AMO Minotaur MMS Sustainment Support RFI CBP-Minotaur2021.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Minotaur Mission Management System Sustainment Support

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This is an RFI released pursuant to FAR 15.201(e). This RFI is issued solely for information, planning purposes and market research only;

it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP or Broad Area Announcement (BAA). This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is not currently seeking proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay any cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP or BAA. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. All submissions become the property of the Federal Government and will not be returned.

CBP, Air and Marine Operations (AMO), is performing market research to determine available sources who can provide technical support services for development of software sustainment for the Minotaur Mission Management System (MMS). AMO is transitioning and installing the MMS onto AMO aircraft per DHS mandates. The MMS “Minotaur” originally was developed by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). A vast majority of AMO’s fleet now employ or will employ the MMS. The system integrates sensor data from several inputs then displays the data onto a central operating system which exports the data to ground operation centers.

The intent of this RFI is to gauge industry interest, capabilities and relevant experience in the systems engineering, integration, and sustainment support for the Minotaur MMS on CBP aircraft.

TASKS

The tasks related to this RFI are as follows:

Task 1: Capability Requirements:

a) Be able to review requirements, system designs, and engineering drawings and evaluate installation for technology refresh considerations.

b) Have extensive experience with the Minotaur MMS, asset sensor integration and DHS mission networks. The Contractor shall have access to Minotaur software source code and be familiar with DHS operations.

c) Be able to provide a detailed cost analysis/estimate for any future asset upgrades or acquisition associated with meeting new and updated requirements not associated with Minotaur software sustainment.

Task 2: Systems Integration:

a) Be able to review technology insertion and improvements to existing systems to include development of hardware and software conceptualization, architectural designs and engineering Technical Data Packages (TDP) for prototypes and upgrades.

b) Be able to develop and integrate ground, marine and aircraft sensor and mission system hardware, firmware and software solutions for new technology improvements and updates to fielded systems.

c) Be able to configure equipment, document hardware and software changes and maintain mission system configurations.

d) Be able to design, integrate and maintain a lab environment.

e) Be able to participate in acquisition software and hardware deliveries, technical exchange meetings, program meetings, contract reviews, design activities, testing and mission system support at Government or vendor facilities as required by DHS/CBP.

Task 3: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) Design and Integration:

a) Be able to design and integrate Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) for Centralized and Decentralized asset systems.

Task 4: System Testing & Verification:

a) Be able to develop test plans and complete testing of mission system equipment.

b) Be able to provide hardware engineering, software development and test support to meet targeted Government activities or special events (Risk Reduction Flights, Development Test and Evaluation (DT&E), etc).

Task 5: On-going and Miscellaneous Support:

a) Be able to update all Minotaur MMS map/chart drives on a recurring basis to align with aviation chart expiration dates and updated geographical information (i.e., streets, addresses).

b) Be able to maintain the Minotaur MMS in accordance with the latest DHS Cybersecurity standards and practices.

c) Be able to conduct miscellaneous upgrades with associated Test and Evaluation on new and existing sensors or data communication links on AMO aircraft.

d) Be able to support development, prototype, production, documentation, Test and Evaluation, and sustainment of Minotaur Mission System Training devices for all CBP equipped Minotaur assets.

The primary place of performance is CONUS and OCONUS locations . The contractor will primarily work from their own facility; however, travel to CBP designated Air Branches and ground facilities is required to maintain, troubleshoot, and test the MMS equipped assets.

SECURITY CLEARANCE

All employees shall be capable of favorably passing a CBP background investigation (BI). All positions shall have a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with JHU/APL and have access to JHU/APL Minotaur Redmine and JIRA databases. The Contractor shall maintain at least one a Department of Defense (DOD) TS-SCI clearance. All other positions and support staff shall maintain at least a DOD Secret clearance.

CONTRACT CAPABILITIES

CBP is seeking to determine industry’s capabilities in submitting competitive proposals for technical support services as it relates to this RFI. The questions in sections A – D shall be addressed in the response:

A. Experience

Your response should address the following questions/statements in the section below:

1. This RFI addresses sustainment of Minotaur MMS software. Address your company’s experience as it relates to current efforts in sustaining and maintaining the Minotaur MMS.

