Attachment 1 - T-ARC(X) Draft SOW-Spec Feedback and Market Research RFI.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NOTICE FOR THE CABLE REPAIR SHIP (T-ARC(X))

INTRODUCTION

This Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought Notice is being issued by the Naval Sea Systems

Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office

(PMS325) for the Cable Repair Ship (T-ARC(X)). PMS325 is (1) conducting general market research,

(2) assessing the industrial base capability, and (3) requesting feedback on the draft T-ARC(X) Statement of Work and System Specification via this Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought Notice. All interested parties, including but not limited to capable small businesses are encouraged to respond to this

RFI. Lack of response by capable small businesses may influence the Government’s determination regarding whether the potential for a small business set aside exists.

This RFI/Sources Sought Notice is for planning purposes only.

DISCLAIMER

This is a Request for Information (RFI) notice only. This RFI is for informational planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, or services. This notice does not constitute a solicitation or a promise of a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties’ expense.

It is desirable that data be received with unlimited rights to the Government. Nevertheless, we recognize that proprietary data may be included with the information provided. If so, clearly mark such proprietary information and clearly separate it from the unrestricted information as an addendum. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages, for any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified.

Proprietary information received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The Government will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative because of this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. Specific responses to the approaches will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations.

WORK REQUIREMENTS

T-ARC(X) will replace the existing ship capability of USNS Zeus (T-ARC 7), the Navy’s only cable repair ship. T-ARC(X) will be built to commercial standards, ABS Class MVR, comply with SOLAS

Regulations, and obtain an USCG Certification.

Release of the T-ARC(X) RFP is planned for early FY25. Multiple contracting strategies are being considered, including a two-phase multiple award contract (MAC) for Concept Refinement / Preliminary

Design (PD) with down-select to a single Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) awardee. Alternative strategies under consideration include award of multiple industry studies contracts with a separate full and open competition for DD&C contract award. A single award for Lead Ship DD&C is anticipated in

FY27, with an option for a second ship to be exercised in FY29. The ships will be procured and built in the U.S.

INSTRUCTIONS TO INTERESTED PARTIES

NAVSEA is establishing the acquisition strategy for the T-ARC(X) program, and requests industry inputs as to its advantageousness. As identified within previous market research requests, NAVSEA is contemplating a two-phase down-select approach for the T-ARC(X) solicitation.

Phase I would consist of an FY25 multiple award contract (MAC) of Concept Refinement and

Preliminary Design (PD) to up to three (3) shipbuilders, resulting in contract-level designs from each

MAC awardee. A key element of this approach is that Shipbuilders will develop ship designs tailored to their design and manufacturing processes, while still meeting the overall T-ARC(X) Program requirements.

Phase II would start as an FY27 down-select contract action for DD&C. Leading up to the competed down-select action, MAC awardees would each submit a Phase II price and technical proposal. The proposals would be evaluated by the Government and a DD&C awardee would be selected via exercise of the Detail Design option CLIN. At the contractual Phase II junction with identified design readiness, the

Government would at its unilateral option exercise the Ship 1 Construction CLIN. An FY29 option for the

Ship 2 Construction would also be available for unilateral exercise by the Government. Exercise of any/all option CLINs would be subject to the availability of funds.

The draft Statement of Work and System Specification are made available to allow industry the opportunity to comment on the reasonableness, feasibility, and affordability of the requirement, as well as to promote competition. Due to the sensitivity of the information, copies of the draft System

Specification will only be made available upon written request from a DoD Contractor.

Please respond to the entirety of the enclosed Market Research questionnaire items. If responses have been previously provided to NAVSEA via earlier market research engagements, and no changes or updates have occurred since submission, please identify that the information previously provided (with reference) still stands.

Responses should use the Market Research Questionnaire format (Enclosure 1). Respondents shall indicate the extent to which incorporation of their feedback will influence their ability and/or interest in pursuing this opportunity.

1. All small businesses interested in this acquisition MUST complete the questionnaire to demonstrate responsibility for the requirement. Please note that failure to respond to this RFI may affect the

Government’s small business set aside decision.

2. Respondents may provide feedback on the draft Statement of Work and System Specification via the attached Feedback Form. Comments that recommend changes to the draft documents shall be accompanied by supporting rationale for how the proposed change will quantitatively impact system performance, cost, and/or schedule.

Enclosure 1: Market Research Questionnaire

Please submit the following:

1. Company Information

Name of Company:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Point of Contact:

Title:

Email Address:

Phone:

CAGE Code:

2. Small Business Identification

Identify your company’s socio-economic Small Business size status under North American

Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541330. For more information about Small

Business Size Standards, please refer to the following link:

https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards

__Small Business (with no socio-economic size status)

__8(a)

__SDB

__WOSB

__VOSB

__SDVOSB

__HubZone

__N/A - Large Business

3. Identify if your company is interested in pursuing this opportunity as a prime and/or subcontractor. If interested in pursuing this opportunity as a subcontractor identify the nature of work anticipated.

4. Interested vendors shall submit a capability statement with specific details regarding your company’s ability and approach to meeting the requirements found in the draft System

Specification. The capability statement shall be no more than five (5) pages.

5. Please submit responses to “Instructions to Interested Parties” items. The Government does not anticipate providing any formal responses to this market research or the comments/questions provided but will utilize this information to improve planning and acquisition efforts.

6. As stated above, due to the sensitivity of the draft T-ARC(X) System Specification, all parties interested in receiving the draft System Specification controlled file must submit a written request. Interested parties are required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to receiving the draft System Specification. All requests shall be submitted via email to Mr. Steven Noel

NAVSEA 02, at steven.w.noel.civ@us.navy.mil and Mr. Spencer Rice NAVSEA 02, at

Spencer.e.rice5.civ@us.navy.mil.

