20240111_Final RFI v2.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (AFRL)

Integrated Experiments and Evaluation Division (RVE) for

Space Systems and Hardware Integration for Novel Experiments

(SSHINE)

This is not a solicitation announcement. This is a sources-sought and market research survey to locate qualified business concerns for the procurement of SSHINE for the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV) located at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. AFRL/RV is seeking business concerns that can provide the Research & Development (R&D) support described below.

SECTION 1 - PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND DEFINITIONS

AFRL/ Integrated Experiments and Evaluation Division (RVE) provides cradle-to-grave support to RV flight experiments. The term "cradle-to-grave," as used in this context, refers to end-to-end systems engineering processes including concept development, requirements analysis, requirements definition, modeling and simulation, design, assembly, integration, and testing (AI&T), launch vehicle integration, ground system development/support, flight operations, user segment support, data acquisition, post-experiment analysis, technical reporting, technology transition, and/or decommissioning. Support processes and functions include, but are not limited to, scientific, technical, systems engineering, ground system development/support, flight operations, user segment support, and program advocacy activities associated with integrated flight experiments.

SECTION 2 – SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of this work is to provide the required research, engineering, and technical management for performing space technology concept development, analysis, development, integration, experimentation, demonstrations, and evaluation in support of the AFRL/RV mission, including cradle-to-grave processes and functions for a range of experimental complexity. The Government seeks engineering and technical effort in the following functional areas and specific activities:

1. Mission and Space System Development:

1.1. Direct technical support to RVE flight experiment Program Managers.

1.2. Mission Design.

1.2.1. Flight experiment concept of operation development.

1.2.2. Analytic modeling of enterprise objectives and how they translate to individual mission formulation.

1.2.3. Mission scoping and conceptual design development.

1.3. Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), including requirements definition, design, analysis, and verification/validation activities beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing throughout program life cycle.

1.4. Systems Engineering, including mechanical, thermal, electrical, structural, and other specialized engineering to support mission development for spacecraft and high-altitude balloon designs.

1.4.1. Development of requirements, design, and interface control documentation.

1.5. Program management, including attendance at technical meetings, reviews, off-sites, or technical conferences.

1.6. Procurement assistance with long lead hardware/software critical to program success.

1.7. Technology transfer planning and decommissioning support, to include planning in support of technology transition to external mission partners.

1.8. Design and fabrication of ground-based proofs-of-concept, experiments, and demonstrations.

1.9. Direct technical and administrative support to the University Nanosatellite Program (UNP).

1.9.1. Event planning, venue rental/booking, refreshment procurement for UNP activities.

2. Flight Experiment Prototyping, Assembly, Integration, and Testing:

2.1. Direct support of the RVE Assembly, Integration, and Testing Infrastructure Lead.

2.2. Technology implementation.

2.2.1. Spacecraft and high-altitude balloon flight hardware design and fabrication.

2.2.2. Spacecraft and high-altitude balloon flight software/firmware design and development.

2.3. Technology validation.

2.3.1. Laboratory research.

2.3.2. Test and assessment design, preparation, and execution.

2.3.3. Re-engineering and re-design of software and hardware after testing.

2.4. Assembly and Integration.

2.4.1. Government integration facility management, including personnel training, facility security, and safety compliance.

2.4.2. Spacecraft bus, payload, and experiment assembly and integration within government facilities.

2.4.3. High-altitude balloon, payload, and experiment assembly and integration within government facilities.

2.4.4. Assistance with hardware/software procurement and other direct costs during assembly and integration.

2.4.5. Launch integration and support of integration studies, interface control documents, and briefings.

3. Flight Experiment Operations.

3.1. Direct support of the RVE Operations Cadre lead.

3.2. Flight experiment mission and operations planning.

3.2.1. Procedure development.

3.2.2. Operations testing and rehearsal.

3.3. Flight Operations.

3.3.1. High altitude balloon operations and experimentation.

3.3.2. Spacecraft on-orbit operations and experimentation.

3.3.3. Anomaly resolution and reporting.

3.4. Technology Transfer.

3.4.1. Training of external mission partners on flight operations.

3.4.2. Technical reachback support for mission partners after technology transition.

4. Ground System Development.

4.1. Direct technical support of the RVE Ground Systems Lead.

4.2. Ground system infrastructure development and testing.

4.2.1. Design and implementation of software tools.

4.2.2. Management of agile and emerging division directed ground system requirements.

4.3. Ground system integration and deployment.

4.4. Physical and cloud-based ground system maintenance.

4.4.1. Maintenance and upkeep of Mission Operations Center connections and equipment.

4.5. Ground architecture cybersecurity accreditation.

4.5.1. Obtaining and maintaining compliance with Authorities to Operate.

Staffing Strategy and Required Area of Expertise

1) Senior professional engineering and technical advisory support research and development activities for RVE in any of the technical areas designated in sections 1 and 2.

2) Relevant experience in any of the technical areas designated in sections 1 and 2.

3) Relevant experience with the program acquisition cycle, the Federal Acquisition Regulation

(FAR) series, and meeting organizational contract requirements.

4) Current Top Secret clearance and the eligibility for Special Compartmentalized Information

(TS/SCI) level clearance and other level clearances if needed.

5) Demonstrate how your company could provide personnel with relevant existing experience and clearances to meet the requirements or indicate a timeframe for hiring qualified expertise.

