UEWTEP III_RFI 1_12012022.pdf

FEDSIM is a Client Support Center housed within GSA, FAS, AAS

General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM)

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Enterprise Wide Training And Exercise Program (UEWTEP) III, Request for Information (RFI) In support of

USSOCOM Directorate of Operations (J3), Joint Collective Training Division (JCT)

Disclaimer: This RFI does NOT constitute a Request for Proposal and is not to be construed as a commitment, implied or otherwise, by the Government that a procurement action will be issued.

Response to this notice is not a request to be added to a bidders list or to receive a copy of a solicitation.

No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of the requested information. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow up information requests.

Responses to this RFI may be considered in the future determination of an appropriate acquisition strategy for the program. The Government may not respond to any specific questions or comments submitted in response to this RFI or information provided as a result of this request. Any information submitted by respondents as a result of this notice is strictly voluntary.

I. Introduction

General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) is releasing this Request for Information (RFI) on behalf of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The purpose of this RFI is to assist the Government in conducting market research focused on determining the capability of small business concerns in all socioeconomic categories to meet the work described in the RFI. This information will be used for market research only. The Government is not obligated to release a future solicitation.

II. Background

USSOCOM develops and employs fully capable Special Operations Forces (SOF) to conduct global special operations and activities as part of the Joint Force to support persistent, networked, and distributed Combatant Command (CCMD) operations and campaigns against state and non-state actors.

Joint exercise support is provided through the UEWTEP contract in support of J3-JCT responsible for collective training and exercises within USSOCOM. In this capacity, J3-JCT plans, designs, synchronizes, executes, assesses, and resources SOF-specific training, exercise, and experimentation support to the UEWTEP enterprise and partners with other CCMDs and Services to facilitate joint and combined operational readiness to meet CCMD and Joint Force Commander (JFC) requirements.

UEWTEP improves USSOCOM and partner current and future readiness to enable SOF and its strategic and operational partners to compete with and, if required due to armed conflict, defeat state and non-state actors. UEWTEP also resources joint collective training and exercise activities that support Global Campaign Plans focused on priority threats and stresses vertical and horizontal integration at the operational up to the strategic national level. UEWTEP is responsible for developing and executing collective training and exercise programs that: reflect the global strategic environment and its respective challenges of adversaries that are near peer, trans regional, asymmetric, and that fight across multiple domains and contest U.S. power projection in each domain.

UEWTEP encompasses joint training and exercises that: challenge SOF and partners to integrate globally through priority strategic challenges to synchronize quickly/decisively across Geographic Combatant

Command (GCC) boundaries, functions, and authorities; span the range of military operations to assess capabilities and capacities to inform joint readiness and develop options for national leadership; and offer a range of responses to address strategic competition, especially competition below the threshold of armed conflict. The UEWTEP encourages innovation through test and refinement of new concepts and incorporation of joint lessons learned while facilitating SOF-Conventional Force (CF) integration, interoperability, and interdependence (SOF-CF I3) through joint SOF training support. UEWTEP is informed by the Joint Training, Exercise, and Evaluation Program (JTEEP), Joint Training System (JTS), Joint and USSOCOM Lesson Learned Systems (JLLIS/SOFLLIS), ELLIPSE Exercise Charter, and SOF, Joint, and Service training doctrine and guidance. UEWTEP provides relevant SOF-specific, joint collective training, exercise, and experimentation support to Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs), Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), SOF Component Commands, and select SOF O6 and above joint SOF headquarters (HQs), as well as other CCMDs, Services, and Partner Nations (PN) at various CONUS and OCONUS locations. UEWTEP also increases joint context in SOF joint training and exercises to ensure SOF-CF I3. UEWTEP events are designed to incorporate training for high-end warfighting where all domains of warfare are contested. UEWTEP blends the appropriate live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) and synthetic training environments to optimize training results.

