DRAFT_OTA Solicitation (28 Oct 22).docx

Solicitation Propulsion Directorate Consortium Initiative

Summary

The United States Air Force provides this solicitation is to find a consortium manager for the Propulsion Directorate Consortium Initiative. The potential consortium manager must be able to effectively establish and manage a consortium whose members will execute prototyping projects that address military propulsion needs. The Propulsion Directorate, partnering with the United States Army (Army), is exploring options for a competitive award of a decentralized Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to an eligible new or existing consortium of large and small organizations representing traditional and non-traditional Defense contractors (defined at 10 USC 3014), as well as academic institutions. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Propulsion Directorate (AFLCMC/LP) is releasing this solicitation to inform interested parties of, and seek comments, questions, and proposals concerning, a forthcoming umbrella OT, award as well as to describe the U.S. Government's (USG) interest in establishing future OTA for prototyping projects, per 10 USC 4022. The mission of the consortium must include performing research, development, and test and evaluation within prototyping projects that address requirements presented by the Propulsion Directorate.

AFLCMC /LP mission areas to include but not limited to: digital engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), engine health monitoring, manufacturing base, small engines, aircraft platforms, systems, components, or materials and any integration therein. Additionally, prototyping projects could include platform electrical power systems (EPS) and thermal management systems. The scope of this effort will include Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), platform specific and common architecture studies, along with component/systems qualification and integration efforts for smart power management, higher density/higher capacity common generators, common aircraft lithium-ion batteries, flightworthy auxiliary or supplement power units, and upgraded conversion electronics.

This solicitation represents the requirements for an open and competitive process. Proposals will be accepted until Date. Any proposals received after this date and time will be considered non-responsive and not evaluated. As a practical matter, bidding consortia must be represented by consortium managers with means and authority to speak for the members, organize their activities, and make legally binding agreements on their behalf.

This OTA is bound by the following requirements, which are enumerated in 10 USC 4022:

$95M accumulative funding ceiling may be apportioned across a five (5) year period of performance.

At least one third of the total cost of each prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by sources other than the USG unless one of the following applies:

there is at least one nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participating to a significant extent in the prototype project.

all significant participants in the transaction other than the Federal Government are small businesses (including small businesses participating in a program described under section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638)) or nontraditional defense contractors.

the senior procurement executive for the agency determines in writing that exceptional circumstances justify the use of a transaction that provides for innovative business arrangements or structures that would not be feasible or appropriate under a contract or would provide an opportunity to expand the defense supply base in a manner that would not be practical or feasible under a contract.

After establishing an "umbrella" OTA with a consortium and as mission requirements dictate, the USG anticipates issuing solicitations and awarding funds to consortium members across an indefinite number of prototyping projects. It is likely that the consortium manager would receive a percentage of these award amounts as a service fee.

This solicitation can be found on the System for Award Management (SAM) website (https://www.sam.gov). It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

Background The United States Air Force has identified the need for a propulsion consortium to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the military aviation acquisition process. This consortium would perform critical research, development, test and evaluation within prototyping projects addressing propulsion needs and the future of the propulsion enterprise.

Scope:

The scope of propulsion prototyping projects might include any topic generally consistent with the RDT&E of propulsion systems. This umbrella agreement will become decentralized upon approval from the Agreement’s Officer (AO) for ordering from the Army.

Some of the objectives include:

Procurement Objectives:

Expose USAF requirements to, and lower barriers to entry for, the broad community of traditional and non-traditional technology providers.

Accelerate solicitation to award timeline. Upon notification of individual prototype requirements, agreement must be awarded within 45 calendar days.

Employ objective, test-based Validation and Verification as basis of Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), trades analysis, source selection, and performance monitoring.

Develop Intellectual Property Regimes (IPR) and Data Rights that incentivize mutually beneficial USG-industry partnership.

Transition successfully tested prototype applications as vendor-supported off-the-shelf products.

Management & Engineering Objectives:

Manage administrative and financial responsibilities of the consortium.

Provide continuous feedback to operational customers.

Conduct AoA, Demonstration, Development, Test & Evaluation (T&E), Validation & Verification (V&V), and certification as parallel activities.

Minimize risk of technology obsolescence by executing rapid, iterative, evolutionary, demonstration-to-delivery cycles.

Continuously evolve an appropriately “open” technical architecture that optimizes USG investment by both leveraging best available existing commercial technology and developing new technology in partnership with industry.

Planned Production:

Not specified at this time. The USG may choose to award follow-on production contracts/transactions to competitively awarded prototype projects that are successfully completed under this consortium agreement, as permitted on a per-project basis by 10 USC 4022(f).

Period of Performance:

The ordering period of performance of this agreement includes one base year and two option periods. The total period of performance, if all options are exercised by the USG, is five years. The USG will provide the Consortium Administration Organization (CAO) with a notice of intent to exercise the option 30 days prior to the end of the period of performance. The preliminary notice does not commit the USG to exercise the option.

Limitations:

Consortium managers will not bid on prototyping projects.

Security Requirements:

Some projects will be restricted to US sources only. Some requirements may have Secret level classification; consortium managers must have the ability to handle sensitive materials appropriately by USG receipt of proposal. The attached DD Form 254 is required for Consortium Managers at time of award.

Responses

Interested parties are requested to respond to this solicitation with a proposal.

