Aircraft Prototype Systems Division Contractor Support Services
SOURCES SOUGHT FOR TECHNICAL, ENGINEERING, INSTALLATION AND MANUFACTURING SUPPORT FOR AIRCRAFT PROTOTYPE SYSTEMS DIVISION (APSD), NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION (NAWCAD)
INTRODUCTION
The NAWCAD Aircraft Prototype Systems Division (APSD) is located at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River, MD. The APSD falls under the Prototyping, Instrumentation, and Experimentation (PIE) Department as part of the NAWCAD Digital, Analytics, Infrastructure and Technology Advancement (DAiTA) Group. APSD is the principal center of expertise in the design, development, fabrication, installation, integration, and airworthiness certification for aircraft modifications, aircraft components, and mission systems. APSD supports all phases and scales of NAVAIR and Other Government agency requirements from initial experimentation and demonstrations, system prototyping activities, urgent rapid response requirements, through major fleet upgrade programs and production support activities.
APSD primarily supports U.S Navy and Marine Corps platforms for the Naval Air Systems Command Program Executive Offices (PEOs), but also supports other DoD and Government Agencies and Foreign Military Sales programs. APSD’s artisans, engineers, project and support staff, and design/manufacturing equipment are housed in approximately 60,000 square feet of engineering and shop facilities and 90,000 square feet of installation facilities at the Aircraft Prototype Facility (APF).
APSD provides the people, processes, technologies, infrastructure, facilities, tooling, skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary to develop aircraft integration designs and certify critical airworthiness artifacts, engineering data, and technical data packages with associated manufacturing and installation activities for programs and activities as part of the prototype maturation process leading up to low-rate initial production. This is inclusive of project management, systems engineering, research and analysis, electrical/electronic engineering, mechanical/structural engineering, reverse engineering, airworthiness analysis and documentation, mechanical and electrical fabrication, and flight certification coordination in support of the installation of these tests, systems, and capabilities into military and commercial derivative aircraft.
Requirements executed by APSD will require collection and delivery of material and resources, flexibility in approach to projects, timely responsiveness, and partnering with other Commercial, National, and private sector stakeholders. The priority of projects ranges from traditional acquisition timelines to urgent response programs with National priority and immediate operational deployment requirements as real-world developments occur. The scale of these projects will range from non-complex build to print fabrication or installation efforts lasting several weeks to highly complex complete systems of systems integration and mission systems development efforts lasting several years.
The APSD hybrid environment approach leveraging Government and Contractor capabilities and facilities will improve the organization’s ability to ensure adequate responsiveness to urgent schedule and flexibility to undefined requirements that require non-recurring engineering (NRE) and requirements definition to take place in parallel. This includes support to immediate and ongoing spiral development and iterative design, fly-test/fix-fly programs, deploying new technology and manufacturing concepts, and a proportionate surge capability.
APSD operates under a certified AS9100D Quality Management System (QMS). As part of this system, APSD utilizes several tools and processes that include, but are not limited to, PTC CREO, Ansys, and AutoCAD for design, analysis, and documentation generation; PTC Wind Chill for configuration management and document control when creating technical data packages, which is inclusive of aircraft and component models and drawing revisions; SharePoint for process publishing, project status reporting to customers, workflows for APSD project Statements of Work, Work Agreements, and change requests; and a Government developed MS Access database for performing corporate and project control functions. It is anticipated that the Contractor be AS9100D certified with certifications and processes flowing down through subcontractors. The Government and Contractor systems will remain independent, but “handoff” processes will be required to ensure both work and documentation maintains continuity and integrity.
This requirement is one part of a portfolio of tools to support the mission of APSD. . These tools include the NAWCAD FRP MAC, PLP MAC, Other Transactional Authorities, and partnerships with AirWorks, Rapid Prototyping, Experimentation, and Demonstration (RPED), the Advanced Technology Development (ATD) Department, and other Government organizations. For the purposes of this requirement the Government considers this a follow-on contract. The scope of work performed by APSD largely remains unchanged due to the demand with continued support of major fleet modification and capability upgrades. The performance location, scale and complexity of contract support are expected to increase along with APSD organic capabilities. This includes an increased focus on early phase experimentation, demonstration, and technology maturation support including the utilization of Contractor Owned Contractor Operated aircraft and the expansion of APSD's mission and capabilities related to obsolescence and reverse engineering airframe and avionics component and systems levels.
