Industry_Day_QA_for_FBO_Release.docx

Rocket Systems Launch Program Mission Assurance Industry Day Question & Answer (Q&A)

All answers provided in this document are based on the best information available. The Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) Mission Assurance (MA) program in the RFI dated 4 Apr 2018 and Industry Day dated 18 Sep 2018 acquisition strategy is not approved and, therefore, subject to change. The responses provided are for information only, final requirements will be included in the Request For Proposal (RFP). Please notify Ms. Alicia Cawley, alicia.cawley@us.af.mil, if a question was inadvertently not addressed.

1. General Questions Q1: What is the core function of the RSLP MA contract?

A1: There are two primary tasks of the proposed contract: The sustainment of GFE motors and the independent verification & validation (IV&V) of RSLP launch missions. The sustainment of GFE motors effort is what RSLP receives direct funding for, and occurs on a consistent basis. However, there is a large fluctuation with regards to IV&V. This is because it depends on the launch missions that the Government will receive.

Q2: Is there system engineering and mission assurance on the RSLP MA?

A2: RSLP MA is only for mission assurance. There will not be a system engineering requirement for the contract.

Q3: Where is the Government at in the process for awarding the RSLP MA?

A3: Currently, the Government is in market research. A draft request for proposals (RFP) is expected to be released January or February of 2019.

Q4: What do you mean by new entrant?

A4: The Government is not referring to the EELV New Entrant Certification. For RSLP, a new launch service entrant (emerging Launch Service Provider LSP) is one who has never completed a launch, or has never launched for the Government. RSLP does not certify launches.

Q5: Since there seems to be more operational launches coming to RSLP, is there more pressure from the Space and Missile Systems Center Commander (SMC/CC) to be less risk tolerant?

A5: RSLP intends to be flexible in its mission assurance requirements for its launches to match the needs of the customer being served. This is facilitated by our spectrum of mission assurance categories, which span the range of possible risk postures and technical IV&V oversight.

Q6: Will there be identified key positions and locations that we would have to have filled?

A6: The Government intends to require the offeror to identify their own key positions required for the execution of the RSLP MA contract. The offeror would be required to name the position, identify the qualifications that the individual in the position would need to have, and nominate an individual to fill that position, including a resume. The Government does not intend to dictate what these key positions will be, nor where they will be physically located.

Q7: Will innovation and tools be part of the evaluation criteria?

A7: This has yet to be determined.

Q8: Will GFE, facilities, and/or software licenses be provided in the bidder’s library?

A8: Technical data on all GFE relevant to the effort will be furnished in the bidder’s library. Actual examples of that GFE will not be provided to the offerors. The contractor will be given a limited number of offices co-located with the Small Launch and Targets Division (SMC/LEX) on Kirtland AFB. These include access to the Government internet network. No office space will be furnished to offerors during the source selection process. We refer you to the Performance Work Statement (PWS) that will be provided in the upcoming RFP for specifics on the displacement of this office space. The contractor will not be required by the Government to obtain any software licenses for government provided computers.

Q9: Is the Acquisition Strategy going to be small business set aside or full and open competition?

A9: At the time of the industry day this decision had not been made. Since then, the program team intends to proceed with this effort as a small-business set-aside.

Q10: Will the charts from Industry day be posted to Federal Business Opportunities (FBO)?

A10: Yes the charts from Industry Day will be posted to FBO.

Q11: Will the attendee list be posted to FBO?

A11: Yes, a list of the attendee names and their respective companies will be posted to FBO.

Q12: What is the general scope of RSLP MA?

A12: The scope is expected to increase over the previous contract. Currently, RSLP has 1-2 missions a year and will be transitioning to 3-4 missions a year when this contract is awarded.

Q13: What is the reason of mission assurance categories if we are not certifying the Launch Service Providers?

A13: RSLP does not certify the contractors. Additionally, there is no cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) needed. Each mission will have their own risk assessments, which will determine the mission assurance category. Overall, the reason for mission assurance categories is to communicate the level of effort that will be invested into Government IV&V based on the mission’s risk assessment.

Q14: Has the Government thought about splitting the IV&V from XBM?

A14: The Government has considered this. The combined contract has been successfully competed in the past and the Government has assessed that the current market is capable of performing the combined work.

Q15: Will the contract be required to oversee Government personnel working XBM sustainment.

A15: The contractor will be required to monitor Government personnel during refurbishment of the motors to flight status, and may be required to monitor contractor personnel during aging surveillance activities. We refer you to the PWS that will be provided in the upcoming RFP for a specific breakdown of the work performed.

Q16: Who does the upkeep on the support equipment?

A16: The MA contractor will not be required to provide upkeep, maintenance, or refurbishment on the support equipment or any other GFE during this effort.

Q17: Will RSLP MA be “over the shoulder” of the maintenance crew and will this be part of the contract?

A17: Yes, it will be part of the contract.

Q18: Will the Government require the offerors to have past performance?

A18: This is not finalized. However, we are not currently pursuing an evaluation of past performance in the source selection.

Q19: How much emphasis does the Government place on innovation by the Offerors?

A19: The Government is always interested in innovative approaches to meet the requirements.

Q20: What is the Government’s biggest concern for the new MA Contractor?

A20: The Government’s “biggest concern” is the MA contractor’s ability to surge in order to support an increase in the number of missions from one year to the next.

Q21: Will the management aspect of the proposal be more or less important than the technical aspect?

A21: This has yet to be determined, but it will be clearly identified in the upcoming RFP.

Q22: Will RSLP be requiring MA personnel to be present at the Launch Service Contractor’s (LSC) manufacturing facility during launch vehicle (LV) manufacture?

A22: There will be no requirement for permanent presence at the LSC’s facility, but occasional site visits may be appropriate in executing the requirements of the PWS.

Q23: When is a good time to have a face-to-face?

A23: This is the purpose of the industry day. The draft RFP is expected to be released in January or February 2019. That would be the next opportunity to speak with Government regarding the RSLP MA contract.