FA8730-20-C-0002_System_AITS_NOCA.pdf

Notice Type: Notice of Contract Action J&A Statutory Authority: FAR 6.302‐1 ‐ Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Contract Award Date: TBD Contract Award Number: FA8730‐20‐C‐0002

Synopsis:

The United States Air Force, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Digital Directorate‐ Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Division (HBSK), Hanscom AFB, MA intends to issue a sole source Request for Proposal (RFP) to The Boeing Company (Boeing) to provide for the continued operations and maintenance of the E‐3 System AWACS Integration and Test Support (AITS) laboratory (System AITS). The Government anticipates issuing the solicitation in Q3 FY19.

The AWACS Program Contracting Office (AFLCMC/HBSK) proposes to execute, by means of other than full and open competition, a sole source contract to The Boeing Company, 7755 E Marginal Way, S Seattle, WA 98108‐4002. The follow‐on System AITS effort is made necessary due to the imminent expiration of the current contract vehicle being utilized to facilitate the required operations and maintenance of the lab environment; The AWACS Modernization and Sustainment System (AMASS) Single Award, Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) Contract (F19628‐01‐D‐0016). The AMASS ID/IQ, with an ordering period that will expire 30 September 2019, provides overarching weapon system engineering and integration across the AWACS life cycle. This includes supplies and services concept exploration and risk reduction studies, prototype demonstrations, advanced projects, development and production of system modifications, repairs, sustaining engineering, sustainment support and installations, organic level maintenance support and Programmed Depot Maintenance, and other support efforts required to lengthen the useful life of the E‐3 AWACS weapon system to sustain and improve its operational capabilities and effectiveness.

The E‐3 System AITS provides the environment to provide for the development and testing of new software and hardware prior to operational aircraft integration. This System Level Integration and Software Development environment is presently housed at contractor‐owned facilities. The System AITS lab is comprised of extensive Boeing infrastructure designed specifically to house the lab environment, combined with a substantial suite of GFP assets. The AITS services were proposed by Boeing in the 1970’s during the early days of the AWACS program as part of the original EMD contract to allow for the conduct of integration and test requirements associated AWACS programs in a lab environment to economize and reduce the amount of actual flight testing. Since then, the AWACS representative lab environment has existed at the Boeing facility in Seattle, WA for the purpose of providing the lab support required by AWACS upgrade programs to execute their respective missions. Among the most critical customers of the System AITS lab Environment is the AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade Program.

The AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade Program is the largest modification in US AWACS history and represents the foundation and baseline system required for all future AWACS enterprise modifications including net‐centric operations. The Block 40/45 Upgrade requires system level qualification and regression testing associated with providing critical hardware and software.

The AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade Program is scheduled for five (5) years of Full Rate Production with culminating in the Acquisition Program Baseline (APB) mandated Full Operational Capability (FOC) FY24. The FRP effort includes software modification and maintenance through FY22. The System AITS lab is the only production‐representative lab environment that can provide the strict configuration control to fulfil the qualification and regression testing requirements of the Block 40/45 Upgrade. The System AITS lab provides a tightly integrated environment that allows other aircraft lab systems supporting other AWACS and non‐AWACS programs the capability to interface with Block 40/45 mission systems for the purpose of providing the capability to integrate and test hardware and software. Due to limitations associated with third party access to the Contractor owned facility, only Boeing could ensure that operations of the System AITS lab could continue uninterrupted. The AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade Program provides the foundation for several other AWACS modification programs. The seamless transition of the System AITS effort to the new, stand‐alone, follow‐on contract would ensure the ability of the AWACS to provide the critical mission of gaining and maintaining battle‐space air superiority.

The authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 USC 2304(c)(1), as implemented as follows:

- FAR 6.302‐1(a)(2) ‐ When the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source, or, for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.

- FAR 6.302‐1(a)(2)(iii)(B) further goes on to state that for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, services may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of follow‐on contracts for the continued provision of highly specialized services when it is likely that award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements.

The Government requests that initial feedback, comments and questions be submitted no later than fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of this notice being posted to www.fbo.gov. In accordance with FAR 5.207 (c) (16) (ii), all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.

Please submit all questions, comments and feedback regarding this NOCA via e‐mail to the following Points of Contact:

Mr. Christopher B. Lung, Contracting Officer E‐mail: christopher.lung@us.af.mil

Mr. James M. Faria, Contract Specialist Email: James.Faria.3@us.af.mil

No telephone responses will be accepted. Any information submitted by respondents to this Notice of Contract Action is strictly voluntary. To the maximum extent possible, please submit non‐proprietary information. Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such, and will be properly protected from disclosure. No classified information shall be submitted. Any response submitted by respondents to this Notice of Contract Action constitutes consent for that submission to be reviewed by Government personnel, Federally Funded Research and Development Center employees and Advisory & Assistance Services contractor employees, unless the respondent clearly objects in writing to the release of this information to Federally Funded Research and Development Contractor employees and Advisory & Assistance Services Contractor employees.

AFLCMC has appointed an Ombudsman to consider and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition. Concerned parties should address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the Contracting Officer for resolution prior to consulting the Ombudsman. Additionally, Air Force Federal Acquisition Regulation (AFFARS) 5352.201‐9101 – Ombudsman, will be included in any potential solicitation and contract for this acquisition. The AFLCMC Ombudsman contact information is as follows:

Brian Miller, LtCol, USAF, Ombudsman, AFLCMC/AQ‐AZ 1790 10th Street Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433 Telephone (937) 255‐5512 Email: brian.miller.15@us.af.mil

DISCLAIMER AND NOTICE: This is a courtesy Notice of Contract Action only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that AFLCMC/HBSK, will take procurement action in this matter. This is NOT a request for proposals, applications, proposal abstracts, or quotation. This courtesy Notice of Contract Action only shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government. Further, the Government will NOT be responsible nor reimburse any submitters of information for any cost incurred in furnishing this information.

The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.