Call-for-Solutions_SVT_WSD_JFT_20260609.docx

CALL FOR SOLUTIONS

Soldier Virtual Training (SVT), Weapons Skills Development (WSD) and Joint Fires Trainer (JFT)

NAICS code

PSC code NAICS code is 541715 PSC code is 6910.

18 JUN 2026 at 11:00am EST for OTA Proposals

Specialist: Ryan Holcomb ryan.m.holcomb2.civ@army.mil

NOTE: Please advise the cognizant Contracting and/or Agreements Officer and Specialist as soon as possible via the emails above if your organization intends to submit a Solution Brief in response to this Call for Solution.

*Any submissions that are received by the Contracting or Agreements Officer after the suspense date and time listed above will be deemed late and not evaluated. It is the sole responsibility of the company to ensure that its submission is received in the email inboxes listed above before the deadline specified.

This Call for Solution may result in the Government awarding Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) contracts or non-FAR agreements in accordance with (IAW) Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 212.70 – Defense Commercial Solutions Opening. Other Transaction (OT) Agreements that may be awarded from this Call for Solution (CFS) are not subject to the FAR or its supplements, as applicable. These items may also be procured for experimental purposes under 10 U.S.C. Section 4023.

This CFS and any awards made from it are fully available for award under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

1. BACKGROUND.

The Capabilities Program Executive, for Simulations, Training, Test, and Treat (CPE- ST3), Soldier Virtual Training (SVT) Weapons Skills Device (WSD) has a requirement to replace the ageing Engagement Skills Trainer 2 (EST2) with a modern replacement which removes or overcomes the many limitations of the EST2 system of record. A previous attempt to replace the system was determined unsuccessful, resulting in a reset of the requirement. Additionally, the US Congress has mandated providing an interim solution to replace the EST2 with a solution that can be used while the WSD program is reset. The requirements for the interim solution and reset solution are so similar that it creates efficiencies by putting both requirements together into a single solicitation that can be used to award contracts or OTAs that meet the government’s requirement for an interim solution as well as allowing for the development of a system that will replace the EST2. The product required is a COTS item currently for sale in the commercial marketplace which will allow Soldiers to train on their assigned weapons system in a virtual space. These items will not require any changes from the commercially sold weapons skills device currently on the market. The device that is not a final product but which the evaluators see as value in developing may be offered an OTA to develop the device into a replacement to the EST2.

Likewise, the Joint Fires Trainer (JFT) has requirement to fulfil an interim need with COTs items while also opening the possibility for entry into a prototype OTA for those items evaluated as acceptable but not a true COTS item at entry. The JFT piece will follow the same process as WSD, but use its unique requirements as stated below.

Because both the WSD and JFT use similar components methods, the SVT team has been directed to combine these two requirements into the SVT program.

2. PROBLEM STATEMENT.

This Call for Solutions seeks to address the need for an interim COTS solution for WSD and JFT, while also providing for proposal of prototype or developmental solutions fit for establishment of an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Agreement. To accomplish this, there are four distinct responses available for companies to propose against.

2.1 The first response is for the establishment of a marketplace for COTS WSD items currently available for sale.

2.2 The second response is for the establishment of a marketplace for COTS JFT items currently for sale.

2.3 The third response is for proposals for evaluation and possible selection for entry into a WSD OTA, which seeks to replace EST2.

2.4 The fourth response is for proposals for evaluation and possible selection for entry into a JFT OTA.

To avoid confusion each requested response is separated into its own section (COTS_WSD para. 3-13) (COTS_JFT para. 14-24) (OTA_WSD para. 25-35) (OTA-JFT para. 36-46).

Respondents are advised to use the information from each section independently and do not mix one for the other. Failure to do this may result in the company’s solution being eliminated from competition.

Responding companies are invited to respond to one, some, or all the calls for solutions detailed below. When responding, you must label each response as detailed within each section.

3. COTS WSD: REQUIRED AND DESIRED SOLUTION ATTRIBUTES.

This section’s paragraphs 3-13 are ONLY for responses for the COTS Weapons Skills Device (WSD). Respondents must label each submitted document using below example:

This marketplace entry competition will use a tiered system of evaluation criteria. Companies wishing to be accepted into the marketplace must meet all the criteria with COTS items available for purchase now. To be considered for entry into the WSD COTS Marketplace, the COTS items must meet the following tier 1 capabilities in Table 1 below.

