RTD2_RFI_170821.pdf

Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO)

Request for Information (M67854-21-R-7203)

Research & Technology Development Support Services (RTD2)

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes;

it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quote (RFQ), or Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), or a promise to issue an RFP, RFQ, or OTA. Furthermore, those who respond to this RFI should not anticipate feedback other than acknowledgement of receipt, if requested by the submitter.

This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities

Office (JIFCO) is not seeking proposals at this time. Responders are advised that the United States (U.S.) Government will not pay any cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future competition.

If a solicitation or invitation is released, it will be via the Government Wide Point of Entry (GPE) at https://www.SAM.gov or SeaPort-NxG at https://govnxg.seaport.navy.mil/. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor the website(s) for any information that may pertain to this RFI. All submissions become the property of the

Federal Government and shall not be returned.

1.0 PURPOSE OF THIS RFI

This RFI constitutes market research to help JIFCO formulate an acquisition plan / strategy to obtain contractor services to provide research and development support services. The scope of the potential contract will include accomplishing research and technology development; technical, scientific, and program analyses; systems integration and systems engineering tasks. It will provide for deliverables encompassing experimental research (including bioeffects research); test and evaluation; prototype development and demonstration; and computational modeling and simulation. The attached draft

Statement of Objectives (SOO) defines the effort to provide the above-mentioned services. Travel within the Continental

United States (CONUS) is anticipated for this requirement. There is a potential for outside CONUS (OCONUS) travel on an infrequent basis. Any resulting contract is anticipated to span a period of five years. It is anticipated that access to the following Government information systems will be required in the performance of this contract: Procurement Integrated

Enterprise Environment (PIEE), Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) module in PIEE, and Government Furnished Property

(GFP) module in PIEE.

This RFI allows potential contractors to submit a non-binding statement of interest and documentation demonstrating their corporate capabilities and suggestions that will allow the Government to refine its potential course of action. The RFI effort is intended to assess industry service capabilities and solicit feedback for acquisition planning purposes.

2.0 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

2.1 QUESTIONS

JIFCO may not respond to questions, as this announcement is for market research purposes only. However, any questions submitted may aid the JIFCO in the planning phase of the procurement. Questions that are answered will be posted to the original GPE. Any questions should be submitted via email to nina.withers@usmc.mil utilizing the questions submission file provided with the RFI (Microsoft Office 2010 or newer format). RFI questions or clarifications may be submitted before 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, 30 August 2021.

It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that submission is timely.

2.2 SUBMISSION DIRECTIONS

Responses may be submitted via email to nina.withers@usmc.mil. All attachments must be in Microsoft

Office 2010 or newer format. The combined size of all attachments must not exceed 10 megabytes. Providing https://www.sam.gov/ https://govnxg.seaport.navy.mil/ mailto:nina.withers@usmc.mil identification of attachments within the body of the message will allow verification of delivery. It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that submission is timely. RFI submissions may be submitted before

10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, 7 October 2021.

2.2.1 Proprietary Data

The Government may use information received from this RFI to establish future requirements. Contractors deciding to submit competition sensitive or proprietary information bear sole responsibility for marking the information for appropriate safeguarding.

2.3 RFI RESPONSES

2.3.1 Page Restriction(s)

There is no page restriction associated with this RFI. An executive summary of five pages or less should accompany each submission. Responses may include any advertising or marketing information.

2.3.2 Executive Summary (5 pages or less)

i. Provide your company name, point of contact (POC), business size (large or small), socio-economic status for all North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) codes you operate under, Seaport NxG contract number, and/or any applicable GSA schedule numbers.

ii. Provide a capability statement based on the requirements identified in the Draft SOO. Indicate if you previously supported all or any areas of the scope identified in the Draft SOO and provide a detailed explanation of your efforts provided.

iii. Provide any relevant material establishing the Contractor’s core competencies and how they align to the broad categories described in the DRAFT SOO.

2.3.3 Acquisition Strategy Feedback (No page restriction)

The JIFCO welcomes your comments on the potential acquisition strategy and would appreciate your responses to the following questions:

i. The Government is considering a Trade-off or Past Performance Trade-off competition.

Please provide suggestions on the competition preferred by the contractor and a supporting explanation.

ii. The Government’s overall preferred contract type is Firm Fixed Price (FFP) for this requirement for labor services and Cost Reimbursable for any Travel or Other Direct Costs. The anticipated business arrangement is a single-award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract type with subsequent task orders. Please provide suggestions on the contract type preferred by the contractor and an explanation if it is different than the

Government’s preferred contract type.

iii. The Government is intending any potential solicitation to be in accordance with commercial procedures and

FAR part 12. Please provide suggestions on alternative solicitation methods, avenues, and rationale.

iv. The Government is contemplating solicitation under NAICS code 541715: Research and Development in the

Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except for Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). Please provide suggestions on the NAICS and the Product Service Code (PSC) preferred by the contractor and or which

NAICS and/or PSC you currently offer these services and an explanation on the suitability of this codes for the requirement described in the draft SOO.

v. Should the JIFCO award a single-award ID/IQ or a multiple award contract (MAC) to address the entire scope of objectives and the specific technology areas stated herein? Explain your rationale.

What advantages and disadvantages do you anticipate with this approach? Explain your rationale.

vi. How many prime performers should the ID/IQ include?

vii. Would you consider including one or more universities on your team?

If so, what advantages and disadvantages do you anticipate?

Do you have any pre-existing relationships with any universities?

viii. What do you believe is the optimal ordering period and why?

ix. What is a reasonable time frame for submission of proposals once the solicitation is available?

x. At present, do you believe that you will participate in this acquisition? If yes, do you plan to participate as a prime contractor or team member?

xi. The Government desires to promote small business participation in this process and is strongly considering a small business set-aside. (Refer to FAR part 19 for detailed information on Small Business Size Standards.)

Please provide other suggestions as well as the associated advantages and disadvantages with your approach.

If a MAC vehicle is pursued, should the JIFCO reserve/partially set-aside a minimum number of the awards exclusively for small business participation?

xii. Personnel & Facility Security requirements are at the Secret level. A Facility Clearance at the Secret level is required at the time of proposal submission. The Government will not offer sponsorship for facility clearances.

In response to a specific task order RFP which requires access to classified information, proposed key contractor personnel should have Secret clearances already in place at time of submission. Please provide feedback on this approach and any associated, perceived, hurdles to this strategy.

2.3.4 SOO Feedback (No page restriction)

i. Are there any objectives not listed in the Draft SOO (ATTACHMENT A) that you recommend we include?

ii. What performance risks do you anticipate for this requirement?

iii. What deliverables would you anticipate being necessary? Frequency?

iv. Considering the objectives, describe an ideal awardee composition.

v. Would you provide a proposal to a competition that provides a SOO vice a PWS that is to be delivered as the proposal submission for evaluation?

What do you perceive the advantages and disadvantages are to this strategy?

What evaluation factors would you like considered in such a competition?

xii. Based on the objectives stated, what factors should the Government consider in evaluating its proposals?

2.4 INDUSTRY DAY

The JIFCO will host an industry day on Tuesday, 14 September 2021, in the auditorium at the Gen. Alfred M.

Gray Marine Corps Research Center, Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ), Virginia. All interested parties are highly encouraged to attend. The intent of the industry day is to host a public question and answer session to ensure this announcement is fully understood by all participants.

There will be two sessions: 9:00-11:00 a.m. ET and 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET. The morning session will be filled first. The afternoon session will be filled only in the event the morning session reaches capacity. Your time slot will be assigned without opportunity to select one or the other. Please plan any travel accordingly.

All questions will be answered in open forum, there is no opportunity for one-on-one contractor meetings. A record of all questions and answers from both sessions will be compiled and posted as an attachment to the RFI within in

10 business days from the date of the event.

Industry Day does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts. In accordance with FAR subpart 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Issuance of this notice does not constitute any obligation on the part of the Government to procure these items or to issue a solicitation. The Government will NOT assume liability for costs incurred for travel expenses, marketing efforts or data offered for examination; therefore, the cost of preparing information in response to this notice is not considered an allowable direct charge to the Government.

Attendance at the Industry Day is not a prerequisite for submitting any future proposals; however, it will provide a valuable opportunity to obtain information regarding this requirement only. No other or future JIFCO requirements will be discussed. All briefs and discussions will remain at the unclassified level.

2.4.1 Who should attend?

Businesses (large and small) and academic institutions interested in participating in a potential, Intermediate Force

Capabilities Research and Technology Development solicitation. Both prospective prime contractors and subcontractors are welcome to register for and attend Industry Day.

2.4.2 Industry Day Registration

Registration will be on a first come/first serve basis up to the room’s allotted capacity. You must be registered to attend and identification will be required at check-in. Please submit the following information for each individual attending (maximum TWO people per company – NO EXCEPTIONS) to nina.withers@usmc.mil no later than

3:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, 7 September 2021.

• Email subject line: “JIFCO RTD2 Industry Day Registration”

• Full name(s)

• Company Titles

• Company name

• Country of Residence*

• DUNS number

• CAGE code

• Phone number

• Email address

• Statement of Consent/Dissent**

*If contractor is a foreign owned company and intends on sending a foreign national(s), please make this VERY clear in the request for attendance. Only foreign nationals require pre-coordinated visit requests, if approved by

JIFCO, in writing, prior to travel commencement.

**Please note that your registration for JIFCO RTD2 Industry Day constitutes consent to providing your company and points of contact information in conjunction with the any published questions and answers on www.SAM.gov.

If you wish to NOT be included in this list, you must make this clear in your request for registration.

Confirmation of receipt will come within 72 hours via e-mail. This confirmation will include additional JIFCO

RTD2 Industry Day details/information, directions to the location of the industry day, how to obtain access to

MCBQ, session assigned, number in attendance, and Visit Authorization Request (VAR) information, if necessary.

2.4.3 COVID-19 Restrictions / Guidelines / Mandates

In accordance with Deputy Secretary of Defense memorandum OSD006862.21, ‘Beginning 28 July 2021:…DoD requires all Service members, Federal employees, onsite contractor employees, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask in an indoor setting in installations and other facilities owned, leased or otherwise controlled by DoD.”

Masks will NOT be provided. If you show up to the JIFCO RTD2 Industry Day without a mask, regardless of vaccination status or medical condition, you will be asked to vacate the premises immediately. If you remove your mask during the JIFCO RTD2 Industry Day for any reason other than for consumption of water, you will be asked to vacate the premises immediately. No attendee, Government or Contractor, will be provided with warning.

2.5 KEY DATES

2.5.1 RFI questions or clarifications deadline: 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, 30 August 2021.

2.5.2 Industry Day Registration deadline: 3:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, 7 September 2021

2.5.3 Industry Day: 9:00-11:00 a.m. or 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 September, 2021 http://www.sam.gov/

2.5.4 Questions & Answers posted: 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, 28 September 2021

2.5.5 RFI Response Submission deadline: 10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, 7 October 2021

2.6 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

2.6.1 Contracting Office Address:

MARCORSYSCOM ATTN: CT027, 2200 Lester St., Quantico, VA 22134. The POC for this RFI is Ms. Nina

Withers who can be reached at nina.withers@usmc.mil.

2.6.2 Feedback

Those who respond to the RFI should not anticipate feedback with regards to their submission other than acknowledgement of receipt if requested by the submitter. JIFCO reserves the right to review late submissions, but makes no guarantee that they will be reviewed.

3.0 SECURITY:

This RFI is UNCLASSIFIED. All personnel assigned to this effort shall be U.S. Citizens.

RFI material shall be marked with the appropriate classification level. The overall classification level shall be marked at the top and bottom of the outside of the front cover, on the title page, on the first page of text, and on the outside of the back cover. Each internal page shall be marked at the top and bottom with the overall classification or with the highest level of information on that page. Each segment of a document – typically a paragraph – shall be marked with the initial of the highest-level information in that segment (e.g., (CUI//SP-PROPIN//FEDCON) for Controlled Unclassified Information, General Proprietary Business Information, Federal Employees and

Contractors Only)

RFI material shall be marked with the appropriate Technical Distribution Statements in accordance with

Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 5230.24, Distribution Statements on Technical Documents. Questions concerning distribution shall be directed to the JIFCO POC for this effort.

