Notice of Contract Action (NOCA) for the use of a single award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) Laurel, MD

This announcement constitutes a NOCA by the Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center (AFNWC) Hanscom AFB, MA. AFNWC intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), under the authority of 6.103-3 – 10 USC 3204(a)(3), Industrial Mobilization; engineering, development, or research capability; or expert services. The resulting Task Orders will most likely be, but are not limited to, Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) and Cost Reimbursable (CR) contract types. The appropriate contract type will be selected for each Task Order. The solicitation will be a sole source Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide strategic and technical guidance to the Air Force Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications Integration Directorate (AFNWC/NC) on matters related to Nuclear, Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) health monitoring and assessments, modeling and simulation, validation and verification, prototype design and development, and related topics. The solicitation will be issued under 10 USC 3204(a)(1) and RFO 6.103-1, Only One Responsible Source and no other Supplies or Services will satisfy agency requirements. JHU/APL has demonstrated the greatest level of capabilities and has a great depth of experience in every area that the Government called for responses to. Other Offerors were found to be marginally capable and their capabilities were unable to meet the Government’s requirements. In addition to the Government’s stated requirements, JHU/APL has also identified additional capabilities that would benefit the NC3 program and will enhance our program effectiveness.

A redacted Justification and Approval will be published after contract award.

The Government requests that initial feedback, comments, and questions be received by no later than fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of this notice posted to www.SAM.beta.gov. Please submit all questions, comments and feedback regarding this NOCA via e-mail to the following Points of Contact:

Elise Appelbaum, Contracting Officer: elise.appelbaum@us.af.mil

Liz Poole, Contract Specialist: elizabeth.poole.2@us.af.mil

No telephone responses will be accepted. Any information submitted by respondents to this Notice of Contract Action is strictly voluntary. To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such and will be properly protected from disclosure. No classified information shall be submitted. Any response submitted by respondents to this NOCA constitutes consent for that submission to be reviewed by Government personnel, Federally Funded Research and Development Center employees and Advisory & Assistance Services contractor employees, unless the respondent clearly objects in writing to the release of this information to Federally Funded Research and Development Contractor employees and Advisory & Assistance Services Contractor employees.

AFNWC has appointed an Ombudsman to consider and facilitate the resolution of concerns from potential offerors and others for this acquisition. Concerned parties should address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the Contracting Officer for resolution prior to consulting the Ombudsman. Additionally, Department of the Air Force Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DAFFARS) 5352.201-9101 – Ombudsman, will be included in any potential solicitation and contract for this acquisition. The Ombudsman contact information is as follows:

Cecilia I. Montes de Oca, Colonel, USAF

Telephone: (385) 635-0765

Email: aflcmc.1.ombudsman@us.af.mil

DISCLAIMER AND NOTICE: This is a courtesy Notice of Contract Action only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that AFNWC will take procurement action in this matter. This notice does NOT constitute a request for proposal, application, proposal abstract, or quotation. The Government will NOT be responsible nor reimburse any submitters of information for any cost incurred in furnishing this information. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.