Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) Production Systems and Operating Spares

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS ONLY. This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning and informational purposes only, and shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this RFI or the Government's use of such information. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. - 1.0 Introduction: The Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) Program is an Acquisition Category IC program providing a single material solution with multiple operational capabilities. Air Defense/Surveillance Radar (AD/SR) G/ATOR provides capabilities in the Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) and Air Surveillance mission areas. Ground Weapons Locating Radar (GWLR) G/ATOR provides Counter-fire Targeting mission capabilities. Expeditionary Airport Surveillance Radar (EASR) G/ATOR will address Air Traffic Control (ATC) missions, but has been deferred until funding allocation determines the time line for implementation. The G/ATOR, or AN/TPS-80, provides real-time radar measurement data to the Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S), Composite Tracking Network (CTN), and Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS). All G/ATOR systems share a common hardware and operating system software baseline, excluding government-furnished equipment (GFE), to satisfy the warfighter's expeditionary needs across the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with a single MAGTF solution. - 1.1 Purpose: This RFI constitutes market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 and is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). Program Executive Officer Land Systems is issuing this RFI, as part of the G/ATOR Program, to assess industry's capability to produce 30 AD/SR and GWLR G/ATOR systems, operating spare components, and provide production, engineering, integration and testing, logistics, and program management support services, as needed. - 1.2 Objective: Data submitted in response to this RFI will be used to assess the marketplace environment for providing the U.S. Marine Corps (Marine Corps) with 30 Gallium Nitride (GaN) Transmit/Receive (T/R) Module equipped Full Rate Production (FRP) units capable of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Mode 5/S and operating spares. - 1.3 Key Events: The anticipated contract award date for FRP is March 2019 in order to meet operational need dates for delivery of GaN configured G/ATOR systems to the Operating Forces beginning in March 2021. - 2.0 Background: G/ATOR Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) was initiated in early FY15 using Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) T/R Module technology with a contract end date of early FY18. Subsequently, a second LRIP contract was initiated in late FY16 to produce LRIP units using GaN technology with a contract end date of late FY21. The LRIP contracts are currently being performed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (Northrop Grumman) in accordance with the Government's G/ATOR performance specification. The strategy for the multi-mission capability is to produce the G/ATOR systems in a standard hardware configuration. User-selected software loads will be installed in the standard hardware for each mission. - 2.1 Concept of Operations: The AD/SR G/ATOR provides new capabilities in two distinct mission areas: Air Surveillance and SHORAD employed by the Marine Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC). The GWLR G/ATOR provides new capabilities to the Ground Combat Element (GCE) counter-fire or targeting missions employed by the Marine Artillery Regiments. - 2.1.1 Air Defense/Surveillance Radar: AD/SR provides vital air defense and surveillance capabilities for joint and Marine Corps forces across the range of military operations. The principal mission of AD/SR is to provide expeditionary, day or night, adverse weather radar coverage and track aerial objects within the MAGTF commander's area of operations. G/ATOR advanced technology and precision tracking enables the commander to accomplish the assigned mission and protect the force through early warning of threat cruise missiles, unmanned systems and aircraft. As a lightweight, highly mobile, rapidly deployable, and expeditionary Marine Corps Aviation Combat Element (ACE) asset, AD/SR is the baseline system for the Marine Corps short and medium range radar requirement. AD/SR is a key component of the Marine Corps Aviation Command and Control (C2) Family of Systems (FoS) being developed to support Expeditionary Maneuver From the Sea in joint, MAGTF and coalition environments. AD/SR provides MAGTF commanders with a highly reliable and maintainable battlespace sensor designed to protect the force from short to medium-range threats by complementing the AN/TPS-59 Long Range Radar. AD/SR multi-mission capability allows the MAGTF commander to selectively shape air defense zones that join maritime air defense and surveillance areas, reducing vulnerability gaps in the landward sector for naval forces operating in the world's littoral regions. - 2.1.2 Ground Weapons Locating Radar: The GWLR G/ATOR will acquire threat indirect fire systems at greater range as well as provide greater accuracy, classification and deployability to fully support MAGTF counter-fire and counter battery missions. The principal functions of the system will be to detect, track, classify, and accurately determine the origin of enemy projectiles. GWLR's primary mission is to locate enemy rocket, mortar and artillery weapons, and provide acquired enemy locations in a timely manner for counter-fire and intelligence purposes. GWLR's secondary mission is to adjust or register the fires of friendly artillery units. The system will be forward deployed and, depending on the tactical situation, may be employed in any size MAGTF, ranging from the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) level. - 2.1.3 Expeditionary Airport Surveillance Radar (deferred): Upon funding allocation, EASR enhancements will be incorporated into the baseline hardware to improve G/ATOR's overall performance in the areas of Federal Aviation Administration interoperability by allowing EASR facilities to safely and expeditiously move aircraft