Tier 1 capabilities are the essential, non‑negotiable requirements the system must meet to function, be deployable, and satisfy Army Minimum Viable Product (MVP) expectations. These items form the core operational baseline—without them, the system cannot deliver safe, reliable, or certifiable training. Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 – System and/or subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment. A company must ensure that the representative model or prototype system being offered, are beyond TRL 5 and were tested in a relevant environment. The proposed solution shall represent a major step up in technology’s demonstrated readiness. Examples include testing a prototype in a high-fidelity laboratory environment or in a simulated operational environment. Features of the proposed solution shall include fundamental elements such as power, transportability, system availability, cybersecurity, required weapon support, mandatory training tasks, and all certification‑driven requirements. Tier 1 defines the minimum viable system that must be delivered before any enhancements or optional features are considered.

Tier 1:

Req ID Tier 1

Table 1

Any company whose product fails to meet any one of these Tier 1 requirements may wish to submit a proposal for a WSD OTA which starts at paragraph 25 of this CFS.

4. AWARDING INSTRUMENT

This portion of the Call will be awarded in accordance with the Army Open Solicitation procedures detailed within Solicitation W9128Z-25-S-A002, found here: https://sam.gov/opp/01f3b8b073424112b70fb55a461f758f/view. This Call provides instructions to companies and how the Government will evaluate submissions. The Government anticipates a number of companies entry into the WSD Marketplace to allow Government units and organizations to award FAR based Purchase Orders under this part of the Call for Solutions.

5. CALL INSTRUCTIONS AND NOTES

5.1 Overview of Submission

5.1.1 The response process for this portion will consist of a single phase.

5.1.2 Company’s will submit all documents detailed in section 6.

5.1.3 Evaluation criteria are outlined in Section 7.

5.2 General Notes

5.2.1 Companies are reminded that all awards are subject to the availability of funds and the Government reserves the right to make multiple awards, a single award, or no award as a result of this Call.

5.2.2 Only a Contracting or Agreements Officer has the authority to enter into, modify, or execute a binding instrument on behalf of the United States Government. All payment obligations are subject to Congressional appropriations.

5.2.3 In order to be eligible for award, companies must:

5.2.3.1 Possess a Unique Entity ID (UEI) and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award and maintain active registration throughout the period of performance.

5.2.3.2 Register in the prescribed government invoicing system (e.g., Wide Area Work Flow).

5.2.3.3 Accurately represent their small business size and status as required.

5.2.3.4 Be determined responsible by the Contracting or Agreements Officer and not be suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from receiving an award.

5.2.3.5 Disclose any actual or potential Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCIs) to the Contracting or Agreements Officer prior to award.

5.2.4 Companies are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any amendments or updates to this Call.

5.2.5 Notice to Company(s): The Government will not reimburse a company for the proposal preparation costs. The Government reserves the right to cancel this open Call, either before or after the closing date. If the Government cancels this open Call, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an company for any costs.

6. SOLUTION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Any company seeking to respond to this WSD COTS item section shall provide the following:

6.1 WSD COTS Executive Summary – this document will explain what a company is offering and how it meets the requirement for a COTS item. COTS item and Commercial Product are defined at FAR 2.0. The Executive Summary shall be limited to five pages and provided in (.pdf or .docx) format.

6.2 WSD COTS catalog – this document shall include all items listed for sale (e.g., items, spares, replacement parts, licenses) with prices and any volume discount available. This catalog will be the only item that the Government will use to purchase company’s COTS solutions. There is no limitation on page numbers. This document shall be submitted in (.pdf) format.

6.3 WSD COTS Evaluation Scorecard – Company shall submit a completed document in the (.xlsx) format.

6.4 Att_01_WSD COTS Company information and Assertions sheet – company shall submit this document in the (.pdf or .docx) format. There is no limitation on page numbers.

7. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The evaluation of this section of the Call for Solutions for entry into the WSD Marketplace will begin with submission of a complete packet as noted in paragraph 6 above. Failure to provide any item listed will result in an evaluation failure and the company’s solution will not be accepted into the marketplace.

