Nulka MK 234 Payload RFI_09MAY2024.pdf

MK 234 PAYLOAD PRODUCTION & DESIGN AGENT

Sources Sought Date: 09 MAY 2024

Classification Code: 5865 - Electronic Countermeasures, Counter-countermeasures and Quick Reaction

Capability Equipment for spares, parts, and supporting Equipment supplies

Other applicable PSC Codes: R425 - Engineering and Technical Services, J059 - Maint/repair/rebuild

Of Equipment- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Components for maintenance, refurbishment, and repair services.

NAICS Code: 334511 - Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and

Instrument Manufacturing.

Contracting Office Address: N00024 1333 Isaac Hull Ave S.E. Washington Navy Yard, DC

Subject: FY25-29 Nulka MK 234 Payload Production and Design Agent

Solicitation Number: N00024-24-R-5505

Contact Points: Contracting Officer, Mr. Alexander Gosnell (SEA 02552) alexander.b.gosnell.civ@us.navy.mil; and Contract Specialist, Ms. Jennifer Kramer (SEA 02552K) jennifer.l.kramer26.civ@us.navy.mil

Description:

This Sources Sought Notice is being issued by the United States Navy (USN), Naval Sea Systems

Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the Nulka Joint Program Office (JPO). The Australian Program

Office and the United States Program Office comprise the JPO.

The Government is conducting market research to determine industry interest and capability related to

Build-to-Print Production of Nulka MK 234 ADAP Payloads, redesign and production of Nulka MK 234

ADAP Payload sub-assemblies, Design Agent Engineering for Nulka MK 234 ADAP, and Sustainment efforts for the Nulka MK 234 ADAP and CAT Payload Subsystems.

Background:

The Nulka MK 234 Electronic Decoy Cartridge (EDC) was jointly developed by the United States (US) and Australian governments. Since commencement of that development, both the governments have maintained a Joint Program Office (JPO) to manage the Nulka capability.

The Nulka MK 234 EDC supports both the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and USN ships with a self-defense capability against incoming radar-homing Anti-Ship Missiles (ASM). The Nulka MK 234 EDC counters ASMs by maneuvering a decoy containing an active Payload (the electronic device that receives and transmits RF energy) away from the ship. The decoy seduces the hostile threat, causing the threat to miss its intended target. BAE Systems Australia Limited is the OEM for the Nulka MK 234 EDC

(excluding the Rocket Motor and Payload subassemblies).

The Nulka MK 234 Payload is a Nulka MK 234 EDC subassembly Presently, there are two new generation Payload variants: the Advanced Decoy Architecture Program (ADAP) and the Counter

Advanced Threat (CAT). The ADAP Payload is employed by both the RAN and the USN. The CAT

Payload is currently only employed by the RAN. L3Harris Technologies is the Original Equipment

Manufacturer (OEM) for the new generation Payloads.

The Nulka JPO has a requirement for the following:

Subassemblies:

❖ Redesign the ADAP Subassembly

❖ Produce the redesigned ADAP Subassembly

❖ Sustain current and redesigned ADAP Subassemblies

Payloads:

❖ Continue to produce current ADAP Payloads

❖ Sustain current ADAP Payloads

❖ Sustain current CAT Payload

❖ Continually improve the performance of all new generation Nulka Payloads.

Scope of Effort:

This Sources Sought Notice seeks to understand industry’s interest and capabilities to provide the following:

❖ Build-to-Print Production:

o Manufacturing/production of current ADAP Payloads and components o Manufacturing/production of redesigned ADAP Subassembly

❖ Sustainment:

o Manufacturing/acquisition of spares, parts, and supporting equipment o Payload maintenance support design and management o Supply chain design and management o Payload Refurbishment and repair

❖ Design Agent Engineering:

o Logistics/configuration Management o Engineering and Technical Support o Hardware design (including the redesign of the ADAP Subassembly) o Failure investigation, analysis, and resolution o Modeling & prototyping o Obsolescence solutions o Requirements development and baseline generation o Software design o Surveillance activities o Technology insertion and integration o Technology qualification and evaluation o Trade studies o Research and development o Safety and security o Training support

The Production units, Spares, and Design Agent Engineering are required to support both the Royal

Australian Navy (RAN) and the USN and must be appropriately distributed so as to minimize production and support delays, thus maximizing fleet availability to both countries. Accordingly, the work anticipated under this effort is expected to require performance and delivery in both Australia and the

United States.

Interested companies must be capable of providing Production, Sustainment, and Design Agent

Engineering at the PRIME CONTRACTOR level.

