Army IT Day and APBI Highlights: Big IDIQs drawing attention

By Richard Tucker – Sr. Vice President – ENcompass Consulting Group

AFCEA NOVA held its annual Army IT Day conference on January 17, 2025, and the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) held a virtual Advance Planning Briefing to Industry (APBI) briefing on January 22, 2025.

These events provided insight into Army’s plans for many upcoming acquisitions including the highly anticipated Marketplace for the Acquisition of Professional Services (MAPS), and Modern Software for Delivery (MSD) multiple-award IDIQs.

ENcompass Consulting Group attended both events and took detailed notes.

Army IT Day Highlights:

• The Executive Director of ACC-APG, Ms. Danielle Moyer, discussed upcoming acquisitions. When asked how small businesses can compete on MAPS, she said: “It is smart to team up with other businesses to meet the qualifications for the [IDIQ] awards.” She also stated: “Future releases of the RFP will reveal where the qualification requirements and evaluation criteria will land.”
• Moyer also advised: “Responses to market research is key to making your proposal stand out from the rest. You need to be open and transparent in your [RFI] response” so the market research will accurately inform the solicitation and best serve the Army’s needs.
• The Army CIO, Mr. Leo Garciga, also spoke. He discussed Army’s focus on being able to field capabilities quickly. Army would rather field a capability today than wait for a better solution.
• Garciga explained that “ready to go” AI solutions are needed. However, there is a FedRAMP backlog, and AI is waiting in line. Army is unable to influence getting products pushed through the FedRAMP process.
• Garciga also stated: “Certifications don’t prove you know what you’re doing!” This emphasized the importance of having qualified people.
• PEO C3N panelists discussed the criticality of implementing Zero Trust Architecture in the battlefield, which are “not the same as commercial needs.”
• PEO C3N panelists also discussed integrating Deterministic AI and Generative AI for innovation and reliability at strategic, operational, tactical, and sustainment levels.

APBI Highlights:

• Program And Staff Services (PASS) is an upcoming 100% SB set-aside IDIQ with an estimated value of $500-100M and an RFP release date in Q2FY25
• Artificial Intelligence Software at Pace (AIS@P) (previously called LINCHPIN) had a draft RFP released in Dec 2024, and award is targeted for Q4FY25. Its estimated value is $990M, and SB opportunities are available.
• Unified Network Operations (UNO) has an estimated $10B value, with final RFP anticipated in Feb 2025.
• Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) RFI and DRFP are expected to be released Jan/Feb 2025.
• MAPS solicitation is anticipated Feb 2025 and does not have a ceiling value.
• MSD final RFP is on track to be released by the end of this January, with proposals due February and awards by March.

ENcompass is closely following these procurements to help our clients in their pursuit of these large multi-award IDIQs and substantial single-award contracts. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about how our Business Development, Capture, and Proposal services can help your company prepare for and propose on these opportunities!

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