7.1. The Government will evaluate company’s submission for completeness as described in CFS Section 6 above. As part of this evaluation, the contracting office will make a determination concerning company’s responsibility.

7.2 The Government will evaluate company’s submission against evaluation criteria. As part of the evaluation, the Government will review the evaluation scorecard and verify the company’s finding entries are valid.

7.3 Provided all documents requested are present, complete and the contracting office determines company to be responsible, the Government will provide company with a letter of acceptance into the WSD Marketplace. The provided letter will be valid for no more than five years, unless extended by the Government.

8. ITERATIVE PROTOTYPING. Iterative prototyping for this marketplace establishment and purchases made from it are not expected to engage in any government directed iterative prototyping.

9. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PROTOTYPE. This marketplace establishment will not conduct any prototyping, and this paragraph is not applicable to this section.

10. FOLLOW-ON PRODUCTION. Not applicable. The purchases made under this marketplace shall be full production COTS items.

11. NON-GOVERNMENT ADVISORS

In accordance with AOS, Section I, the Government will use non-Government advisors. Non-Government advisors will have signed non-disclosure agreements with the Government. The Government will use the following contractors with the contact information provided:

Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractor Solange Dominguez Human Resources Business Partner Phone: 407-745-3029 SDominguez@ostglobal.com Optimal Solutions and Technologies (OST) 12249 Science Dr Orlando, FL 32826

As a reminder, by submitting information to the Government, a company further understands that it had an opportunity to enter into an non-disclosure agreement (NDA) directly with the Non-Government Advisor listed above and therefore waives any and all claims against the Government for any disclosures of proprietary information by the non-Government personnel. Such NDAs are the responsibility of a company, and the Government shall not be a party to them. Companies shall provide a copy of the signed NDAs to the Government with submissions.

12. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (OCI)

The company shall perform an OCI analysis and submit the results of that analysis in addition to the Solution Brief submission. Specifically, the company shall analyze the details of the Call and the implementation of their proposed Solution for actual or potential OCI situations associated with the performance of the company, or any of the company’s proposed teammates or subcontractors, under any contract or agreement the company or the company’s teammates or subcontractors have been or may be awarded by any federal agency or other entity. The company shall describe in detail the methodology used to identify actual or potential OCI issues. The level of detail for OCI analysis may not be the same for all companies. A company may use FAR 9.5 as guidance for OCI analysis. If no conflicts are identified, a risk mitigation plan is not required; however, a description of the analysis methodology, and an affirming statement that no conflicts are identified shall be included. This section will not count against submission page limits.

If the company identifies any actual or potential OCIs with respect to the performance of the company or the company’s subcontractors or teammates, the company shall provide an OCI Mitigation Plan to be incorporated as an attachment to any resulting contract or agreement. Any proposed avoidance or mitigation techniques shall be consistent with FAR 9.5 and the most recent decisions of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

13. APPENDICES

ST3 SVT COTS Tier levels_01_MAY_26

14. COTS_JFT: REQUIRED AND DESIRED SOLUTION ATTRIBUTES.

This section’s paragraphs 14-24 are ONLY for responses for the Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) Joint Fires Trainer (JFT). Respondents will label each document submitted using this example:

Tier 1 capabilities are the essential, non‑negotiable requirements the system must meet to function, be deployable, and satisfy Army MVP expectations. These items form the core operational baseline—without them, the system cannot deliver safe, reliable, or certifiable training. TRL 6 – System or subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment. A company must ensure that the representative model or prototype system being offered is beyond that of TRL 5 and was tested in a relevant environment. The proposed solution shall represent a major step up in a technology’s demonstrated readiness. Examples include testing a prototype in a high-fidelity laboratory environment or in a simulated operational environment.

Features of the proposed solution shall include fundamental elements such as power, transportability, system availability, cybersecurity, required weapon support, mandatory training tasks, and all certification‑driven requirements. Tier 1 defines the minimum viable system that must be delivered before any enhancements or optional features are considered.

Req ID Tier 1

Emulate IR Pointer (i.e. IZLID)

ITD

Table 2 Any company whose product fails to meet any one of these Tier 1 requirements may wish to submit a proposal for a WSD OTA which starts at paragraph 36 of this CFS.

