New DIA award will seek intel support

The Defense Intelligence Agency is preparing to consolidate 30 intelligence analysis contracts into five.

DIA issued a presolicitation notice earlier this month detailing a new indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract that could be worth $1 billion over five years. In the notice, DIA said it seeks a wide range of analysis initiatives in defense and other intelligence community areas. General functions include gathering, analyzing and utilizing intelligence, and providing strategy and support.

"DIA has responded aggressively to the increased requirements of our warfighters through the addition of both government and contract analysts," an agency spokesman wrote in an e-mail response to questions.

Although DIA said a request for proposals would be released by Aug. 27, no notice has been posted on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site. A preproposal conference was scheduled for Sept. 13.

Robert Cardillo, DIA's deputy director of analysis, said in an interview on Federal News Radio last week that the agency is looking for contractors with specific skills that complement those of DIA's employees.

Cardillo said the contractors would help translate documents, enter information in databases and mentor and train new analysts because many qualified contractors are retired federal intelligence analysts.

In the past year, DIA has been bringing work back into the agency instead of contracting it out to the private sector. Although this contract is not related to that effort, the spokesman said the goal is to ensure that the agency has the right mix of civilian, military, contractor and reserve personnel to meet its mission.

The spokesman said DIA has brought more than 200 positions in-house this year and plans to add another 350 in the next few years.

Jason Miller writes for Government Computer News and Federal Computer Week, 1105 Government Information Group publications.