Notice of Contract Action Space Test and Engineering Contract (STEC) 14

This announcement is a combination Notice of Contract Action (NOCA) and Sources Sought Synopsis by the United States Space Force (USSF) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Development Corps Innovation & Prototyping Directorate (DCI), Prototype Operations Division (DCIO), Contracting Office (PKT-KT) Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. SMC/PKT-KT intends to issue a sole source Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF)/Firm Fixed Price (FFP) modification to LinQuest Corporation for a twelve-month bridge extension to the Space Test and Engineering Contract (STEC) 14 beginning 01 June 2021 and ending 31 May 2022, if all options are exercised. This notice of intent is for informational purposes only and is not a request for competive proposals. Parties interested in potential subcontracting opportunities, including small and disadvantaged businesses, need to identify their interest and technical capability to the prospective source identified above. Background: STEC14 currently provides Pre-Launch, Launch & Early Orbit (L&EO), and On-orbit services for 14 space vehicles flown at the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Support Complex (RSC) as well as support operations at Schriever Air Force Base (SAFB). Up to 10 additional missions may require STEC14 support during the bridge period. The support consists of highly specialized operators to support dedicated 24/7 on-console operations. The missions have few tasks that can be automated, requiring more experienced operators to execute objectives. The space vehicles and their payloads go through various checkouts and high tempo operations that add more complexity to the operating environment. Most of the missions require TS/SCI cleared personnel. The current STEC14 contract has a period of performance end date of 31 May 2021. It contains a 6-month extension of services option period that when exercised would extend the period of performance of select efforts to 30 November 2021. An assessment of the extension of services option period was undertaken in March 2021 which resulted in the determination that only a portion of the work covered by that period could be exercised IAW FAR 17.207(f). As such, a bridge extension is being sought until award of the follow-on acquisition. The Government is currently finalizing the release of a Solicitation for competitive bids for the Prototype Operations-I (POPS-I) follow-on acquisition to STEC14. The Government has determined there exists only one responsible source, the incumbent, capable of performing these highly specialized services in the time required for this bridge extension. The STEC14 incumbent is performing satisfactorily; the incumbent is necessarily in-place, familiar with the RSC and its unique satellite missions, and provides highly qualified and TS/SCI cleared personnel to support current and potential RSC satellite operations. There is insufficient time to compete and transition RSC operations from the STEC14 incumbent to a new contractor, and for that new contractor to get required TS/SCI personnel in place. Competing the STEC14 Bridge extension would result in an unacceptable delay to award that poses significant risk to on-orbit satellite missions and ground system development activities. In accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(16)(ii), all responsible sources may submit a statement of capability for this bridge extension, not to exceed 10 pages in length (a page is defined as 8.5 inch x 11 inch sheet, using 12 point Times New Roman font, with 1 inch top, bottom and side borders). The capabilities statement should address: (1) why the responding company can perform the work, (2) how the responding company can avoid unacceptable schedule delays, and (3) why the sole source justification is no longer applicable. Statements of capability, received within 15 calendar days (16 April 2021) by 3:00 PM MDT, will be considered by SMC/PKT-KT. All responses must be submitted to the Government points of contact at the email addresses shown below. The Government will not recognize any costs associated with submission of information in response to this or previous notices. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. This notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal nor does it restrict the Government in any way to an ultimate acquisition approach. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITTMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. Submit all inquiries to Maj Kimberly Tat at kimberly.tat@spaceforce.mil or Ms. Angelica Armenta at angelica.armenta@spaceforce.mil.