RFI FWS-I.docx

Solicitation: TBD

W91CRB Request For Information (RFI) and Industry Day for Family of Weapon Sights – Individual (FWS-I) Full Rate Production

Procurement Type: Request for Information regarding interest and capability for producing for long-wave infrared weapon sights

Date Posted:

14 January 2020

Title:

Product Manager Soldier Maneuver Sensor (PdM SMS), Family of Weapon Sights – Individual (FWS-I) Full Rate Production

INTRODUCTION:

This is a Request for Information (RFI). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this RFI is to gain information to inform the FWS-I program of record.

Since its inception in 2002, Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier has provided U.S. Soldiers with capabilities to ensure they remain decisive and dominant through the full spectrum of military actions. One such effort is FWS-I.

Description: The FWS-I system is a weapon mounted long-wave infrared sensor (LWIR) that provides imagery including a reticle bore sighted to the host weapon (M4, M249) that can operate in battlefield conditions (daylight, night, and obscurants). The FWS-I system provides Rapid Target Acquisition (RTA) capability through compatibility with the Intra-Soldier Wireless (ISW) Interface Control Drawing (ICD). RTA is the ability to spatially align and display the weapon sight imagery, including reticle, in the user’s field of view via wireless communication with compatible night vision devices.

Objective: Obtain market information on vendors capable of and interested in producing FWS-I. This information will be used to create an acquisition strategy that supports quality, resilience, and competition in the FWS-I industrial base.

Capabilities: Interested vendors shall request the latest FWS-I production specification and ISW ICD from the contracting office point of contact (POC) below. Distribution of these documents is restricted.

REQUEST:

PdM SMS is requesting information from industry stakeholders in order to assess the market capability and interest for a potential Full Rate Production contract producing FWS-I systems from FY22 through FY26. The current FWS-I production contract supports an acquisition objective of 36,443 systems. The Army is considering increasing the FWS-I acquisition objective to approximately 120,000 creating a demand for over 80,000 systems for potential competition in 2021 and award in 2022.

PdM SMS intends to host multiple Industry Days as it develops it strategy and request for proposals. The first Industry Day is expected in late March 2020 at Fort Belvoir, VA. Additional details on Industry Day dates, times, and locations will be released as amendments to this RFI.

PdM SMS invites industry to provide written details on their production capability that can meet the full rate production objective either with their own design or building the current design using a Government Furnished Technical Data Package (TDP). PdM SMS encourages participants to submit an Information Paper/White Paper that addresses their interest in:

1) producing their own FWS-I design which maintains the current user interfaces,

2) building FWS-I from a TDP, or

3) entering into a Leader/Follower contract with the FWS-I prime vendor.

4) Interest as a Prime or a subcontractor. If a subcontract, in what capacity.

Participants must also provide details regarding their:

1) expertise with LWIR technology, digital weapon sights, and wireless communication,

2) production experience (including any related Department of Defense contracts) with LWIR technology, digital weapon sights, and wireless communication, and

3) production capacity.

PdM SMS welcomes participants to provide additional information concerning other system attributes that would support the ability of the soldier with their LWIR technology. If there are barriers to entry or other challenges prohibiting your company from interest in this potential acquisition, we also welcome that input. The Information Paper/ White Paper and questions in reference to this RFI shall be submitted to the Contracting Office POC listed below by 28 February 2020 no later than 3:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Funding will not be discussed with parties responding to this RFI.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

INTERESTED PARTIES SHALL NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS. INTERESTED PARTIES SHALL SUBMIT INFORMATION PAPERS/WHITE PAPERS AND INITIAL QUESTIONS ONLY BY THE SPECFIED DUE DATE AND TIME. No contracts will be awarded based on this announcement.

If you are interested in responding to this RFI, please e-mail the Contracting Office POC listed below by 7 February 2020 no later than 3:30 P.M. EST. You will receive a response e-mail providing you with information on how to obtain a copy of the FWS-I performance specification. Please include the following information in your e-mail:

· Company name

· Company Cage Code

· Business Type and size (i.e. service-disabled veteran-owned small business, women-owned small business, etc.)

· Primary Point of Contact telephone and e-mail address

The deadline for submitting questions to the Government regarding this RFI is 21 February 2020 no later than 3:30 P.M EST. Questions can be submitted to the Contracting Office POC listed below.

Information Papers/White Papers shall not exceed ten (10) pages in length, one sided, using a PDF format and no less than 10-point font, Times New Roman. Information Papers/White Papers not meeting these requirements may not be reviewed.

Proprietary Information: Respondents shall clearly identify and mark in writing all proprietary information provided on all documents.

Information Paper/White Paper Submission Format:

Section A: Name of Company/ Corporation, Point of Contact, Title, Date, E-mail Address, Phone Number, Mailing Address, Cage Code, NAICS Code, Business size (small or large), and intent of being the Prime Contractor or Follower or once official Request For Proposal (RFP) is released.

Section B: Capability description - Address your company’s expertise with LWIR technology, digital weapon sights, and wireless communication; production history; and production capacity.

Section C: Please note related federal contracts to include Government point of contact, current telephone number, e-mail address, and mailing address.

Information Paper/White Paper and Question Submission date: 28 February 2020 Submission e-mail shall be sent to the contracting office POC listed below with the subject line: “RESPONSE for SMS Family of Weapon Sights – Individual (FWS-I) Full Rate Production”

USE OF INFORMATION:

The purpose of this notice is to gain information to inform the program of record acquisition strategy.

All proprietary information contained in the response shall be separately identified and marked. Any proprietary information contained in response to this request will be properly protected from any unauthorized disclosure.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR):

Per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997):

The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI Notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Although, "proposal" and, "respondent" are used in this RFI, your responses will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

POINTS OF CONTACT:

Questions on the objectives should be addressed to Contract Specialist, Michael F. Siwek via e-mail at Michael.f.siwek.civ@mail.mil and the Subject Line must be titled: “RFI RESPONSE for SMS Family of Weapon Sights – Individual (FWS-I) Full Rate Production”

Contracting Office Address:

4401 Boothby Hill Road Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD 21005-3013

Contracting Point of Contact(s): Michael F. Siwek, (410) 278-3876

Classification Code: UNCLASSIFIED

NAICS Code: 333314, 3359

Is this a Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action?:

No

Place of Contract Performance:

PdM SMS is requesting information only at this time. The information gleaned from this effort will be used as market research to determine future procurement activity.

Archiving Policy:

Manual Archive

Allow Vendors To Add/Remove From Interested Vendors:

Yes

Allow Vendors To View Interested Vendors List:

Yes