Standards and Specifications Subscription Services

This is a Sources Sought Synopsis. This is a Sources Sought (SS)/Request for Information (RFI), market survey for information, to be used for preliminary planning purposes in accordance with (IAW) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, Market Research. This is not a Request for Quote (RFQ) or Request for Proposal (RFP). No contract award(s) will be made based on any response(s) to this notice. No proposals are being requested or accepted with this synopsis. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT SHALL BE AWARDED FROM THIS SYNOPSIS.

The purpose of this notice is to conduct market research in an effort to determine commerciality, obtain competition, and identify qualified potential sources. FAR 6.101(a) states Contracting Officers shall promote and provide for full and open competition in soliciting offers and awarding Government contracts.

This announcement will be used in an effort to promote full and open competition to the maximum extent practicable IAW FAR Subpart 5.201, FAR Part 10, FAR Part 12, and FAR Subpart 6.101.

INFORMATION REQUESTED: The U.S. Amy Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) has been tasked to identify potential sources for an effort that requires Commercial Standards and Specifications Subscription services in support of the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC), U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM).

Army Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) MANDATE: The Army CHESS program is the Army’s mandatory source for Information Technology requirements (hardware and software) IAW AFARS 5139. However, an Army CHESS Statement of Non-Availability (SONA) for this requirement was approved on 16 February 2024.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price          
• Projected Award Date: 31 May 2024

Period of Performance shall be a 12-month base period from the date of award and four (4) 12-month option periods.

Description of Supplies: The AFC DEVCOM has a requirement for a commercial electronic standards and specifications subscription to provide support for AFC DEVCOM’s professional scientists, engineers, and technical personnel with the tools to support the AFC’s overall mission in research, development, engineering, and testing. The AFC DEVCOM’s command seeks a single solution for purchasing commercial standards and specifications via a subscription for multiple users to a consolidated database. The electronic subscription shall provide a searchable index as well as capability for immediate digital download of the searchable data/content unless the originator does not produce them in digital form. The contractor shall provide an electronic access to a search platform for commercial standards and specifications publications, parts information and lists in order to facilitate AFC DEVCOM’s mission, and other requirements as deemed appropriate by AFC DEVCOM. The contractor shall provide current and archived (superseded) commercial industry standards and specifications for, but not limited to, the 25 Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) (listed below) and an index to current and superseded U.S. Military Standards and Specifications.

The Contractor shall also possess and maintain the ability to provide virtual access to documents from SDOs via the internet/electronic database on an as needed basis.

IAW Public Law 104-133 sec.12(d)(1), DoD no longer creates and issues standards and specifications, but instead relies on SDOs to develop those standards. SDOs are professional associations that write Standards for their industry.

The number of customer locations and simultaneous users required for each SDO is detailed in the attached Statement of Work.

Contractor shall provide digital access for but not limited to the following 25 SDOs:

1. AIA/NAS: Aerospace Industries Association/National Aerospace Standards (Current plus Historical)
2. ASME with BPVC: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, incl. Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (Current plus Historical)
3. ASQ: American Society for Quality
4. ASSP: American Society of Safety Professionals
5. ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials (Current plus Historical)
6. AWS: American Welding Society
7. IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Current plus Historical)
8. IPC: Association Connecting Electronics Industries (formerly Institute for Printed Circuits)
9. ISO/ANSI: International Organization for Standardization & American National Standards Institute (Current plus Historical)
10. LIA: Laser Institute of America
11. NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturers Association (Current plus Historical)
12. NFPA: National Fire Protection Association
13. RTCA: Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics
14. SAE/AMS: Society of Automotive Engineers - Aerospace Material Specifications
15. SAE: Society of Automotive Engineers (Current plus Historical)
16. SAE/ARINC: Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated
17. Military Standards and Specifications (Current plus Historical)
18. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Standards

Limited sites:

1. AIAA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics – 1 location
2. ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers – 2 locations
3. CGA: Compressed Gas Association – 3 locations
4. IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission – 4 locations
5. PIA: Parachute Industry Association – 1 location
6. TIA: Telecommunications Industry Association – 3 locations
7. UL: Underwriters Laboratories – 4 locations; historical for 1 location only

Contractor shall also provide for digital access to Specifications for parts (including electronics parts) used in DOD/Army systems.

Market Survey

The Government is requesting that the prime contractors review the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW) and provide a response to the Government in accordance with the below Market Survey submission requirements on the following questions to encourage competition and exchanges of information:

Please provide the following information:

• Company’s name:
• Company’s address:
• Point of Contact Name and Title:
• Point of Contact Phone Number:
• Point of Contract Email:
• Number of Employees:
• Revenue History:
• SAM Unique Entity ID:
• CAGE Code:
• Business Size: (i.e., Large or Small)
• Bid Intention: (i.e., Yes or No)

1. Please provide any questions, comments, and feedback on the attached draft PWS and its contents. Do not include your company name in your questions and answers as the questions and answers may be released to all contractors. Also, please note responses to this notice may not be returned.
2. Does your company consider this a Fixed Price (Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP)) or a Cost Reimbursable (Cost-Plus-Fixed-fee (CPFF)) type effort?
3. Given your answer to item 2a above: What type of additional data/metrics/etc. if any, would need to be included in the request for proposal package to be proposed as a CPFF (term) or FFP effort?
4. If yes: Can you submit a proposal in 14 calendar days?
5. If no: Can you submit a proposal in 21 calendar days?
6. If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please submit a response to the questions and/or capabilities below to show how your company (with any similarly situated subcontractors if you are a small business) can meet the outlined requirements in the draft PWS.

SDOs and Products: See RFI Attachment 0002 – SDO and Product

RFI Attachments:
1. RFI Attachment 0001 – SOW

2. RFI Attachment 0002 – SDO and Product

RESPONSE DUE DATE:

Email shall contain the following subject line:  SUBJECT: RFI Response For AFC/DEVCOM Subscription Services, Solicitation W91ZLK-24-R-0013. Responses to this RFI are due no later than 03 April 2024 at 1700 Eastern Standard Time and shall be submitted to both Government point of contacts:

Ms. Ercilia M. Del Orbe                                                                                                                                            

Chief, Mission | Contracting Officer

E-mail: ercilia.m.delorbe.civ@army.mil

And

Ms. Michele A. Connolly

Contract Specialist

E-mail: michele.a.connolly.civ@army.mil

CONFIDENTIALITY: No classified, confidential, or sensitive information, or proprietary information shall be included in your response.