So You Need To Buy A…

Use the Alliant SB Ordering Guide to build your unique IT solution. Download from http://www.gsa.gov/alliantsb.

 

OK, so now that Alliant SB is open for business, what exactly are the types of IT services you can buy?

 

“Really it’s everything IT,” Alliant SB program director Jim Ghiloni told 1105 Government Information Group Custom Media during a recent interview.

 

“The scope of the Alliant Small Business Contract is everything IT everywhere, with the only caveat that it’s primarily services based,” Ghiloni explained. “You can put together a complete solution that would include some commodities, but primarily we are looking at service based solutions – anything IT.

 

So if you need to upgrade your infrastructure and build a server farm; or you need a new database network; or have to stand up, outfit and manage a new Help Desk, then Alliant SB can do the job according to Ghiloni.

Let’s say you need to roll out a tech refresh to all users of new computer equipment; or design agency specific mission related applications and then manage the IT project. Once again, you can do all this using Alliant SB. “Really anything you could imagine that’s information technology is in scope,” Ghiloni said. “That flexibility and comprehensive scope is what is very unique to Alliant Small Business – and very exciting to our potential customers.”

 

No Functional Areas
Unlike DHS EAGLE and upcoming Air Force NetCents 2 contracts, Alliant isn’t divided into functional areas such as: Engineering Design, Development, Implementation and Integration; or Operations and Maintenance; or Software Development; or Management Support Services.

 

Ghiloni said that for Alliant SB, GSA did this on purpose. “No, we do not have any functional areas. Because we really want to give customers access to comprehensive solutions where arbitrary functional areas can somewhat restrict your ability to get a total solution in some cases.”

 

“The design of Alliant and Alliant Small Business really goes for that comprehensive IT solution that may cross what would be multiple functional areas. No, there are no inherent limitations like that.”

 

Ghiloni went on to say that most small business contracts do have functional areas, because if they do have a requirement that crosses multiple functional areas that can become a little complicated. And that’s where Alliant SBs ability for providers to form teams that can handle any situation gives agencies flexibility in building their unique IT solution.

 

“Functional areas are just a layer of complexity that we didn’t want to have in this contract. We wanted to ensure that we could get a total solution that would cross the design and operation phases,” noted Ghiloni.

 

Infrastructure Components Of An IT Solution
Now to some specifics; According to GSA, Alliant SB contractors can provide Infrastructure and related services, Applications and related services and IT Management Services to support agencies’ integrated IT solution. And of course, Integrated IT solutions may be tailored to meet agencies’ mission needs.

 

Aligned with the Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA), Infrastructure, solutions bought through Alliant SB serve as the foundation and building blocks of an integrated IT solution.

 

It is the hardware which supports Application Services and IT Management Services; the software and services which enable that hardware to function; and the hardware, software, and services which allow for secure communication and interoperability between all business and application service components.

 

It also includes the licensing, technical support, and warranty services from third party sources, as well as technological refreshment and enhancements for that hardware and software.

 

Infrastructure services facilitate the development and maintenance of critical IT infrastructures and support critical business operations said Ghiloni. And under this umbrella, you can purchase the technical framework components that make up integrated IT solutions such as:

 

Service Access and Delivery responsible for facilitating the end-to-end collection and distribution of data including all functions necessary to communicate in a client-server environment. Examples of these components services include: web browsers and Section 508 compliance.

 

Service Platform and Infrastructure functions necessary for processing and storing data. Components provide and manage the resources available for Application Services. Examples of these components include desktops, laptops, servers, mainframes, routers, switches, printers, data storage and software development tools.

 

Component Framework components consist of the design of application or system software that incorporates interfaces for interacting with other programs and for future flexibility and expandability.

 

IT Security services to develop and implement management, operational and technical security controls required by agencies to assure desired levels of protection for IT systems as required by laws such as FISMA.

 

Customer Services including all aspects of the customer relationship management (CRM) process, including planning, scheduling, and control activities involved with service delivery.

Business Management including the development and implementation of standard methodologies and automated process management systems, to facilitate agencies’ requirements for managing and monitoring activities surrounding their core business operations (e.g. capital planning, investment management, supply chain management, procurement).

 

Digital Asset Services focusing on content management, document management, knowledge management and records management.

 

Business Analytical Services including analysis and statistics, visualization, knowledge discovery and business intelligence.

 

Back Office Services including data management, human resources, financial management, and asset/materials management.

 

Support Services including security management, collaboration, communications, systems management and forms management.

 

IT Management Services that provide support for operations and IT resource management and encompass support for all strategic planning, management, and control functions integral to IT initiatives. The IT Management Services provide the foundational support to effectively align IT requirements with Federal government business operations.

 

These are just some examples of the services you can buy using Alliant SB. For a comprehensive list of the components of an IT solution that are in scope under Alliant SB, download the Alliant SB Ordering Guide at http://www.gsa.gov/alliantsb.