MAXWELL AFB-GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. -- In August 2023, the Services Management Digital Enterprise Solutions (DES) branch awarded the final of two initial task orders associated with the Direct Mission Support (DMS) Subject Matter Expert (SME) contract.
The five year, $64 million DMS SME Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) agreement provides the Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) Directorate with innovative subject matter expertise for eight critical Acquisition and Advisory Services (A&AS). SMEs are intended to collaborate with A&AS, System Integrators (SI), service providers, and product vendors to optimize program delivery and reduce risk. The need for these services is driven by the requirement to:
• Acquire experienced mission and functional SME to deliver analysis and recommendations that support transformational programs within the Department of the Air Force.
• Access industry and Department of Defense expertise with regards to emerging technologies.
• Reduce risk by providing continuity of subject matter expertise across the solution lifecycle.
The DES team, led by Maj. James Cochran, Deputy Branch Chief, expeditiously awarded an additional option year to the existing DMS SME contract that was to end on September 30, 2022. The option year provided the team time to implement a creative acquisition with the award of a new IDIQ on March 17, 2023, followed by eight task orders being awarded over the next six months.
Their inventive obligation path avoided a break in service for critical support covering several of BES’s mission partners. The final initial task order proved surprisingly challenging with some late breaking customer requirement changes. However, the team finalized the last task order’s complete acquisition package and government cost estimate in less than 30 days, ensuring continuity of support to Department of the Air Force customers.