RFI Engineering Services .pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION / SOURCES SOUGHT

ENGINEERING AND SUPPORT SERVICES

DEAV2025-002

This request for information (RFI)/sources sought (SS) is being issued for informational and planning purposes. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL/QUOTE nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The information requested will be used as market research to facilitate decision making (i.e., determining acquisition strategy, small business concerns, etc.) and will not be disclosed outside the Government. Proprietary information submitted shall be appropriately marked. Please note that the Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this RFI/SS.

The Government requests that prospective Contractors complete and return a Capabilities

Statement to determine current ability to meet the objectives described herein. Discuss your firm’s relevant technical capability, equipment, and facilities to support technical objectives.

Discuss past work demonstrating ability to meet the technical objectives.

NOTE: Generic capability statements received in response to this RFI/SS will not be reviewed and will not be considered for a one-on-one meeting (if any).

2. INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS

Government representatives may or may not choose to meet with respondents. Such meetings may be scheduled to gain further clarification of capabilities, gather market research information to support requirements development, and ascertain development and certification risks. This is, in no manner, an opportunity to submit a proposal.

3. OBJECTIVES

This is not a request for formal proposals or quotes. The intent of this form is to gather market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified businesses interested and capable of performing the proposed contract work.

The primary objective of the proposed requirement is to establish an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Multiple Award contract for engineering and support services for the

Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Countermeasures Directorate, Office of

Physical Security Programs. This includes services for (1) Defensive Equipment and Armored

Vehicle Division and (2) Physical Security Division. At a minimum, require services include the following:

1. Armored Vehicle Program Objectives:

A. Armored Vehicle Performance Testing

Conduct Research Development Test and Evaluation (RDTE) of automotive performance and reliability of armored vehicles. Design and implement a detailed test plan to capture the automotive performance of armored vehicle first article or production systems and subsystems. Perform automotive performance and endurance testing on armored vehicle first articles and subsystems as described in the most recent version of the Department of State Armored Vehicle Specification and

NHTSA FMVSS regulations. Document automotive testing results in a detailed test report and identify improvements for tested systems.

B. Armored Vehicle Protection Research and Development

Conduct RDTE on Ballistic Resistant (BR) systems and components for armored vehicles. Conduct BR testing in accordance with U.S. and international testing protocols including but not limited to National Institutes of Justice (NIJ) ballistic standards, Underwriters Laboratory (UL) ballistic standards, ASTM standards, and

NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) procedures. Design and fabricate test fixtures. Destroy (as required) and dispose of tested systems and components.

Document results in a detailed test plan including specific attacks on weak areas.

C. Runflat Testing for Armored Vehicles

Conduct RDTE on runflat systems including runflat inserts and runflat tires. Perform testing in accordance with U.S. and International testing protocols including but not limited to SAE (J 2014-2022) and FINABEL. Assemble tire/wheel/runflat systems and install runflat tires. Document test procedure in a detailed test plan and document results in a test report including all test activities, including runflat installation best practices, test procedure, test methodology, deviations from the test plan, and a detailed overview of testing that includes descriptions, photos, and video.

2. Physical Security Division Objectives

A. Anti-Ram Engineering and Design

Conduct RDTE relating to anti-ram vehicle barriers. Conduct design, engineering analysis, modeling and simulation, and analytic predictions to support development of new vehicle barrier systems. Conduct post-test analytic evaluation of test results and identify modifications and refinements to systems.

B. Anti-Ram Testing Services

Conduct vehicle anti-ram testing and evaluation of perimeter barrier systems designed to deter and delay physical attack. Conduct testing to ASTM 2656-23 or latest version. Install anti-ram systems for test and dispose of spent barriers.

C. Blast Mitigation Design

Develop, design, analyze and evaluate blast mitigation systems. Develop detailed drawings for blast mitigation systems to be used for fabrication of test articles or on-site mitigation systems. Analyze and evaluate systems using modeling and simulation such as simplified computer modeling (e.g., SDOF – single degree of freedom method), finite element modeling (FEA) for structural predictions, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling for blast loading. Develop open-air blast and shock tube test plans in accordance the latest versions of the Blast Testing SOP for

DS/PSP/PSD and ASTM F3664. Perform post-blast-test forensics and evaluations with an aim toward system or device improvements and refinements.

D. Blast Testing Services

Conduct research, testing, and evaluation of blast effects and blast mitigation systems.

