ETTC_TS_RFI_1.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) No. 1

Solicitation Number: Notice Type:

FA2486-16-R-0002 Sources Sought - Request for Information

Synopsis:

Responses Due: 7 October 2013 3 PM CST

The Eglin Test & Training Complex Technical Services (ETTC-TS) program is in the process of developing the acquisition strategy for the follow-on to the current ETTC

Operations & Maintenance (O&M) contract. Services may be performed at the following locations: Eglin Test & Training Complex, 96TW facilities at Wright Patterson AFB and deployed locations. In addition to these locations, the ETTC-TS program is considering the possibility of including similar workload performed at other facilities associated with the ETTC, the AFTC enterprise, as well as other Geographically Separated Units – locations TBD. The current ETTC O&M Cost-Plus-Award-Fee contract was awarded under a full and open competition; however, the ETTC-TS Program is assessing all strategy options and contract types. The ETTC-TS Program anticipates a possible term of up to 10 years, possibly including options. If multiple contracts are awarded, various durations are possible. Contract award is targeted for December 2015 with an anticipated performance start of April 2016.

Related notices that follow will be posted on Federal Business Opportunities. Attached is the initial Request for Information.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1

SOLICITATION NUMBER FA2486-16-R-0002

23 September 2013

GENERAL INFORMATION:

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION ISSUANCE. THIS IS

A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. The

Government is seeking industry input from all sources regarding a potential enterprise technical support services contract inclusive of operations and maintenance/ sustainment, engineering, and management services for select test and training ranges and facilities. In order to develop sound acquisition strategies, early industry participation is highly encouraged. This acquisition anticipates providing the ETTC and its customers with superior and cost-effective test and training services. Respondents will not be notified of the responses to this RFI. As stipulated in FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the

Government to form a binding contract. In accordance with FAR 52.215-3, this RFI is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations.

Information identified by a respondent as "Proprietary or Confidential" will not be disclosed outside of Government channels. While a final decision has not been determined, the North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code is preliminarily set as 561210. A set-aside determination has not been made.

SECTION 1- BACKGROUND:

The purpose of the ETTC-TS program is to provide operation and maintenance of the

Eglin test and training areas and technical facilities, test and training mission support, engineering support for range system design/modification/range configuration, and range support services required to accomplish authorized range activities. The mission oriented capabilities of the Eglin Test and Training Complex are provided by general purposes sites/systems, the Armament Systems Test and Training Environment Land

Range Test Complex, Multi-Spectral Test and Training Environment (MSTTE), Eglin

Gulf Test Range, Eglin ground test facilities (McKinley Climatic Lab, Guided Weapons

Evaluation Facility, etc.) various miscellaneous range support instrumentation systems, the Landing Gear Test Facility (LGTF), Aerospace Vehicle Survivability Facilities

(AVSF) and the Aerospace Engine Nacelle (AEN), located at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. Test and training activities are not limited to Eglin AFB, and may include efforts at other locations both inside and outside the continental United States. The period of performance for the current ETTC contract expires in early 2016.

SECTION 2 – PURPOSE OF RFI:

This RFI is issued for the purpose of communicating the ETTC-TS Program’s requirements to industry. The ETTC-TS Program intends to use information gathered from these interactions to gain an awareness of capabilities, determine interested parties, and to support formulation of an acquisition strategy. Early industry involvement in creating a properly scaled enterprise solution is critical to the success of this contemplated acquisition with the goal of providing the ETTC-TS Program and its customers with superior and cost-effective technical services.

SECTION 3 - SCOPE OVERVIEW:

The scope of the ETTC-TS program is anticipated to cover the scope and breadth of requirements on the current ETTC O&M contract; however, specific requirements for the ETTC-TS program will be defined in successive postings as a follow-on strategy is more fully developed. The ETTC-TS program contemplates a competitive acquisition primarily performed on behalf of the currently participating locations, as noted in Section

1. Additional consideration for potential inclusion of similar workload performed within the other facilities and the AFTC enterprise is a possibility.

