GovTribe

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

The White House has announced its plans to introduce an executive order in the near-future focusing on AI.

With remarks from President Biden from the September 27, 2023 meeting with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, he notes he has “a keen interest in AI and convened key experts on how to harness the power of artificial intelligence for good while protecting people from the profound risk it also presents.”

Furthermore, he notes the collaborative efforts made to achieve this vision with world leaders and American technology companies to help set the stage for responsible AI innovation. Fifteen companies have now announced their voluntary commitment to the White House to support safe, secure, and trustworthy development of AI.

Arati Prabhakar, the director of the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, noted regarding the forthcoming AI EO, “It’ll be broad. It really reflects everything that the president sees as possible under existing law to get better at managing risks and using the technology.”

Prabhakar and the White House have both noted the ongoing goal of taking a values-led approach to AI usage and development, building on the AI Bill of Rights released in October 2022.

Biden did not release any concrete details on the upcoming order. Prabhakar noted that a draft bill has already been created to benefit both federal efforts and industry research, and that “we want to seize the great power that this technology has to solve some of our hardest problems”.

President Biden is expected to deliver this executive order this Fall.

What does this mean for you?

As AI continues to be the topic of discussion across Government, Industry, and academia, keeping abreast of opportunities and policy changes is critical.

Get the joint GBC/GovTribe report on the current AI landscape in the federal government (information current as of September 15, 2023).

Download now: “Artificial Intelligence in Government: The Myths, the Legends, the Market Realities”

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

On March 9, 2022, President Biden released his administration’s fiscal year 2024 budget request, highlighting the White House’s priorities and spending proposals.

The budget outline calls for Congressional approval on $6.9 trillion in both mandatory and discretionary spending at the Federal level for FY 2024. Of this $6.9 trillion, $4.2 trillion would be in mandatory spending, with the remaining $1.9 trillion in discretionary spending, which represents a 10% increase over FY2023 discretionary spending levels.

Within this proposed outline, Defense spending would receive a 3% increase from FY 2023 levels of $885 billion, while non-defense spending would receive a 4% increase from FY 2023 levels for a total of $1.02 trillion for FY2024.

The proposed budget makes it clear that President Biden and his Administration are laser focused on national security, setting the stage for emerging technology research and development, taxation on corporations and high-income Americans, public health, Medicare, healthcare delivery, Defense, most notably the Space domain, and the ongoing social security battle.

Additionally, the budget contains vast increases in healthcare spending with nearly $114 billion in discretionary budget authority for Health and Human Services, representing an $11.5 billion increase from FY2023 enacted levels.

On the Civilian side of spending, we’re seeing budget prioritization across modernization efforts of legacy systems, customer experience, cybersecurity, and data proliferation.

What does this mean for you?

Although the budget will likely not pass in a Republican controlled House of Representatives, this budget outline proposal highlights a major trend moving forward of increased Government spending, and in turn more contracts to be competed on.

Insights, Research, and YOUR Path to More Awards

GovExec’s Insights & Research Group (comprising Market Connections, Government Business Council, and Leading Brands) and GovTribe can keep you up to date on what is happening in this rapidly changing contract environment.

GovTribe is a collaborative platform that lends business development teams a hand through research and tracking of contracting vehicles as well as targeted intelligence on GSA Federal Supply Schedules, GWACS, IDIQs, and other multiple award vehicles.

Combining the data, insights, and expert analysis you get at Market Connections with the ease, agility, and usability of GovTribe can help you strategically position yourself right where you want to be for future opportunities.

Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

From the beginning of 2023, GovExec’s Insights & Research Group has covered the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ongoing RFP drafting for the Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation (T4NG2) contract. The T4NG2 represents a potential $60.7 billion contract vehicle for information technology products and services.

The VA had delayed the release of the final solicitation to incorporate further feedback from industry partners, and has since been at the center of the spotlight in the wider GovCon community.

As of Tuesday March 14, 2023, the Veterans Affairs Department has released its final solicitation for the 10 year, $61 billion contract vehicle with the overarching goal of modernizing the VA’s healthcare technology infrastructure and improving healthcare delivery to veterans.

The T4NG vehicle includes a range of services and solutions, including:

Program management
Strategy planning and assessment
Enterprise architecture
Systems engineering and integration
Software design and development
Cybersecurity
Data analytics
Cloud computing
Mobility solutions
Health IT

The current T4NG contract, originally awarded in 2018, will be phased out in March 2026, with nearly $12 billion obligated on the current contract.

