Atch 1 - SOFGSD RFI 25 Nov 2024.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES

Special Operation Forces Global Services Delivery (SOFGSD)

NOTICE: This notice is being issued for market research purposes only. The information obtained as a result of this notice will be used to assist the Government in its acquisition strategy.

This Request for Information (RFI) is for market research purposes only and shall not be considered an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No contract awards will be made from this notice and no solicitation is available at this time. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government use of such information.

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) multiple award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for current similar services, SOF Core Support (SCS), will be ending March 14, 2028. There are approximately 76 active task orders currently under SCS with contract ordering authority given to HQSOCOM, Components, and TSOCs. Additionally, the major programs awarded under SCS include Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (LREC) ($200M), Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) ($100M), MARSOC Raven ($65M), MARSOC PTP ($95M), and MARSOC MASS ($43M).

The acquisition of services will be in support of the SOF Global Services Delivery (SOFGSD) acquisition, which will focus on acquiring Knowledge Based Services, as defined by Department of Defense taxonomy for the acquisition of services. This Acquisition will be a 100% Small Business (SB) Set-aside. At this time, it is anticipated the SOFGSD contract will be a multiple award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with 10-year ordering period. To help develop a strategy that maximizes competition, small business participation, and contractor performance, USSOCOM is seeking industry input, comments, and questions from interested companies. This exchange of information resulting from this RFI will assist with market research to determine the capabilities of industry to meet the USSOCOM's developing requirements and establish the degree of industry interest in the acquisition.

A DRAFT Statement of Work has been provided (Atch 2 – SOFGSD SOW 22 Nov 2024).

Currently evaluation criteria for Section L & M are in development and USSOCOM is seeking Industry Feedback before the DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) is released on the below Administrative and Responsibility Material and Initial Acquisition Approach.

Administrative and Responsibility Material

1. Facility Security Clearance. The Offeror must possess, at the time of proposal submission, a Top-Secret Facility Clearance as accredited by the Defense Security Service (DSS) in accordance with the contract level Contract Security classification Specification (DD Form 254). Storage of classified information is not anticipated at the contract level; however, the need to store classified RFPs/SOWs for task order level requirements is expected. As such Offerors are encouraged to prepare for this eventuality.

If an Offeror does not possess a TS facility clearance at the time of proposal submission, their proposal will be excluded from competition.

Task Order requirements that dictate more stringent clearance requirements will be accompanied by task specific DD Form 254s that Offerors must meet at the time of task order solicitation.

2. Safeguarding. The Offerer shall have a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1 and current, self-assessed Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) score of 110. Additionally, provide a description of the steps taken to achieve the adequate security requirements of DFARS 252.204-7012, in accordance with NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-171, “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations” in effect at the time the RFP is issued. Offeror’s who do not have a CMMC Level 1 and SPRS score of 110 will be excluded from competition.

3. Financial Capacity. Interested small businesses with the capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements shall submit a letter of evidence demonstrating a line of credit for at least $1M to demonstrate financial capacity to perform the work. Offerors who do not submit evidence of this line of credit will be excluded from competition.

4. Current Adequate Accounting System. IAW Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 30; Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) do not apply to small business concerns. IAW FAR 16.306 (c), no cost type contract may be awarded unless the limitations in FAR 16.301-3 are met. One of the limitations cited is that the contractor’s accounting system must be adequate for determining costs. The Offeror shall provide valid documentation from DCMA, DCAA or other Federal Audit Agency that they have an adequate accounting system for operating Government cost type contracts to be considered for award. The Offeror may provide other information that allows the contracting officer to determine that the contractor's accounting system will permit timely development of all necessary cost data for the cost type CLINs and the negotiation of cost in accordance with the FAR and applicable supplements in order to be considered for award. If the Offeror does not currently have valid documentation (within the last 3 years) regarding an adequate accounting system, the Offeror shall have to complete Preaward Accounting System Checklist with supporting documentation that will be provided at RFP. The Preaward Accounting System Checklist with supporting documentation shall be forwarded to the Contracting Officer as soon as practicable but no later than the proposal due date. Offerors are cautioned that determination of the adequacy of the accounting system must be accomplished to be eligible for contract award. Therefore, Offerors shall be prepared to support DCAA audits upon the initiation of the audit.

5. Organizational Conflict of Interest. Each Offeror must submit, for itself AND its subcontractors, an OCI Disclosure Form (provided at RFP) and applicable supporting documents. The submission shall identify all of the team’s USSOCOM contracts or subcontracts, including any USSOCOM funded contracts or subcontracts at the TSOCs or

Components. For each identified contract, the Offeror shall disclose the contract number;

name and telephone number of the Contracting Officer; a brief description of the work performed; and any other information, as applicable, for the Contracting Officer to determine possible OCIs. This information shall be retained by the Contracting Officer for use during individual TO solicitations to preclude the need for resubmission with each TO proposal. Offerors shall submit an updated OCI Disclosure Form at the task order level only when new contract awards meet the above reporting criteria. An Offeror that has determined there is no actual or potential OCI shall provide a written statement affirming no OCI has been found.

Intended Acquisition Approach

Our current plan is to compete SOFGSD as a 100% small business set-aside. The intent is a 5-year base period and a five-year option. SOFGSD plans to award up to fifteen (15) contracts using a Highest Technically Rated Offeror (HTRO) source selection strategy. Under HTRO the Offerors shall provide work samples and rate themselves in accordance with Atch 3 – SOFGSD HTRO Matrix.

In order to streamline the process of awarding task orders the Government intends to establish a General Pool and three (3) Specialty Pools: Education and Training, Intelligence Support, and Exercise Support. The solicitation will describe how Offerors will be considered for the General Pool and include details for how those proposals will be evaluated for Offerors intending to further compete for award in a Specialty Pool.

SOFGSD # of Vendors Specialty Pool # of Vendors General Pool 15 Education & Training TBD of the 15 Intelligence Support TBD of the 15 Exercise Support TBD of the 15

On and Off Ramp. The Government intends to have on/off ramp procedures within the IDIQ to add or remove vendors to maintain a competitive market for the duration of SOFGSD. Small businesses receiving awards will be required to recertify after five years in accordance with FAR 19.301-2(iii)(A). If the small business graduates out of small business program, they may continue performance on active orders but will no longer be allowed to compete for new work.

Tentative Milestone Dates. Anticipated Industry Day to be held in March 2025 with anticipated solicitation release in May 2025. Note that Q7 in Atch 4 – SOFGSD RFI Questionnaire requires Offeror to select “in person” or “virtual” attendance preference.

Anticipated Period of Performance. Projected award announcements in February 2026, with an anticipated performance start date of June 2026.

NAICS/Service Code: NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General) / R499 (Support – Professional: Other)

Contracting Office Address. USSOCOM SOF AT&L-KH, 7701 Tampa Point Blvd., MacDill AFB, FL 33621. Contracting Officer, Alicia Spurling; Alicia.spurling@socom.mil.

RFI Submittal Instructions:

Clarification Questions: It is the Government’s intent to allow questions to be submitted about this RFI. As this effort is in the very early acquisition stage, the Government may not provide responses to all questions. Questions and responses that can be addressed will be published for public reference. Questions on this RFI shall be submitted via email using Atch 5 – QnA Template no later than 11:00am, Eastern on Friday, 06 December 2024.

RFI Responses: Interested parties shall submit a response via email using Atch 4 – RFI Questionnaire no later than 11:00am, Eastern on Friday, 03 January 2025.

Capability Document: Interested parties may also submit a 2-page (maximum) capability document along with RFI Questionnaire that demonstrates the Offeror’s ability to provide highly qualified professional services in support of SOFGSD requirements.

Offerors must provide all submissions to each of the following:

1. Contracting Officer: Alicia Spurling; alicia.spurling@socom.mil

2. Contracting Officer: Sherri Ashby; sherri.ashby@socom.mil