GSP Questions.Answers 16Sept2021.pdf

Question

QUESTION/COMMENT/ RECOMMENDED

CHANGE Government Response

What is the plan for transitioning incumbent contracts at medical treatment facilities (MTF)s

The Government anticipates a phased transition with specifics to be determined at a later date. As information becomes available, the Government will share with industry.

What are the expectations of DHA Staff as to the content or direction of the discussion during the one-on-one meetings?

The one-on-one meetings being held 14-16 September 2021 are intended to be a more open discussion on the responses that were provided in the six question areas in the 3 September 2021 announcement as well as an opportunity for industry to showcase their ideas and capabilities for performing the Geographic Service Providers (GSP) requirements.

What are the geographic boundaries of the East and West Geographic Service Providers (GSP)’s. In other words, where is the dividing line between States belonging to the East Region or the West Region GSP.

At this time, no geographic boundaries have been defined.

The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available. Suggestions from industry during the acquisition planning phase are welcomed.

How will you organize and group capabilities needed by region for acquisition?

At this time, no geographic boundaries have been defined.

The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available. Suggestions from industry during the acquisition planning phase are welcomed.

What role will the Enterprise Information Technology Systems Integrator (EITSI) play in the acquisition of the GSPs?

The EITSI will play a part of helping the Government drive to a cohesive IT Support capability as it relates with the GSP and Capability Service Providers (CSP) acquisition objectives.

How will you address the flexibility needed for new or changing technical capabilities and the people who will be needed to address these innovations?

This will be determined as part of acquisition planning.

7 What do you mean by “Plug In”? The ability of the service provider(s) to integrate into the EITS environment.

Why does the Government feel that a Geographic Service Provider is necessary? Why not just the CSP?

The GSP is an important capability to support DHA’s MTFs whereas the CSPs provide an enterprise solution.

Will GSP industry partners be restricted from CSP bids?

Unless prohibited by OCI or other prohibition, the GSP industry providers will not be restricted from performing the CSP requirements.

What contract vehicles will be used for GSP? The Government is formulating its acquisition strategy.

The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Do you intend to adjust the GSP acquisition timeline if the start of the EITSI contract is delayed significantly?

At this time, the Government does not anticipate adjusting the GSP timeline.

Will there be various ones used or will the government focus on specific vehicles for specific technology delivery?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Will the government consider use of VETS II or SPARC as an acquisition vehicle?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy but is considering all available acquisition vehicles. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Will the government consider use of SB Joint Ventures under one or more socio-economic categories as a part of the competition for the GSPs?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy, including maximizing use of Small Businesses.

The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Is the GSP a single award or a muli-award? At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Is it small business (SB) or full and open (F&O) with a % SB set aside?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Is the GSP a 5 year or 10 year PoP? At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Will you follow the same acquisition process as EITSI – phase 1, phase 2, orals, etc.?

The Government will formulate the evaluation process, appropriate to the acquisition strategy once it is defined.

The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Do you anticipate major organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) issues?

The Government does not anticipate major issues in this realm, however will evaluate any potential or actual OCIs as they arise.

Will Contract Teaming Agreements (CTA)s be permitted?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

When will the CSP be released? CSP-related information will be released via Sam.gov as it becomes available. As briefed, the draft GSP acquisition documents are anticipated to be released incrementally to industry as they are developed, as depicted on Chart 5 of the 13 September brief.

Slide 7 mentions that "Companies ... can bid on multiple Service Provider contracts".

Specifically with regards to the GSP's, does the Government anticipate allowing a single company to bid on (and be awarded) contracts supporting more than one geography?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Does the Government plan on publishing the list of industry day attendees (companies)?

The Government has limited information for this event, due to the platform used. However, the Government will consider providing this information to assist in team development for future events.

Could you please elaborate on Slide 10 - #s 7, 8, and 9?

Without understanding what elaboration is being requested, further information on the Scope Areas can be found on Sam.gov in the 29 July Problem Statement posting.

Is there an overarching document or plan which describes the EITS program management office (PMO) intent over the next 5-10 years which captures the essence of the CIO’s enterprise end state?

At this time, the Government does not have this information available. As information is developed the Government anticipates sharing it with industry at planning events and venues.

Has the Program Office used Lean Agile methods in their processes to understand how to organize the work? This appears to be a perfect use case / scenario, but we have not seen mention of it in any of the documentation?

As part of ongoing Market Research, the Government welcomes industry ideas and experience in how to most effectively organize requirements.

27 Is GSC being provided by the EITSI provider (or will it become a CSP area)?

Yes

28 How will the EITSI Protest impact the GSP initiative?

At this time, the Government does not anticipate an impact to the GSP initiative.

How does DHA envision Large Businesses supporting GSP?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

We noticed that Total Learning Architecture (TLA) was not mentioned. Do you envision that TLA will be an integral part of the support contracts going forward? If so what is the timing for the MHS TLA RFP? Is it anticipated to be a single award following the approach of other ADL initiatives for the TLA? Regarding MTF participation for the MHS TLA, what has been the level of engagement and buy in for the initiative?

Without understanding the relevance of this question to the GSP requirements, the Government welcomes input on ideas or experience in this realm.

Could the government please confirm that the intention is to have separate GSP contractors for MTFs and other lines of business (OLB)?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Will the RFP proscribe locations for management/centralized functions?

At this time, neither geographic boundaries nor functions have been defined. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

33 What kind of work is handled by the GSP and what is handled by CSP?

See Industry Day slides 6 - 9.

34 Is it safe to assume that there will be a GSPs and CSPs as separate contracts and vendors?

At this point in time, the Government anticipates separate acquisitions.

Will there be single service (i.e. serviceNow)? Without understanding how the term “Single Service” might impact GSP under the EITS environment, the Government is not able to answer this question.

Is this opportunity SB set aside and any SB other areas?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Are there any restrictions for competing for specific areas or CSPs?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Will DHA be awarding an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract?

At this time, the Government is formulating its acquisition strategy. The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Is there a concept of ops on how EITSI, CSP, and GSP fit together?

The Government will formulate the evaluation process, appropriate to the acquisition strategy once it is defined.

The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

What is DHAs biggest challenge? The DHA and MTF structure presents an pooportunity as well as a challenge to manage centrally and reduce overhead as well as have a greater outreach and partnership at the site levels. In addition, the timeline for integration and implementation/synchronization will vary.

How much of the existing work will transition to virtual/off-site support?

The Government will formulate the evaluation process, appropriate to the acquisition strategy once it is defined.

The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

42 Will the EITSI contractor have input on staffing levels for GSPs?

Until the EITS contract is fully integrated, the coordination effort is not known.

Does DHA have any idea what MTFs/regions will be included in the first round of contracting?

The Government will formulate the evaluation process, appropriate to the acquisition strategy once it is defined.

The Government anticipates releasing information to industry throughout the acquisition planning phase as it becomes available.

Will there be Organizational Conflicts of Interest?

EITSI and any of its major subcontractors will be prohibited in participating in GSPs and CSPs. Further, additional conflicts or exclusivity (e.g. between geographic) will be determined as part of the acquisition

45 Will clinical informatics be included in the

GSP?

At this point, clinical informatics is included in one of the 9 scope areas for the GSP.

Industry Day & 1on1 Meetings