4.0 RFI ATTACHMENTS:

A. Statement of Objectives B. RFI respondent questions submission file

ATTACHMENT A: Statement of Objectives

1.0 Background

The Department of Defense defines non-lethal weapons (NLW) as weapons that are explicitly designed and primarily employed so as to incapacitate personnel or materiel, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment. Intermediate Force Capabilities (IFC) enable the Joint Force to compete below the threshold of armed conflict, by providing active and proportionate measures between the mere presence and lethal effects, and by equipping Warfighters with broader alternatives. NLW/IFCs are intended to have reversible effects on personnel and materiel. The JIFCO’s mission, through the Joint Non-

Lethal Weapons Program, is to provide warfighters with a family of IFCs across the full spectrum of threats and crises. A core aspect of the JIFCO’s mission is identifying and developing technologies to produce operationally suitable and effective IFC solutions. In support of this mission, the JIFCO is seeking a capability for performing research and technology development; technical, scientific, and program analyses; systems integration and systems engineering tasks to meet the Department of Defense’s non-lethal weapons mission objectives.

The objective of this SOO is to provide offeror(s) with the Government’s Performance Objectives to enable the offeror(s) to provide the Government with a PWS.

2.0 Objectives

The contractor shall conduct research and development resulting in delivery of data, hardware, software, equipment and documentation across the scope of the non-lethal weapons technology areas listed below. It is envisioned that sources provide a broad spectrum of capabilities by including access to performers that may include industry and academia. In general, the types of tasks will include:

Prototype and component technology development, testing, and demonstration

Original research and experimentation

Modeling & simulation

Systems engineering and technology integration

Technical assessment and feasibility studies

3.0 Potential IFC Technology Areas

3.1 Human Electromuscular Incapacitation (HEMI): A HEMI stimulus causes muscle tetany which can non-lethally disable individuals. JIFCO is focusing on developing HEMI technologies to further increase the standoff range and duration of the HEMI effect beyond currently fielded capabilities. JIFCO is also looking to develop HEMI capabilities to simultaneously engage multiple targets in a number of operational scenarios.

Possible objectives include hardware development and bioeffects research to better quantify the effects, efficacy, and risk of injury.

3.2 Active Denial Technology (ADT): ADT utilizes millimeter waves to deliver an intense heating sensation and repel effect on targeted individuals. JIFCO is focusing on developing and integrating ADT into various platform alternatives and improving millimeter wave sources, antenna and other key components. JIFCO is also interested in ADT bioeffects research and model development to accompany future ADT system configurations.

3.3 Human Effects: Human effects research spans the entire breadth of non-lethal IFC stimuli. JIFCO human effects efforts are focused on characterizing effectiveness, quantifying risk of injury, studying behavior response, and building, verifying and validating models and simulations for non-lethal effects and effectiveness. Target objectives of this focus area are to conduct original human effects research and develop human effects Modeling & Simulation capabilities.

3.4 Integration of IFCs onto Autonomous Platforms: JIFCO is exploring methods to deliver IFC effects via autonomous platforms, i.e. unmanned systems in various operational domains (UxSs), to increase standoff ranges, reduce operational risks, and meet technical objectives. The tasks may include conceptualization, feasibility assessments, experimentation, development, demonstration and prototyping. JIFCO is focusing on the integration of IFCs and the constraints imposed by the platform and operational scenario rather than on the development of new autonomous platforms.

3.5 Non-Lethal Directed Energy Weapons (DEW)– Radio Frequency/High-Powered Microwave

(RF/HPM): Advanced RF/HPM technologies enable smaller, lighter, and more capable non-lethal DEWs for NLW/IFC applications. The JIFCO is focusing on analyses, feasibility studies, and advanced technology development of RF/HPM component technologies for a wide range of NLW/IFC mission applications; with possible tasks to include hardware development to improve size, weight, power, cooling capacity, and cost

(SWaP-C²) for the various NLW/IFC DEWs, and continued characterization of target susceptibility for both broad-band and narrow-band sources.

3.6 Non-Lethal DEWs - Laser Technology: Lasers can be used for a variety of non-lethal weapons effects including optical distraction, thermal repel, and laser induced plasma effects. JIFCO is focusing on identifying and developing technologies to improve system effectiveness and reduce risk of significant injury. JIFCO is focusing on investigating novel laser sources and enabling components that will support the fielding of an

NLW/IFC laser weapon system. Possible tasks include conceptualization, feasibility assessments, development, demonstration, and prototyping of novel sustained flash-bang, repel, long-range “intelligible voice command” laser technologies. JIFCO may also require bioeffects research to better quantify the efficacy and risks of optical distraction, thermal repel, and laser induced plasma effects.

3.7 Vehicle/Vessel Stopping Technologies: Non-lethal vehicle and vessel stopping technologies include advanced directed energy, electrical, mechanical, optical, chemical, and advanced material solutions to stop or temporarily incapacitate a potential threat vehicle, aircraft, or vessel underway. JIFCO is focusing on developing, prototyping, and integrating operationally suitable NLW/IFC systems and component technologies capable of stopping a vehicle or vessel at relevant ranges in checkpoint, pursuit, interdiction, and/or convoy scenarios.

3.8 New/Advanced Effects, Materials, Payloads, and Payload Delivery Systems: New/advanced non-lethal effects, materials, payloads, and payload delivery systems have the potential to provide for more effective and operationally suitable IFCs. JIFCO is focused on identifying and characterizing innovative materials to improve the range, efficiency, cost, effectiveness, SWAP-C2, and safety of emerging and existing

IFCs. JIFCO is also interested in conceptualizations, feasibility assessments, development, and demonstration of new non-lethal effects, payloads, and delivery methods to provide non-lethal counter-personnel and counter-materiel effects.

3.9 Long Range Sound & Light (S&L) Technologies: S&L technologies provide unambiguous hail and warn capabilities to move, deny, suppress, and disable threat targets, and often provide the longest range and lowest form of force in an escalation of force scenario. S&L technologies may provide the delivery of intelligible voice commands at very long ranges in ground, sea, and air domains. JIFCO is focusing on developing and integrating enhanced acoustic–driver technologies with increased acoustic output, non-pyrotechnic flash-bang munitions, and on developing novel acoustic methods, JIFCO may also require bioeffects research to better quantify the efficacy and risks of the novel S&L technologies.

4.0 Representative Tasks

All efforts shall be within the scope of the NLW functional areas listed above in paragraph 3.0.

4.1 Research and Analysis. Perform original applied research, assessments, experiments, analysis, studies, reviews, surveys, or investigations for purpose of expanding the IFC knowledge and technology base.

4.2 Technology Development and Integration. Provide engineering and technical support in the development and integration of IFCs. Develop, integrate, or improve/modify systems, subsystems, prototypes, breadboards, components, designs, materials, methods, software, models, tools, or configurations. This may include laboratory or field work.

4.3 Test, Evaluation, Experimentation, Demonstration, and Assessment. Plan, coordinate, conduct and/or document tests, evaluations, experiments, demonstrations, or assessments for the purpose of determining feasibility, examining operational utility, establishing/verifying danger zones, and/or characterizing effects.

Provide, identify, or coordinate facilities or ranges suitable for tests, evaluations, experimentations, demonstrations or assessments. Apply engineering, analytical, and technician disciplines in the operation and support of measurement facilities, ranges and instrumentation used for tests, evaluations, experiments, and assessments. May support the verification, validation, observation, or evaluation of models, hypotheses, tools, effects, or systems in a laboratory, simulated or operational environment. May include the development of test plans, safety and health plans, or animal or human subject research protocols.

4.4 Modeling and Simulation. Develop, integrate, and update models or simulations to provide products, services, or operational capability related to NLW IFC effects characterization, test, evaluation, training or concepts of employment. Apply standardized, rigorous, structured methodologies to create and validate physical, mathematical, or otherwise logical representations of systems, effects, interactions, phenomena, or processes.

4.5 Fabricate and Build. Fabricate, build, integrate, machine, manufacture, upgrade, install or deliver components, systems, subsystems, prototypes, breadboards, demonstrators, tools, simulators, test articles, or

Engineering Development Models (EDMs). Includes the fabrication of replacement parts or spares for systems, prototypes, EDMs, or demonstrators.

4.6 System Design Documentation and Technical Data Packages. Prepare system design documentation and technical data necessary to support system development, manufacturing, production, engineering, and logistics. Documentation shall reflect the latest design, configuration, integration, and installation concepts.

Technical documentation may be in the form of paper, electronic (digital) or interactive computer systems.

Documentation may include but is not limited to: engineering drawings, product definition data, equipment lists, material specifications, standards, performance requirements, reliability data, modeling data, quality assurance (QA) provisions, or packaging details.