01
Executive Summary
This is an awarded task order under the SETA III IDIQ contract to Noblis, Inc. for front office administrative, portfolio management, and executive support services. The task order has already been executed with a total award value of $7,458,652.20, fully funding the base period with partial exercise of a surge CLIN. This is a post-award document, not an open opportunity.
Agency
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)
Solicitation #
70RSAT20R00000011 / 70RSAT20FR0000048
Opportunity
SETA Support to Office of Mission and Capability Support (MCS) Front Office
Contract Type
Time and Materials (T&M)
Contract Vehicle
SETA III IDIQ (70RSAT19D00000003)
Set-Aside
Unrestricted (Full and Open Competition)
Period of Performance
Base: 12 months (05/27/2020-05/26/2021); Option 1: 12 months; Option 2: 12 months; Total: 36 months if all options exercised
02
Requirement Analysis
Scope
Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support to the DHS S&T Office of Mission and Capability Support (MCS) Front Office, including strategy development, portfolio administration, stakeholder engagement, reporting/data call management, property/records management, business operations, and financial management support for a matrixed RDT&E portfolio.
Mission Impact
Supports DHS S&T's core mission to execute Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) serving 13 DHS component portfolios addressing counter-terrorism, border security, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, economic security, preparedness/resiliency, and workforce strengthening. Enables centralized R&D coordination function across the Department and Homeland Security Enterprise.
Deliverables
- ▸Project Management Plan (PMP) within 30 days of award
- ▸Monthly Progress Reports to CO and COR
- ▸Transition In/Out Plans (90-day transition periods)
- ▸Business Continuity Plan within 30 days, updated annually
- ▸Post Award Conference within 15 days
- ▸Security Authorization documentation for any IT systems
Performance Objectives
- ▸Maintain coordination of high-volume taskings, data calls, FOIA requests, Congressional inquiries across S&T and DHS
- ▸Execute oversight and management of MCS RDT&E portfolio across 13 discrete customer portfolios
- ▸Ensure efficient front office operations for MCS senior leadership
- ▸Support portfolio administration, budget tracking, and financial management activities
- ▸Facilitate stakeholder engagement and technology transition to DHS components and first responders
Technical Requirements
- ▸SETA support compliant with DHS SETA III IDIQ terms (H.11 Avoidance of Inherently Governmental Functions)
- ▸Records Management coordination per DHS Management Directives
- ▸Property Management coordination and annual inventory support
- ▸Financial analysis, budget tracking, spend plans, V&V cycles, milestones reporting
- ▸SharePoint/web management and document clearance support
Operational Requirements
- ▸On-site performance at DHS VTA location (245 Murray Lane, SW, Washington DC)
- ▸Work hours 0700-1730 EST Monday-Friday, with occasional weekend/holiday support
- ▸Telework permitted with COR approval per SETA III IDIQ H.4
- ▸Continuity of staffing at all times; replacements required for absences
- ▸Monthly coordination meetings with COR at VTA
/ What Success Requires
Seamless administrative and portfolio management support enabling MCS leadership to execute matrixed RDT&E programs; accurate and timely responses to Congressional, Executive Secretariat, and DHS leadership taskings; compliance with federal records/property management requirements; maintenance of security posture and PII/SPII safeguards.
03
Procurement Profile
acquisition type
Task Order under existing IDIQ
contract type
Time and Materials (T&M)
ordering structure
SETA III IDIQ 70RSAT19D00000003 with Noblis, Inc.; task order 70RSAT20FR0000048
contract vehicle
SETA III (Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance) IDIQ
option years
Two (2) one-year option periods
place of performance
DHS S&T Office, 245 Murray Lane SW, Washington DC 20528 (VTA); telework permitted with COR approval
04
NAICS & Small Business Analysis
Primary NAICS
541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Secondary NAICS
Not specified
Size Standard
$15.0 million average annual receipts
Set-Aside
None - Unrestricted, full and open competition
SB
Not applicable - awarded unrestricted to large business (Noblis, Inc.)
