RFI Questions and Answers for DJA26AHDQN0001.pdf

1. What is the primary driver for this RFI?

The primary driver for this Request for Information (RFI) is to support the Government’s market research efforts in accordance with FAR Part 10. The Government is seeking information from industry regarding available unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), related technologies, and vendor capabilities in order to better understand current market offerings and inform acquisition planning.

Information obtained through this RFI will assist the Government in validating technical requirements contained in the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS), assessing industry capability and maturity, identifying potential sources, and determining appropriate acquisition strategies for any future procurement.

2. How will the agency’s market research findings shape future procurement?

Information obtained through this RFI will be used to refine acquisition planning and inform the development of any potential future solicitation. Specifically, the Government will evaluate industry responses to better understand available technical capabilities, commercial practices, cybersecurity and supply chain considerations, and the maturity of relevant UAS technologies.

The results of this market research may influence several aspects of a future procurement, including refinement of the Performance Work Statement (PWS), determination of appropriate evaluation criteria, assessment of competition levels, identification of potential acquisition vehicles, and consideration of small business participation strategies. The information may also assist the Government in determining whether requirements can be met through commercial solutions, consistent with FAR Part 10 market research and FAR Part 12 commercial item acquisition policies, where applicable.

Participation in this RFI will not be considered an evaluation factor in any future procurement, and responses will be used solely for market research and acquisition planning purposes.

3. Is there an anticipated procurement strategy, acquisition vehicle, or potential set-aside that might follow this RFI?

At this time, the Government anticipates that any future procurement resulting from this market research may utilize a multiple-award contracting approach, such as a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) or similar vehicle.

Under this approach, multiple vendors whose products and solutions meet the Government’s minimum technical and compliance requirements may be eligible for inclusion.

Inclusion on any resulting contract vehicle would not represent selection of a single provider.

Rather, it would establish a pool of qualified vendors capable of meeting the Government’s requirements.

Specific requirements, quantities, and performance needs would be competed among the awarded vendors at the task order or call level in accordance with applicable FAR ordering procedures.

The Government has not yet determined whether any future procurement will utilize a small business set-aside or unrestricted competition. That determination will be made following completion of market research and acquisition planning.

4. Is NDAA Compliance a requirement for companies selected in this procurement process or will a NDAA Compliance Plan suffice?

Products and solutions proposed in response to any future solicitation resulting from this market research will be required to comply with applicable statutory and regulatory restrictions, including relevant National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provisions and other federal supply chain security requirements.

Vendors may be requested to provide documentation demonstrating compliance with these restrictions as part of any future procurement process.

A compliance plan alone may not be sufficient if the offered products or components do not meet applicable statutory requirements at the time of proposal submission.

Specific compliance requirements and documentation expectations will be detailed in any future solicitation.

5. How will the agency acknowledge receipt of RFI responses?

The Government will acknowledge receipt of RFI responses through the method specified in the RFI submission instructions.

Responses will be collected and reviewed as part of the Government’s market research in accordance with FAR Part 10. Individual responses or evaluations will not be provided to respondents regarding the content of their submissions.

The Government reserves the right to contact respondents for clarification if additional information is required to support market research activities.

6. Will respondents receive feedback from this RFI? If so, how?

Responses submitted in response to this RFI will be used solely for market research and acquisition planning purposes in accordance with FAR Part 10.

The Government does not intend to provide individual feedback or evaluations to respondents regarding the content of their submissions.

If appropriate, the Government may share general observations with industry through a future amendment to this RFI, an industry notice, or through information released in any subsequent solicitation.

7. Is the ATF Bureau willing to schedule a demo with an RFI respondent?

The Government does not intend to schedule or conduct product demonstrations as part of this RFI process. This RFI is issued solely for market research purposes in accordance with FAR Part 10.

If a future solicitation is issued, offerors may be required to provide equipment or systems for evaluation as part of the source selection process. Any such evaluation procedures, including potential equipment demonstrations or operational assessments, will be described in detail in the solicitation.

8. Will the Government please clarify what types of materials/information are considered “product description information”?

For purposes of this RFI, “product description information” refers to technical and descriptive materials that help the Government understand the capabilities, configuration, and maturity of the offered system or product.

Examples of acceptable product description information may include:

• Product specification sheets or technical data sheets

• System architecture descriptions

• Sensor or payload specifications

• Communications capabilities and frequencies

• Operational performance characteristics (e.g., endurance, range, payload capacity)

• Software capabilities or autonomy features

• Cybersecurity or supply chain compliance documentation

• Photographs or diagrams illustrating system configuration

Marketing materials or capability statements may be included, but respondents are encouraged to provide technical information sufficient to allow the Government to understand the capabilities and maturity of the proposed products or systems. Respondents are also encouraged to provide sufficient technical detail to allow the Government to assess whether the product could meet the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) requirements.

9. Will the Government accept RFI responses that contain Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)?

The Government requests that respondents do not submit classified information or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in response to this RFI.

This RFI is issued solely for market research purposes in accordance with FAR Part 10, and responses should be limited to information suitable for public release.

If a future solicitation is issued, offerors may be required to provide more detailed technical information as part of the proposal and evaluation process. Any handling requirements for sensitive or controlled information will be specified in the solicitation.