DCSA MPP Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for its Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP). This initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of eligible small businesses (Protégés) by incentivizing large prime contractors (Mentors) to provide developmental assistance, thereby strengthening the Defense Industrial Base. White Papers are accepted on a rolling basis with quarterly evaluations.
Program Overview & Objectives
The DCSA MPP seeks to mature Protégé firms for DCSA's critical mission spaces, integrating high-capability small businesses into the Defense Industrial Base to ensure a resilient and value-added supply chain. The program focuses on DCSA's technical priorities, including modernizing IT infrastructure and cloud optimization, data integration and advanced analytics, cyber and industrial security, and digital workforce and governance.
Eligibility Requirements
- Mentor Firms: Must be prime contractors with $25M+ in Department of War (DOW) contracts in the last fiscal year, possess an active DOW subcontracting plan, be financially sound, and approved by DOW OSBP.
- Protégé Firms: Must be small business concerns eligible for federal contracts, meet SBA size standards, and satisfy one of several socio-economic categories (e.g., HUBZone, Women-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned) or contribute to national security priorities.
- Mandatory: Active SAM.gov registration for all participants.
Scope of Work & Developmental Assistance
Allowable developmental assistance includes technical/engineering support (e.g., technology transfer, certifications), business development (HR, accounting, marketing), federal contract language training, Facility Clearance (FCL) sponsorship, personnel security training, cybersecurity compliance (DFARS/NIST/CMMC), insider threat program setup, DCAA-compliant accounting, proposal development support, Foreign Ownership Control and Influence (FOCI) mitigation, and IT systems enhancement. Note that NIST SP 800 / CMMC Level I compliance is not reimbursable, but Project Spectrum services are encouraged.
Submission & Evaluation Process
This is a two-phase submission process:
- Phase I (White Paper): Firms submit a white paper (max 15 pages) summarizing technical and cost information using the provided template. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis via email to dcsa.quantico.hq.mbx.dcsa-mpp@mail.mil and mpp-src-i_contracts@moveamerica.org. Quarterly evaluation cycles occur on March 29, June 30, September 30, December 31, and March 31 (for submissions after Dec 31).
- Phase II (Final Proposal): Only selected Phase I submitters will receive a Request for Proposal (RFP) and must submit a full Technical Proposal, Cost Proposal, and Letters of Endorsement within 30 days.
- Optional Protégé Pilot Initiative (PPI): Protégés can propose projects supporting the War Fighter, limited to 25% of the annual agreement budget, due with the Phase II proposal.
- Evaluation Criteria: Focus on alignment with national security/DCSA priorities, technical approach, cost reasonableness, CEO Letters of Endorsement (Pass/Fail), FOCI Questionnaire (Pass/Fail), eligibility, and engineering/technical assistance comprising >=50% of costs (Pass/Fail).
Contract Details
Agreements will be Reimbursable Mentor-Protégé Agreements (MPAs), capped at three (3) years/36 months (typically a 12-month base with two 12-month options). No Credit or Hybrid agreements will be accepted. All costs for proposal preparation are the sole responsibility of the Mentor and Protégé.