2014-10-23_H92241-R-15-0002_Capability_Statement_Instructions_v2.pdf

U. S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

Technology Applications Contracting Office

AMSAT-D-TK

Lee Blvd., Building 401 Ft. Eustis, VA 23604-5577

Solicitation H92241-R-15-0002, Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB) Mission Computer, Capabilities Statement Instructions

This serves as the directions on preparation of capabilities statements referenced in the October 15, 2014, Presolicitation Notice, published in Federal Business Opportunities.

Instructions:

The Government’s proposed use of Rockwell Collins, Inc. for development and procurement is based upon its estimate that there are significant costs in using another source that will not be recouped through competition. Consequently, capability statements shall address the Government’s specification published on September 3, 2014, as supplemented by the instructions below. Capability statements shall also address the costs that the Government has estimated it will not recoup through competition, along with supporting rationale. The Government will give little to no weight to statements that disagree with the Government’s estimate that have no supporting rationale.

Capability statements shall be submitted the date stated in the original synopsis.

Specification:

The Government’s mission computer requirement is intended for use in the A/MH-6M aircraft, avionics upgrade. The mission computer will host the Avionics Management System (AMS) software, a derivative of the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) software. The specification requirements account for the size weight and power (SWAP) of the aircraft and to minimize the Government’s software development costs by harmonizing the middleware and firmware with the AMS/CAAS by reducing the uncertainties of hosting AMS/CAAS into different operating systems, board support packages, and processors.

Based upon responses to the Government’s publication of the draft specification, that remains unchanged, the following information is provided;

- Any proposed mission computer shall use the LynxOS operating system.

- The SWAP requirements are firm due to the A/MH-6M cockpit dimension, available aircraft power, and achievement of specified weight savings.

- A PowerPC Quad Power Processor is firm, i.e. no other processors are permitted.

Estimated Costs Not Recoupable Through Competition:

The Government estimates that, dependent upon the mission computer operating system and processor, the $4,000,000 in software development costs will not be recouped through competition. This estimate is based upon other recent government efforts.

‒ Rockwell Collins has already worked on a quad core Power PC Processor under another program, with both significant Rockwell Collins and another Government Program Office investment. This represents sunk costs that the Government desires to leverage.

‒ AMS/CAAS has been developed to use the Power PC Processor. Use of another processor family would generate significant additional costs. The Government estimates that rehosting AMS into another source’s mission computer would cost $3,000,000 due to updates required to foundation software/ middleware.

‒ AMS/CAAS has been developed to use the LynxOS Operating System. Use of an operating system other than this would incur an estimated $1,000,000 dollars in additional costs for board support package updates if they are built for the VX Works or Integrity OS.

In light of these estimates of these additional costs, the Government anticipates that a source’s capability statement would address these issues and how the Government can avoid incurring these costs with the source’s mission computer. Additionally, due to the inter-dependencies between the cockpit and airframe, a qualified mission computer is needed NLT July 15, 2015.