to and from military and civil airfields and associated airspace. The system's EASR capabilities will meet Federal Aviation Administration standards/requirements for air traffic control systems to include flight inspection, check and certification. It will incorporate weather detection capability for near real time advisories for aircrews to increase flight safety and will contain a dual frequency obstruction light visible to aircrew capable of visible red and infrared operation. Lastly, it will employ a contingency mode which will allow the EASR to operate independent of the MAGTF C2 node. - 2.2 Design, Test and Manufacturing Data: Northrop Grumman was competitively awarded the G/ATOR System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract in March 2007 and produced two engineering development models (EDM) and six GaAs LRIP units. In August 2016, Northrop Grumman was awarded a sole source contract to produce nine GaN LRIP units. As such, they were responsible for the design, development, fabrication, and developmental testing of the hardware and software and performed all aspects of system integration. Prior to the SDD contract award, Northrop Grumman and its primary subcontractor asserted rights to technical data and software it intended to use in the design and development of the G/ATOR. Thus, the Government has limited rights in technical data and restricted rights to use computer software for some aspects of the G/ATOR. Some of the data remains proprietary and is not releasable to sources outside the Government. - 3.0 Requested Information: Interested firms are requested to provide information that identifies their capability and ability to: 1) manufacture production configured G/ATOR systems described in paragraph 1.1 and 1.2 above; 2) certify production of G/ATOR systems through acceptance testing; 3) meet the Government's delivery schedule described in paragraph 1.3 above; 4) manufacture systems fully capable of meeting the Government's performance specifications identified in Attachment 1. Responses shall not include classified data. Note: Attachment 1 has a security classification of For Official Use Only (FOUO). Only Contractors that are certified by the Joint Certification Program (JCP) administered by the Defense Logistic Information Service (DLIS) will be eligible to download documents marked Export Controlled. This certification establishes that a company is a U.S. or Canadian contractor eligible to receive unclassified technical data that is under the control of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or the Canadian Department of National Defense (DND). - 3.1 Company Capabilities Statement (page limitation 40 pages, preferably less): Interested firms are requested to submit a brief capabilities statement to the Contracting Officer addressing the following: - 3.1.1 Company Profile: Respondents are requested to provide a point-of-contact (POC) name, phone number, and e-mail address; and company profile to include the company name; company address; company business size; number of employees, annual revenue history, annual financial report, office location(s), Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number, and business classification (i.e., large, foreign, small, small disadvantaged, veteran owned, minority owned, etc.). - 3.1.2 Technology Readiness Level and Manufacturing Readiness Level: Respondents are requested to provide a self-assessment as to the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of their solution in accordance with Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) MRL Deskbook 2016. - 3.1.3 Gallium Nitride Full Rate Production Units (quantity of 30): Respondents are requested to provide production and manufacturing information that addresses the following: - 3.1.3.1 Manufacturing Plan: Respondents are requested to provide their G/ATOR FRP manufacturing plan identifying the approach for effective fabrication of the product design, addressing: special tools; assembly; critical processes; fabrication; manpower loading; subcontractor and vendor delivery schedules; and data, material, and equipment required from the Government to effectively meet the design and performance requirements. Furthermore respondents are requested to describe the advanced technology in manufacturing techniques, processes, and work systems planned for the next five years that would enhance the production of the G/ATOR systems and reduce cost. - 3.1.3.2 Quality Manufacturing Process: Respondents are requested to provide their plan for qualifying their FRP manufacturing process to confirm the adequacy of the production planning, tool design, manufacturing process, and procedures. - 3.1.3.3 Defect Control: Respondents are requested to provide a description of their program to be used to minimize and mitigate high defect rates in their FRP manufacturing process to minimize costs increases due to higher rework and scrap costs. - 3.1.3.4 Subcontractor Control: Respondents are requested to provide their approach for use and engagement of subcontractors in the manufacture and assembly of the FRP units. The response must address their organization and methodology for the following: managing subcontractors; plans for on-site evaluation of subcontractors; methods for ensuring visibility into subcontractor activities; and plans for program/production readiness reviews; and vendor audits. - 3.1.3.5 Piece-part Control: Respondents are requested to provide their plan for piece part control during the manufacture and assembly of the FRP units, to include provisions for screening of parts (especially mechanical and electrical components, as well as electronic devices) to ensure proper identification and use of standard items already in the Military Service logistics system. - 3.1.3.6 Tool Design: Respondents are requested to provide a detailed tooling plan defining the types and quantities of "hard" or "soft" tooling for each FRP manufacturing step. The plan must address tool configuration management and calibration and risk reduction measures. - 3.1.3.7 Item Unique Identification (IUID): Respondents are requested to provide their plan for implementation of IUID under the policy of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 211.274-1 through 211.274-4 and the provisions of DFARS Clause 252.211-7003. New and/or refurbished