MARKET_SURVEY_RFI QUEST_ABAD.docx

MARKET SURVEY

AIR BASE AIR DEFENSE (ABAD) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE IDIQ SERVICE CONTRACT

Introduction The 764th Specialized Contracting Squadron intends to solicit the ABAD O&M IDIQ service contract in support of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE)/Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA). Services to be performed at multiple locations within USAFE. The proposed period of performance is expected to be Dec 2020 – Dec 2030. The government is considering an anticipated IDIQ ordering period of: 5 year base plus 5 annual option periods. If an IDIQ contract is awarded for this requirement, the guaranteed minimum is estimated to be $1M with a maximum ceiling between $500M to $1B. The draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) is provided for more detailed information regarding this requirement.

This is NOT an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP). This is a Sources Sought and Request for Information (RFI) is part of ongoing Government conducted market research for planning purposes. A solicitation is not being issued at this time and this notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation. The Government will not provide reimbursement for costs associated with this request. Responses shall be treated as information only, become property of the US Government and will not be used as a proposal.

Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this RFI is strictly voluntary; responses will not be returned. The information obtained from industries responses to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and a future RFP.

Purpose This sources sought and request for information (RFI) helps the Government obtain adequate knowledge of industry capability, understanding of the marketplace and ensure competition among potential contractors. The Government will gain knowledge of interested, qualified companies and their capability of satisfying this requirement. This market survey is for information only and the type of solicitation may depend upon responses to this sources sought and RFI.

Industry Response Please provide in your response on company letterhead the following information: date, point of contact, address, phone number, email address DUNS number and CAGE code. Responses are requested as soon as possible but not later than 5th of Feb at 0800 hours Central European Time (CET). Responses or questions shall be only submitted via e-mail to ian.orton@us.af.mil and randall.thornton@us.af.mil. Please answer the questions completely. Thank you in advance for your time and help.

1. Is your company capable of fulfilling the entire requirement outlined in the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS)? Identify barriers to performance if any.

2. Please describe your company’s past experience and/or past performance relevant to the PWS, relevant to air base air defense operations support or operation and maintenance of equipment.

3. The Government is considering including additional performance locations outside of the current location in Germany. These locations may include locations in the United Kingdom, Italy, and potentially other European locations yet to be determined. Possible future locations/operations within Africa may also be supported. Does your company foresee any challenges that would prevent successful performance in the specified locations?

4. Are aspects of operation, maintenance, and support services of air base air defense a type of service customarily available in the commercial marketplace either in the U.S. or overseas? For example, UAV detection and deployment of countermeasures of commercially operated airfields.

5. If you answered question 4 with yes,

a. What are the typical terms, conditions and practices in the commercial marketplace?

b. Identify commercial customers for this type of service that you have performed.

6. Most of the positions on this contract are expected to require a U.S. Secret clearance and the contractor to have an appropriate facility clearance for performance. This requires the contractor to hire predominately U.S. citizens to perform the work. Logistical support and SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) status for contractors is granted or denied by the host nation government and cannot be guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Considering the requirement will be performed in USAFE AOR do you see a lack of logistical support or lack of SOFA status a barrier to being able to successfully staff your team and will this potentially be an inhibiter to successful performance? See the DOCPER website for more information on this topic: https://www.eur.army.mil/contractor/.

7. What challenges do you foresee with regards to recruiting and retaining American employees for performance of work in Europe? This requirement will likely require each employee be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret clearance and potentially up to TS/SCI level.

8. What types of labor categories would you propose for this requirement?

9. The Government has not yet committed to a contract type, but appreciates industry feedback on its proposed contract type. The government is considering awarding a single-award indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with task orders issued for individual operating sites. The requirement for air base air defense of Ramstein AB Germany will likely be the first task order award. Potential future sites across European locations are expected to be awarded on future task orders. The government is considering the following mix of contract types:

CLIN 1: FFP phase-in

CLIN 2: CPFF Labor CLIN 3: FFP Labor with fixed-price fully burdened labor rates

- Offerors would be required to propose rates for the U.K. Germany, Italy and Other Europe locations CLIN 4: FFP for contractor acquired materials CLIN 5: Cost reimbursable for materials/equipment reimbursed by the government CLIN 6: Cost reimbursable for travel and training

Considering the proposed contract type, is risk fairly balanced between the contractor and the Government? What other contract type would you propose and why? How would you structure CLINs differently? What period of performance would you propose?

Does your company prefer to define its own FFP labor categories and rates for the IDIQ with an associated contractor defined job description or use standard Government FFP labor categories with job descriptions defined by the government and rates defined by the contractor?

10. Identify any other customary practices that reflect the commercial method of doing business that has not been asked for in this sources sought and would be pertinent to this requirement.

11. Industry review and input on the PWS is always beneficial for authoring a well-written requirement. Please identify any concerns or questions you have regarding the draft IDIQ PWS and what information your company would like to see not only in the IDIQ PWS but future Task Orders. Feel free to include any changes to the PWS you recommend via tracked changes in an MS Word document.

12. It is possible that some or all of the contractor’s employees may be governed by host nation labor law while working on a future contract. What is your experience with staffing contractor workforces in foreign locations and complying with host nation labor law? How would you stay abreast of and ensure compliance with host nation labor laws?

13. Does the PWS include any task or requirements you find would be impossible to perform? If so, please elaborate.

14. Are you able to propose a US Dollar denominated contract price or are host nation currencies preferred?

15. What risks do you see associated with this acquisition and how would you mitigate those risks?

16. What is the best assessment method of whether or not the Government is receiving quality service? How would you measure success on this program? What thresholds, measures, and/or metrics do you recommend for the performance work statement?

17. Are you aware of any organizational conflicts of interest that need to be addressed?

18. What is your level of interest in this requirement and do you expect to propose?

19. Please provide any other feedback or questions you may have. Government response to questions, if any, will be posted to beta.SAM.gov.

20. Are you aware of any other Government agencies pursuing similar objectives as identified in this PWS?

21. Is leasing of Contractor provided ABAD platforms an option?

22. What issues to you foresee with integrating other contractor developed ABAD platforms into a single operations center?

23. The Government anticipates delivery of first-article innovative ABAD platforms before mass deployment and integration of tested platforms. What challenges are foreseen with such an approach?

24. Identify measures/terms that should be identified within the PWS regarding contractor vs. Government responsibilities given the nature and scope of this PWS?

25. The Government anticipates seeking the maximum contractor provided contributions toward meeting the scope of this PWS while maintaining the ultimate responsibility of executing countermeasures required to protect facilities and personnel. With this as the objective, what other PWS terms should be articulated?

26. Is the NAICS 541690 code appropriate for this scope of work?