ATS_SSS-RFI_-_1_Apr_16_Final.docx

Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS)/Request for Information (RFI) and Market Research Questionnaire (MRQ) For Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) Test Services (ATS)

This is a Sources Sought Synopsis/Request for Information 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 AFOTEC Test Services (ATS). The intent of this notice is to request information and conduct market research on small businesses which have the capabilities to provide non-personal Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) supporting Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) of AFOTEC test programs (excluding fighter aircraft programs).

Small business concerns that meet the Go/No-Go criteria must be able to show that it is capable of meeting all of the core competencies listed below in Table 1 as a prime. Use of subcontractors, small business joint ventures, teaming arrangements or any combination of the preceding is encouraged.

The Government solicitation method for this requirement is 100% small business set-aside. AFOTEC envisions a multiple award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract with an estimated value of $80M - $90M, with cost type task orders. Contracts/task orders may be up to a maximum of five years. This acquisition will NOT include generic Information Technology (IT) Services (e.g., Help Desk), generic Administrative Services (e.g., technical editing, secretarial, 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 22 April 2016 (See page 9 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 OT&E with AFOTEC without violating the statutory prohibition of 10 U.S.C. 2399? (See MRQ para 7.a. and 7.b.)

2. Can your business hire personnel with a current Top Secret (TS) clearance (within the past five years) who are eligible for sensitive compartmented information (SCI) and special access programs (SAP) within 30 days of contract award (est. mid-2017)? (See MRQ para 10.)

3. Can your business hire personnel with a final Secret clearance (within the past ten years) (See MRQ para 10.)

Interested parties having the required specialized capabilities to meet these requirements are invited to submit a capability statement and respond to the MRQ. The capabilities statement shall explicitly demonstrate capabilities and expertise the respondent or proposed subcontractor possesses to satisfy the requirement, in writing, by maximum page length, for some or all core competencies (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**

** Not in order of importance and not all-inclusive, numbers are for identification purposes only

Responses are limited to a maximum of 46 pages (double-sided pages will be counted as two), single-spaced, minimum 12 point Times New Roman font. The page limit is up to 36 pages for technical capability information and 10 pages for the MRQ (see page 5).

The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this SSS/RFI 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 except Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts 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 (MRQ)

Responses to the MRQ are limited to 10 pages.

Part I: Services Description

AFOTEC Headquarters, with Detachments 2, 4, and 5 (Det 2, Det 4, Det 5) test and evaluate Air Force and Joint acquisition programs 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.

AFOTEC HQ is located at Kirtland AFB, NM and has operating locations at Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland), TX (OL-KT) and Nellis AFB, NV (OL-NN). Det 2 is located at Eglin AFB, FL. Det 4 is located at Peterson AFB, CO and has an operating location at Buckley AFB, CO (OL-BC). Det 5 is located at Edwards AFB, CA and has operating locations at Everett, WA (OL-EW) and Hurlburt Field, FL (OL-HF). There may be additional operating locations in the future. Visit http://www.afotec.af.mil for additional information. Travel may be required to other locations identified by the Government including test ranges.

AFOTEC is seeking sources for non-personal A&AS associated with its OT&E activities. This need focuses on engineering, technical, analytical, and incidental test services to plan and accomplish OT&E on emerging Air Force acquisition programs at all HQ, Det 2, Det 4, and Det 5 locations. Table 1 lists the most critical core competencies where contractor skills and capabilities are required. Applications of these competencies are needed across all 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 AFOTEC’s core competencies.

b. Describe your experience with OT&E (see AFOTEC core competencies). Please clearly distinguish “developmental” test experience from “operational” test experience, and for whom the work was performed.

2. How would you manage the AFOTEC Test Support (ATS) program?

a. Describe your small business participation plan and how you would apply it to ATS.

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

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

d. Describe your approach to recruiting and relocating personnel to HQ, Det 2, Det 4, and Det 5 and their operating locations and why it will be successful.

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

4. What other recommendations or concepts of operation do you have on how to provide 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: HQ, Det 2, Det 4, and Det 5 will establish meaningful and measurable metrics for the services required under the ATS 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, test instrumentation, and real-time/post-test event data processing and data analysis. Where applicable, your answer should include years of experience and previous program involvement.

a. Based on the type of core competency listed in Table 1, 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 any of the programs under the purview of HQ, Det 2, Det 4, and Det 5 per the meaning of 10 U.S.C. §2399, which has specific limits on contractor support during OT&E. Note, support to major weapons system developers may preclude work in support of OT&E.

b. Has your company ever been involved in the “development” of any acquisition program that is currently undergoing, or will undergo, OT&E by AFOTEC? If so, please address how the statutory prohibition at 10 U.S.C. §2399 would impact your company’s participation in this OT&E program. Comment on potential “Impaired Objectivity” Organizational Conflict of Interest, FAR Subpart 9.5, if your business concern was engaged in development test or other activity which may overlap with AFOTEC’s OT&E mission. .

c. 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)?

d. Please explain your experience and abilities to define requirements for and accomplish VV&A of mission level hardware-in-the-loop, man-in-the-loop, and mission software-in-the-loop simulations.

e. Discuss your firm’s capability (level of education/experience/currency) in: 1) maintainability and supportability 2) operations and effectiveness 3) Concept of Operations (CONOPS); 4) Air Force and other services operations and planning; and 5) Net-Centric Warfare.

f. Please explain your firm’s experience and capabilities with instrumentation systems, data processing and analysis tools (aircraft, satellite, range, and other OT&E relevant instrumentation systems, data processing and analysis tools).

g. 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.

h. Please explain how you would provide skills to operate M&S models such as Logistics Composite Model (LCOM).

8. Teaming Arrangements/Joint Ventures: Teaming arrangements/joint ventures are encouraged, and the Government anticipates full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 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 teaming, 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?

9. Contracts: AFOTEC anticipates multiple award ID/IQ contracts under NAICS Code 541712, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology), Except Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts with a shared estimated value of $80M - $90M, with cost-type task orders. Contracts/task orders will be for a maximum of five years. Please provide your comments on this strategy.

10. Clearance Requirements: AFOTEC test programs require contractor personnel to have a final SECRET clearance or a current TOP SECRET with SCI eligibility and/or favorable determination to the SAP pre-screening questionnaire.

a. What mix of clearances do you currently maintain on your staff—final Secret, Top Secret, Top Secret with SCI eligibility, Uncleared? (60/10/20/10 percent mix, for example). Are any of your staff members accessed to SAPs?

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

c. What level (Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret) is your facility cleared to?

d. What level (Confidential, Secret, Top Secret, or None) of safeguarding is your facility cleared to?

e. Is your business authorized to process Chemical Nuclear Weapons Design Information (CNWDI), Restricted Data/Formerly Restricted Data (RD/FRD), and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) program access requests?

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 Specialist, Ms. Esther Archuleta, esther.archuleta@us.af.mil. Last day to submit questions is 1200 MDT on 12 April 2016. Answers to questions will be posted to FedBizOpps (Federal Business Opportunities) (www.fbo.gov) by 1700 MDT on 15 April 2016.

Please submit responses (technical capabilities (36 pages) and MRQ (10 pages)) no later than 1200 MDT on 22 April 2016 by e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Esther Archuleta, esther.archuleta@us.af.mil.

Submit one hard copy (postmarked no later than 22 April 2016) to:

AFOTEC/A7K

ATTN: Ms. Esther Archuleta 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

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, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology), Except Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts, 1,500

Socioeconomic Status/Business Type:

Prime Contractor or Team Member:

Date of Preparation: