Fighter Operational Test and Evaluation Services

The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) is requesting information and conducting market research to determine if there are potential large and small businesses which have the capabilities to provide Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) associated with the Fighter Operational Test and Evaluation Service effort. This acquisition will not include Information Technology (IT) Services, Generic Administrative Services such as technical editing and secretarial or Generic Security Management Administrative Services such as personnel security, information security, physical security, industrial security and visitor control. The amount of information available for publication at this time is limited. This Notice is issued for the purpose of market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. All business sizes who believe they are capable of providing these services are invited to provide one copy of their technical capabilities package and respond to the Market Research Questionnaire (MRQ). Part I of the MRQ describes the required services. Large businesses responding to this notice shall provide all information requested in the following paragraphs and address all portions of the MRQ. The government reserves the right to set aside none, portions, or all of the effort for small business. Small businesses responding to this notice shall provide all information requested in the following paragraph and address all or any portion(s) of the MRQ. The capabilities package shall explicitly demonstrate capabilities and expertise to satisfy these requirements and provide the percentage of subcontracting required per core competency to fulfill these requirements. Identical or closely related previous experience in competency area(s) should be provided. Teaming and/or subcontracting arrangements should be clearly delineated and previous experience in teaming must be provided.

Responses are limited to 25 pages (double-sided pages will be counted as two), single-spaced, minimum 12 point Times New Roman (or equivalent). The Government will not review any pages beyond the 25-page limit. Company information should include the following: a. company name, point of contact, addresses, email addresses, phone and FAX numbers, and the company’s website address (if applicable); b. company capabilities and experience relative to the services and core competencies (skill sets) identified in the MRQ; c. identification of business size in relation to the North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) (i.e., US large or small business, service disabled veteran business, HUBZone, 8(a) certified business, woman-owned, etc.); d. CAGE and/or DUNS number codes; and e. state whether or not you intend to propose as a prime contractor or team member.

FAR 52.215-3: (a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (b) Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this RFI, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. (c) This RFI is for planning and market research purposes only and should not be considered as a request for proposals or as a solicitation to do business with the Government.

The NAICS Code proposed for the requirement is 541712, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). The size standard for NAICS 541712 is 1,500 employees. The government will use responses to the attached MRQ, as well as other information obtained, in determining its small business set-aside decision.

Please submit response no later than 11:59 PM MST, 26 February 2010 by e-mail to: jesse.mckinney@kirtland.af.mil, paulette.windley@kirtland.af.mil and burtis.spencer@nellis.af.mil.

For all questions, contact the Contract Specialist, Mr. Jesse McKinney, at (505) 846-5637, the Contracting Officer, Ms. Paulette S. L. Windley, at (505) 846-1955 or the Technical Representative, Mr. Burtis Spencer, at (702) 652-0026.

All documentation shall become the property of the Government.

Market Research Questionnaire Part I: Services Description Detachment 1 (Det 1) and Detachment 6 (Det 6) of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) test and evaluate fighter aircraft weapon systems in operationally realistic battlespace environments. These Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) efforts provide fact-based, decision-quality data to inform decision makers on a range of accurate, balanced, and timely assessments of effectiveness, suitability, and mission capability.

Det 1 leads the multi-service, multi-national OT&E of the F-35 Air System. Det 1 is headquartered at Edwards AFB, CA, and has operating locations at Fort Worth, TX, Arlington, VA, Nellis AFB, NV, and Norfolk, VA. Det 6 is the lead for all other AFOTEC fighter and fighter system OT&E to include the F-22, F-15C, F-15E, F-16, and A-10 aircraft and related systems such as targeting pods and data links. Det 6 is headquartered at Nellis AFB, NV. Visit http://www.afotec.af.mil for additional information.

AFOTEC is seeking sources for contractor advisory and assistance services (A&AS) associated with AFOTEC’s fighter OT&E activities. This need focuses on engineering, technical, analytical, and incidental test services to plan and accomplish OT&E on emerging fighter aircraft capabilities at all Det 1 and Det 6 locations. The table below lists the core competencies where contractor skills and capabilities are anticipated. Application of these competencies is needed across all Det 1 and Det 6 mission areas and test processes (i.e., test design, test planning, test execution, test analysis, test reporting, and technical/analytical studies).

