QF-16 Sustainment Soliciting Sources

RFI for QF-16 Sustainment Engineering and Logistics Services Description: Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Aerial Targets Branch QF-16 Sustainment Engineering and Logistics Services FA8678-23-R-1033 Class Code: 59 - Electrical and Electronic Equipment Components PSC (Product Service Code): R425 (Support - Professional: Engineering/Technical) NAICS Code: 541330 (Engineering Services) This is a Sources Sought notice for market research purposes to determine the availability of qualified sources capable of providing sustaining engineering and logistics services for the QF-16. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposal; submission of any information in response to this market research request is voluntary; the Government assumes no financial responsibility for any cost incurred. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), responses are not offers and cannot be accepted by the USG to form a binding contract. The information provided in this Sources Sought is subject to change and is not binding on the USG. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Aerial Targets Branch (EBAY) is soliciting sources to provide post-production Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) for the fielded QF-16 system and repair or replacement of Drone Peculiar Equipment (DPE) and Peculiar Support Equipment (PSE) as well as management of material inventory associated with the system. This includes support for program management, logistics and engineering as well as field services support for on-site technical assistance. QF-16s are regenerated F-16s that have been equipped with DPE for use in manned and unmanned operations to meet US Title 10 requirements for the warfighter in testing and evaluating weapons systems. The program office needs to sustain the fleet of approximately 90 jets an additional 10 years. The Technical Data Package and other Data Rights needed to maintain the software/hardware may not be available without partnering with the OEM for either the F-16 and/or DPE. All technical data and performance specifications available are contained in a document library and access will be provided upon request (see Sec C). Contractor Logistic Support is needed in the following areas: Logistics: - Drone Peculiar Equipment (DPE)/Peculiar Support Equipment (PSE) Repairs - DPE spares - PSE/DPE Spares Replenishment - Obsolescence management to include qualification of replacement components/subsystems and their software - GFP Management (FIAR Compliant) Engineering/Program Management: - Engineering issues with fielded aircraft, including hardware and software - Component failure investigations and corrective actions - Mishap and safety investigations - Non-recurring engineering for development and test for Engineering Change Proposals - Deficiency Reporting - System Integration support with Electronic Attack pods and Target Control Systems - Modifications either in hardware or software to keep the system specification compliant Responses will be used to determine the appropriate acquisition strategy for a potential future acquisition and for Market Research purposes only. No classified, confidential, or sensitive information shall be included in a response to this Sources Sought. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked or clearly identified. The Government wishes to invite any companies who are interested in participating in the QF-16 Sustainment effort to fill out the following survey. Joint venture and teaming arrangements are welcome. Section A - Company Information: Company Name: Mailing Address: Name/phone/email of Corporate Point of Contact (POC): Name/phone/email of Technical POC: CAGE Code: UEI Number: Business Size/Socio-economic status: Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 541330 (Engineering Services) Web page URL: Is your company interested in possible subcontracting opportunities? If so, describe in detail what part or parts of this requirement that your company is capable or interested in performing. Section B - Market Research Data Request: Please provide a brief answer to each of the following: In what way does your company have the experience to be able to provide Sustaining Engineering Services and Logistical support for the QF-16 system? [please see tech library for further clarification] How will your company address the absence of drawings, specifications, technical data, test procedures, etc..? [USG does not own Tech Data Package--Should be in program overview section; tech library represents the entirety of available data]. Briefly describe your company's experience operating and maintaining a System Integration Laboratory (SIL). Briefly describe your company's experience with HWIL simulations? Briefly describe your company's experience with MatrixX? Briefly describe your company's experience maintaining/sustaining a real-time, embedded, system of systems (SoS). Does this experience include integrated avionics? Briefly describe this experience. Briefly describe your company's experience with aircraft autopilots, target control systems, datalinks, GPS, airworthiness, aircraft safety, or other related areas. Does your company have experience orchestrating the maintenance/sustainment of an aircraft SoS that consists of components from multiple vendors? Briefly describe this experience. Briefly describe your company's experience with reverse engineering. Does your company have experience developing expertise so as to provide support for an aircraft SoS that was developed by another company(ies)? Briefly describe this experience. The QF-16 SoS includes a variety of commercial off the shelf (COTS) components as well as non-commercial components from a variety of vendors. The USG may not own all the information normally found in a Tech Data Package. A summary description of the available documentation will be