SECTION 4 – QUESTIONS:

In order to inform the ETTC-TS Program of your company’s capability, please complete the following table which encompasses questions 1-1 through 1-17. You may add additional narrative if desired; please include the corresponding question number:

In order for the ETTC-TS Program to review aspects of the work to be performed, please respond to as many of the following additional questions as you can:

Question

General TRD Reference/Discipline Area

Years of Experience (List #)

Relevant Contracts (List Each, including

NAICS

Code)

Prime or Subcontract (P or S)

Capable of Performing (All/Part)

Interested in

Competing (Y/N)

1‐1 Telemetry Systems

1‐2 Range Information Transport

1‐3 Frequency Control and Analysis

1‐4 Threat RADAR Systems

1‐5 Maritime Operations

1‐6 Photo Optics

1‐7 Mission Control/Coordination

1‐8 Major Ground Test Facilities

1‐8a Landing Gear Test Facility (LGTF)

1‐8b

Aerospace Vehicle Survivability Facility (AVSF)

1‐8c Hardware In The Loop

1‐8d Installed Systems

1‐8e Environmental Testing

1‐9 Explosive Test Facilities

1‐10 TSPI Scoring

1‐11 Open Air Ranges

1‐12 Range Services

1‐13 Engineering

1‐14 Targets

1‐15 Logistics and Supply

1‐16 Data Links

1‐17 Operational Ground Test

1-18 - Identify any real or potential conflicts of interest (reference FAR Subpart 9.5) and how these impediments can be avoided, neutralized, or mitigated. Address the types of support contractors at the ETTC, LCMC and 96 TW, as well as weapons/C4ISR/airframe/ EW /platform vendors and provide insight into desirable mitigation strategies.

1-19 - Considering work involved at test and training ranges and facilities explain what contract type(s) would you recommend for various portions of the work (e.g., Cost-Plus

Incentive-Fee, Firm-Fixed-Price, Cost-Plus-Award-Fee, etc.)? Please explain the pros/cons of your recommendation.

1-20 - What pitfalls should be avoided in a test and training technical services contract spread across multiple geographically separated units?

1-21 - Provide recommendations regarding possible acquisition strategy options including single awards, multiple awards, and small business set aside.

1-22 - What are the pros/cons of using small business sub-contractors versus small business(s) primes to provide technical services on a test and training complex?

1-23 - If major portions of ETTC-TS were awarded as multiple contracts, how would you recommend the Government incentivize cooperation/coordination to ensure smooth execution of the overall mission? Recommend incentives that will provide maximum motivation to the service provider, whether fixed fee, incentive fee, award fee, award term, a combination thereof, or some other means of incentive, e.g., non-FAR incentives used in the private sector.

1-24 - Describe the processes your company uses to identify, assess the potential of, and implement innovative and efficient technologies.

1-25 - What challenges would your company have to provide technical support on diverse geographic range locations across the continental US? What processes would you use to accomplish this type support?

1-26 - What challenges do you see if components of this program were sourced separately?

1-27 - Provide examples of innovative techniques and/or solutions that you have implemented resulting in efficiencies and improvements.

1-28 - Describe what you think are barriers to innovation in a Government test and evaluation environment.

SECTION 5 - RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS:

We look forward to reviewing your ideas for this acquisition; please be concise. All responses must be in Microsoft Word format and shall be no more than 20 double-spaced pages in length (8.5"x 11", using not smaller than a 12 point font). Responses should identify whether they are a Large Business, Small Business, Very Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) Program Small Business, Woman-owned Small

Business, HUBZONE Small Business, Veteran-owned Small Business, Service-disabled Veteran-owned Small Business, and/or a Native American Small Business under the preliminarily NAICS code of 561210. Responses should also include the company name, CAGE code, DUNS code, point of contact, and address. Please do not provide standard marketing brochures, catalogs, etc. Responses are due no later than 7 October 2013 at 3 PM CST.

SECTION 6 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be posted on FedBizOps.Gov. Interested offerors shall send responses by electronic mail to Leslie Bax at: leslie.bax@us.af.mil and John Nalezny at:

john.nalezny@us.af.mil. When responding, reference ETTC-TS FA2486-16-R-0002, RFI No. 1. Comments which demonstrate clear benefit to performance and cost are of particular value and interest to the Government.