AIT QPL Announcement May 09 2011.doc

Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT)

HSTS04-08-R-CT2056

Date: April 28, 2008, revised 09 May, 2011 Action (e.g., release of draft RFP, release of final RFP, RFI): Synopsis Competitive or Single Source (if single source, list company): Competitive

Program Title: Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT).

Executive Summary (brief summary as posted in FedBizOpps): The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is seeking sources for Advanced Imaging Technology for use at our Nation’s airports. Please see the attached announcement.

Contracting Officer: Lance Nyman Telephone Number: (571) 227-4261 Contract Specialist: Melyssa Bertucci Telephone Number: (571) 227-2521

I. ANNOUNCEMENT

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is seeking sources for Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) systems for screening of passengers to be used in our Nation’s airports. The TSA intends to establish a Qualified Product List (QPL) in accordance with FAR Subpart 9.2 based on the overall performance of each contractor’s AIT against the TSA AIT Procurement Specification, dated September 2009 and reasonableness of price.

II. INSTRUCTIONS

The steps in this AIT QPL process are described as follows:

Step 1 – Procurement Specification. The TSA AIT Procurement Specification contains Sensitive Security Information (SSI). In order to receive access thereto, contractors must:

1. Provide the CAGE code of the Contractor's facility that will manage the proposal.

2. Designate a Senior Corporate Official, who is responsible for serving as the single point of contact for SSI and certifying to the Contracting Officer every 60 days that all appropriate protections have been followed, only authorized individuals have access to the sensitive information, and that those individuals with access adequately understand their responsibilities to protect the information.

3. Provide the following information for all individuals who need to view SSI; provide this information via email in one password protected Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and send the password in a separate email:

a. Contractor/Subcontractor name

b. Employee Full Name

c. Employee Gender

d. Employee Birth Date

e. Employee Citizenship

f. Employee Social Security Number

4. Provide a fully completed and witnessed non-disclosure agreement for all employees who need to view SSI. Use the attached form entitled "Non-Disclosure Agreement."

5. Contractors are limited to 35 individuals (inclusive of any subcontractors) who can have access to SSI.

Step 2 – Qualification Data Package. (TSA decision #1). Contractors must submit a Qualification Data Package (QDP) providing evidence of conformance to the requirements in the Qualification Management Plan (QMP) for AIT Qualification Test and Evaluation. The QMP is considered SSI and can accordingly be provided only to those contractors who have been vetted, as described in Step 1, above. The contractor must submit an acceptable QDP in order to move to Step 3.

Step 3 – Qualification Test and Evaluation. Once the QDP is deemed acceptable, the contractor will be required to submit two systems to the TSL (located in Atlantic City, NJ), conforming to the Procurement Specification (at no cost to the TSA) for Qualification Testing and Evaluation (QT&E). The systems must be available to ship to the TSL no later than one week after the TSL has accepted the QDP. Qualification Testing is expected to take between two weeks and two months, depending upon how well testing progresses. Each contractor will be required to (1) enter into a Bailment Agreement prior to the delivery to the TSL that will address the responsibilities and liabilities of the parties for the system while in the custody of the TSA during the QPL process, (2) support a baseline configuration audit of its AIT systems, (3) provide training on the operation of its system and (4) support and maintain the AIT systems throughout QT&E.

Support of a baseline configuration audit entails the following: (1) the contractor 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; (2) The contractor will perform a preliminary selection of Configuration Items (CIs) based on major components/critical items list. CIs are selected based on function, performance, safety, and serviceability; (3) TSA will compare parts numbers 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 3a - Detection QT&E. (TSA decision #2). TSA will first conduct testing to determine the contractor’s ability to meet detection and false alarm requirements. The contractor must meet all said requirements in order to move to Step 3b.

STEP 3b – Non-Detection QT&E. (TSA decision #3). TSA will then conduct testing to determine the contractor’s ability to meet all requirements not tested under Step 3a. The contractor must meet all said requirements in order to move to Step 3c.

STEP 3c – Preliminary Operational Test and Evaluation. (TSA decision #4). Before Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) begins at airports, TSA may conduct preliminary OT&E if necessary to ensure system compliance with radiation requirements and system safety. Preliminary OT&E is required if (1) the contractor’s system utilizes ionizing radiation and/or (2) non-detection safety requirements related to the physical demands placed on passengers by the system were not able to be verified during QT&E.

Preliminary Radiation OT&E – If the contractor’s system utilizes ionizing radiation, this step will consist of a third party facility providing radiation testing on TSA’s behalf. Said testing will determine if the system is in compliance with ANSI N43.17.

Preliminary Safety OT&E – If the contractor’s system places physical demands upon passengers to an extent that non-detection safety requirements cannot be verified during QT&E, this step will consist of determining if passengers can safely utilize the system. Said testing will occur either at the TSL or the Transportation Security Integrated Facility (TSIF) in Arlington Va.

During this step, the contractor will provide support for up to two days of testing on functionality of their system.

Step 4 – Operational Test and Evaluation. (TSA decision #5). After QT&E and any required Preliminary Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) have been successfully completed, TSA will conduct Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) at the airports identified by TSA. The contractor will be required to submit one additional system, for a total of three.

Each contractor will be required to (1) enter into a Bailment Agreement for the additional system, (2) support an additional baseline configuration audit, (3) provide up to three days of training on the operation of its system at each airport and (4) support and maintain the systems throughout OT&E Once OT&E is completed, TSA will assess the results for operational suitability. If the system passes QT&E and OT&E, TSA will evaluate if the system should be placed on the QPL and notify the contractor of its decision.

Optional Step 5 – Proposal and Contract Award. Placement on the QPL does not guarantee a contract award. TSA will provide the contractor a solicitation after it has been placed on the QPL. If the contractor submits an acceptable proposal in response to the solicitation, TSA will award it an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract. The contractor will also receive an initial delivery order for at least one system. Subsequent orders for systems and related requirements will be competed amongst the QPL vendors.

Below are the approximate timelines for the QPL process.

Step 3b: TSA will notify the contractor of the acceptability of its system with respect to Non-Detection QT&E within 60 days after completion of Step 3a.

Step 3c: TSA will notify the contractor of the necessity of Preliminary OT&E within 15 days after completion of Step 3b. TSA will notify the contractor of the acceptability of its system with respect to Preliminary OT&E within 90 days after commencement of Preliminary Radiation OT&E and within 45 days after commencement of Preliminary Safety OT&E.

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.

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