Network Interface Racks for the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System

Synopsis: Any resultant solicitation will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website at https://www.fbo.gov/. Prior to that, a pre-Solicitation will be released on FedBizOpps. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. DISCLAIMER "THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY." INTRODUCTION The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Patuxent River, MD announces its intention to procure, on a competitive basis, Network Interface Racks (NIR) for the Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA) Mission Control System along with any ancillary equipment. The scope of work will include manufacturing, testing, management, and support needed to deliver the NIRs. The results of the Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-Aside opportunities exist. All Small Business Set-Aside categories will be considered. Furthermore, this market research tool is being used to identify potential small businesses prior to determining the method of acquisition and the issuance of a Solicitation. BACKGROUND The NIR is the communication point for the Unmanned Mission Control System (UMCS) to include both internal and external connectivity. The NIR provides the IP protocol connections for Command and Control (C2) data, voice communications to external Air Vehicle Operators (AVOs), voice communications for Voice Truck and collection of data from the air vehicle. When used within the UMCS on an aircraft carrier (CVN), the NIR provides connections into the CVN Consolidated Afloat Network and Enterprise Services (CANES), and Aviation Data Management and Control System (ADMACS). The NIR provides layer three routing into CVN systems and provides a cyber-security level of protection for the UMCS. The NIR is a component of shore based UMCS implementations and serves as the connection between the UMCS and terrestrial networks. The flexibility of the NIR allows the UMCS to adapt to the land base infrastructure with minimal configuration changes. The NIR provides the backbone within the UMCS allowing the communication of C2 and mission level data from the AVO workstation to vehicle. The design is fully redundant in both network connections and power. The NIR will provide the conduit for the Voice over IP (VOIP) messages across the network or to the vehicle for relay to an end user. The NIR is a network connection into the integrated communication system which allows an AVO the ability to communicate with another AVO, mission personnel, Air Traffic Controller or mission analyst. REQUIREMENTS A DD Form 254 Contract Security Classification Specification shall apply to this requirement and the prime contractor shall have a "SECRET" Facility Clearance. ELIGIBILITY The applicable NAICS Code for this requirement is 334118 (Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing) with a Small Business Size standard of 1,000 employees. Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify their business size in their capabilities statement. The Product Service Code for this effort is AC64 (R&D- Defense Systems: Electronics/Communication Equipment (Engineering Development). SUBMITTAL INFORMATION- (CAPABILITIES STATEMENT) Interested parties are requested to submit a capabilities statement of no more than ten (10) pages in length in Times New Roman font of not less than 10 pitch. This documentation must address at a minimum the following items: 1.) What type of work has your company performed in the past in support of the same or a similar requirement? 2.) Can or has your company managed a task of this nature? If so, please provide details. 3.) Can or has your company managed a team of subcontractors before? If so, provide details. 4.) What specific technical skills does your company possess which ensures capability to deliver NIRs? 5.) Please note that under a Small-Business Set-Aside, in accordance with FAR 52.219-14, the small business prime must perform at least 50% of the work themselves in terms of the cost of performance. Provide an explanation of your company's ability to perform at least 50% of the work. 6.) Provide a statement including current small/large business status for NAICS Code 334118 and company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history, office locations and a DUNs number. 7.) Respondents to this notice also must indicate whether they qualify as an 8(a), Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern for NAICS Code 334118. 8.) Include in your response your ability to meet the requirements in the Facility and Safeguarding requirements. The estimated period of performance consists of a base year and four one-year options with performance commencing in July 2017. Specifics regarding the number of option periods will be provided in the solicitation. The contract type is anticipated to be Firm Fixed Price. Upon evaluation of the capability statements, if it is determined that this requirement will be an unrestricted competition, the Government intends to evaluate the Small-Business responses and conduct further market research to identify a subcontracting goal. Your response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialist, Jessica L. Guy, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email at jessica.l.guy@navy.mil. All responses must include the following information: Company Name; Company Address; Company Business Size; and Point-of-Contact (POC) name, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. The deadline for capability statement submission is 5 pm, EST, 18 November 2016. The Government prefers that data submitted does not contain any restrictive markings. In the event a respondent determines it is necessary to protect data submitted in response to this Sources Sought, the Government requests that respondents utilize the following marking to ensure the Government's efficient review: The Government may use, modify, reproduce, release, display or disclose the technical data within the Government without restriction. The Government may further distribute this document to "Covered Government support contractors" as defined in DFARS 252.227-7013. All questions must be submitted to the Contract Specialist, Jessica L. Guy via email at jessica.l.guy@navy.mil. The Government is not committed nor obligated to pay for the information provided, and no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to these Sources Sought.