7. Navy policy does not support the release of controlled files to non-U.S. contractors. Only

U.S. companies may propose as prime contractors. If a non-U.S. company decides to team with a U.S. prime contractor then the U.S. prime contractor must comply with the https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards applicable Department of State 22CFR Parts 120-130 and Department of Commerce Export

Administration Regulations and submit a request for an export license.

8. Provide feedback on the Government Acquisition Approach

a. Indicate support for or disinterest in the above approach, and identify any recommended contracting adjustments or alternatives that would better enable delivery of these ships.

b. Risk areas and recommended mitigation activities NAVSEA should consider in its acquisition planning.

9. Facility Capability

c. If the respondent is a shipyard, provide a description of construction facilities and projected workload, a yard plan which includes available build position(s) capable of handling the notional cable ship transition and launch process from build position(s), and any producibility considerations for this requirement.

d. Identify previous contracts and experience for DD&C of ships of similar size and complexity, particularly hull form, structures, propulsion, cable handling systems, and Sea Plow and ROV handling systems.

e. If the respondent is a shipyard, provide a description of maximum length, beam and draft for ship construction at your facility.

f. Describe all construction facilities and provide a yard plan which includes available build position(s) capable of handling a cable ship that meets the requirements of the System

Specification, transition, and launch process from build position(s); describe launch systems and docking capability (size constraints and water depth).

g. What type of launchway, facility and dry dock certifications do you have and are they current?

h. Explain or describe your planned facility capital investments or improvements prior to FY24.

i. What capital investments and improvements would be required to support T-ARC(X) production and delivery?

j. What is the maximum depth of water, channel width and air height (fixed bridges / overhead cableways) to open water?

k. Discuss any necessary channel, waterway dredging, or improvements required to support T-

ARC(X) production and delivery.

l. How much warehousing and lay down area (square footage) is on-site?

m. What is your warehousing capacity for secure (access controlled) and climate-controlled items?

n. Describe your capability to provide office space for Government and Government Contractor staff onsite.

o. What is the largest vessel (draft, beam, length, and tonnage) ever built at this facility?

Provide the maximum draft, beam, length, and tonnage for ship construction at your facility.

If unable to accommodate the notional cable ship described in Tables 1 and 2, please provide potential mitigations/facilities improvements required to alleviate those constraints.

p. Is the pier capable of tying up vessels during a major storm?

q. Describe the shore service capabilities such as:

o Electrical Services (Shore Power) o Potable Water connections o Sewer Connections o Oily Waste Removal.

r. Describe your current Plant Protection Capabilities including:

s. Security Guards

t. Physical Barriers

u. Security Camera Systems

10. Production Capability (Manning)

a. Size of the respondent’s company, average annual revenue for the past three years and the number of employees.

b. Which typical labor trades and services do you contract out (example: HVAC, Joiner, Communications, Navigation) and how are they integrated into your master schedule?

c. What is your typical ratio of contract labor to in-house company labor at your facility?

d. How do you utilize an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) in your day to day operation?

e. What is your current and projected orderbook for the next 3-8 years and how will a potential

T-ARC(X) contract award affect your current production capacity?

f. What is your typical annual turnover rate for production employees?

g. What is your current labor trade skill breakdown and average years of experience per labor trade skill?

h. What is your capability and capacity to increase skilled production labor levels to support T-

ARC(X) production and delivery?

o Would they typically be contract labor or in-house company employees?

o Is there enough existing infrastructure (i.e. parking, facilities, etc.) to support a required increase?

o Is the local/regional labor pool suitable for ship production?

i. What is your current manning levels for:

o Production, skilled o Production, unskilled o Engineering o Design o Program Management o Testing

11. Technical Capability (Paperwork/Management/Support/Engineering/Logistics)

a. Design and engineering capability, whether in-house and/or subcontracted.

b. Describe what quality assurance programs you utilize, including welding certification, ABS and USCG call outs and methods of handling Corrective Action Requests.

c. Describe your test expertise, including: ABS/USCG testing, Design Verification Testing, Shipboard Testing, and At-Sea Testing.

d. Describe your typical Integrated Logistics Plan.

e. Describe your plan to comply with cybersecurity requirements.

f. Describe your experience with Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) loadout and mission space turnover.

g. What software program do you use for your IMS?

h. What modeling program do you use and is it easily converted to Autocad 2-D drawings?

i. How do you assess vessel progress?

j. How will you perform configuration management?

k. How will you manage the data deliverables required in the contract?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This RFI announcement is not a contract, a request for proposal, a promise to contract, or a commitment of any kind on the part of the Government. Please note that the Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with this RFI. The Navy will not assume liability for any costs incurred, therefore, any costs incurred in response to this notice are not considered an allowable direct charge to the Government. Not responding to these events will not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. This procurement requires the ability to safeguard classified materials during

DD&C phase.

Respondents should submit responses in electronic format via e-mail by 16 August 2024 to Mr. Tim

Ross, PEO SHIPS (PMS 325), at timothy.b.ross2.civ@us.navy.mil with a copy to Mr. Steven Noel

NAVSEA 02, at steven.w.noel.civ@us.navy.mil and Mr. Spencer Rice NAVSEA 02, at

Spencer.e.rice5.civ@us.navy.mil.

RFI response files shall be in PDF format, with file name including the Solicitation number and your company name. Submissions may be accepted after this date, but feedback may not be as timely or contribute to NAVSEA’s strategic planning.