Army blacks out large portions of $50 billion strategy

The Army has released its procurement strategy for what could be a $50 billion contract vehicle. Too bad 80% of it is blacked out.

A Friday Sam.gov notice for the Marketplace for the Acquisition of Professional Services vehicle includes a link to the procurement strategy.

But you will not much there because the Army has redacted the bulk of the document, including the date and even many of the page numbers. The first 14 pages of the redacted strategy are a sea of black.

Here is what we do know:

• MAPS consolidates the Army’s RS3 and ITES-3S vehicles
• The Army expects 70 awardees in each of five domains.
• The Army wants to “lower overall prices, generate operational efficiencies, and improve mission performance.”
• The contract will have a five-year base and a single five year option.
• The Army aims to release a final solicitation later this month or in early April.
• The Army wants to make awards by early August.

But there is much, much more we do not know.

How many responses did the Army get when it conducted a market research survey? The Army redacted that data point, along with the number of small businesses that responded.

Some respondents voiced support for the consolidation, according to the Army, but it also redacted that number.

Some industry sources believe MAPS is not set up for small businesses and instead favors the creation of joint ventures.

One said the requirements in the solicitation make this a “bridge too far” for many small businesses, especially a requirement for an approved purchasing system.

That is a heavy and expensive lift for most small businesses, of which one source only knows of two small businesses that would qualify to bid on the contract on their own.

“Not a lot of goodwill will come from this for the true small business community,” he said.

“There is no one I know who is excited about this acquisition,” another source said.

One of the bigger unanswered questions is why have MAPS in the first place?

“All of the work can easily fit on OASIS+ and other GSA vehicles, so why not just move it there?” a source said.

This question hangs out there because we can see in the redacted strategy that the Army says it wants efficiency and streamlining, as well as cost savings.

Why the expense of a separate contract when there are existing vehicles available?

Moving to a General Services Administration vehicle with the same set of broad services also would support President Trump’s executive orders to consolidate procurements, the source said.

That source added moving to OASIS+ would save industry, particularly small businesses, the expense of spending another $500,000 to $1 million in bid and proposal costs to chase a redundant contrac.

“There is no (return on investment) justification for industry to spend money pursuing another hunting license vehicle,” the source said.

Because MAPS appears to favor joint ventures, it runs counter to the Defense Department’s objective to expand the industrial base by attracting smaller innovative companies. A source said that this will drive more consolidation, limit competition and lessen innovation overtime.

Officials at the Army have not responded to a request for comment.