Market Questionnaire_N0025321R0020_November2022.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE &

MARKET RESEARCH/ TECHNICAL QUESTIONNAIRE

Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), Division Keyport

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 sources sought. Any response is voluntary; please do not submit a proposal. Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport (NUWC Keyport) is requesting assistance from industry in regard to industry capabilities of large and small business entities, in the preparation of an anticipated contract for SONAR sounding set.

This sources sought is intended to assist the Government in determining the probability of large or small business prime contractors responding to a future RFP 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.

The information provided in response to this sources sought will assist the government in defining the requirement, determining contract type, commerciality of the requirement, small business set-aside and other acquisition planning decisions. We want to emphasize that these documents are in “draft” form and are subject to change. Your comments, questions and feedback on the attached technical documents is highly encouraged.

Your response to these questions is your opportunity to help the contracting officer shape the requirement and acquisition process.

Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability and return the completed questionnaire to the point of contact listed below via email. Respondents will NOT be notified of the results of this evaluation. All information will be kept confidential and will not be disseminated to the public. This Sources Sought Notice Questionnaire is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response.

The product specifications and drawings are classified as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) for authorized DoD and DoD contractors only. Technical documents referenced in this solicitation are restricted by the Arms Export Control Act and are only available to vendors/contractors appointed Data Custodian that is registered with DLIS Defense Logistics Info Svc (DLIS) Joint Certification Program (JCP). Vendor’s/Contractor’s Data Custodian’s that are not registered with DLIS JCP can obtain registration information at www.dla.mil/logistics-operations/services/jcp/ or by phone at 888-352-2255.

To view the technical specifications associated with the forthcoming solicitation, you must request access via SAM. This will send an automated email to the Contract Specialist (CS) that you have requested to view the technical documents. To ensure that your request can be approved, you must submit a completed DD Form 2345 via email to the CS listed as the point of contact for this solicitation.

Instructions for filling out a DD Form 2345 can be found here: https://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/Services/JCP/SpecificDD2345Instructions.aspx.

Technical documents are restricted by the Arms Export Control Act and are ONLY available to contractor’s appointed data custodian that are registered with Defense Logistics Information Service (DLIS) Joint Certification Program (JCP). Contractors that are not registered with DLIS JCP can obtain registration information at www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/.

To receive associated files, and request access to controlled attachments, please reach out directly to Michael Beadle at michael.f.beadle.civ@us.navy.mil after following the aforementioned instructions.

Please return the completed questionnaire or submit responses in your preferred format no later than 4:00 PM (Pacific Time) on 07 December 2022, via the email address provided below.

Thank You, Michael Beadle Contract Specialist NUWC Division Keyport – Keyport, WA michael.f.beadle.civ@us.navy.mil

Sources Sought Notice & Market Research/ Technical Questionnaire Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code:

3345110 – Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing Small Business Size Standard: 1,250 employees (For more information about Small Business Size Standards, please refer to http://www.sba.gov) Anticipated Contract Type:

Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Background:

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport (NUWC Keyport) is seeking sources for a SONAR Sounding set. The current system includes SONAR receiver-transmitter, receiver-transmitter mounting bracket, remote depth indicator(s), SONAR simulator (test set with cables that connect to the receiver-transmitter and transducer), NTDS-A converter boxes, and associated technical documentation for ARLEIGH BURKE Class Destroyers and other navy ship classes.

The SONAR Sounding Set measures the depth of water beneath the lowest projection on a vessel. The water depth is continually presented on a graphical and a numeric display, and shall be retained in memory and available for archiving. A pulse of electrical energy is converted to sound energy and transmitted downward by a transducer. When the energy strikes bottom (or any other object having acoustic properties different from those of water), a portion is reflected back to the transducer as an echo. This energy is re-converted to electrical energy for presentation. Because the speed of sound in water is assumed to be nearly constant, the amount of time which elapses between the transmission of a pulse and the reception of its echo is a measure of the distance travelled, or in this case, depth.

INTERESTED PARTIES PLEASE SUBMIT THE INFORMATION AS REQUESTED BY THE FOLLOWING MARKET RESEARCH/ TECHNICAL QUESTIONNAIRE:

Market Research/ Technical Questionnaire Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport

COMPANY INFORMATION

Company Name: ___________________________________________________________ CAGE Code: ___________________________________________________________ DUNS Number: ___________________________________________________________ Company Address: ___________________________________________________________ Point of Contact (POC): ___________________________________________________________ POC Title: ___________________________________________________________ POC Email Address: ___________________________________________________________ POC Phone Number: ___________________________________________________________

1. Please identify your company’s socio-economic small business size status or indicate if your company is a large business.

2. Please indicate the percentage of the actual work requirements for these items that you would intend to perform as the Prime Contractor. ___________%

3. Please identify a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) and/or estimated unit price for an SONAR Sounding Set built to the specifications as described in the Statement of Work (attached).

4. Due to the complex nature of the requirement, please provide additional information regarding any minimum order quantity that may be more advantageous for price reasonableness, to include a brief rationale.

5. In the foreseeable future what impacts, due to COVID, have changed in your business environment? Please address production delays, supply chain disruptions, delivery schedules, cost increases and any other specific impacts.

6. What is the probability of your company proposing on a Request for Proposal (RFP) for these supplies?

______High ______Medium ______Low

7. What is your estimated production lead-time for the proposed system? _____________ Days / Months

8. Is there a Technical Data Package (TDP) available? What is included in the TDP (drawings, maintenance requirements, etc.)?

Technical Questions:

1. Describe in detail your company's familiarity with SONAR Sounding Sets and / or other marine electronics.

a.

2. What is your company's typical process for making SONAR Sounding Set or other marine electronic equipment? Is your company familiar with government / military standards, processes, and applications?

a.

3. Describe in detail your existing capabilities to perform environmental testing. If any testing is outsourced, does your company have a consistent sub-vendor who has performed these tests? If the requirements of this application include a test that your company does not usually conduct, describe your plan to complete the testing. Does the company’s test facility (theirs or outsourced) exist on the approved Navy test site listing?

a.

4. Please elaborate on estimated production lead time to deliver the first Production Unit after First Article acceptance.

a.

5. Once First Article is accepted, how quickly would you estimate delivery orders could be filled once issued (please specify quantity v time for 1, 5, 10, 20 units)?

a.

6. If you currently offer a COTS based SONAR Sounding set, elaborate on how this system meets or can be modified to meet existing Information Assurance and Cybersecurity requirements (e.g. – do you employ any industry operating system or other proprietary software).

a.

7. Which of the requirements or specifications called for in the provided documents might give your company the most pause in providing a proposal for this system?

a.

8. Can your company provide this product as a commercial product?

a.

9. What level of modification of a commercial product is necessary to meet the government’s requirement? Please briefly describe the necessary modifications. Does the modification of the commercial product still meet the FAR 2.101 definition of a commercial product?

Commercial product means— A product, other than real property, that is of a type customarily used by the general public or by nongovernmental entities for purposes other than governmental purposes, and–

a. Has been sold, leased, or licensed to the general public; or

b. Has been offered for sale, lease, or license to the general public;

A product that evolved from a product described in paragraph (1) of this definition through advances in technology or performance and that is not yet available in the commercial marketplace, but will be available in the commercial marketplace in time to satisfy the delivery requirements under a Government solicitation;

A product that would satisfy a criterion expressed in paragraph (1) or

c. of this definition, except for-

i. Modifications of a type customarily available in the commercial marketplace; or

ii. Minor modifications of a type not customarily available in the commercial marketplace made to meet Federal Government requirements. “Minor modifications” means modifications that do not significantly alter the nongovernmental function or essential physical characteristics of an item or component, or change the purpose of a process. Factors to be considered in determining whether a modification is minor include the value and size of the modification and the comparative value and size of the final product.

d. Dollar values and percentages may be used as guideposts, but are not conclusive evidence that a modification is minor;

Any combination of products meeting the requirements of paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this definition that are of a type customarily combined and sold in combination to the general public;

A product, or combination of products, referred to in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this definition, even though the product, or combination of products, is transferred between or among separate divisions, subsidiaries, or affiliates of a contractor; or A non-developmental item, if the procuring agency determines the product was developed exclusively at private expense and sold in substantial quantities, on a competitive basis, to multiple State and local governments or to multiple foreign governments.

10. Is it common for buyers in the commercial market to request modification of your commercial product? What types of modifications are typically requested?

a.

11. If not commercial, can your company provide this product as a developmental or non-developmental item?

a.

12. Please describe the warranty terms, conditions, and length of time your company would normally provide for your proposed product?

a.

13. If small, what is your specific socio-economic category(ies)?

a.

14. How many employees does your company have?

a.

15. What NAICS codes relevant to this requirement does your company list on its SAM registry?

a.

16. Based on the attached requirements documents, what is your rough cost estimate to produce a first article? What is your rough estimate unit price to produce quantities ranging from 5 – 75 units?

a.

17. Would your company be able to provide discounts for orders of higher volumes of units? What might the price break points be for quantities ranging from 1-75?

a.

18. Is contract financing necessary for your company to produce and deliver these items? See FAR Part 32 – Contract Financing. If yes, please explain why?

a.

19. What supply chain issues is your company experiencing that may result in cost, schedule or performance risk for manufacture of first article units and production units?

a.

20. What other risks exist that may affect cost, schedule and performance?

a.

21. Does your company plan to submit a proposal in response to a government RFP?

a.

22. What are your standard commercial or non-commercial terms and conditions for a contract for this type of item?

a.

23. What contract type would you propose for the first article unit and production units? Fixed price or cost reimbursement (See FAR Part 16)? An ordering vehicle such as an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract or an indefinite deliver requirements type contract? Do you have any existing contracts the Navy can use to issue orders against? Can you price the required items on a five-year ordering contract?

a.

24. What types of evaluation factors other than cost/price do you believe differentiate a poorly performing company from a good one for this requirement? Technical, past performance, small business subcontracting plan? Anything else?

a.

25. Given the complexity of the work described in this announcement, please describe your company’s historical experience completing work on similar systems at a similar complexity on the critical systems outlined, or briefly describe how your company would be capable of meeting these requirements as of contract award.

a.

26. Does your company have a satisfactory performance record in providing these items for government or commercial customers in the quantities estimated above? Please provide examples of relevant and recent (within three years) past performance.

a.

27. Does your company have the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills, or the ability to obtain them (including, as appropriate, such elements as production control procedures, property control systems, quality assurance measures, and safety programs applicable to materials to be produced or services to be performed by the prospective contractor and subcontractors)?

a.

28. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements, including the approximate percentages of work anticipated to be performed by the prime contractor and subcontractor(s).

a.

29. Are there any barriers that are likely to prevent your company from submitting a proposal? If so, do you have any recommendations to remove the barriers?

a.

30. Please provide any critical feedback and questions you have on the requirement documents.

a.

31. Please provide any additional feedback that you believe is relevant.

a.

32. Does your company have a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) audited and a Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) approved accounting system?

a. If your answer is yes, please provide documentation from DCMA approving your accounting system. For details of the requirement to have an accounting system see DFARS Subpart 242.75 – Contractor Accounting Systems and Related Controls.

33. The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to provide services/supplies consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated. Based on the responses to this sources sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses or procured through full and open competition. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

a.