Navigational Aids, Family of Systems (NAVAIDS FoS) Doppler Very High Omni-directional Range Tactical Air Navigation (DVORTAC) Upgrade

Air Traffic Control Doppler Very High Omni-directional Range Tactical Air Navigation (DVORTAC) PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION: The United States Air Force (USAF) is soliciting information for potential sources capable of upgrading/modifying and/or replacing its current Conventional Very High Omni-directional Range Tactical Air Navigation (CVORTAC) systems, Thales ATM Part Number: 069817-0001, NSN: 5825-01-629-7692, operating in the VHF band from 108-117.95 MHz to a Doppler Very High Omni-directional Range Tactical Air Navigation (DVORTAC). We seek information on the capability of potential vendors to provide, install, and support the upgrading/replacing of current CVORTAC systems to more modern DVORTAC systems, including innovative and cost-effective approaches. The USAF is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of small and large businesses, women owned, and historically black colleges and universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI), for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses received. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on SAM.gov. Interested vendors are responsible for monitoring this website for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. This synopsis is for information, market research, and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the technical data, expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to upgrade or replace the current conventional VORTAC to a doppler VORTAC. The Government is seeking to upgrade CVORTACs to DVORTACs at 4 sites - Columbus AFB, Columbus, MS Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph AFB, San Antonio, TX Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, TX Vance AFB, Enid, OK The scope of the effort will include conducting site surveys, developing and presenting upgrade/replacement recommendations, procurement of necessary parts and building installation kits, providing installation services, developing and providing updated technical data, system drawings, parts lists, 1-year of initial spares, participating in provisioning efforts, training of USAF personnel, and providing Interim Contractor Support. The upgraded DVORTACs: Must work in a VORTAC (VOR and TACAN together) configuration Must work with/interact/be interoperable with current USAF Navigational Aids systems - Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) System, Thales model PN 069816-0001 (AN/FRN-45C) Must meet all requirements as identified in the Government Technical Order Must meet all USAF and FAA requirements Must be able to be supported by Government organic repair facilities Must have a currently available parts and Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) level/rate of no more than 10% NAICS: 541330 - Engineering Services; 334290 - Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing PSC: 5825 - Radio Navigation Equipment, Except Airborne FSC: 5825 - Radio Navigation Equipment, Except Airborne CAUTION: This sources sought/request for information (RFI) is being conducted to identify any and all potential sources that may possess the technical knowledge and expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements for qualification to produce/upgrade/modify the current USAF's conventional VOR (CVOR) part of a conventional VORTAC (CVORTAC) to a doppler VOR/VORTAC (DVOR/DVORTAC). Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this sources sought/request for information survey may not guarantee participation in future solicitations or contract awards as this survey is for planning purposes only and may not result in a solicitation or contract. It has not been determined if Foreign-owned/based contractors/companies will be consider to participate in this effort. Foreign-owned/based contractors/companies may submit a response to this sources sought/request for information but are hereby placed on notice that if foreign participation is determined to not be authorized, their response will be disqualified, will be destroyed and not considered, and no further communication conducted. The Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey. Please note once the requirement is fully realized, it may require access to drawings or Technical Orders that may require a Joint Certification Program (JCP) with a current DD 2345 on file when these documents are available. These documents are currently not available for this sources sought/RFI. FAR 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes. Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997) (a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this sources sought/RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (b) Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this sources sought/RFI, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. (c) This sources sought/RFI is issued for the purpose of planning and market research only. (End of provision) INSTRUCTIONS: If you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company's capability in meeting the above requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the Government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.) identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this sources sought/RFI. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged. All submissions will be reviewed IAW FAR Part 19 procedures. Questions relative to this sources sought/RFI should be addressed to P. Michelle Prather, Contract Specialist AFLCMC/HBK, Email: phaedra.prather@us.af.mil.In the subject of the email please include: FoS Doppler VORTAC Upgrade/Replacement Please provide the following the by close of business 19 Dec 24 via email to P. Michelle Prather, Contract Specialist AFLCMC/HBK, Email: phaedra.prather@us.af.mil and Kimberly Simms, Contracting Officer, AFLCMC/HBK, kimberly.simms.1@us.af.mil. If you need a DoD safe link, send the request 48 hours before the closing date and we will send you a link for a file drop off from DoD Safe. A. Capability Survey Response B. Draft Statement of Work and/or acceptable/suggested language C. Previous Commercial Item Determinations and/or supporting documentation if any is available D. Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) E. Examples of prior DVOR/DVORTAC upgrades/replacements if applicable CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY FoS Doppler VORTAC Part I. Business Information Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners: ? Company/Institute Name: ? Address: ? Point of Contact: ? CAGE Code: ? Unique Entity Identity (UEI): ? Phone Number: ? E-mail Address: ? Web Page URL: ? North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: ? Size of business pursuant to NAICS Code: ? Based on the above NAICS Code, state whether your company is: Small Business (Yes / No) Woman Owned Small Business (Yes / No) Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes / No) 8(a) Certified (Yes / No) HUBZone Certified (Yes / No) Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes / No) Service Disabled Veteran Small Business (Yes / No) System for Award Management (SAM) Access (Yes / No) ? A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership) ? Is your company interested in possible subcontracting opportunities? If so please describe in detail what part or parts of this requirement that your company is capable or interested in performing. Part II. Capability Survey Questions A. General Capability Questions: 1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facilities and the nature of the goods and/or services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure. 2. Describe your company's past and/or current experience on projects involving the upgrading/replacing of CVORTACs to DVORTACs and/or any other Navigational Aid equipment. