JOFOC for FBO Award Notice.pdf

National Transportation Safety Board Class Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

“CIDER Maintenance & Enhancements”

1. Program Office/Procurement Request

Office of Research and Engineering (RE), Vehicle Recorder Division (RE-40).

2. Total Estimated Value

Total maximum estimated value: $3,000,000

3. Period of Performance Total period of performance is August 17, 2009 through August 16, 2014. (See description in section 5)

4. Nature of Action

Justification approved on a class basis and only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Description of Requirement

The NTSB, through contract NTSB-C-04-0009 with General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (GDAIS), developed and implemented the first generation of its Crash Investigation Data Extraction and Readout (CIDER) application. CIDER is used to read and analyze various pieces of information from all types of Flight Data Recorders (FDR).

Contract NTSB-C-04-0009 was completed on January 31, 2007. The NTSB received and accepted all deliverables, and has begun rolling out CIDER in a full operational mode.

However, as with most new software applications, CIDER requires support and maintenance and updated functionality and enhancements as needed to prevent obsolescence.

The NTSB has a requirement for a Contractor to provide continuing support and development of its CIDER application as it matures and is mainstreamed into NTSB operations. The NTSB has identified the following three (3) Task Areas for support:

1. Task Area 1 – System Maintenance

2. Task Area 2 – New Features and Functionality

3. Task Area 3 – System Enhancements

This JOFOC is a class justification for services in the Task Areas listed above. NTSB intends to issue an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contract for one (1) base year of 12 months and four (4) 12-month option years. Individually funded task orders may be issued under the IDIQ contract for services in one (1) or more of the task areas listed above in a given year.

6. Statutory Authority

The authority permitting other than Full and Open competition for this procurement is FAR Part 6.302-1. Any other follow-on Contractor would substantially delay and duplicate costs that would not be recovered in a competitive process.

The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) – Supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in — (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition; or (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.

The authority permitting a class justification for this procurement is FAR Part 6.303-1 (c)

– Justifications required by paragraph (a) of this section may be made on an individual or class basis...Whenever a justification is made and approved on a class basis, the Contracting Officer must ensure that each contract action taken pursuant to the authority of the class justification and approval is within the scope of the class justification and approval and shall document the contract file for each contract action accordingly.

7. Unique Qualifications/Circumstances of Requirement

The NTSB has made a significant investment in the development of the CIDER advanced flight recorder readout software package. To date, NTSB has issued seven (7) awards totaling $2,592,282 in support of the CIDER advanced flight recorder readout software package:

PREVIOUS AWARDS IN SUPPORT OF CIDER

AWARD NUMBER AWARD AMOUNT

NTSB-F-03-0052 $74,000

NTSB-C-04-0005 31,208

NTSB-C-04-0009 $1,825,898

NTSB-F-07-0029 $98,057

NTSB-F-07-0032 $74,000

NTSB-F-07-0047 $184,370

NTSB-F-08-0080 $120,000

TOTAL $2,407,533

Specific and intimate knowledge of this package, written entirely in Java programming language, is required to ensure the NTSB ‘flagship’ software application is working at an acceptable efficiency and capacity. Furthermore, this extensive familiarity is required to maintain the system, repair programming ‘bugs’ as they are identified, and to make enhancements. Finally, the NTSB requires a Contractor with an extensive understanding of flight data recorders and the analysis NTSB performs of this data.

GDAIS is the only company with the qualifications, skills, and capabilities to perform this requirement. As stated above, GDAIS was the Contractor who developed CIDER for NTSB. GDAIS has a unique understanding of the programming language, structure, and nuances of CIDER.

In addition, CIDER was developed with Java, Microsoft SQL, WebDav and JavaViews software products. GDAIS is Java certified, and their programmers have unique experience in developing CIDER in Java while having an excellent understanding of FDR data analysis.

GDAIS is the only company with extensive knowledge and understanding of flight recorder data generated from various flight data recorders AND experience/knowledge in Java, Microsoft SQL, WebDav and JavaViews software products. The required combination of flight recorder understanding and specific programming/software knowledge is only available from GDAIS.

8. Efforts to Determine Only One Source

The NTSB staff annually meets with representatives from 10 international government accident investigative agencies to discuss what tools other agencies use for accident data recovery. In addition, RE staff are active members of government and industry funded domestic and international flight recorder standards groups. Through conversations with this group, no vendor could be identified that possesses both the unique flight recorder knowledge and the Java programming experience. Market research described in section 10 also confirmed that GDAIS is the only responsible source.

