Here you will find the answers to the most commonly asked questions about CSC's ITES-2S Program. Please review these responses first. If you do not see the answer to your query you may send it to the CSC ITES-2S Program Office. Contact information is available in the Contacts page.
What is ITES-2S? ITES-2S is an acronym for Information Technology Enterprise Solutions – 2 Services. The Army’s intent is to establish ITES-2S as the “contract vehicle for the Army that provides a mechanism to obtain a full range of information technology services and solutions necessary for the Army to satisfy its support of Army enterprise infrastructure and infostructure goals worldwide.” ITES-2S will become a mission enabler for our soldiers by providing them with the tools and services required to meet their information technology needs. Inherent in achieving the intent of this contract are the contract objectives: efficient, flexible, and effective Contractual Management that evolves and adapts to change over time; a dynamic Partnership Program with outreach and educational opportunities and that emphasizes the use of subcontractors and teaming partners to bring expert talent and innovation to the program; and the application of new and evolving Business Processes that bring best-value and best-pricing solutions and reduce the Government’s administrative burden.
What makes ITES-2S unique? ITES-2S is a contract awarded by the Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS), in coordination with the Army Contracting Agency (ACA), Information Technology, E-Commerce, and Commercial Contracting Center (ITEC4), designed to meet enterprise IT requirements for the Army, DOD and other government agencies. The contract has a base period of three years, and three options of two years each with a total ceiling of $20 billion. The following contract types may be awarded under the ITES-2S contract vehicle: Cost Plus Award Fee, Cost Plus Fixed Fee, Cost Reimbursement, Firm Fixed Price, Fixed Price Labor Hours, and Time and Materials.
Who can use the ITES-2S contract? Any Federal agency, office, activity or department to include foreign military sales (FMS) programs, are eligible to use the contract.
What can be accomplished under ITES-2S? The ITES-2S scope will include a full range of services and solutions necessary for the Army to satisfy its support of the Army enterprise infrastructure and infostructure goals with Information Technology (IT) services worldwide. The scope includes the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Information Management (C4IM) requirements as defined in Army Regulation 25-1 (AR 25-1). ITES-2S contemplates services-based solutions under which contractors may be required to provide a full range of IT equipment. Therefore, end-to-end solutions to satisfy worldwide development, deployment, operation, maintenance, and sustainment requirements are included. Additionally included is support to analyze requirements, develop and implement recommended solutions, and operate and maintain legacy systems, and equipment. It is essential that the ITES-2S solutions enhance Army Net-operations/Net-centric capabilities and holistically support the Army customers, with a goal of providing a common look and feel for Army applications at all levels of both the strategic and tactical Army enterprise. It is the intention of the Government to establish a scope for ITES-2S that is broad, sufficiently flexible to satisfy requirements that may change over the period of performance, and fully comprehensive so as to embrace the full complement of services that relate to IT. ITES-2S Task Areas include:
- Business Process Reengineering (BPR)
- Information Systems Security
- Information Assurance
- Information Technology Services
- Enterprise Design, Integration and Consolidation
- Education & Training
- Program Management
- Systems Operations and Maintenance
- Network Support
How do I use ITES-2S? To begin the procurement under the ITES-2S contract, you should first visit the Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) web site at https://chess.army.mil/. The web site has CHESS's ITES-2S User Guide and other essential information and templates to assist you. If you have any questions, CHESS has experts in each of the areas (i.e. SOW development, costing, etc) and will work side by side with you to ensure your requirements are expeditiously met.
Why should ITES-2S be the contract vehicle of choice? The CSC Team will provide the optimum solution, and represents the best value for any need. If you have experience working with a member of the CSC Team you may request they work your tasks.
What is the ITES-2S Administrative Fee? There is no administrative fee under the ITES-2S contract.
Is there any size limit to use ITES-2S? No. Not in any practical sense. The total ceiling for the ITES-2S contract is $20 billion.
Are there any prohibitions on use of proprietary data? No, CSC can use proprietary data with government/contractor approval.
What is the status of any work done as it pertains to rights in technical data? Patents? Any work performed belongs to the government.
Which company on the CSC ITES-2S Team will accomplish the work? Each requirement submitted by a customer (Task Order Request (TOR) is processed through the CSC ITES-2S Program Office. A CSC team is then formed to develop the Task Order response. CSC considers customer desires, marketing, cost and schedule requirements, material, labor and the technical solution in determining which team member's bid will go forward. Customers can make their preferences known to the CSC ITES-2S Program Office.
How soon will work on the task begin? Work to develop a response to the Task Order Request will begin immediately on receipt of a requirement from the government’s ITES-2S Project Office. The Task Order response will be submitted by the CSC Team. Upon its acceptance and the issuance of a Task Order, work will begin as soon as possible with consideration for special material and other needs.
What is the reasoning behind the ITES-2S contract? To provide a mechanism to obtain a full range of information technology service solutions necessary for the Army to satisfy its support of Army enterprise infrastructure and infostructure goals worldwide.
What can the customer expect to pay under the ITES-2S contract? CSC Team member's rates for various skills are set forth in the contract. The proposal response to the Task Order request will provide the customer the calculations for the labor, material, and travel needed to accomplish the Task Order when issued. The customer sees and approves these estimates before a Task Order is issued.
Are the periods of task order performance less than one (1) year? Are they renewable? Must they be paid with a specific type of funds? The customer will stipulate the period of task order performance up to the nine-year contract period of performance limit subject to government exercise of options. Extensions can be given up to 12 months for work in progress. Specific funding questions should be directed to the CHESS ITES-2S Program Office.