Update: In July, NASA released the Request for Proposal (RFP) for HITSS III. NASA will follow a Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee (CPIF) procurement model combined into an IDIQ contract, with the ability to issue CPIF as well as Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) task orders. The contract will have a 5-year total period of performance, starting from a separate 45-day phase in period based on a Firm-Fixed Price contract. Importantly, NASA is emphasizing that contract proposals will have two pass/fail components, the company Contract Security Classification level and the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) level. Prospective contractors must have a Top Secret-level facility clearance and CMMI Level 3 certification by the proposal due date. Proposals are due on August 18, 2017 at 12:00pm local time. 

In November, NASA announced that it would be releasing a draft solicitation for its third iteration of the Headquarters IT Support Services (HITSS) contract by the end of the month. However, after missing that deadline, NASA has now announced that it will release a new publishing schedule in January 2017, with the solicitation to follow sometime after. While companies await the release of the HITS III solicitation, with an estimated ceiling over $100 million, EZGovOpps is here to provide analysis of the HITSS program and the opportunities it presents as a 100% set-aside contract.

HITSS I

HITSS I was a $200 million contract for integrated Information Technology (IT), systems engineering, and IT-related management support services, except for services provided by separate desktop support contracts, to mission support offices at NASA Headquarters. This was awarded in 2006 to InDyne Inc., teaming with Craig Technologies, for services lasting until the HITSS II transition in 2012.

HITSS II

The current Headquarters IT Support Services contract, HITS II, was awarded in 2012 as a 100% 8(a) set-aside, and a continuation of the original HITSS contract. With a 1-year base period and four 1-year options, the maximum contract value was $177 million. The goal of this contract was to procure IT support and management, separate from NASA desktop services contracts, through the Information Technology and Communications Division (ITCD) for NASA Headquarters from an 8(a)-certified provider.

With a NAICS code of 541512, Computer Systems Design Services, areas of work included:  program management, program-wide services, customer relationship management, application development, information management, NASA HQ Data Center support, systems engineering and integration, multimedia, and IT security. The incumbent of this contract, which ends in September 2017, is Digital Management Inc. (DMI), teamed with ADNET Systems Inc. and a.i. Solutions.

HITSS III              

HITSS III will continue IT support to the 3,200 employees at NASA Headquarters.  It will also continue as a 100% set-aside for 8(a)-certified companies. The 541512 NAICS will also continue as the most applicable, with a small business standard of $27.5 million. HITSS III will require services in a massive 22 areas of IT support, ranging from IT system planning, to IT security, cloud services, customer service and IT training. A full performance work statement drafted for HITSS III can be found here.

Importantly, the incumbent contractor on HITS II, DMI, reached the 8(a) certification exit date in 2012. This means that DMI will be unable to submit a proposal for HITS III as a prime-contractor. This presents a huge opportunity for 8(a) companies looking for IT services contracts.

While you’re waiting for NASA to release a new procurement schedule for HITSS III sometime in January, sign up for a free trial with EZGovOpps. In less than 60 seconds, you will have access to the premier government market intelligence tool, allowing for access to more history on the HITSS program, custom analyst updates on HITSS III, industry day information, and daily tracking from the solicitation period through to final contract awards.

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