Top 20 civilian contracts for 2011

This year’s slate of major civilian contracts reveals some of the critical factors that drive today’s market.

First, there are only three new contracts on the list we’ve compiled from market research firm Input. And at least one of those is a bundled version of several other contracts.

What does that tell us? In this economic environment, there is precious little new work. For most of industry, your biggest battle is hanging onto what you have and taking work away from your competitors.

This roundup highlights another trend: General-purpose IT contracts are a dying breed, except for a handful of huge contracts, such as the National Institutes of Health's Electronic Commodities Store IV, the Homeland Security Department's First Source 2, and the Housing and Urban Development Network, known as HUDNet.

In other words, specialization is the watch word, and contractors must understand the priorities and missions of their customers. For example, that means getting to know the Energy Department’s goals for managing nuclear material and delivering systems that fit that mission.

Almost all of the contracts listed here will have multiple prime contractors competing to win task orders, a decade-long trend that continues to significantly influence the market. 

The listed contract value represents the expected ceiling for spending through these contracts. In most cases, Input estimated the ceiling based on the spending of the contract's predecessor. The contracts are ranked according to the value of their ceiling.

1. NIH Electronic Commodities Store IV
Acronym: ECS IV
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Value: $6 billion
Status: RFP expected in June.
Solicitation No.: Not available.
Incumbents: There are 66 incumbents on ECS III.
What it does: This task-order contract is available to all government agencies for purchasing hardware, software and related services. Products include desktop PCs, servers and workstations. The contract covers warranty services on equipment and maintenance support.

2. Tactical Communications Equipment and Services
Acronym: None
Agency Homeland Security Department
Value: $5 billion
Status: RFP expected in March.
Solication No.: RFIDHSTACCOM.
Incumbents: This is a new contract.
What it does: The contract will be used to buy equipment and services related to DHS’ tactical communications services. Some of the requirements include financial management, help desk, hardware replacement, warranty management, software updates and program management.

3. First Source IT Commodity Solutions 2
Acronym: FirstSource 2
Agency: Homeland Security Department
Value: $3 billion
Status: RFP expected in July.
Solicitation No.: RFIFIRSTSOURCEII.
Incumbents: All Points Logistics, Computer World Services Corp., Wildflower International Ltd., EG Solutions, Government Acquisitions, GovPlace, iGov, MultimaxArray FirstSource, NCS Technologies Inc., Net Direct Systems, and ST-Net-Apptis First Source Joint Venture.
What it does: The contract is used to aggregate DHS’ buying power instead of each component agency buying similar products and services at higher costs. The hardware and software must comply with DHS’ enterprise architecture. DHS will use the contract to buy hardware, software and related services. The contractor will manage issues such as technology refreshes and software licenses.

4. National Immunization Survey
Acronym: None
Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Value: $2.7 billion
Status: RFP expected in April.
Solicitation No.: Not available.
Incumbent: National Opinion Research Center.
What it does: The survey is used to track immunizations across the country and monitor emerging flu viruses.

5. Uranium Processing Facility Construction Contracting Strategy
Acronym: UPF Construction Contracting Strategy
Agency: Energy Department
Value: $1.7 billion
Status: RFP expected in April.
Solicitation No.: DE11RFIUPFCCS.
Incumbent: BWXT Y-12 LLC.
What it does: The contractor will help the agency develop an acquisition strategy to support the National Nuclear Security Administration’s nuclear weapons complex. The complex supports the nuclear weapon program, nuclear nonproliferation objectives and naval reactors.

6. NASA Enterprise Data Center Consolidation
Acronym: I3P NEDC
Agency: NASA
Value: $1.5 billion
Status: RFP expected in April.
Solicitation No.: NNK09274726R.
Incumbent: There are 17 companies providing services through existing contracts.
What it does: NASA’s data centers are supported through numerous contracts. NASA wants to consolidate data center operations and is open to myriad approaches, including a vendor-hosted solution, NASA ownership and hosting of all equipment, or a combination of the two approaches. This contract is part of NASA's Information Technology Infrastructure Integration Program (I3P.)

7. Technical Support Services Contract IV
Acronym: TSSC IV
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Value: $1.25 billion
Status: RFP expected in April.
Solicitation No.: 10182.
Incumbent: Parsons Corp.
What it does: The contract supports FAA’s implementation of its capital invest plan. Work includes site selection, site preparation, environmental remediation and installation and testing.

8. Housing and Urban Development Network
Acronym: HUDNet
Agency: Housing and Urban Development Department
Value: $800 million
Status: RFP expected in November.
Solicitation No.: RNOI00002.
Incumbents: Hewlett-Packard Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp.
What it does: This is a follow-on contract to the HUD IT Services contract, known as HITS. Services to be acquired include voice, video and data transmission; data center services; security; disaster recovery; user computing services; and enterprise data services and supporting services.

