In This Week’s Newsletter: 04/11/24

• Culture Corner: APMP Professionals of Color Affinity Group
• Competitive Intelligence & Pricing: What are Indirect Rates?
• Opportunity Spotlight of the Week: NAWCAD Communication Systems Integration Support (CSIS)
• AI Corner: The Benefits of AI Integration Consultants
• Four To Follow: Get the lowdown on four interesting pursuits!

APMP Professionals of Color Affinity Group

Contact Angela: angela.marsh@hinzconsulting.com

As part of an effort to build community in our industry, we are highlighting APMP’s Affinity Groups that hope to foster diversity, inclusion, and enhance the membership experience. These groups provide supportive spaces for professionals with shared experiences in life and the industry.

The Professionals of Color Affinity Group acknowledges the unique experiences of professionals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. They offer networking opportunities, cultural exchange, and a sense of belonging. The group is currently co-chaired by Jeremiah Walker and Morgan Anderson, CF-APMP who describes it as “a safe space for people that don’t have peers in their industry to talk about issues they face, such as race or discrimination.”

Check out all their current news:

• April 18, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET – APMP Micro-Certifications Study Group: the session will cover the certifications themselves and how they can be leveraged for the APMP Proposal Foundations Exam.
• April 26, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET –APMP POC Affinity Group Meeting: this month the group will feature a special DEI Experts Panel. The event is an invaluable opportunity to engage with leading voices in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion, offering insights that are crucial to professional and personal growth. Register Here!
• Applications Open Now – 2024 APMP POC Affinity Group Scholarships: six scholarships are available for professional development for eligible members (APMP members active in the POC Affinity Group). Awards will be announced at the May 2024 APMP POC Affinity Group Meeting. Apply via this link! 

What are Indirect Rates?

Contact Tom: Tom.hudgins@hinzconsulting.com

The short answer is that “indirect rates” are costs that are indirectly related to costs in a contract. Is that too short? One could also say that indirect rates are essentially the cost of doing business; but let’s take this further and identify indirect rates and how they are used.  Indirect rates include Fringe, Overhead (OH), General & Administrative (G&A), and Materials & Subcontract Handling (M&S).   

Application of the correct indirect rates is pricing’s responsibility on all cost/pricing activities; however, pricing should confirm with the Accounting and Finance Department that they are using the most current indirect rates. If a competitive proposal requires creating new indirect pools and rates, modeling the new indirect pools and rates is the responsibility of the Accounting and Finance Department. The Accounting and Finance Department will work with the capture manager to model the new indirect rate pool directly. 

NAWCAD Communication Systems Integration Support (CSIS)

Contact Len: len.miller@hinzconsulting.com

This estimated $100M recompete of BAE Systems’ contract is expected to have a final solicitation released in May 2024.  The draft RFP was released on 12 March and comments were due NLT 25 March. However, the NAWCAD Contracting Office has not provided any updates as of 3 April as to when the final RFP will be released.  

The Benefits of AI Integration Consultants

Contact Josh: josh.thiel@hinzconsulting.com

AI Integration Consultants play a pivotal role in the journey of integrating artificial intelligence into everyday proposal processes and workflows. Their work begins with identifying areas and opportunities where AI can potentially add value to a business operation, including the identification of tasks that can be automated or improved with AI.

Three Benefits

Efficiency

AI Integration Consultants analyze the existing setup, understand the operational bottlenecks, and suggest AI solutions that can enhance efficiency and productivity. The recommendation could be an AI technology like neural networks, machine learning algorithms, or natural language processing, depending on the nature of the identified problem.

Expertise

While implementing these AI solutions, their expertise helps solution around any issues with the system, use, or processes.  With their problem-solving skills, AI Integration Consultants analyze the situation, identify the issue at hand, and propose efficient solutions to rectify the problem. They have an in-depth understanding of AI technologies and the methods to troubleshoot any challenges that may arise with AI systems.

Real World Experience

To effectively perform these activities, apart from the technical knowledge, AI consultants need to have real-world experience working with AI systems. They also need to have excellent communication, teamwork, and analytical skills to liaise with various stakeholders keeping everyone on the same page, and to ensure that the AI solutions work in favor of the organization’s business objectives.

Four to Follow:

1. DLNSEO Language Instruction Services:  This estimated $9.5M recompete of the Multilingual Solutions contract for support to the DHRA for Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) language instruction services is expected to see an RFP toward the end of April or early May 2024.  The current contract is expected to expire by the end of August, so this could make for a tight procurement this summer unless a bridge contract is issued. Monitor this one closely folks!
2.  SeaPort NxG On-Ramp 2024: This opportunity is being followed closely by many in the industry.  The Rolling Admissions II RFP had been expected by the end of March. There have not been any updates on the SAM.gov site since early Feb 2024. Let’s see if NAVSEA releases the RFP no later than the end of April.  
3. NGA LUNO B:This effort is currently in the pre-solicitation stage and is expected to be released on the NRO ARC with notifications on SAM.gov as well.  Release is expected sometime in GFY24, Q3. It is anticipated this will be an MA/IDIQ with one small business reserve award.  Please monitor both SAM.gov and the NRO ARC for updates.
4. Air Force Technical Applications Center Nuclear Data Evaluation Services IV (NDES IV):The pre-solicitation notice for the recompete of the contract held by Space Coast Intelligent Solutions was issued back in March 2024.  This small business set-aside contract is expected to have a value of around $3.6M.  A potential RFP is expected in May 2024 with the new contract awarded in Sept 2024.

About Hinz Consulting

Hinz Consulting provides services across the full business development cycle:

• Proposal Consulting
• AI Services
• Strategic Pricing
• Training
• Capture
• Competitive Intelligence
• BD Transformation Consulting
• Process/Methodology Consulting
• Tools and Templates
• Production Services
• Small Business