TOS II_RFI_1_Final.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) No. 1

FA9101-22-R-B001, Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS) II

26 January 2022

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION ISSUANCE. THIS IS A

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. This RFI is ISSUED for the purpose of developing a viable solicitation that will best communicate the Government’s requirements to industry. Response to this RFI is strictly voluntary and will not affect any firm’s ability to submit an offer if, or when, a solicitation is released. Foreign participation will not be authorized if, or when, a solicitation is released. The requested information is for planning purposes only and does NOT constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. No entitlement to payment by the Government of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise as a result of the submission of information in response to this RFI. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

Formal notices will be posted on SAM.gov website, https://sam.gov/content/home.

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) is in the process of determining the acquisition strategy for the follow-on to its Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS) operating contract. The new TOS II procurement is for work similar to that described in Attachment 1, Performance Work Statement (PWS) which was included as part of the solicitation for the initial TOS contract, FA9101-15-C-0500. Services are to be performed at the Complex’s main location in Tullahoma, TN and at two Geographically Separated Units (GSUs) in White Oak, MD and Mountain View, CA. Other GSUs may be included as the PWS requirements are finalized. The current Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF) contract was awarded under full and open competition for all work as described in Attachment 1.

However, AEDC is assessing all possible strategy options, contract types, and contract periods for the TOS II acquisition. Contract award is targeted for March 2024.

PURPOSE: This RFI is planned to be the first in a series. AEDC intends to use the information gathered from this effort to begin to assess capabilities and interests in all aspects of the work to be performed, in order to begin formulating an acquisition strategy for the follow-on contract. In order for AEDC to begin its assessment, respond to as many of the following questions as you can/or are applicable to your company:

1. Complete the table on the following page for each Attachment 1, PWS Element in accordance with the following instructions:

a. Capable – Is this a capability of your company that you could perform for AEDC? If you have only a partial capability, indicate the extent of the capability (i.e., wind tunnels only or rocket test only).

b. Interested – Is your company interested in potentially competing for this portion of the effort?

c. Total Experience – How many years has your company performed this type of work?

d. Government Experience – How many years has your company performed this type of work on a Government contract?

e. Recommended Contract Type – What contract type would you recommend for this portion of the work (e.g., Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee (CPIF), Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), CPAF, etc.)? Please explain your reasoning.

PWS Element Capable In total or in part?

Interested In total or in part?

Total Experience

Government Experience (contracts)

Recommended Contract Type

2.1 Business Relations

2.2 Contract Administration and

Management

2.3 Subcontract Management

2.4 Contractor Personnel, Disciplines, and Specialties

3.1 Test and Evaluation (see

PWS Appendices A, B, C, D and Test Capabilities Guide on www.arnold.af.mil)

3.3 Operations of Test Assets

and Test Articles

3.4 Integrated Scheduling

3.5 Lifecycle Sustainment of

Test and Test Support Assets

3.6 ID&C Engineering Services

and Lifecycle Sustainment

3.7 Test, Management, and

Diagnostic Equipment (TMDE) Management

3.8 Capital Improvements

3.9 Fuel Management Services

3.10 Machining / Fabrication

and Chemical / Material Analysis

3.11 Operations and Lifecycle

Sustainment of AEDC Base Support Assets

3.12 Utilities General Support

3.13 Data and Documentation

for AEDC Configuration Items

3.14 AEDC Ground, Weapons

and System Safety Programs

3.15 Sensitive Compartmented

Information (SCI) Security and Associated SCI Information Assurance Support

3.16 Financial Management

3.17 Acquisition of Supplies, Services, and Equipment

3.18 Interface Management

3.19 General Management

3.20 Strategic Planning

3.21 Foreign Technology

3.22 Public Affairs

3.23 Real Property Management

and Accountability Services

3.24 Continuous Improvement

Program

3.25 Integrated Performance

Management Program

2. Provide any additional thoughts or recommendations you have regarding possible strategy options and contract types for the TOS II acquisition.

3. Describe any involvement your company has had in contracts similar in nature to the areas in which you have expressed an interest.

4. Is your company capable of simultaneously managing complex operations and supporting efforts at GSUs not located at Arnold AFB where established procedures may differ? If not, please explain.

5. To be worthwhile to your company, what is the minimum contract length you would recommend for this work? AEDC anticipates possible contract periods to range from 1 basic year plus 5 to 12 option years to multiple basic years plus multiple option years. What are your recommendations for contract periods?

6. Would you participate in the acquisition with other firms as teaming members or joint ventures? What other teaming opportunities do you see for this acquisition?

7. Suggest opportunities for Government/industry and/or industry/industry partnerships, particularly:

a. Teaming arrangements

b. Privatization opportunities and risks

8. For your areas(s) of interest, indicate whether you prefer Government- or contractor-furnished equipment to include: personal computer seat management, vehicles, and special equipment.

9. What quality assurance processes does your company employ (e.g., ISO 9001, AS 9100, or other)?

10. When you respond to this RFI, identify the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code you think is appropriate for the areas in which you have expressed an interest and indicate if you would prefer to perform the work as a prime contractor or subcontractor.

11. How many employees does your company have?

12. Attached is the current AEDC Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) clause for your reference (Attachment 2).

a. Comment on any issues/concerns/challenges you have with the current wording of the clause.

b. What should the Government be considering in terms of possible changes to this clause?

13. Reducing the cost of operations will likely be necessary given projected future budgets.

Provide examples of how your company successfully reduced costs and why that experience may be useful here.

14. What topics would you like to have discussed in future Government/contractor meetings?

Include the following with your response:

Name and address of firm Point of contact and telephone number Average annual revenue for the past three years and number of employees Business size based on the recommended NAICS (per question 10). If a small business, please indicate any applicable categories (i.e., Women-Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Small Disadvantaged Business).

Affiliate information:

Parent company Joint venture partners Potential teaming partners

Submit any additional comments or suggestions that you would like to share with us regarding this acquisition.

Email your responses to the TOS II Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO), Ms. Rebecca Gardner, at AEDC.SSO@us.af.mil by close of business on 16 March 2022. Note that official information regarding this acquisition will be provided by the PCO. Any information received from other sources should not be relied upon as official. Any comments/responses received from industry pertaining to this RFI will NOT be posted on public web sites.

AEDC will host multiple Industry Days, the first of which will be in March 2022 to share information with respect to this RFI. This Industry Day will be a virtual event due to the current Department of Defense policy as a result of COVID-19 and will provide pre-recorded general overview briefings of AEDC with the opportunity to submit industry questions. One-on-one telecon meetings with the Source Selection team may be requested to answer submitted questions. Detailed information for this Industry Day will be posted on the SAM.gov website and will include links to the pre-recorded briefings and due dates for submitting questions and requesting one-on-one meetings.

Further information and descriptions of the AEDC facilities may be found on our web site at www.arnold.af.mil by following the link under About Us to the Test Capabilities Guide. Also, the TOS II Competition Library has been created and is located at www.arnold.af.mil/Home/TOSII. This website will be routinely updated with additional information as it becomes available.

2 Attachments

1. PWS, Solicitation FA9101-13-R-0100

2. Clause H115, Organizational Conflicts of Interest, Contract No. FA9101-15-C-0500