DHS PACTS III: A Game-Changing Opportunity for Small Businesses

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to release the highly anticipated third iteration of the Program Management, Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Services (PACTS III) contract. PACTS III, a significant multiple-award IDIQ contract, presents a unique opportunity for government contractors. However, understanding its intricacies is vital for a successful bid. In this article, we will provide a concise overview of PACTS III.

Understanding PACTS III:

PACTS III, short for Program Management, Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Services III, is a highly sought-after Multiple Award Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (MA-IDIQ) contract. It aims to provide DHS with a diverse pool of pre-qualified contractors who can deliver a wide range of program management, administrative, clerical, technical, and engineering services. With a total ceiling value of $5.6 billion, PACTS III is a significant opportunity for businesses to secure long-term contracts with the Department.

Unlike some other Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), such as OASIS+, PACTS III takes a unique approach. While PACTS III is a considerable opportunity with a total ceiling value of $5.6 billion, it doesn't feature a total small business track. This sets it apart significantly in the landscape of GWACs.

The absence of a total small business track in PACTS III diverges from the conventional setup in government contracting. In contrast, some GWACs offer designated tracks reserved exclusively for small businesses, providing a more accessible entry point for smaller enterprises. If you do not have 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone or WOSB status, now is a good time to start looking for  prime partners who are bidding this vehicle. 

The following is a list of some of the critical items that winning vendors will be focused on. 

1. Teaming and Partnering: Winning vendors on PACTS III will be those that take a sober inventory of their internal 2-year past performance and build smart teams with companies that complement their service offering and bring the points they need to score well on the evaluation.
2. Pricing Support: Now is a good time to start sourcing labor rates, tuning up your Indirect Rates (Fringe, G&A and Overhead) and comparing your FBLRs to the Government's Attachment 8. Don't underestimate the amount of work required here and reach out to us if we can help. We've successfully crafted pricing volumes for numerous large IDIQ contracts and can help ensure your rates are competitive and aligned with the RFP requirements.
3. Proposal Compliance Reviews: Compliance is the first step to winning. Make sure you've sourced sufficient resources internally or externally to give your entire proposal a thorough compliance review and multiple points in the development process. In a perfect world, Compliance Reviewers should not have had a hand in drafting the proposal volumes.
4. Proposal Management Resources: The #1 reason CLIENTS engage our teams on these large IDIQ's is the pull these programs place on a proposal manager. If you're planning on building this proposal with internal staff, take a hard look at your talent roster. This is a big proposal. 
5. Past Performance Selection: Winning vendors on PACTS III will be those that do an exceptional job at past performance selection and teaming. Start this work today, do multiple reviews and be aggressive in  sourcing and qualifying your subcontractors. As a side note, we have a killer Contractor Teaming Report that can help you identify teammates to help you win this vehicle.

How rTurner Consulting can assist in the process of winning the PACTS III contract?

Our teams are organized to support each of the workstreams outlined above. Over the recent past, we have developed scores of turnkey IDIQ proposals for CLINETS. By partnering with us, you can benefit from our experience, expertise, and resources to optimize your approach to pursuing the PACTS III contract.

Turnkey Proposal Development: Our premier service offering will be our Turnkey Proposal Development SOW. This package will be modeled after our successful OASIS+ program and will cover all aspects of the FINAL RFP freeing up your staff to focus on critical revenue opportunities in 2024.

With a proven track record of crafting and submitting over 100 GWAC/IDIQ proposals since 2018, we bring expertise and efficiency. Our well-defined process, executed by multiple teams, ensures your focus remains on data calls while we take charge of the heavy lifting. This includes writing, editing, compliance reviews, and overall proposal management.

Webinar Support and Newsletter: We plan to host a series of webinars to provide insights, tips, and guidance on key aspects of PACTS III proposal development. Sign-up for our email newsletter where we plan to address your questions and concerns throughout the proposal development process.

Our goal, aligned with our core values of Value, Integrity, and Excellence in Government Contracting, is to support you in developing a compelling and competitive proposal, ultimately increasing your chances of winning the contract.

Feel free to reach out to us for a more detailed discussion of how we can tailor our services to your specific needs and objectives in the PACTS III procurement process.