SDVOSB
Not applicable - unrestricted procurement
WOSB
Not applicable - unrestricted procurement
HUBZone
Not applicable - unrestricted procurement
8(a)
Not applicable - unrestricted procurement
VOSB
Not applicable - unrestricted procurement
/ Implications
This was a full and open competition under the SETA III IDIQ with no small business set-aside. Large businesses (like awardee Noblis) competed without size restrictions. Small businesses would have competed at a disadvantage against established SETA IDIQ holders with proven DHS S&T relationships.
05
Procurement Timeline
Solicitation Issued
03/16/2020
Task Order Awarded to Noblis, Inc.
05/21/2020
Performance Start Date
05/27/2020
Base Period End
05/26/2021
Option Period 1 (if exercised)
05/27/2021 - 05/26/2022
Option Period 2 (if exercised)
05/27/2022 - 05/26/2023
Maximum Period of Performance End
05/26/2023
06
Evaluation Criteria Analysis
Technical Factors
- ▸Ability to provide qualified personnel for Task Order Manager (Key Personnel) role
- ▸Capability to execute SETA support across six task areas without inherently governmental function violations
- ▸Demonstrated understanding of DHS S&T MCS portfolio management and RDT&E operations
- ▸Proposed staffing mix and qualifications for executive assistance, records management, and portfolio support
Past Performance
- ▸Prior SETA support to DHS S&T or similar federal R&D organizations
- ▸Experience managing executive-level administrative support in federal settings
- ▸History of records/property management compliance in DHS or DoD environments
- ▸Track record supporting Congressional reporting, data calls, and FOIA coordination
Price Factors
- ▸Competitive hourly labor rates across required labor categories under SETA III IDIQ
- ▸Proposed ODC and travel costs (Base: Travel NTE + ODCs NTE per pricing table)
- ▸Reasonableness of surge CLIN pricing for optional Task 6 expansion
Management
- ▸Project Management Plan approach for task order oversight
- ▸Business Continuity Plan robustness for emergency operations
- ▸Transition In/Out Plan completeness for 90-day transitions
- ▸Key Personnel designation and backup/continuity approach
Staffing
- ▸Ability to provide Secret-cleared Senior Portfolio/Program/Project Analysts
- ▸Executive Assistant qualifications for senior leadership support
- ▸Records Management and Property Management POC expertise
- ▸Surge capacity to scale support under optional Task 6
Transition
- ▸90-day transition-in plan from incumbent (per SETA III Attachment I)
- ▸Knowledge transfer methodology from previous contractor
- ▸Minimal disruption to MCS operations during onboarding
- ▸Readiness to assume full performance within base period
Most Important
- ▸Compliance with SETA III IDIQ H.11 (avoidance of inherently governmental functions)
- ▸Key Personnel (Task Order Manager) qualifications and availability
- ▸Past performance with DHS S&T or similar federal R&D SETA support
- ▸Price reasonableness under T&M structure given ~$7.5M total ceiling
Likely Discriminators
- ▸Existing relationships/institutional knowledge with DHS S&T MCS leadership
- ▸Incumbent advantage (if applicable) due to knowledge of MCS portfolio and processes
- ▸Depth of bench for executive-level administrative support with federal experience
- ▸Competitive labor rates under SETA III IDIQ for senior analyst and executive assistant categories
Evaluation Risks
- ▸Inherently governmental function risk: Technical evaluation panel scrutiny on Task 2 (review/clearance of Congressional responses) and Task 4 (financial management decision support)
- ▸Organizational conflict of interest if offeror has simultaneous DHS S&T program execution roles
- ▸Key Personnel availability risk if proposed TOM has competing commitments
- ▸Security clearance verification delays for Secret-cleared personnel
07
Compliance Review
required registrations
- ▸SAM.gov (System for Award Management) registration - active and current
- ▸DUNS Number (932902364 for awardee Noblis, verified in contract)
- ▸CAGE Code (9329023640000 for Noblis)
required certifications
- ▸FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items
- ▸DHS Form 11000-6 Non-Disclosure Agreement for all personnel with sensitive information access
- ▸DHS Rules of Behavior signed within 30 days of award for all personnel
- ▸IT Security Awareness Training (annual) for all personnel accessing sensitive information
- ▸Privacy at DHS: Protecting Personal Information training for all personnel accessing PII/SPII
representations
- ▸Compliance with FAR 52.204-2 Security Requirements
- ▸Compliance with HSAR 3052.204-71 Contractor Employee Access
- ▸Representation of no organizational conflicts of interest under SETA III IDIQ
- ▸Certification of ability to safeguard Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU/FOUO) information per DHS MD 11042.1
insurance
- ▸Not specified in task order; assumed general liability and professional liability per SETA III IDIQ base terms
security requirements
- ▸Facility Security Clearance: Unclassified (but personnel clearances required)
- ▸Personnel Security Clearances: Secret clearance required for Senior Portfolio/Program/Project Analyst roles
- ▸DD Form 254 (DoD Contract Security Classification Specification) - referenced but not included in solicitation package
- ▸Compliance with DHS Instruction Handbook 121-01-007 Personnel Suitability and Security Program
cybersecurity requirements
- ▸Authority to Operate (ATO) required if Contractor IT systems store/process/transmit sensitive information (signed by DHS Component CIO, valid 3 years)
