Sources Sought Synopsis 20MM ATS_2024-09-16.docx

Sources Sought Synopsis 20MM Ammunition Transfer System (20MM ATS)

NSN: 4925-01-612-9334

PN: 201757932

CAGE Code: 98752

CAUTION:

This market survey is being conducted to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements for qualification and production of the 20MM Ammunition Transfer System (20MM ATS) for use by United States Air Force (USAF) personnel. The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined. Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain a description of the 20MM ATS requirement and a Contractor Capability Survey. The Survey allows Contractors to provide their company’s capability.

2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the Government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities.

3. ATTENTION: SMALL BUSINESS (SB) RESPONDENTS who are interested in participation for this effort:

a. No set aside decision has been made; however, the Government will determine the final strategy after thorough analysis of the SB responses and other market research available, considering the demonstrated interest and capability. Please ensure that a thorough response is provided to each question. If your company does not currently possess the full capability required to fulfill the entire requirement, what teaming/partnership/joint venture/subcontracting arrangement do you have in place to fulfill the Government needs? Providing evidence of this arrangement, e.g. emails, letter, etc. that demonstrates a united response to this SSS is highly encouraged, but not required. The evidence should state the type of arrangement and the role each member will fulfill. If you are only interested in being a subcontractor to the future awardee, state the portion of the work that your organization has capability of fulfilling.

b. Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for SB.

4. Both large and SB are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged. Any responses involving teaming agreements should delineate between the work that will be accomplished by the prime and the work accomplished by the teaming partners.

5. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to the Contract Specialists, Jeanette Jordan and Tyrelle Stephens, and Contracting Officer, Amanda Ragan at the following email addresses:

jeanette.jordan.2@us.af.mil tyrelle.stephens@us.af.mil amanda.ragan.1@us.af.mil

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources to produce the 20MM ATS, NOUN: SHOP EQUIPMENT, AMMU, NSN: 4925-01-612-9334, Part Number 201757932-10, CAGE Code 98752, that have the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements of the Air Force. This is a “build to print” acquisition in which the Government owns the Technical Data Package (TDP). The terms and conditions, to include the acquisition strategy, has not yet been decided. The Government will use this information to determine the best acquisition strategy for this procurement. The projected quantities will be an aggregate total of all back ordered 20MM ATS requisitions needed, that work in conjunction with the UALS (Universal Ammunition Loading System) and the LALS (Link-less Ammunition Loading System). Currently, the total quantities are not finalized. The USG currently has 39 on backorder, but the final requirement may fall within an estimated range, up to 50 units. This estimated quantity is inclusive of the current backorders plus any anticipated requirements that may generate during the life of the contract.

The 20MM ATS, is used to transfer 20MM ammunitions from storage into the UALS or LALS for transportation to the flight line. The 20MM ATS shall be fabricated IAW with the attached documents. The TDP is included as part of this market research activity.

The acquisition team is asking for feedback from Industry representatives regarding this acquisition for the 20MM Ammunition Transfer System. See Part III. Developing Strategy for specifics.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

Part I. Business Information

Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

· Company/Institute Name:

· Address:

· Point of Contact:

· CAGE Code:

· Phone Number:

· E-mail Address:

· Web Page URL:

· Government Proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 336413

· A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership).

Responses to the Capability Survey Part I, Part II, and Part III must be received no later than close of business 23 October 2024. Please ensure data is in a readable electronic format that can be received through a firewall. Attachments shall not to exceed 10 MB per email. Multiple emails are acceptable. Responses must be sent via email to the following:

· Amanda Ragan amanda.ragan.1@us.af.mil

· Jeanette Jordan jeanette.jordan.2@us.af.mil

· Tyrelle Stephens tyrelle.stephens@us.af.mil

Questions relative to this market research should be addressed to both the Contract Specialists and PCO identified above.

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

A. General Capability Questions:

1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and nature of the goods and/or services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure.

2. Describe your company's past experience on previous projects similar in complexity to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact (Contracting Officer or Program Manager).

3. Describe your company’s experience in repairing the 20MM ATS, NSN: 4925-01-612-9334, Part Number 201757932-10.

4. Have you built any type of 20MM ATS in the past that supports either a UALS or LALS? Are you building any now? If so, for whom, and how many?

5. What is your company’s current maximum capacity per month for this particular type of requirement? Provide information on any facility reserves you may possess to increase capacity in the event of an immediate need do to critical operational mission requirements.

6. What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices does your company employ for singular equipment production items and overall customer furnished equipment such as the UALS, and LALS system(s)? Provide a detailed description of your quality program, for example ISO 9001, AS9100, etc.

7. The Government’s data rights will be used so that the 20MM ATS will correctly mate with current iteration of UALS, as well as any legacy UALS and LALS in the field. What experience does your company have in doing “build to print” projects like this one and how will you guarantee compatibility? In your response, please describe your company's capabilities and experience in generating technical data, engineering drawings and manuals. Identify which software programs are utilized to generate these data products and what formats 20MM ATS are available for delivered items.

B. Commerciality Questions:

1. The Government asserts that this requirement is non-commercial as the end item does not meet the definition of a commercial product as defined by FAR 2.101. If you disagree with this assertion, please provide a detailed explanation outlining how this is commercial that could be used to support the elements of a commerciality determination as required by DFARS 212.102(a)(iii) and DFARS PGI 212.102(a)(iii).

2. Are there established catalog or market prices for our requirement?

3. If you offer this product and/or service to both U.S. Government and commercial sources, is the same workforce used for both the U.S. and the General Public?

4. Is our requirement offered to both under similar terms and conditions? Briefly describe any differences.

5. Describe your standard warranty and return process for goods and services furnished to the Government for items similar in nature to this requirement.

C. Manufacturing Questions

1. Describe your capabilities and experience in manufacturing with regard to the requirements of this effort.

2. Describe your capabilities and experience in test, evaluation, and repair processes/procedures with regard to manufacturing items.

a. Please include experience conducting or overseeing in-house or subcontracted qualification testing.

b. Please include experience supporting first article and compatibility tests at USAF installations.

c. Please include experience in technical support of USAF testing i.e. troubleshooting and maintaining first article units (on site and/or remotely on call).

3. Describe your configuration management processes and how you identify and resolve parts obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources problems.

4. Demonstrate your ability and experience in the manufacture of the same or similar components currently utilized in the commercial or military environment by providing the following information on the same or similar items:

a. Contract Number

b. Procuring Agency

c. Contract Value

d. Number of assets shipped

5. If you assert this is a commercial requirement, provide your commercial manual(s) or Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP) and your rights to these manuals and or ATP used in the manufacture and functional check of these or similar assets for Government Engineer review.

6. Describe your capabilities and experience in test, evaluation, and repair processes/procedures with regard to manufacturing items.

7. Discuss your process for addressing any fit, form, and/or function issues that may arise from the requirements of this effort.

8. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting on hand/work-in-progress balance and manufacturing status to your customer.

9. Include a detailed listing of facilities and equipment, including quantities, required to satisfy the requirements of this effort.

a. Provide an outline of the proposed process, including inspections.

i. State the type of test procedures anticipated for this effort.

ii. State the type of inspection process anticipated for this effort.

1. Non-Destructive Inspection/Testing NDI/T

2. Destructive testing/inspection

10. If the item cannot be manufactured in total, state what your organization can produce. Additionally, would you require subcontractors? If so, what percentage of the work will be allocated to them?

11. What do you perceive to be the biggest lead times on materials and parts for this asset within the current industry? Do you foresee these lead times improving?

12. After the completion of a first article, how long would your company’s production lead time be for the fielding of units?

13. Describe your process for maintaining inventory on manufactured assets and any warranty work associate with them.

Part III. Developing Strategy

1. The Government anticipates a 5-7 year Firm Fixed Price contract for this effort.

a. Please describe any risks or issues you see with this contract length and pricing structure.

b. What long-term pricing strategies would you be willing to support?

2. Does your company have the capability/capacity to produce the solicited NSN? If yes, what is your manufacturing capacity?

3. What areas of this acquisition do you envision would be sub-contracted out, if any? This is asked in the event that an evaluation factor needs to be included for evaluation of critical sub-contractors.

4. What risk areas (if any) does your company identify ?

5. This item may require First Article Testing (FAT) to be completed at the USAF testing facility.

a. What are the perceived risks with utilizing USAF facilities for FAT evaluations?

b. What suggestions can you provide to improve the FAT evaluation process?

6. This contract will include performance metrics that will measure production lead times and on-time delivery. Do you see any other metrics or incentives that may be applicable?

7. What additional incentives would you recommend for this kind of action, if any?

8. Progress payments based on costs may be considered; does your company have an approved accounting system as required?

9. Do you anticipate any long lead materials or materials with significantly fluctuating costs that would require the inclusion of an Economic Price Adjustment Clause?

10. The Government is considering the use of the evaluation factors listed below. A final determination/decision on the trade-off methodology has not been made and is pending the responses received to this SSS. The Government may also elect to conduct a phased acquisition, with a down-select process to move the most highly rated offerors to the next phase.

a. Factor 1: Price

i. Based on total evaluated price for evaluation of base and all options.

b. Factor 2: Technical

i. Written Technical narrative, to proceed to oral presentation of a sample task

ii. Technical risk assessment, inclusion of a realistic Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) submission, to proceed to oral presentation of the IMS

iii. Critical sub-contractors

c. Factor 3: Past Performance

11. Are there any additional source selection evaluation factors your company would suggest as meaningful discriminators between offerors that would give confidence to an evaluation team that your company has a material understanding of the work to be performed under this contract?

Attachments:

1. Draft Statement of Work (SOW)

2. Technical Data Package (TDP)