9. Decentralized Democratic Local Governance Program
Acronym: DDLG
Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development
Value: $750 million
Status: RFP expected in April.
Solicitation No.: Not available.
Incumbents: Development Alternatives, Research Triangle Institute, Padco Inc., Tetra Tech Inc., and Urban Institute.
What it does: The contract will support USAID’s mission to develop the infrastructure that countries need to support democratic institutions. Some of the services include logistics, consulting and professional services.

10. Application Support Center Operations and Facilities Services
Acronym: ASC Operations and Facilities Services
Agency: Homeland Security Department
Value: $750 million
Status: RFP expected in April.
Solicitation No.: ASCRFI01.
Incumbent: Northrop Grumman Corp.
What it does: The contract supports application centers that handle a variety of immigration benefits. Work includes capturing biometric information, supporting mobile routes, scheduling support, collecting applications and leading program management. The contractor also will provide staffing, lease facilities, train employees and support special projects.

11. Strengthening Tenure and Resource Rights
Acronym: STARR
Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development
Value: $700 million
Status: RFP expected in March
Solicitation No.: RFCOAAEGATEMD11567A.
Incumbents: This is a new contract.
What it does: The contract supports USAID’s efforts to enhance food security, climate change mitigation, economic growth and other issues. The contractor will provide services such as technical assessments, monitoring and evaluation, research, logistics, and training.

12. Helping Access Basic Infrastructure Technical Assistance and Training
Acronym: Habitat
Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development
Value: $650 million
Status: RFP expected in April.
Solicitation No.: Not available.
Incumbents: AECOM Technology, Louis Berger Group, Mendez England & Associates, RTI International, and Tetra Tech Inc.
What it does: The contract will be used to provide short- and long-term professional technical assistance in areas such as water and sanitation, urban management, information and communications technology, and roads and transport.

13. Wide Area Augmentation Systems Program Safety Computer Replacement
Acronym: WAAS Program Safety Computer Replacement
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Value: $650 million
Status: RFP expected in September.
Solicitation No.: 10048
Incumbent: Raytheon Co.
What it does: The contract supports WAAS, a navigation system for civilian aircraft.

14. Engineering and Science Services and Skills Augmentation
Acronym: ESSSA
Agency: NASA
Value: $600 million
Status: RFP expected in May.
Solicitation No.: MSFCES20111
Incumbent: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
What it does: The contract is used at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., for engineering and science services. Work includes systems engineering; mechanical design and analysis; software; and mission operations design, analysis and testing.

15. Peace
Acronym: None
Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development
Value: $500 million
Status: RFP expected in March.
Solicitation No.: AIDDFDI000500244.
Incumbents: Academy for Educational Development, AMEX, Development Alternatives, Management Systems International, and Tetra Tech Inc.
What it does: The contract supports USAID's Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation. The office works on early warnings and analysis of conflict and state failure. It also looks to develop new assistance models and provide technical leadership and training for USAID. The contractors will support the office in those efforts.

16. Focus on Results: Enhancing Capacity Across Sectors in Transition and Human Institutional Capacity Development for CPC Countries
Acronym: Forecast II/HICD
Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development
Value: $500 million
Status: RFP expected in April.
Solicitation No.: Not available.
Incumbents: Academy for Educational Development and World Learning Inc.
What it does: The contract supports the Bureau of Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade. Services from the contractor will likely include in-country support, staff augmentation and technical assistance.

17. Population, Health and Nutrition Technical Assistance and Support Contract Four for Africa
Acronym: TASC4-Africa
Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development
Value: $500 million
Status: RFP expected in May.
Solicitation No.: SOLOAA11000021.
Incumbents: ABT Associates, Academy for Educational Development, Camris International, Chemonics International, and Research Triangle Institute.
What it does: The contract supports USAID’s efforts to improve global health in the areas of population, health, nutrition and infectious disease. The contractors will provide services such as providing technical expertise, consulting, procurement and management support.

18. Coordination of Benefits Contractor
Acronym: COBC
Agency: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Value: $500 million
Status: RFP expected in October.
Solicitation No.: RFICMS20070024.
Incumbents: GHI Medicare.
What it does: The contract will support efforts to improve program integrity, enhance beneficiary interactions, and improve processes to save money and gain efficiencies.

19. Engineered Solutions and Prototyping
Acronym: ESP
Agency: NASA
Value: $500 million
Status: RFP expected in June.
Solicitation No.: MSFCES20111.
Incumbents: This is a new contract.
What it does: The contract will be used to support the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., with space structures development, hardware integration, testing and prototype development, and process development.

20. Electrical Systems Engineering Services
Acronym: ESES II
Agency: NASA
Value: $450 million
Status: RFP expected in June.
Solicitation No.: ESESFOLLOWON12202010.
Incumbents: MEI Technologies Inc.
What it does: Services will support the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., in areas such as command and data handling, communications, accommodation studies, digital design, and electrical systems discipline support.