Professional Services (SEPS)

Posted on by Eric Coffie

This Request for Information (RFI) is for Market Research purposes only and shall not be considered as an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice do not offer and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No contract awards will be made from this notice and no solicitation is available at this time. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government’s use of such information.

The acquisition of services will be in support of the SOF Enterprise Professional Services (SEPS) acquisition, which will focus on acquiring Knowledge-Based Services, as defined by the Department of Defense taxonomy for the acquisition of services. This Acquisition will be a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-aside. A USSOCOM single award IDIQ contract for current similar services, SOCOM Wide Mission Support, Group C (SWMS-C), will be ending January 30, 2022, and it is the Government’s intent to extend the current contract through July 31, 2022.

  • Original Set Aside: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)
  • Product Service Code: R499 – SUPPORT- PROFESSIONAL: OTHER
  • NAICS Code: 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
  • Place of Performance: Tampa, FL 33621 USA
  • Original Response Date: Jun 03, 2021, 11:00 am EDT
  • Full details via beta.sam.gov

    govcon logo Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.

SOURCES SOUGHT: Content Management Systems (CMS) Software

Posted on by Eric Coffie

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – New Jersey, on behalf of U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Armaments Center (CCDC AC), Life Cycle Supportability Division (LCSD) at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, is conducting market research to determine the capability of businesses to provide a content management system (CMS), a software application and a set of related programs, to create and manage digital content. The required CMS shall be used for authoring, reviewing, collaborating, storing, electronically publishing, and overall enterprise content management (ECM) of LCSD documentation. This documentation is developed in XML compliant to MIL-STD-40051 and binary/proprietary (e.g. FrameMaker, Word, etc.) formats and is updated and edited regularly after initial publication. The commercial CMS shall integrate the Army XMetaL application (configure the data ingest for Army custom eXtensible Mark-up Language (XML) and Document Type Definitions (DTDs)).

  • Original Set Aside:
  • Product Service Code: 7A21 – IT AND TELECOM – BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE (PERPETUAL LICENSE SOFTWARE)
  • NAICS Code: 511210 – Software Publishers
  • Place of Performance: Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806 USA
  • Updated Response Date: May 14, 2021 12:00 pm EDT
  • Full details via beta.sam.gov

    govcon logo

    Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.

SOURCES SOUGHT: Aviation Training Program (Helo Hoisting Services)

Posted on by Eric Coffie

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE; not a pre-solicitation notice or solicitation for proposals/ quotations. Pursuant to FAR Part 10 (Market Research) (Helo Hoisting Services), the purpose of this notice is to: (1) determine if sources capable of satisfying the agency’s requirements exists, (2) determine if commercial items suitable to meet the agency’s needs are available or could be modified to meet the agency’s requirements, and (3) determine the commercial practices of company’s engaged in providing the needed service or supply. Pursuant to FAR Part 6 and FAR Part 19, competition and set-aside decisions may be based on the results of this market research. This notice in no way obligates the Government to any further action. SCOPE OF WORK: The below was taken from the SOW and intended to provide a general description of this requirement.

The area of operations will be mutually agreed upon by both parties. In general, the area of operations will be located within 45 nautical miles of the New Orleans NAS JRB/Callender airfield. The majority of helicopter operations (Helo Hoisting Services) will be conducted no closer than two (2) nautical miles from shore and no further than 10 nautical miles from shore. 

  • Original Set Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
  • Product Service Code: W099 – LEASE OR RENTAL OF EQUIPMENT- MISCELLANEOUS
  • NAICS Code: 488390 – Other Support Activities for Water Transportation
  • Place of Performance: New Orleans, LA
  • Original Response Date: Apr 19, 2021 12:00 pm CDT

Full details via beta.sam.gov

govcon logo Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.

SOURCES SOUGHT: Commercial Industrial Services (CIS) Preservation Services

Posted on by Eric Coffie

This is a source sought announcement in accordance with FAR 15.201 and in anticipation of a potential future procurement program. Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) is conducting market research to determine industry capability and interest in performing the follow-on indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for commercial industrial services (CIS) Preservation (Interior and Exterior Surfaces) services contract. The primary purpose of this contract is to provide labor, services, equipment, and materials for the removal of existing, surface preparation, prime coat, and topcoat application of new paint coating system onboard U.S. Navy ships and other vessels within a 50-mile radius of San Diego, CA, which may include Oceanside, CA. See draft Statement of Work, (Enclosure (1)). The contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, materials, and facilities required to accomplish the work in the draft Statement of Work.