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact (Contracting Officer and/or Program Manager). 3. What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices does your company employ? Please provide a description of your quality program (ISO 9001, AS9100, etc.) 4. Are there specific requirements in the documentation that we provide that would currently preclude your product from being a viable solution to our requirement? This includes the granting of unlimited data rights to technical data, repair data, repair procedures, drawings and schematics down to individual parts for the purpose of establishing an organic depot repair source. 5. Include a detailed listing of facilities and equipment, including quantities, required to satisfy the requirements of this effort. Provide an outline of the proposed process, including site surveys and program inspections. 6. What is your company's current maximum production capacity per month? Provide information on any facility reserves you may possess to increase production capacity in the event of an immediate need due to critical operational mission requirements. 7. What is your company's current maximum site survey capacity per month? Provide information on any resources you may possess to increase site survey capacity in the event of an immediate need due to critical operational mission requirements. 8. What is your company's current maximum installation team capacity per month? Provide information on any resources you may possess to increase installation capacity in the event of an immediate need due to critical operational mission requirements. 9. Describe the expected length of time required to complete an upgrade/retrofit/install at each facility size offered (ie. small, medium, and large facility). Explain any plans for minimizing down time during installation. 10. Does your company have experience in commercial packaging to ensure the product is safe and secure? How do you anticipate this requirement being packaged and shipped to multiple delivery locations with the CONUS? 11. Please provide any examples of systems/kits that are same/similar that your company has recently passed a successful physical configuration audit (PCA) or something similar to packaging quality control to include a parts checklist. 12. Does your company have a - IAT Level 1 certification IAW DoDI 8570? 13. Are your company's system/applications currently certified for use within a Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN) boundary? 14. Is the system you are proposing, in the configuration you are offering to the government, currently operating in the NAS or other nations ATC facility? If so, how long has this configuration been in service at any facility? 15. Describe how your proposed system integrates with existing navigational aids systems (i.e. TACAN, DME). B. Hardware and Production Questions: 1. Describe your capabilities and experiences in manufacturing/fabrication of doppler VOR/VORTAC systems. 2. Describe your capabilities and experience in modifying existing systems/ equipment (hardware and software) to solve maintenance and support problems in the depot environment. Include experience retrofitting/upgrading other VOR systems. 3. Describe your configuration management processes and how you identify and resolve parts obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources problems? Do you anticipate any of these issues/ concerns with this list of parts? 4. Are there any known supply chain issues with this list of parts? How is this being resolved? Please provide recommendations if applicable. 5. Are any of these parts long lead items that would delay delivery? 6. At a minimum, does your company anticipate marketing and supporting this product line for the next 20 years? 7. Describe the anticipated field level maintenance that will be required for your proposed system. Include explanation of maintenance type, depth, and recurring intervals. Does your proposed system provide capability to remotely access maintenance features from a local maintenance workstation? 8. What is the expected time to return your proposed system to full mission capability after a critical hardware failure? After a processor failure or complete system shutdown, what is the expected time for restoration of the system to normal operations? (ie. Recovery Time Objective (RTO) Recovery Point Objective (RPO)) 9. Address your proposed systems approach for reducing or eliminating single point failures to include key LRUs? C. Commerciality Questions: 1. Are there established catalog or market prices for our requirement? If you offer this product and/or service to both U.S. Government and commercial sources, is the same workforce used for both the U.S. Government and general public? Is our requirement offered to both under similar terms and conditions? Briefly describe any differences. 2. Describe your standard warranty and return process for goods and services furnished to the government for items similar in nature to this requirement. 3. Do you consider this requirement to be a commercial requirement? If yes, please review the definition of a commercial product (1 - 6) found in FAR 2.101 and provide a clear statement about which part of the definition is applicable and please provide supporting evidence for this. 4. Are there known standard financing terms and or payment plans that are common in the industry for this requirement? 5. Do you have a draft statement of work or language that could be incorporated into a statement of work for our team to review and consider? D. Contract Strategy Development: 1. The Air Force is anticipating a FFP contract type for the procurement and installation of the DVORs. There will be a first article requirement and the delivery will be 120 days after contract award. Installations will begin 120 days after first article approval. The delivery will be FOB Destination. From your company's experiences, can you provide your company's understanding of this strategy to include a preference of a different strategy if you think one exists? 2. The Air Force is anticipating a FFP contract type for the installation of the DVORTAC at each location. A FFP site survey will be required for each location to determine the scope of the install and material required to complete. 3. Please provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for this effort. Please include sufficient detail to show significant cost drivers and make recommendations for money savings, if possible. 4. If an extended warranty was required could that be procured and how much would that cost? Please provide the kind of warranty item that could be covered under an extended warranty and suggested terms that are industry standard. 5. Do you foresee any future concerns, issues or increased risk with this requirement? 6. Are there any special FAR/DFARS/DAFFARS clauses or custom clauses that would be consider an industry standard? Please provide this with any needed justification. 7. Does your company use Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) compliant finance and accounting systems? 8. Provide your recommendations for the USAF to assume overhaul/repair responsibility at an organically determined site.