--NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT TO THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FOR BEYOND GOLDWATER-NICHOLS REFORMS

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) performed the first half of this work as directed by Congress in FY04. The current task from Congress looks to complete the Beyond Goldwater-Nichols work by focusing on regional command struc tures, Guard and Reserve components, and the acquisition process. Statement of work: The goal of Beyond Goldwater-Nichols is to help build enough support for defense reform that policy recommendations generated by the study will be implemented in legisl ation and the current administration. As Secretary Rumsfeld learned during the early months of his tenure, transforming the military is a formidable challenge with many political, bureaucratic and financial obstacles. The original Goldwater-Nichols Act helped the Department of Defense overcome the organizational impediments to military operational effectiveness. Beyond Goldwater-Nichols wants to build on this success by identifying those organizational changes needed to ensure that in ten to fifteen yea rs, the Department of Defense will have the right capabilities, and enough of them, to cope with the challenges of that time. Tasks under the contract include an assessment of the organizational structure and mission of the Department of Defense and its c omponents to provide defense reform and policy recommendations. The following topics must be included in this effort: Role of the National Guard and Reserves in the Total Force; Organizing the Combatant Commands Below the Four-Star Level; and DoD Acquisi tion System for Non-ACAT System Goods. The contract work is expected to take one year from the date of contract award. Performance shall be principally at the contractors facility with periodic visits to the Pentagon and other DoD required facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Government intends to award a sole-source contract to the Center for Strategic and International Studies for this work. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT TO AWARD A CON TRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. NO RFP IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. Organizations that believe they possess the capability necessary to undertake the work described should submit their capabilities package by 4:00 p.m. local time prevailing, March 23, 2005. No extensions will be granted. Firms capability statement should be as complete a package as possible. Specify services that can be provided and include your resource capabilities as well. The capability package should demonstrate firms ability to pe rform the specific tasks that are being requested in the Statement of Work.