major end items, assemblies, subassemblies, and capital equipment will be assigned a Unique Identification Identifier (UII) before delivery of the items to the DoD. - 3.1.3.8 Special Test Equipment: Respondents are requested to provide a Special Test Equipment (STE) plan for supporting the FRP manufacturing process that tests each component (or final product) for performance after it has completed in-process tests and inspections, final assembly, and final visual inspection. - 3.1.3.9 Computer-Aided Manufacturing: Respondents are requested to identify how they will develop qualified design "drawing packages" (including drawings related material and process specifications), or computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) data without a common data base between the development contractor and the respondent. - 3.1.3.10 Manufacturing Screening: Respondents are requested to describe the manner and degree to which they will use Environmental Stress Screening (ESS) in the FRP manufacturing process for stimulating parts and workmanship defects in electronic assemblies and units to demonstrate that the electronics hardware performs on-demand to ensure that possible part type and vendor problems are discovered early. - 3.1.3.11 Risk: Respondents are requested to provide their plan for mitigating risk associated with the absence of the communication between the respondent's production/manufacturing engineering and the developer of the EDM and the LRIP systems during the FRP manufacturing, fabrication, and production process. - 3.1.3.12 Manufacturing Data Requirements: Respondents are requested to identify their plan for manufacturing FRP systems considering the Government's limited rights in technical data and restricted rights to use computer software identified in paragraph 2.2 above while still meeting the operational delivery requirements identified in paragraph 1.3. - 3.1.3.13 Schedule Assessment: Respondents are requested to submit an assessment of the probability of meeting the key event dates identified in paragraph 1.3 with fully integrated, operational FRP units meeting all performance requirements in accordance with Attachment 1. - 3.1.4 Government Furnished Data, Equipment, and Information: Respondents are requested to provide a comprehensive identification of the GFE, data, information, specifications, and material that would be required to develop, produce, and deliver FRP units. - 3.1.5 Technical Data Rights: Respondents are requested to identify their strategy for ensuring the Government receives at a minimum Government Purpose rights for all components and software for which open system architecture is not utilized as a design approach. Additionally, respondents are requested to identify any products or processes developed with independent research and development funding that will or may be used in production certification (through testing), delivery, and sustainment of the FRP units. - 3.1.6 Estimated Cost: Respondents are requested to provide an estimated cost breakdown to manufacture 30 FRP units in four lots (lot 1 quantity: six, lot 2 quantity: eight, lot 3 quantity: eight, and lot 4 quantity: eight). Each lot will include an operating spares block. - 4.0 Responses: - 4.1 Response Format: Interested firms which believe they are capable of providing G/ATOR FRP units and operating spares in accordance with the Attachment 1 performance requirements are invited to express their interest by responding to this RFI in one volume with three separate sections titled "Company Capabilities Statement", "Schedule Assessment", and "Cost Estimate" in Microsoft Word, Office 2010-compatible format. The combined sections must not exceed 40 pages. - 4.2 Proprietary Markings: Please be advised that any proprietary information must be marked as such on a page-by-page basis. The Government will not assume that any of the information provided by a respondent is proprietary unless it is conspicuously marked on a page-by-page basis. Moreover, the Government does not assume any duty to contact a respondent and inquire whether any unmarked information submitted in response to this RFI is proprietary. - 4.3 Submission Requirements: Responses shall be submitted electronically via e-mail or mailed to PEO Land Systems - CT 2.8, Attn: Christine Kuney, Contracting Officer, 2200 Lester Street, Building 2210, Quantico, VA 22134-6050, christine.kuney@usmc.mil. Responses submitted by mail must include one (1) electronic copy on CD or DVD. The Government will not return any material submitted in response to this RFI. All responses must include the following information: company name; company address; company business size; Commercial Activity Government Entity (CAGE) code, and POC name, phone number, and e-mail address. Responses shall not include classified data. Please note that telephone replies will not be accepted. - 4.4 Questions: Questions or comments regarding this notice may be submitted via e-mail only to: Damon Trevithick, Contract Specialist, at damon.trevithick@usmc.mil. All correspondence shall reference "RFI No. M67854-17-I-0217" and include company name; company address; CAGE code, and POC name, phone number, and e-mail address. The Government intends to respond to as many questions as practical and will respond to questions via amendment to this announcement posted to Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) so that all interested parties will benefit from the same information. However, if some of the answers to industry's questions include FOUO classified information, only vendors certified by the JCP administered by the DLIS will be eligible to download the document with Government's response. - 4.5 Future Updates: Any subsequent procurement notifications will be posted on the FBO website at https://www.fbo.gov/. All interested parties are encouraged to register on the FBO website to receive email notifications when information related to this acquisition is updated, or documents related to this acquisition are issued and available for download. The Government requests that all interested parties ensure that they are listed on the "Interested Vendors List" in FBO. As a rule, the Government will not send notifications directly to interested parties, and it is recommended that the interested parties periodically check this website for updates.