Evaluation of an RFP from the Homeland Security Department

Pricing strategy: When bidding for the government contracts, the A&D companies have to assess and anticipate how other competitors will respond to the Request for Proposal (RFP), which contains the details of the technical and non-technical requirements. In the lowest price, technically acceptable or LPTA contract, companies bid as lowest price as possible while maintaining the acceptable profit margin threshold for their operations. In order to determine the lowest price point that qualifies a company to win the contract and produces the highest profit as possible at the same time, not only does a company has to know its own profitable price point, it has to also anticipating how low other companies will bid the contract. For example, Company A has been trying to break into cybersecurity space in the past few years. However, it hasn’t been successfully in any of the previous bids. Contract XYZ is a large cybersecurity contract that will allow Company A to start gaining recognition as a prime

Zakheim and Kadish explain two decades ago, there were more than twenty prime contractors competing for defense contracts while today the government relies on just six contractors to build its defense systems. Zakheim and Kadish state, “The system largely forgoes competition on price, delivery and performance and replaces it with a kind of “design bureau” competition”. The report explains that firms such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin have operated in collaboration on several projects such as the Air Force’s next generation bomber (Zakheim & Kadish, 2008). Collaboration of this nature suggests cooperative equilibrium between the firms to enhance their mutual payoff of outbidding competitors. With the defense market on the downturn pending major budget cuts over the next several years, more collaboration strategies are possible for firms to remain competitive. The existing procurement system encourages bargaining among the government and bidding firms. When budgets are allocated generously, demand is high and firms can set their prices higher. Budget cuts decrease demand and increase bargaining between buyer and seller. Security Industry reports budget deficits subject contracts to greater

The United States government is the largest single purchaser of goods and services in the world. Even during times of economic hardship, the US continues to dump billions into the private sector. The federal procurement spending rate of growth has surpassed the rate of U.S. inflation every year, since 2000. With annual federal procurement budgets of more than $400 billion, it is no surprise that the competition for government contracts has increased tremendously. Consequently, more and more companies are trying to get a piece of the action. When these companies adhere to all of the required regulations and statutes, they expect their proposals to be evaluated and the contract awarded in

The Truth in Negotiations Act was passed on December 1, 1962 requiring government contractors to submit cost or pricing data if the procurement met specific requirements in order to establish that the offer is fair and reasonable. The history of The Truth in Negotiations Act will set the stage for its significance in the twenty-first century. Prior to World War II, the United States government conducted its bidding process for procurement in an open bid environment. What was required for a bid was a complete description of the requirement, two or more suppliers capable and willing to complete the requirement, a selection based on price competition and sufficient time to prepare a complete statement of the government’s needs and terms.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was formed more than a decade ago with a very significant mission of safeguarding America's homeland from hazards, threats, and national disasters. This department conducts its mission through securing the country's borders, preventing terror attacks, and responding to incidents or threats to its citizens (Miller, n.d.). Generally, the most important roles of the Department of Homeland Security are to lead a concerted national effort in securing the United States and preserving the American way of life. The department was established in 2002 in reaction to the 9/11 terror attacks and has since developed a nationwide strategic plan for evaluating and updating its mission statement and effectiveness of operations. These plans can be updated and transformed to accomplish the needs of the Department for Homeland Security and the American people.

The FAR lists a number of ways in which exchanges between Government and Industry might occur prior to the issuance of a contract award. Examples of these types of exchanges include, Pre-Solicitation Conferences and Industry Days; Pre-Proposal Conferences; and One-on-One Meetings with Potential Offerors.

The government selects contract proposals from many competitors large and small, and each proposal must be effective in scope and developed with an attitude of winning the contract. From the e-Activity, select two (2) of the suggested commandments that you feel are most important to understand in order to write a government bid proposal effectively. Provide a rationale for your selection.

The Homeland Security Grant Program and its sub­grants have produced results that would otherwise have been hard, if not impossible, to achieve, particularly within the restrictions of the tight SLTT budgets that HSGP, SHSP, UASI, and OPSG all sought to have an operational effect. The ways in which these grant programs have been constructed, however, has produced difficulties and restrictions that many SLTTs have found both frustrating and limiting. By considering the positive outcomes achieved, as well as the challenges and the obstacles facing potential grantees, any future effort by the Congress to expand or duplicate HSGP can be better informed.

This part prescribes all-encompassing requirements that have to be followed by Sponsors in administering AIP grants. It covers issues involving pre-grant and post-grant requirements as well as other administrative matters undertaken by Sponsors and FAA. It is the primary Federal regulation for

a. The U.S. Federal government features a main legal requirement to purchase supplies as well as services on a competing and effective basis. Nevertheless, the U.S. Government has additionally applied via the procurement procedure particular guidelines to promote socioeconomic goals. Programs happen to be developed to supply elevated contracting possibilities to small-scale, small-disadvantaged, women-owned-and-run small-scale, HUBZone small-scale, veteran-owned small-scale, and service-disabled veteran-owned small-scale companies. Companies should also adhere to ancillary specifications arising beneath numerous laws and also Executive Orders (A/OPE, 2011).

Predicting the future of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be similar to predicting the stock market. Those who come close are successful enough to understand it can change on any given day. They do not invest all in one business sector, they learn to respect the market, and they look for trends to aid in their decision. Nothing is guaranteed with the stock market and nothing guarantees DHS will still be an establishment in the next 10 years. Who is to say we are not years away from global peace? Though until then we need to focus on every-day trends that affect the general public.

Procurement by public entities is guided by primary law principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination, procurement laws sets up an extensive legal framework regarding the procurement of work, supply and service contracts. There are two main reasons for the use of specific procedures i.e. why contracting authorities do not just negotiate or simply buy from the closest supplier. First, it provides for more public accountability and therefore less cases of corruption practices. Additionally, tendering procedures aim to ensure the best value for money by making it necessary for suppliers to act highly competitive. As a result, market mechanisms will help in facilitating the best possible practices. In situations where market mechanisms are not effective, tender procedures might lose their effectiveness as well. If for example there is lack of competition due to certain complexities or as a result of lower bidder interest, negotiations with just one or two suppliers may be the most efficient manner to handle the process. Therefore, we discuss the inherent advantages and disadvantages of sealed bidding and contracting by negotiation as procedural frameworks for tendering.

Describe the electronic submission process and the security measures present in this approach. Analyze the advantages over classic paper solicitations.

Strict adherence to formal procedures characterizes sealed bidding which attempts to provide a “level playing field” or as a multitude of references point out equal footing to all bidders who compete for a contract. Competitive negotiation is a more flexible process that enables the agency to conduct discussions, evaluate offers, and award the contract using price and other factors. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), whose origins can be traced back to the ASPA of 1947 was codified at Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations and became effective 1 April 1984. The FAR contains the uniform policies and procedures for acquisitions by all federal agencies to date. It addresses nearly every procurement related statute or executive policy; and subsequently encompasses every stage of the acquisition process. In a nutshell, FAR appears to have modernized and thus enveloped the aforementioned three acts.

One of the key issues to address at the outset of a project finance transaction is a determination as to whether the project is within a regulated industry. If it is, the project sponsor will need to engage specialized regulatory counsel to address issues related to obtaining permits, managing industry-specific risk and other particular requirements and conditions precedent that will lead to deal completion.