R--Operational Test Support for the Operational Test Command (OTC), Fort Hood, Texas

The Government intends to issue a Draft Request for Proposals (DRFP) to industry for comments on its requirement for operational test support for the U.S. Army Operational Test Command (OTC), Fort Hood, Texas. This synopsis is to advise potential of ferors of the pending issuance of the DRFP and to give industry an opportunity to request a Government Advisory Opinion regarding Organizational Conflict of Interest. The anticipated performance period (exclusive of contract transition period) is a one-ye ar base period with four one-year options. The contract type anticipated is Cost-Plus-Award-Fee. The requirement will be issued on a Full and Open Competition Basis. The requirement calls for the providing of non-personal services to the U. S. Army Oper ational Test Command (OTC) in support of its mission to support the Army material acquisition and force development processes. Operational testing encompasses a wide range of activities relating to the managing, conducting and reporting of results garnere d from material being placed in the hands of soldiers in a field environment. The contract manages and utilizes one-of-a-kind instrumentation systems, which are predominantly computer driven and frequently involve complex modeling/simulation/stimulation. T he contract will involve major efforts in system integration, system and software engineering, data collection, data reduction, data management, motor pool operations, equipment maintenance, and test support services in other than an office environment. Support occurs at all phases of the OTC world-wide mission, e.g., pre-test planning, test execution, and post-test activities. The new contract will also cover the potential need for support to OTC in theater. The contractor will be provided Government-f urnished facilities (GFF) at West Fort Hood, Texas. Approximate issue date of the DRFP is 29 March 2006 with a Pre-solicitation Conference scheduled to be conducted at Fort Hood, Texas on/or about 13 April 2006. In preparation for the conference, question s and comments on the DRFP will be encouraged. Email questions will be accepted and the email address will be provided in the DRFP. A cut-off point for receipt of industry written questions and comments on the DRFP, subsequent to the pre-solicitation con ference, is anticipated. This synopsis also invites interested offerors to submit information regarding possible Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) that will allow the Government to advise respondents about their potential to be viable competitors . The advisory opinion will contain sufficient information to permit interested offerors to make an informed decision about whether to participate in the acquisition. Each respondent will be advised that either it is considered to be a viable competitor for the resultant acquisition or, based on the information submitted, that it is unlikely to be a viable competitor. Respondents considered not to be viable competitors will be provided the general basis for the opinion. Notwithstanding the advice provide d by the Government in response to the submissions, respondents may participate in the acquisition. The following information is required to be provided in writing to the address below in order to receive an OCI advisory opinion. The respondent is encour aged to review Title 10, US Code Section 2399, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 9.5 prior to responding. Respondents should note that Title 10, US Code Section 2399, prohibits the utilization of any contractor on an operational test that is involved in the system development or organizationally related to a system developer. Part 9.5 further addresses contractor responsibilities and restrictions. Respondents must explain, in detail, the nature of any involvement in Defense Systems, with specific emphasis on Department of Army Systems and Joint Programs. The respondent must describe the specific work performed and the duration thereof as either a prime or subcontractor. The respondent must lay-down the corporate structure, specifically addressing the interrelationship, if any, of corporate assets that performed any development effort. The respondent must state whether or not it considers its in volvement an organizational conflict of interest prohibited by the referenced statute and regulation or an appearance of such a conflict that could adversely impact the test and evaluation mission. The respondent must provide a detailed rationale for the position. Failure to provide the required information will be deemed non-responsive; incomplete packages will be returned and no opinion will be provided. Interested parties should submit their OCI information in writing to the Contracting Officer at the ATEC Mission Support Contracting Activity, P.O. Box Y, Fort Hood Texas, 76544-0770. Verbal requests will not be entertained regarding any information in this announcement. All inquiries must be submitted in writing. Issuance of the final RFP will not b e synopsized. The DRFP and subsequent final RFP will be posted to the following website: https://www.amsca.atec.army.mil. Frequent monitoring of the AMSCA Website is encouraged as it is the single point of reference for obtaining all information regardin g this acquisition. All respondents must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), and have a valid DUNS number, Cage Code, and Tax Identification Number. See Note 26*****