D--Award Notice of Solicitation Number W15P7T-04-R-G210 for Systems Engineering &Integration (SE&I) services for the Force XX1 Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) System.

The government intends to award a new Systems Engineering &Integration (SE&I) contract, on a sole source basis to Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS), for SE&I efforts associated with the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) System . This includes both the terrestrial (EPLRS) and satellite (Blue Force Tracking (BFT) baselines. Delivery Orders may be issued on a Cost Plus Award Fee, Cost Plus Incentive Fee, Firm Fixed Price or Time and Materials basis. The FBCB2 System provides sold iers and leaders in combat, combat support, and combat service support units, at the brigade and below level, with on the move, near-real-time Situational Awareness, and Command and Control information and provides a means for brigade and battalion command ers to lead when away from their Tactical Operation Centers (TOCs). The FBCB2 System is a key component of the Army Battle Command Systems (ABCS) and interfaces with the Army Tactical Command and Control System found in battalion and brigade TOCs. The FBCB 2 software supports the Applique+V4 computer systems which are implementing the Army's objective of digitizing the battlefield. This proposed effort is being pursued on a sole source basis Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS), 1800 Glenn Curtiss Street , Carson, CA 90746-6213. The Government has conducted market research in support of this requirement and concludes that NGMS is the only responsible source. The statutory authority for this action is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(1 ), Only One Responsible Source. NGMS is the incumbent on this proposed SE&I effort. The period of performance for the current, ongoing SE&I software development ends 30 Sep 2004. The proposed new contract consists of a five year effort to develop and del iver the next major version of software, known as version 6.4, to develop segments of that software in support of what is called product line development, and to provided upgrades and ongoing post production software support, with appropriate support servi ces. Responders are requested to provide sufficient detail for the Government to assess the ability to support the software code-fix-test cycles associated with the FBCB2 System’s software enhancements, plan to become familiar with the FBCB2 System⠀™s software code to support the spiral development process being employed for the FBCB2 System, which is in excess of three million lines of software code for the FBCB2 System. The Government requires one source, with Total System Responsibilities (TSR) , that can leverage the past investment, integrate software and hardware, verify operations in a representative tactical environment, and ensure that the FBCB2 System’s software and hardware are integrated and supported through the life of the program . TSR includes the 1) defining the system architecture; 2) defining, modeling, developing, and integrating the Tactical Internet (TI) architecture; 3) developing and maintaining software for FBCB2 Vehicle applications (stand-alone and embedded), FBCB2 Ope rations Center applications, and other FBCB2 target products (e.g., Product Line architecture 4) designing and developing hardware prototype initiatives (IK’s); 5) integrating and testing the software in the designated host platforms (e.g., vehicles, weapons systems, and airborne platforms), as well as with external interface systems (e.g., Army Battle Command Systems (ABCS); and 6) providing the associated technical publications and training for the software products. The contractor is responsible fo r the integration of the FBCB2 products in computer systems and application and support software, into a single system solution. The SE&I effort proposed includes systems architecture engineering, Tactical Internet architecture design and development, in tegration, engineering with weapon platforms and Army Battle Command System (ABCS) systems, software and prototype hardware design and development in support of the FBCB2 program for both terrestrial communications and L-Band Satellite communications networks. The system is specifically oriented to provide individual tactical vehicles and platforms with Situational Awareness and Command and Control capabilities. The main goal of the SE&I portion of the FBCB2 Program is the continued evolution of the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below System from delivery of the FBCB2 Version 6.4 (V6.4) Software to the FBCB2 Product Line. A solicitation shall be posted t o the Interactive Business Opportunities Page (IBOP) on or about 04 June 2004.