Advanced Requirements Characterization Engineering and Representation (ARCHER) utilized for Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Offboard Mission Support (OMS)

INTRODUCTION

The Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (NAWCWD) announces its intention to procure on an Other than Full and Open Competition basis system-engineering services, analysis, subject matter expertise, and program planning and management assistance for the F-35 Lightning II Mission Planning Environment (MPE) Integrated Product Team (IPT) in support of the MPE redesign project. 

This Market Research tool is being used to identify potential and eligible firms, of all sizes, prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation. The results of the Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-Aside opportunities exist. Additionally, this Sources Sought is being used to gather constructive information from industry to improve the Request for Proposal (RFP).

This is a follow-on requirement. The current contract information can be found in paragraph 3b below. There have been no significant scope, magnitude, or complexity changes from the current contract. This is not subject to bundling or consolidation.

INDUSTRY DAY/SITE VISIT INFORMATION: NAWCWD does NOT intend to hold an industry day/site visit.

• The following documents are attached to this Sources Sought Notice:
  • Draft Statement of Work (SOW)
• The following dates are anticipated time frames associated with this requirement:
  • Estimated Final RFP Release: 01 25 2027
  • Estimated Award Date: 05 20 2027
  • Period of Performance/Ordering Period: 05 20 2027 – 05 19 2032
• Primary Work Location/Place of Performance: Primary Work Location OR Place of Performance is detailed in Attachment 1, Draft SOW, paragraph 3.1.2.1

DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

ANTICIPATED CONTRACT TYPE AND CONTRACT BACKGROUND

The Government is anticipating this follow-on contract to be a Single Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with Cost Plus Fixed Fee Term Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) for Labor, and Cost Reimbursable CLINs for associated Other Direct Costs (ODCs). The estimated total number of labor hours is 278,800.

The incumbent contract information is as follows:

• Incumbent Contractor: Computer Systems Center Incorporated (CSCI)
• Contract Number: N6893623D0018
• Contract End Date: 06.10.2027
• Contract Type: Single Award IDIQ with Cost Plus Fixed Fee Term CLINs for Labor, and Cost Reimbursable CLINs for associated Other Direct Costs (ODCs).
• Previous Set-Aside Designation: Not a Set Aside
• Level of Effort Hours on the contract: 280,050

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

Any anticipated special requirements and required capabilities are detailed in Attachment 1, Draft SOW. This document details security clearance requirements for personnel, facility requirements, and any specific certifications that are required for the performance of this requirement.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541330, Engineering Services with a Small Business Size Standard of $25.5 million.

The Product Service Code (PSC) is AC12, National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense - Military; Applied Research

Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify their business size in their capabilities statement. Note: FAR Clause 52.219-14 Limitation on Subcontracting requires a small business prime on a Set-Aside to perform at least 50% of the cost of contract performance. Small business primes may now count “first tier subcontracted” work performed by similarly situated entities as if it were performed by the prime itself. Please read the full text of the clause deviation (52.219-14 Class Deviation 2020-O0008 dated 04/03/20 at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far).

To assist in our market research and determination of any applicable small business set-aside for this effort, if you are a small business interested in priming this effort and plan to utilize “similarly situated entities” to meet the Limitations on Subcontracting, please identify the name & Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE)  of the specific firm(s) you intend to partner/subcontract with to meet the requirements as well as their Small Business size status under the NAICS that you as the prime would assign for their workshare. Information regarding any planned similarly situated entity should be included in answering any questions outlined in the Sources Sought Notice (SSN) in order to assist the Government’s capability determination.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Interested parties should address the following questions in their response. The responses to these questions will aid the Government in determining whether a company is capable of performing the requirement, so it is important to address these areas with specific details.

• What type of work has your company performed in the past in support of the same or similar requirement?
• Has your company managed a task of this nature? If so, please provide details.
• Has your company managed a team of subcontractors before? If so, provide details.
• Provide details on your intended management approach for meeting the requirements of a contract of this scope/complexity/magnitude.
  • How you will staff this effort with qualified personnel
  • A description of your team with roles and responsibilities
• Please note that under a Small Business Set-Aside, in accordance with FAR Clause 52.219-14, the small business prime must perform at least 50% of the work themselves in terms of the cost of performance. Provide an explanation of your company’s ability to perform at least 50% of the tasking described in this Draft SOW for the base period as well as the option periods. Similarly situated small businesses may team together to meet the 50% requirement. If your company is planning to team with a similarly situated small business, the response must clearly identify the proposed team members, and the capability statement must clearly articulate which portion of the work each team member will be responsible for. The response must be detailed enough for the Government to make a determination whether or not the proposed team will be able to perform 50% of the work when combined.
• Provide a statement including current small/large business status and company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history, office locations, Unique Entity Identifier (UIE) number, etc.
• Respondents to this notice also must indicate whether they qualify as a Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern under the NAICS code identified for this requirement.
• Include in your response your ability to meet the requirements in the Facility and Safeguarding requirements (if applicable)

Interested parties shall adhere to the following instructions for the submittal of their capabilities statements.

• Page Limit and Format: Ten (10) 8.5 X 11-inch pages in Times New Roman font of not less than 10-point.
• Document Type: Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, etc.
• Delivery: Electronic-mail (Email) Submission to the Contract Specialist, Zach Schiavone at zachary.j.schiavone.civ@us.navy.mil.
• Response date: Responses are due by 5:00PM PDT on 16 OCT 2026.
• No classified information shall be submitted in response to this Sources Sought.
• No phone calls will be accepted.
• All questions must be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist, Zach Schiavone, at zachary.j.schiavone.civ@us.navy.mil.
• All responses shall include Sources Sought Notice name/number, Company Name, Company Address, Company Business Size, and Points of Contact (POC), including names, phone numbers, and email addresses.
• All data received in response to this Sources Sought that are marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.
• Any information or materials provided in response to this Sources Sought Notice will not be returned. The Government is not committed nor obligated to pay for the information provided, and no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice.

Contractors must be certified through Defense Logistics Information Services (DLIS) in order to access Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Export Controlled Information. Access to CUI is limited, to a single point of contact (POC) per CAGE code, who is listed as the Data Custodian on the DD Form 2345 and approved by Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The DD Form 2345 must be approved prior to requesting access to CUI in SAM.gov. Contractors are responsible for coordinating with their CAGE code’s Data Custodian POC to request access to CUI. For additional information, visit the DLA website for the Joint Certification Program:  https://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/Services/JCP/.