Intent to Sole Source for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Submerged Vehicle Egress Trainer (SVET) Technical Refresh

Presolicitation Notice/Intent to Sole Source

PSC CODE: 6910 (Training Aids)

NAICS CODE:  333310 (Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing)

TITLE: United States Marine Corps (USMC) Submerged Vehicle Egress Trainer (SVET) Technical Refresh

SOLICITATION NUMBER: N6134024R0069

RESPONSE DATE (MM/DD/YY): 08/12/24

CS CONTACT NAME & EMAIL: Brenda Castillo, brenda.castillo6.civ@us.navy.mil

PCO CONTACT NAME & EMAIL: Virginia Marquez, virginia.l.marquez@us.navy.mil

SOLICITATION DESCRIPTION: The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) Procurement Department, located in Orlando, FL announces its intention to negotiate, on a sole source basis, a contract to procure the fabrication and installation of Multi-Use Egress Trainer (MUET) equipment from Survival Systems USA Inc., 144 Tower Ave., Groton, CT 06340 at the following 6 locations:

Camp Pendleton, CA   

Del Mar, CA

Camp Blaz, Guam 

Camp Lejeune, NC 

Okinawa, Japan

Honolulu, HI

The MUET models the cabin to simulate the layout of the next generation of vehicles currently in operation or planned for delivery and include the Amphibious Combat Vehicle, Personnel (ACV-P) variant and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Combat Tactical Vehicle (JLTV-CTV) variant and replaces the existing Submerged Vehicle Egress Trainer (SVET), which models vehicles no longer in operational use or scheduled to be retired.  The MUET fabrication includes interfacing with existing lifting systems and proprietary infrastructure. The lifting devices include the Cross Gantry Hoist (Model 10000/12000) and SmartJib (MILCON locations), which raise and lower the MUET dunker into a swimming pool to represent a catastrophic waterborne event.  Existing infrastructure in the lifting devices includes proprietary Survival Systems USA attachments that interconnect and provide controls to the fabricated MUET dunker.

The anticipated award date is December 31, 2024 with an estimated delivery date in 2025. The anticipated contract value for this procurement is <$15M.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND: The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Training System Division, located in Orlando, FL, is designated as the acquisition agent for the United States Marine Corps Multi Use Egress Trainer (MUET) program. The Underwater Egress Trainer (UET) requirement is derived from the Family of Egress Trainers (FET) Capabilities Product Document (CPD) signed 5 November 2010. The Capability Requirement Change (CRC) for FET dated 24 February 2022, documents the evolving need for MUET. Survival Systems USA is the Original Equipment Manufacturer for the Marine Corps’, Navy’s and Coast Guard’s existing Underwater Egress Training (UET) systems and subsystems. For the past 25 years, SSUSA has provided underwater egress equipment, equipment installations, equipment design, equipment maintenance, training program design, training program delivery, training program inception/implementation, program management and contract management for all branches of DOD and multiple/varied commands for DHS. It has been determined through extensive market research that Survival Systems, USA is the only source with requisite knowledge, and expertise, through its demonstrated technical capabilities and successful performance under multiple previous DOD/DHS contracts across previous egress Installations over 25 years. In addition, SSUSA is the only source with full access to the Intellectual Property that forms the basis of the load bearing portions of the MUET and on which Survival Systems retains all rights and ownership. The IP that comprises the basis of the METS (MAET, METS, SVET, MUET or the specialty simulators) as well as the lifting systems (XGH, SmartJib, AdvancedJib) has *never* been sold to any firm, competitor, partner, or client, including the US Government.

This notice is not to be considered a request for quotations or proposals.  No solicitation document is available. It is a notice outlining the Government’s intent to contract on a sole source basis with Survival Systems USA. Sole source authority is provided under 10 USC 3204(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1.

Sources sought notices for this requirement were previously posted on SAM.gov on May 31, 2024 and June 17, 2024. The Government has considered all responses to date. However, interested sources are requested to provide their written technical capabilities. Written response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Interested sources must submit detailed written technical capabilities to complete the tech refresh. Detailed written capabilities must be submitted by email to the Contract Specialist, Brenda Castillo, at brenda.castillo6.civ@us.navy.mil with a courtesy copy to the Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO), Virginia Marquez at virginia.l.marquez.civ@us.navy.mil in an electronic format that is compatible with Microsoft Word, no later than close of business on Monday, August 12, 2024. Verbal submissions via phone will not be honored.

All information shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice, but responses will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more advantageous to the Government. If no written challenge to this synopsis is received, a justification and approval (J&A) for other than full and open competition in accordance with the statutory authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204 (a)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 6.303 based on the rationale provided above will be initiated. If conducted as a sole source procurement, a separate synopsis will not follow. This synopsis will satisfy the intent of the requirements under FAR 5.201 and 5.204. In accordance with FAR 5.102(e), copies of the solicitation will be available upon request.

Companies interested in partnering/subcontracting with Survival Systems are encouraged to reach out via the contact info at the following link: Contact Us | Locations | Survival Systems USA (survivalsystemsinc.com)

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS: N/A

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:  The proposed MUET contract will fabricate the MUET and provide installation to technically refresh the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Submerged Vehicle Egress Trainer (SVET) located at: Camp Pendleton and Del Mar, CA., Camp Blaz, Guam, Camp Lejeune, NC, Okinawa, Japan, and Honolulu, HI. 

CS EMAIL ADDRESS:  Brenda.castillo6.civ@us.navy.mil