SAF_SQ SETA II RFI 20240912.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

SAF/SQ SYSTEMS ENGINEERING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (SETA)

12 SEPTEMBER 2024

SYNOPSIS

This RFI is conducting market research for a Systems Engineering Technical Assistance (SETA) requirement for expertise in space matters to meet all technical, space acquisition-related, and support Advisory and Assistance Service (A&AS) to support space-related activities across the Air Force space enterprise. The Headquarters United States Air Force, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SQ), through the Air Force District of Washington Contracting Directorate (AFDW/PK), intends to solicit for Knowledge-Based Services.

The Government may use the responses to this RFI for information and planning purposes.

AFDW/PK anticipates a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract type for Labor and Other Direct Costs (ODC) with multiple Contract Line-Item Numbers (CLIN) spanning across a 12-month base period with four 12-month option periods starting on or about January 2025 through July 2030.

A Request for Proposals is contemplated using the National American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. This RFI is only for the purpose of identifying potential sources as part of market research. No RFQ or RFP exists. Responses to this RFI are not quotes on which the acquiring agency can issue any contracts. This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not itself constitute a Request for Quotations or Proposal.

The Government does not intend to award a contract based only on responses to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI marked "Proprietary" will be protected and handled accordingly. All prospective contractors must possess an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded an Air Force contract.

Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. The acquiring agency will not pay for information received in response to this RFI. There is no commitment by the Government to issue an RFQ or RFP, make an award or awards, or to be responsible for any monies expended by industry responses to this RFI.

This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Quotes (RFQ). A published RFP is anticipated to be released on or about November 2024.

PURPOSE

Pursuant to FAR 5.201(c), the primary purpose of the notice is to improve small business access to acquisition information and enhance competition by identifying contracting and subcontracting opportunities. In addition, Capability Statements and Rough Order of Magnitudes (ROMs) will aid in the development of the Air Force's estimate and identify if other sources can fulfill the requirement described herein.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Review Request for Information (below) and attachments.

2. Capability Statement and answers to the questions below in response to this notice is due 27 September NLT 12:00 pm (noon) EST.

a. The Capability Statement shall be one electronic file. There is 10-page limitation.

b. Failure to provide adequate documentation may result in the inability for the Air Force to adequately assess your response.

c. Untimely responses may or may not be considered.

d. Some, all, or none of the respondents may be notified of the assessment results.

3. Route via email but be cognizant of file size limitations (<20 MB).

Address responses to deja.green.1.ctr@us.af.mil and rebecca.tinch@us.af.mil and please use ‘FA701424RSPACESETA’ in the subject line.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Part I. Business Information Please provide the following business information for your company:

- Company Name and DBA, if applicable

- Address

- CAGE Code

- POC contact info

- Size of business pursuant to NAICS code 541611 and socioeconomic status, if applicable

- Identify as domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, indicate the country of ownership)

Part II. Questions for Potential Offerors

1. Understanding that extensive experience across all aspects of national security space and space acquisitions is a critical requirement for our future contractor workforce, how would your company ensure that the personnel that fill these positions truly have the expertise to meet our broad requirements? Relatedly, what is your ability/experience in attracting the unique levels of experience as defined by the SMTS I, SMTS II, and EMTS labor categories?

2. What previous experience does your company have in supporting similar national security space and acquisition advisory and assistance service contracts under Firm Fixed Price, or Firm Fixed Price Level of Effort of similar size and complexity?

3. Identify the type of professional scientists/engineering disciplines and their associated experience levels that your company would be able to provide in the event of a surge?

4. Given that some current personnel have been working in their positions for many years and there are large collections of stored data, what does your company feel are the key steps/key attributes and appropriate timeframe in performing a thorough turnover/transition with the current contractor so there is no interruption in service to the government?

5. What will your company do to ensure that the personnel with the appropriate expertise remain on the contract, and what is your company’s plan if one of these critical people leaves the contract?

6. What percentage of your proposed workforce do you expect to remain on this contract for the life of the contract and its options, more simply what is your anticipated turnover rate, particularly for the higher labor categories?

7. What is your ability to acquire Top Secret Facility clearance without waiver at time of proposal?

8. Can you provide a sufficient number of trained, qualified, cleared personnel with appropriate security clearances to accomplish tasks as described in the PWS?

9. What are your experiences in working contracts that are “firewalled” from other corporate activities for conflict-of-interest avoidance?

10. How would you leverage corporate resources to provide effective and efficient program and contract management throughout the duration of the contract to ensure timely and satisfactory submission of deliverables?

11. Given various OSD & DAF IT restrictions, what modern technology and processes can you bring to the table to help the Space Force and SAF/SQ continue to move its internal administrative, communication/coordination, oversight and tracking functions out of decades old paper driven processes, and into a modern cloud/on-prem, data rich environment?

ATTACHMENTS

1. Performance Work Statement (PWS) (draft), dated 4 September 2024