9. Contracting Officer’s Determination I have reviewed the information, contained in this JOFOC, and determined that based on all the information provided, the anticipated cost of any subsequent sole source award would be fair and reasonable to the Government.

10. Market Research

On November 18, 2008, the Acquisition Division (AD-20) issued a Sources Sought Notice (see Attachment 1) on the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov). The purpose of the Sources Sought Notice was to:

1. Provide notice to the marketplace of NTSB’s intent to award a sole source contract to GDAIS under the authority of FAR 6.302, and

2. Conduct market research and invite any other qualified company to express their interest in and demonstrate their capability to perform the anticipated work.

The Sources Sought Notice was posted on FBO from November 18, 2008 through December 3, 2008. The NTSB did not receive any responses to the Notice.

In addition, the NTSB closely monitors flight data recorder companies to ensure we have the capability to read all types of FDRs. Through these efforts, the NTSB technical staff have contact with many representatives in a relatively small field of expertise, and through there attendance at conferences and meetings, the NTSB has not identified any other sources with the capabilities to perform this requirement.

11. Other Pertinent Information

The CIDER application was developed over a two-and-a-half year period with GDAIS. The NTSB technical staff has developed a great deal of rapport with GDAIS and is extremely satisfied with their technical understanding and ability demonstrated under contract NTSB- C-04-0009.

The Sources Sought Notice is attached to this JOFOC as Attachment 1.

12. List of Interested Sources

No other companies/organizations have expressed an interest in this requirement.

http://www.fbo.gov/

13. Efforts to Remove Barriers to Competition

This is a very small niche in programming. Before the development of CIDER, the NTSB and similar safety organizations representing their countries, purchased software licenses for an application called RAPS (Recovery Analysis Presentation System), developed and maintained by FlightScape, a Canadian company. The development of CIDER may remove barriers to competition in the future.

NOTICE INFORMATION

Changed Nov 18, 2008 3:55 pm: CIDER Software Maintenance and Enhancements - SYNOP090001 (Archived)

Notice Type:

Modification/Amendment/Cancel

Original Posted Date:

November 18, 2008

Posted Date:

November 18, 2008

Original Response Date:

Nov 21, 2008 5:00 pm Eastern

Response Date:

Dec 03, 2008 5:00 pm

Archiving Policy:

Automatic, 15 days after response date

Archive Date:

December 18, 2008

Classification Code:

D -- Information technology services, including telecommunications services

NAICS Code:

541 -- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services/541511 -- Custom Computer Programming Services

Agency/Office:

Acquisition Division

Location:

Contracting and Procurement

Title:

Page 1 of 5Changed Nov 18, 2008 3:55 pm: CIDER Software Maintenance and Enhancem...

5/18/2009https://www.fbo.gov/index?print_preview=1&s=procurement&mode=form&id=4ac...

moyb Text Box Attachment 1 - Sources Sought Notice

CIDER Software Maintenance and Enhancements

Description(s):

Added: Nov 18, 2008 3:43 pm

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, OR A

REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. FURTHER, IT DOES NOT REPRESENT A

COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR COSTS INCURRED IN

PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF DATA OR ANY OTHER COSTS INCURRED

IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

This is a Sources Sought notice with the intent to award a sole source contract to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (GDAIS) under the authority of FAR 6.302 because DGAIS is the original developer of the software product described in this notice and is uniquely qualified to perform the tasks described below. Notice is provided as information to the marketplace, market research, and is an invitation for any other qualified companies to express their interest in and demonstrate their capability to perform the anticipated work.

Background Pursuant to contract number NTSB-C-04-0009, GDAIS developed and implemented the first generation of the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB's) Crash Investigation Data Extraction and Readout (CIDER) software application. CIDER is used to read and analyze information from all types of Flight Data Recorders (FDRs).

CIDER is a Java application that currently consists of approximately several million lines of source code developed by GDAIS, who has a unique familiarity with the CIDER system and maintenance of it. CIDER has been fully commented using Java Docs. Contract NTSB-C-04-0009 was completed on January 31, 2007, and the NTSB received and accepted all deliverables. The NTSB has begun rolling out CIDER in a full operational mode, but requires continuing CIDER support and maintenance.

