MOKV_RFI_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

Multi-Object Kill Vehicle Industry Day

Questions and Answers

Question

Number Question Response

1 What is the funding profile for the 18 month effort? We plan on awarding the concept definition in Oct 2015.

2 How will Missile Defense Agency (MDA) spread funding across entire effort? Funding will match the award.

At the end of the concept definition period, after Questions and Answers

(Q&A), is there a down select?

We may select one or more contractors to continue beyond the concept definition effort.

4 Is there intent to exercise more than one option? See question # 3

If the Request for Proposal (RFP) is released in June, how much time to respond?

MDA usually provides 30 days.

When will the Priced Option be exercised? Can you give an estimate of

Authority to Proceed (ATP)?

After completion of the concept definition effort.

7 Will this effort have a policy about exclusive teaming? Not at this time

8 Is the 3-4 month after evaluation include Q&A period? Yes

Should the concept have three autonomous Kill Vehicles (KV) or trade against

Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) designs?

The trade space is wide open.

11 Should we pick just one concept for the Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM)? Yes

12 Do we need the Technology Risk Reduction (TRR) data for the white paper? No. Describe the concept. Define the technology needed for the concept. Describe your trades and approach.

13 What is the current state of the TRR technology? Not needed until RFP

Suggestion: Draft RFP during evaluation period would help contractors begin work on proposals.

Noted

What is the expectation for entry and exit level Technology Readiness Levels

(TRLs)?

At this time there are not entry or exit TRL requirements for the Concept Definition portion of the program. In the proof-of-concept prototype portion of the program it is expected the contractors will focus on aspects of the concept that have high technical risk and/or embody critical functional capabilities.

16 What will be the desired TRL level at the prototype stage?

Will be addressed in the RFP. In the proof-of-concept prototype portion of the program it is expected the contractors will focus on aspects of the concept that have high technical risk and/or embody critical functional capabilities.

17 What expectations are there for models and simulations?

The RFP will describe required models and simulations to be developed and delivered during the Concept

Definition portion of the program.

18 Can we get MKV models as Government Furnished Equipment?

There is no intention to deliver Government owned models for past programs. The modeling and simulation environment is described in the Government Furnished Information (GFI) and requirements for models and simulations will be defined in the RFP (as a Contract Deliverables Requirements List (CDRL)).

19 Is there an expectation for the number of KVs on the payload? This is part of the trade space.

Are vehicles for the concept expected to be identical for all boosters (Ground

Based Interceptor (GBI), Standard Missile 3 (SM-3), Terminal High-Altitude

Area Defense (THAAD))?

There is no Government preconceived concept; explain what you can do with the technology available.

21 Will details of the shroud be made available?

Yes, the current available payload volume will be part of the RFP GFI. You may also change any existing

Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) structure(s) as part of your concept trade space with justification.

22 Can you provide us with the 2025 BMDS baseline? It will be provided with RFP GFI.

23 Will MDA rely on the Redesigned Kill Vehicle (RKV) requirements? A redlined RKV Top Level Requirements (TLR) will provide initial goals for MOKV.

Does the Government plan additional TRR for Multi-Object Kill Vehicle

(MOKV)?

Planned investments are for Divert & Attitude Control System (DACS), Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), and KV-to-KV Communications.

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Question

Number Question Response

Will an out brief from Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC (ATK) be available?

Can we talk to them about their work?

All offerors may talk to ATK. It is up to ATK to decide what to disclose about proprietary work. The Government will give permission for ATK to disclose work done with Government funding.

26 Is the ATK work related to MOKV? It is related to prior SM-3 IIB efforts.

27 Will guidance be provided for the 2 stage GBI in the future? Yes - in the RFP.

28 What is the National Team's role in MOKV?

National Team is part of the MDA Systems Engineering team; involvement includes developing requirements, defining and validating threats. Future work may include support to MDA/DE conducting BMDS level performance assessments of concepts.

30 When can we get TRR data? Part of RFP GFI

31 Is it a good assumption that the white paper should be generic trade studies? No

32 ATK says they can't share their work with us. Can we get it?

All offerors may talk to ATK. It is up to ATK to decide what to disclose about proprietary work. The Government will give permission for ATK to disclose work done with Government funding.

33 Need ATK information for the ROM.

Component vendors may share data if they get Government permission to release it. You may ask ATK to ask for Government permission. It also depends on what you are asking for.

34 Is THAAD weighted equally with GBI and SM-3? Primary focus is GBI and SM-3.

35 Will MOKV use the RKV approach - to build a modular best of breed KV? No acquisition decisions have been made for MOKV.

37 Does the Government have plans to release models? Yes

39 Can we use an approach that has a large trade space? Not looking for a fully developed concept in White Paper. Describe initial concept(s) and identify trade studies.

