Sources_Sought_Final.docx

The 25th Air Force Contracting Division, 102 Hall Blvd, Suite 268, San Antonio, Texas 78243-7046 is conducting market research to identify as potential sources which may possess the expertise, capabilities and experience to meet the Sensor Beam requirement.

The Government is contemplating issuing a solicitation for an Indefinite-Delivery-Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract. This is not a request for proposals and no contract will be awarded as a result of this sources sought. The acquisition plan for this effort has NOT been finalized. The Government will NOT reimburse any company or individual for any expenses associated with preparation or participation in this request for information.

The 57th Intelligence Squadron (57 IS) is conducting market research for a potential Sensor Beam requirement. The 57 IS chain of command is through the 365th Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (ISRG), 363d Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (ISRW), 25th Air Force (AF), Air Combat Command (ACC), USAF. The 57 IS is seeking information on potential sources capable of providing U.S. Electromagnetic Systems (USELMS) Database, Combat Support Database (CSDB), and Signatures Analysis, Production, and Process Support to the 57 IS. USELMS provides selected information to the Electronic Warfare Integrated Reprogramming (EWIR) Program.

This effort would require the Contractor to provide a wholly self-contained, end-to-end, USELMS and CSDB Intelligence Mission Data (IMD) production process using various tools including relational database management systems for USELMS, CSDB, the Next Generation EWIRDB (NGES) construct and associated other toolsets. Work would also include platform Characteristics & Performance (C&P) production, Signatures development, Defense Intelligence Equipment (DIEQP) Code generation/maintenance, electronics/platform-fit data, software development, production and process support, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Production and Training. Under this contract, Contractor personnel would provide expertise, analysis, production, and process support to the 57 IS in every aspect of IMD and database production.

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES:

The attached Statement Of Work (SOW) is in the process of being converted to a Performance Work Statement (PWS); however, the tasks included in the SOW will be included in the PWS. Interested offerors shall explain their capabilties and experience in the following technical areas for the Sources Sought submission:

The Contractor shall perform specific tasks in the areas of information gathering, data reduction, signals analysis, engineering assessment, modeling and simulation, product preparation, production process enhancement, and program specific software support that shall support 57 IS’s efforts to accomplish the Joint Chiefs of Staff and DoD mandated USELMS and CSDB production and enable 57 IS Data Flight to realize significant improvements production quantity, quality and efficiency.

The Contractor shall conduct all-source intelligence and non-intelligence research data mining; create and maintain queries using DoD and open source search tools; and review, validate, and organize source material for the purpose of database record production.

The Contractor shall provide data transfer and administration services, and will be responsible for reviewing and properly conducting cross-domain transfer and courier duties for reference materials. The Contractor will serve as an authorized Data Transfer Agent, and is responsible for obtaining and maintaining currency requirements for that role.

The Contractor shall initialize and/or update the models using the Standard EWIR Reference Format (SERF) of the Modernized EWIRDB/Next Generation EWIRDB System (NGES), the Technical ELINT Reference Format (TERF) and its derivatives, and other formats. For specific systems identified to the Contractor, special emphasis will be placed on producing system-of-systems representations that are fully simulatable using appropriate tools. A system-of-systems representation is one in which all of a weapon system’s components have been completely represented using models and specific software, including radars, antennas, platforms, weapons, electro-optic and infrared equipment. This also includes various platform variants, fits, and configurations. Fully simulatable means that the relevant models must be able to dynamically respond to external stimuli through the use of executable algorithms and operands, and must contain full power, pattern, and polarization characterizations. The Contractor shall develop a robust quality control process using a combination of automated community tools and manual review. The Contractor shall describe their experience in the production of fully simulatable system-of-systems models in using the Standard EWIRDB Reference Format (SERF) standard.

The Contractor shall assist the government in providing support to acquisition programs. The contractor must be thoroughly familiar with the concept of Intelligence Mission Data (IMD), IMD dependent acquisition programs, and those programs’ unique requirements for these products. The contractor must be able to expertly reply to cost, availability, and shortfall data calls, develop plans to meet unique acquisition program needs, and interface with acquisition programs regarding database implementation and capabilities.