15. AWARDING INSTRUMENT

This portion of the Call will be awarded in accordance with the Army Open Solicitation procedures detailed within Solicitation W9128Z-25-S-A002, found here: https://sam.gov/opp/01f3b8b073424112b70fb55a461f758f/view This Call provides instructions to companies and how the Government will evaluate submissions. The Government anticipates a number of companies entry into the JFT Marketplace to allow units and organizations to award FAR based Purchase Orders under this part of the Call for Solutions.

16. CALL INSTRUCTIONS AND NOTES

16.1 Overview of Submission

16.1.1 The response process for this portion will consist of a single phase.

16.1.2 Company will submit all documents detailed in section 17.

16.1.3 Evaluation criteria are outlined in Section 18.

16.2 General Notes

16.2.1 Companies are reminded that all awards are subject to the availability of funds and the Government reserves the right to make multiple awards, a single award, or no award as a result of this Call.

16.2.2 Only a Contracting or Agreements Officer has the authority to enter into, modify, or execute a binding instrument on behalf of the United States Government. All payment obligations are subject to Congressional appropriations.

16.2.3 In order to be eligible for award, companies must:

16.2.3.1 Possess a Unique Entity ID (UEI) and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award and maintain active registration throughout the period of performance.

16.2.3.2 Register in the prescribed government invoicing system (e.g., Wide Area Work Flow).

16.2.3.3 Accurately represent their small business size and status as required.

16.2.3.4 Be determined responsible by the Contracting or Agreements Officer and not be suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from receiving an award.

16.2.3.5 Disclose any actual or potential Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCIs) to the Contracting or Agreements Officer prior to award.

16.2.4 Companies are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any amendments or updates to this Call.

16.2.5 Notice to Company(s): The Government will not reimburse a company for the proposal preparation costs. The Government reserves the right to cancel this open Call, either before or after the closing date. If the Government cancels this open Call, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an company for any costs.

17. SOLUTION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Any company seeking to respond to this JFT COTS item section shall provide the following:

17.1 JFT COTS Executive Summary – this document will explain what a company is offering and how a proposed solution meets the requirement for a Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) item. COTS items and Commercial Product are defined at FAR 2.0. The Executive Summary shall be limited to five pages and provided in a (.pdf) format.

17.2 JFT COTS catalog – this document shall contain all items listed for sale (e.g., Items, spares, replacement parts, Licenses) with prices and any volume discount available. This catalog will be the only item that the Government will use to purchase company’s COTS solutions. There is no limitation on page. This document shall be submitted in (.pdf) format.

17.3 JFT COTS Evaluation Scorecard – companies shall submit a completed document in the (.xlsx) format.

17.4 Att_01_JFT COTS Company information and Assertions sheet. – companies shall submit a completed document in (.pdf or .docx) format. There is no limitation on page numbers.

18. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The evaluation of this section of the Call for Solutions for entry into the JFT Marketplace will begin with submission of a complete packet as noted in paragraph 17 above. Failure to provide any item listed will result in an evaluation failure and the company will not be accepted into the marketplace.

18.1 The Government will first evaluate company’s submission for completeness as described in CFS Section 17 above. As part of this evaluation, the contracting office will make a determination concerning company’s responsibility.

18.2 The Government will evaluate company’s submission against evaluation criteria. As part of the evaluation, the Government will review the evaluation scorecard and verify the company’s finding entries are valid.

18.3 Provided all documents requested are present, complete and the contracting office determines a company to be responsible, the Government will provide company with a letter of acceptance into the JFT Marketplace. The provided letter will be valid for no more than five years, unless extended by the Government.

19. ITERATIVE PROTOTYPING. Iterative prototyping for this marketplace establishment and purchases made from it are not expected to engage in any government directed iterative prototyping.

20. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PROTOTYPE. This marketplace establishment will not conduct any prototyping, and this paragraph is not applicable to this section.

