Support Requirements for Rapid Reaction Response Capability and Irregular Warfare

INTRODUCTION The Naval Air Systems Command, Aircraft Support Contracts Department (AIR 2.5.1.3), Patuxent River, MD is seeking information for potential sources of expertise in the performance of rapid prototyping, rapid integration, installation and rapid acquisition of weapons systems, subsystems, support and spares, support of systems configurations, flight clearances, and operational validations. This is a sources sought announcement being utilized as a market research tool to determine the availability and technical capability of small businesses (including the following subsets: Women-Owned; HUBZone Firms; Certified 8(a); Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned) in providing the specific support required by this contract in specialized, classified mission areas involving irregular warfare. Additionally, this Sources Sought notice is being published with the intent to promote competition. Suggestions from industry regarding how competition may best be achieved are requested. All such suggestions will be considered; however, the Government reserves the right to solicit for the required services in a manner of its own choosing in accordance with the applicable procurement regulations. ELIGIBILITY The appropriate PSC for this requirement is AC65. The NAICS is 541330 with a size standard of standard of $27 million. All interested businesses are encouraged to respond. The results of this Sources Sought will be utilized to determine if any Small Business Set-aside opportunities exist after a technical review of capability statements is completed. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE The anticipated place of performance is NAS Patuxent River, MD with approximately 10% of the support requirements done on-site (government) and 90% off-site (contractor). DISCLAIMER THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. PROGRAM BACKGROUND Various Government agencies including Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Intelligence Community and state & local law enforcement entities have tasked the Naval Air Warfare Center/Aircraft Division (NAWC/AD) to develop and support CONUS and OCONUS rapid reaction to specific mission gaps related to global war on terrorism. This on-going requirement has created a need within NAWC/AD for expertise in development, engineering, analysis, integration and deployment of air systems and other technologies, such as specialized roll-on/roll-off mission kits. NAWC/AD has an immediate requirement for contractor support for these rapid reaction, time-critical missions. Services associated with this requirement are currently being procured under contract N00421-10-D-0001 with Research and Engineering Development, LLC. The current contract type is Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee. REQUIRED CAPABILITIES This requirement is for support requirements for Rapid Reaction Response Capability and Irregular Warfare for AIR-4.5. This support will require an extremely fast turn-around to meet Special Operations schedule and objectives. This effort includes a broad spectrum of support including: specified functions to support the new requirements of various projects and lab efforts including performance of the systems analysis, functional allocations, synthesis, and evaluation efforts necessary to transform an operational need into an effective, affordable and operable system; test and evaluation; demonstrations; research and analyses; design reviews; trade studies; mockup assessments; advisory panels and working groups; laboratory support; field test support; various organizational support; advanced technology searches and investigations; and assistance in the development of new laboratory and field facility test procedures and then sustain operations for this new tasking. The draft statement of work (SOW) attached delineates the requirements of this effort. It is requested that in its response to the Sources Sought a vendor provide a statement of capabilities addressing the interested party's knowledge, experience, understanding, and management approach associated with the tasking indentified in the SOW. Parties should also address the approach to assignment of personal resources and contractor performance in accordance with FAR 52.219-14. In order to determine the availability and technical capabilities of a small business, the Government will assess the contractor's demonstrated availability and approach to perform the tasks outlined in the SOW. The following is a list of the general types of tasks anticipated under this procurement (as detailed in the SOW) and the associated percentage of each effort: 1. Innovation (5%) 2. Concept Demonstration (5%) 3. Rapid Prototyping (15%) 4. Rapid Integration (20%) 5. Rapid Acquisition (10%) 6. Incremental Performance Verification and Validation (V&V) (5%) 7. Test and Evaluation (5%) 8. Laboratory/Facilities Support (5%) 9. Training 10. Rapid Deployment (20%) 11. Logistics/Configuration Management (5%) 12. Data Handling (5%) SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Tasking under this effort shall be conducted at security classifications up to and including TOP SECRET SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS_SCI). Contractor personnel assigned to support classified tasking shall maintain appropriate security clearance prior to assuming duties. Any resulting contract is anticipated to have cost-plus-fixed-fee line items and a potential five-year period of performance with an approximate level of effort of 408,500 hours total. These services shall be performed at or near the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland. The period of performance is anticipated to commence approximately 1 November 2012. SUBMISSION DETAILS It is requested that interested small businesses submit a brief capabilities statement package of no more than ten 8.5" x 11" pages (font no smaller than 10 point) demonstrating ability to perform the services listed above. This documentation must address, at a minimum, the following: (1) prior/current corporate experience performing efforts of similar size and scope within the last three years, including contract number, organization supported, indication of whether a prime or subcontractor, contract value, Government point of contact with current telephone number, and a brief description of how the contract referenced relates to the technical services described herein; (2) company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history, office location(s), DUNS number, and a statement regarding current small business status; (3) resources available such as corporate management and currently employed personnel to be assigned to tasks under this effort to include professional qualifications and specific experience of such personnel; (4) management approach to staffing this effort with qualified personnel which should address current hires available for assignment to this effort, possible subcontract/teaming arrangements, and strategy for recruiting and retaining qualified personnel; and (5) a statement regarding capability to obtain the required industrial security clearances for personnel. NOTE: If you are a small business, provide an explanation of your ability to perform at least 50% of the overall effort in the attached SOW. Under a Small Business Set-aside, the small business prime must perform at least 50% of the work themselves in terms of cost of performance. (FAR 52.219-14) Cost of performance includes direct labor costs, overhead that has only direct labor as its base, and the small business' General & Administrative rate multiplied by the labor cost. The capability statement package shall be sent electronically to Lydia Munley, Contract Specialist, at contact@example.gov. Responses shall be received no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 4 October 2011. Classified material SHALL NOT be submitted. Please submit all questions to the Contract Specialist via email. No phone or email solicitations regarding the status of the request for proposal will be accepted prior to its release.