Test Facility Pump System RPP.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE TEST CENTER (AFMC)

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CALIFORNIA

4 April 2026

MEMORANDUM FOR INTERESTED PARTIES

FROM: AFMC/AFTC/PZIA (Arnold)

100 Kindel Drive

Arnold AFB, TN 37389-13

SUBJECT: Request for Prototype Proposal (RPP) for Test Facility Pump System Replacement at

Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC)

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The United States Air Force (USAF), through AEDC, is seeking proposals from industry to deliver a design and demonstration of operational utility prototype in the form of a raw water supply system, including pumps, supporting infrastructure, and a new free-standing building at

Arnold Air Force Base, TN. The objective is to replace the aging system and integrate a new, more reliable and flexible system into the existing site infrastructure.

2.0 AUTHORITY

This RPP is issued under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022, Other Transactions for Prototype

Projects. The Government intends to award one or more Other Transaction for Prototype (OTP) agreements to the offeror(s) who provide the most advantageous proposal(s) to the Government.

Before the Agreements Officer considers an offeror eligible for proposal evaluations, the offeror shall specify and provide supporting documentation justifying how their company plans to satisfy 10 U.S.C. 4022(d)(1)(A)-(C) – Appropriate Use of Authority by elaborating on one of the following:

(A) There is at least one nontraditional defense contractor (NDC) or nonprofit research institution participating to a significant extent in the prototype project.

(B) All significant participants in the transaction other than the Federal Government are small businesses (including small businesses participating in a program described under section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638)) or nontraditional defense contractors.

(C) At least one third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by sources other than the Federal Government.

If an offeror is uncertain whether they or a partner/subcontractor qualifies as an NDC, contact the

Agreements Officer for further clarification.

3.0 OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE

3.1 Program Objectives

The overarching goal of this initiative is to replace the aging raw water supply system at Arnold

AFB. This will be accomplished by:

• Designing, procuring, and installing a new six-pump raw water system (five replacements and one redundant).

• Designing and constructing a new free-standing building to house the new system.

• Integrating the new pumps and building with existing site infrastructure while minimizing operational downtime.

3.2 Scope of the Prototype Project

The scope includes all design, analysis, procurement, fabrication, installation, demolition, and verification activities necessary to deliver a complete and operational cooling water system. This encompasses the pump assemblies (pump, driver, coupling, baseplate), all associated piping and valves, electrical infrastructure, and a local PLC-based control system. The effort is structured with base line-items for initial design activities in addition to severable option items covering detailed design, procurement, construction and installation.

Offerors shall propose a comprehensive solution that meets the detailed requirements outlined in the attached Statement of Objectives (SOO) and Performance Parameters documents.

4.0 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Offerors shall submit proposals organized into three (3) factors as described below. Proposals should be clear, concise, and directly address the requirements of this RPP.

Factor I: Corporate Experience

This volume should provide information on the offeror's capabilities and experience, including:

• A summary of relevant past performance on projects of similar size, scope, and complexity completed or ongoing within five years of issuance of this RPP.

• A brief description of the company and any key subcontractors.

Factor II: Technical Proposal

The Technical Proposal shall not contain any cost or pricing information. It must include the following:

• Subfactor 1 - Execution Plan: Define subcontractor and in-house roles, outlining scope, performance expectations, integration steps, and oversight measures. Plan should include:

o Subcontracting Plan: Identify subcontractors and provide descriptions of their experience, include evidence of their ability to perform, outline an approach for managing their work within the schedule, and address risks.

o In-House Execution: Provide an overview internal capability data, project specific advantages, and continuous improvement methods.

• Subfactor 2 - Technical Approach: A detailed narrative describing the offeror's approach to meeting the performance parameters. This should include:

o A description of the proposed pump system and building design.

o An implementation plan that mitigates downtime and addresses integration challenges.

o The approach to meeting the maintenance, reliability, and safety requirements.

o A discussion of how the proposed solution will adhere to the design standards and requirements listed in the Performance Parameters documents.

