Are you a small business federal contractor wondering how to prepare for the OASIS+ Phase II on-ramp? If so, you are in the right place. Even if you have yet to do business with the federal government, you are still in the right place. Preparing to submit an offer to the OASIS+ contract program requires strategic planning and early preparation before the on-ramp. The good news is that the time it takes to prepare is worth it because… all qualified offerors become awardees!

The General Services Administration’s (GSA) OASIS+ program, short for One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services Plus, is a great opportunity for small businesses that provide non-IT professional services to gain federal contracts through multiple Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicles.

First, here’s what OASIS+ is and why your business should pursue it.

What is OASIS+?

OASIS+ is the largest governmentwide, multi-agency contract program that provides professional services to federal buyers through six (6) socioeconomic-specific IDIQs and invites wider small business participation in the federal space. Federal contractors can submit offers for multiple IDIQ contracts based on the size and type of their business, including:

• Small Business
• 8(a) Small Business
• HUBZone Small Business
• Woman Owned Small Business
• Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
• Unrestricted

Contractors must be SBA-certified and registered in SAM.gov as one of the above socioeconomic statuses to qualify for award to the respective IDIQ. The OASIS+ contract scope is organized by domains or functional groupings of related services spanning multiple NAICS codes. So, contractors bid for the domains that align with the NAICS codes associated with their primary services and offerings. OASIS+ contracts cover mostly non-commercial services with the allowance for some commercial task orders.

Why is OASIS+ Worth Pursuit?

Many small businesses look for opportunities to do business with the federal government or to leverage federal funding to launch their business ideas. Yet, the federal contracting space can often be intimidating.

OASIS+ solicitations use self-scoring to make it easier for contractors to understand where they qualify. GSA provides Attachment J.P-1 Qualifications Matrix and Scorecard in the solicitation documents for contractors to score themselves based on the required factors and subfactors. In Phase I, contractors had to meet a qualifying minimum score of 36 out of 50 points.

In simpler terms, if you’re qualified, you’re in.

Not sure if you are qualified? We can help you find out. The good news is that there is a high likelihood that your established small business is qualified to win. This may be as a sole offeror or as part of a joint venture arrangement.

How does your business want to position itself for OASIS+?

7 Ways to Prepare for the OASIS+ Phase II On-Ramp

1. Update SAM. Ensure all SAM.gov business information is up to date including your business address, primary point of contact, Representations and Certifications, and so on.
2. Leverage an OASIS+ Toolkit. Streamline the process with Cavalry’s pre-built easy-to-use toolkit and expert support to pre-qualify, help strategize and deliver a compliant offer with regular review cycles.
3. Assess Qualification. Contractors must meet certain qualifications to be able to submit a compliant offer during the on-ramp. For instance, your small business must offer non-IT professional services that fall within specified domains, scope and labor categories and have proven past performance that can substantiate your experience.
4. Register Your Accounts. Register your business accounts or update the platforms that are required to submit an offer and to manage future awards or government correspondence. Be sure to activate more than one authorized administrator and staff member to the OASIS+ Submission Portal (OSP) for proposal support.

   – Offers are submitted in the OASIS+ Submission Portal (OSP), Symphony.
   – Task orders are managed through a singular platform, GSA’s eBuy.
   – FedConnect is a primary platform for communication with Contracting Officer’s and for contract-related issues such as modifications.

5. Identify Past Performance. Use Cavalry’s Pre-Qualification Checklist to aid in selecting past performance projects that meet the required criteria. Aim to identify at least 10 relevant projects so you can narrow it down to the five (5) required projects that will earn scoring for the Qualifying Project (QP) Relevance factor (20 points).
6. Draft Past Performance Narratives. Begin outlining and defining compelling past performance narratives that clearly demonstrate alignment with the domain and functional areas they are meant to represent, as well as the offeror’s percentage of work performed to meet the minimum thresholds.
7. Assemble Documentation. Within an organized folder system or document library, begin collecting documentation that can substantiate your past performance, certifications, and other claims. Documentation includes Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) records, CPARs, contractual agreements, and so on.

Get the Pre-Qualification Checklist: Cavalry Consulting offers a Pre-Qualification Checklist that helps small businesses quickly determine where they stand against OASIS+ requirements. Cavalry’s OASIS+ Toolkit contains additional resources that will be available when working with our team. Download below.

Strategy and organization are essential when preparing for the OASIS+ on-ramp. For example, getting your documentation in order early strengthens your ability to justify Labor Category (LCAT) qualifications. Pricing must be provided for each LCAT and determined to meet commercial or non-commercial standards.

That’s where Cavalry comes in. Our strategic support isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about building a streamlined process that maximizes efficiency during the on-ramp and strengthens your position for doing business with the government long after the award.

Whatever you do, don’t wait. Read through the Phase I contracts and solicitations (Section L and M). Ask an expert the right questions. Find your approach!