21. FOLLOW-ON PRODUCTION. Not applicable. The purchases made under this marketplace shall be full production COTS items.

22. NON-GOVERNMENT ADVISORS

In accordance with AOS, Section I the Government will use non-Government advisors. Non-Government advisors will have signed non-disclosure agreements with the Government. The Government will use the following contractors with the contact information provided:

Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractor Solange Dominguez Human Resources Business Partner Phone: 407-745-3029 SDominguez@ostglobal.com Optimal Solutions and Technologies (OST) 12249 Science Dr Orlando, FL 32826

As a reminder, by submitting information to the Government, the company further understands that it had an opportunity to enter into an NDA directly with the Non-Government Advisor and therefore waives any and all claims against the Government for any disclosures of proprietary information by the non-Government personnel. Such NDAs are the responsibility of the company, and the Government shall not be a party to them. Companies shall provide a copy of the signed NDAs to the Government with submissions.

23. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (OCI)

The company shall perform an OCI analysis and submit the results of that analysis in addition to the Solution Brief submission. Specifically, the company shall analyze the details of the Call and the implementation of their proposed Solution for actual or potential OCI situations associated with the performance of the company, or any of the company’s proposed teammates or subcontractors, under any contract or agreement the company or the company’s teammates or subcontractors have been or may be awarded by any federal agency or other entity. The company shall describe in detail the methodology used to identify actual or potential OCI issues. The level of detail for OCI analysis may not be the same for all vendors. A company may use FAR 9.5 as guidance for OCI analysis. If no conflicts are identified, a risk mitigation plan is not required; however, a description of the analysis methodology, and an affirming statement that no conflicts are identified shall be included. This section will not count against submission page limits.

If the company identifies any actual or potential OCIs with respect to the performance of the company or the company’s subcontractors or teammates, the contractor shall provide an OCI Mitigation Plan to be incorporated as an attachment to any resulting contract or agreement. Any proposed avoidance or mitigation techniques shall be consistent with FAR 9.5 and the most recent decisions of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

24. APPENDICES

ST3 SVT COTS Tier levels_01_MAY_26

25. OTA-WSD: REQUIRED AND DESIRED SOLUTION ATTRIBUTES.

The establishment of an OTA will be evaluated and awarded based on the company’s proposal which shows a complete plan describing the development to be undertaken, the timeline the company proposes to follow and the price offered. The proposal must describe how the company intends to meet all Tier 1 through Tier 4 requirements for the WSD. Those Tier levels are described in the attachment ST3 SVT COTS Tier levels_01_MAY_26 under tabs Tier 1 -WSD – Tier 4 – WSD.

26. AWARDING INSTRUMENT

The Call will be awarded in accordance with the Army Open Solicitation procedures detailed within Solicitation W9128Z-25-S-A002, found here: https://sam.gov/opp/01f3b8b073424112b70fb55a461f758f/view This Call provides instructions to companies and how the Government will evaluate submissions.

This section intends to award an Other Transaction (OTA) under the authority at 10 U.S.C. §4022 - Authority of the Department of Defense to Carry Out Certain Prototype Projects. The Government will not reimburse Companies for Solution Paper (SP) preparation costs. The Government may cancel the CFS at any time. If the CFS is canceled after the submission of Solution Papers, evaluations will not occur and they will not be placed in the Basket for up to 24 months for future consideration.

The Government reserves the right to make single or multiple awards to a company. Additionally, the Government reserves the right to award to a company whose solution does not meet all of the requirements but provides attributes or partial solutions of value; however, the proposed solution must still be assigned an “Acceptable” rating as part of the evaluation. The Government may consider prototype project submissions that received an overall “Acceptable” rating for each prototype requirement for up to 24 months after submission (Basket). Submission of a Solution Paper does not guarantee award of a prototype project.

The Government reserves the right to contact none, one, some, or all Proposers prior to award. Furthermore, the Government may elect to use a two-step award process that includes a Call for Solutions, followed by a second step that requests additional technical detail, Statement of Work revisions, and/or demonstration. The Government reserves the right to use this two-step process if it is determined to be in its best interest.

27. CALL INSTRUCTIONS AND NOTES

Companies will submit all documents detailed in section 28. Evaluation criteria are outlined in Section 29.

27.1 Overview of Submission

Solution Papers that deviate substantially from these guidelines or that omit substantial parts or sections may be found unresponsive and eliminated from further consideration for award. Communication with the Government Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) is prohibited after the CFS release date. The status of the submission will not be discussed until the evaluation process is complete. Upon completion of the evaluation process, companies will receive feedback on their submission as discussed in Section 29 of the CFS.

