SSS-RFI_and_MRQ_-_6_Feb_2015__Rev_8.docx

Sources Sought Synopsis/Request for Information and Market Research Questionnaire For Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) Fighter Test Services (FTS)

This is a Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS)/Request for Information (RFI) only.

This notice, issued by the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), Kirtland AFB, NM, is a Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS)/Request for Information (RFI) for Fighter Test Services (FTS). AFOTEC envisions a single award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract with an $85 million ceiling, with cost-plus-fixed-fee task orders. Contracts/task orders will be for a one year basic effort with up to four one-year options. The intent of this notice is to request information and conduct market research to determine if there are potential large and small businesses which have the capabilities to provide non-personal Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) supporting Operational Test and Evaluation of fighter aircraft and associated systems. This acquisition will NOT include generic 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. Responses are requested not later than 27 February 2015 (see page 8 for instructions and addresses).

Go/No-Go Criteria: If your business cannot answer yes to all of the following questions, please do not respond to this SSS/RFI:

1. Can your business participate in operational test and evaluation with AFOTEC without violating the statutory prohibition of 10 U.S.C. 2399? (See Market Research Questionnaire para 7.a.)

2. Can your business hire personnel with current Top Secret (TS) clearances (within five years) who are eligible for sensitive compartmented information (SCI) and special access programs (SAP) within 30 days of contract award (est. mid-2016)? (See Market Research Questionnaire para 7.b.)

3. Can your business work with foreign partners without violating the rules and regulations laid out in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and your business’s Technical Assistance Agreement (if applicable)? (See Market Research Questionnaire para 7.c.)

Interested parties having the required specialized capabilities to meet these requirements are invited to submit a capability statement and respond to the Market Research Questionnaire (MRQ). The capabilities statement shall explicitly demonstrate “in-house” capabilities and expertise the respondent possesses to satisfy the requirement in writing by maximum page length, per core competency (see table below). Identical or closely related previous experience in competency area(s) must be provided. Teaming and/or subcontracting arrangements should be clearly delineated and previous experience in teaming must be provided.

Table 1. Core Competencies** (Most critical but not inclusive of all Core Competencies that may be required.)

Computerized Maintenance Management Systems, Fighter Logistics (home station and deployed), and Maintenance Training Systems 1 page

4th and 5th Generation Fighter Maintainability and Supportability, Crypto-key Management 1 page

Fighter Aircraft Avionics, Electrical, and Environmental Systems, Fighter Weapons Loading and Alternate Mission Equipment (AME), Fighter Life Support and Survival Equipment 2 pages

Joint Reliability and Maintainability Evaluation Team (JRMET), Reliability, Maintainability, and Availability Analysis 1 page

Air-to-Air Range Infrastructure (AARI), Intel/Operations Debriefing 1 page

Man-in-the-loop, mission software-in-the-loop, and hardware-in-the-loop modeling and simulation (M&S) (requirements and Verification, Validation and Accreditation (VV&A)), Fighter Weapons Effectiveness Analysis 2 pages

**Not in order of importance and not all-inclusive

Responses are limited to a total of 31 pages (double-sided pages will be counted as two), single-spaced, minimum 12 point Times New Roman (or equivalent). The page limits are: 21 pages for technical capability and 10 pages for the Market Research Questionnaire (see page 5).

The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Sources Sought Synopsis/Request for Information or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this SSS/RFI, your response will be treated as information only. The information provided shall not be used as a proposal. This SSS/RFI is for planning and market research purposes only and should not be considered as a request for proposal 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.

All documentation shall become the property of the Government. Any information submitted by the respondents to this SSS/RFI is strictly voluntary. If respondent’s information contains proprietary data, please clearly mark as such, and restricted or proprietary data will be handled accordingly.

Market Research Questionnaire

Responses to the Market Research Questionnaire are limited to 10 pages.

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 operations at Fort Worth, TX and Marietta, GA. Det 6 is the lead for all other AFOTEC fighter and fighter systems 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 and has operations at Marietta, GA. Visit http://www.afotec.af.mil for additional information. Travel may be required to other locations identified by the Government including ranges.

AFOTEC is seeking sources for non-personal 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 core competencies on page 3 list the most critical core competencies where contractor skills and capabilities are required. Application of these competencies are 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).

Part II: Questions

1. Does your organization have the capability to provide the services as described in Part I above? If so, please describe your capabilities and performance history:

a. Describe the tools available to you to support operational test of 4th and 5th generation fighter systems.

b. Describe your experience with Test and Evaluation of 4th and 5th generation fighter systems. Please clearly distinguish “developmental” test from “operational” test.

2. How would you manage the Fighter Test Services program?

a. Describe your small business subcontracting (if large business) program and how you would apply it to FTS. If awarded a contract, you must meet the current DoD Small Business goals. If you cannot meet the goals, please explain why.

b. Describe your approach to cost control, schedule management, responsive customer support, and quality management for FTS.

c. Describe your base of operations to support activities at the various test locations identified above (in the services description).

d. Describe your approach to recruiting and relocating personnel to Det 1 and Det 6 operating locations and why it will be successful.

