Enterprise modeling for the Analysis of Alternatives process in proposal generation

Abstract

The Proposal Development Process (PDP) is a highly competitive process critical to generating revenue for government contractors. The Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) process, a sub-process of the PDP, is conducted to develop complex IT solutions covering a wide range of technologies to meet requirements in a Request for Proposals (RFP) from government agencies. To meet enterprise cost and productivity goals to maintain competitive advantage in the market place, there is a need to decrease the mean time required for AoA by 33% and its variability by 25% while maintaining or increasing AoA quality. A detailed analysis of the AoA process divides the 24 tasks within AoA into four categories: labor intensive, decision making, experience recall, and networking. Based on the analysis of task categories, improvements to the process are identified: implementing an improved file management system (e.g. Intravation Inc.), a content management system (e.g. EMC Inc), and maintaining a sanitized content repository. An added value alternative is also considered in optimizing staffing levels for the AoA process. The effect of implementing combinations of alternatives were modeled using a Monte Carlo discrete-event simulation model, which simulates the mean time required and the time variability for each AoA task as well as the quality of AoA output. An analysis of the cost versus utility shows that the combination of adjusting staffing levels and maintaining a sanitized content repository holds the highest value among the alternative configurations that meet the stakeholders' needs, having a mean duration reduction of 43.91%, a duration variability reduction of 37.50%, and a AoA output quality improvement of 10.21%, at a 5-year cost of $992,000.