COLUMBIA Bearing Support Structure (BSS)

Request for Information: COLUMBIA Bearing Support Structure Follow-On

This is not a Request for Proposal and award of a contract will not be made as a result of this Request for Information (RFI). Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) requests assistance from industry for conducting market research for the manufacturing & delivery of the COLUMBIA (CLB) Bearing Support Structure (BSS) Inseparable Assembly.

The purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research by soliciting industry comments and feedback. Market research will determine potential socio-economic small and large businesses interested in, and capable of, providing the support services identified herein.  This posting is issued in accordance with the requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. 

Responses should include the following: 
1. Cover letter, not to exceed one (1) page that includes: 
  (a)    Organization name, CAGE Code, and address 
  (b)    Point of contact name and contact information 
  (c)    Size and type of organization, including if applicable U.S. small business or other status 
  (d)    Brief statement of interest that indicates the organization’s interest in applying as a prime or subcontractor. 

2.  Interested parties shall provide a response (not to exceed 25 pages) to the following questions: 

a)    The BSS drawing “COLUMBIA Class BSS Inseparable Assembly, DWG C24521200C” assumes standard weld procedures.  Is there an alternative welding method(s) (i.e. Robotic, electron beam, friction stir, electro slag) recommended to be used in the production of the BSS?  If yes, please see additional questions provided below:
    i.    How long do you anticipate to qualify the weld procedures, including Government review time?
    ii.    What inspection methods would be required and are they NAVSEA approved?

b)  How do you plan to deal with the volatility of the material market?

c) How will you engage foreign vendors and suppliers of either Monel forgings or Monel ingot?

d) The Government will require all sub-vendors of significant material (over $100,000) to be named. Does this present any hardships?

e) The current planned contract type is fixed price with an incentive fee (firm target) for the first BSS unit and FFP for the next four units. The Government plans to use a 50/50 share line for both over and underruns. Within reason, and with supporting rationale, do you have any recommendations on the share-line?

f) Currently the projected period of performance/required manufacturing timeline for the five (5) BSS’s in this contract will be 30 months for each BSS. Does this timeline present any hardships?  If so, what type of hardships and what would you recommend?

The SOW (Attachment 1) and Drawing C24521200 REV C (Attachment 2) are available as part of this announcement.   The drawing is considered a controlled document and is ONLY available to Contractors with an approved Joint Certification Program (JCP) DD Form 2345.  Requests for the controlled document must include the vendors CAGE and/or JCP Certification Number.  The POCs in this announcement will verify the vendor has an approved JCP by utilizing the search at https://public.logisticsinformationservice.dla.mil/jcp/search.aspx.  Contractors must have the JCP clearance loaded into SAM.GOV and request access through SAM.GOV to be granted approval to view the documents.

Offerors will not be compensated for costs related to response preparation and/or submittal.   Responses shall be directed to the e-mail POC's provided in this notification.