Final requests for proposals due April 14, 2023, keeping pace with the VA’s accelerated timelines since the initial draft RFP stages.

What this means for you

With the final solicitation released March 14th, final proposals due April 17th, and awards presented by the end of the calendar year, there is absolutely no time to waste.

Insights, Research, and YOUR Path to More Awards

Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

In early January 2023, GovExec’s Insights & Research Group covered the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issuing of a draft RFP for the Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation (T4NG2) contract. The T4NG2 represents a potential $60.7 billion contract vehicle for information technology products and services.

The VA has decided to delay the release of the final solicitation for the $60 billion potential contract until March 14, as opposed to the original February 28, date, with final proposals due April 17 instead of March 30.

On Sam.Gov, the VA noted, “Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation 2 Solicitation Update February 24, 2023 — VA is carefully considering questions and suggestions received in response to the 2nd draft RFP and, as a result, is postponing the anticipated solicitation release date to March 14, 2023, with proposals being due by April 17, 2023. The Agency is still anticipating a 2023 fiscal year end award.”

Both the first and second drafts each only had one week for comment, with the original draft released Jan 13, with comments due Jan 20, and the second draft at Feb 14, with a Feb 21 comment deadline. Given the size of the contract and the T4NG contract being the VA’s vehicle of the future, this presented a major challenge for the participating companies seeking to work with the VA.

With awards expected to come before the end of 2023, industry must stand by in preparation for additional deadline changes.

What this means for you

Given the potential $60 billion, and tight deadlines from the VA, there is absolutely no time to be uninformed. Whether it is how to market your organization, influence key personas, or get in the room with the right people, the best intelligence wins, every time, in every market.

Insights, Research, and YOUR Path to More Awards

Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

On 02/01/23, the US Army released its long anticipated solicitation for AI/ML development processes and technologies, and pathfinder processes to identify militarily relevant technologies.

As noted by initial pre-solicitation in August 2022, the overall objective of this effort is to develop concepts that incorporate visualization, include coalition interconnectivity, allow for the ability to obtain data from all information sources, to include Unattended Ground Sensors, improve situational awareness, and decrease the current analyst workload.In particular, this effort will support contested/dense urban environment operations to include subterranean environments.

In order to advance its AI/ML capabilities, the Army has established a number of programs and initiatives that focus on the development and integration of these technologies into its operations. One such program is the Army AI Task Force, responsible for overseeing the Army’s AI/ML development efforts and providing guidance on the integration of these technologies into the force.

The task force works closely with other military organizations, government agencies, and industry partners to ensure that the Army is at the forefront of AI/ML research and development.

Through the power of GovTribe, we are able to glean some of the likely bidders. The likely bidders tool is a powerful machine learning algorithm combining industry attendees and question & answer lists with those that have past performance similar to this type of work, of which include:

Discovery Machine Inc.
Wallaroo Labs Inc.
Scale Ai, Inc.
Mile Two LLC
Prescient Edge Corporation
Oncospace Inc.
Systems & Technology Research LLC
Objectsecurity LLC
Cerebras Systems Inc.
DS2 LLC
And Others

In addition to the above, there have been many small businesses that have received small business funding from the Army Contracting Command in the last year in the same parents NAICs as the current solicitation, of which include:

Colsa Corporation
Torch Technologies Inc.
Galley Power
Mid-Michigan Research LLC
3Dflexible Inc.
Cornerstone Research Group Inc.
Precision Combustion Inc
Autonomous Solutions Inc.
Kestrel Rechnology LLC
Molyworks Materials Corporation
Among others

These ongoing solicitation efforts will ensure that the Army has the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively use and integrate Al/ML technologies into its operations for years to come.

The due date for the current solicitation is 03/08/23.

What this means for you

Overall, the Army’s continued efforts in AI/ML demonstrate its commitment to staying ahead of the curve in modern warfare, and they need your team’s help to do so.

Insights, Research, and YOUR Path to More Awards

Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

The White House-led National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Task Force has recently requested $2.6 billion in funding to support AI research and development over an initial six year period.

In a final report titled, “Strengthening and Democratizing the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Innovation Ecosystem,” the NAIRR Take Force has provided a roadmap to fund its plan to stand up a national research infrastructure that would increase accessibility to resources quintessential to AI research and development.

