Sources Sought_REV2.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT / REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

ERDC Watercraft and Ship Simulator Support Services Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) Notice Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI) Solicitation Number: [To Be Assigned] Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Requiring Activity: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi NAICS Code: 541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) PSC: R425 - Support- Professional: Engineering/Technical Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program Applicability: Level 2 (Self-Certification) Required

1. Purpose of Notice This Sources Sought / Request for Information is issued for market research purposes only in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 10. This is not a solicitation, request for proposal, request for quotation, invitation for bid, or promise to issue a solicitation in the future.

The Government is conducting market research to determine the availability and capability of both small and other than small businesses with active SAM.gov registration that are capable of performing the full scope of services required to augment and enhance the ERDC Watercraft and Ship Simulator capability.

The Government is particularly interested in identifying sources with demonstrated experience in watercraft, ship, towboat, vessel, or maritime simulation, including the development of simulator databases, simulator visuals, environmental forcings, and vessel models.

Responses to this notice will assist the Government in determining whether the requirement may be appropriate for a small-business set-aside, partial set-aside, or another acquisition strategy.

2. Background The ERDC-CHL operates ship and tow simulation capabilities in support of USACE navigation, coastal, and hydraulics missions. ERDC requires a contracting framework to augment its maritime simulation capabilities through collaboration with qualified entities outside the USACE.

The contemplated requirement may be structured as a MATOC. Task orders may require support for ship simulation studies, simulator database development, vessel modeling, environmental modeling, visual database development, simulation testing, data analysis, technical documentation, training, simulator design support, software/hardware integration, and technical support.

3. Anticipated Scope of Work The contractor shall be capable of providing non-personal services to support ERDC ship, tow, and watercraft simulation activities. The anticipated scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:

a. Maritime Simulation Study Support The contractor shall be capable of defining project problem sets and solution parameters; planning and conducting simulation studies; supporting feasibility and Pre-Construction Engineering and Design level studies; coordinating with professional mariners; and supporting ERDC oversight of simulation testing.

b. Simulator Database Development The contractor shall demonstrate experience developing maritime simulator databases, including:

1. Simulator visual databases;

2. Environmental forcings, including wind, waves, and currents;

3. Hydrodynamic and numerical modeling support;

4. Vessel models representing actual vessels in the world fleet;

5. Model validation using field data and professional mariner participation; and

6. Delivery of databases, models, and project-specific data to the Government.

c. Simulation Testing and Analysis The contractor shall be capable of conducting simulation testing to evaluate navigation designs, vessel maneuvering, safety, and operational feasibility. Analysis may include vessel track plots, heat maps, throttle and rudder usage, tug usage, maneuver feasibility, and safety assessments.

d. Technical Reports and Documentation The contractor shall be capable of preparing, authoring, developing, and editing technical reports, project documentation, task requirements, software/hardware requirements, training materials, multimedia materials, web-based documentation, and other deliverables in support of ERDC simulation studies.

e. Simulator System Support The contractor shall be capable of supporting ship/tow simulator hardware and software systems, including system assessments, hardware/software vetting, network architecture, installation, integration, validation, system optimization, maintenance, updates, refreshes, replacement, and technical troubleshooting.

f. Simulator Design, Procurement, and Integration The contractor shall be capable of developing simulator designs, construction plans, schematics, conceptual models, network architecture, hardware/software designs, and integration approaches for operational simulator systems.

g. Software, Modeling, and Technology Development The contractor shall demonstrate experience creating, modifying, enhancing, developing, deploying, and validating agnostic simulation solutions, including code, scripts, macros, visual databases, hydrodynamic models, vessel models, extended reality, virtual reality, and future simulation technologies.

h. Training The contractor shall be capable of developing and providing training materials, manuals, reports, videos, curricula, and training courses for approximately 15 personnel. Training may include simulator design, procurement, installation, operations, maintenance, human-machine interface, software usage, database development, and related operational aspects.

i. Advanced Simulation Methods The contractor shall demonstrate experience or capability in developing new or improved database creation methods, including visual scenes and databases using next-generation gaming physics engines such as Unity or Unreal, as well as potential artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for maritime simulation advancement.

4. Minimum Capability Requirements Interested firms must clearly demonstrate the ability to perform 100% of the anticipated requirements as a prime contractor or through a clearly identified team arrangement.

At a minimum, interested firms must demonstrate all of the following:

1. Current active registration in SAM.gov;

2. Experience with watercraft, ship, towboat, vessel, or maritime simulation;

3. Experience developing simulator visual databases;

4. Experience developing or integrating environmental forcings, including wind, waves, and currents;

5. Experience developing vessel models for actual vessels;

6. Experience validating vessel models, environmental models, or simulator databases;

7. Experience conducting maritime simulation studies with professional mariners, pilots, operators, or subject matter experts (SME);

8. Experience producing simulation analysis products such as track plots, heat maps, maneuvering analysis, or safety assessments;

9. Experience preparing technical reports documenting simulation study methodology, database development, simulation results, and recommendations;

10. Ability to provide simulator system support, including hardware, software, integration, installation, troubleshooting, or technical support;

11. Ability to provide training related to simulator systems, operations, software, hardware, database development, or model development; and

12. Ability to support work at the contractor’s facility, remotely, at ERDC-CHL in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and elsewhere within the continental United States as required by individual task orders.

5. Requested Information Interested firms shall submit a capability statement that includes the following information.

A. Company Information

1. Company name;

2. Company address, including city and state;

3. Unique Entity Identifier;

4. SBA certification type and expiration date, if applicable;

5. Primary point of contact name, title, phone number, and email address;

6. Website address; and

7. Identification of whether the respondent intends to perform as a prime contractor, joint venture, mentor-protégé joint venture, or team arrangement.

B. Maritime Simulation Experience Respondents shall provide specific examples of watercraft, ship, towboat, vessel, or maritime simulation work. General modeling and simulation experience is not sufficient unless the respondent explains its direct relevance to maritime simulation.

Examples should address:

1. Type of simulator or simulation system used;

2. Type of watercraft, ship, vessel, tow, or maritime operation simulated;

3. Whether the work involved ship handling, navigation, maneuvering, port/harbor/channel design, or operational safety;

4. Whether professional mariners, pilots, operators, or vessel SMEs participated;

5. Whether the respondent developed or modified the simulation environment; and

6. Whether the respondent conducted analysis and prepared technical findings or recommendations.

C. Database, Environmental Forcing, and Vessel Model Experience Respondents shall describe experience developing or integrating:

1. Simulator visual databases;

2. Visual scenes using commercial simulation software, Unity, Unreal, or other gaming/physics engines;

3. Bathymetry, topography, shoreline, structure, or infrastructure data;

4. Wind conditions;

5. Wave conditions;

6. Current conditions;

7. Hydrodynamic models;

8. Numerical models validated to field data;

9. Vessel models representing actual vessels; and

10. Vessel-model validation with professional mariners or other qualified SMEs.

D. Subcontracting and Teaming State if the respondent would rely on subcontractors, teaming partners, or joint venture members to perform any portion of the work.

Small Business respondents shall clearly state whether the respondent can perform all anticipated tasks without relying on large-business subcontractors for core maritime simulation functions.

6. Response Format Capability statements shall be submitted electronically in searchable PDF format.

Responses shall not exceed 8 pages. Marketing brochures alone are not sufficient.

The response shall use no smaller than 11-point font and shall include the company name and UEI in the header or footer of each page.

7. Disclaimer This Sources Sought / RFI is for market research only. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, award a contract, or pay for information submitted in response to this notice.

The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting a response to this notice. All information received will be used for acquisition planning purposes only.

Submission of a capability statement does not guarantee that a firm will be invited to participate in any future acquisition. Respondents are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any future notices or solicitations related to this requirement.

8. Questions Technical questions related to the work specified in this announcement will not be entertained. No other information will be made publicly available until the issuance of the solicitation, if applicable.

9. Government Use of Information The Government may use information received in response to this notice to determine:

1. Whether capable SBA-certified small businesses exist;

2. Whether two or more capable small businesses are likely to submit offers at fair market prices;

3. Whether a total or partial small-business set-aside is appropriate;

4. Whether a socioeconomic set-aside is appropriate;

5. The appropriate NAICS code and size standard;

6. The appropriate contract type and ordering structure;

7. The reasonableness of the contemplated scope; and

8. Whether additional market research is necessary.

Respondents should clearly mark any proprietary information. The Government will handle proprietary information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.