- ▸Security Authorization (SA) package per DHS 4300A Sensitive Systems Policy (Security Plan, Contingency Plan, Configuration Mgmt Plan, Assessment Plan/Report, ATO Letter)
- ▸FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption for sensitive data transmission
- ▸NIST SP 800-53 security controls implementation
- ▸Continuous monitoring per DHS Information Security Performance Plan
- ▸Incident reporting to DHS SOC within 1 hour of discovery
labor requirements
- ▸No Service Contract Act (SCA) wage determinations specified (professional services exempt)
- ▸Work hours 0700-1730 EST Monday-Friday; occasional weekend/holiday support as needed
- ▸Key Personnel: Task Order Manager designated and subject to government approval for replacement (14-day notice required)
wage determinations
- ▸Not applicable - professional/administrative services under NAICS 541611 exempt from SCA
subcontracting requirements
- ▸Flowdown of safeguarding sensitive information clause to all subcontractors required
- ▸Flowdown of IT security and privacy training requirements to subcontractor personnel
- ▸Subcontractor personnel subject to same clearance, NDA, and training requirements as prime
disqualification risks
- ▸Failure to obtain Secret clearances for required personnel within timeframe
- ▸Inability to obtain ATO if Contractor systems are used (delays could halt performance)
- ▸Organizational Conflict of Interest if firm performs other DHS S&T program execution work
- ▸Non-compliance with SETA III IDIQ H.11 (inherently governmental function prohibitions) would void award
- ▸Failure to maintain continuous staffing levels or provide qualified Key Personnel replacement
08
FAR / DFARS Analysis
| Clause | Title | Contractor Impact | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAR 52.204-2 | Security Requirements Establishes contractor obligations to comply with DD Form 441 Security Agreement and National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) when contract involves access to classified information | Contractor must maintain facility and personnel clearances, execute security agreements, and comply with NISPOM requirements. Any changes in security classification trigger equitable adjustment clause. Secret clearances required for certain staff positions. | Moderate |
| FAR 52.212-4 | Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items Incorporates standard commercial item contract terms covering inspection, acceptance, invoice payment, warranties, and government property provisions | Contractor bound by streamlined commercial terms rather than full FAR Part 12 clauses. Invoicing to DHS Burlington Finance Center; 10-day government acceptance period for deliverables; Net 30 payment terms. Must comply with inspection/acceptance by COR. | Low |
| FAR 52.212-5 | Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items Incorporates by reference mandatory FAR clauses required by statute/executive order for commercial acquisitions (e.g., equal opportunity, trafficking, whistleblower, byproduct mining) | Contractor must comply with flow-down statutory requirements including labor standards, employment practices, environmental regulations, and small business subcontracting (though prime is large business). Standard compliance burden for federal contractors. | Low |
| FAR 52.217-9 | Option to Extend the Term of the Contract Grants government unilateral right to extend contract term with 7-day preliminary notice and 1-day final written notice before expiration; extends contract by additional option periods | Contractor must maintain workforce readiness and pricing validity through option periods. Government may exercise options with minimal notice (1 day final, 7 day preliminary). Creates staffing planning uncertainty but also revenue continuity potential. Option exercise discretionary with government. | Low |
| HSAR 3052.215-70 | Key Personnel or Facilities Designates specific contractor personnel (Task Order Manager) as essential to contract performance; requires government approval before removal/replacement with 14-day notice and justification | Task Order Manager cannot be removed without CO approval. Contractor must provide replacement with equal/superior qualifications if Key Personnel departs. Loss of Key Personnel mid-performance creates contractual risk and requires formal modification. Limits contractor flexibility in personnel management. | Moderate |
| HSAR 3052.242-72 | Contracting Officer's Technical Representative Designates government COR with technical oversight authority but explicitly limits COR from making contractual commitments (changes, price, scope modifications reserved for CO only) | Contractor must distinguish between COR technical direction (binding) and contractual changes (CO-only authority). Risk of unauthorized commitments if contractor accepts COR direction that constitutes a change without CO written modification. Clear communication protocols essential to avoid unfunded work. | Moderate |
09
Resource Requirements Assessment
Staffing Complexity
ModerateTechnical Complexity
LowFinancial Complexity
ModerateEquipment
Minimal - Government provides workspace, IT equipment, and office supplies at VTA location per SOW Section 6.0 (Government Furnished Resources)
Facilities
No contractor facilities required - performance at Government site (DHS VTA, 245 Murray Lane SW). Telework permitted with COR approval, requiring home office capability with secure communications.
