Updated May 13, 2025
Sent to OrangeSlices this morning: NITAAC is continuing to ask for additional time. According to NIH, the agency’s evaluation IS ongoing, but a multitude of issues continue to complicate the agency’s review.
#1 – The Impact of the Executive Orders – The agency continues to evaluate the impact of several executive orders issued by the President. [Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, Exec. Order No. 14151; Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Exec. Order No. 14173; Eliminating Waste and Saving Taxpayer Dollars by Consolidating Procurement, Exec. Order 14240]. This process is taking additional time as the agency determines what impact, if any, these orders will have on the cutline determination and the selection of offerors. This review is impacting multiple GWACs at the agency thus redirecting the efforts of the personnel who were working to complete the reevaluation of offerors’ proposals.
#2 – Lack of Capabilities and Capacity due to the RIF – The agency’s review of the allegations presented by the many protestors is taking longer than anticipated due to changes in personnel. There has been a turnover in the source selection authority (SSA) and principal agency counsel. A new SSA has been selected and is reportedly being updated on the procurement, but it is unclear how long that will take. In addition, the RIF has reduced the number of available personnel to complete the evaluation.
What was notably missing from the announcement: Any mention of the GSA contract consolidation effort.
More to be shared as it is made available.
OS Sponsors who want to track the nitty gritty of the protests can log in below to see the full blow by blow.
Updated March 25, 2025
$50B CIO-SP4 GWAC Debacle Deepens – NITAAC Requests More Time Amid Mounting Issues
The update we learned thus afternoon is is Yes, the extra time has been granted. NITAAC has been given until July to try and address or make progress on the many challenges they are grappling with in relation to this high-profile heavily competed and scrutinized procurement.
Does that means that this will be resolved by July – the likelihood is near zero. That is simply when they are expected to provide a status update. The real question is whether the new administration will step in and stop this once and for all, especially in light of the recent announcement that much contracting activity will be consolidated under GSA.
Added March 25, 2025
… nearly a billion dollars has been spent by government and industry in pursuit of this GWAC … Four years in, the list of issues is growing, not shrinking…
The number of challenges mount as HHS and NITAAC work to review and address the many significant issues raised as part of a string of protests. OrangeSlices has learned that HHS and NITAAC have recently made the case that they need more time … and yet nearly 4 years after the solicitation was released and after it is estimated that nearly a billion dollars has been spent by government and industry in pursuit of this GWAC, the list of issues is only growing, not shrinking.
According to HHS, several NEW matters have complicated the agency’s review on remand. First, a change in Administration and recent Executive Orders issued by President Trump have potentially impacted the agency’s evaluation including Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, Exec. Order No. 14151 and Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, Exec. Order No. 14173.
Specifically, the original source selection cutline determination relied in part upon Executive Orders that were rescinded by President Trump.
The agency has stated that they are in the process of determining what impact, if any, this has on the cutline determination, but believes that they will be required to address this change in policy in a new source selection cutline determination. However, the former source selection authority retired, and agency restructuring mandated as part of the new Administration has delayed the appointment of a new source selection authority. A new determination cannot be made until a new source selection authority is appointed.
In addition, funding has been delayed by the new Administration for the support contract that provides the administration and maintenance of the source selection tool repository, which is critical to the agency’s review on remand.
These changes are in addition to the many ongoing and existing challenges that a slew of protestors have raised and have yet to be addressed.
This does not mention the new executive order that is intended to eliminate waste and save taxpayer dollars by consolidating procurement.
Will the request by NITAAC be granted? There is no word yet, but we will share more as we gain insight.
Updated February 24, 2025
🍊OS AI Premium: New player jumps in the mix on $50B CIO-SP4 GWAC as protest saga continues
We won’t try and speculate the WHY, but we share here that a new challenger has jumped into the mix. Details Below.
Content for Premium Sponsors - click here for information on Premium Sponsorship.
I feel that bidders that did not qualify on the point score are protesting in hopes of just “getting pulled in” to satisfy their protest.
Oy Vey – Does this start the clock anew? NITAAC may be surprised as one of these new protestors is extremely adept at winning Court challenges.
Just blow the whole thing up and start again/