Originally organized by the National AI Initiative Act of 2020, the NAIRR Task Force is a federal advisory committee co-chaired by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The final report is the culmination of the Task Force’s 18-month effort to develop and vision an implementation plan for establishing the NAIRR, with the overall goal of strengthening and democratizing the US AI Innovation ecosystem in a way that protects privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

The NAIRR Task Force notes four measurable goals to meet its overall goals:

Spur innovation
Increase diversity of talent
Improving capacity
Advance trustworthy AI

NAIRR is allocating $2.25 billion of the investment to fund resource availability through appropriations across multiple Federal agencies. It also suggests a funding scheme to include:

Resource providers should be brought online every two years with a six-year lifetime so that a new $750 million investment is made every two years to ensure that the NAIRR resources remain state-of-the-art
The non-government operating entity behind the NAIRR would receive about $55-$65 million every year to support the coordination and management of NAIRR activities
An additional $5 million per year is budgeted for external evaluation of the operating entity and NAIRR performance

Existing and upcoming Federal AI policy and guidance will serve as the bedrock for the NAIRR’s operations, including the Biden Administration’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, and the AI framework from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

What this means for you

While AI research and development advances rapidly in the United States, there is still time for your organization to contribute to this critical technology development that will go on to shape US national capabilities across Federal, State and Local, and Department of Defense markets for years to come.

Insights, Research, and YOUR Path to More Awards

Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

In early January 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a draft RFP for the Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation (T4NG2) contract. The T4NG2 represents a potential $60.7 billion contract vehicle for information technology products and services.

Since its inception in 2016, the T4NG vehicle has seen $11.7 billion in task order obligations, and will run alongside the T4NG2 contract as the VA winds down task orders once the original contract reaches its $22.3 billion ceiling.

Originally designed to allow the VA to acquire services for IT programs that help ensure the timely delivery of healthcare for Veterans, the T4NG2 program will continue to be the VA’s primary IT vehicle.

With the draft RFP becoming publicly available January 13, there is a tight turnaround with comments due this coming Friday, January 20.

Keeping with this pace, the VA’s Technology Acquisition Center (TAC) will host an industry day for the T4NG2 procurement on Thursday, February 2 from 11:00AM – 12:30PM EST. Planned topics include acquisition strategy, basis of award, overview of changes from T4NG, solicitation walkthrough, and questions and answers, with a final solicitation in February.

T4NG2 will covering the below services:

Program Management
Strategy, enterprise architecture and planning
Systems and software engineering
Software technology demonstration and transition
Test and evaluation
Independent verification and validation
Enterprise network
Enterprise management framework
Operations and maintenance
Cybersecurity
Training
IT Facilities

The VA plans to make 30 awards, and if companies are tied for the 30th spot, there will be more than 30 awards. However, the VA will only make 29 awards if six or more companies are tied in that final position.

What this means for you

With a ceiling increase from nearly $22 billion from the original T4NG, to upwards of $60 billion in the T4NG2 program, it is imperative now more than ever to be ahead of the GovCon pack. As they say in GovCon, when the RFP is released, it’s already too late.

Insights, Research, and YOUR Path to More Awards

Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

In October 2022, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued a draft RFP for Alliant 3, their latest governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC) that aims to provide Federal Government agencies with integrated IT solutions services for evolving needs on a global basis.

“GWACs serve as a springboard for small businesses to grow,” said Exodie C. Roe III, Associate Administrator for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

This contract will allow for the application of technology to meet current and evolving business needs required to satisfy all IT requirements worldwide at any time, fostering a “Anything IT Anywhere” philosophy. This service contract does not have a specific ceiling, and will leverage a self-scoring approach for prospective bidders, which has worked on procurements including OASIS, ASTRO, HCaTS, and Alliant 2.

GSA anticipates that multiple awards shall be made up to a maximum of 60 awards to the highest scoring bidders.

As a restricted GWAC, small businesses are eligible to participate in the solicitation. The average value of each contract under Alliant 2 is $116M.

