MPF_Sources_Sought.docx

Sources Sought / Market Survey Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) Program Document Type: Sources Sought Notice Posting Date: 14 July 2016 Response Required: 19 August 2016 Services Classification Code: AC42 -- R&D- Defense System: Tank/Automotive (Applied Research/Exploratory Development)

1. General Information There is no risk to you for participating in this survey. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary with no obligation incurred by the United States Government (USG). The USG will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued. However, this is an important opportunity for you to influence the development of requirements, our budget requests, and the full range of other elements supporting the acquisition strategy for this program. This survey, and all information herein is for informational planning purposes only and does not constitute a “Request for Proposal or Invitation for Bid”, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the USG.

2. Requesting For Official Use Only (FOUO) Information FOUO Information relevant to this sources sought is available to interested participants, for the purpose of submitting a white paper. In order for your company to receive this information, you must have an approved and current DD 2345 Military Critical Technical Data Agreement. The United States - Canada Joint Certification Program Office is the approver of these forms. For more information, please visit their website https://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/Default.aspx. We will only be providing the FOUO information to the custodian listed on the DD 2345 form.

If your company would like to receive the FOUO information, please send your email request to Mr. John Cardenas (john.r.cardenas.civ@mail.mil) and Mr. Stephen Roberts (Stephen.w.roberts20.civ@mail.mil). Your request should contain the following:

· Your Company's name and address

· Your Name, Title, Office phone number and email address

· Copy of the approved DD2345

The USG will respond to requests within three (3) business days. An initial set of requirements is currently available, and will be followed by the draft Capability Development Document (CDD) by late July. Please be advised, once your request has been approved, you will automatically receive any updated or additional FOUO information that becomes available during the duration of this sources sought.

3. Proprietary Information The USG acknowledges its obligations under the Federal Acquisition Regulation 3.104-4 to protect confidential information provided to the Government (18 U.S.C. §1905). Pursuant to this statute, the USG is willing to accept any trade secrets or proprietary restrictions placed upon qualifying data forwarded in response to this survey and to protect such information from unauthorized disclosure, subject to the following:

· Qualifying data must be clearly marked PROPRIETARY and be accompanied by an explanatory text so that the Government is clearly notified as to exactly what data so qualifies.

· Mark only data that is truly confidential.

· Do not mark data that is already in the public domain or is already in possession of the USG or third parties on an unclassified basis.

· Proprietary data transmitted electronically must have the PROPRIETARY legend on both the cover of the transmittal e-mail as well as at the beginning of the file. Proprietary information contained within the correspondence shall use the legends: “PROPRIETARY PORTION BEGINS” and “PROPRIETARY PORTION ENDS.”

Disclaimer. The USG is not obligated to protect unmarked data. Nor is the Government obligated for like data in possession of third parties or for data which is afterwards placed in the public domain by the contractor or by third parties through no fault of the USG. Should the USG need to reproduce the protected data for distribution purposes between Government offices, all such data will be reproduced with restrictive legends in place.

Support Contractors:

The Government sometimes uses support contractors in evaluating responses. Consequently, responses that contain proprietary information may receive only limited or no consideration since the Respondent’s marking of data as “PROPRIETARY” will preclude disclosure of same outside the Government and therefore will preclude disclosure to these support contractors assisting the evaluation effort. The Government will use its best efforts to evaluate those responses that contain proprietary information without using support contractors consistent with the resources available.

4. Submission Schedule Per the Questions section (Section #9) listed below, the following is the overview of the requested submission schedule:

· 28 July - initial questions due based on information contained in the sources sought. Select questions will be answered during MPF Industry Day at Fort Benning on 9 August 2016 (tentative)

· 19 August - White papers submissions and any further questions due

· Questions and responses related to programmatic issues and general concerns will be posted to the FedBizOpps (FBO) website in a future announcement

For all formal submissions, comments, or concerns to this sources sought please contact:

Natalie Casinelli Email Address: natalie.l.casinelli.civ@mail.mil

And

Julie Ketchum Email Address: julie.l.ketchum2.civ@mail.mil

5. Purpose The U.S. Army, Project Manager Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV), herein after referred to as the United States Government (USG), is seeking information on performance capabilities, and technical data regarding Non-Developmental Item (NDI) and modified NDI combat platforms that could support the potential acquisition of a Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) platform. The USG would like to use this information to determine if the current requirements can be met with a low to moderate risk program that modifies an existing vehicle. The USG is also interested in soliciting industry input to determine if there are requirements that, with some adjustment, would allow other potential options to compete.

· The MPF will close a gap for a mobile, direct fire capability in the Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) formations.

· All IBCTs require improvements in mobility, protection and firepower to enable combined arms maneuver against projected threats which will likely emulate the adaptations of recent opponents while capitalizing on emerging technologies.

· Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) will provide the protected, long range, precision, direct-fire capability to ensure freedom of movement and action during offensive operations or defeat attacking enemy during defensive operations.

The requirements are further defined within the FOUO information that can be provided upon request. Please refer to Requesting FOUO Information (Section #2) for guidance on how to submit a request.

6. Background The Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) approved the Army’s Combat Vehicle Modernization Strategy (CVMS) in April 2015 to include funding in POM 17-21 for the MPF Program. An AROC was conducted on 17 June 2016 with the decision to proceed with a request for Materiel Development Decision (MDD) and start the planning process towards the commencement of an Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) in FY17, a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) to be released in FY18 with award in FY19. The acquisition strategy will focus on NDI vehicles with minimal to moderate modifications. The results received from this sources sought will help inform the AOA.

7. Sources Sought Intent This sources sought will be utilized to determine: #1. What platforms exist today that could meet this operational capability #2. What platforms exist that may require minor to moderate modifications to meet this operational capability. #3. The USG will use industry feedback to assist in updating these requirements by October 2016, in time for the annual Association of the United States Army (AUSA) convention.

The USG intends to engage Industry by using the FBO website, Industry Days, or other face to face engagements as determined by the USG. The intent of these engagements is to conduct market research about the challenges industry may face in developing the MPF to meet the current requirements, and the risks associated with developing an executable moderate risk acquisition program.

8. Instructions for Responding to this Market Survey A. Interested parties should respond with a letter addressing all of the administrative and survey information requested below.

B. For the purposes of this sources sought, interested parties may provide responses with regards to any combination of the listed tasks.

C. Please respond to every question in your response. If you cannot answer the question, please indicate this by responding with “No response.”

D. Please spell out all acronyms in their first instance of use.

E. To ensure proper handling of your response, please clearly mark any proprietary information in accordance with Section #3 Proprietary Information.

Administrative Information Required I. Company Name:

II. Mailing Address:

III. CAGE Code:

IV. DUNS Number:

V. Business Type (Indicate all that apply):

· Large Business

· Small Business

· 8(a)

· Disabled Veteran

· Hub Zone

· Minority Owned

· Women Owned

VI. Contact Information for Responding to this sources sought:

a. Name:

b. Title:

c. Mailing Address:

d. Telephone:

e. E-Mail Address:

Responses to this sources sought must be unclassified. Responses should be submitted electronically no later than 1700 hours on 19 August 2016 to Natalie Casinelli (natalie.l.casinelli.civ@mail.mil) and Julie Ketchum (Julie.l.ketchum2.civ@mail.mil).

9. Questions The USG prefers white paper responses are made against the FOUO set of requirements. However, responses based on the information contained within this announcement will also be accepted.

1. Have you ever been awarded a contract from the USG as a Prime Contractor to develop or produce a ground combat vehicle?

2. Assuming a 2-3 year Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase for a limited development program, or a 3-4 year EMD for a moderate development program, do you believe you could modify your existing platform and develop a production ready design to achieve these requirements? Please explain how and provide rationale.

a. Please fill out Attachment 01 titled, “Vehicle Characteristics” with your existing and proposed/modified vehicle attributes.

b. What limited to moderate modifications would need to be made to your platform to meet these requirements?

3. Are there specific requirements which, if adjusted, will allow you to offer a design which might benefit the USG through an accerlerated schedule, enhance capability, and reduce cost and risk?

4. What is your overall feedback to the requirements?

a. What requirements do you believe conflict with each other? Please describe which requirements and why.

b. Are there any singular requirements that you see as high risk to meet and why?

c. What is the USG not asking for that may be a missed opportunity in this solution space?

5. What existing vehicle(s) would you propose to meet this set of requirements?

6. Would your system be proposed as an LVAD or Non-LVAD system? Reference MIL-STD-1791B and MIL-STD-1366E for aerial delivery specifications.

a. Could limited or moderate modifications be made to your system to be LVAD capable? If so, please describe the modifications needed.

7. Please provide, with supporting rationale, an estimated EMD phase schedule with cost and estimated unit manufacturing cost.

8. Please provide any questions to the information contained within the sources sought. As stated in Submission Schedule (Section #4), select questions will be responded to during the MPF Industry Day if submitted by 28 July. However, you may also submit additional questions to us with your white paper submission, by the closing date of this sources sought. A future posting to the FBO website will contain questions and answers to programmatic issues and general concerns.

Attachment 01 - Vehicle Characteristics