The Contractor shall provide in-depth Technical ELINT and engineering assessments of signal characterization and analysis in support of production, as tasked. Analysis is conducted on collected pulse-level and signal-level datasets as well as technical documentation such as technical orders/manuals, concept of operations, and acquisition documents to derive the signal characteristics of a system. Contractor personnel will act as subject matter experts, and must have at least three years of experience performing analysis for the specific purpose of production. Contractor personnel being proposed to work on the Technical ELINT analysis portion of this effort must be expert users of the following applications: PULSE, Martes, ASPEN, GALE 5, Wrangler, NTIPS, CED, Opana (including plugins), and the SAVANT/KPS/EWIRDB system.

The contractor must provide subject matter expertise and application administration for the entire suite of tools, both at the contractor’s facility and on government site. The Contractor will be completely responsible for obtaining, maintaining, and administering the required software, hardware, licenses, training, credentials, and accreditation, necessary to implement a fully self-contained Contractor-orchestrated production enterprise. The government intends the Contractor to commence production immediately upon award of the contract, and does not possess the resources to provide any technical assistance to the Contractor concerning tools, production software, standardization, best practices, databasing, accreditation, or any other software or infrastructure concerns.

The Contractor shall provide producer training to government personnel, and will assist the government in on-government-site production enterprise, to include all software, standards, tools, and courseware. The Contractor shall create and deliver training courses to foreign military sales (FMS) customers as tasked by the FMS enterprise.

The Contractor shall provide support to modeling and simulation efforts at the 57 IS, and will continue to develop the capability to pre-populate and interface with MATLAB/Simulink based threat models using the above models.

The Contactor shall provide expertise in order to optimize the production processes, and shall develop plugin tools to address specific community shortfalls.

The Contractor shall provide software support for related programs at the 57 IS. The scope of software support required includes the USELMS, EWIRDB, and Opana suite of tools, SAVANT/JADE/KPS, Oracle (or other relational database management system supported by the above software) database administration (including SQL scripting), web production (including Java, C++, Perl, Visual Basic, XML and XSL scripting), MATLAB (including Simulink, StateFlow and DSP Toolkit), TERF editors such as MILT, data export tools, UNIX, and Microsoft Office applications. The types of software products the Contractor might be required to provide include: USELMS, EWIR, and CSDB production process management software tools; computer aids which check files or which support the migration of files; tailored data entry or retrieval tools; enhancements to related tools associated with databases; data-mining utilities; and automated data delivery for system models and simulations, monitoring and troubleshooting of USELMS, CSDB, EWIR databases, editors, and tools such as JADE, Opana, MILT programs and associated toolsets installed at the 57 IS; and creation of APIs (application program interface) and widgets for use with related software.

Attachment 1 to the Sources Sought is a short proficiency questionnaire , consisting of UNCLASSIFIED multiple choice and short answer questions. This questionnaire is intended to provide the government insight into potential offerors’ knowledge, experience, and critical thinking abilities when applied to working in a production environment. Please follow the instructions in Attachment 1 and submit along with your response to this Sources Sought along with your capabilities and experience for the tasks listed above.

Contractor personnel performing work under this contract on government site must have a DoD TS security clearance based on a single scope background investigation and be eligible for access to SCI at the time of the proposal submission, and must maintain the level of security required for the life of the contract. In addition, Contractor personnel being proposed to work on the TechELINT signal analysis portion of this effort must possess and/or maintain a valid counter-intelligence polygraph. The Contractor will be required to have a Secret cleared facility located within 20 miles of the 57 IS to be able to perform work on this requirement; Contractor personnel proposed to work on Contractor site must be appropriately cleared.

The basis of this contract will be mixed firm fixed price, firm fixed price level of effort, time and materials, and cost plus fixed fee type contract. The contract is anticipated to have a one (1) base year with up to four (4) option-year periods. This is only an estimate is not binding on the government.

