Sources Sought Synopsis - Global Hawk

This Sources Sought Synopsis is published for market research purposes only. If the Government decides to award a contract for this or related effort, a solicitation will be published and posted on fbo.gov. There is no solicitation available at this time. This Sources Sought Synopsis does not constitute a Request for Quotation, Request for Proposal or an Invitation for Bid, nor does this issuance restrict the Government's acquisition approach. Requests for solicitation will receive no response. The Government will neither award a contract solely on the basis of this Sources Sought Synopsis nor will it reimburse the contractor for any costs associated with preparing or submitting a response to this notice. The Air Force has not yet determined the acquisition strategy for this requirement, including whether a small business set-aside strategy is applicable. The Global Hawk Program Office Contracting Division anticipates awarding multiple contracts for the modernization and sustainment of the Global Hawk system through fiscal year 2025. Contract efforts are subject to FAR 52.232-18, Availability of Funds. The Air Force anticipates future acquisitions will utilize procedures outlined in FAR Part 12-Acquisition of Commercial Items (as applicable) and FAR Part 15-Contracting by Negotiation. The contractor will be required to provide all necessary supplies, services and personnel to complete Global Hawk mission and support tasks. The Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial System is a high altitude, long endurance unmanned air vehicle with integrated sensor systems and ground segment that provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to joint warfighters. Northrop Grumman, Rancho Bernardo, CA is currently the prime contractor for the development, manufacture, modernization and sustainment of the Global Hawk system. The Global Hawk system consists of the air vehicle, ground segment, communications segment, payloads, and support segment. As the Global Hawk system nears the end of its production and deployment phase, the Global Hawk Program Office anticipates follow-on modernization and sustainment efforts. Modernization activities could include, but are not limited to, development for future modifications and/or upgrades to the Global Hawk air vehicle, ground segment, communications segment, payloads, and support systems. Modernization may also include associated systems engineering, platform integration, program management, test infrastructure, test and evaluation activities, production, product support, retrofit, depot activation planning and/or partnering, sustainment (organizational and depot level), inventory control point, and studies and analyses efforts. Additionally, the potential exists for a requirement to produce Global Hawk systems assuming the necessary direction/authorization is provided. Information is being collected from all potential sources at this time. Contractors interested in this effort must complete the attached Capabilities Matrix and submit a brief and concise six (6) page Capabilities Document (not including .xlsx Capabilities Matrix) which clearly explains how they intend to meet the Global Hawk requirements. The capabilities document shall detail: (1) Scope of the experience; (2) Teaming and/or subcontracting arrangements, which should be clearly delineated, indicating previous experience in teaming, particularly with proposed teammates, and (3) Whether it was in support of a Government or commercial contract. Interested contractors will clearly explain how they intend to meet the stated requirements via teaming/subcontracting while maximizing opportunities for small business participation in accordance with FAR Part 19. Respondents shall indicate whether they are interested in either prime or subcontracting opportunities. Additionally, firms responding to this announcement as the "prime contractor" should indicate whether they are large or small business, other than small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business, 8(a)-certified small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, veteran-owned small business, or historically underutilized business zone small business in relation to National American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 336411, size standard 1500 employees. If the contractor can perform a self-contained major component subsystem such as a payload without deficiencies in any other interdependent capabilities area (such as necessary data to accomplish the specific portion of work), please submit a capabilities package for that portion of work. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded any DoD contract. Prospective contractors are cautioned to ensure that the proper NAICS code appears in SAM. Respondents shall include their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, if possible. The capabilities of the contractor team must recognize that the acquisition strategy for the Global Hawk program's air vehicle, as well as the ground segment, did not include procuring drawings (detailed design data) or re-procurement (production) data. Northrop Grumman has been the sole designer, manufacturer and integrator of the Global Hawk system since the program's inception. Data the Air Force has procured as of this date are technical orders and operating manuals. The Government does not own the data rights to the systems, nor will the depot maintenance technical order library be complete during the current contracts' period of performance. Consequently, the contractor must possess a complete technical knowledge and understanding of the Global Hawk system. If the contractor cannot provide the required support without technical documentation, the contractor shall identify a rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost and time to produce Level III technical data packages in accordance with MIL-DTL-31000A or equivalent. For the purposes of the ROM, respondents should advise of any proprietary markings. The ROM shall not exceed 10 pages. Please submit one (1) electronic copy of the Capabilities Package (includes Capabilities Document and, if applicable, ROM) in MS Word format, Times New Roman 12 point font, AND (1) electronic copy of completed Capabilities Matrix in MS Excel (.xlsx) format to Scott Hudnell, Contracting Officer, at Scott.Hudnell@us.af.mil. Documents should be submitted no later than 12 June 2018.