Sources Sought Notice.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1.0 General Information

Document Type: Sources Sought Notice Title: Technical Engineering Analytical Management Support (TEAMS) Strategic Planning Sources Sought Post Date: 02/20/2025 Sources Sought Response Date: 03/19/2025.

NAICS Code: 541611-Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services Product Service Code: R408, Professional: Program Management/Support

2.0 Background

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) is sponsoring this solicitation. The mission of the DSCA is to advance U.S. defense and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign partners to encourage and enable allies and partners to respond to shared challenges.

Execution of the DSCA mission requires coordination and collaboration between multiple Department of Defense (DoD) components that comprise of the Security Cooperation (SC) Enterprise. The SPP’s role in the in the DSCA Mission and SC Community is to improve SC investments and outcomes through better strategic planning and innovation.

3.0 Introduction

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has program responsibilities regarding the sale and transfer of defense articles and services to international customers. As part of its overall responsibilities, DSCA is the Department of Defense (DoD) agency delegated the responsibility to manage the transfer, sale, and lease of U.S. military end-items under Sections 516 and 623 of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j) as amended, and Chapters 2, 3, and 6 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).

In concert with legislation, regulation, and policy, DSCA is focused on enhanced flexibility, transparency, and oversight of SC authorities and resources to improve alignment of security cooperation activities to defense strategy. These efforts create an opportunity to transform SC into a stronger strategic tool in support of our national security interests. .

To meet the strategic oversight, planning, and management needs of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, the Geographic Combatant Commands (GCCs) and other key DoD and interagency stakeholders, DSCA SPP developed and promulgated the Strategy to Capability framework to standardize strategic planning and streamline how activities are identified, coordinated, sourced and executed. The process ensures activities across all security cooperation programs—from training and equipping to institutional capacity building—align with desired capabilities and outcomes. Strategy to Capability provides a collective, comprehensive planning framework for the SC community. This capabilities-based methodology starts with the analysis of potential threats to the U.S. and culminates in the development of partner capabilities that support both domestic and partner interests. The Strategy to Capability framework includes four levels of analysis. Each level results in a product that synthesizes strategic outcomes with varying degrees of program activity to inform program planning, development, and execution. DSCA creates and socializes he Level 1 Strategic Framework, a current-state, holistic view of the desired outcomes and major security cooperation efforts with a single partner. The Level 1 analysis depicts the overall strategic relationship that the United States has with that partner and lists the capabilities that provide a mutual benefit to both parties. GCC’s, with some support from PPD, develop the Level 2 Five-Year Plan, which is a matrix showcasing the entirety of the program activity and resourcing that will be used to develop a specific capability for a specific country. DSCA develops the Level 3 Systems Program Management Plan that provides an in-depth review of case lifecycle, project and acquisition milestones for specific systems or areas of support charted on the Five-Year Plan. DSCA also develops the Level Four Interagency Targeted Action Plan, which provides a detailed view of the political, economic, regulatory, and industrial base factors that impact a partner’s selection of a U.S. product in strategic competitions and delivering capabilities that support U.S. and partner strategic interests.

DSCA is expanding the breadth and depth of data collection and applying increased analytical rigor in order to develop higher quality and more actionable Strategy to Capability products. This includes capturing, aggregating and analyzing data from disparate sources to identify potential partner demand for SC activities, resources and opportunities in advance of partner need in order to shape and influence partner and USG decisions.

In addition to analysis of external factors, DSCA will also assess SC enterprise policies, procedures, regulations, structures, organization, and workforce factors that impact the SC enterprise’s capability and capacity to meet partner nations’ projected demands. One element of this internal assessment will be to aggregate and analysis DoD plans for SC activity in the context of the strategy to capability framework. This assessment will drive recommendations to make the U.S. SC enterprise more agile and response to shared partner-US security interests. DSCA leads implementation of recommendations to improve the implementation and execution of security cooperation activities.

4.0 Sources Sought

To facilitate market research, the Government is looking to identify qualified sources under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. Responses are requested from “all” sources including Other than Small Businesses. Small Businesses, 8(a) small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Women- Owned Small Businesses and Economically Disadvantaged Women- owned Small Businesses are encouraged to respond.