The anticipated Labor Categories, corresponding Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) code, and the estimated first year full time equivalents (FTEs) by skill level are listed in Sources Sought Attachment 2, Draft Labor Categories/Qualifications and Experience
A brief summary of this opportunity was included in the NAWCAD Industry Day on 12 October 2022. This Market Research tool is being used to identify potential and eligible firms, of all sizes, prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation. The results of the Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-Aside opportunities exist. Additionally, this sources sought is being used to gather constructive information from industry to improve the request for proposal (RFP).
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – APSD Capabilities Brief
Attachment 2 – Draft Labor Categories/Qualifications and Experience
Attachment 3 – Sources Sought Capability Questions
PLACES OF PERFORMANCE
An estimated 85 percent of the work will be performed at the Government site inclusive of situational telework and 15 percent at the Contractor site. The predominance of the estimated 15 percent performed at the Contractor site is related to additional capacity to conduct NRE, aircraft parts manufacturing and installation, airworthiness activities, and ability to host and maintain aircraft for modifications, tests, experiments, and demonstrations. It is anticipated that the Contractor site share will increase over the contract period of performance due to increased workload and maturity in processes that can manage the workload between the Government and Contractor sites more efficiently while maintaining a high standard in quality.
Contractors performing on-site support will be provided equipment necessary to carry out assigned tasks (examples include but are not limited to: access to workspaces, telephones, printers, facsimile machines, copy machines, shredders, computers, and network access including web servers and applicable databases or other applications). Additionally, this includes common hand tools, special tooling, equipment, and machines utilized for manufacturing and installation. The principal place of performance for Government site is Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD.
For work strictly performed within Contractor facilities, the necessary access to Government sites and databases, applications, and tools will be provided. The Contractor shall provide IT equipment, applications, software tools, and office accommodations. Contractor shall provide and maintain all tooling necessary for manufacturing and installation activities.
Performance may be required at other Government sites via travel. This will be inclusive of conducting research, NRE, aircraft installations, conferences, meetings, and supporting Systems Engineering Technical Review (SETR) events and milestones where attendance is mandatory.
DISCLAIMER
THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.
CONTRACT INFORMATION
Current Contractor and Contracts: AMERICAN ELECTRONIC WARFARE ASSOCIATES (AMEWAS), Inc., Contract # N0042119D0076
Anticipated Contract Type: Single Award Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ)
Anticipated Level of Effort: 95-130 FTEs per year
Estimated Material / Other Direct Costs: Approximately $12M per year
Estimated Travel: $410,000 per year
Anticipated Period of Performance Start: 1st QTR FY24
Security Classification:
a. Facility Clearance: TOP SECRET
b. Safeguarding at the Contractor Facility: SECRET
REQUIRED CAPABILITIES
This contract requires the Contractor to provide trained and qualified personnel to conduct services and provide deliverables in support of a wide variety of tasks that primarily involve the research, development, installation, and certification of hardware and components that are in direct support of the NAWCAD mission within or under the cognizance of APSD. The Contractor shall support all phases of program execution from initial conceptual studies, execution planning, management, engineering and design, airworthiness, documentation, mechanical and electrical fabrication, aircraft installation and modification, and test and evaluation activities. In addition, this includes systems integration labs (SIL), test benches, and operator/maintainer training for developing new capabilities.
The Offeror shall be Aerospace Standard AS9100D, Quality Management Systems - Requirements for Aviation, Space, and Defense Organizations certified at time of proposal submission in response to RFP.
The Offeror shall have experience in performing engineering and analysis for the development of aircraft components, systems, and capabilities. This includes familiarity with determining appropriate advanced and standard material selection and applications. The experience should align with standardized aerospace and industry standards for how data is generated, documented, and managed through the airworthiness process and in accordance with MIL-STD-31000 and ASME Y14.100 based drawing packages.
The Offeror shall have experience in airworthy analysis and certification for military and commercial aircraft. For example, utilizing the NAVAIR Instruction (NAVAIRINST) 13034.1F, Airworthiness and Cybersecurity Safety Policies for Air Vehicles and Aircraft Systems for Navy aircraft, or similar instruction for other military services, such as USAF. Additionally, experienced with, or authorized by, Title 49 of the United States Code (49 USC) 44702(d), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program for commercial platforms. Examples of design elements requiring analysis and certification would include antenna cosite, structural and crash loads, weight and balance, material and parts suitability, flutter, frequency response, electrical loads, thermal response, human systems, and system safety.