• Subfactor 3 - Project Schedule: A detailed project schedule identifying key milestones, deliverables, and a critical path for both the base effort and all option items.

• Subfactor 4 - Data Rights Assertions: A clear statement confirming the offeror’s agreement to provide the Government with Unlimited Government Use Rights as specified in Section 2.4 of the SOO. Any proposed deviations must be explicitly identified.

Factor III: Price Proposal

The Price Proposal must be separate from the Technical Proposal and shall include:

• Base Agreement Price: A detailed price breakdown for the base agreement. Prices should be mapped to major tasks and milestones.

o Kickoff Meeting o Requirements Review o 30% Preliminary Design Review for New Building o 30% Preliminary Design Review for Raw Water Supply System o 90% Critical Design Review for Raw Water Supply System o 100% Final Design Submission and Approval for Raw Water Supply System

• Payable Milestones: A proposed schedule of payable milestones. Payments will be fixed and tied to the successful completion of verifiable milestones.

• Price Narrative: A supporting narrative that explains the basis of the proposed price.

Proposal Due Date:

4 May 2026, 2:00 p.m. Central Time

Additional Information:

• Joint Certification Program (JCP) Requirements: Due to the presence of Distribution

D Export Controlled documents, vendors must maintain an active Joint Certification

Program (JCP) certification throughout the entire duration of this project.

• NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Requirements: To be eligible for agreements involving information beyond Distribution A, vendors must meet the following criteria:

o Current Assessment: Maintain a current NIST SP 800-171 DoD assessment on file, no more than three years old.

o Minimum Score: Achieve a summary-level assessment score of 110.

o Consequences of Non-Compliance:

• Assessment Older Than 3 Years: Vendors with assessments older than three years will only be eligible to receive Distribution A documents and will be restricted from drafting proposals containing information beyond Distribution A on their company network.

• Score Below 110: Vendors with scores below 110 must submit a

Plan of Action with their proposal, detailing how they will achieve a NIST score of 110 or higher.

5.0 EVALUATION

The Government will evaluate proposals to determine the solution that provides the best value and is most likely to meet the program objectives. The evaluation will be based on the following criteria and in accordance with Attachment 12 - Prototype Proposal Evaluation Methodology:

1. Corporate Experience: Demonstrated experience in managing and executing similar projects.

2. Execution Plan: Demonstrates a sound approach to executing the scope of the agreement through subcontracting and in-house execution.

3. Technical Approach: The soundness, feasibility, and innovativeness of the proposed technical solution to meet the performance parameters and manage project execution.

4. Project Schedule: The realism and achievability of the proposed schedule and milestones.

5. Data Rights: Concurrence with the Government’s required data rights.

6. Base Agreement Price: The reasonableness and completeness of the proposed price.

While important, price is secondary to the technical approach.

6.0 SUCCESSFUL PROTOTYPE DEFINITION

A successful prototype is defined as the operational utility of a complete and working cooling water system including the design, analysis, procurement, documentation, fabrication, demolition, installation, and verification of a new pump building, water pumps, piping, valves, equipment, instrumentation, controls, supports, and electrical power infrastructure.

7 .0 GOVERNMENT POINTS OF CONTACT

All communications and questions regarding this RPP shall be directed to the Agreements

Officer Haley Smith via email at haley.smith.10@us.af.mil.

HALEY M. K. SMITH, DAF

Agreements Officer

13 ATTACHMENTS

1. Statement of Objectives (SOO)

2. Performance Parameters

3. Appendix A - Reference Drawings

4. Appendix B - Design Review Flow, Deliverables, and Expectations

5. Appendix C - AEDC Standards

6. Appendix D - Scope Boundaries

7. Appendix E - Existing Utilities

8. Appendix F - Road Loads

9. Appendix G - Building Requirements

10. Appendix H - Building Concept

11. Appendix I - Bridge Crane

12. Prototype Proposal Evaluation Methodology

13. Agreement Articles mailto:haley.smith.10@us.af.mil