This Sources Sought (SS) Notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall NOT be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any concern responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the concern’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation MAY be published in Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

The Government will NOT accept requests for meetings or briefings. No phone solicitations or email with regards to the status of the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be accepted prior to its release. Information and materials submitted in response to this notice WILL NOT be returned.

As a result of this notice, the Government MAY issue a Request for Proposal (RFP). There is no solicitation available at this time. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government will arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice, nor the Government’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process, nor in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.

5.0 Program Details

The Washington Headquarters Services/Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD) is issuing this notice to obtain information to assist the DSCA in providing support for TEAMS. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify a pool of qualified offerors to provide the U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) with services to support TEAMS strategic planning services. The following service requirement critical task areas describe the broad range of functions and tasks in support of this effort:

6.0 Service Requirement Critical Task Areas/Elements

All submissions *must include verifiable* information about a firm’s ability to comply with the security requirements for this effort:

1) Security Clearance. The overall classification of work associated with this sources sought is at the SECRET level. The Contractor shall have a current facility clearance of SECRET at the time of proposal to work this effort. All personnel assigned to this contract must be U.S.

citizens.

2) Task Areas. Capability statements should address the Task Areas and Key Capabilities identified below and for each provide information to demonstrate how the offeror’s experience and recent past performance (last 3 years) is relevant to the technical areas listed, including the dollar value, period of performance, size and scope of the offeror’s prior contracts. Offeror’s can address one, all, or a combination of the task areas identified below. Please identify which specific task areas are addressed in the capability statement.

Task 1 Project Management and Task Management

• Create and update an integrated master schedule to show the linkages and dependencies between existing and new initiatives and to support the planning, execution, and implementation of assigned initiatives.

• Develop a project plan that will identify pertinent stakeholders, actions, and milestones necessary to achieve assigned objectives within prescribed timelines

• Shall design, develop, and deploy standard methodologies and templates to support the development of new agency initiatives as required.

• Create training aids, standard operating procedures, or socialization presentations to ensure adoption and consistency of these new initiatives.

• Shall generate tailored PowerPoint presentations, informational products, custom graphics, audio visual materials, briefings, talking points, read ahead, video scripts and other documents to support engagements with a wide range of audiences

Task 2 Data Analysis and Modeling

• Provide, implement, and utilize a variety of data analytic tools and methods to support the exploration, modeling, analysis, and visualization of financial and programmatic data.

• Design, develop, test, and implement tools, dashboards, visualizations, reports, custom queries and similar products, working with appropriate personnel (e.g., functional business process owners, IT system owners, etc.)

as required.

• Perform financial forecasting and modeling to enable timely analysis and decision-making related to the solvency of DSCA-managed accounts, as well as to support response to requests for information or other inquiries from other entities, such as OMB, Congress, the State Department, and foreign partners.

• Perform financial reconciliations and data cleansing activities, as required, to support accurate and timely data analysis and visualizations.

• Interpret and communicate data analysis outcomes, to include developing actionable recommendations or courses of action, as appropriate.

Task 3 Business Process Design, Improvement and Implementation

• Assist in the analysis and evaluation of current state business processes to assist in the design and implementation of new or improved business process.

• Implementation Plans for Enterprise-wide Transformation Initiatives: In close collaboration with the government conduct user needs assessments and gather stakeholder requirements to assist with initiative design and validation.

• Implementation Plans for Enterprise-wide Transformation Initiatives: In close collaboration with the government conduct user needs assessments and gather stakeholder requirements to assist with initiative design and validation.

• Design and Business Process Reengineering: Collect data regarding various existing BPC and FMS execution processes as background research to formulate recommended changes to the SC enterprise, through interviews, document research, needs assessments, and reviews of existing system documentation.

• Reporting, Tracking and Performance Management: Assist in the collection, aggregation, organization, and analysis of Security Cooperation information and data across disparate organizations within the Department of Defense and Department of State, to include State-funded security sector assistance programs, and Title 10 funded Security Cooperation programs.

Task 4 Financial Policy Support

• Executive Level Meetings and Briefings: Provide support for executive level meetings and briefings.

