RFI_N00014-19-RFI-0003.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Electro Optics Center of Excellence (EOCOE)

N00014-19-RFI-0003

1.0 Description

1.1 This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) for the purpose of determining market capability of sources or obtaining information. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Quote (RFQ), or an indication that the Government will contract any of the items and/or services discussed in this notice. Any formal solicitation that may subsequently be issued will be announced separately through Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps). It is the responsibility of any potential contractor to monitor Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) for additional information pertaining to this topic.

Information on specific topic of interest is provided in the following sections of this announcement. Neither ONR nor any other part of the federal government will be responsible for any cost incurred by responders in furnishing this information.

1.2 Submission instructions for Capabilities Statements

Interested parties shall read and review the below information, and the attached Draft Statement of Work, and furnish the following information:

1. Name of Organization, Cage Code and DUNS Number;

2. Address of Organization;

3. Telephone Number, Address, and Email address for the primary point of contact for Capability Statement;

4. Business standing (i.e. large or small business) for NAICS 541715;

5. If a Small Business, indicate all Small Business Type(s) that you qualify for (e.g., Small Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) Certified, HUBZone Certified, Veteran Owned Small Business, and/or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business);

6. Status of Accounting System (i.e., does your firm have a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) approved Accounting System capable of managing a Cost-type Contract?); Estimating System; and/or Purchasing System;

7. Brief summary of your organization’s capability to meet the requirements in the SOW;

8. Brief summary of your organization’s capability to meet requirements for Key Personnel;

9. What type of work has your organization performed in the past in support of the same or similar requirements;

10. Brief summary of your organization’s experience in managing tasks of this nature;

11. Brief summary of your organization’s experience in managing a team of subcontractors, and if so how many;

12. Brief summary of the technical skills your organization possesses that ensures your capability in performing the requirements as stated above;

13. Brief summary of potential areas in the requirement in which small business participation may be possible; and

14. Provide comments (if any) regarding the ONR Statement of Work.

15. Provide comments (if any) regarding including or excluding ONR Fee Caps.

All capability statements shall be nonproprietary and shall not contain classified information.

Capability statements shall not exceed five (5) pages in length (excluding a cover page) and must be submitted by email no later than 12:00 pm local time, Washington D.C. on 18 Mar 2019 (Monday) to Mary Helen Dent, Contracting Officer at mary.dent@navy.mil. Any responses received after the requested due date may not be considered.

2.0 Navy ManTech Background

The Secretary of Defense established a Manufacturing Technology Program to further the national security objectives of Section 2501(a) of U. S. Code Title 10 – Armed Forces, through the development and application of advanced manufacturing technologies and processes that will reduce the acquisition and supportability costs of defense weapon systems and reduce manufacturing and repair cycle times across the life cycles of such systems. The purpose of the program is to improve the manufacturing quality, productivity, technology, and practices of business and workers providing goods and services to the Department of Defense (DoD). DoD Directive 4200.15 implements the Manufacturing Technology Program, and it dictates that DoD is to rely on private sector investment and the “free enterprise” system to provide the manufacturing technology necessary to produce DoD material. The Directive mandates ManTech investments are to be directed at improving the quality, productivity, technology, and practices of business and workers providing goods and services to the DoD.

The Navy Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program, operated out of the Office of Naval Research (ONR), is focused on affordability improvements for specific key acquisition platforms and capability acceleration as defined in the Navy ManTech Investment Strategy. Key platforms currently targeted include: the CVN 78 Class carrier; the DDG 51 Class destroyer; FFG(X) Guided missile frigate; the VIRGINIA Class Submarine / OHIO Replacement Program; and the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). ONR ManTech helps these Navy programs achieve their respective affordability goals by transitioning developed manufacturing technology which, when implemented, results in needed cost reduction or cost avoidance. Capability acceleration is getting new technologies to the fleet faster. Issues addressed must be production-or manufacturing technology-related.

Navy ManTech executes through Centers of Excellence using this key acquisition platform approach to develop cost reduction/avoidance platform portfolios and specific projects. There are presently seven Navy ManTech Centers of Excellence (COEs), and they serve as focal points for the development and technology transfer of new and advanced manufacturing processes and technology in a cooperative environment with industry, academia, and the Naval Research Enterprise. The COEs serve as corporate repositories of expertise in particular technological areas and collaborate with acquisition Program Executive Offices (PEOs) / Program Offices (POs) and relevant industry to identify and resolve manufacturing issues impacting the key Navy acquisition platforms. The COEs develop and demonstrate manufacturing technology solutions for identified Navy manufacturing requirements, provide consulting services to naval industrial activities and industry, and facilitate the implementation of developed manufacturing technologies.

The primary focus of the Center of which this RFI is the focus is on electro optics and electro optics improvements as reflected in the current Navy ManTech Investment Strategy which is focused largely on submarine, carrier, and surface combatant platforms.

3.0 Incumbent Contractor and Task Order Number

The incumbent contractor for this award is Pennsylvania State University performing under award number N00014-15-D-5003.

4.0 NAICS Code and Small Business Size Standard

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments. The NAICS Code applicable to this potential award will be 541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology).

