GSA MOBIS Contract No. GS-10F-0287L
Wyle's experienced staff of engineers, cost analysts, and operations research specialists is able to respond to customer requirements for a wide range of cost estimation and analysis tasks. Wyle provides these services to current clients now and offers them to all agencies through MOBIS and its SINs 874-1 (Consulting Services), 874-6 (Privatization Support Services and Documentation), and 874-7 (Program Integration and Project Management Services).
SIN 874-1: Consulting Services
Wyle's ongoing efforts in cost estimation and analysis have instilled a culture that accomplishes tasks as required and on time, utilizing innovative techniques where appropriate and satisfying customer needs for costing services in support of new and evolving product areas. Wyle Laboratories Applied Program Support staff can provide consulting support under SIN 874-1 in essentially all aspects of cost estimation and analysis. These include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Independent Cost Estimates
Assist in the assessment of candidate systems, collect data, develop independent methodology and perform steps to prepare an independent documented cost estimate for government review.
- Data Collection and Database Development
Based on guidelines identified by the government and its work plan, collect, normalize and integrate data into an automated and government-accessible database. Develop data books to document program cost and programmatic and technical information. Develop documentation to show traceability of data from original sources through the normalization process to the placement of the data into the database.
- Methodology Development and Validation
Perform all tasks to develop or tailor and validate a costing methodology in response to a government-approved specification and statement of work. Develop cost estimating relationships (CERs), system complexity/cost factors, calibrate commercial models and develop cost estimating risk models.
- Cost Estimating Tool Development
Develop CER development tools, cost estimating tools based on custom CERs, pre- and post-processors for commercial models and cost risk models.
- Cost Analysis Process Development, including:
CAIV - Cost As an Independent Variable
TOC - Total Ownership Costing
LCC - Life Cycle Costing
ABC - Activity Based Costing
Utilizing accepted guidelines for cost analyst/management processes, tailor an appropriate system to satisfy specified objectives and requirements and provide guidance to enable effective implementation.
- System Tradeoff Study Support
Assess implications on cost of system, including design and software, alternatives and estimate the comparative costs in a consistent manner to emphasize differences for management consideration.
Perform research to identify methodology and data collection approaches to resolve cost estimation, analysis, and management issues requiring unique solutions. Develop the methodological basis of the recommended research solution, demonstrate viability of the methodology and document the recommended solution. Examples include but are not limited to: creating historically based cost improvement curves, performing industry inflation studies, examining hardware production cost variance and probability distributions, investigating software code growth and investigating industry cost drivers.
- Cost Benefit Assessments (CBA)
Review issues, existing related government guidelines for CBA and establish a CBA methodology that will be responsive to government-specified requirements. Collect data, tailor methodology as needed, perform the CBA and document results and recommendations.
Identify technical and other program issues affecting cost and assess cost risk using appropriate methodology recognized as acceptable to the government.
Perform training in cost analysis to include such things as cost analyst certification training, basic cost analysis practices, regression analysis, CER development, data collection and cost segregation and reconciliation.
Wyle's understanding of government needs is derived from many years of corporate and staff experience in support of government organizations. This experience has ensured awareness of objectives and limitations controlling government activities. Wyle understands the process that governs budgeting and the appropriations process. Wyle's analysts support government customer needs with cost estimates related to budget projections. They assure that the time phasing of funding will be designed to minimize program risk and maximize program manager options. It is with this awareness that a support contractor is enabled to provide responsive and convincingly correct solutions suitable for assessment, finalization, and implementation by government clients.
SIN 874-6 : Privatization Support Services and Documentation (A-76)
Wyle's cost analysis staff have demonstrated experience in significant areas related to support of Privatization candidates in processes structures by guidelines in OMB Circular A-76. They are aware of the criticality of these initiatives that respond to the governmental mandate that encourages competitive sourcing between existing government activities and private industry. The offeror providing the best value to the government is the winner of the competition. Recognition of the mandate and need also must reflect a certain sensitivity to existing government resources. Therefore, the process must be defined and implemented to be a fair and equitable comparison of valid and justifiable government and contractors' costs. The participating contractor must also be seen as objective and non-threatening to private industry. Wyle has demonstrated our objectivity and has won acceptance of industry in many instances as demonstrated by multiple non-disclosure agreements signed over our lifetime. It is these agreements and the mutual trust they reflect that enables our staff to access critical data to accomplish the costing in their core business areas.
Wyle's staff can provide support under SIN 874-6 in significant aspects associated with Privatization initiatives effected under OMB A-76 guidelines. These include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Conduct pre-solicitation activities
Perform market research to identify private industry candidates and identify necessary information to enable preparation of the request for proposal (RFP).
- Preparation of the management plan
Conduct interviews, collect significant information to preparation of the management plan consistent with guidelines in OMB A-76 and the revised supplemental handbook. Prepare the draft of the management plan for government consideration and implementation.
- Data collection and perform a cost comparison
Collect needed data, normalize it to consistency for input to methodology consistent with guidelines in OMB A-76 and the revised supplemental handbook. Tailor an appropriate cost model responsive to government requirements and perform the A-76-based cost comparison. Present documented recommendations and supporting information.
SIN 874-7: Program Integration and Project Management Services
Wyle cost analysis staff have demonstrated experience in significant areas related to this SIN in many tasks associated with their core business base. Cost analysis provides insight but cannot guarantee effective program management and success. Results of the estimation and other program activities must include consideration of technical and cost risk, and their impact on budget planning, formulation, and expenditures. Tradeoffs considered by the program that affect acquisition planning must be factored into management decisions. Experience has repeatedly shown that management should consider implementation of earned value methodologies consistent with program scope and size to provide necessary visibility to management for risk abatement.
Wyle's staff can provide support under SIN 874-7 in significant aspects associated with Program Integration and Project Management. These include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Financial Management Support
- Budget Planning and Formulation
Identify significant categories of the WBS, correlate these to cost centers, develop appropriate budget factors, and the planned expenditure timelines. Verify the estimates and correlate these to related cost data sources. Develop, justify and document budget recommendations.
- Cost/Budget Risk Assessment
Identify technical and other program issues affecting cost and the associated budget profiles including the expenditure timelines, and assess cost and budget risk using appropriate methodology recognized as acceptable to the government.
Support source selection activities of the government in tasks as directed by the government team including data normalization, independent cost analyses, cost estimates verification, and program cost risk assessments. Assist the Government in evaluating cost proposals, assessing basis of estimates, providing cross checks of government estimates, developing most probable costs and performing sanity checks on proposed costs. Prepare and document all recommendations for government consideration.
Implement reporting of project expenditures, establish regular tracking and reporting to management of transactions to verify consistency with the project spend plan.
- Project Management Support
- Schedule Analysis
Establish regular access to project activities consistent with guidelines from project management, track and evaluate deviations from the project schedule and their implications on program activities. Document results for review by appropriate project management.
- Earned Value Management and Analysis
Develop or tailor a system to track and enable analysis of earned value for project significant and critical events. Verify the model and implement a procedure to facilitate regular reporting of milestone events for model input. Periodically report status to appropriate project management.
- Independent Program Assessments
Perform selected program assessments as directed. Collect data and information to support cost analysis and perform cost analysis. Accomplish all tasks as committed and provide specified recommendations and supporting documentation. Advise and assist program management in implementation as required.