Proposals in Microsoft Word for Office compatible format are due no later than Date. Responses shall be limited to twenty (20) pages and submitted via e-mail to Ms. Jennifer Baxter, Agreements Officer, jennifer.baxter.2@us.af.mil and to Mr. Michael Hay, Contract Specialist, michael.hay.5@us.af.mil. Cover letters, cover pages, and consortium charters are not included in the twenty (20) page limit. All submissions must be in 11 pt Calibri font with 1” margins.

3.3 For standardization purposes each Proposal shall be broken into two (2) sections and provide the following:

Section 1 Section 1 of the proposal shall provide administrative information, and shall include the following as a minimum:

A cover page labeled with the heading, "Propulsion Consortium" name of company, name of corporate point of contact (POC), name of technical POC, telephone number for each POC, mailing address, e-mail addresses for each POC, CAGE Code, and any other pertinent information.

Recommended contracting strategy for umbrella consortium agreement.

Assert to business type (non-profit, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business, woman-owned small business, very small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business) will be based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. "Small business concern" means a concern, including its affiliates that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on USG contracts, and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR part 121. A small business concern for the purposes of this procurement is generally defined as a business, including its affiliates, averaging no more than $21.5M in annual receipts (see CFR § 121.104).

It is anticipated that the consortium members' business type will be based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 336412, Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing. Due to the uniqueness of each individual prototype, each prototype project will identify the applicable NAICS code when solicited. A small business concern for the purposes of this procurement is generally defined as a business, including its affiliates, employing no more than 1,500 people. Additional standards and conditions apply. Membership to the consortium is not limited by business type.

The facility security clearance of the offeror, to include capability to handle classified material. Meet attached DD form 254 requirements at time of consortium award.

Section 2 Section 2 of the proposal shall address the following listed below:

Narrative describing how the objectives in 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 above would be addressed and performance against objectives would be measured.

Consortium charter that describes the following:

Consortium by-laws/membership agreement Consortium membership joining process Proposed consortium membership fees and requirements Proposed consortium manager fees Corporate competencies and past performance with respect to USG objectives and selection criteria. Explain experience regarding consortium management in context with USG and/or commercial applications.

Describe experience gained by working on projects across the services and the other defense agencies, as well as affiliations, associations, and specific involvement in and with the federal and non-federal research and development, testing and engineering community, sufficient to demonstrate a well-established presence in that community.

Describe any experience gained by working on projects outside the Federal Government, and how that experience may help achieve USG objectives.

Selection Criteria (In order of importance) Overall proposal suitability: proposed solution(s) must meet the scope and needs included herein and be presented in a clear and organized manner Facilitating contractor performance of tasks under assigned prototype projects Performing fiduciary tasks associated with transferring funds from USG to members Performing targeted recruiting of new members Facilitating teaming among members Providing services associated with domain technological expertise such as the following Capturing and documenting standards and best practices Performing training Facilitating technical exchange Support and management of a Consortium website.

Provide customer with prototyping resources and important OT information.

Provide secure data portal capable of transferring and storing Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and proprietary documentation.

Provide membership information (i.e. member listing and contact information).

Assisting USG and members to leverage acquisition flexibility allowed under 10 USC 4022.

Technical Acceptability: proposal should display competence in management, business, or any other qualifications that demonstrate the offerors ability to meet requirements Past Performance Fee Structure of consortium manager Suggesting innovative consortium manager fee structures designed to incentivize achievement of USG objectives, eg:

Fixed transaction fee (same fee regardless of price of project).

Tiered transaction fees (fees vary for projects that fall within different price ranges) based on project price, and/or services rendered, adjusted to exclude hardware, material, and travel costs (Note: The exclusion of hardware, materials, and travel from the fee calculation is intended to capture labor costs as the main indicator of risk in a given project, which may lead to more challenging management during performance of a given project. Projects that consist in large part of material, hardware, and/or travel are perceived to be less risky and require less potential for substantial involvement on the part of the Consortium Manager).

Tiered transaction fees based on total project price.

Percentage of price up to a maximum dollar amount based on project price adjusted to exclude hardware, materials, and travel costs.

Percentage of project price up to a maximum dollar amount.

Bidding consortia should exhibit the following characteristics Low barrier to entry, including low membership fees and concise membership agreement that is intuitive to non-Defense industry Rapid membership vetting and processing Members provide broad coverage:

Of technical topics of interest to USG propulsion community Of prototype engineering, analysis, management and related services Across traditional, non-traditional, large, and small firms Strength of Charter Business Classification Bidding consortia may be either for-profit or not-for-profit organization. If consortium manager is not-for profit, they must be formally incorporated, or soon to be incorporated, under 26 USC 501(c)(3), or offer explanation how an alternative structure provides similar benefits. Please identify how your structure will benefit the propulsion consortium.

3.4 Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. The proposal needs to answer the propulsion consortium manager requirement addressed in this Solicitation. To aid the USG, segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become USG property and will not be returned.

Program Timeline Note: All dates are approximated and are subject to change:

- 3 November 2022: Draft Solicitation Release

- 2 December 2022: All Draft Solicitation comments received

- Date: Solicitation Release

- Date: All proposals are due

- Date: Evaluation of proposals/negotiations (If additional information or discussions are needed with any bidders during this window, the bidder(s) will be notified)

- Date: Agreement award

- Date: Requirement Review Questions

Questions regarding this announcement may be submitted in writing by e-mail to the Agreements Officer, Ms. Jennifer Baxter, jennifer.baxter.2@us.af.mil and to Contract Specialist, Mr. Michael Hay, michael.hay.5@us.af.mil. A summary of all questions with answers will be posted to the SAM website for all potential respondents to see. The USG does not guarantee that questions received after Date will be answered.

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