AT QPL 04 28 2008 FBO.pdf

Advanced Technology (AT) X- ray system

HSTS04-08-R-CT2042

I. ANNOUNCEMENT

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is seeking sources for Advanced Technology (AT) X-ray systems for screening passenger carry-on baggage to be used in our Nation’s airports. The TSA will examine each offeror’s response to this announcement to determine those vendors who have satisfactorily met the minimum requirements as specified in the white paper requirements section of this announcement.

The TSA will then establish a Qualified Product List (QPL) based on the overall performance of each offeror’s AT against TSA specifications and reasonableness of price. Only offerors that respond to this announcement and who demonstrate that they can fulfill TSA’s requirements will be eligible for placement onto the QPL. This will be an Open Qualified Products List. Vendors will be able to submit white papers to the contracting officer at any time, although testing will only occur on a periodic basis. If the product fails to meet the basic criteria or fails during the Qualification Data Package (QDP) submittal or certification testing, a vendor will not be permitted to retest sooner than 30 days after the failure, unless it is determined to be in the best interest of the government. If the product fails a second time the product will be locked out of future testing for six months after the second failure, unless the government determines it is in TSA’s best interest to allow further testing. Only offerors who successfully complete testing will be placed on the QPL and be considered for a contract award.

II. INSTRUCTIONS

There are 8 steps in this QPL process:

Step-1 Industry sources interested in participating in this procurement must respond to this announcement. The offeror must provide a white- paper not to exceed 5 single-sided pages (12 pt. font, 1 inch margins, 8.5” x 11” paper) describing each of the requirements as defined in the white paper requirements section of this announcement. This procurement action will be restricted to those companies that have been determined by the Government, based on information provided in their response to this announcement, to have satisfactorily met the requirements as specified in the white paper requirements section of this announcement. Failure to provide complete and accurate data or not being able to meet any of the requirements of Step 1-8 and/or failure to meet all the technical requirements may result in the vendor being disqualified from the AT QPL process. Offerors who desire to submit multiple models for evaluation must comply with the entire QPL announcement process for each system. Each system submitted for evaluation must have clear design or functional differences.

Step-2 TSA will analyze the white-papers upon submission. The TSA will evaluate each vendor against the requirements, documented under the white paper requirements section in this document, and down-select to those vendors who have satisfactorily met the requirements as specified in the white paper requirements section. Offerors will be notified in writing of eligibility approximately two business weeks after submission of the white paper and estimated unit prices. For the companies that TSA deems technically acceptable and their price reasonable for the competition, the TSA will allow access to the Draft Procurement Specification and Request for Proposal at www.fedteds.gov. A security check may be performed on each selected vendor prior to the determination of eligibility and the release of the Draft Procurement Specification and Request for Proposal. The Government reserves the right to adjust the Draft Procurement Specification and Request for Proposal distribution date. All interested parties must provide a signed copy of the AT Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Please send an email to adam.freimanis@dhs.gov or victor.carden@dhs.gov requesting this form.

Step-3 TSA will hold an Industry Day to answer any of the Offerors’ questions on the AT Draft Procurement Specification (including allowing appropriately-cleared vendors to view the classified portion of the requirements), the Draft RFP, QPL, Qualification Management Plan (QMP) and procurement process. The Offerors are encouraged to submit any questions on the Draft Procurement Specification and RFP prior to the Industry Day. Specific details regarding Industry Day will be released to the vendors deemed eligible. Additional Industry Days may be held at the government’s discretion.

Step-4 Offerors wishing to participate after review of the Draft Procurement Specification and Industry Day must submit a Qualification Data Package (QDP) providing evidence of conformance to the requirements in the Qualification Management Plan (QMP) for Advanced Technology (AT) Qualification Test and Evaluation. The Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) may provide a set of test articles to Offerors wishing to submit a QDP. Test results from analysis of these test articles must be submitted as part of the QDP.

