Contractor Owned Contractor Operations (COCO)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION United States Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) Contractor Owned Contractor Operations (COCO) 1.0 Description 1.1 The USSF Space System Command is seeking information on how an interested contractor could commercially provide contractor owned operations and all levels of sustainment for a SATCOM mission consisting of two space vehicles. 1.2 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the USSF is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. Proprietary information or trade secrets shall be clearly identified. 1.3 NAICS CODE: 541715 Aerospace Research and Development (except prototype and production). The small business size standard is 1000. Participation from small and small disadvantaged businesses is highly encouraged. 2.0 Background SSC is seeking information for a contractor to operate and own sustainment of a SATCOM mission currently consisting of 2 commercially built Space Vehicles with government furnished payloads, 4-6 Ka-band Ground Terminals (GTs), and mission unique equipment. The operations will include 24/7 support to these systems and include sustainment and maintenance of supporting equipment for scheduling, communications, and external party integration. 2.1 Generic Systems to be operated and sustained include but are not limited to: Spacecraft Bus Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) Ground Terminal Operations Controller Satellite Control Network (SCN) interface systems IT infrastructure to communicate at appropriate levels (CLASSIFIED and UNCLASSIFIED) Payload Operations System Payload Trending Databases Mission Scheduler Ground Terminals (CONUS, INDOPACOM, EUCOM) Spacecraft Simulators Ground Terminal Simulators Cybersecurity Systems with Risk Mitigation Framework Standards Configuration Control systems Flight Software Data Management Network systems 2.2 Requirements: Safely operate two Space Vehicles Verify the intended functionality of all changes to any platform control software, databases and operational procedures off-line prior to their installation and execution in the intended operations environment Ensure that no unintended or inadvertent combinations of commands or procedures could damage or disrupt the satellite or communications to end users. Additionally, ensure SCN and/or GT nodes are not disrupted based on platform control software, databases, or operational procedures Conduct Configuration Management of the software/database artifacts Perform Operational/On-Orbit Checkout support and documentation using operational software and databases Logistic support of sparing and hardware worldwide Perform restoral/recovery actions and initial root-cause investigations for an on-orbit anomaly and present findings along with recommended courses of action Provide technical guidance for complex spacecraft operational procedures and Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) development Support development of constellation redeployment plans Support Government-performed Satellite Collision Avoidance (COLA) during normal operations and during satellite repositioning Training of contractor flight directors and operators TS/SCI required for staff Administrative support 3.0 Requested Information 3.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper and a PowerPoint presentation. White paper shall be limited to a single document of no more than 10 pages. The cover letter is excluded from the page limit. The document should be single-spaced, have one-inch margins, US letter-size (8 1/2 by 11 inches) page, and minimum font size of 12-point font. PowerPoint slides shall be limited to a single document of no more than 20 slides. The title slide is excluded from the slide limit. Slide size should be 16:9 aspect ratio and minimum font size of 12-point font. 3.2 Responses should include: Business name and address Submitter's Name and Parent Company, if applicable Business Address: Street, City, State, and Zip code Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code Unique Entity ID Company socio-economic status Point of Contact (i.e., POC, company representative) POC Telephone number and email address 3.3 Power Point Presentations and White papers in Microsoft Office compatible format or Portable Document Format (PDF) are due no later than 26 June 2023, 16:00 PDT. Responses shall be via e-mail only to Primary:melanie.gipson@spaceforce.mil Alternate: Ashley.irizarry@spaceforce.mil. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. 3.4 SSC has entered into contracts with Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) and/or Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance staff working for the Government. These include: The Aerospace Corporation, LinQuest Corporation, and Blue Sky Innovators. These entities may review submissions as technical support to the government. If Respondents disagree to the release of its RFI response to any of the aforementioned firms, the Respondent must clearly state this restriction in the cover letter accompanying the RFI response. 3.5 Foreign firms are advised that they will not be allowed to participate in this acquisition at the prime contractor level; however, provided they are eligible to do business with the US Government they may be eligible to participate at the subcontractor level. The research and test data produced under a resultant contract may contain Military Critical Technology List (MCTL) information whose export is restricted by Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S. Sec 2751, et seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (Title 50, U.S.C., App. 2401, et seq.). Request certification and registration from the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC), Federal Center, 74 North Washington, Battle Creek, MI 49016-3412 as soon as possible. 3.6 Questions By December 2024, what is the ability of your company to integrate operations into either a contractor owned facility or facility on a US DOD installation? This includes staffing for engineering back shop of generic systems listed and 24/7 operations. Have you ever been a part of a transition of an operating US DOD space system and if so what are you historical timelines for completion? What current operations and sustainment of commercial or government space systems do you support, if any? How many onsite personnel do you suspect would be needed to operate 2 spacecraft 24/7? Do you have the ability to sustain ground systems in international locations? What is your ability to support programs at higher classification levels (i.e. facility infrastructure, telecommunications, personnel, etc.)? Please define the levels of classification you can support. What level of support do you require from the Government to operate and sustain a SATCOM mission? Can you or do you currently perform - lights out operations for a US DOD system? What additional information would you require from the Government to effectively create a proposal for an effort of this magnitude? Please provide a Rough Order of Magnitude based on the generic requirements provided. 4.0 Summary SSC is seeking information on handing over the system and missions it supports to a contractor. The contractor would be expected to operate and sustain the SATCOM mission autonomously without day-to-day government operators and oversight. The contractor will report to a single government program office which will track the contractor's performance of requirements along with direct new requirements as they may arise. 4.1 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The USSF has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.