Coverpage_Solicitation_FA910126QB063.pdf

One AFMC…Powering the World’s Greatest Air Force

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE TEST CENTER

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CALIFORNIA

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION_FA910126QB063

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial service prepared in accordance with the format in the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) subpart 12.202, as supplemented with additional information. The Government reserves the right to reject any or all offers received in response to this solicitation. Furthermore, the Government maintains the right to not make an award under this solicitation, and reserves the unilateral right to cancel this solicitation, in whole or in part, at any point prior to award if it is determined to be in the Government's best interest.

All solicitation provisions and contract clauses applicable to this procurement are incorporated and set forth in Attachment 2 – SF 1449. Submission of a quote constitutes acknowledgement and acceptance of all terms contained within this attachment.

Solicitation Number: FA910126QB063

Solicitation Type: Request for Quote (RFQ)

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code:

NAICS code 541330 - Engineering Services

Federal Supply Code (FSC): R425 - Support - Professional: Engineering and Technical

Size Standard: $25.5 Million

Set-Aside Status: Unrestricted / Full and Open Competition

Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR) Not Applicable

Description of Requirement:

The Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel 9 in White Oak, Maryland, requires a comprehensive Engineering Assessment of nineteen (19) high-pressure gaseous nitrogen (GN2) storage vessels, collectively known as the "Bottle Field." The objective is to determine the optimal and continued safe operating condition of the facility.

The contractor shall perform a multi-phased assessment (Parts I through V) encompassing data collection, Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) plan development and on-site execution, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and a Minimum Design Metal Temperature (MDMT) evaluation. All engineering analysis must be conducted in strict accordance with API 579 / ASME FFS-1 standards for pressure vessels operating at or above 10,000 psig. See Attachment 1 - Statement of Work (SOW) for full details.

HUBZone Price Evaluation Preference:

This procurement is being conducted using full and open competition and is subject to the price evaluation preference for Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small business concerns.

This preference is applied in accordance with RFO 19.207 and FAR 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns. To be eligible for this preference, a firm must be certified as a HUBZone small business concern by the Small Business Administration (SBA) at the time of initial offer submission and accurately represent its status in the System for Award Management (SAM). A HUBZone small business concern may elect to waive the evaluation preference.

To do so, the offeror must affirmatively indicate their waiver in the representations and certifications portion of their proposal, specifically within the provision at FAR 52.219-4(c).

Non-Applicability of NMR and Set-Asides:

Based on comprehensive market research, the Government determined there is no reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from at least two responsible small business concerns capable of performing this highly specialized engineering assessment. Therefore, this acquisition is solicited under Full and Open Competition (Unrestricted).

Because this requirement is strictly for commercial services (engineering assessment and NDE testing) and does not involve the procurement of physical hardware or manufactured end items of supply, the Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR) does not apply.

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Requirement:

Because this procurement is for a commercial service (non-COTS), CMMC requirements are fully applicable.

To be eligible for award of the resulting purchase order, the apparently successful vendor must demonstrate, at a minimum, an active CMMC Level 1 (Self-Assessment) compliance status. Quoters must provide a brief statement of compliance in their administrative quote volume, and the contractor must maintain this certification status throughout the period of performance of the contract.

Trade Agreements Applicability (RFO Part 25):

This commercial service acquisition is subject to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) under RFO Part 25 (including Australia, CAFTA-DR, Chile, Colombia, Korea, Mexico, and Singapore FTAs). In accordance with FAR 52.225-5 (Trade Agreements) and FAR 52.225-6 (Trade Agreements Certificate), quotes offering eligible services from these designated FTA countries will be evaluated on an equal, non-discriminatory basis with domestic services.

