Sources_Sought_Printer.doc

Sources Sought Notice & Market Research Questionnaire

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE &

MARKET RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) Instructions to Interested Parties:

This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and award of a contract will not be made as a result of this questionnaire. NSWCCD is requesting assistance from commercial industry in regards to the potential for small business participation and the capabilities of large and small business entities, in the preparation of an anticipated Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract for supply-type items. This Market Research Questionnaire is intended to assist the Government in determining the probability of large or small business prime contractors responding to a future RFQ to provide the required items. The Government anticipates making future decisions regarding the procurement process utilized for a potential solicitation, based on the responses received from both large and small businesses that indicate an interest and the capability to provide the required items.

Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability and return the completed questionnaire to Mr. Egbert Goodman via email. Your answers to the following questions will be utilized to assist in the determination of small business capabilities. Respondents will NOT be notified of the results of this evaluation, and the final determination regarding the utilization of a small business set aside will be conducted per the regulatory requirements of FAR Part 19, Small Business Programs. All information will be kept confidential and will not be disseminated to the public. This Sources Sought Notice and Market Research Questionnaire is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response.

Please return the completed questionnaire prior to 4:00 PM (Eastern Time) on 19 June 2015, via the email address provided below.

Thank You, Mr. Egbert Goodman Contract Specialist

NSWCCD – West Bethesda, MD Egbert.Goodman@navy.mil Market Research is being conducted to determine all potential socio-economic small businesses and large businesses interested in, and capable of, providing the supply items identified herein.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 541512 Small Business Size Standard: $27.5M (For more information about Small Business Size Standards, please refer to http://www.sba.gov.)

Anticipated Contract Type:

Firm-Fixed Price (FFP)

Background:

The purpose of the anticipated contract is to lease a Powder Bed Fusion Printing Machine for qualifying metallic additively manufactured parts for use within the Navy. A critical path towards implementation of technology into the fleet is the development of overarching requirements and acceptance criteria that govern how additive manufacturing is implemented for naval applications. In order to develop these requirements and acceptance criteria, NSWCCD needs to procure the equipment necessary to complete a rigorous certification program to generate the necessary data.

The machine will be leased over a 4 year period with the option to upgrade at the end of the 4 year period. Metallic additive manufacturing is an emerging technology and is expected to evolve quickly from year to year. The lease option is necessary to maintain the newest and most cutting-edge technology available and to avoid cost and burden associated with obsolescence. It is required that the machine offers a very unique set of options, listed below, that are essential for the research and development needed to qualify the powder bed fusion process for Navy use.

The Government has identified only one machine, the 3D Systems ProX200 that meets all of the requirements below. This Sources Sought is being conducted for market research purposes. NSWCCD is looking for other vendors that have a Powder Bed Fusion Machine that meets all of the requirements below.

Estimated Potential Item Requirements:

The contractor awarded the anticipated contract would be required to have a machine that offers a very unique set of options, listed below, that are essential for the research and development needed to qualify the powder bed fusion process for Navy use.

The unique attributes and capabilities include:

• R&D System – The machine needs to be optimized for research and development applications which are critical for understanding and development of the process.

· Open source control of over 300 input parameters - NSWCCD requires open source control to identify additive manufacturing essential elements and their operational ranges for qualification of this process and the development of associated Navy specifications. Essential elements are those material and/or process parameters that are important in additive manufacturing procedure. Open source control allows the ability to independently vary input parameters to understand their effect on the quality and performance. Over three hundred input parameters will enable the Navy to comprehensively determine which of process parameters are most critical.

• The ability to utilize third party materials - Material is an essential element that requires qualification for Navy applications. The Navy must be allowed the use of any metal or ceramic powder, including the use of 3rd party materials, which maximizes the number of materials that can be evaluated and qualified for Navy applications. A greater number of materials qualified in advance lends to more efficient and broader implementation of the technology. The use of third party materials creates a competitive market for powder manufactures which reduces costs, increases availability, provides an exhaustive library of materials to use, and ensures the Government will be able to obtain these materials at the lowest cost possible throughout the lifecycle.

• Access for Closed Loop Feedback Control - Software access for closed loop feedback control. Closed loop feedback control ensures that the deposition parameters are monitored and controlled.

INTERESTED PARTIES SHALL SUBMIT ONLY THE INFORMATION AS REQUESTED BY THE FOLLOWING MARKET RESEARCH QUESTIONARE.

COMPANY INFORMATION

Company Name:

CAGE Code:

DUNS Number:

Company Address:

Point of Contact (POC):

POC Title:

POC Email Address:

POC Phone Number:

MARKET RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Yes FORMCHECKBOX No

Yes FORMCHECKBOX No

8(a) FORMCHECKBOX

SDB

FORMCHECKBOX

WOSB FORMCHECKBOX

VOSB

FORMCHECKBOX

SDVOSB FORMCHECKBOX

HUBZone FORMCHECKBOX Large Business

FORMCHECKBOX

Other:_________

Yes FORMCHECKBOX No

Contract Agency/ Item Similarity Prime/Sub

Number POC Info Description (high/low) (%Contract)

Contract Agency/ Item Similarity Prime/Sub

Number POC Info Description (high/low) (%Contract)