The Global Positioning System (GPS) Wing (GPSW) Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Request For Information

NAICS Code: 334220- Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing. (Small Business size standard is 750 employees) The Global Positioning System (GPS) Wing (GPSW) Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) program at the Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB) Space and Missile System Center (SMC) invites industry to provide feedback on the MGUE Acquisition. Specifically, the GPSW is contemplating and is currently drafting an approach for technical samples to be provided as part of each offeror's proposal for MGUE. Industry, to include small business, is encouraged to provide the GPSW feedback on the Government's intent to request technical samples for the MGUE Technology Development Phase. Early consideration is that the GPSW will request the following: A) A GB-GRAM-M receiver card capable of meeting MGUE TRD threshold requirements for position, velocity, and time determination using C/A-code, P(Y)-code, pseudo-M code, and M-code. Additional evaluation of receiver card performance will be used to determine the technical risk of meeting MGUE technical requirements, and maturity in implementing GPSW system specifications and interface specifications (such as ICD-GPS-700, IS-GPS-703, IS-GPS-722, IS-GPS-223, IS-GPS-224, and IS-GPS-250). Objective criteria under consideration includes Type II GB-GRAM capability, BFEA mitigation filtering, and partial or full external augmentation system (IS-GPS-250) implementation. B) A GRAM-S/M aviation receiver card, either SAASM or M-Code capable, which demonstrates the offeror's ability to develop and produce aviation receiver cards suitable for MSO certification. QUESTIONS: 1. How much time will be needed to develop and deliver technical samples after release of the RFP? 2. What are your recommendations for threshold test criteria? 3. What are your recommendations for objective test criteria? 4. How much funds would your company have to invest in a technical sample to meet the aforementioned requirements? Furthermore, the Government is also considering a Fixed Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) contract for the Technical Development through the Engineering and Manufacturing Development Phase of MGUE for the GB-GRAM, CGM, GRAM-S/M and GRAM-PMC. The GPSW is considering an incentive plan for the FPIF portion of the contract with an emphasis on cost, schedule, and technical/management. QUESTIONS: 1. Does your company have experience with FPIF development for similar programs? What lessons learned do you recommend the GPSW consider in using an FPIF type? 2. What types of incentive structures would motivate your company to complete the contract under target cost, to deliver on or before schedule, and to provide exemplary technical/management performance, given a competitive development environment? 3. What are the benefits of performing under a FPIF pricing arrangement for development compared to other pricing arrangements? 4. What are the challenges of performing under a FPIF pricing arrangement for development compared to other pricing arrangements? 5. What would your company suggest as a target profit rate under a FPIF pricing arrangement? 6. What would your company suggest as a share ratio under a FPIF pricing arrangement? Finally, the GPSW in interested in understanding what potential risks are associated with the MGUE effort from a contractor's point of view. For instance, what are the biggest risks a contractor would be faced with if awarded this effort? Risks can pertain to but need not be limited to program strategy, contract strategy, technical requirements, etc. Please provide at least your top five risks in sequential order from highest to lowest. All responsible sources (including Small and Small, Disadvantaged businesses) are invited to submit responses to the above questions in Microsoft Word Format via email to Capt Joseph Carrier at joseph.carrier@losangeles.af.mil NLT 13 Oct 2010. OMBUDSMAN: An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from potential offerors. The purpose of the Ombudsman is to receive and communicate concerns from potential offerors when an offeror prefers not to use established channels to communicate his/her concern during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The Ombudsman will communicate certain offeror issues, disagreements, and recommendations on this acquisition into the proper channels. The Ombudsman's role is not to diminish the authority of the program director or the contracting officer but to advocate an offerors concern on a non-attribution basis. The Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern when requested by the offeror. The Ombudsman will not participate in the evaluation of proposals or the source selection process for this acquisition. The Ombudsman is Mr. Jim Gill, SMC/PK, Phone: (310) 653-1789, Email: James.Gill@losangeles.af.mil. DECLARATION: This publication is for information only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Government sponsorship of contractor charges against any existing Government contract for attendance or proposal efforts, nor a Government promise to pay for any information received in response to this announcement.