40 Can we present two concepts? Trade space is open; describe architectures and why trades are made.

41 Is the white paper required to be unclassified?

Classified annex can be included as part of the 10 page limit. Use the BMDS Security Classification Guide

(SCG) to keep the classification to collateral SECRET. In addition to the BMDS SCG, the following SCGs should also be used: MKV SCG, THAAD SCG, Aegis SCG, OPNAVIST SM 2, 3, 4, 6 SCG and Ground-Based

Midcourse Defense (GMD) SCG.

42 How will threat sets be provided? Comply to sets? Spider charts?

Allocated threat countermeasures and threat parameters will be provided as well as specific threat assessment scenarios. Allocated countermeasure / parameters not included in threat scenarios will need to be addressed by parametric studies. Threats will not be identified as compliance / assess to.

43 Will Risk Reduction investments continue past the Concept Definition phase? To be determined (TBD)

44 Is GBI the first MOKV priority for boosters? SM-3 and GBI 3 Stage are the focus for the white paper. The RFP may include the GBI 2 Stage.

Should the MOKV concept be interchangeable at the system level or component level?

The trade space is wide open.

Is the Operations & Maintenance description just for the Kill Vehicle or the entire missile?

Just KV. Potential impacts to other aspects to the BMDS as a result of any proposed concepts should be identified if known.

How are Solid Divert and Attitude Control System (SDACS) contractors supposed to obtain release of Government funded work conducted on the

SDACS?

Send Government a letter asking permission to release data to interested companies. Government funded work is releasable to all requestors if requests are provided in writing.

There is a clause in the Concept Definition and Program Planning contracts that limits release.

Request the release contractually; no proprietary marking on releasable documents.

49 Can we get more detail on the volume metrics? Not at this time; part of RFP GFI.

50 Is there a TRL gate?

At this time there are not entry or exit TRL requirements for the Concept Definition portion of the program. In the proof-of-concept prototype portion of the program it is expected the contractors will focus on aspects of the concept that have high technical risk and / or embody critical functional capabilities.

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Question

Number Question Response

Would MDA like for ATK (as a subcontractor) to provide a white paper identifying propulsion gaps?

This solicitation is looking for a full MOKV solution.

55 Will the Government provide 2025 threat set and 2025 BMDS architecture.

Yes. The Government will provide projected threat set and Blue Force Laydown which will include GBI, SM-3 and boosters. Provide rationale for changes to the architecture.

56 What type of changes to the BMDS are expected for 2025? Possible changes to sensors, missile field, etc. Will be provided as part of RFP GFI.

58 How reliant is the MOKV concept on changes to the BMDS elements?

Concepts should be robust to all possible operational conditions. The Government anticipates future requirements will address conditions from autonomous operation to directed engagements.

Is the Government looking for a solution with Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle like performance?

The trade space is wide open.

60 What is MDA's position on leveraging previous MKV work? MDA has no position on leveraging previous KV efforts.

61 Is the RKV the baseline for MOKV? The Government will provide a redline version of the RKV TLR as initial goals.

62 When will the redlined TLR be available? It will be provided in the RFP.

Regarding TRR such as Focal Plane Array - is there an expectation for leveraging that technology?

There is no requirement. Use it if it is applicable to the concept.

64 Can we get a description of the IMU? It will be provided in the RFP.

Does the Government expect industry to collaborate or provide independent concepts?

Based on the white paper.

During the brief the Government stated there would be no software development during concept development. What about discrimination algorithms?

The level if software development will be up to the individual contractor to determine.

67 What technology investments make MOKV viable now?

That is concept dependent. The concept definition effort is expected to identify specific technology shortfalls that need to be addressed in the proof-of-concept prototype development effort.

68 Is there an appetite for TRL levels for technology capability?

At this time there are not entry or exit TRL requirements for the Concept Definition portion of the program. In the proof-of-concept prototype portion of the program it is expected the contractors will focus on aspects of the concept that have high technical risk and / or embody critical functional capabilities.

69 Should the concept address GBI 3-stage v. 2-Stage trade space is wide open

70 Will MDA describe the future BMDS Architecture?

White Papers should address the current architecture. If the contractor needs changes, white papers should justify any suggested changes. MDA will consider incorporating suggestions from industry.

White paper has concept description for MOKV? Then plan to evolve that fundamental concept?

Yes. The white paper should include the technical aspect, what it involves, and the demonstration plan.

72 Cost/Schedule for CD and a prototype/test phase?

The white paper should not include a full-up cost estimate but a ROM on the approach. See pages 2-3 of the

RFI Attachment.

Is the funding shown in the brief per award/contractor? Does the funding include Program Office (for program action)?

The funding on chart 11 shows it is the total funds for this contract action (not per contractor). We do expect multiple awards in the concept definition phase. Funds shown don't include program office budget.

