Mining Expendable Delivery Unmanned Submarine Asset (MEDUSA) Draft RFP

The Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) intends to issue a full-and-open, competitive solicitation, pursuant to FAR Part 15 procedures, in the fourth quarter (Q4) of fiscal year 2023 (FY23) for the Mining Expendable Delivery Unmanned Submarine Asset (MEDUSA). Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC), Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office (PMS 406) is developing MEDUSA to address the need for an advanced maritime mining system with long range offensive mining capabilities. The scope of the anticipated research and development effort includes design, fabrication, and testing of the MEDUSA systems and risk reduction activities.

This pre-solicitation notice is issued by NAVSEA, PMS 406 to provide a Draft Request for Proposal (RFP)  and solicit responses from interested parties. Pursuant to FAR 52.215-3, this draft RFP is issued solely for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as to promote competition.

This pre-solicitation synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government reimburse respondents for any questions submitted or the information provided in response to this notice. The Government may or may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. The Government may use the information and feedback provided by respondents to inform a future solicitation as necessary. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their responses. 

All comments or questions shall be submitted electronically via email to the following POCs no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time on September 15, 2023. NAVSEA will accept ONLY electronic unclassified submission of responses.

TO: Ms. Caryl Williams – Contract Specialist – caryl.a.williams.civ@us.navy.mil

CC: Ms. Antoinette Miles – Contracting Officer – antoinette.m.miles.civ@us.navy.mil

SUBJECT: N00024-23-R-6315 Draft RFP

The Navy is not issuing a formal solicitation or seeking proposals in response to this pre-solicitation notice. If a solicitation is released, NAVSEA will issue the formal solicitation associated with this notice electronically via SAM.gov at https://sam.gov/ which is the official Government-wide Point of Entry. The Government will not provide printed copies of the draft or final solicitation. Interested firms should monitor SAM.gov for the release of the final solicitation.

Failure to respond to this pre-solicitation notice does not preclude participation in any future engagements or solicitation, if any is issued. The information provided in this pre-solicitation notice is subject to change and is not binding on the Government.  It is the responsibility of potential respondents to monitor SAM.gov for additional information pertaining to this notice.

DRAFT SOLICITATION RESTRICTED DOCUMENT ACCESS:

The MEDUSA draft solicitation documents, Bidder's Library, and communications with industry will contain controlled information. Respondents are required to have Defense Security Service (DSS) issued SECRET facility clearance, SECRET personnel clearances, and SECRET safeguarding capability to gain access to this controlled information. The Government will not provide sponsorship for new or upgraded personnel or facility clearances.

The Government will make available to respondents a Bidder’s Library, inclusive of the DRAFT Performance Specification (Attachment J-2). The Bidder’s Library may also contain certain controlled solicitation attachments and answers to bidder’s questions that cannot be posted to the SAM.gov website. Documents in the Bidder’s Library may include technical data whose export is restricted by the Arms Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S.C. Section 2751 et seq. or Executive Order 12470).

Companies requesting access to the Bidder’s Library must provide the Contracting Officer the Block 6 information from the DD Form 254 indicating that the requesting company has a DSS issued SECRET facility clearance, providing for SECRET personnel clearances and SECRET safeguarding capability. The Government will then issue a "Terms of Use" (TOU) letter to the requesting company upon the Government’s receipt of the company-submitted DD Form 254.

The TOU letter shall be signed and returned to both of the following POCs:

TO: Ms. Caryl Williams – Contract Specialist – caryl.a.williams.civ@us.navy.mil

CC: Ms. Antoinette Miles – Contracting Officer – antoinette.m.miles.civ@us.navy.mil

SUBJECT: TOU (insert name of Offeror) MEDUSA N00024-23-R-6315

Upon receipt of the company-signed TOU letter by the Contracting Officer, the Bidder’s Library will be made available in a secure manner to the Offeror, so long as the Offeror has met the security requirements detailed herein.