UPDATE: In July 2017, the Navy released the final solicitation for the new ePS. The Navy has calculated that the number of ePS users could hit 115,500, ranging from 5,500 “critical users” with Navy contracting authority, to 100,000 industry partners involved in the Navy procurement process. The “critical users” are a part of 10 Heads of the Contracting Activity (HCA) commands and one non-HCA command, including Installations and Logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps (HQMC, I&L) and Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP). Proposals are due on Dec 18, 2017. For a look at the full RFP, visit the ePS Technical Data Repository hosted by the Navy.
UPDATE: The Navy has moved the release date of the RFP to April 2017. EZGovOpps will be keeping a close eye on the final solicitation. For access as a potential contractor, visit the ePS Technical Data Repository for related documents from the Navy.
The Navy is looking for a new procurement system to replace the current DOD paperless procurement systems. In a number of documents published in December of 2016, the Department of the Navy (DON) Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) outlined requirements and a timeline for a new Navy Electronic Procurement System (ePS). This will be a Navy-estimated $250 million contract to replace the aging Defense Standard Procurement System and associated Navy procurement systems. Utilizing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software and cloud-based systems, the Navy hopes to create a system capable of providing end to end (E2E) contracting and procurement capabilities.
The Standard Procurement System (SPS)
The Standard Procurement System was originally developed by CACI as a DOD-wide paperless procurement system, using COTS software to replace over 75 legacy systems from the 1990’s. Support for the program has been continually provided by CACI with programs such as the Procurement Desktop-Defense (PD²) system which provides a desktop solution for all aspects of the procurement process. In FY2011 alone, the system maintained 27,000 users who made a combined $190 billion in contract actions. Contracts to CACI included a 1-year base contract with four 1-year options for a total of $70 million awarded in 2006.
The 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (or, NDAA, which changes requirements in other areas of federal contracting as well), required that the Department of Defense produce uniform standards and controls for procurement systems. This lead to a decision in DOD to seek a full replacement for SPS by 2018. Beyond the NDAA mandate, the Navy recognized in its draft RFP that the SPS was an important component to DON procurement, with system upgrades such as automated integration and movement to a web platform allowing for up to $70 billion of procurement for DON. However, the Navy then stated that “This [$70 billion] workload placed on SPS by DON contracting has pushed the system past its design limits.”
The Navy Electronic Procurement System (ePS)
According to the Navy, ePS should be able to handle 100% of DON contracting requirements, replacing legacy systems including: SPS, Integrated Technical Item Management and Procurement (ITIMP), SeaPort, and PRISM. This will be done with COTS systems and applications, which will provide easier use, installation, and maintenance. Along with providing training materials and technical manuals for ePS, the contractor will be required to meet specific planning and reporting requirements for the use of FedRAMP+ Level 4 certified cloud computing services as a hosting platform for the new service. The services are required to be accessible on the Navy’s large NMCI Network, which is facing a new procurement schedule for maintenance as well. Currently, the Draft RFP for these services has a most-applicable NAICS code of 541512- Computer Systems Design Services, with a small-business size standard of $27.5 million.
With an award in Q4 of Fiscal Year 2018, the Navy intends to utilize a 3 stage deployment process for the new ePS system. The first stage, a limited deployment, will be a 1-year trial phase for approximately 150 users. After the successful test deployment, the Navy intends to implement a 2-step roll-out to another 7,500 critical users over a period of 2 years, ending in fiscal year 2021. The Navy is still taking industry input on this schedule, so it may change. While the deployment will be structured, the Navy intends for all the entire roll-out to be completed under a single acquisition increment.
Responses to the RFI, which includes areas such as the deployment schedule, training parameters, and performance metrics are due on January 31st, 2017. More information can be found here. For live-updates on this opportunity and more history of Navy procurement programs, 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 custom analyst updates and contracting alerts, Industry Day information, and daily tracking from the solicitation period through to final contract awards.
Don’t forget to view our full GovCon News section for more intel.