PACTS III: A Guide to Choosing Right Partners and Building Winning Teams

In the fast-paced world of PACTS III, where winning contracts is like playing a strategic game, picking the right partners and forming strong teams is a crucial move. The third draft of the PACTS III RFP has brought in changes, with different point values and a shift in how project sizes are considered. In this guide, we break down the things you need to think about and the strategies to follow when selecting partners and creating winning teams in the PACTS III procurement scene.

1. Project Size and Points: What You Need to Know

Understanding how project size connects to points is the key to smart partnering. Unlike PACTS II, where smaller projects were okay, PACTS III puts a lot of weight on projects in the $1.5M to $4M range in FC1 (541611). Here's a simple breakdown of points based on project value:

2. Socio-Economic (SE) Expansion: More Opportunities
PACTS III opens doors for more types of businesses with an expansion in socio-economic (SE) eligibility. The SE tracks under each Functional Category include:

• 8(a) Set-Aside
• HUBZone Set-Aside
• Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
• Woman Owned Small Business Set Aside

3. Offeror Types and Size Standards: Navigating the Details
Understanding different types of offers and size standards is important for good partnering. SBTA partners need to match the size standards for the NAICS of the respective Functional Category:

• FC1 (541611): $24.5M size standard
• FC2 (561110): $12.5M size standard
• FC3 (541330): $25.5M size standard

4. The Road to 96 Contracts: Smart Insights
With a total of 96 contracts available in PACTS III, how they're distributed is important. Each Functional Category will get 8 awards under each socio-economic track, making it 32 awards per Functional Category. The key to success is in smart teaming:

• Team Strategy:
• Build large teams with similar small business partners having relevant contracts/task orders.
• Aim for 40% of projects from all partners in the socio-economic track being proposed.
• Maximizing Your Project Portfolio:
• Get the most eligible projects by partnering with similarly situated small businesses.
• Suggests SBTA Teams of up to 10 companies to provide a large number of projects (6 to 10 projects per company).

5. The SDVOSB Category Dynamics: Being Competitive

The Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) category is a tough one. With 30 incumbent vendors fighting for 24 awards across the 3 Functional Categories, understanding the dynamics and expectations is vital. Top incumbent SDVOSB companies have been awarded from 11 to 30 task orders on PACTS II.

6. Expectation and Market Research: Planning for Success

Expecting to present 60 to 100 projects is based on the market research scores and the number of task orders held by the top incumbent companies. Understanding the market research table in the solicitation and matching it with the recalibrated points system is important for accurate predictions.

In Conclusion: Building Your Winning Strategy

As you step into PACTS III, choosing partners and building teams is not just a need; it's a smart move that can define your success. By aligning with project sizes, socio-economic tracks, and offeror types, you position yourself for a winning proposal. Stay tuned for more insights as we unpack the details of PACTS III preparation. The journey has just begun, and smart partnering is your guide for success.

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.