Space Enterprise Consortium Other Transaction Request for Information

The Space and Missile Systems Center, Advanced Systems and Development Directorate (SMC/AD), Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA, Program Office is releasing this request for information notice to inform interested parties of the U.S. Government's (USG) interest in establishing a consortium-managed "Other Transaction Agreement" (OTA) for prototyping space related requirements, per 10 USC 2371b. In addition, the USG is seeking input, comments and questions from industry and interested parties concerning the acquisition approach and a forthcoming solicitation. SMC/AD is exploring options regarding competitive award of an OTA to an eligible new or existing not-for-profit consortium of large and small organizations representing traditional and non-traditional Defense contractors, as well as academic institutions. The mission of the consortium must include performing research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) within prototyping projects that address Air Force, SMC/AD and DoD requirements for space systems. As a practical matter, bidding consortia must be represented by consortium managers with the means and authority to speak for the members, organize their activities, and make binding agreements on their behalf. Manager activities may also include recruiting and vetting consortium members, managing interaction between USG and consortium members, facilitating intra-consortium teaming arrangements, and helping USG prepare prototype solicitations. After establishing an "umbrella" OTA with a consortium, the USG would consider making solicitations and awarding funds to consortium members across an indefinite number of space prototyping projects. The USG is also exploring compensation models to incentivize consortium manager performance. OTA Objectives: The Space Enterprise Consortium OTA is part of the Secretary of the Air Force's Bending the Cost Curve (BTCC) Initiative. BTCC generally, and SMC in particular, aims to take advantage of the inherent flexibility afforded by "Other Transactions Agreements" to achieve the following general objectives. Procurement Objectives - Expose USAF requirements to, and lower barriers for, the broad community of traditional and non-traditional technology providers - Accelerate solicitation to award timeline - Employ objective, test-based prototypes as a basis of Analysis of Alternatives (AoAs), source selection, and performance monitoring - Develop Intellectual Property Regimes (IPR) and Data Rights that incentivize mutually beneficial government-industry partnership - Transition successfully tested prototype applications as vendor-supported off-the-shelf products Management and Engineering Objectives - Apply continuous feedback process for prototype customers - Minimize risk of technology perishability by executing rapid, iterative, evolutionary, demonstration-to-delivery cycles - Continuously evolve an appropriately "open" technical architecture that optimizes government investment in both leveraging best available existing commercial technology, and developing new technology in partnership with industry The scope of Space Enterprise Consortium prototyping projects includes any topic generally consistent with the RDT&E of space vehicles, payloads, launch capabilities, and associated ground segments. In addition, that scope may include projects having multiple classification levels, up to Special Access Programs (SAP). USG is considering applying the following authorities regarding options for award, which are enumerated in 10 USC 2371b: - $100M accumulative funding ceiling may be apportioned across a specified period of performance. - Contractors receiving awards under the Space Enterprise Consortium will contribute one third cost share unless one of the following applies o Awardee is a "small business," "non-traditional Defense contractor," or a team consisting entirely of small businesses and non-traditional Defense contractors, as defined in statute. o Team receiving the award, which may include "traditional Defense contractors" includes at least one non-traditional Defense contractor who will contribute significantly to project objectives. o USG may choose to make direct award for production, without further competition, following prototype projects that successfully achieve defined exit criteria. The Government anticipates responses to this announcement from interested parties, eligible entities or groups of entities, to include: industry, non-profit, and not-for-profit organizations for research and development. The Government is especially interested in feedback from organizations that would be interested in being a consortium manager. An interested parties list will be created, to include entities and groups of entities that would be interested in managing the consortium as well as individual entities that are interested in joining the resulting consortium. All respondents to this request for information will be added to the interested parties list, unless the response requests otherwise. Responses should be emailed to the primary and secondary Points of Contact listed below. At a minimum, provide the following: 1. Name of company, name of corporate point of contact (POC), name of technical POC, telephone number for each POC, mailing address, e-mail addresses for each POC, CAGE Code, and any other pertinent information. 2. Feedback about the draft USG objectives and scope of the Space Enterprise Consortium OT. 3. Please indicate if respondent is interested in holding one on one discussions with the USG. 4. On 26 Oct at 10:00 am (PST), SMC/AD will hold a technical outreach session. Please RSVP with POC above to arrange participation. In addition, the USG would be interested in the following information, to be provided as an attachment: (a) Narrative describing how the OTA objectives would be addressed and fulfilled. Specifically address any challenges classified prototypes may create and any mitigation plans industry would propose. (b) Corporate competencies and past performance with respect to USG objectives. Explain experience with regard to consortium management in context with government and/or commercial applications. (c) Describe experience gained by working on projects across the services and the other defense agencies, as well as affiliations, associations, and specific involvement in and with the federal and non-federal research and development, testing and engineering community, sufficient to demonstrate a well-established presence in that community. (d) Describe any experience gained by working on projects outside the Federal government, and how that experience may help achieve USG objectives. (e) Describe experience in Space technologies (including any experience with Sensor, Satellite Bus, Launch, Ground C2 systems, TT&C, SSA, Space Control and other Space related technologies ) from current and historical sources across Government, industry, and academia, experience contributing to the Space domain, and experience promoting efficient and effective Space-related information sharing and collaboration. (f) Describe recommendations on how real or perceived Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) issues can be addressed or mitigated. (g) Describe recommended business arrangements between the USG and consortium manager, specifically related to innovative fee structures to incentivize consortium manager performance. (h) Describe experience handling and managing protected information (i.e. classified, HIPPA, intellectual property) Please submit all pages as a single (.doc or .pdf) file. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. This notice solicits information for planning purposes only, shall not be construed as an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or a commitment by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government does not intend to award a contract or any other type of agreement on the basis of this announcement. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. The U.S. Government is not obligated to notify respondents of the results of this announcement. The U.S. Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any private sector input, as a result of this announcement. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a separate solicitation notice will be published. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. No sensitive or classified information will be discussed. Foreign-owned, controlled, or influenced firms are advised that security restrictions may apply that may preclude their participation in these efforts. The FedBizOpps offers a registration service that will send an e-mail notification when a change is made to this announcement. To register, click on the "Add To Watchlist" button at the top of this announcement in FedBizOpps. This service is provided for convenience only and does not serve as a guarantee of notification. References "OTHER TRANSACTIONS" (OT) GUIDE FOR PROTOTYPE PROJECTS, 2002, UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION, TECHNOLOGY AND LOGISTICS, http://www.acqnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Other-Transactional-Authority-Guide-August-2002.pdf United States Air Force Office of Transformational Innovation, http://www.transform.af.mil/Home.aspx