Design and develop infrastructure to support testing including a reaction structure, shock tube, and/or blast simulator to meet performance requirements Conduct shock tube and open-air blast testing. Develop, fabricate, and install test articles. Collect data in the forms of blast pressure, impulse, deflection and high-speed video. Conduct blast testing in accordance with ASTM F3664 and document results in a test report.

E. Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistance Testing

Conduct RDTE for Forced Entry (FE) / Ballistic Resistant (BR) systems, components and construction commodities to include buildings. Conduct FE and/or BR testing in accordance with recognized U.S. and international testing protocols including but not limited to the Department of State SD-STD-01.01 FE/BR standard, National Institutes of Justice (NIJ) ballistic standards, Underwriters Laboratory (UL) ballistic standards, ASTM standards, and NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) procedures.

Testing must be conducted by firms on the Department of State (DOS) list of approved labs to conduct SD-STD-01.01 forced entry and ballistic resistance (FE/BR) certification testing.

F. General Physical Security Consulting

Conduct concept and product development, drafting, modeling, simulation, software development, testing support, evaluation, forensic investigation, and report generation. Reports range from quick-look summaries to fully edited publication quality. Example projects include:

• Cataloguing and summarizing the results of design, analysis, and testing of location-specific physical security mitigation strategies and/or otherwise developed by DS in the context of physical security applications.

• Processing data, summarizing, and adapting results to design guidance and standards.

• Support, quality control, and enhancement for DOS developed analytical tools/applications.

G. Material Characterization and Evaluation

Perform testing and evaluation for materials and components used in building structures and armored vehicles. Materials include but are not limited to metals, masonry, polymers, glass, adhesives, and seals. Conduct material testing and evaluation including mechanical, thermal, chemical, corrosive, aging, and weathering properties or effects.. Conduct mechanical testing including basic quasi-static testing as well as testing at high load rates corresponding to blast, ballistic, or impact events. Examples of testing include (a) chemical, thermal, aging, and weathering testing aimed at evaluation of the reduction in mitigation effectiveness for a given load event or (b) evaluate the effectiveness of components joined together via adhesive bond as in the case of laminated glass or components joined by fasteners.

3. RFI/SS SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

a) Vendor Name

b) If applicable, identification of your GSA Multiple Award Schedule/MAS) Contract, including category(ies).

c) The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this effort is 541330 - Engineering Services. Product Service Code: C219 - Architect and Engineering- General: Other. The Small Business Administration small business size standard for this NAICS code is $25.5 annual average receipts (total or gross income).

d) Business Size and Socio-Economic Status. Based on NAICS code 541330, please indicate your business size (check one):

Small ☐

Large ☐

e) If a small business, please check all that apply to your company:

HUBZone Small Business ☐

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business ☐

Veteran-Owned Small Business ☐

Small Disadvantaged Business ☐

Woman-Owned Small Business ☐

Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business ☐

f) Contact Information (Point of contact, phone, email)

g) Identify all of the following:

1. Whether your firm is capable of achieving all objectives and requirements independently, or whether your firm will need to subcontract or team in order to do so;

a. Provide a description of your firm’s technical capabilities which would support the services described herein

b. Identify any potential subcontractors or partners that may be considered (if it is possible to release this information)

c. Identify the roles of the different entities in the anticipated team

2. Whether your firm (or team) has existing facilities suitable for all validation testing, or whether test courses or facilities will need to be leased, or acquired/constructed in order to conduct required tests;

a. Identify the types of testing that have been successfully conducted at the facilities in the past, if applicable

b. Identify any constraints or limitations of the facilities with respect to their use for testing, if applicable

3. What additional performance standards are typical for testing and analysis services of this nature?

4. Questions your firm has for the Government regarding this emerging requirement.

4. RESPONSES

Any offeror capable of providing engineering and support services described herein shall respond to this RFI/SS no later than February 24, 2025, 2:00 p.m. (ET).

Responses to the RFI/SS SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS should not exceed 20 single-sided, double-spaced pages (including images or schematics) and submitted via e-mail to

Richard Crum at CrumRB@state.gov and Wanda Cruz at CruzWI@state.gov .

Responses are requested in searchable Microsoft Windows-compatible format (i.e. .doc, .pdf, etc.) by the date noted in the RFI/SS announcement.

Proprietary information, if any, MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED FOR ALL PAGES

CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information from non-proprietary information. Be advised that all submissions become

Government property and will not be returned.

mailto:CrumRB@state.gov mailto:CruzWI@state.gov