provided. The Document Library contains the majority of the data that is available. Do you feel that your company can adequately maintain/sustain the hardware and software for the QF-16 SoS by forging relationships with the various COTs vendors, replicating the development environment for the non-COTs components, and developing the expertise to use and maintain the existing SILs, emulators and field Peculiar Support Equipment (PSE)? Does your company have existing business agreements / licenses in place with any of the DPE OEM? See document library for comprehensive listing of OEMs. Identify your experience and briefly describe how you would meet the Contractor Logistics Support requirements. Identify your experience and briefly describe how you would meet the FIAR requirements for the Government Furnished Materiel-Accounting. Identify your experience and briefly describe how you would approach supply chain management requirements to ensure repair and replenishment parts are available to support the fleet. Briefly describe your company's capabilities and experiences in generating Technical Data, engineering drawings and manuals. Identify what software programs are utilized to generate these data products and what formats are available for delivered items. Briefly describe how your company will identify and resolve DPE/PSE parts obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources issues. Does your company have experience as a prime contractor providing, Sustaining Engineering Services and Contractor Logistics Support? If so, provide the following: Contract Number Procuring Agency Contract Value Services Provided Point of Contact - phone and email Briefly describe your company staff composition and management structure, and how it would provide satisfactory support for this requirement. What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices does your company employ? Please provide a description of your quality program (ISO, AS9100, ANSI, etc.) Briefly describe your company's capabilities for gathering, handling, processing, and storing classified material and data. If given the opportunity for a one-on-one with the requirement owner, what questions would you ask? Do you believe an Industry Day would be pertinent for this requirement? If so, why? This contract may require a SECRET facility clearance, which could result in some contractors being required to have a SECRET security clearance. Does your company have a SECRET facility clearance? Would you propose a response if a FOPR is sent? Why or why not? Is the work outside of your area of expertise? Was the RFI too specific? Too vague? What in the RFI (or not in the RFI) discouraged you from submitting an RFI response? Section C - Response Instructions The Government has established a Document Library for interested respondents which contains technical data to promote a clearer understanding of the QF-16 program and solicitation requirements. To obtain access to the Document Library the respondent must review, sign, and return the attached Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to the PCO and Contract Specialist. Access to the Document Library will not be granted without a completed and signed NDA in accordance with DFARS 227.7103-7. Admission of a respondent to the Document Library does not relinquish any existing Government data right assertions. The Document Library will be hosted on the Government's Automated Technology Information Management System (ATIMS) and will contain select elements of information associated with the Government's current QF-16 subsystems, i.e., the System Engineering Program, Life Cycle Management Plan, and System Performance Specifications. The Government will provide instructions on accessing the Technical Library via ATIMs upon receipt of the signed NDA. Please note that access to ATIMS requires a DoD Common Access Card (CAC). Please see Attachment 3 for instructions on how to establish an ATIMS account. Respondents are advised that technical and cost/price data submitted to the Government in response to this RFI may be released to Government contracted advisors for review and analysis. Should there be an objection to this envisioned disclosure of white paper information, please contact the PCO immediately in writing with the basis of the objection. If you do not contact the PCO, you understand technical and cost/price data submitted to the Government in response to this RFI may be released to Government contracted advisors and consent to the release of any proprietary, confidential, or privileged commercial or financial data provided in response to this RFI for Government contracted review and analysis. All respondent questions related to this RFI should be submitted NLT 27 July 2023, 4:00PM Central Daylight Time to the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) at tarra.woelfle@us.af.mil and cc Paul Wojdac. at paul.wojdac@us.af.mil. In turn, the Government will reply to all respondent questions by 3 August 2023. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 27 July 23, 4:00PM Central Daylight Time will be answered and posted. Responses shall be submitted electronically via email, should not exceed twenty-five (25) pages in length and should be in MS Word compatible format, single-spaced, Times New Roman font, 1-inch page margins and twelve (12) point font size. Responses should be submitted by email not later than 12:00 CST, 28 August 2023 to the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) at tarra.woelfle@us.af.mil and CC paul.wojdac@us.af.mil Primary Point of Contact: Tarra M. Woelfle, Procuring Contracting Officer AFLCMC/EBAY Tarra.woelfle@us.af.mil and Paul Wojdac paul.wojdac@us.af.mil For ALL questions and inquiries about the QF-16 Sustainment Engineering and Logistics Services RFI please include myself and Mr. Wojdac. (paul.wojdac@us.af.mil) Mr. Bloodworth is longer with the QF-16 program.