III. Scope

The scope of work includes functional, analytical, administrative, and technical support for analyzing, planning, design/scripting, preparing, rehearsing, coordinating, conducting, and assessing:

1) training events, exercises, strategies, policies; 2) certification, verification, and validation (CV2) of joint SOF operational HQs; 3) experimentation; 4) table-top exercises (TTX); 5) senior leader seminars (SLS) and strategic assessment seminars (SAS); 6) after action reviews; 7) staff role-playing; 8) working groups/conferences; 9) training assessment and Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy (DOTmLPF-P) analysis; 10) training publication development; 11) training courses; and 12) associated administrative, information management, instructional system design (ISD), and resource and operations management activities. The Contractor shall support the JTEEP, Joint National Training Capability (JNTC), ELLIPSE, and SOF joint exercise programs by meeting all anticipated and emergent requirements identified and approved in the UEWTEP fiscal year program execution plan (PEP) and out-of-cycle requests (OOCRs). The Contractor shall support J3-JCT, SOF Component Commands, JSOC, TSOCs, Services, and CCMDs in implementing the UEWTEP. The contractor shall use the JTS, Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate (ADDIE) ISD model, SOF and Joint doctrine, and strategic guidance to accomplish these tasks associated with joint collective training.

The Contractor shall provide subject matter expertise in the domains of warfare (land, maritime, air, space, and cyberspace) and warfighting functional areas of (command and control, fires, force protection, information, intelligence, sustainment, and movement and maneuver); and other niche subject matter areas such as interagency, National Mission Force (NMF), special/sensitive activities, or others as needs arise when required. These Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) shall provide program execution and improvement; ISD support; Road-to-War and event/exercise scenario development; Master Scenario Events List (MSEL) events development; LVC capabilities integration with event/exercise design; Partner Nation (PN) integration into exercise design and execution; Joint Event Life Cycle (JELC) planning and execution; face-to-face and online training development and delivery; Joint Exercise Control Group (JECG) operations; battle staff training planning and execution, exercise design and execution for Command Post Exercises (CPX), Field Training Exercises (FTX), Mission Readiness Exercises (MRX), Pre-Deployment Exercises (PDX), Certification Exercises (CERTEX), and Validation Exercises (VALEX); realistic military training (RMT) development; SLS and SAS facilitation, after-action review (AAR) development; PN events/exercise support; staff role-playing for Special Operations Task Forces (SOTF), Joint Special Operations Task Forces (JSOTF), Joint Special Operations Aviation Component

(JSOAC), and Joint Force Special Operations Component Commands (JFSOCC); SOF tactical units and HQ integration into JNTC exercises; unclassified and classified information analysis and exploitation;

strategic planning; assessment and integration of experimentation into exercise design; DOTmLPF-P observations and analysis; staff research; training quality control; Newcomer’s, Exercise Design, and Trainer seminar development and presentation; standard operating procedures (SOPs) development;

document meta-tagging and storage; JS J7 liaison; and JECG facility management; These services will include, but are not limited to:

A. Task 1 - Program Management

The contractor shall provide the management, quality, and oversight of all activities performed by contractor personnel, including subcontractors, to satisfy the requirements identified in the performance work statement (PWS). The contractor shall implement a cost-effective management program of continuous support from a matrixed team of SOF and functional experts that task-organize to provide a mix of on-site and reach-back/transactional support that can be leveraged on short notice to meet current, planned, and emerging mission requirements. The contractor shall identify and implement its approach for providing and ensuring quality throughout its solution to meet program requirements and shall provide a quality management plan (QMP) and maintain and update it as changes in the program processes are identified. The contractor shall focus on delivery of quality products and services and not hourly staff augmentation.

B. Task 2 – Provide Exercise Support

The contractor shall provide exercise support to plan, develop, analyze, facilitate, execute, assess, and evaluate a mix of FTXs, CPXs, MRXs, PDXs, CERTEXs, VALEXs and TTXs on a continual basis to develop and prepare fully capable forces for current and future operations. During exercise events, contractors supporting this Task may be required to work extended shifts beyond a typical eight-hour day, or work hours that differ from the standard core hours. The contractor shall also provide a deep bench of on-site and reach back SOF, Irregular Warfare (IW), and Functional SMEs who have experience with and are capable of supporting exercises as described above. The contractor shall provide a mix of on-site and reach back personnel able to surge as required to execute deliverables for this requirement and deliver a timely, focused, and cost-effective program of autonomous support.

The contractor shall provide a multi-functional team that supports exercises with seamless transition as the project moves from initial planning, to exercise design, to execution, and assessment and AAR.

C. Task 3 –SOF Operational HQ CV2

The contractor shall provide training support to J3-JCT and other identified stakeholders in implementing USSOCOM’s CV2 program. The training support shall include but is not limited to updating and sustaining certification standards based on SOF core activities and Joint Mission Essential Tasks (JMETs) for USSOCOM Joint SOF HQs; developing a tailorable, scalable, and adaptable program for SOF service component and sub-unified command joint SOF HQ certification;

and monitoring, assessing, evaluating, and providing feedback for improvement on the effectiveness of joint SOF HQ training programs. The contractor shall also assist with certification and validation of emerging SOF Operational HQs while providing support to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (Component training plans and certification exercises).

D. Task 4 –SOF Component and Service Integration

The contractor shall provide support (to include design, scripting, Joint Mission-Essential Task List (JMETL), execution, and assessment) to six USSOCOM JNTC-accredited exercise programs with 20-

30 exercise rotations annually, as well as to over 50 JNTC- accredited Service exercise programs focused on enhanced readiness of tactical and operational levels of SOF/CF I3 and pre-deployment training across the Joint Training Enterprise. The contractor shall focus on "SOF supported" pre-mission rehearsal, J/METL based readiness training that addressed and exposed the Services to a wide range of key SOF competencies required to provide SOF/CF I3 readiness in support of GCC/TSOC Regional requirements and contingency operations. The contractor shall also provide joint training enabler cells that mitigate myriad of SOF/CF I3 training shortfalls within Service JNTC accredited training programs. The contractor shall provide SOF-CF I3 support for the Special Operations Joint Interoperability Working Group (SOJIWG) designed to improve SOF-CF I3, increase interagency, combat support agency, and PN participation within JNTC programs to enhance Joint Force pre-deployment readiness training in support of GCC requirements.

E. Task 5 – SOF Battle Staff Training and Readiness Support

The contractor shall provide/support GCC and TSOC Battle Staff Training (BST), SLS and SAS events, and Exercise Design Seminars (EDS) in support of six GCCs and seven TSOCs consisting of up to 30 Joint exercises, 75 JELC events, and 6 ELLIPSE events annually. The contractor shall also provide up to 25 Logistics, Intelligence, Information Operations, Cyber, and Multifunctional Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drills annually to maintain trained and ready SOF in support CCMD’s Theater Engagement/war plans. The contractor shall also provide ELLIPSE BST in support of global crisis response operations. The contractor shall ensure these activities support GCCs OPLANS/CONPLANS while expanding a global SOF network that is fully integrated with Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational (JIIM) partners. The contractor shall focus on efficiently and effectively training CCMD and TSOC battle staffs to provide Mission Command/C2 SOF, exercise the SOF Enterprise, and enhance SOF/CF I3 training.

F. Task 6 – Global Integration and Exercise Support

The contractor shall provide SME support for planning, designing, and executing the JS-sponsored Globally Integrated Exercise (GIE), Global Integration Campaign of Learning (GICoL), and Large- Scale Global Exercise (LSGE) program. The contractor shall be responsible for synchronizing exercise planning/execution activities between SOF Component Commands, other CCMDs, Services, and the JS-J7. In this capacity, the contractor shall be familiar with the JTEEP focus areas, the Chairman’s Guidance to Training and Exercise Support to Global Integration (CJCSG 3500.01), and other strategic guidance documents.

G. Task 7 – Business Area Services Support

The contractor shall provide a variety of business area services to support mission objectives. The contractor shall provide PMO support to include all aspects of administrative management, general office support, and coordination among organizations for day-to-day operations. Knowledge Management (KM) is essential to conduct operations in USSOCOM. The contractor shall coordinate activities with the USSOCOM to ensure continued compliance with Command policies and procedures. The contractor shall provide personnel to support the Special Operations Joint Task Force (SOJTF). The contractor shall provide support to manage the Defense Travel System (DTS), Battlefield Information Collection and Exploitation Systems (BICES), Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS), and SharePoint. The contractor shall provide support to the J3-JCT-owned/managed systems used specifically for exercise/training events.