27.2 General Notes

27.2.1 Companies are reminded that all awards are subject to the availability of funds and the Government reserves the right to make multiple awards, a single award, or no award as a result of this Call.

27.2.2 Only a Contracting or Agreements Officer has the authority to enter into, modify, or execute a binding instrument on behalf of the United States Government. All payment obligations are subject to Congressional appropriations.

27.2.3 In order to be eligible for award, companies must:

27.2.3.1 Possess a Unique Entity ID (UEI) and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award and maintain active registration throughout the period of performance.

27.2.3.2 Register in the prescribed government invoicing system (e.g., Wide Area Work Flow).

27.2.3.3 Accurately represent their small business size and status as required.

27.2.3.4 Be determined responsible by the Contracting or Agreements Officer and not be suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from receiving an award.

27.2.3.5 Disclose any actual or potential Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCIs) to the Contracting/Agreements Officer prior to award.

27.2.4 Companies are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any amendments or updates to this Call.

27.2.5 Notice to Company(s): The Government reserves the right to cancel this open Call, either before or after the closing date. If the Government cancels this open Call, the Government has no obligation to reimburse a company for any costs.

28. SOLUTION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): The Government will protect submitted Solution Papers from unauthorized disclosure to the maximum extent permitted or required under 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) (Freedom of Information Act). Companies shall mark any documentation a company deems to be sensitive with a legend identifying the document(s) as being submitted on a confidential basis.

28.1 Solution Paper Format

Solution Papers shall be submitted in English. The narrative material in the Solution Paper shall be prepared in 12-point Times New Roman font, single-spaced, 8.5 by 11 inches, (21.6 x 27.9 cm) with no less than a one-inch margin on all sides. If photo reduction is used for tables, charts, and drawings, their presentation must be clear and legible. Hyperlinks are prohibited.

Solution Papers shall be considered valid for 24 months after submission unless explicitly stated otherwise by the company. Companies shall submit their Solution Papers in separate files as indicated in the below chart.

Solution Paper (page limit exclusions 28.4)

Telecommunications And Video Surveillance Services or Equipment Certification

Note: Companies shall not include classified material in the files.

28.2 SOLUTION PAPER SUBMISSION CONTENT

28.3 Warranties and Representations

Companies shall complete the Warranties and Representations form as instructed in Attachment 2. The Government will assess the company’s eligibility for award based upon the response provided.

NAICS code 541715 will be used to determine business size.

28.4 Solution Paper

28.5 Statement of Work

Companies shall complete the Statement of Work (SOW) template as instructed in Attachment 4. The Government reserves the right to collaborate with the company on the revisions to the SOW as necessary. The SOW may be evaluated as part of the selection process.

28.6 Prohibition On Contracting For Certain Telecommunications And Video Surveillance Services or Equipment

Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115–232) prohibits executive agencies from entering into, extending, or renewing a contract with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. As such, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation is applicable to this solicitation. Companies shall complete Attachment 5 in accordance with the instructions to address Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services and Equipment. Companies are further advised that any Project Agreement resulting from this solicitation will include, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

28.7 Cost and Pricing Breakdown

Companies shall provide an Excel spreadsheet showing the Cost and Pricing Breakdown for their proposed solution. The spreadsheet shall be editable (not password protected) and include formulas for demonstrating calculations (not hard coded).

Companies shall submit a fixed price for its proposed response, further divided into severable milestones for all phases. The Government is not dictating a specific pricing structure. However, proposed payments should be linked to clearly definable, detailed milestones in each phase. It should be clear, with sufficient detail, what is being delivered at each milestone. The company’s pricing milestones may vary from the defined decision points, depending on the proposed solution. Separate milestone schedules should be established and priced, for each of the proposed prototype scenarios, in a manner that enables milestone efforts to be worked concurrently. Each milestone price should reflect the anticipated value the Government will receive towards the expected outcomes of the OTA goals and objectives at the time the milestone is completed.

Companies shall provide a price for their proposed approach to include any licensing and any recurring and non-recurring costs (e.g. installation/set-up, initial training, sustainment costs, upgrade costs and other associated/ add-on services) for a Production/Maintenance environment.