Additionally, the NTSB anticipates further related software development requirements to extend CIDER's functionality, perhaps including the addition of railroad event recorder readout and analysis capabilities. As a result, the NTSB has identified the following three (3) Task Areas for support:

1. Task Area 1 - System Maintenance

2. Task Area 2 - New Features and Functionality

3. Task Area 3 - System Enhancements and Improvement

Page 2 of 5Changed Nov 18, 2008 3:55 pm: CIDER Software Maintenance and Enhancem...

5/18/2009https://www.fbo.gov/index?print_preview=1&s=procurement&mode=form&id=4ac...

To fulfill its CIDER requirements during Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, the NTSB anticipates issuing Delivery Orders on a sole-source basis to GDAIS under General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract GS-10F-0237L issued under FSS 874, titled "Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services" (MOBIS). This requirement falls within North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code 541511 - Custom Computer Programming Services. Because the NTSB's CIDER requirement will extend into FY2010 and beyond, this Notice is being published to permit qualified companies to express their interest in and demonstration their capability to perform the anticipated work during FY2010 and beyond.

Required Capabilities CIDER was developed with Java, Microsoft SQL, WebDav and JavaViews software products; consequently, the NTSB requires a contractor-provided team of Java Developers to accomplish the three (3) Task Areas of support described above. A contractor capable of providing such a team must also demonstrate prior past performance developing and delivering similar top-quality software for use in an engineering or scientific environment. Further, a contractor must be able to satisfy the Government, preferable through past performance, that it is capable of developing the intimate knowledge and expertise required for it to successfully and efficiently assume software maintenance and development responsibilities for a software package that it did not develop. Finally, the NTSB requires a Contractor with an extensive understanding of FDRs, how data are stored, extracted, and converted from FDRs to engineering units, and the engineering graphics, animation, and analyses that aviation accident investigators require of FDR data. In addition to FDR capabilities, because the NTSB contemplates adding railroad event recorder readout and analysis capability to CIDER, expertise with such recorders or the engineering analysis of the data recovered from surface vehicle recording systems would also be desirable.

Sources capable of fully satisfying the above requirements are invited to submit capability statements/expressions of interest providing the Government the necessary information to determine actual capability. At a minimum, this information, which must be prepared specifically in response to this notice should, must include: (1) identification of company or organization; (2) an assertion of existing, full capability to meet proposed requirements; (3) business/contracts/marketing office point(s) of contact; (4) notification of business size and /or special status; and (5) any additional

Page 3 of 5Changed Nov 18, 2008 3:55 pm: CIDER Software Maintenance and Enhancem...

information that may be useful to the successful procurement of the requirements, if solicited. These expressions of interest shall adhere to a ten (10)-page submission limit plus web links and any specialized product descriptions. The statement of qualifications should include only information that clearly demonstrates the respondent's capabilities, expertise, and experience to perform the requirements described in this notice. General marketing material should not be included. The NTSB prefers that companies do not submit proprietary material. However, the Government recognizes that proprietary data may be a part of your submittal. If so, clearly mark such restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non-proprietary information. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, which shall be considered by NTSB. Parties must submit information within fifteen days of publication of this notice.

NTSB will not return capability statements and the supporting documentation submitted in response to this notice. Telephone responses and inquiries will not be accepted. You may email questions regarding this notice to the issuing office to Bryan Moy via email at: bryan.moy@ntsb.gov.

Primary Point of Contact.:

BRYAN J. MOY

Contracting Office Address:

490 L'Enfant Plaza East, SW Washington, District of Columbia 20594

Place of Contract Performance:

490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, District of Columbia 20594 United States

Allow Vendors To Add/Remove From Interested Vendors:

yes

Allow Vendors To View Interested Vendors List:

yes

Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action:

Page 4 of 5Changed Nov 18, 2008 3:55 pm: CIDER Software Maintenance and Enhancem...

no

Solicitation External Reference:

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NTSB/CMS/WashingtonDC/SYNOP090001/listing.html

Solicitation External Reference To Packages:

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NTSB/CMS/WashingtonDC/SYNOP090001/packages.html

PROCUREMENT NOTICE (ARCHIVED) INFO

Created: November 18, 2008 3:55 pm Modified:December 18, 2008 4:37 am

NOTICE HISTORY

Original Notice: SYNOP090001 (Nov 18, 2008) Original Type: Sources Sought Changed (Nov 18, 2008)

Page 5 of 5Changed Nov 18, 2008 3:55 pm: CIDER Software Maintenance and Enhancem...

Sources Sought Notice.pdf