The purpose of this modification is to post an answer to a question received from a prospective bidder.

The Government Point of Contact for this solicitation is changed to Sean Auld, 508 233 6183, Sean.G.Auld@us.army.mil. All offers and questions must be submited to him.

Question: Regarding the above requirement, is this a new requirement or a follow-on to an exisiting contract with similar work? If an incumbent contract exists, would you mind providing the contract number? Also, what is the ceiling value for this effort?

Answer:
a. This is a follow-on requirement for similiar work.
b. The incumbent contract is W911QY-07-P-0166.
c. Ceiling value is set by competiton.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The governemnt will only accept proposals submitted by 12:00PM EDT, April 30, 2012.

This combined synopsis/solicitation is a request for proposal.

This combined synopsis/solicitation incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-57.

Contract Line Items include a base year of Labor, Travel, Monthly Progress Reports, and Contractor Manpower Reporting. There are also four option years that use the same Contract Line Item structure.

The objective of these projects supported by the contracted employee is to develop and deliver world class leading edge food service equipment systems and technologies to all four services. The Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center's (NSRDEC) Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD) projects require product development engineering and specialized agricultural preservation expertise, systems modeling, process simulation, structural and thermal Analysis of Food Service Equipment and Systems to exceed user requirements and to support the DoD Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Program (CFREP). Engineering Services are required to provide specialized product and systems engineering services to design, develop, field, and sustain both field feeding equipment and ration preservation systems to meet Joint Services unique requirements. Senior (Sr.).
Mechanical Engineering and Sr. Program support will utilize Solidworks modeling software (CAD), Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and advanced ration modeling software development to aid in the design, development and application of shipboard and ground based field feeding/refrigeration technologies and systems. 3D Modeling
Software will be utilized to develop conceptual food service equipment models. Once developed, heat transfer analysis and Finite Element Analysis will be used to evaluate the design to meet the warfighters functional and operational requirements and to perform mathematical analysis using tools such as MATLAB and MATHCAD.

The successful offeror, as an independent contractor and not as an agent of the Government, shall provide the necessary resources (except those furnished by the Government) to accomplish tasks of the type set forth in the Performance Work Statement found in Addendum 1 to 52.212-4 of this combined synopsis/solicitation.

See FAR Provision 52.212-1, Instruction to Offerors, with Addendum 52.212-1 for proposal submittal information.

See Addendum 52.212-1(d)(5)(i)(C) for required Provisions and Clauses to be submitted with proposal. The proposal shall identify which provisions and clauses are current in ORCA. Provisions and clauses that are not current shall be completed and submitted with the proposal.

See FAR Provision 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items, for the Government's evaluation criteria and methodology. The three Factors to be evaluated are Technical, Past Performance, and Contract Price. All evaluation factors other than the Cost/Price Factor, when combined, are significantly more important than the Cost/Price Factor.

The FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, with Addendum 1 to 52.212-4 applies to this RFP.

The FAR clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items (Deviation) applies to this RFP.

Questions on this combined synopsis/solicitation will only be accepted by the Government up to April 16, 2012. Only questions submitted electronically will be answered.

For information regarding this combined synopsis/solicitation contact David Barceleau via email at david.barceleau@us.army.mil.