A table is provided in Attachment 6 as an example template the company may utilize to enter Pricing Volume data for each milestone activity proposed in each phase along with the PoP (in months) as defined in the technology maturity approach and depicted in the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS). The company shall ensure that all phases are included, as the Government will not consider any unpriced phases. The tabular overarching price data within this document expedites evaluation activities.

29. EVALUATION & SELECTION PROCESS

29.1 Solution Paper Evaluation

The Government will evaluate the Solution Paper to assess each company’s understanding of the work and its ability to accomplish the stated development and successfully deliver a prototype(s). The Government may use Contractor Support Personnel (CSP). The CSP will be required to submit to the Government a Non-Disclosure Agreement reflecting the effort(s) that they will be supporting.

29.2 The Solution Paper will be evaluated against the following criteria.

29.2.1. Technical Approach. Is the proposed technical approach achievable and complete?

Task descriptions and associated technical elements provided are complete and in a logical sequence with all proposed deliverables clearly defined such that a final outcome that achieves the goal can be expected as a result of award. The proposed solution identifies major technical risks and defines planned mitigation efforts. As part of the evaluation, the Government will consider what risk does the solution propose for Technical Approach?

29.2.2. Teaming Strategy and/or Experience. Is the company and/or team experience designing, developing, prototyping, and producing associated capabilities as they relate to their technical response acceptable?

Projects worked within the last 3 years from the release date of the CFS are considered recent. As part of the evaluation, the Government will consider the risk that the company teaming strategy and experience poses for the proposed solution.

29.2.3 Schedule. Does the proposed solution provide a schedule and/or timeframe that is realistic and achievable?

The proposed schedule aggressively pursues performance metrics in an efficient time frame that accurately accounts for the anticipated workload. The proposed schedule reflects external dependencies (such as results of other company’s ongoing work or contingent funding, requirements of the Government for facilities access, and/or Government Furnished Property or Information). As part of the evaluation, the Government will consider the risk associated with the proposed schedule. Additionally, consider whether the proposed schedule and/or timeframe align with the technical approach.

29.2.4 Price. Did the company present a realistic and feasible price for the proposed solution?

As part of the evaluation, the Government will consider what risk does the solution propose for Solution Price? Additionally, is the proposed price aligned with the technical approach, schedule, and teaming strategy and/or experience?

29.2.5 Data Rights. Did the company assert data rights that are acceptable to the Government, or are able to be negotiated to be acceptable to the Government?

As part of the evaluation, the Government will consider how the proposed data rights affect vendor lock? Additionally, determine the risk do the proposed data rights pose for the solution.

29.2.6 Aggregate Risk. What is the aggregate risk pertaining to the submission?

Evaluate the overall risk associated with the proposed solution and rate as high, moderate, or low.

29.3 Overall Rating

29.4 Overall Risk Assessment

The Government will assign an overall risk rating to the solution, after carefully considering the entire SP. The risk ratings and descriptions are provided in the Risk Assessment Rating Table below. As part of the evaluation, the Government will consider the following question: (1) What is the aggregate risk to the proposed solution, and why?

Risk Assessment Rating Table

29.5 SP Feedback

The Government anticipates completing evaluations without further communication with the company(s) though, additional communication may occur, at the Government’s discretion through the Agreements Officer. Upon completion of the evaluation process, the Government will release feedback to the company(s). The information provided in the feedback is based on the results of the evaluation described above. Nothing presented in the feedback should be considered in any way as a recommendation for participation or non-participation in future solicitations. Likewise, there is no relationship intended between the information provided in the feedback and any likelihood of selection or non-selection of any specific submission in any future solicitations. Collaboration with the Government can continue once feedback has been released, but no additional information will be made available for release, including any verbal discussions on the feedback provided for the submission.

29.6 Selection Process

It is the Government’s intention to select, negotiate, and award one or several prototype projects from the submitted SPs, based on the best solution presented that meets the government's needs. If during this process, the Government is unable to reach an agreement with the selected company(s) during collaboration, the Government reserves the rights to end collaborations with the selected company(s), which will eliminate the possibility of the company(s) receiving award of this prototype project at the time. The Government further reserves the right to engage in collaborations with the remaining company(s) who have received Acceptable ratings and were not eliminated from competition at this point. The Government will document all source selection decisions in accordance with established procedures and the evaluation criteria outlined above. Please note that an SP being selected for further collaborations does not guarantee an award.