Management
Robust project management: Task Order Manager (Key Personnel) with full-time availability; monthly progress reporting; monthly COR coordination meetings; 90-day transition-in/out planning; Business Continuity Plan; tracking of multiple concurrent taskings/data calls; management of Secret-cleared personnel; compliance with DHS security/privacy training requirements.
10
Competitive Landscape Assessment
Competitive Intensity
HighTransition Risk
ModerateIncumbent Indicators
Strong incumbent indicators present - task order awarded to Noblis, Inc., which likely held incumbent position. Document references 90-day transition from incumbent, knowledge transfer requirements, and institutional knowledge of MCS portfolio/processes. Noblis is established DHS S&T SETA provider.
Recompete Indicators
This is a recompete under SETA III IDIQ vehicle. Reference to transition-in from incumbent and emphasis on 'seamless transition with no disruption' suggests existing contractor being replaced or contract being recompeted. SETA III IDIQ itself (70RSAT19D00000003) awarded 2019, with task orders competed among IDIQ holders.
Probable Incumbent Advantage
Significant incumbent advantage likely exists. Incumbent (if not Noblis) or previous SETA III task order holder possesses institutional knowledge of MCS portfolio (13 customer portfolios), established relationships with MCS Front Office leadership, familiarity with DHS S&T processes/systems, and cleared personnel already on-site. New entrants face 90-day learning curve and clearance processing delays.
11
Opportunity Risk Assessment
Incumbent Displacement Risk
Noblis is established DHS S&T SETA provider with deep institutional knowledge, existing cleared workforce, and likely incumbent position. Displacing would require significant differentiation and competitive pricing.
HighHigh
likelihood · impact
/ Mitigation
This is a post-award document - opportunity already awarded to Noblis. For future recompetes: Develop teaming arrangement with cleared personnel; invest early in DHS S&T relationship-building; propose innovation in portfolio management tools/processes; price aggressively on labor rates.
Inherently Governmental Function Violation Risk
Task 2 (review/clearance of Congressional responses, taskings) and Task 4 (financial management, budget analysis) approach inherently governmental functions. SETA III IDIQ H.11 strictly prohibits IGF. Evaluation could disqualify proposals crossing this line.
ModerateHigh
likelihood · impact
/ Mitigation
Clearly articulate advisory vs. decision-making role. Emphasize government decision authority on all clearances, financial commitments, and policy matters. Propose 'support' and 'facilitate' language rather than 'execute' or 'approve.' Ensure Key Personnel understand IGF boundaries.
Security Clearance Processing Delays
Secret clearances required for Senior Portfolio/Program/Project Analyst roles. Clearance processing can take 6-12 months. Performance start date 05/27/2020 requires cleared staff immediately available.
ModerateHigh
likelihood · impact
/ Mitigation
Propose personnel with active Secret clearances already adjudicated. Maintain cleared bench of available staff. Budget for interim access requests. Establish SLA with clearance sponsor for expedited processing. For uncleared proposed staff, initiate processing immediately at award.
