Digital Enablement Community of Interest August 31, 2017

8(a) Program Digital Service Initiative SBA & US Digital Service 8(a) Program Digital Service Initiative JAN 18 2016 Introduce briefly what digital services are, how they came about, a few examples of things they’ve accomplished for citizens, etc.

I need help getting started with digital services Small business can do it. Let’s compete it. Many agencies are currently in a situation where they need to and want to get started with digital services. And the conversation in the office or cubicle might start like this… Agency IT: We really need digital services experts on some of our IT projects. But we don’t quite have the expertise in our agency. We really need an experienced vendor. Agency Procurement: We can compete that as a small business set-aside and get a great vendor!

Heard of the 8(a) direct award? Meh… Takes too long Agency IT: But that might take half a year or longer. Agency Procurement: An 8(a) directed award would speed that up.

Not sure about keeping it in 8(a) afterwards Meh… Not sure about keeping it in 8(a) afterwards I wish there were more flexibility Agency IT: Well, I really don’t like using 8(a) because I’m not sure I want to keep any follow on awards in 8(a) Agency Procurement: I wish there was a better way…

Here’s SBA’s Memo about it Introducing the 8(a) Program Digital Service Initiative SBA + USDS: We have an answer. It’s called the 8(a) Program Digital Service Initiative. The SBA made this initiative live in a memo dated Dec. 20, 2016, which gives an exemption to the repetitive acquisition rule. The memo provides a framework for the initiative.

Quick path to digital services Access to non-traditional vendors Benefits: Quick path to digital services Access to non-traditional vendors Quality digital service providers Less administration As mentioned in that memo, this initiative: Gives a clear, easy, and fast path to agencies to start digital services projects Entices non-traditional vendors into the Government space through the 8(a) program Increases the number of contracts awarded to quality digital service providers Reduces administration for the SBA and agencies by providing an easy on-ramp to the 8(a) program for projects within scope. For each individual IT procurement, you want an 8(a) firm to do the work, but you don’t need to release it from the program. But no requirement to release it from the 8(a) if you want it to stay .

So…direct award to an 8(a) vendor for digital services and then the ability to easily release it from 8(a) if needed? YES, flexibility to award next contract in a different contracting vehicle. No need to obtain release from SBA or OSDBU. Agency: Wait a minute, we can direct award to an 8(a) vendor for digital; and afterwards we’re not required to release it from the 8(a) program? SBA + USDS: Right. For any follow-on award, your agency can use a different contracting vehicle. Plus there’s no need to obtain release from the SBA or your agency OSDBU.

But what if we want the 8(a) to do more work? You can! You only leave if you need to. Agency: But what if the 8(a) does a great job and we want to award a follow-on award to the same 8(a)? SBA + USDS: If the vendor does a great job delivering during the contract, then that is a great reason for your agency to award a follow-on award to the same 8(a).

Scope must fall within three Statements of Objectives What’s the catch? Scope must fall within three Statements of Objectives Agency: So what’s the catch? SBA + USDS: This can’t be used for just any IT requirement. It has to fall within the three Statements of Objectives…

SBA + USDS: Those three SOO’s are: Learn the Process SOO Select Your Tech SOO Build the MVP SOO – Discovery and design, develop MVP, retrospective. This is for agencies with stakeholders that have a novice level of understanding of User Experience (UX) design thinking and/or agile software development. This SOO develops a Minimum Viable Product that requires coding and some development. All of these SOO’s may be slightly tailored to meet your agency’s specific requirement, but the SOO’s must not change in their essence or overall objective.

For agencies with little experience in modern tech Learn the Process SOO: For agencies with little experience in modern tech Coaching on digital services Practical Application Retrospective Learn the Process SOO – This is about culture change, practical application, and retrospective. This is for agencies with very little education and experience with modern technology approaches. First, COACHING is provided to teach digital services concepts, such as hypothesis development and testing, product vision development, discovery and user research, product roadmaps, design and agile development techniques and methods, understanding end user needs, product management, auto testing and continuous integration. Next, PRACTICAL APPLIATION is done by developing a light-weight prototype or pilot of a system to start mitigating an identified agency problem. This includes creating a product vision and product roadmap, writing epics, user stories, and leveraging user-centered design. It also includes iteration retrospectives, release planning, testing solutions with end users, and tracking success using metrics. And last there is a RETROSPECTIVE of all previous steps, where the government and contractor team will conduct a project retrospective activity that analyzes data gathered during performance around goals, timeline, budget, major events, and success or failures

