Digital Night Vision Technology (DNVT)

GENERAL INFORMATION: Document Type: Sources Sought Solicitation Number: N/A Posted Date: 18 December 2020 Response Date: 15 January 2021 Set Aside: N/A DESCRIPTION: THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT - This Sources Sought 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. Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government. Not responding to this Sources Sought does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on Beta SAM. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground - Research Triangle Park (ACC-APG-RTP) Ft. Belvoir Division, 800 Park Offices Drive - Suite 4229 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 is exploring options for a Small Business contractor support to the United States Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center's Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) Special Products and Prototyping Division (SPPD). The purpose of this notice it to encourage competition and exchanges of information. Additionally, response to this notice will be used to gather market research in order to identify potential offerors having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement, as well as whether or not this requirement can successfully be solicited as a total small business set-aside. Small businesses are highly encouraged to respond to this notice. If the Government does not fully understand the intent to bid and technical capabilities of small businesses and their team members, the Government may decide that it's in their best interest to move forward with full and open competition. THE MISSION: The Department of Defense's mission is to fight and win our Nation's wars by providing prompt, sustained dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate must keep pace with advancements in technology enabling the warfighter to better acquire threats and react in order to achieve mission objectives. Digital Night Vision Technology (DNVT) enables the development, improvement, testing and operational employment of devices comprised of digital sensors and displays. This effort will provide for dismounted and aviation head mounted systems, including a fully digital, binocular Night Vision Goggle (NVG) coupled with enhancements including fused imagery short wave infrared (SWIR), long wave infrared (LWIR) and augmented reality (AR). DNVT provides a solution for maintaining a heads-up security posture by presenting all relevant battlefield and air data to the Warfighter on a heads-up display that incorporates improvements and upgrades to provide greatly enhanced resolution, sensitivity/sensing, vision, laser hardening, and situational awareness. This will allow the Warfighter to keep their focus on rapidly developing situations while enhancing decision making. These and similar enhancements to DNVT will allow dismounted and aviation Warfighters peerless overmatch in their access and ability to collect, disseminate, display, and respond to digital information. DNVT will also augment and support the Digital Enhanced Low-light Tactical Asset-Individual (DELTA-I) program which is currently in development at a post-Critical Design Review (CDR) phase. This effort exploits and continues more than two decades of Department of Defense (DoD) Science and Technology (S&T) research, development, and investment into digital low-light level (LLL) cameras. Previous efforts have found that the frame-rate of information presented to the eye is of paramount importance for dismounted mobility and aviation, and at 120 frames-per-second, DNVT will be the fastest operating digital NVG once in production. Eight (8) prototype digital goggles (DELTA-I) functioning at a projected technology readiness level of 6/7 are due by December 2021. After delivery, DELTA-I and DNVT will continue to evolve capabilities through development, integration, experimentation, and laboratory and platform test and evaluation, including, but not limited to: novel sensing modalities, hardware and software development, integration, networking, and operational integration with a variety of ground and aviation systems. DNVT will substantially enhance the Warfighter's situational awareness and decision-making abilities. Under the anticipated single award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, the performer shall conduct and/or facilitate (as directed) the analysis, development, demonstration, testing, acquisition, transition, integration, initial deployment, sustainment, and training of DNVT and DNVT related equipment and systems. This effort will support U.S. Warfighters and Other Government Agency (OGA) personnel by providing new DNVT capabilities and support for current and future operational end-user mission requirements. REQUIREMENT HISTORY/INCUMBENT CONTRACTOR This is a new effort. There is no incumbent or acquisition history. ELIGIBILITY The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 541715 with a Small Business Size Standard of 1,000 employees. The capability statement documentation must address at a minimum the following items: 1. Please provide any questions, comments, and feedback on the attached Draft Performance Work Statement and its contents. 2. Will your company propose on this effort? Yes or No? a. If yes: Indicate if your company will propose as a Prime or Subcontractor. If your company will propose as a Prime, state affirmatively if you plan to self-perform entirely or team with subcontractors. b. If yes: Indicate if your company is a small business. Also, indicate whether you qualify as a small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, HUBZone small business, or service disabled veteran-owned small business concern. i. If a small business: Indicate if your company would be capable and intend for at least 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance to be performed by your company and any similarly situated subcontractors (See FAR 52.219-14 (DEVIATION 2020-O0008)). c. If yes: How long do you need to submit a proposal (e.g. 14, 21, 30, 45 days)? d. If no: Please provide a justification as to why you decided to no-bid. 3. What specific technical skills does your company possess which ensure capability to perform EACH of the task areas described in the Draft Performance Work Statement? If your company does not possess the technical skills in EACH key task area, please provide the name, CAGE code, and business size of your potential teaming partners and describe the specific technical skills that they possess otherwise to meet the remaining key task areas in the Draft Performance Work Statement. 4. What type of work has your company performed in the past in support of the same or similar requirement? Please provide the contract number(s), government organization, total contract value, period of performance, description of effort, and any associated performance feedback. If your company does not possess past performance in EACH key task area, please provide a description of your teaming partners past performance in the remaining key task areas in the Draft Performance Work Statement. Please also provide their contract number(s), government organization, total contract value, period of performance, description of effort, and any associated performance feedback. 5. Participation in this effort may preclude any offeror from participating in related DNVT developmental efforts due to organizational conflict of interest. Please confirm whether or not you (and your teaming partners) are still interested in this procurement with that in mind. 6. Please include the following with your response: a. Company name and CAGE code b. Point of contact and email address SUBMISSION DETAILS: Potential offerors interested in this requirement are requested to submit a capabilities statement of no more than ten (10) pages in length in Times New Roman font and no less than 10 pitch. Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) is acceptable. The deadline for responses to this request is no later than 4:00 PM EST, 8 January 2021. All responses must be submitted via e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Lisa.m.gregory-robinson.civ@mail and the Contract Specialist, Ashley.e.howard15.civ@mail.mil. No phone calls will be accepted. All data received in in response to this notice that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.