When asked about the planned features of Alliant 3, GSA mentioned:

Providing an Unpriced Master Contract (subject to approval)
Maintaining a Best-in-Class (BIC) solution designation
Sustaining Standardized Labor Categories (LCATS) and the Prices Paid Portal
No Master Contract Ceiling (subject to approval)
Implementing Innovative Environmental and Sustainability Plans
Enhancing the Customer Experience
Increased IT Modernization Capabilities
Performance Standard Improvement
Provisioning for Regular Open Seasons
Streamlining Proposal Submissions and Evaluations
Increased Focus on Small Business through Subcontracting Plans, Performance Standards, and Evaluation Factor

Alliant 3 builds upon the successful Alliant and Alliant 2 GWACs. It is a new unrestricted enterprise GWAC that will have an increased focus on emerging technology, performance based contracting measures, small business subcontracting. It will also have open seasons and an environmental and sustainability plan.

Additional differentiating features in Alliant 3 include:

Providing an Unpriced Master Contract (subject to approval)
Eliminating a Master Contract Ceiling (subject to approval)
Provisioning for Open Seasons opportunities

What this means for you

Alliant 2 received a $25 billion ceiling increase in August, 2022, bringing the total ceiling to a staggering $75 billion. With add ons and efficiencies for the Alliant 3 GWAC underway, one can expect a nominal increase in estimated value. Now is the time to prepare your business to get on the next GWAC.

Insights, Research, and YOUR Path to More Awards

Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

In FY 2022, nearly $18.4 billion of the U.S. Navy’s prime contract awards went to small businesses— $1.4 billion (8.2%) increase from $17 billion last year.

Over the last five years, the Navy has typically spent the following amounts with small businesses:

Engineering Services – $4 billion
Commercial and Institutional Building Construction – $3 billion
Ship Building & Repairing – $3 billion
Deep Sea Freight Transportation – $2 billion
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology & Biotechnology) – $2 billion
Other Computer Related Services – $1 billion
Computer Systems Design Services – $926 million
Facilities Support Services – $690 million
Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services – $675 million
Aircraft Manufacturing – $652million

More opportunities in FY2023

In FY2023, the Navy plans to create even more opportunities for small businesses by breaking up five major contracts into smaller awards, thus providing small businesses opportunities to compete for contract work. The Navy has not yet said which contracts will be included.

However, Jimmy Smith, Director of the Office of Small Business Programs at the Department of the Navy said: “… we know all the contracts that are sun-setting on the horizon. If they fall into the right time frame, we’re breaking them up into many parts to create opportunities for small businesses to increase our small business participation.” (source)

A search in GovTribe highlights awards in the top 10 NAICSs that are ending in the next 12 months and are not small business set asides:

Submarines (Electric Boat Corporation)
Aircraft Fixed Wing (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
Combat Ships and Landing Vessels (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
Combat Ships and Landing Vessels (Huntington Ingalls Corporation)
Combat Ships and Landing Vessels (Huntington Ingalls Corporation)
Destroyers (Bath Iron Works Corporation)
Combat Ships and Landing Vessels (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
Aircraft, Fixed Wing (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
Aircraft, Rotary Wing (Bell Textron Incorporated)
Aircraft, Fixed Wing (Lockheed Martin Corporation)

What this means for you

There is opportunity for small businesses in the Navy in the coming months. Now is the time to prepare your small business to win these contracts.

Insights, Research, and YOUR Path to More Awards

Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.

By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec

According to GSA, all agencies using Networx, WITS 3, and Local Telecommunications contracts must transition to Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contracts or another vehicle. The next phase of the transition is November 1, 2022 – May 31, 2023 when contractors disconnect agencies without MOUs.

The Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) is a multiple award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle. It is a comprehensive solutions-based contract vehicle to address all aspects of federal agency needs for the next-generation of information technology (IT), telecommunications, and infrastructure services.

It covers services including voice, data transport services, hosting services, cloud services, contact center services, managed services (inclusive of managed security services), wireless, commercial satellite, cable & wiring, service related labor, and service related equipment. In addition, EIS gives agencies and contractors the flexibility to customize task orders to meet unique requirements.

The most recent contractor to receive an award is BT Federal Inc. The Bureau of Information Resource Management funded the award, which has a potential value of $1.9 billion, representing one of BT Federal Inc.’s largest wins to date.

BT Federal Inc. joins a growing list of awardees thus far on the EIS Vehicle:

Insights, Research, and YOUR Path to More Awards

As agencies continue transitioning to EIS and other vehicles, GovExec’s Insights & Research Group (comprising Market Connections, Government Business Council, and Leading Brands) & GovTribe can keep you up to date on what is happening in this rapidly changing contract environment.

Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.