DISA Previews Big Tech Opportunities for 2020

A Marine finalizes adjustments on a ground antenna transmit and receive communications system during the setup of a command operations center in Base de Entrenamiento de Infanteria de Marina, Coveñas, Colombia, in September.

A Marine finalizes adjustments on a ground antenna transmit and receive communications system during the setup of a command operations center in Base de Entrenamiento de Infanteria de Marina, Coveñas, Colombia, in September. Stanley Moy/Marine Corps

The Pentagon’s IT shop released a list of next year’s contracting opportunities, including 12 worth more than $100 million.

The Defense Information Systems Agency plans to award nearly 100 new contracts for tech-related services in fiscal 2020, with a dozen valued at more than $100 million. 

During an industry day on Nov. 4, DISA officials previewed major IT projects they expect to open up to vendors over the next year. The contracts spanned the broad swath of technologies under DISA’s purview as the military’s IT shop, such telecom infrastructure, satellite networks, cloud platforms, research support and cybersecurity services.

Some of the more noteworthy opportunities included satellite communications for Air Force Space Command, a cloud platform for the newly minted Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and a range of telecom services under the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions program. Vendors will also have the opportunity to participate in SHARKSEER, a program formerly run by the National Security Agency that uses artificial intelligence to defend Pentagon networks against zero-day exploits.

DISA also subsequently released a spreadsheet detailing hundreds of other contracts the agency plans to solicit and bid in the coming years, many of which officials expect to award in fiscal 2020. According to the ranges provided in the document, the combined value of next year’s contracts could fall between $4.1 billion and $10.8 billion over their lifetimes.

In total, DISA plans to award 98 contracts that exceed the $5 million mark in 2020:

  • 27 contracts between $5 million and $9.99 million.
  • 42 contracts between $10 million and $49.99 million.
  • 17 contracts between $50 million and $99.99 million.
  • 7 contracts between $100 million and $249.99 million.
  • 4 contracts between $250 million and $999.99 million.
  • 1 contract over $1 billion. 

Below are some of the agency’s most valuable contracts, each worth more than $100 million:

Acropolis 3.0

Value range: $100 million to $249.99 million.

RFP expected: Second quarter of fiscal 2020.

Award expected: Third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award through full and open competition.

Description: The Unified Cyber Situational Awareness (formerly Acropolis) will be a cloud-based enterprise platform to centralize cybersecurity operations across the Department of Defense Information Network.

Department of Defense Network Support - First Generation

Value range: $250 million to $999.99 million.

RFP expected: Third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Award expected: First quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award, competed as a task order under DISA's Encore III contract.

Description: Provide the full range of IT support services necessary to operate and maintain the 4th Estate Department of Defense Network.

Pacific Transport Services

Value range: $1 billion and over.

RFP expected: First quarter of fiscal 2020.

Award expected: Third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award through full and open competition.

Description: PTS will provide the end-to-end transmission services and capabilities essential to the [Defense Information System Network]-Pacific, Defense Department’s consolidated enterprise level telecommunications infrastructure for the Pacific region. PTS will support both [Defense Department] and authorized non-[Defense Department] operations. 

Defense Research and Engineering 

Value range: $250 million to $999.99 million.

RFP expected: First quarter of fiscal 2020.

Award expected: Third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award through full and open competition.

Description: Robust, high-capacity, low-latency wide area network capability in support of [Defense], AT&T, Research Development Test & Evaluation and Acquisition Engineering Communities.

Communications Technical Support Services IV

Value range: $250 million to $999.99 million.

RFP expected: Second quarter of fiscal 2020.

Award expected: Fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award through full and open competition.

Description: The CTSS IV requirement provides capabilities and resources necessary to maintain mission effectiveness in support of [Air Force Central Command] A6 and the operational mission, as well as meet the demands of new technologies that are rapidly being introduced and delivered to the Defense Department.

Defense Information System Network Tech Refresh Turnkey Project Support

Value range: $100 million to $249.99 million.

RFP expected: Second quarter of fiscal 2020.

Award expected: Third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award, small business set-aside.

Description: Support for tech refresh implementations in the continental U.S.; the Pacific, Europe and Africa combatant commands; and Southwest Asia.

Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network Operations and Defensive Cyberspace Operations-Internal Defensive Measures Support (J3 and J33)

Value range: $100 million to $249.99 million.

RFP expected: Second quarter of fiscal 2020.

Award expected: Third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award.

Joint Force Headquarters Countermeasures and Operations/Intelligence Fusion (J34)

Value range: $100 million to $249.99 million.

RFP expected: Second quarter of fiscal 2020.

Award expected: Third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award.

Joint Service Provider Infrastructure Support Facility Services

Value range: $100 million to $249.99 million.

RFP expected: Third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Award expected: Fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award through full and open competition.

Enterprise Storage Services III

Value range: $250 million to $999.99 million.

RFP expected: Fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.

Award expected: First quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award through full and open competition.

Army Installation Kits

Value range: $100 million to $249.99 million.

RFP expected: Third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Award expected: First quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Single award through full and open competition, as well as small-business set-aside.

Global Command and Control Systems - Joint Enterprise

Value range: $100 million to $249.99 million.

RFP expected: First quarter of fiscal 2020.

Award expected: First quarter of fiscal 2020.

Acquisition Strategy: Full and open competition.