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Question

Number Question Response

74 To what extent are RKV & MOKV requirements coupled? The concept definition effort will inform the requirements development for MOKV

75 Will threat data be provided as GFI? Yes, with the RFP.

Industry requests clarification on the end goals of the Prototype Development

Option. During industry day, it was stated that it's goal was to provide proof of concept. It was also stated that it would result in readiness to begin

Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD). As such, do you envision that the end of the Prototype Development Option results in an

System Requirements Review or a Preliminary Design Review/Milestone B level of maturity?

No TRL or specific design maturity goals have been established. It is up to the contractor to define and describe necessary work.

We will have a classified page in the white paper. Our desired approach is to email the unclassified portion of the white paper and hand deliver the classified portion. Is this acceptable?

Submit responses in accordance with the announcement section 5b guidance. No hard copies.

The Broad Area Announcement (BAA) states that the white paper should be submitted via e-mail attachments to you. How should we submit the classified portion? Also, I wanted to confirm that you do not want hard copies of the submittal.

Submit responses in accordance with the announcement section 5b guidance. No hard copies.

Do respondents need to have all the experience / capabilities as a typical prime integrator in order to respond. The language suggest this is preferred but does not seem to preclude a response that focuses more on one aspect vice the entire system.

The Missile Defense Advanced Technology Innovation (ATI) BAA provides instructions for white paper submittal. The Government imposes no additional limitations. However, the Government anticipates successful white papers will address all aspects of the MOKV requirement in Attachment 3 Section 3.

80 Are you able to share if/when an RFP may follow this RFI? The program schedule was discussed at Industry Day.

What technologies are being sponsored by MDA?

Same as #99

The Government is making selected investments in DACS, IMU, and communications technology. It will be up to each respondent to determine the level these investments support the proposed / selected concept.

How does industry get access to these plans and results?

Same as #100 Yes. It will be provided as GFP release in the RFP.

What are ATP and end-of-contract dates for the concept definition (CD) phase?

Planned ATP - Oct-Nov. CD Phase - estimate 16 months followed by a 2-3 month question and answer period while final concepts are under review.

84 What is the funding available to contractors for the CD phase? Addressed at Industry Day - Current plans are for $54M for all contractors in FY16 and FY17.

85 What is the desired end state or products for the CD phase? A converged final MOKV concept. RFP will include CDRL to address deliverables.

86 Is risk reduction included in the CD phase? Negative, no hardware/software development for risk reduction in CD Phase.

Is prototype development and test part of the CD phase, or a subsequent phase?

Subsequent phase.

What is the schedule required and funding for the prototype development effort?

Proof-of-concept prototype effort schedule should be consistent with respondent's concept maturity and necessary development work to demonstrate critical functions and mitigation of high technical risks.

What is the desired end state or products for the prototype development effort?

The prototype development effort should produce a proof-of-concept prototype that demonstrates reduced risk for aspects of the concept that have high technical risk and/or demonstrates critical functional capabilities.

What is the Government acquisition plan for transitioning contractors from concept definition to prototype development?

The acquisition strategy for follow-on phases is not yet approved.

91 How many CD awards? How many prototype development awards?

The Government anticipates multiple awards based on funding available and quality of white papers and concepts.

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Question

Number Question Response

92 Will awards be made to system integrator primes only?

Anticipate awards based on white papers that address the entire requirement stated in the RFI for a complete

KV payload concept.

Will you establish that exclusive teaming arrangements are not allowed for key subcontractors?

Negative.

Will the Government establish selection criteria and weightings for BAA evaluations?

Evaluation criteria are established in the ATI BAA

What is the Government post-BAA submittal acquisition plan / schedule: reviews/Q&As, RFP, ATP?

We will accept questions (in writing) until close of business 15 Feb. We do not anticipate further communication with Industry between then and receipt of white papers (1 March).

What are the Government acquisition plan and schedule for EMD procurement / fielding?

The anticipated product development/EMD is dependent on concept development and proof of concept results and progress. TBD.

What are Government priority needs regarding GBI /SM-3 /THAAD? Common

KV or common technologies?

The Government is looking for solutions that reduce redundant investments across BMDS kill vehicles that also provide effective capabilities against the threat. The respondents concept should address that balance.

98 Will Government provide description of future (2025) BMDS architecture? Yes, prior to or as part of any future RFP.

What Government TRRs are anticipated to support MOKV?

Same as #81

The Government is making selected investments in DACS, IMU, and communications technology. It will be up to each respondent, that if selected for Concept Development, to determine the level these investments support the proposed / selected concept.

Will contractors have access to Government TRR contractors and data?

Same as #82 Yes. Subsequent to Concept Definition awards.

101 Will contractors have access to Government RKV program data? TBD; dependent on RKV program contract release.

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