Unlocking Success in PACTS III: A Strategic Guide to Project Selection

As the buzz around PACTS III intensifies, our exploration into the details of preparation continues. In this segment, let's dive into a crucial aspect—carefully choosing the projects that will enhance our proposals and improve our chances of success.

Understanding Functional Categories

PACTS III unfolds across three Functional Categories (FC), each intricately linked to specific NAICS and an array of Product and Service Codes (PSC). Imagine these as the thematic umbrellas under which your projects will find their place.

• FC1: Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services - NAICS 541611
• FC2: Office Administrative Services – NAICS 561110
• FC3: Engineering Services – NAICS 541330 (A notable addition from PACTS II)

Commencing the Selection Journey

Several attachments in the 3rd Draft RFP function like puzzle pieces, guiding us in determining the projects to showcase in our proposals.

1. Attachment 1: Statement of Work:

The PACTS III SOW detailed in Attachment 1 serves as a comprehensive guide, outlining the various support services associated with each of the 3 Functional Categories (FCs). It's not just a document; it's the roadmap for the kind of projects that will find a fitting place in your proposal. The scope and relevance of your projects to the defined PACTS III Functional Categories are integral components evaluated during the proposal assessment.

 2. Attachment 2: Relevant NAICS/PSC Relationships:

Consider Attachment 2 as your definitive guide for project coding in the realm of PACTS III. It lists the critical relationships between the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and the Product and Service Codes (PSC). When preparing your projects for submission, a key consideration is to ensure they carry the appropriate NAICS and PSC codes as specified in this attachment. making them perfectly understandable in the PACTS III context.

3. Attachment 7: Self Scoring Worksheet:

The draft worksheet accommodates 50 lines for each Subfactor 1.1 (a) through (e), totaling 250 lines. Subfactor 1.1 focuses on experience and past performance, offering a nuanced evaluation divided into five levels of obligated funding. Importantly, there's no cap on the number of qualifying projects, allowing flexibility in presenting your best portfolio for each Functional Category. Each project, strategically chosen, can only be used once within a proposal. It cannot be claimed under any other proposal. Once a project is used it shall not be used again under any circumstances to include but not limited to under another functional category or as a partner/member of another Offeror.

Key Considerations for Your Project Arsenal

1. Timeline Precision: Ensure your projects have reached completion within the 2-year timeframe from the PACTS III release date. This temporal alignment is crucial for project eligibility.
2. Socio-economic Alignment: Maintain a strategic alignment by ensuring that 40% of the submitted projects resonate with the socio-economic status declared in your proposal. If, for instance, your primary submission identifies as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), a significant portion (40%) of the projects should come from WOSB companies.
3. SOW Alignment: Each Project Statement of Work (SOW) should be carefully crafted to align predominantly with the services specified for the Functional Category (FC). This alignment ensures that your projects seamlessly fit into the designated category, reinforcing the coherence of your proposal. Refer to the NAICS/PSC listing for guidance on this alignment, providing a clear roadmap for constructing impactful SOWs.

Tips for Maximizing Success

1. Team Management Advantage: Projects that effectively manage a team of similar size are in for a notable advantage—they can secure additional points, doubling their impact on the evaluation. This underscores the significance of demonstrating prowess not just in project execution but also in team leadership and coordination.
2. Decoding Project Value: The total obligated value emerges as the linchpin for determining the value of a project. It's imperative to recognize that this value is distinct from the Total Contract Value. Only the funded or exercised options contribute toward meeting the minimum values. The exclusion of projects with a value less than $1,000,000 is noteworthy, aligning with the standards set by DHS and DoD, where CPARS requirements are waived for projects below this threshold. The FPDS website serves as a reliable platform to verify funded values and exercised options.
3. Contract Allocation Overview: In summary, a total of 96 contracts will be awarded, with an equitable distribution of 32 contracts per Functional Category (FC). This allocation is further sub-divided into 4 Socio-economic categories and different offeror types. Only two (2) awards will be made for each FC/Socio-economic/CTA-type; so project selection and teaming arrangements are critical success factors.

As we set sail on the PACTS III journey, keep in mind that a well-curated team comprising 6 – 10 companies, each contributing up to 10 projects, stands out competitively in scoring vital points. It’s not merely about quantity but the strategic fit of your projects with the FC and evaluation criteria.

This promises to be an exhilarating ride, and the projects you choose are the compass pointing towards 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.