The U.S. Army is developing a new software development support services contract which it estimates will be worth more than $1 billion over a 10-year period of performance.
A new request for information, published last week on Sam.gov, outlines the service’s plan for the New Modern Software Development IDIQ. The Army plans to hire a group of contractors that can perform the work on rapidly awarded task orders as they come.
“[Task orders] will feature evaluation criteria designed to demonstrate the Offeror’s technical capabilities, availability of resources to begin work immediately, and enable task order award rapidly. Offerors are advised that Task Order solicitations may also feature qualifying technical demonstrations and/or challenges,” the notice states.
Additionally, the Army sees customization as a key element to the contract requirements, whether it’s in the development of a new product or the modification of a current offering. Awardees will also be responsible for enabling software-as-a-service hosting and security, the notice explained.
The Army plans to have 10 vendors on the contract at the IDIQ level throughout the performance period with spots reserved for small business participation. The Army also envisions holding a potential off-ramp process to move away from organizations with high rates of unsuccessful task order proposals or no bids.
But before the service can call for contract bids, the Army is asking industry for insight on the particulars included in the contract.
Specifically, the Army is asking industry to provide insight into modern software development practices that should make it into the upcoming contract including DevSecOps, agile, lean, and continuous integration/continuous delivery. The service branch also asks industry about other areas of software development it should include in the contract.
Also, the Army is considering technology challenges versus demonstrations as the focus for phase two of the upcoming contract and asks respondent if this is feasible.
Responses to the notice are due by June 10.
