Rotorcraft Technology Development

Rotorcraft Technology Development - 80ARC019-RTD-RFI NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for Rotorcraft Technology Development (RTD). The Aeromechanics Office (Code AV) is responsible for aeromechanics research activities that directly support the civil competitiveness of the U.S. helicopter industry, the Department of Defense, and new emerging commercial aviation markets including personal vertical lift air vehicles and urban air mobility. This potential procurement is to support and provide analysis, design, fabrication, and testing requirements (model-scale, full-scale, and flight) with rotorcraft, including but not limited to aerodynamics, structures, computational fluid dynamics, acoustics, comprehensive analysis, cockpit design and control systems, handling qualities, human factors, prognostics and health management assessments, and systems and economics analysis in rotorcraft technology. I. PURPOSE OF THIS SYNOPSIS/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION 1) To request information on capabilities of potential Offerors to provide the services described in the attached Draft Statement of Work (SOW). Information received as a result of this notice will be considered by the Government and used for acquisition planning purposes only. 2) To request information from interested parties regarding their preferred contracting approach to provide the services described in the attached Draft SOW. II. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED WORK BACKGROUND It is anticipated that NASA ARC will issue a multiple award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract whereby individual task orders will be issued during the performance period. Task order topics will be drawn from a wide spectrum of topics contained within the scope of the Statement of Work (SOW). Task order work shall include: technology assessments, analysis, design, fabrication, and testing requirements (model-scale, full-scale, and flight) with rotorcraft, including but not limited to aerodynamics, structures, computational fluid dynamics, acoustics, comprehensive analysis, cockpit design and control systems, handling qualities, human factors, prognostics and health management assessments, and systems and economic analysis. TECHNICAL AREAS: As part of the capabilities information submitted in response to this RFI, potential offerors must demonstrate an understanding of the requirements of the Draft SOW, including expertise and experience in the following technical performance areas: - Advanced Rotorcraft Technologies - Flight Controls and Health Management - Rotorcraft Research Testing III. RESPONSES REGARDING POTENTIAL SOURCES STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES Interested Offerors having the required specialized capabilities/qualifications to support some or all of the work described above and are asked to submit a capability/qualification statement shall not exceed 5 pages (double-sided) in PDF format. A page is defined as 8 1/2" x 11", with one inch margins on all sides, using not smaller than 12 point font. Address all requested information listed below (Numbered 1 through 6) to the fullest extent possible. Be legible, including any figures, exhibits and diagrams which are not subject to the page limit. The response must include the following: 1) Company name, address, technical and contractual point(s) of contact, phone, e-mail, and website (if applicable). 2) Cage Code and DUNS number, as indicated in organization's System for Award Management registration; 3) Whether your company is Large Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantage Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, HUBZone Small Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business, HBCU/MI, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business for NAICS code 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences, size standard 1,000 employees. 4) Whether your company plans to participate in this procurement as a Prime or a Sub Offeror. 5) Your company's capability in each of the technical areas. For each technical area, indicate what percentage of the technical area you would perform. 6) Number of years in business; affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime); list of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement; and point of contact - address and phone number). The Government reserves the right to consider a small business or 8(a) set-aside based on responses. IV. RESPONSES REGARDING THE CONTRACTING APPROACH The Government is soliciting contracting approaches to the Rotorcraft Technology Development contract that will enhance competition and provide business opportunities. Therefore, the Government is requesting feedback on the following areas for consideration during acquisition planning: 1) Socio-economic considerations: ARC is interested in your comments on establishing subcontracting goals for Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Veteran Owned (VOSB), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SD-VOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) such as: - Are you contemplating proposing as a prime Contractor or subcontractor? Why? - What SOW areas are you capable of performing? 2) Incentives: In an attempt to determine the appropriate contract type (contract types for consideration, alone or in a hybrid combination, including Fixed-Price or Cost-Reimbursement contracts, such as FFP, FPI, CPFF, and CPIF) for this procurement: - Which contract type or combination of contract types might be more appropriate (benefits and impediments)? - How that proposed contract type would affect costs and proposal development. 3) Contract Content/Structure: Do you have any suggestions or examples of restructuring, simplifications, and clarity in the description of the technical areas of the Draft SOW? What other information would improve understanding or clarity of requirements and terms and conditions? 4) Technical Information: What type of technical information along with the SOW would you like to see with a potential solicitation (e.g. sample tasks)? PLEASE NOTE: There is no limit on the page length to your response to PART IV. V. YOUR RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION All responses to this RFI shall be received no later than Thursday, March 7, 2019. Please respond via electronic mail (e-mail) to the Contract Specialist, Vanessa Westmoreland at Vanessa.r.westmoreland@nasa.gov and Contracting Officer, Gary Shelley at gary.a.shelley@nasa.gov. Written questions should also be directed to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. In all responses, please reference 80ARC019-RTD-RFI. Verbal questions will not be accepted. This Request for Information is for information and planning purposes only and is not 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. No solicitation exists; therefore do not request a copy of the solicitation, If a solicitation is released it will made on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website (www.fbo.gov). It is the potential Offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html . All information received in response to this RFI that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled and protected accordingly. As applicable, NASA may provide proprietary information to its support service contractors who are under an obligation to keep third-party proprietary information in confidence. By submitting a response to this RFI, the responder is deemed to have consented to release of proprietary information to such NASA support service contractors.