5.0 Organizational Conflict of Interest

ONR has determined that an actual or potential organizational conflict of interest (OCI) exists when a contractor (including its parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates) performs both systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA) or other support services and Research and Development (R&D) work. Such situations give rise to OCIs or potential OCIs based on impaired objectively, biased ground rules, and unequal access to information. ONR prefers that companies avoid such situations altogether by choosing to do only one type of work for ONR. See ONR's Statement of Policy on OCIs, which can be found at the following address: https://www.onr.navy.mil/About-ONR/compliance-protections/Organizational-Conflicts-Interest

OCI and Personal Conflicts of Interest will be addressed via solicitation. While this is not an evaluation factor OCI and PCI will be analyzed to assure that none exist.

6.0 Statement of Work

See Attachment 1 for DRAFT Statement of Work. This SOW covers the entire scope of the Center. At time of award the SOW will be divided. Work that pertains to Center of Excellence (CoE) Operations and Management and Center of Excellence Business Operations will be attached to the first Task Order. Work that pertains to Project Development and Management will be attached to the second Task Order.

7.0 Personnel Requirements

Note: CoE = Center of Excellence

The solicitation will require that key personnel meet the following:

COE DIRECTOR

(KEY POSITION)

Required qualifications for this position:

COE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Required qualifications for this position:

BUSINESS MANAGER

Required qualifications for this position:

All proposed key personnel will be subject to the ONR Key Personnel clause, which will be included in the solicitation and resultant contract, which will read similar to the paragraphs below:

(a) The Contractor agrees to assign to the contract tasks those persons whose resumes were submitted with its proposal and who are necessary to fulfill the requirements of the contract as "key personnel.” No substitutions may be made except in accordance with this clause.

(b) The Contractor understands that during the first ninety (90) days of the contract performance period, no personnel substitutions will be permitted unless these substitutions are unavoidable because of the incumbent's sudden illness, death or termination of employment. In any of these events, the Contractor shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer and provide the information described in paragraph (c) below. After the initial ninety (90) day period the Contractor must submit to the Contracting Officer all proposed substitutions, in writing, at least 30 days in advance 45 days if security clearance must be obtained, of any proposed substitution and provide the information required by paragraph (c) below.

(c) Any request for substitution must include a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution, a resume for the proposed substitute, and any other information requested by the Contracting Officer. Any proposed substitute must have qualifications equal to or superior to the qualifications of the incumbent. The Contracting Officer or his/her authorized representative will evaluate such requests and promptly notify the Contractor in writing of his/her approval or disapproval thereof.

(d) In the event that any of the identified key personnel cease to perform under the contract and the substitute is disapproved, the contract may be immediately terminated in accordance with the Termination clause of the contract.

8.0 Contract Type

ONR anticipates awarding an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Task Orders will be issued as follows:

Center of Excellence (CoE) Operations and Management and Center of Excellence Business Operations (first Task Order) will be a negotiated Task Order on a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) basis;

Project Development and Management (second Task Order) will be a negotiated Task Order on a CPFF basis;

Performance of non-ManTech technical projects will be negotiated on either a CPFF or Cost No fee basis. Cost Share (CS) may also apply to subcontracts only;

Performance of ManTech technical projects will be issued as CPFF or Cost No fee basis Task Orders. CS may apply to subcontracts only.

9.0 Fee Caps

ONR is considering imposing fee caps on all Task Orders as follows:

10.0 Security Requirements

ONR anticipates some work may require a DD 254. If needed, the DD 254 will be initiated at the time it is needed at the Task Order level.

11.0 Period of Performance

The task order will contain a twenty-four (24) month base period and three (3) twelve (12) month option periods. The period of performance for the base period shall be from the effective date of the task order through twelve (12) months thereafter. If exercised, the period of performance for each option period of performance shall be performed during the twelve (12) month period immediately following the expiration of the base period or subsequent option periods, as applicable.

12.0 Adequate Accounting System

In accordance with FAR 16.301-3(a), a cost-reimbursement contract may be used only when the contractor's accounting system is adequate for determining costs applicable to the contract.

13.0 Enterprise Wide Contractor Reporting Application (ECMRA)

The contractor shall report ALL contractor labor hours (including subcontractor labor hours) required for performance of services provided under this contract for the Office of Naval Research via a secure data collection site. Contracted services excluded from reporting are based on Product Service Codes (PSCs).

The excluded PSCs are:

(1) W, Lease/Rental of Equipment;

(2) X, Lease/Rental of Facilities;

(3) Y, Construction of Structures and Facilities;

(4) S, Utilities ONLY;

(5) V, Freight and Shipping ONLY.

The contractor is required to completely fill in all required data fields using the following web address https://doncmra.nmci.navy.mil.

Reporting inputs will be for the labor executed during the period of performance during each Government fiscal year (FY), which runs October 1 through September 30. While inputs may be reported any time during the FY, all data shall be reported no later than October 31 of each calendar year. Contractors may direct questions to the help desk, linked at https://doncmra.nmci.navy.mil.

14.0 Commitment to Small Business

All offerors should anticipate the solicitation will require offerors to provide a commitment to Small Business. This commitment shall not be confused with the submission of a Small Business Subcontracting Plan.