  • Original Set Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
  • Product Service Code: J999 – NON-NUCLEAR SHIP REPAIR (WEST)
  • NAICS Code: 336611 – Ship Building and Repairing
  • Place of Performance: San Diego, CA 92136 USA
  • Original Response Date: Mar 30, 2021, 02:00 pm EDT

Full details via beta.sam.gov

govcon giants logo Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.

 

SOURCES SOUGHT: Microwave Systems Laboratory (MSL) Special Test Equipment (STE)

Posted on by Eric Coffie

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), John H. Glenn Research Center (GRC), is seeking responses from any interested businesses. The purpose of these sources sought notice (SSN), sources sought synopsis (SSS), and request for information (RFI) is for market research, informational and planning purposes only related to the potential procurement of Microwave Systems Laboratory (MSL) Special Test Equipment (STE) for the range spaces within its new Aerospace Communications Facility (ACF); the ACF is currently under construction. Please see the attached document entitled, “80GRC020MSLSTE Sources Sought Synopsis”, for details. Changes as of September 14, 2020, follows: – Draft Statement of Work (SOW) is posted  – Industry Day – September 24th, 2020 (all interested parties must submit the full name (first & last) and email address for each industry day participant (max. 2 participants). Please follow the directions in the industry day attachment.  Changes as of December 7th, 2020 follows: – RFP Documents are attached. – Attachments A-G  Changes as of January 15, 2021, follows: – SF 30 – RFP Due Date Extension posted Changes as of January 29, 2021, follows: – Updated SOW Posted  – Questions and Answers Posted.

  • Original Set Aside:
  • Updated Set Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
  • Product Service Code: 5999 – MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
  • NAICS Code: 334515 – Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals
  • Place of Performance: Cleveland, OH 44135 USA
  • Updated Response Date: Feb 26, 2021 12:00 pm EST

Full details via beta.sam.gov

govcon logo Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.

Maintenance & Repair IDIQ

Posted on by Eric Coffie

The 56th Contracting Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona is conducting market research to determine the existence of interested small business sources capable of providing all labor, materials, equipment, and personnel necessary to design, manage and accomplish an Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract for Maintenance and Repair (M&R) services.

Projects will be in support of real property maintenance, repair and alteration construction requirements. The M&R contract will include multiple construction trades at Luke AFB, Arizona as well as its geographically separate units: Gila Bend Air Field, and Fort Tuthill recreation area. The jobs will include tasks in a variety of trades including, but not limited to: carpentry, excavation, electrical, steam fitting, plumbing, sheet metal, painting, demolition, concrete, masonry, welding, HVAC, asbestos removal, mold remediation, etc.

Classification

  • Product Service Code: Z1JZ – MAINTENANCE OF MISCELLANEOUS BUILDINGS
  • NAICS Code: 236220 – Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
  • Place of Performance: Luke AFB , AZ 85309 USA

Capability statements and questionnaires are due no later than 2:00 PM MST on Friday, 11 September 2020. 

Full details through beta.sam.gov

📌Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.

Improved Bradley Acquisition Subsystem Engineering Services

Posted on by Eric Coffie

The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for engineering services in support of the fielded Improved Bradley Acquisition Subsystem (IBAS) components and support equipment. The anticipated effort is to support production, deployment, sustainment and design maintenance of all IBAS and associated equipment; provide logistics maintenance capability, configuration management, product assurance support, special engineering studies, system engineering, failure analysis, test and evaluation, equipment publications, redesigns due to obsolescence, test evaluation material for repairs, Reset, Preset, Field Service Representative support and depot level contractor repair in support of the IBAS.

Classification

  • Original Set Aside:
  • Product Service Code: R425 – SUPPORT- PROFESSIONAL: ENGINEERING/TECHNICAL
  • NAICS Code: 541330 – Engineering Services
  • Place of Performance: Redstone Arsenal , AL 35898 USA

The proposed North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code is 541330 which has a corresponding Size Standard of $41.5M. The anticipated contract period of performance is November 2020 through October 2021.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by 1500 CST on 11 September 2020. All responses to this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to holly.a.hlavac.civ@mail.mil and dorphelia.b.foster.civ@mail.mil.

Full details via beta.sam.gov

📌Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.