Authority to Operate (ATO) Delay Risk
If Contractor IT systems are used to store/process/transmit sensitive information, ATO required prior to operation (Security Authorization package, independent assessment, DHS CIO approval - 90+ day process). Delays halt performance.
LowModerate
likelihood · impact
/ Mitigation
Plan to use Government Furnished IT systems exclusively (government provides workspace and equipment per SOW 6.0). Avoid introducing Contractor systems. If systems required, initiate ATO process immediately at award with pre-approved SA templates. Budget 120 days for ATO approval in transition plan.
Key Personnel Retention Risk
Task Order Manager is Key Personnel subject to government approval for replacement. Loss of TOM mid-performance requires 14-day notice, justification, and CO approval of equal/superior replacement. In competitive DC market, retention is challenging.
ModerateModerate
likelihood · impact
/ Mitigation
Propose highly stable TOM with long tenure at firm and DHS experience. Offer competitive compensation and retention incentives. Designate strong alternate TOM in proposal. Maintain cleared bench of qualified backup candidates. Build knowledge transfer protocols to reduce single-point-of-failure risk.
12
Hidden Red Flags
Post-Award Document Analysis - Opportunity Already Closed
This solicitation package is a fully executed task order award to Noblis, Inc. dated 05/21/2020 with performance ending 05/26/2023. This is not an open bidding opportunity. Analyzing as if open would waste resources. The document is useful for competitive intelligence on DHS S&T SETA pricing, labor mix, and evaluation priorities for future SETA III task orders.
Unrestricted Competition Favors Large SETA IDIQ Incumbents
No small business set-aside despite $15M NAICS size standard. Competed among SETA III IDIQ holders (pre-qualified large contractors like Noblis, MITRE, Aerospace Corp, etc.). Small businesses without SETA III seats cannot compete for this work. Barrier to entry is IDIQ holder status, not size.
Vague 'Surge Support' Optional CLIN (Task 6) with Minimal Scope Definition
Task 6 provides open-ended surge capacity for 'additional support under Task Five' on T&M basis. Base period partially exercises 5,760 hours with balance unfunded. This creates unpredictable revenue and staffing requirements. Contractor must maintain surge bench without guaranteed utilization - financial risk if surge not exercised, capacity risk if suddenly invoked.
Sensitive Information Incident Liability Exposure
Task order requires handling PII/SPII with strict incident reporting (1-hour to DHS SOC) and potential contractor liability for credit monitoring (18+ months), call center establishment, and individual notification costs. Cyber incident could trigger six-figure remediation costs not budgeted in T&M rates. Contractors should ensure E&O/cyber insurance covers DHS-mandated remediation.
FIPS 140-2 Encryption and NIST 800-53 Compliance Burden Without IT System Clarity
SOW demands FIPS 140-2 encryption, NIST 800-53 controls, continuous monitoring, and annual ATO renewal but is ambiguous whether Contractor systems will be used. If government systems exclusively, burden is low. If contractor systems required (e.g., for remote work, file sharing), ATO costs and timelines are significant hidden expenses not itemized in pricing.
13
Proposal Effort Estimate
Complexity
ModerateLabor Hours
Not applicable - opportunity already awarded. For similar future SETA III task orders: 150-250 hours (technical volume, management approach, past performance, transition plan, pricing, security plan templates, teaming if required)
SME Req.
For future similar opportunities: DHS S&T program management SME for win themes; SETA/advisory services compliance expert for IGF boundaries; cleared personnel recruiter for staffing plan; cybersecurity/ATO specialist for IT security approach; pricing analyst for competitive T&M rate strategy
Resource Commit.
Moderate14
Contractor-to-Opportunity Match
Capability Match
Cannot assess - no contractor profile provided. For generic small business: Poor fit. This is unrestricted SETA III IDIQ competition requiring institutional DHS S&T knowledge, cleared workforce bench, proven SETA performance, and likely incumbent advantage. Small businesses without IDIQ seats and DHS relationships are structurally disadvantaged.
Past Performance
Cannot assess - no contractor profile provided. Winning requires recent/relevant DHS S&T or federal R&D laboratory SETA support with executive-level portfolio management, Congressional reporting support, and records/financial management experience at similar scale.
Geographic
Performance at DHS VTA (245 Murray Lane SW, Washington DC). Contractors must have DC metro presence or willingness to establish on-site staff. Telework permitted with approval but on-site presence is primary requirement.
Certifications
Cannot assess - no contractor profile provided. Unrestricted competition makes SB certifications irrelevant. SAM registration, SETA III IDIQ holder status, and DD Form 254 compliance with Secret FCL are mandatory.
Staffing
Cannot assess - no contractor profile provided. Requires Secret-cleared Senior Analysts, executive assistants with federal experience, records/property management specialists, and portfolio managers familiar with DHS/S&T operations. Labor pool must be DC-local and immediately available.
Contract Vehicle
Requires SETA III IDIQ holder status (Contract 70RSAT19D00000003). Non-IDIQ holders cannot compete. SETA III awarded to select large businesses (Noblis, MITRE, Aerospace, etc.) and limited small businesses.
Clearance
Cannot assess - no contractor profile provided. Requires active Secret FCL and cleared personnel bench to support 05/27/2020 start date with no delay for clearance processing.
Strengths
- ▸Cannot assess without contractor profile
Gaps
- ▸Cannot assess without contractor profile
- ▸If small business: Lack of SETA III IDIQ seat = absolute barrier to entry
- ▸If new to DHS S&T: Lack of institutional knowledge and incumbent relationships = competitive disadvantage
15
Contractor Readiness Assessment
Overall Readiness
LowBarriers to Entry
- ▸Opportunity already awarded to Noblis, Inc. - no open competition available
- ▸SETA III IDIQ holder status required (pre-qualified pool limits competition)
- ▸Incumbent advantage from institutional knowledge of MCS portfolio and leadership relationships
- ▸Secret facility and personnel clearances required immediately at performance start
- ▸DC metro on-site presence requirement for VTA location work
Teaming / Partnership Needs
- ▸For future similar opportunities: Prime partnership with SETA III IDIQ holder mandatory if contractor lacks seat
- ▸Teaming with cleared personnel provider to meet Secret clearance requirements
- ▸Subcontract with DHS S&T-experienced firm for institutional knowledge and win themes
- ▸Partnership with records/property management specialist firm for compliance tasks
16
Win Probability Assessment
Probability
LowOpportunity is already awarded (05/21/2020 to Noblis, Inc.) - zero probability of winning as it is closed. For future similar SETA III task orders: Win probability for contractors without SETA III IDIQ seats is zero. For IDIQ holders competing against incumbent (Noblis): Low probability without significant price discount (15%+), differentiated technical approach, and relationships with MCS leadership. Incumbent advantage is substantial in SETA support due to institutional knowledge and transition risk aversion.
17
Top 10 Actions Before Bidding
01
Acknowledge this is a closed, awarded task order - do not pursue as active opportunity
Document dated 05/21/2020 with award to Noblis and performance through 05/26/2023. Treat as competitive intelligence source for future SETA III opportunities, not as open bid.
02
Conduct market research to obtain SETA III IDIQ on-ramp opportunity or future SETA IV
Without SETA III IDIQ holder status, contractor cannot compete for DHS S&T SETA task orders. Monitor for IDIQ on-ramp solicitations, SETA IV successor vehicle, or unrestricted set-aside task orders outside IDIQ construct.
03
Reverse-engineer Noblis pricing strategy from $7.46M award for 36-month T&M effort
Award amount of $7,458,652.20 for base + 2 options provides market intelligence on competitive T&M labor rates and ODC/travel allowances for similar DHS S&T SETA work. Analyze fully-burdened rates by labor category (TOM, Senior Analyst, Executive Assistant, Admin Support).
04
Establish relationship with DHS S&T Office of Mission and Capability Support through industry days, FFRDC coordination, or small business outreach
MCS is the customer organization. Understanding their portfolio priorities, pain points, and future requirements positions contractor for next recompete cycle (likely 2023 timeframe) or adjacent opportunities.
05
Develop teaming strategy with SETA III IDIQ holders (Noblis alternatives) for future task orders
If contractor has niche capabilities (cybersecurity, financial management, portfolio tools) but lacks IDIQ access, teaming as subcontractor to MITRE, Aerospace Corp, or other IDIQ primes enables participation and builds past performance.
06
Recruit and maintain Secret-cleared workforce bench in DC metro area
Secret clearances for Senior Analysts and immediate availability at VTA location are table-stakes. Build cleared labor pool with federal R&D, Congressional reporting, and executive support experience to enable rapid mobilization for future opportunities.
07
Analyze task order IGF boundaries - Tasks 2 & 4 approach prohibited inherently governmental functions
DHS evaluators scrutinize SETA proposals for IGF violations per IDIQ H.11. Understanding where this task order drew the line (Congressional response review, financial analysis support) informs compliant proposal approach for future similar work.
08
Develop pre-approved Security Authorization (ATO) package templates for DHS 4300A compliance
If future opportunities require Contractor IT systems, ATO approval is 90-120 day critical path. Pre-developing Security Plan, Contingency Plan, CM Plan, and Assessment templates per DHS templates accelerates timeline and demonstrates readiness.
09
Obtain Cyber Liability and E&O insurance covering PII/SPII incident remediation costs
Task order's sensitive information incident clauses impose credit monitoring (18 months), call center, and notification costs on contractor. Six-figure exposure not covered by T&M rates. Insurance is risk mitigation essential for PII-handling contracts.
10
Monitor for Option Period 2 exercise decision (expected ~May 2022) to assess MCS satisfaction with Noblis performance
If Option 2 not exercised or competed separately, signals incumbent performance issues and opens recompete opportunity earlier than 2023. If exercised without re-evaluation, signals strong incumbent satisfaction and higher displacement difficulty.
18
GovBidIQ Scorecard
/ GovBidIQ Scorecard
Overall
25/100
19
Executive Pursuit Recommendation
Do Not Pursue
This is a fully executed task order awarded to Noblis, Inc. on 05/21/2020 with performance ending 05/26/2023. The solicitation is closed. No bidding opportunity exists. The document provides competitive intelligence for future DHS S&T SETA III recompetes but is not an active procurement. Pursuing as if open would waste resources. For future opportunities: Without SETA III IDIQ holder status, pursuit is impossible. With IDIQ status but lacking incumbent position, ROI is poor due to institutional knowledge disadvantage and high displacement costs.
20
Final Recommendation
Verdict
No BidThis solicitation is a post-award document for task order 70RSAT20FR0000048 already awarded to Noblis, Inc. on May 21, 2020. The opportunity is closed with no open competition. Bidding is impossible. The document's value is as competitive intelligence for future SETA III recompetes or SETA IV positioning, not as an active pursuit target.
Key Strengths
- ▸Provides market intelligence on DHS S&T MCS requirements, labor mix, and pricing (~$7.5M for 3-year T&M SETA support)
- ▸Reveals evaluation priorities (IGF compliance, Key Personnel, transition planning, past performance with DHS S&T)
- ▸Clarifies security/compliance requirements (Secret clearances, ATO, PII/SPII safeguards, NIST 800-53) for future proposals
Key Concerns
- ▸Opportunity is closed - awarded to Noblis over 4 years ago (2020)
- ▸SETA III IDIQ holder status is absolute barrier to entry for non-holders
- ▸Unrestricted competition with no small business set-aside limits small business access
- ▸Incumbent advantage (Noblis) is insurmountable without major performance failure
- ▸IGF boundaries in Tasks 2 and 4 create proposal risk for inexperienced SETA contractors
Immediate Next Actions
- ▸Catalog as closed opportunity - file in competitive intelligence library for DHS S&T SETA market analysis
- ▸Research SETA III IDIQ holder landscape and identify teaming partners for future task orders
- ▸Monitor SAM.gov for SETA IV pre-solicitation notices or SETA III on-ramp opportunities
- ▸Establish DHS S&T MCS stakeholder engagement strategy for 2025+ recompete positioning
- ▸Develop Secret-cleared DC workforce bench and ATO/cybersecurity capability as foundational readiness
Disclaimer. This report is an AI-assisted decision-support tool intended to support government contracting opportunity analysis. It does not constitute legal advice, procurement consulting services, business advice, or a guarantee of award success. Users remain responsible for independent review and business decisions.