Core Competencies

T&E capability knowledge (including test infrastructure capabilities, integrated test capabilities, and survivability testing)

Information Assurance evaluation knowledge

Modeling and Simulation applications (including verification, validation and accreditation process knowledge)

Low Observable (LO) Maintainability and Supportability

Crypto-key Management

Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) and Support Equipment (SE)

Fighter Aircraft Maintenance and Logistics

Computerized Maintenance Management Systems

Mission Planning-including fighter performance and datalinks

Fighter and LO Employment, Tactics, Concept of Operations (CONOPS)

Advanced Sensors (AESA Radar, RF, EO, IR)

Advanced Avionics to include Electronic Warfare (EW) and Sensor Fusion

Multirole Fighter Aircrew

Fighter Test Instrumentation and Real-time/Post-flight data processing

Part II: Questions

1. Small Business Set Aside:

a. What service areas (systems knowledge, test process and core competency) would you suggest setting aside for small business? Please explain your answer. If you are a small business, be sure your capabilities package supports your answer.

b. Based on the number and range of core competencies required for this effort (as outlined above), do you believe it is practical to solicit the entire requirement as a small business set-aside?

2. Commercial Alternatives: Current acquisition guidance encourages the government to adopt the best practices of industry by purchasing commercial services.

a. Are these same services provided in the commercial market?

b. If so, how are these services priced and purchased commercially?

c. What government contract type(s) most closely resembles the typical commercial contract used to purchase A&AS? Consider major terms and conditions in your answer, but focus on the pricing methodology.

3. Metrics: AFOTEC Det 1 and Det 6 need to establish meaningful and measurable metrics for the services required under the Fighter Operational Test and Evaluation Services contract.

a. What metrics and/or industry standards should the government consider to best measure contractor performance after contract award?

b. Should this effort make use of acceptable quality levels based on Capability Maturity Matrix model/indices? Please explain your answer.

4. Task Order Management and Risk: AFOTEC contemplates issuing task orders for specific skill sets in areas of aircraft low observables, sensor fusion, advanced avionics, combat air force (CAF) operations and planning, instrumentation and data processing. Where applicable, answer should include years of experience and previous program involvement.

a. How do you recommend handling surge requirements (i.e., quick reaction tests, accelerated timelines, urgent project work, etc.)?

b. Please describe your capabilities to support all Det 1 and Det 6 locations.

c. What do you see as the risk areas associated with this effort and how would you mitigate those risks (to include: cost control, scheduling slippages, and workforce stability/retention)?

d. Describe your experience in working with international partner nations and meeting ITAR and TAA requirements.

e. Please explain your experience and abilities to define requirements for, and accomplish VV&A of, mission level man-in-the-loop and software-in the loop simulators (i.e. F-22 Air Combat Simulation (ACS) and F-35 Verification Simulator (VSim)).

f. Please explain your ability to provide aircrew knowledgeable in flight operations, GCI, and threat operators for mission level simulation events.

g. Discuss your level of education/experience/currency in maintainability and supportability of low observable aircraft and advanced avionics systems.

h. Discuss your level of education/experience/currency in operations and effectiveness of aircraft with advanced sensor fusion, fighter low observable tactics, CONOPS, and CAF operations and planning.

i. Please explain your experience and capabilities with fighter aircraft instrumentation systems, data processing and analysis tools.

j. Please explain your experience and capabilities with aircraft and range instrumentation systems and data processing and analysis tools.

k. Please explain your experience and capabilities with Information Assurance (IA). What certification level can you provide in accordance with DoD 8570.01-M, Information Assurance Workforce Improvement Program

l. Please explain how you would provide skills to operate M&S models such as LCOM, ALPS.

m. Based on the type of programs Det 1 and Det 6 support, what Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) issues do you anticipate and how would you mitigate those issues.

5. Teaming Restrictions: AFOTEC anticipates allowing large businesses to team on certain task orders. AFOTEC also anticipates allowing small businesses to team and/or form a joint venture in accordance with FAR Part 19, and its supplements, at the contract or task order level.

a. Please provide your comments on this strategy including how it will impact competition.

b. Based on the list of requirements outlined above, do you think your company would propose for this effort as a prime contractor? Would you plan to team with subcontractors? If so, describe the subject matter and approximate percentage of work that your company would be likely to perform as a prime contractor. How many large or small business subcontractors would you plan to team with? How would you manage a suite of subcontractors under this contract?

6. Contracts: AFOTEC anticipates a single award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract with an $85 million ceiling. AFOTEC anticipates firm fixed price and cost plus fixed fee task orders. Contracts/task orders will be for a one year basic effort with up to four one-year options. Please provide your comments on this strategy.

7. Clearance Requirements: AFOTEC Det 1 and Det 6 test programs require personnel to have security clearances ranging from SECRET to TOP SECRET with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and/or Special Access Program (SAP) requirements.

a. What mix of clearances do you currently maintain on your staff-Secret, TS, TS/SCI, Uncleared? (70/10/20 percent mix, for example).

b. What is your ability to quickly hire and place personnel with required security clearances?

8. Please provide any additional relevant information on how you can support fighter OT&E.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION – SEE FAR 2.101 AND FAR 3.104