DISA considers switch to small businesses for chat contract

The Defense Information Systems Agency is considering moving a contract from a large business to a small one.

In a new sources sought notice, DISA wants to know if any small businesses can support operations within its Unified Communications and Collaboration Engineering Office.

DISA is seeking sources for its UCCE Office Enterprise Engineering System (EE) Systems Engineering Division (EE2). UCCE supports DISA’s chat services across Defense Department programs and other unified communications and collaboration capabilities.

DISA is considering whether to shift the current contract with Booz Allen Hamilton to a small business that has secret clearance.

Along with supporting the UCCE, DISA needs support for strategic planning and engineering, as well as areas related to real time services, standards, test and evaluation, enterprise architecture, information assurance, and financial and network operations.

The contract would include developing a strategy for XMPP-based chat federation, developing projected enterprise UC&C requirements and future applications, and analyzing other approaches to deliver unified capabilities solutions.

During the course of the work, the UCCE office will evaluate and recommend migration and transition of DISA Programs of Record to meet the UC&C’s vision.

DISA anticipates releasing a request for proposal in fiscal 2014, if it decides to move in this direction.
DISA released the sources sought notice May 23. Responses are due June 6.