H. Task 8 – Cyber Support

The contractor shall provide SOF Cyber Training and Exercises support including Joint Force Trainer/Training strategy and policy development support, cyber exercise planning, and SOF Cyber Physical Test Bed (SCPT) support to augment SOF Component and TSOC exercises with accurate replications of real-world systems. The contractor shall provide SCPT support necessary for training, exercises, experimentation, and mission rehearsal and shall implement information technology (IT) networks via virtual machine environments, blue cyberspace capabilities such as flyaway kits, reach-back architectures, etc. The contractor will assist with the replication of adversary actions on IT networks. The contractor shall provide cyber exercise planner and SME support to enable the achievement of training objectives utilizing the SCPT in support of Tier One through Four joint exercises. Support will include attending JELC events, conducting storyline development, inject scripting support, MSEL management, and AAR development. The contractor will provide cyber strategy and policy expertise support to the development of plans, policy, strategy documents, orders, instructions, assessments, analysis etc.

VI. Security Requirements

The contractor (to include team members and subcontractors) shall be either a U.S.-owned firm or possess a favorable National Interest Determination, if foreign owned. The contractor shall have a final Top Secret (TS) Facility Clearance (FCL) from the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DSCA). Local area Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) access anticipated. The local area is any facility within a 50-mile radius of MacDill AFB, FL.

In accordance with DoDM 5200.2, only U.S. citizens are eligible for access to classified information.

Personnel ineligible for the required security clearances are not permitted on this TO. All contractor personnel working on or managing this effort shall strictly adhere to USSOCOM security regulations and procedures, including those encompassing responsibilities of possessing a USSOCOM clearance.

Contractor personnel will be required to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance. Most contractor personnel will need to possess a final TS/SCI-eligible security clearance (granted full SCI eligibility by a U.S. Government Adjudication Authority within the past 60 months) and have not had a break in SCI access of more than 24 months during this period. Contractors must have successfully undergone a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) that is current (in scope) as defined by DoD 5200.2M, DoD Manual 5105.21-V3, and Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 704. The nature of the anticipated Task Order (TO) will require contractor personnel to possess a high degree of security awareness.

All necessary facility and employee security clearances shall be at the expense of the contractor.

VII. Contract Type

The Government anticipates awarding a Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF) TO with a one-year base period and up to four one-year option periods. The contractor will be required to have experience managing cost type contracts and possess a cost accounting system deemed adequate by a cognizant audit agency.

VIII. Place of Performance

The services to be performed under this requirement will be primarily performed at MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL with various CONUS and OCONUS locations as required.

IX. Government Estimate

The current estimated cost for this requirement is between a total of $180,000,000 and $200,000,000 over a five-year period of performance.

X. Questionnaires

Complete the following Tables 1 and 2 below:

● Responses should be submitted electronically via email only to both the Contracting Officer (CO), Renee Grace (renee.grace@gsa.gov) and Contract Specialist (CS), Karyn Mapp (karyn.mapp@gsa.gov) no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

Responses submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Use the attached questionnaire to provide the requested information (no substitutions, additions, or deletions).

● No phone calls will be accepted. Any comments, concerns, or questions regarding this requirement must be emailed to the CO and CS at least 24 hours prior to the RFI due date identified above.

● All responses must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents, using 12-point, Times New Roman font, and 1-inch margins.

● Table 1: Corporate Overview, must be no longer than 2 pages in length.

● Table 2: Corporate Experience, must be no longer than 3 pages in length. No projects shall be greater than one page in length.

● Corporate Capabilities and Approaches: Must be no longer than 10 pages in length (2 pages per corporate capabilities and approaches example). All provided corporate experience references must be or have been performed by the respondent as a prime contractor. If the referenced experience is part of a larger contract, clearly differentiate the work and cost of that work that only relates to the requirements provided in this RFI.

● Total submittal must not exceed 15 pages.

● The information submitted shall be UNCLASSIFIED.

TABLE 1: CORPORATE OVERVIEW

Name of Company

Name of Business Unit Responding to the RFI (if applicable)

Unique Entity Identifier

CAGE Code

One Designated Point of Contact (Enter Name, Phone Number, and Email Address)

Name:

Phone #:

Email:

Corporate Address

Number of Cleared Employees and Clearance Type

Do you have a Facility Clearance to hold DoD Top Secret Clearances?

Do you have a SCIF?

Corporate Website URL

Type of Small Business, (e.g., Woman-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned, 8(a), HUBZone)

Does your firm have a cost accounting system deemed adequate by a cognizant audit agency?

(e.g., DCAA or ONR)?

Does your firm have an approved purchasing system in accordance with DFARS 252.244-7001?

Is your firm capable of procuring up to $3,000,000 Travel; $1,000,000 Tools; and $500,000 Other Direct Costs over the life of the Task Order?

TABLE 2: CORPORATE EXPERIENCE

Utilizing the template, please provide up to three relevant contracts that demonstrate that the offeror has experience performing work similar in size, scope, and complexity to the information presented in this RFI. Please include work experience that includes the contractor integrating teams and working in a complex matrixed environment. Please submit only relevant experience for which the interested respondent served as the prime contractor in the last five years. Please note, an IDIQ contract or BPA by itself is not applicable. Orders issued under these vehicles can be combined if the work is closely linked with a common customer. Interested respondents should ensure that all the points of contact are aware that they may be contacted.

(Note: If your company is divided into separate business units, responses must be based on the particular experience of the business unit responding to the RFI.)

Contract/Task Order Number

Contract/Project Name/Scope

Value at Award

Value at Completion/Current Value

NAICS Code for the Contract/Task Order

Period of Performance

Contract Type: check the largest amount ($) for this contract

❏ T&M/Labor Hour ❏ Cost Plus Fixed Fee ❏ Firm-Fixed-Price ❏ Cost Plus Award Fee

Identify if the contract was a Performance Based Contract ❏ Yes ❏ No

Identify the geographic locations of the contract and whether those locations were within the continental United States (CONUS) or outside the continental United States

(OCONUS).

Contract required performance in both CONUS and OCONUS locations.

❏ Yes ❏ No

Client Department or Agency

Total number of Full Time Equivalents supported by this contract and clearance types

Section 889 of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act prohibits the federal government, government contractors, and grant and loan recipients

❏ Yes ❏ No from procuring or utilizing “covered telecommunication equipment or services”. Identify whether your firm is compliant with all Government requirements for prohibited telecommunications and surveillance services or equipment.

Client POC, Name, Email, Phone Number

Percentage of Services Subcontracted

Percentage of Services Subcontracted to small businesses

CORPORATE CAPABILITIES AND APPROACHES:

a. Describe your corporate capabilities as they relate to the holistic and integrated Functional Areas listed above. Please include which contract types these experiences were with, making specific note of (insert type of contract, e.g., Cost-Plus-Award-Fee) task orders (limited to 2 pages)

b. Describe your company/business unit’s experience, if any, with providing innovative solutions in terms of technology, process, or automation to drive operational service delivery efficiencies (cost and performance) without disrupting current operations, leveraging investment through savings in automation, and integrated delivery (limited to 2 pages).

c. Describe your company/business unit’s capability, experience, and methodology for properly staffing and retaining personnel to support a worldwide enterprise training and exercise services contract with the same size, scope, and complexity as referenced in Section II above.

Additionally, please provide the methodology used to provide cleared personnel with Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) for project implementation and surge labor so as not to burden cleared Government and contractor resources with escort duty (limited to 2 pages).

d. Describe your company/business unit’s experience and methodology for implementing a successful project management office for a performance based worldwide enterprise training and exercise services contract supporting exercises in CONUS and OCONUS locations (limited to 2 pages).

e. Describe your company/business unit’s experience with coordinating, managing, and executing concurrent exercise and training events at various phases of the JELC, and in dispersed CONUS and OCONUS locations (limited to 2 pages).

f. Describe your company/business unit’s experience with coordinating, managing, and executing OCONUS travel for contractor personnel (limited to 2 pages).