HD_TATs_Special_Notice.doc

This special notice is to inform industry that:

Special Notice/CHANGE— Solicitation: FA8075-12-R-0002-- Multiple Award IDIQ Contracts – Full & Open with Small Business Reservations

Program: Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Homeland Defense (HD) and Security Technical Area Tasks (TATs) NAICS/Size: The NAICS code for this $900M acquisition is 541712 – Professional, Scientific and Technical Services – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except biotechnology). The Small Business size standard is 500 employees.

Industry Day Open Market Event: Date: 7 March 2012, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST; Location: Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters Auditorium (Andrew T. McNamara Complex)

1. The Government will seek to award approximately 10 multiple award IDIQ contracts for the Defense Technical Information Center’s (DTIC) Homeland Defense and Security Technical Area Tasks (TATs). Approximately 4 of these IDIQ contract awards are reserved for small businesses (SBs). The Government reserves the right to award more or fewer contracts in total or a different mix of SBs and full and open awards if the Source Selection Authority (SSA) determines it is in the Government's best interest. The SSA will consider the Government's expected volume of work, available funding, adequate competition, and the availability of best-value proposals. Each contract will have a five year ordering period. The HD TATs acquisition (IDIQ contract(s)) will be conducted using a performance price trade-off source selection approach. Technical, price, and past performance criteria will be identical for all business types (large and small).

2. For the approximate 10 IDIQ contract awards, approximately six (6) will be in the Full & Open (F&O) Competition pool. This F&O Competition Pool is unrestricted and open to both large and small businesses. For the SB Reservations, (approximately 4 IDIQ contract awards), the Government will establish a SB competition pool wherein competition is limited to SBs only; FAR 52.219-14, Limitations of Subcontracting applies. For SBs competing in the F&O Competition Pool, 52.219-14 will not apply. Individual task orders will be competed using Fair opportunity rules cited in FAR 16, unless there are two or more SBs that can perform the tasks at fair market prices (FAR 19.5). In this event, task order level set-asides would apply first.

3. Interested parties are ADVISED regarding an Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI). As previously posted, an OCI would exist if the Prime contractor from the Homeland Defense and Security Information Analysis Center (HDIAC) Basic Center Operation (BCO) acquisition, responsible for searching/disseminating data from the repository of STI or initially assisting a potential TAT customer via an inquiry, was also a Prime or Subcontractor competing for any HD TAT award (IDIQ contract and/or order levels). The HDIAC BCO acquisition will be solicited as 100% small business set-aside. The Government is completely avoiding this OCI risk by precluding the HDIAC BCO Prime contractor from being a Prime or Subcontractor under a HD TAT award. Further information regarding the HDIAC BCO acquisition can currently be found on FBO under solicitation number FA8075-12-R-0001.

4. The HD TAT IDIQ contracts will include requirements spanning the focus areas of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense; Weapons of Mass Destruction; Critical Infrastructure Protection; Homeland Defense and Security; Biometrics; Medical; Cultural Studies; and Alternative Energy. Specific HD TAT projects will be acquired under separately funded task orders. The HD TAT task orders may include Research & Development (R&D) and/or incidental Advisory & Assistance Services related to R&D efforts for complex, scientific and technical requirements. TAT projects will originate from evolving/emerging Government requirements, will usually necessitate a rapid response, and will often integrate the expertise of a diverse cadre of professionals from across various disciplines. The draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) for the HD TAT IDIQ contracts and all future and prior information for this acquisition can be found on the FBO website under solicitation number FA8075-R-12-0002. The Government encourages interested small businesses to consider teaming arrangements, partnerships, joint ventures, etc, when considering this HD TAT acquisition opportunity. Cross-teaming is a teaming arrangement in which prime contractors participate as a subcontractor/team member with another prime or team member/subcontractor and/or subcontracts/teams with more than one prime contractor. Any contractor may, for example, compete to be the prime for one team and a subcontractor for another team. It is the Government’s policy to recognize the integrity and validity of contractor team arrangements and to not restrict the market, provided the arrangements are identified and company relationships are fully disclosed in an offer. The Government will not normally require or encourage the dissolution of contractor team arrangements. However, the OCI information as stated in paragraph 3 above must be factored into any Industry teaming considerations. Interested parties are encouraged to visit the DOD Guidebook on Small Business Teaming at http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/docs/dod_OSBP_Guidebook_for_Facilitating_Small_Business_Team_Arrangements.pdf

5. The development of the HD TAT acquisition DRAFT solicitation is still in progress. When the draft solicitation becomes available it will be posted on FBO under the above-referenced solicitation number (no estimated date at this time). The Government is not seeking comments or questions on the previously posted draft PWS at this time and any such comments/questions received will not be considered at this time. However, Industry will be provided an opportunity to comment on the entire DRAFT solicitation, including the PWS, once it is released.

6. An open industry day forum to discuss the DTIC HD TAT acquisition, program milestones and updated acquisition strategy as presented in this Special Notice will be held on 7 March 2012, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern, at the Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters Auditorium (Andrew T. McNamara Complex), 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6217. The Government is interested in Industry feedback on the HD TAT acquisition Strategy Updates and will utilize the feedback in the development of the DRAFT solicitation. Additionally, the Government will also provide new information related to the upcoming Defense Systems IAC BCO and Defense Systems TAT acquisition opportunities. Attendees must send their name, title, organization, email address, and telephone number to iacconference@dtic.mil no later than 12:00 PM Eastern on 5 March 2012. Once that information is received, attendees will be provided with additional information regarding directions to the complex, parking, check-in, etc. Please direct any questions regarding this registration process to Glenda Smith at (703) 767-9113 or iacconference@dtic.mil.

7. Industry input is integral to the successful development and execution of acquisition strategies for Defense procurements. In addition to the feedback you will be providing via your attendance at the referenced Industry Day Event, the Government also requests your written input on the following question regarding the HD TATs acquisition (IDIQ Contracts- F&O Competition Pool). Submit your response to shawn.anderson@offutt.af.mil not later than 4:00 PM Central on 5 March 2012. Question: SB Participation Requirements (i.e., not ‘Subcontracting Plan’ requirements in accordance with FAR 52.219-9). The Government is now placing additional SB Participation Requirements in its solicitations to promote enhanced opportunities and enforced accountability throughout contract performance. One requirement in particular involves adding a minimum SB subcontracting percentage requirement via use of a special contract requirement (Section H clause). This percentage requirement is based on ‘total obligated dollars’ – not total subcontracting dollars. Given the nature of the Services (R&D and A&AS) contemplated for this HD TAT IDIQ Contract(s) under NAICS 541712, what is a ‘reasonably achievable’ percentage level of small business subcontracting based on ‘your company’s demonstrated past performance records’ and based on total contract dollars?

8. For those not familiar with the DTIC Information Analysis Center Program visit http://iac.dtic.mil/. In addition, Department of Defense Instruction 3200.14, Principles and Operational Parameters of the DoD Scientific and Technical Information Program can be found at http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/pdf/customer/STINFOdata/DoDI_320014.pdf .