Provide a credible plan outline, or past example of demonstrated capability to accommodate potential ramp-ups or draw-downs in services provided.

SECTION 3 – GENERAL CONTRACT INFORMATION

This effort will be based on a Statement of Work (SOW) with the four functional areas that will be used for the basic contract. One Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) type contract with Cost-Plus-Fixed- Fee Completion task orders is anticipated. The estimated ceiling for support for all activities is not expected to exceed $499M over a five-year period. Potential business sources are being sought who can provide a range of support, either in-house or through prospective subcontractors. Contract Teaming Arrangements are desirable if they offer the Government the best combination of performance, cost, and delivery.

SECTION 4 – CAPABILITY STATEMENT PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested/qualified small or large business offerors who can provide the requirements in accordance with Section 2 of this Sources Sought Synopsis are invited to submit a written Statement of Capability (SOC). A rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimate, including the actual number of FTEs used as the basis for the estimate, anticipated to meet this requirement should be included if possible. All small businesses submitting SOCs should indicate whether they are a small, small disadvantaged (not 8(a) certified), 8(a), woman-owned, or service disabled veteran business. The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541715 for Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees. SOC submissions by e-mail will not be accepted.

Based upon the evaluation of the responses, the Government reserves the right to set-aside this acquisition for participation by small businesses, qualifying 8(a), and service-disabled veteran businesses. The affiliation rule allows a set-aside when there is an expectation of two or more competitive offers from small business teams (small business as prime contractor with small and large business subcontractors) when at least 50% of the effort will be performed by the collective efforts of all small business members of the team.

SOCs must be saved as a PDF, and submitted via DoD Safe, (https://safe.apps.mil/) NLT 05 Feb 2024, 12:00 PM (Mountain Standard Time (MST). In order to submit, please contact the Contracting Officer, Ms. DeAnna Salazar, no later than close of business on 31 Jan 2024, three (3) workdays prior to the submission deadline to receive a DoD Safe drop-off request. A drop-off request is valid for 14 days. Offerors will receive an automated email containing the instructions for uploading the file(s). If you did not receive an automated e-mail message for your drop-off request within 3 business days, please contact the Contracting Officer.

Clarifying questions will be accepted through email to the Contracting Officer, Ms. DeAnna Salazar, due no later than close of business on 24 Jan 2024. The responses to all clarification questions will be posted to SAM.gov prior to the SOC due date.

Points of Contact:

Contracting Officer (Primary): Ms. DeAnna Salazar, AFRL/RVKI, deanna.salazar@us.af.mil

Contracting Officer (Alternate): Ms. Sheri’ DellaSilva, AFRL/RVKI, sheri.della_silva@spaceforce.mil

Response requirements for this RFI:

1) Capability Statements shall be submitted in Adobe pdf format. Capability Statements shall not exceed six (6) pages, not including cover and administrative pages. Resumes for key personnel are not desired in this response. All response documents shall be written using 10-12 point font size.

2) Submitted information shall be unclassified. Proprietary information is not appropriate at this time and shall not be included.

3) To be found capable, potential offerors must clearly demonstrate acceptable corporate capability and/or personnel experience in all areas described above and in the attached or outline credible plans for obtaining the required expertise.

4) Include in the SOC any other specific and pertinent information as it pertains to this effort that would enhance the Government’s consideration and evaluation of the information, name and address of offeror, name and email address of point of contact(s), CAGE code, UEI, NAICS codes and business size status, and cognizant ACO name and phone number.

5) A brief statement and description of relevant past experience

6) Identify if a teaming arrangement or sub-contract would be needed to fulfill the requirement.

7) Discuss company request process and timeline to provide a ROM.

8) List government contract awards or past/present contract awards that met relevant requirements.

SECTION 5 – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. It is expected that a successful offeror will have access to or will generate data that is unclassified and/or classified with limited distribution and/or subject to U.S. Export Control laws reference DFARS Clause 252.204-7008, "Export-Controlled Items." This requires certification with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) located at:

http://www.dla.mil/HQ/InformationOperations/Offers/Products/LogisticsApplications/JCP.aspx

2. Additionally, an organizational conflict of interest clause will be incorporated within any resultant contract, reference AFFARS Clause 5352.209-9000, "Organizational Conflict of Interest" (OCT 2019), to include Alternates I, II, III, IV, V, & VI and AFFARS Clause 5352.209- 9001, "Potential Organizational Conflict of Interest" (OCT 2019), to include Alternate I.

3. Security Requirements for the effort will be a current Top Secret Clearance and eligibility for

Special Compartmentalized Information (TS/SCI), and other level clearances if needed.

4. System for Award Management (SAM) registration is mandatory (www.sam.gov) for any possible subsequent acquisition that may result.

5. Foreign owned firms and foreign nationals are not allowed to participate at any level and/or tier involving this notice or any possible subsequent acquisition that may result.

6. This RFI is issued for MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY to explore professional engineering and technical advisory for research and development activities for Space Systems and Hardware Integration for Novel Experiments (SSHINE). It is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quote (RFQ), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or any obligation on the part of the Government to acquire products or services. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Any and all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely the respondent's expense and will not be reimbursed by the Government. Information provided by respondents MAY be used by Government in acquisition planning and may eventually be considered in future solicitations. Respondents should not include any proprietary information in their response. DO NOT submit any classified materials.

Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitations. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the applicable Government wide Point of Entry.

It is the responsibility of the potential respondents to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement.