N6134019R0021_Sources_Sought_Notice_Fortus.docx

INTRODUCTION

The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) Orlando, FL intends to sole source the Fortus 450mc System and accessories effort in support of the Rapid Design, Development and Fabrication (RD2F) Lab to Stratasys, Inc under the authority of 10 USC 2304 (c) (1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. Stratasys is the only source which possesses the required unique capabilities contained in the Fortus 450MC System to meet the RD2F’s requirement. In order to comply with PGI 206.302-1 the Government is seeking information on the availability of potential alternative providers of the Fortus 450mc System.

Responses to this sources sought will be utilized to ensure no comparable source is available and more advantageous to the Government.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The Fortus 450mc System and accessories effort requires the following supplies:

· 155-11000 – Fortus 450mc System Base Unit

· 155-10100 – Standard Material Bundle for Fortus 450mc

· 155-10200 – Engineering Material Bundle for Fortus 450mc

· 155-10400 – High Performance Material Bundle for Fortus 450mc

· 316-63500 – Nylon 12CF Hardware Upgrade

· 400-20000-RES – On-site Installation Fortus 360/400/380/450mc

· OBJ-08400 – On-site Operator Training for Fortus 360/380/400/450/900mc

· SC-FDM00026 – Emerald Care 450 1yr Service Contract The printer is to be delivered to NAWCTSD Orlando Partnership I Building, 12354 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL 32826.

DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCE SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The AIR-4.6.2.2 RD2F Lab aboard NAWCTSD is the Command’s primary in-house electronic and mechanical fabrication capability. RD2F supports both the development of novel and the sustainment of legacy training devices and systems. The Lab is regularly called upon to design, develop and build complex training devices for a growing array of efforts and sponsors. The Lab needs the ability to work in as many types of materials and techniques as possible in order to support the variety of fabrication requests it receives. Additive manufacturing offers a responsive and flexible complement to the Lab’s traditional machining capability.

Additive manufacturing machines can be categorized by their fabrication method, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Two of the most useful types of 3D printer are polyjet and fused deposition modelling (FDM).

Polyjet printers produce high-resolution models in a variety of photopolymers, liquid plastic resins that becomes solid when exposed to UV light. Advanced polyjet printers have the ability to print in multiple plastics simultaneously and even combine plastics while printing to produce hybrid materials. Polyjet printers are ideal for rapid prototyping; they can produce highly detailed and complex, multi-plastic parts in a single print. However, photopolymers are not true thermoplastics. Photopolymers are neither as strong nor as environmentally stable as thermoplastics and will degrade with continued exposure to light.

FDM printers produce a 3D part by extruding a bead of melted plastic onto a tray and building up the part layer by layer. The resultant piece is true thermoplastic and has all the material properties of parts made by traditional molding techniques. FDM printers are ideal for creating robust items for daily field use. However, compared to polyjet printers, the parts are not as detailed, the surface finish is rougher and only one type of plastic can be used at a time.

NAVAIR has recognized the need for a flexible and responsive fabrication capability to support the in-house design, development and support of training systems and has, in the past, invested in the RD2F Lab’s traditional machining and additive manufacturing capabilities. As a result, the Lab currently operates a polyjet 3D printer. This investment provides an opportunity to expand the Lab’s capability to include additive manufacturing with thermoplastics.

Ongoing market research performed by the Government supports there does not exist an alternative commercially available item or non-developmental item to satisfy the Government’s requirement.

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

NAWCTSD intends to acquire a Stratasys Fortus450mc 3D printing system. The Fortus 450mc is a production-grade FDM 3D printer capable of printing in a wide variety of thermoplastics. In addition to the base system, several options and upgrades are to be acquired to realize all of the device's material printing capabilities: the Standard Material Bundle to enable printing in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) plastics, the Engineering Material Bundle to enable polycarbonate (PC), PC-ABS blends and Nylon print capability and the High Performance Material Bundle and Nylon 12CF Hardware Upgrade to enable ULTEM 9085, ULTEM 1010, Nylon 12CF, ANTERO 800 and ST130. This acquisition will also include device installation, on-site operator training and one year of Stratasys Emerald Care warranty for the device.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Any resultant contract is anticipated to have a security classification level of UNCLASSIFIED. Any resulting contract shall be compliant with the specialty metals restriction of the Berry Amendment in accordance with DFARS clauses 225.7003 and 252.225-7009, inclusive of Class Deviations 2008-O0002, unless an exception applies.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 333249 (Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing). The Product Service Code (PSC) is 3620 (Rubber and Plastics Working Machinery).

SUBMISSION DETAILS

This sources sought notice is not a request for competitive proposals. It is a notice to determine if a comparable source exists and outline the Government’s intent to contract on a sole source basis with Stratus, Inc.

Interested sources shall submit their written technical capabilities to provide the supplies described above. Written response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. All responses shall include Company Name, Company Address, Company Business Size, and Points of Contact including name, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. Detailed written capabilities shall not exceed 5 pages and submissions must be sent by email to Mr. Andrew Mohr (Andrew.mohr@navy.mil in an electronic format that is compatible with MS Word, no later than 3 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Wednesday, 13 February 2019.

Verbal submissions via phone will not be honored. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. Classified material SHALL NOT be submitted.