For help choosing the best modern tech platform Select your Tech SOO: For help choosing the best modern tech platform Fulfills alternatives analysis required by Federal Source Code Policy Hands-on demos of alternatives Retrospective, and plan for MVP Then there is the SELECT YOUR TECH SOO –This is for agencies that have been educated about modern technology approaches. But they don’t have practical experience with identifying the most advantageous modern technology platform SPECIFICALLY for THEIR ENVIRONMENT. This SOO is about doing an alternatives analysis, demonstration, and retrospective. First, the Vendor will help your agency have a deep understanding of platforms and technology tools available in the market that are most advantageous in (AGENCY/PROGRAM) technology environment. The Vendor will coach (AGENCY/PROGRAM) through the process of discovering tradeoffs for alternative platform solutions, to include short and long-term implications. As an added benefit, part of this scope includes analysis required in the Federal Source Code Policy which applies to all federal agencies (with limited exceptions). Next, the Vendor will facilitate live hands-on demonstrations of the highest rated alternatives using end users to interact with the recommended platform(s) The demonstrations must be performed in the (AGENCY/PROGRAM) environment or vendor-provided test environment to and simulate a micro-version of the platform or solution with some of the needed functionality to verify usefulness(AGENCY/PROGRAM). Demonstrations should reduce (AGENCY/PROGRAM) time and cost, while improving and increasing user involvement. And then following the development of the functional prototype(s), the government and contractor team will use the results of the demo process to develop conclusions and next steps, including plans to move towards an MVP.

Build the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) SOO: For agencies comfortable with modern tech and ready for delivery Discovery and design Develop an MVP Retrospective, and plans to scale Last there is the SELECT YOUR TECH SOO – Which is about discovery and design, developing an MVP, retrospective. This is for agencies with stakeholders that have a novice level of understanding of User Experience (UX) design thinking and agile software development. This SOO develops a Minimum Viable Product that requires coding and some development. First, there is DISCOVERY AND DESIGN, where the Government and Vendor find an agency problem and end user goals, create hypothesis statements that can be tested by releasing an MVP (a product that includes all the needed features, but does NOT include the wanted features), and then create a product vision. Next is DEVELOPING THE ACTUAL MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCT, which includes using agile software development methods to build an MVP and release it to end users to understand their whole experience. There will be a great focus on addressing the whole experience from start to finish, making the product simple and intuitive, and only making decisions based upon data measuring how well the product is working for users. And last, there is the RETROSPECTIVE. This includes a detailed look back at the project, identifying past and potential future roadblocks, and updating the Product Roadmap for scaling the MVP through continuous design and agile processes.

Where do I get more details? 1 That’s fair. Where do I get more details? 3 2 SBA memo 3 Statements of Objectives How-to ordering guide Agency: So how can I get a hold of all the details? SBA + USDS: First go to the TechFAR Hub, which you can find if you do a google search On the left hand side of the page, click on ‘Do I.T.’ Then you will find the ‘8(a) Program Digital Service Initiative’ You will find there all the details about the initiative, including: The SBA Memo, the three three Statement of Objectives. There is also a how-to guide which provides all the specifics regarding how to order.

How do you know 8(a)’s will participate? SBA and USDS met with 24+ 8(a) digital service vendors in Nov. 2016. They want to pursue this initiative! How do you know 8(a)’s will participate? But you might say ‘This is all great. But did you check with 8(a) small businesses to make sure they’ll participate?’ SBA + USDS: Great question. In early November, 2016, SBA and USDS hosted an industry day with over 2 dozen 8(a) vendors that have expertise in digital services. They went over this initiative in detail, including the including all the draft documents like the SBA Memo, each SOO, and the How-to (ordering) Guide. Then they incorporated their feedback an improved our documents and approach. And all the vendors were really excited and see this as a great way to participate in bringing digital services into the federal government.

Let us know if you have any questions. Fantastic. We’re ready to find a project and get started.

And find more info on TechFAR Hub

Thank you!