29.6.1 The Government will review each company submittal against the criteria as described in above.

29.6.2 Assessment of risk is subjective. If the risk is obvious or the schedule seems overly aggressive, the Government will consider that in the total risk assessment. Companies are responsible for identifying risks within their submissions, as well as providing specific mitigation solutions. If sufficient validation of the proposed information is not provided, the Government may reject the submission.

29.6.3 Unsupported assertions will be discounted by the evaluators. Technology and Manufacturing Readiness Levels will be considered when weighing the benefit of the Solution Paper.

29.6.4 The Government reserves the right to award to a Solution Paper that does not meet all of the requirements but provides attributes or partial solutions of value to the Government.

29.6.5 In making the final decision it may become necessary to compare the Solution Papers of each company against the other, but the Government anticipates that its decision is more likely to be made based on each company’s submittal as evaluated against the criteria described above and a determination of which solution(s) is/are determined to be the most advantageous to the Government.

30. ITERATIVE PROTOTYPING. In accordance with AOS, Section F, iterative prototyping will be conducted in multiple phases, with each phase building upon the outcomes of the previous one. At the end of each phase, the Government and stakeholders will review deliverables and provide feedback, which will be incorporated into subsequent iterations. The scope of the prototype may be modified by mutual agreement to adapt the technology for additional unique and discrete purposes or mission sets, which may be identified by the Government during the prototyping process. Progress will be evaluated against predefined milestones and deliverables, and adjustments will be made as necessary to ensure continued alignment with project objectives and requirements. The iterative prototyping process may result in separate phased prototype awards or modifications to the original award, as appropriate, and will continue until all milestones to completion have been achieved to the satisfaction of the Government.

31. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PROTOTYPE

In accordance with AOS, Section G, successful completion of the prototype will be determined by the Government, through written determination by the appropriate approving official, based on the achievement of all agreed-upon deliverables, performance metrics, and acceptance criteria as outlined in the prototype agreement. The Government will conduct a final evaluation to confirm that all requirements have been met prior to considering any follow-on production activities. The Government may also, prior to full completion, transition any complete and substantive aspect of the prototype determined to provide utility into production, as appropriate.

32. FOLLOW-ON PRODUCTION

In accordance with AOS, Section H – Follow-On Production of a Prototype, and pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Section 4022(f), companies are advised that any prototype awarded in response to this Call may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or agreement without the use of further competitive procedures, contingent upon successful completion of the prototype and determination by the Government. The follow-on production contract or agreement may be available for use by one or more organization(s) within the Department of Defense (DoD), and the scope and magnitude of the follow-on award could be significantly larger than that of the prototype effort.

33. NON-GOVERNMENT ADVISORS

In accordance with AOS, Section I the Government will use non-Government advisors. Non-Government advisors will have signed non-disclosure agreements with the Government. The Government will use the following contractors with the contact information provided:

Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractor Solange Dominguez Human Resources Business Partner Phone: 407-745-3029 SDominguez@ostglobal.com Optimal Solutions and Technologies (OST) 12249 Science Dr Orlando, FL 32826

As a reminder, by submitting information to the Government, an company further understands that it had an opportunity to enter into an NDA directly with the Non-Government Advisor and therefore waives any and all claims against the Government for any disclosures of proprietary information by the non-Government personnel. Such NDAs are the responsibility of the company, and the Government shall not be a party to them. Companies shall provide a copy of the signed NDAs to the Government with submissions.

34. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (OCI)

The company shall perform an OCI analysis and submit the results of that analysis in addition to the Solution Brief submission. Specifically, the Company shall analyze the details of the Call and the implementation of their proposed Solution for actual or potential OCI situations associated with the performance of the Company, or any of the Company’s proposed teammates or subcontractors, under any contract or agreement the Company or the Company’s teammates or subcontractors have been or may be awarded by any federal agency or other entity. The Company shall describe in detail the methodology used to identify actual or potential OCI issues. The level of detail for OCI analysis may not be the same for all vendors. If no conflicts are identified, a risk mitigation plan is not required; however, a description of the analysis methodology, and an affirming statement that no conflicts are identified shall be included. This section will not count against submission page limits.

If the company identifies any actual…