GFI Portal:

The Government has made available a GFI portal for this Sources Sought Notice. This portal is available on NSERC and contains the ADAP and CAT Technical Data Packages (TDP).

The GFI portal is available to U.S.-only companies. Access to the GFI portal requires submittal of a completed and previously approved Military Critical Technical Data Agreement (DD Form 2345) and a valid CAGE Code provided to the Contracting Officer and contractor Specialist, and an approved Terms of Use Agreement.

To obtain the TDP documentation, interested companies shall provide a current copy of their approved

DD Form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Agreement, verifying eligibility and authority to receive export-controlled information. In addition, interested companies must complete a Terms of Use

Agreement(s) (CLASS and UNCLASSIFIED). Companies should assert in their requests that they have a Defense Security Service (DSS) issued SECRET facility clearance, providing for SECRET personnel clearances and SECRET safeguarding capability.

Classification and Security

All materials submitted in response to this Sources Sought should be UNCLASSIFIED.

Security Classification Guidance is as follows:

A copy of the Secret classification guide is on file with NAVSEA PEO IWS 2.0.

The Contractor shall utilize the NAVSEA Critical Information and Indicators List, of 29 NOV 2023 to help identify and protect critical information associated with this RFI. The Contractor may be exposed to or use, NAVSEA Critical Information (CI) and/or observables and indicators which may lead to discovery of CI. NAVSEA’s CI will not be distributed to unauthorized third parties, including foreign governments, or companies under Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI).

NAVSEA’s CI shall not be publicized in corporate wide newsletters, trade magazines, displays, intranet pages or public facing websites. Media requests related to this project shall be directed to NAVSEA

Public Release Authority listed in Item12 of the associated DD Form 254. Any attempt by unauthorized third parties to solicit, obtain, photograph, or record, or incidents of loss/ compromise of government

Classified or CI, Business Sensitive and Company Proprietary information related to this RFI must be immediately reported to the Facility Security Officer, DCSA and/or the Naval Criminal Investigative

Service, and the NAVSEA Security Office. Questions concerning these requirements shall be directed to the NAVSEA Security Office.

In reference to the MK 234 PAYLOAD PRODUCTION & DESIGN AGENT SOURCES SOUGHT

DD254:

To review Classified GFI and respond to this RFI, the contractor shall require access to receive, handle and safeguard classified data. The Contractor shall have facilities appropriate for classified document storage and control as identified in the attached Security Classification Specification, DD Form 254. The

Contractor shall have personnel cleared for SECRET information required to maintain knowledge of the current intelligence information. Access up to SECRET is required for viewing Classified GFI and responding to this RFI. Information/data received, handled or utilized in this RFI shall not be disclosed to any third party (e.g. foreign governments, other corporate entities, etc.) without prior written approval from the Contracting Officer. The required means and methods for the access and handling of classified data will include the following:

Block 1.a. Facility Security Clearance Required: The contractor is required to maintain a SECRET facility security clearance.

Block 1b. Level of Safeguarding for Classified Information/Material Required at Contractor Facility: The contractor is required to maintain a level of safeguarding for classified information/material at the

SECRET level.

Block 10a. COMSEC: Contractor requires access to COMSEC information and infrastructure (personnel clearances, laptop/desktop/and a facility location certified for processing of secure communications). The

Contractor shall be required to have access to COMSEC for SIPRNet equipment.

Access to classified COMSEC information requires a final U.S. Government clearance at the appropriate level. Further disclosure of COMSEC information by a contractor, to include subcontracting, requires prior approval by GCA.

Block 10e. Non-SCI: Contractors requesting access to Classified data will require access to non-SCI.

This RFI contains technology with the purpose of countering threats of potential adversaries.

Block 10j. Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI): Contractors requesting access to Classified data will be required to have access to CUI to determine if they can perform the in the functional areas contained in this RFI.

Block 11b. Receive and store classified documents only: Contractors requesting access to Classified data shall only receive classified documents for reference purposes. There shall be no generation or derivative classification of classified material at the contractor facility.

Block 11g. In order to use the current contract specifications and applicable documentation, the contractor is required to use the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). DD Form 1540

“Registration for Scientific and Technical Information Services” must be completed for registration with

DTIC. The contractor may also submit DD Form 2345 “Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement”

(after registration with DTIC) to the Defense Logistics Services Center for access to unclassified, militarily critical technical data from other DoD sources.

Block 11h. Require COMSEC Account: Contractor requires COMSEC account to accommodate the use of secure communications.

