Notice of Intent to Sole Source: Arbinger Outward Mindset Training PSNS & IMF

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTES. A DETERMINATION NOT TO COMPETE THE PROPOSED PROCUREMENT BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) Contracting Office (Code 400), hereby provides notice of its intent to award a sole-source, firm fixed price service contract to The Arbinger Company (dba The Arbinger Institute, LLC) (CAGE: 1UMN6). The contract is expected to be awarded under FAR 12.201-2 and FAR 6.103-1, and will be an order placed under a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) through GSA.  A Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition has been prepared. The period of performance shall be a Base Year from 05 January 2027 – 30 September 2027, with two (2) 12-month option years through 30 September 2029.

INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE - This is a non-personnel services contract to provide Outward Mindset training for 14,350 employees over a three-year period for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF). This training includes Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset (DIOM) workshops, Outward Leadership (OL) workshops, and Outward Performance-Train The Trainer (TTT) Certification workshops.

The Arbinger Company is the sole creator, owner, and authorized distributor of all products and services related to the Outward Mindset methodology. Arbinger’s training courses, curriculum, and delivery are proprietary and trademarked. Furthermore, employees from the four Naval Shipyards (PHNSY, PNSY, NNSY, and PSNS) interact and work closely together. As the other three shipyards and NAVSEA HQ have already deployed Arbinger's specific Outward Mindset methodologies, it is critically important that this personnel development initiative be consistent across all shipyards to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Changing to a different system with different methodologies would require broad retraining efforts to ensure consistency, resulting in a substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) has been determined to be 611430 - Professional and Management Development Training.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES; no solicitation or RFQ will be forthcoming. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement no later than 27 July 2026 at 9:00 AM Pacific Time. Interested parties are encouraged to furnish information by email only with subject line stating - RESPONSE TO INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE FOR ARBINGER OUTWARD MINDSET TRAINING. A determination to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

PSNS and IMF Contracting Office (Code 400) will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice of intent. Only written responses will be considered. All responses from responsible sources will be fully considered. As a result of analyzing responses to this notice of intent, the Government shall determine if a solicitation will be issued. Any prospective contractor must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be eligible for award. All documents submitted will not be returned.

All interested parties shall submit clear and convincing documentation demonstrating their capabilities to satisfy the requirements listed above to Contract Specialist Rolf Jacobson at rolf.a.jacobson.civ@us.navy.mil and Contracting Officer, Jacqueline Edgerton at jacqueline.f.edgerton.civ@us.navy.mil. The capability documentation should include general information and technical background describing in detail the prospective contractor's capabilities and experience that will demonstrate the ability to support these requirements.