DISA gives HUBZones two bites at new acquisition system

The Defense Information Systems Agency has given HUBZone businesses two opportunities to offer input and feedback on a DISA effort to acquire software development services for its contract writing and acquisition system.

DISA said in two requests for information March 23 it seeks vendors to help in all phases of software design, development and maintenance for the Integrated Defense Acquisition System known as IDEAS.

One RFI is reserved for HUBZone businesses only and the second is also available to other small business subsets such as small disadvantage, certified 8(a), service-disabled veteran-owned and woman-owned as well as large businesses. Among the different small business categories, HUBZones have consistently been the hardest goal to meet.

Defense Department directorates and organizations use IDEAS to enter contract requirements, track statuses and conduct financial-related reviews.

Required capability areas for IDEAS include software development expertise, experience with Appian’s business process modeling tool and business area knowledge.

DISA used the Appian BPM tool to develop and configure IDEAS, which the agency expects to be housed in the MilCloud system by the end of the current fiscal year.

DISA also cited software development lifecycle services such as concept development, planning, requirements definition and analysis, systems design and development, coding, testing, deployment, implementation, integration, documentation and application maintenance.

The agency has limited responses to no more than 10 pages and added proprietary information and trade secrets should not be submitted.

Responses to both RFIs are due to DISA by 1 p.m. Eastern time on April 7.