A- Research & Development

This synopsis is being posted to both the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) page located at http://www.eps.gov and the Navy Electronic Commerce on Line (NECO) site located at http://www.neco.navy.mil. While it is understood that FBO is the single point of entry for posting of synopsis and solicitations to the Internet, NECO is the alternative in case FBO is unavailable. Please feel free to use either site to access information posted by the Naval Sea Systems Command." REQUEST FOR INFORMATION THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) seeks information from firms capable of providing Naval Electromagnetic Launcher (EML) development, integration and test capability in support of the United States Navy. THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION ISSUANCE, BUT RATHER A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION from industry that will allow the Government to support the government's development of a long term contract strategy for the Naval EML (Railgun). The information sought herein is for planning purposes only and should not be construed as a Request For Proposal (RFP) or as any obligation or commitment on the part of the Government to acquire any product or service. There shall be no basis for claims against the Government as a result of any information submitted in response to this RFI. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise to pay for any information submit! ted by respondents to this request. Background. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in cooperation with the Naval Sea Systems Command, OPNAV N76, Chief of Naval Research (CNR) and Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS), as part of a collaborative effort, are interested in receiving information pertaining to development of an acquisition roadmap to ensure successful transition of the Naval EML (Railgun) development from the Concept & Technology Development phase through the System Development and Demonstration phase into the Fleet Introduction. The Navy plans to involve Industry in electromagnetic launcher acquisition and fielding process. The desired outcome of this RFI is to gain insight into Industry's ideas and to assess industry's role in supporting the EML acquisition and fielding program. The information obtained through this RFI will form the basis of discussions for an Industry day. The purpose of the Industry Day is to provide an opportunity for government and industry to collaborate on innovative and alternative contracting strategies for the development, procurement, integration and test of EML and high velocity projectile. The Industry day will be followed by a series of monthly working group meetings focused on the areas of Requirements/Operational Analysis, Systems Engineering, Ship Integration, Energy Storage, EML, High Velocity Projectile and the overall Acquisition Strategy and Acquisition Program Baseline. These working group meetings will culminate in a final report and briefing to navy lea! dership anticipated in April 2005. Requested Input from Industry. Industry is strongly encouraged to submit information to NAVSEA'S Directed Energy and Electric Weapons Program Office (PMS405) in accordance with the following questions. Information with registration requests shall be submitted to PMS405 via email at (contact@example.gov). All responses shall be limited to less than 5 pages and are due by 29 October 2004. Registration by email does not guarantee your seating at the Industry Day, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to each participant with necessary administrative information. Additional inputs may be solicited during working group meetings. 1. Propose alternative contract strategies and business models, including the following: a. Pros and Cons of single/multiple contractor as integrator/product vendor. b. Innovative contract approaches that address the Navy's desire to foster open architecture, rapid prototyping, and technology re-fresh/insertion. c. Show why your alternative/approach provides value to the U.S. Navy. This is best done by proven benchmarks and metrics, where you can demonstrate achieving the required performance for the minimum amount of dollars. d. Government/Industry Partnering. 2. Answer the following questions: a. As a corporation how would you accommodate the development, integration, test and certification of EML systems/capabilities from a variety of small and large companies? b. Outline the - scope of a lead system integrator and its relationship to Industry partners, Academia, University Affiliated Research Centers and the Government Laboratories? c. How would you apply Lean processes in your business model to ensure Best Value to the Government? d. What are the benefits to the Government for utilizing a lead system integrator and how do you see industry playing a role in that construct? e. If not the primary EML SD&D Integrator, describe how, as an innovative company, you would desire to work with the Navy to integrate your product into an EML Engagement System. f. Describe performance metrics that should be applied to an EML SD&D phase that could be used for a basis of contract structure and award. g. How does the Navy determine that it is getting best value for spiral development? 3. Provide Industry questions for the U.S. Navy. NAVSEA (PMS405), will host an Electromagnetic Launcher Industry Day on 4 November 2004 in the vicinity of the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC. Seating is limited; therefore, the earlier individuals pre-registeration is required. NAVSEA reserves the right to limit attendance. Registration information must include the following information: company name and address, attendee name, e-mail address, telephone number, and facsimile number for each attendee. To facilitate wide industry involvement each industry participant shall limit attendees to no more than 2. Only registrations from companies registered on the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) will be accepted. Industry Day will be held as an unclassified meeting. The format for the Industry Day will include government briefs from working group leader/representatives. Industry questions/inputs from this RFI will be consolidated and briefed at the conference or by industry participants during subsequent working group meetings. The Government believes the information requested above can be submitted without a contractor having to include any business sensitive or proprietary information. However, should such information be submitted and marked by the submitter accordingly, any proprietary information provided as part of the information requested above will not be included in the brief of consolidated inputs and will be protected in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1905 Supplemental Information. Working Group Definitions: Requirements / Operational Analysis Working Group will create a plan for activities including the necessary requirements and operational analysis documents, specifically, an EM Railgun Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and the Initial Capabilities Document (ICD). System Engineering Working Group will establish a Systems Engineering plan for activities in the EM Railgun development program including requirements, architectures, trades, and qualification plan. Ship Integration Working Group will identify preliminary shipboard requirements, interfaces & arrangement schemes, assess integrated system performance, and estimate installation time/cost impact including shipboard mount design and development. Energy Storage Working Group will identify candidate technologies, development scenarios, funding, and program plan (Objectives, TPM's, TRLs, Risk Management). Assess overall Life Cycle Support areas including maintainability, producibility and supportability. EML Working Group will identify candidate technologies, development scenarios, funding, and program plan (Objectives, TPM's, TRLs, Risk Management). Assess overall Life Cycle Support areas including maintainability, producibility and supportability. Projectile Working Group will identify candidate technologies, development scenarios, funding, and program plan (Objectives, TPM's, TRLs, Risk Management). Assess overall Life Cycle Support areas including maintainability, producibility and supportability. Acquisition Planning Working Group will develop a top-level acquisition strategy and implementation organization for fielding the EM Railgun Capability. Integrate EML Railgun development activities and system qualification with future shipbuilding programs. Any questions can be forward to fax number +1 (555) 000-0000, Attention Code XDS11C; email address is contact@example.gov, or telephone +1 (555) 000-0000, reference number N00178-05-Q-1901.