Step-5 Once the QDP is deemed acceptable by the test team, the vendor will be required to submit two units to the TSL, conforming to the Procurement Specification (at no cost to the TSA) for the Qualification testing. The units must be available to ship to the TSL no later than one (1) week after the TSL has accepted the QDP. Qualification Testing will take approximately two (2) weeks. Each potential vendor will be required to enter into a Bailment Agreement that will address the responsibilities and liabilities of the parties for the equipment while in the custody of the TSA during the QPL process. See a sample Bailment Agreement on www.fedteds.gov.

Step-6 Once the offeror successfully completes the Qualification testing, a Baseline Configuration Audit of the system will be conducted. The offeror will submit a drawing tree, the system Bill of Materials (BOM), and associated engineering drawings to depict the physical existence of installed parts in advance of the scheduled configuration audit date.

The offeror will perform a preliminary selection of Configuration Items (CIs) based on major components/critical items list. During the Pre-Audit Meeting the OST CM Team, the Technical Lead, and the Offeror will reach consensus on those items that will accurately represent the system. CIs are selected based on function, performance, safety, and serviceability.

During the Physical Configuration Audit, part numbers will be compared to production drawings and drawing revisions will be examined against change notices for accuracy.

Actual machine components will be verified on the machine. Part numbers, name plates, and serial numbers will be physically verified (i.e., inspected CIs will exhibit appropriate labeling of parts nomenclature) against associated documentation. Part numbers which are verified, validated, and physically identified will be recorded and comments annotated under discrepancies and recommendations.

Step-7 TSA will conduct a QPL Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) for Offerors who successfully complete the TSL Qualification testing and configuration audit. The OT&E will be conducted at multiple airports for a timeframe of approximately thirty (30) to sixty (60) days, not including one (1) week of training and unit burn-in time. The Offeror will support and maintain the AT units during the OT&E. The amount of units to be supplied at no cost to the Government for OT&E will be up to five (5). The Government reserves the right to adjust the number of units required and the duration of the OT&E.

The RFP will be provided to the offerors who successfully enter OT&E. Being presented the RFP does not guarantee successful completion of OT&E.

Step-8 After the OT&E, TSA will analyze the results. If the unit passes Qualification Testing and is deemed acceptable after the OT&E data analysis, the vendor will be required to submit a proposal within 15 days of notification by the contracting officer.

The vendor’s proposal will be evaluated in accordance with the basis for award in Section M of the RFP. Placement on the QPL does not guarantee a contract award; however, if the vendor’s proposal meets the award criteria in Section M of the RFP an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity will be awarded with a minimum and maximum number of units the government will purchase over the life of the contract. The vendor will also receive an initial delivery order for the minimum number of units. Subsequent orders for units will be competed among the QPL vendors and the award criteria will include, but not be limited to the ability for the equipment to detect the current or emerging threats, life cycle cost and the vendor’s performance during OT&E.

Below are the approximate timelines for submission of white papers until establishment of the QPL. The specific dates to be eligible for an award in fiscal Year 2008 will be provided at Industry Day. The Government reserves the right to adjust the time frames of the QPL timeline below.

Step Time Line Date

1. Vendor Draft White Paper Submittal 15 days from date of this synopsis.

2. Eligible Vendor Notification and

Access to Draft Procurement Specification and initial Request for Proposal

Two business weeks after submission of the white paper and estimated unit prices

3. TSA Industry Day Within 1 month of Eligible

Vendor Notification

4. Initial Qualification Data Package

Submittal As soon as 1 day after Industry Day but no later than 30 days after Industry Day

5. Final QDP Submittal 60 days from the date of

Industry Day

6. Qualification Testing Variable (2 wk pd per vendor)

7. Baseline Configuration Audit Variable (1 wk pd per vendor)

8. Operational Test and Evaluation

(OT&E)

Variable (30-60 day period)

9. OT&E Results Analysis Within 1 month of Final OT&E

10. Final Proposal Revision Within 1 month of successful completion of OT&E

III. WHITE PAPER REQUIREMENTS

All interested parties must respond to this announcement no later than Thursday May 13, 2008 3:00 P.M. EST in the form of a white paper. Offerors must adequately respond to each requirement of the Technical Description provided below. The white paper must provide the following information:

A. Company name, address, size status, and disadvantaged business status, if any, business status, location of production facilities, CCR registration, DUNS number, and Security Classification.