Basis for Award:

The Government intends to award a single, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) purchase order to the responsible offeror whose quote represents the Best Value to the Government. This acquisition utilizes a Best Value Tradeoff process utilizing Comparative Analysis procedures. The formal source selection procedures of RFO Part 15 do not apply. The Government will conduct a side-by-side comparative analysis of the quotes based on the following evaluation factors:

1. Technical Capability

2. Corporate Experience & Past Performance

3. Price

Relative Importance: Technical Capability and Corporate Experience/Past Performance, when combined, are significantly more important than Price. The Government is willing to pay a premium for a quote that demonstrates superior technical expertise and proven historical experience with high-pressure (>10,000 psig) systems.

Evaluation Process:

1. Technical & Experience Evaluation: The Government will evaluate the offeror's proposed NDE and Engineering methodology for soundness and compliance with API 579/ASME FFS-1. The Government will deeply evaluate the resumes of Key Personnel and the offeror's past performance specifically concerning high-pressure (>10,000 psig) vessel assessments. Quotes failing to demonstrate capability with systems operating at or above 10,000 psig will be deemed technically unacceptable and removed from consideration.

2. Comparative Analysis: The Contracting Officer will perform a direct, side-by-side comparison of all technically capable quotes to determine which offer provides the greatest overall benefit to the Government.

3. Price Reasonableness: The quoted price will be evaluated for reasonableness in accordance with FAR RFO 12.204(a). In accordance with RFO 19.207 and FAR 52.219-4, the Government will apply a HUBZone Price Evaluation Preference of 10% to all quotes received from Large Businesses, unless the certified HUBZone offeror elects to waive the preference.

If compared against: Price Evaluation Adjustment

Large Business Quote The Government will add 10% to the Large Business's proposed price for evaluation purposes.

Non-HUBZone Small Business Quote

No price adjustment is applied.

4. Responsibility Determination: The Government will verify that the apparent successful offeror has an active registration in SAM.gov, possesses no active exclusions, and demonstrates a satisfactory record of business ethics.

Instructions to Offerors:

Offerors must submit a complete quote that conforms to all solicitation requirements. Quotes must be valid for a minimum of 60 days from the submission deadline.

Submission Method Quotes must be submitted electronically via email to the Contracting Officer, Bethany Hill (bethany.hill.3@us.af.mil), no later than 1:00 PM Central Time on 7 September 2026. Late quotes will not be accepted.

Note: .zip files are not acceptable for the Air Force Network.

Quote Format and Content:

To facilitate a timely and efficient comparative evaluation, quotes must be organized into two distinct sections:

Section I: Administrative & Price

Company Information: Provide Company Name, Point of Contact (Name, Phone, Email), Unique Entity ID (UEI), and CAGE Code. Confirm active registration in SAM.gov.

HUBZone Status Representation: Offerors claiming certified HUBZone small business status must provide proof of their active SBA HUBZone certification. In accordance with FAR 52.219- 4(c), if a HUBZone offeror wishes to waive the 10% evaluation preference, they must include an affirmative statement in this section stating: "The offeror elects to waive the evaluation preference."

Price Schedule: Submit a total Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) quote to complete all phases of the SOW.

Offerors must provide a brief price breakdown showing the estimated cost allocation between the NDE execution (Parts I-III) and the Engineering Analysis (Parts IV-V).

Period of Performance: Provide a project milestone schedule confirming completion of all SOW deliverables by the end of calendar year 2026.

Section II: Technical & Past Performance (Maximum 15 pages, excluding resumes)

Technical Approach: Provide a narrative detailing the proposed methodology for developing and executing the NDE plan on-site, and the strategy for conducting the API 579/ASME FFS-1 engineering analysis, FEA, and MDMT evaluation.

Key Personnel Qualifications: Submit resumes for the Lead Assessment Engineer (must hold a PE license) and the Lead NDE Technician (must hold ASNT NDT Level III certifications).

Resumes are excluded from the page limit.

Corporate Experience: Provide at least one (1) example of past performance completed within the last three (3) years demonstrating direct experience conducting NDE and fitness-for-service engineering assessments on high-pressure vessels operating at or above 10,000 psig.

BETHANY R. HILL

Contracting Officer

Attachments:

Attachment 1 – Statement of Work Attachment 2 – SF 1449