The Offeror shall have experience in utilizing and adhering to military and commercial specifications, publications, and manuals to manufacture and install aircraft structures, components, and assemblies. This includes the ability to take raw material and create parts, assemblies, and subassemblies that conform to standards, installation instructions, and drawings, are of high quality, and are consistently repeatable.
The Offeror shall have experience in generating aircraft project and program requirements to establish resource and project plans, schedules, cost estimates, and budgets. In project execution, the Offeror shall be responsible for controlling project priorities and goals while making risk and tradeoff decisions that benefit the Government.
The Offeror shall have the ability to provide facilities that can support aircraft modifications, system demonstrations, and flight test. Facility and surrounding runways, taxiways, and flightline should accommodate aircraft sized up to the C-130 Hercules and P-8 Poseidon.
The Offeror shall have the ability to provide Contractor Owned/ Contractor Operated air vehicles for the purposes of supporting experimentation and demonstration as part of the prototype development phase.
The Offeror shall have the ability to put aircraft in preservation status, or maintain, during aircraft modifications and return aircraft to airworthy state post-modification. This shall be in accordance with military and commercial standards, such as the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP) Standard Operating Procedures; or FAA Part 145, Repair Station Operator. This may also include collaborative effort with military maintenance personnel and aircraft custodians.
The Offeror shall be experienced with Ground Operating Procedures (GOPs) and be knowledgeable in how it applies to Contractor personnel who perform ground operations in and around aircraft and those personnel who operate and maintain ground support equipment used in support of aircraft.
Security: All contractor personnel shall have the ability to obtain a SECRET or TOP SECRET security clearance. Individual employees may be required to support SCI requirements at the Government site. Facility Clearance level of TOP SECRET. All Contractor personnel supporting SCI requirements must obtain a TOP SECRET clearance with a fully adjudicated investigation in accordance with Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 704 prior to starting any SCI level work. As a further enhancement to security measures, for the protection of classified information, the Contractor agrees to permit necessary polygraph interviews on Contractor personnel having access to National Security Information (NSI) under this contract. It is understood that the polygraph interview will be limited to counterintelligence (CI) and counterespionage (CE) issues. The Contractor shall have the ability to provide Secured Government Property storage and Government Property Management System.
The Offeror shall have experience accessing and securing systems and data at multiple levels and multiple caveats of security (CUI, SECRET, TOP SECRET, TOP SECRET//Sensitive Compartmented Information).
The Offeror MUST have a DCMA approved accounting system in accordance with FAR 16.301-3(a)(3) in order to be eligible for award of a cost-type contract.
The Offeror shall possess an acceptable purchasing system in accordance with DFARS 252.244-7001.
ELIGIBILITY
The anticipated NAICS code for this requirement is 541715 with a size standard of 1500 employees. The anticipated product service code (PSC) is AC13: National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense – Military: Applied Research.
Interested small businesses that are qualified as a small business concern under the NAICS 541715, within a size standard of 1500 employees, are encouraged to submit their capability packages and should identify their company’s small business size standard based on that code. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code may submit a response to this notice. Small businesses must demonstrate the ability to perform at least 50% of the cost of contract performance as the prime contractor with similarly situated small business sub-contractors in accordance with FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting (Deviation).
To assist in our market research and determination of any applicable small business set-aside for this effort, if you are a small business interested in priming this effort and plan to utilize “similarly situated entities” to meet the Limitations on Subcontracting, please identify the name & CAGE Code of the specific firm(s) you intend to partner/subcontract with to meet the requirements as well as their SB size status under the NAICS that you as the prime would assign for their workshare. Information regarding any planned similarly situated entity should be included in answering any questions outlined in the Sources Sought Notice (SSN) in order to assist the Government’s capability determination.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than 15 pages in length, single spaced, and 12-point font minimum) demonstrating the ability to perform the services covered under the required capabilities. Interested businesses shall utilize the response template provided in Attachment 3, Sources Sought Capability Questions, in either MS Word or PDF format.
The capability statement package submissions must be received no later than 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on 27 March 2023. Submissions shall be submitted via e-mail to the Contract Specialist, Greg Tollefsen, at gregory.e.tollefsen.civ@us.navy.mil. Companies are reminded that file sizes in excess of 5MB or .zip extension may be stripped from email submissions due to Navy Marine Corp Intranet security. No phone calls will be accepted.
N00421-23-SS-APSD-CSS-FEB23 Department of the Navy Naval Air Systems Command Naval Air Warfare Center
2/23/23, 5:21 PM