• Stakeholder Meeting Support: Provide stakeholder meeting support.

• Analysis of Competitive Financing Efforts: Provide analysis of competitive financing efforts.

• Research and Development: Provide research and data analytics support across the Competitive Finance portfolio.

• Strategic Communications and Marketing Campaign: Assist with strategic communications and a marketing campaign.

Place of Performance: The majority of the work associated with this effort is anticipated to be performed at the Contractor’s facility or when necessary, at DSCA Headquarters (HQ) in Arlington, VA and NSA Mechanicsburg, PA.

7.0 Capability Statements

Offerors must demonstrate their ability to comply with the requirements in this Sources Sought in order to be considered capable of satisfying the Government’s requirement. Security Capability information must be displayed on page 1 of the response.

All interested offerors having the experience, skills and capabilities necessary to perform the stated requirements are requested to provide capability statements not to exceed 5 pages in “Times New Roman” 12-pitch font on 8.5 x 11 paper that include the following information:

1) Company name, address, point of contact name, telephone, and email address.

2) CAGE Code and DUNS Number.

3) Business size status (business size/socio-economic category must be submitted to be used).

4) Offeror acknowledgement and capability to provide personnel that will need to successfully pass a National Agency Check.

5) Identify contracts your company has been awarded under NAICS: 541611 –

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.

Additional information on NAICS codes can be found at www.sba.gov.

6) Recommended/suggested NAICS codes for this effort.

7) Recommended/suggested contract type.

8) Number of contracts currently held with the Government to include any Federal

Supply Schedules listed under GSA Advantage.

9) Documentation that addresses each of the nine (4) Service Requirement Critical

Tasks/Elements detailed above.

10) A description of Corporate Experience & Past Performance Information for similar contracts and/or projects accomplished within the last 3 years. The description must include where, when, and for whom each similar contract and/or project was performed and a brief description of each contract and/or project, including the size, scope, dollar value, and period of performance. This information must demonstrate how the offeror’s recent Corporate Experience and Past Performance (last 3 years) is relevant to the TEAMS Requirement.

8.0 The following information will assist WHS/AD in establishing a basis for developing set-asides and/or subcontracting opportunities, as appropriate.

1. Identify which, if any, task areas that your firm will collaborate with a subcontractor or team partner (i.e., small business).

2. If you intend to subcontract, please include the estimated percentage for Small Business subcontracting opportunities for each task area identified.

3. Explain the reason for performing those areas identified in the draft PWS as a prime and/or collaborating with a subcontractor, i.e., teaming arrangements and or joint ventures. For example, for any task areas where your firm does NOT have experience on a commercial or government contract to demonstrate specific capabilities, explain how you would attain those abilities. (Example: If you anticipate utilizing subcontractors, please highlight for which specific tasks and the percentage of subcontracting contemplated to fulfill the requirement.)

Example table to be used:

Task Number

Tasking categories

Anticipated % of Subcontracting

If known, potential subcontractor, teaming partner, joint venture arrangement, etc.

9.0 Submission Instructions

The response to this notice is limited to five (5) single sided pages including all attachments, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12-point font minimum excluding charts and graphics) and should also include current business size status, and any applicable Federal Supply Schedule(s). This indication should be clearly marked on the first page of the response, as well as the eligible business concern’s name, point of contact, address, and cage code.

All responses to this Sources Sought Notice must be submitted electronically (via e-mail) to the WHS NCR AD Mailbox DSCA Group repository inbox at whs.ncr.ad.mbx.dsca-group@mail.mil.

The subject of the email must be titled “Sources Sought: TEAMS Strategic Planning Services.”

Facsimile responses will not be accepted.

To facilitate a timely and comprehensive review of all submitted responses, offerors must respond using the format requested in this Notice. Any deviation from this format may lead to the rejection of the response.

10.0 Common Cut-off Time/Date

Responses to the information above are due no later than 4:30PM on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Responses received after this date and time may not be considered.

Proprietary information and trade secrets shall NOT be submitted as part of a response. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is submitted, as it is clearly stated this type of information shall NOT be submitted.