2. Does your company have an established relationship with JHU/APL to include current access to Minotaur source code and Minotaur Redmine/JIRA databases?

3. Provide a description of your company’s ability to meet 100% of the requirements outlined in the TASKS section and experience providing support of similar size, complexity, and scope.

4. Provide specific, recent experience in providing support to Minotaur MMS integration on

CBP aircraft.

5. Describe your company’s ability to adequately staff key and non-key personnel with relevant and recent experience.

6. Do you have an established process for documenting and resolving Software Trouble

Reports for Minotaur Mission Systems?

7. Do you have an established process for accounting for mitigating Diminishing Manufacturing Supply (DMS) and logistics risks?

8. Does your company have experience integrating the Minotaur MMS and asset sensors on

DHS mission networks?

B. Capability

To determine industry resources and capability as it relates to this RFI, the following questions shall be addressed:

1. Considering the very specialized technical nature of this work, what is your realistic lead time to operational capability following contract award, i.e. 30, 60, 90, 120, X days?

2. Do you currently have the personnel/expertise on staff for this opportunity or do you need to recruit key personnel and expertise?

3. If recruiting personnel, what is your onboarding lead time, i.e. 30, 60, 90, 120, X days?

C. Corporate Information

The duration of a contract is expected to be a base year and four option years if all option periods are exercised.

A summary description shall be submitted that details the technical capabilities of the company to perform the requirement.

Additionally, vendors responding to this RFI should provide: (a) name and address of the firm;

(b) size of the business; (c) years in business; (d) description of the client base; (e) type of ownership (i.e., large, small, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, hub-zone, and/or disabled veteran); (f) and past performance of similar work (g) a complete description of the facilities and infrastructure that would provide test facility support and (h) if applicable, a list of Government Wide Agency (GWAC) contract vehicles or other Multiple-Award Contracts (MAC) that you may be an awardee on.

D. Administrative/Format/Response Information

This notice is for informational and market research purposes only. This synopsis does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The following NAICS code of 541330, Engineering Services is being considered for this requirement. However, the NAICS code may change based upon the receipt of responses from this RFI or by further review from the Government.

1. Respondents are advised that CBP will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this request for information synopsis.

2. Acknowledgment of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the Government's evaluation of the information received. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this RFI or the Government's use of such information as either part of an evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.

3. Vendor responses are limited to a maximum of 5 single-sided pages. The total page count of

5 pages does NOT includes the cover letter, table of contents and acronym list.

4. All pages shall be appropriately numbered and identified by the complete company name, date, and referenced RFI number listed in the header and page numbers in the footer (e.g. 5 of 5). Page size shall be no greater than 8 1/2" x 11". The top, bottom, left and right margins shall be a minimum of one inch each. Font size shall be no smaller than 12-point. Arial or Times New Roman fonts are required. Characters shall be set at no less than normal spacing and 100% scale. Tables and illustrations may use a reduced font size not less than 8-point and may be landscape. Line spacing shall be set at no less than single space. Each paragraph shall be separated by at least one blank line. Page numbers, company logos, and headers and footers may be within the page margins ONLY and are not bound by the 12-point font requirement.

5. All responses shall be submitted electronically. Responses should be identified with RFI-CBP-

Minotaur2021. Electronic responses are to be e-mailed in a secured .ZIP or secured .PDF format with a password emailed separately. Telephone or mailed responses will not be accepted.

6. Vendor questions and comments related to this RFI are due no later than Thursday, July 1, 2021 by 1300 hrs or 1:00 PM local Washington, DC time and should be forwarded via email to caitlin.m.jenkins@cbp.dhs.gov.

7. Final responses must be received no later than Thursday, July 8, 2021 by 1300 hrs or 5:00

PM local Washington, DC time. Final responses should be forwarded via email to caitlin.m.jenkins@cbp.dhs.gov.