3. What, if anything, would you require from AFOTEC in order to provide fighter test support?

4. What other recommendations or concepts of operation do you have on how to provide Fighter Test Services for the AFOTEC mission?

5. 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?

6. Metrics: AFOTEC Det 1 and Det 6 will establish meaningful and measurable metrics for the services required under the Fighter Test Services contract. What metrics or industry standards do you currently follow in providing your services? Please explain your answer.

7. Risk and Capabilities: AFOTEC has a requirement for specific skill sets in areas of cybersecurity, test planning, test execution, VV&A, database management, fighter test instrumentation, and real-time/post-flight data processing and data analysis. Where applicable, your answer should include years of experience and previous program involvement.

a. 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? Discuss your historical and current involvement, if any, in Developmental Test of the F-35, F-22, F-16, F-15, A-10, or any other program under the purview of AFOTEC Dets 1 and 6 per the meaning of 10 U.S.C. 2399.

b. Has your company ever been involved in the “development” of any fighter weapon system that is currently undergoing, or will undergo, operational test and evaluation by AFOTEC? If so, please address how the statutory prohibition at 10 U.S.C. 2399 would impact your company’s participation in this operational test and evaluation program.

c. Describe your experience in working with international partner nations and meeting International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) and Technical Assistance Agreement (TAA) requirements.

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

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

f. Please explain your ability to provide personnel knowledgeable in flight operations, Ground Control Intercept, and threat operators for mission level simulation events.

g. Discuss your firm’s capability (level of education/experience/currency) in: 1) maintainability and supportability of low observable aircraft and advanced avionics systems; 2) operations and effectiveness of aircraft with advanced sensor fusion; 3) fighter low observable tactics; 4) Concept of Operations (CONOPS); 5) Combat Air Forces (CAF) operations and planning; and 6) Net-Centric Warfare.

h. Please explain your firm’s experience and capabilities with: 1) fighter aircraft instrumentation systems, data processing and analysis tools; 2) aircraft and range instrumentation systems, data processing and analysis tools.

i. Please explain your firm’s experience and capabilities with cybersecurity. What certification level can you provide in accordance with DoD 8570.01-M, Information Assurance Workforce Improvement Program.

j. Please explain how you would provide skills to operate M&S models such as Logistics Composite Model (LCOM), Verification Simulator (VSim).

8. Teaming Restrictions: AFOTEC anticipates full and open competition. Exception: No foreign contractors permitted.

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

b. Based on the list of requirements outlined above, explain your plan to team or not 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?

c. In your opinion, can any area of this requirement be broken out for small business participation without violating the integrity of the requirement/mission? Provide a risk analysis of small business inclusion and its effect on mission accomplishment.

9. Contracts: AFOTEC anticipates a single award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract with an $85 million ceiling. AFOTEC anticipates 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.

10. 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) access requirements.

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

b. Describe your ability to quickly hire and place personnel with required security clearances.

11. Respondents must use Attachment 1, Cover Page Template (not included in page count), for contractor information.

Send any questions regarding this notice by e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Linda Buix, linda.buix@us.af.mil. Last day to submit questions is 1200 MST on 20 February 2015. Answers to questions will be posted to FedBizOpps (Federal Business Opportunities) (www.fbo.gov) by 1700 MST on 24 February 2015.

Please submit responses (technical capabilities (21 pages) and market research questionnaire (10 pages)) no later than 1200 MST on 27 February 2015 by e-mail to the Contracting Officers, Ms. Kay Davis, kay.davis@us.af.mil and Ms. Linda Buix, linda.buix@us.af.mil.

Submit one hard copy (postmarked no later than 27 February 2015) to:

AFOTEC/A7K

ATTN: Kay Davis/Linda Buix 1251 Wyoming Blvd SE Kirtland AFB, NM 87117

The Government does not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submission of the information being requested/received, nor reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this SSS/RFI.

All documentation shall become the property of the Government. Any information submitted by the respondents to this request for information is strictly voluntary. If respondent’s information contains proprietary data, please clearly mark as such, and restricted or proprietary data will be handled accordingly.

Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued.

THIS SSS/RFI IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI, AND RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE ARE NOT OFFERS AND CANNOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FORM A BINDING CONTRACT. RESPONSES TO THIS RFI WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

ATTACHMENT 1

Cover Page Template

Prime Contractor:

Name; Division, Full Postal Address;

and URL (if available); corporation; organization; individual, or other legal entity submitting:

Affiliate Information:

Parent Company;

Joint Venture Partners And/or Potential Teaming Partners

Point-of-Contact:

Full Name;

Postal Address;

E-Mail Address; Telephone, and FAX Number:

CAGE Code/DUNS:

System for Award Management (SAM) Status and Expiration Date

Business Size Status based on NAICS Code 541712:

Socioeconomic Status/Business Type:

Prime Contractor or Team Member:

Date of Preparation: