TALKING POINTS FOR SeaPort-e Rolling
Admissions Multiple Award Contracts Awards
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I have great news
for you ... today the Navy is awarding 503 Multiple Award Contracts (MACs) for
support services for all phases of weapon systems acquisition and life-cycle support
including, Research & Development Support, Prototyping, Acquisition
Logistics, Modeling, Test & Evaluation Trials, and Engineering Support for
the Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Space and Naval
Warfare Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Military Sealift
Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Strategic Systems Programs, and
the United States Marine Corps. The
Government estimates a maximum of $5,300,000,000 of services will be procured
per year via orders issued under the SeaPort Enhanced (SeaPort-e) multiple
award contracts. The awards have a
four-year base period with one five-year award term and one additional one-year
award term.
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These contracts
are in addition to the existing 150 contracts already awarded under the
SeaPort-e acquisition program for services procurements. The award of these contracts is a result of
the SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions solicitation that expanded the SeaPort-e user
base from the Naval Sea Systems Command, its field activities and affiliated
Program Executive Offices (PEOs) to include the Naval Air Systems Command,
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Military
Sealift Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Naval Supply Systems
Command, Strategic Systems Programs, and the United States Marine Corps.
·
SeaPort-e is an
electronic, web-based portal where requests for services are managed from
“Cradle to grave”. This “paper-less”
system promotes time efficiency and a reduction in administrative costs. Competition on a task order basis results in
cost savings in addition to the already capped fees and pass-through rates
established on the SeaPort-e MACs.
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These contracts
were competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online (NECO),
with 515 offers received and 503 contracts awarded.
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Small businesses
comprise 81 percent (409 of 503) of the awards for SeaPort-e. The SeaPort-e MACs also contain the
capability to set-aside requirements for small business, service disabled veteran
owned small business, historically under-utilized business zone small business
and a cascading small business set-aside clause in order to protect the small
business vendor base for each SeaPort-e activity.
SeaPort-e Rolling
Admissions Contract Award
Questions and Answers
Q1: What is SeaPort-e?
A1: SeaPort-e is an electronic, web-based portal
where requests for services are managed from “Cradle to grave”. SeaPort-e is an electronic, web-based portal
where requests for services are managed from “Cradle to grave”. This “paper-less” system promotes time
efficiency and a reduction in administrative costs. Competition on a task order basis results in
cost savings in addition to the already capped fees and pass-through rates
established on the SeaPort-e multiple award contracts (MACs). For SeaPort-e,
the nation is divided into seven zones and offerors proposed for as many of the
zones they would qualify in given the criteria set forth in the RFP. Services requirements will be solicited to
contractors holding MACs in the zone for which the principal place of
performance is located. Additional
information regarding SeaPort-e is available at www.seaport.navy.mil.
Q2: What is the relationship between
SeaPort-e and SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions?
A2: SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions will utilize the
existing SeaPort-e Portal and is an expansion of the current SeaPort-e
procurement vehicle used at NAVSEA HQ, its
Q3:
What services are being procured under SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions?
A3: The services being procured include services
in support of all phases of weapon systems acquisition and life-cycle support,
including:
Research
and Development Support
Engineering,
System Engineering and Process Engineering Support
Modeling,
Simulation, Stimulation, and Analysis Support
Prototyping,
Pre-Production, Model-Making, and Fabrication Support
System
Design Documentation and Technical Data Support
Software
Engineering, Development, Programming, and Network Support
Reliability,
Maintainability, and Availability (RM&A) Support
Human
Factors, Performance, and Usability Engineering Support
System
Safety Engineering Support
Configuration
Management (CM) Support
Quality
Assurance (QA) Support
Information
System (IS) Development, Information Assurance (IA) and Information Technology
(IT) Support
Submarine,
Aircraft, Weapons System and Ship Inactivation and Disposal Support
Interoperability,
Test and Evaluation, Trials Support
Measurement
Facilities, Range, and Instrumentation Support
Acquisition
Logistics Support
Supply
and Provisioning Support
Training
Support
In-Service
Engineering, Fleet Introduction, Installation and Checkout Support
Program
Management, Financial Management and Program Support
Functional
and Administration Support
Public Affairs and Multimedia Support
Q4:
What are the seven zones and why did you decide to establish them?
A4: The seven zones are: Northeast, National Capitol Region,
Mid-Atlantic,
Q5: Why SeaPort-e and what sort of
savings do you believe you will achieve with Seaport-e?
A5: Prior to
SeaPort-e, the Navy had hundreds of contracts with hundreds of contractors for
similar services scattered around the country at various Department of the Navy
activities. With SeaPort-e, companies
may hold one MAC on the national level and within the MAC, there exists
specific notation of which zones the company has presence in and has been
awarded the right to compete for future work in that zone. The SeaPort-e system thus provides the Navy
with the ability to develop strategic commercial business relationships on a
corporate level. The web-based portal
provides a dependable information-gathering vehicle to provide insight into
services spend for the Navy community.
Further, the reduction in total acquisition costs have proven to be
substantial in the deployment of SeaPort-e, with SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions
allowing additional activities to tap into and additional companies to join
this competitive marketplace.
Q6: Isn’t SeaPort-e bundling and how do
you protect small business concerns?
A6: A “Small
Business Bundling Determination” was performed to assess the concern over
bundling of requirements. SeaPort-e is
not bundling, as the proposed contract is extremely suitable for award to a
small business. Small businesses
comprise 81 percent of the awards for SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions, and 78
percent of all of SeaPort-e. The nature
of requirements developed at the requiring activities result in tasks focused
on individual disciplines and specific projects/programs, which are very
suitable for small businesses to compete, win and perform. The SeaPort-e MACs also contain the ability
to set-aside requirements for small business, service disabled veteran owned
small business, or historically under-utilized business zone small
business. In the event small business
goals are not being met and market
research can not establish whether there are sufficient small businesses in a
zone capable of performing a particular requirement, SeaPort-e procurements can
invoke a cascading small business set-aside procedure, which allows for a
requirement to be solicited to a zone and if two or more qualified small
businesses propose, the requirement is then set-aside for competition among the
small businesses. In addition, the Deputy
for Small Business or Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Officer at
each ordering office has an integral role within the SeaPort-e system to ensure
small businesses are treated fairly. If
during the life of the vehicle, small business participation is less than
expected, the rolling admissions can again be opened in order to improve that
condition.
Additionally,
ombudsmen have been designated to provide businesses an avenue by which they
may voice complaints and concerns regarding the fair consideration
process. Each activity has an ombudsman
for the task orders they solicit and award.
The SeaPort-e Ombudsman serves as the overarching SeaPort-e Ombudsman,
to hear complaints when more than one activity or zone are involved.
In addition, a
Zone Coordinator monitors the performance of contractors in each zone, to
ensure that there is adequate participation by contractors, and to serve as a
point of contact for companies on general SeaPort-e matters.
Q7: How does SeaPort-e protect local
vendor base?
A7: Protecting the local vendor base was very
important in the acquisition strategy of SeaPort-e. The criteria was developed such that small
businesses could receive an award even if they only specialize in a narrowly
focused discipline. Creating the
solicitation in such a way to encourage niche companies to propose was key in
protecting the local vendor base. The
local vendor base will be enhanced, as competition for task orders will
inherently produce efficiencies as well as innovation and local vendors will
gain insight into requirements.
Q8: How do you incorporate new vendors?
A8: SeaPort-e was created with a provision that
allows for rolling admissions into the multiple award contract (MAC)
universe. It was this rolling admissions
provision that was used to award the 503 new SeaPort-e MAC ID/IQ contracts and
expand the ordering offices to include, in addition to the Naval Sea Systems
Command: the Naval Air Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems
Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Military Sealift Command, Naval
Facilities Engineering Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Strategic Systems
Programs, and the United States Marine Corps.
The decision to open rolling admissions is at the discretion of the
SeaPort-e Council. The council will
consider on at least an annual basis the competitive environment, the emergence
of new vendors and small business participation of SeaPort-e once a year to
make a determination with regards to rolling admissions. If it is decided to again open rolling
admissions, only new vendors will be required to propose at the MAC level. Existing MAC holders need not propose again.
Q9: Who can use this vehicle?
A9: The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air
Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems
Command, Military Sealift Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Naval
Supply Systems Command, Strategic Systems Programs, and the United States
Marine Corps, along with their Warfare Centers, field activities and affiliated
Program Executive Offices (PEOs) have the ability to use the SeaPort-e system
as ordering offices. There has been no
centralization of requirements determination or acquisition as a result of
SeaPort-e.
Q10:
How will task orders be competed and awarded?
A10: Task
Order requirements will be solicited to the contractors in the zone of the
principal place of performance. Unless
an exception to Fair Opportunity to be Considered exists, all contractors
within a zone will be given consideration for each requirement solicited in
that zone. It is expected that
contractors will propose on requirements that mirror their abilities, but they
do have the ability to propose on any requirement within their zone or
zones. Proposals will be evaluated in
accordance with the criteria set forth in the task order solicitation.
Q11: How will SeaPort-e success and
savings be measured?
A11: Metrics have been developed to track
acquisition cycle times, workload efficiency, dollars awarded using SeaPort-e, dollars
awarded to small businesses at the prime and subcontract level and
competition. These metrics been have
developed over the initial implementation of the SeaPort-e acquisition program,
and will continue to be refined and developed throughout the life of the
program. These metrics are used to
gather data for analysis.
Q12: What is an Award Term?
A12: During
the four-year base period of the SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions MACs, contractor
performance will be evaluated in order to make a determination regarding the
possible five-year award term, and subsequent one-year award term, outlined in
the contract. The award term, as used in
the SeaPort-e MACs, is a performance incentive designed to encourage the
highest possible contractor performance.
In the award term evaluation, the Government will use criteria set forth
in the contract to determine whether a company will have the award term
option(s) exercised.
Q13: What is the dollar value of
SeaPort-e?
A13: The Government estimates a maximum of $5,300,000,000
of services will be procured per year via orders issued under the SeaPort-e
MACs. Amounts and percentages per zone
depend upon the generation of requirements.
Q14: What is a Multiple Award Contract?
A14: Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity
(ID/IQ) Multiple Award Contracts (MACs) are vehicles by which companies holding
a MAC have the opportunity to compete for individual task orders as specific
requirements become known and are solicited to the universe of MAC holders. Within SeaPort-e, the MAC holders within the
zone of the principal place of performance are solicited.
Q15: What types of task orders will be
competed under SeaPort-e?
A15: Under
SeaPort-e, the type of task order will greatly depend upon the requirement
being solicited. Contracting Officers
have the latitude to choose the type of task order best suited to the type or
requirement being solicited. For
example, a requirement that is stable over time and concretely defined may be
created as a firm-fixed price task order.
Other requirements are more suitable to be cost-reimbursement task
orders with performance incentives.
SeaPort-e does not limit in any way the ability of the Contracting
Officer to customize the task order to fit the requirement.
Q16:
What is the total dollar value of the SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions
contracts?
A16: The SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions contracts have a four-year base period with one five-year award term and one additional one-year award term. During the four-year base period of the SeaPort-e MACs, contractor performance will be evaluated in order to make a determination whether the five-year award term, and subsequent one-year award term, will be exercised. Since it will not be known until the award term evaluation is conducted if the additional periods will be exercised, a total contract value cannot be identified.
Q17:
Is use of the SeaPort-e vehicles mandatory for acquisition of services
in the Navy?
A17: Navy Virtual Syscom Command members Naval Air
Systems Command, Naval Sea Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems
Command, and