Block 11j. Operations Security Requirements: Due to the sensitive nature of threat data and EA technology, the contractor is required to protect critical information associated with this contract to prevent unauthorized disclosure and will observe OPSEC requirements.

Block 11k. Be authorized to use the Defense Courier Service (DCS): The contractor may require and is authorized for use of the Defense Courier Service for the transfer of classified material.

Block 11l. Receive, Store, or Generate Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI): The contractor shall be required to have access to generate and/or store CUI with developers and integrators.

Interested parties should provide a Capability Statement in the following format:

Responses should be limited to fifteen (15) pages. Responses should have 1-inch margins, be single-sided, 10-point Times New Roman font or larger. Figures/Graphs/Tables are included within the page limit with 8-point font or larger text. All materials submitted in response to this Sources Sought should be

UNCLASSIFIED. Responses should be compatible with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, or

PowerPoint) or Adobe Reader. Electronic files should not be compressed or embedded within other files.

Product line brochures, catalog excerpts, etc. may be submitted and referenced within the general capability statement and are exempt from the page limit.

Responses should include the following sections:

1. Cover Sheet:

RFI announcement number and name, address, company

2. Company Information:

Please provide company name, address, DUNS number, CAGE code, and designated representative name(s) and point of contact, including phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

Address the company’s facility security clearance level.

Provide number of employees employed by company’s business unit considering this opportunity, and the geographic locations.

Identify contracts within the last five (5) years with similar scope and provide a brief overview of company responsibilities and the magnitude of its role.

If your company is a small business, please identify the type of small business (e.g., 8(a), Hubzone, service-disabled veteran-owned, economically disadvantaged women-owned, or women-owned).

3. List of abbreviations and Acronyms

4. Build to Print Production:

The company shall address the following:

a) Describe current activities or experience producing BTP hardware with similar specification, drawings, and design contained in the TDP for one or more of the BTP hardware subcategories.

b) Describe your organization’s manufacturing facilities that could be used for manufacturing the

BTP ADAP Payload as well as the estimated quantities that could be produced in a given year and available classified spaces.

c) Describe experience with incorporating modifications in line with production for the purpose of addressing obsolescence and technology insertion.

d) Describe your company’s experience with gaining production efficiency (learning curve) for items of similar complexity to the BTP items above. In addition, please address how the delivery dates would vary based on the number of units.

e) Describe your company’s experience work with Antennas, TWTs, FPGA.

f) Describe your company’s experience with simultaneous independent transmit and receive antennas, and isolation margin and activities or experience with Open Air transmitting to support isolation testing.

5. Design Agent Engineering:

The company shall address the following:

a) Describe your capabilities and experience with performing Design Agent Engineering efforts as listed above with similar complexity to the Nulka MK 234.

b) For Technology Insertion, describe how your company would:

a. increase the bandwidth and make the narrow bands tunable.

b. Insert solid state amplifiers.

c) For Logistics Product Updates, Reliability and Sparing Analysis, describe your company’s experience with managing operational systems throughout the life cycle. Address approaches for qualifying replacement components, improving life cycle supportability, and minimizing commercial-off -the-shelf (COTS) obsolescence issues.

d) Identify any concerns with the current payload specifications and associated documentation as written.

6. Barriers to Competition:

Please identify any obstacles to competition to include, but not be limited to: hardware production, infrastructure investment, facility requirements, or proposed scope. In addition, the company may recommend solutions or mitigation paths for the Government to overcome the obstacles.

Disclaimer

The Navy is conducting market research to identify qualified and responsible sources that may be interested in the requirements described in this notice. This Sources Sought is issued for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or a Request for

Quote (RFQ). This Sources Sought is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract. In accordance with FAR 15.201, responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. As such, the

Government will not reimburse any costs associated with responding to this notice. Information submitted in response to this Sources Sought will become property of the United States

Government. Submitters should properly mark their responses with the appropriate restrictive markings. Information that is proprietary or competition sensitive will be protected from disclosure under the public records law only if properly labeled as such.

Response Due Date and Government Points of Contact

Interested companies should provide a response on or before 4:00 pm EST, 21 JUN 2024. The submission should include one electronic (virus scanned) copy sent via e-mail to the Contracting Officer at alexander.b.gosnell.civ@us.navy.mil and the Contract Specialist at jennifer.l.kramer26.civ@us.navy.mil. Please include the Sources Sought Title in the subject of the e-mail

Please be advised that submissions in response to this RFI announcement will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI announcement does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. Specific responses to the approaches will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations.