Opportunities for Small Firms in Big IT Contracts Although federal information technology contracts are growing bigger and more complex, there are opportunities for small businesses to get a piece of the action in even the biggest of them, according to an analysis by the market research firm Input. “Any company providing niche technology solutions can win business in these times when the large government integrators tout the resources of fully integrated products and services,” wrote Input senior analyst Ashlea Higgs. “Niche team members are the essential ingredients of successful bids for any large federal IT program.’ Her report surveyed an estimated $85 billion worth of IT contracts due to be awarded over the next three years. “With or without set-aside contracting goals, the opportunity exists for any size vendor to win business given the technology requirements of large acquisitions,” she said. According to the report, three technology areas are common denominators across the largest upcoming IT acquisitions: IT security, enterprise integration and network architecture. Among the opportunities surveyed in the report: •The Homeland Security Department’s SPIRIT, for Security Planning and Integrated Resources for Information Technology. This multiple award contract, estimated at $10 billion, is to provide a full range of IT solutions for the department. Coast Guard officials, who are writing the RFP, have said it will include set-asides for small, 8(a) and HUBZone companies. The RFP is anticipated before the end of September. •The Air Force Space Command’s C4I2TSR Engineering and Technical Support Services Recompete, a small business set-aside estimated at $800 million. The contractor will provide integration, engineering, materials, install and test, and provide limited allied support and operations and maintenance for a wide range of current and future C4I2TSR systems worldwide. The RFP is due to be dropped anytime. •The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Cyber Infrastructure Program, estimated at more than $5 billion. The contractor will upgrade the computing infrastructure supporting its research and engineering activities. Procurement activity is expected to begin late in fiscal 2004. •The National Security Agency’s Groundbreaker II, estimated at $2 billion. The contractor will provide IT infrastructure support functions at field sites within the U.S. and overseas. The RFP is anticipated early in fiscal 2004. “The teaming arrangement of the first (Groundbreaker) project, with a large prime integrator and a dozen partners including numerous small businesses, and the subsequent award of task orders to smaller vendors not on the initial teaming alliance provide evidence that Groundbreaker II will be accessible to many qualified vendors,” Input said. “Small businesses could provide integration with the COTS/GOTS products and security management functions.” •The Air Combat Command’s USSTRATCOM IT Services, estimated at $700 million, to provide IT infrastructure support services. The RFP is anticipated at any time. •COMMITS NexGen. See separate story.