Interested potential offerors are encouraged to respond to this notice. However, be advised that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective evaluation of respondents’ capacity and capability to perform the specific work required. Responses must directly demonstrate the company’s capability, experience, and/or ability to marshal resources to effectively and efficiently perform each of the tasks described in the SOW reference document at a sufficient level of detail to allow definitive evaluation; and evidence that the respondent can satisfy the minimum requirements listed in the SOW while in compliance with FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting. 13 C.F.R. 125.6 contains the prime contractor performance requirements under these limitations on subcontracting rule. Failure to definitively address each of these factors may result in a finding that the respondent lacks the capability to perform the work.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Prospective offerors possessing the capability, experience, and security clearance qualifications are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice for this requirement. Please do not provide standard marketing brochures, catalogs, etc.

Responses to this notice shall be limited to no more than ten [10] pages (questionnaire is not included in your page limitation), 8.5” x 11” paper, 12 pitch, Arial font, with a minimum of one (1) inch margins all around, and must include”

1. Company name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and FAX numbers, website address (if available), and the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives.

2. Name, title, telephone number, and e-mail addresses of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses.

3. Capability statement(s) demonstrating a prospective firm’s capability, experience, and/or ability to marshal resources to effectively and efficiently perform the Required Capabilities described above.

4. Respondents are encouraged to submit questions and/or comments on the Statement of Work reference document. Please note that the Government will not provide responses to these questions and/or comments.

5. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 541 -- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services/541330 -- Engineering Services. Respondents should identify any relevant contracts under NAICS code 541330. Please identify whether your firm is a Large Business, Small Business, Very Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) Program Small Business, Women-owned Small Business, HUB Zone Small Business, Veteran-owned Small Business, Service-disabled Veteran-owned Small Business, and/or a Native American Small Business under the proposed NAICS code. The small business size standard associated with NAICS 541330 is $38.5M. Also, please submit copies of any documentation such as letters or certificates to indicate your firm's status.

6. DUNS number, CAGE Code, and company structure (Corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.). Companies also must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database (https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/) to be considered as potential sources.

7. Identification of your firm's GSA Schedule contract(s) by contract number schedule number and SINs that are applicable to this potential requirement are also requested.

8. If the company has a Government approved accounting system, please identify the agency and point of contact that approved the system.

9. Teaming arrangements are acceptable, and the information required above on the company responding to this announcement, should also be provided for each entity expected to be teammates of the respondent for performance of this work.

To assist 25 AF/PK in making a determination regarding the level of participation by small business in any subsequent procurement that may result from this Sources Sought, you are also encouraged to provide information regarding your plans to use joint venturing (JV) or partnering to meet each of the requirements areas contained herein. This includes responses from qualified and capable Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Service Disabled-Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Women-owned Small Businesses, HUBZone Small Businesses, and 8(a) companies. You should provide information on how you would envision your company's areas of expertise and those of any proposed JV/partner would be combined to meet the specific requirements contained in this announcement. In order to make a determination for a small business set-aside, two or more qualified and capable small business must submit responses that demonstrate their qualifications. Responses must demonstrate the company's ability to perform in accordance with limitations on subcontracting FAR 52.219-14.

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All government and contractor personal reviewing RFI responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protection from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described 41 USC 423. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified.

All questioned should be sent to Laura Applewhite at laura.applewhite.1@us.af.mil or 210-977-6183. Responses must be received no later than 1:00 PM Central Standard Time (1300 hours) on 3 Nov 2015. Responses received after this date and time may not be reviewed.

Responses to this announcement will not be returned, and there will not be any ensuing discussions or debriefings of any responses. However, information obtained as a result of this announcement may be reflected in the subsequent solicitation, and the Contracting Officer or representative manager may contact one or more respondents for clarifications to enhance the Government's understanding. This announcement is Government market research, and may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the FedBizOpps website for the release of any solicitation.

Request Responses

Please provide the following business information for your company and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

· Company Name:

· Address:

· Point of Contact:

· CAGE Code:

· Phone Number:

· E-Mail Address:

· Web Page URL:

· North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: