TOS II_RFI_2_Final.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) No. 2

FA9101-22-R-B001, Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS) II

8 June 2022

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION ISSUANCE. THIS IS A

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. This RFI is ISSUED for the purpose of developing a viable solicitation that will best communicate the Government’s requirements to industry. Response to this RFI is strictly voluntary and will not affect any firm’s ability to submit an offer if, or when, a solicitation is released. Foreign participation will not be authorized if, or when, a solicitation is released. The requested information is for planning purposes only and does NOT constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. No entitlement to payment by the Government of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise as a result of the submission of information in response to this RFI. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

Formal notices will be posted on SAM.gov website, https://sam.gov/content/home.

GENERAL INFORMATION: On 26 January 2022, the Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) posted RFI No. 1 to inform industry of the recompetition of its Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS) operating contract. In addition, the RFI asked industry to respond to questions in order to gather information to begin an assessment of the capabilities and interests in work at AEDC. The responses also serve to help AEDC begin to formulate an acquisition strategy for the follow-on contract. Responses to RFI No. 1 provided AEDC with broad information on interest in the various efforts to be contracted. If you have not responded to RFI No. 1, AEDC suggests you consider doing so. Having complete and accurate data will ensure we have the best industry feedback possible.

PURPOSE: The purpose of RFI No. 2 is to request industry feedback on additional topics.

AEDC intends to use the information gathered from this effort to continue formulating an acquisition strategy for the follow-on contract.

PROCESS: For RFI No. 2, the Government will continue to use the Performance Work Statement (PWS) which was included as part of the solicitation for the initial TOS contract, FA9101-15-C-0500. This PWS was provided as Attachment 1 to RFI No. 1.

1. Do you want to see a Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) prior to the issuance of the Final RFP? If so, how far in advance do you recommend the Draft RFP be issued prior to the Final

RFP?

2. The issue of cross-teaming was discussed in the TOS II virtual Industry Day #1. The Government is considering the benefits/drawbacks to including a cross-teaming prohibition in the RFP. What is your position on the RFP prohibiting a prime offeror participating as a subcontractor/team member with another prime contractor? Should subcontractors/team members be prohibited from subcontracting/teaming with more than one prime contractor?

3. Can you provide examples of where you have used reach back or cross-contract resources to support another contract?

4. In your experience with contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity, what level of detail did you provide cost, schedule, and performance data to the Government?

5. The Government is seeking industry input on whether the TOS II requirement should stipulate a specific quality system (ISO, CMMI, etc.).

a. Should the Government define a specific quality system for the TOS II contract? If yes, why? If no, why not?

b. If the Government does define a specific quality system for TOS II, which system best meets the needs of TOS II and why?

c. Should the Government require compliance with a quality system for TOS II if a quality system is defined, or should the Government require full certification? Please describe the benefits/drawbacks of certification versus compliance.

6. Based on industry feedback received from RFI No. 1, a 12-year contract length may be appropriate for the TOS II effort. We request your feedback on this proposed position of a 12-year contract length.

7. Based on feedback received from RFI No. 1, industry indicated overwhelmingly that a cost-plus-award-fee (CPAF) was an appropriate contract type for TOS II. Do you have experience with CPAF utilizing a base fee? Do you have experience with a CPAF contract where the award/base fee was based on something other than a percentage of labor hours? If so, please provide lessons learned.

8. Based on feedback received from RFI No. 1, industry indicated that a CPAF hybrid contract may be an appropriate contract type for TOS II. Do you have experience with a CPAF hybrid contract? If so, please provide examples and lessons learned to include the benefits/costs of implementing a hybrid contract.

9. Past Performance Magnitude Relevancy: During the last TOS acquisition, past performance efforts of less than $20M annually or $100M total contract scope were not considered relevant.

Do you consider these thresholds appropriate? If not, what thresholds would you recommend for TOS II and why?

10. Submit any additional comments or suggestions that you would like to share with us regarding this acquisition.

Email your responses to the TOS II Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO), Ms. Rebecca Gardner, at AEDC.SSO@us.af.mil by close of business on 29 June 2022. Note that official information regarding this acquisition will be provided by the PCO. Any information received from other sources should not be relied upon as official. Any comments/responses received from industry pertaining to this RFI will NOT be posted on public web sites.

AEDC will host Industry Day #2, which is planned to be an in-person event, on 9-10 August 2022, depending on local COVID-19 transmission levels. See Attachment 1 for a tentative agenda for this Industry Day and site visits to Geographically Separated Units (GSUs).

Interested parties are required to register with Ms. Montana Bieder at AEDC.SSO@us.af.mil no later than 22 June 2022 by providing your company name, list of attendees, and point of contact name, phone number, and email address. If there is a topic you would like discussed at Industry Day #2, please provide to Ms. Bieder by 22 June 2022.

In accordance with AF policy on attendance at in-person events, personnel who are not fully vaccinated are not authorized to attend meetings unless they provide proof of a negative COVID- 19 test, completed no more than 72 hours prior to meeting check-in. For Industry Day #2 attendees, those who are not fully vaccinated in accordance with this policy must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test completed no more than 72 hours prior to meeting check-in. This proof may be presented upon arrival at the Arnold Lakeside Club (ALC). Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified Arnold AFB’s COVID-19 community level as Low (both Coffee and Franklin counties), there are currently no self-attestation or testing requirements for fully vaccinated personnel to attend Industry Day #2. However, if our community level goes to Medium or higher on or before 9 August 2022, all personnel, including those fully vaccinated, must provide a completed DD Form 3150 upon arrival at the ALC. For all non-fully vaccinated personnel or those who decline to provide a vaccination status via the DD Form 3150, entry into the event will require a negative COVID-19 test (performed within the previous 72 hours).

AEDC will post Industry Day #2 PowerPoint presentations in the TOS II Competition Library in advance of the in-person event, allowing time for you to review the information and prepare your questions. Additionally, the following GSU site visits are planned for late July:

National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC), Moffett Field, CA National Radar Cross Section Test Facility (NRTF), White Sands Missile Range, NM Tunnel 9, White Oak, MD

Aerospace Vehicle Survivability Facility (AVSF) and Landing Gear Test Facility (LGTF), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

Detailed information on Industry Day #2 and the GSU site visits will be posted on the SAM.gov website.

Further information and descriptions of AEDC facilities may be found on our website at www.arnold.af.mil by following the link under About Us to the Test Capabilities Guide. Also, the TOS II Competition Library is located at www.arnold.af.mil/Home/TOSII. This website will be routinely updated with additional information as it becomes available.

Attachment Draft Industry Day #2 Agenda