B. Product Model and specifications. Production history of the unit must also be provided, including month/year of initial production and quantity produced in each of the last six (6) months. The vendor shall submit a specification sheet (cut-sheet) which does not count toward the five (5) pages of the white paper.

C. Unit pricing. The Offeror shall provide a commercial price per unit for the AT screening units. If the units are not presently a commercial product then the Offeror shall provide a price that reflects the rough order of magnitude of cost per unit. When the RFP is released the Offerors will have an opportunity to revise their pricing based on a better understanding of the requirements, quantity discounts, and etc.

D. Technical Description: description of the system addressing its capabilities against the minimum requirements. Describe the basic scientific or technical approach that will be used in each component or subsystem comprising your proposed solution. What is unique about your solution and what advantages might it afford compared to alternate approaches? The Technical description section shall address at a minimum the statements listed below:

1. TSA defines an AT X-ray system as a first level screening device presenting a primary, dual-energy x-ray image to the operator, along with a secondary, x-ray based image. The primary x-ray image shall be assessed using ASTM F792-01 test kit and the scored shall be presented in the white paper. The minimum scores will be defined in the product specification. If the secondary image consists of a dual-energy x-ray image, that image shall represent an image that is offset from the primary image orientation, and shall meet the same image quality requirements as the primary image. If an alternate x-ray based technology is used for the secondary image, the offeror shall identify the standard used to assess image quality.

2. AT X-ray system shall be designed to integrate into the airport checkpoint with minimal impact on the current configuration.

3. AT shall have a minimum tunnel aperture of 24” wide and 16” high with minimum of a 440 bags per hour throughput.

4. The AT shall be certified by an OSHA Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) for electrical safety.

5. Offerors shall be able to demonstrate how future upgrades such as; Threat Image Projection and STIP V3.1 will be incorporated in their software.

E. Manufacturing Capabilities: All interested parties must provide the location of manufacturing facilities in which current AT product is produced. Descriptions of these facilities must provide; size, number of employees, production capacity for each AT model, current operating level as a percentage of maximum capacity and the types of manufacturing operations performed in each facility. Each company must also provide historical past performance references (min. of three references with POC information). The past performance must reflect successful deployment of the TRX currently available.

IV. RESPONSE FORMAT AND DUE DATE

Responses shall be prepared using 12 pt. font, 1 inch margin and 8.5” x 11” paper, and shall not exceed five (5) pages in length, including all images, data displays, charts, graphs, and tables. Offerors must submit either a hard copy or electronic version. The electronic version must be submitted in PDF format or in read-only Word documents.

All solicitation and specification documents will be available on Fedteds.gov to those vendors who have been down-selected. Down-selected offerors must submit a non-disclosure statement and be vetted by the contracting office and security office prior to being given access to the documents. Please access https://www.fedteds.gov for instructions on signing up to Fedteds.

This announcement is for information purposes only and shall not be construed as a commitment or a promise of a contract by the Government. This announcement does not commit the Government to pay any costs incurred in the submission of responses. Only proposals from qualified Offerors will be evaluated for award.

https://www.fedteds.gov/

Note: Electronic copies of white papers are preferred. Priority and “express” mail delivery times ( to include FedEx, UPS, DHL, and others) to the TSA are usually 3-4 days longer than standard delivery times for these types of mail. Standard USPS mail generally arrives as fast, if not faster, than all other types of mail. White- papers can be mailed, dropped-off at TSA HQ, or sent electronically. To mail white- papers send them to:

Transportation Security Administration 601 South 12th Street, TSA 25 Attn: Victor Carden Arlington, Virginia 22202