USAFA UAS Sources Sought

This announcement serves as a Sources Sought synopsis issued for the purpose of market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. This Sources Sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation nor is this notice a request for proposal. DO NOT submit a quote or proposal in response to this synopsis. For the purpose of this acquisition, the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 611512 and the applicable size standard is $27.5. The proposed contract is anticipated to be a firm-fixed price contract with a base period and four, one-year option periods. It is this agency's intention to do an unrestricted acquisition unless enough qualified small businesses (SB) are located with serious intentions to propose on our requirement allowing for a set-aside. The 10th Contracting Squadron reserves the right to determine if a SB set-aside is appropriate. Additionally, we reserve the right to determine if one of the targeted socio-economic programs (HUB Zone small business, Small Business Administration (SBA) subcontractors referred to as "8(a)" contractors eligible under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 USC 637(a)), or SDVO small business) is appropriate for a set-aside based on responses to this notice and other pertinent information gathered by the contracting officer. In order for the 10th Contracting Squadron to make a SB set-aside determination, it is emphasized that SB concerns provide sufficient written information to indicate their capacity and capability to successfully perform and manage all the required services. The purpose of this notice is to identify companies capable and qualified to provide services to support the USAFA Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) program at the United States Air Force Academy, CO 80840. The contractor will need to provide administrative, logistical, maintenance, IT, flying operations supervision and aircrew records management support (ARMS) together with ground and flight instruction for Small UAS. The USAFA UAS Airmanship program uses the RQ-11 Raven SUAS as the primary platform to achieve its mission and goals. In addition to the Raven, USAFA operates other small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS group 1 and 2) primarily for research and educational purposes. This program supports the purpose and goals of USAFA cadet airmanship education with introduction and operations of a SUAS within the national airspace system and within the construct of DoD-FAA guidance. It is intended to provide a student-focused, highly motivational leadership development program with orientation to a broad spectrum of airborne systems involved in ISR and ground support roles. All responsible, capable, and interested business concerns serious about potentially providing a proposal to provide these services are invited to respond. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is voluntary and the Government does not intend to pay for any information provided under this synopsis. Written responses will not be returned. If you are not interested in supplying this service, no response is necessary. The objectives of this program are as follows: SUAS PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: 1. Graduate cadets with a basic understanding of air combat operations through the integration of the RQ-11 Raven with the air operations center (AOC) "lite" Airpower Battle Lab. The program's educational approach introduces concepts such as crew resource management (CRM); operational risk management (ORM); TTPs; command and control (C2) of airborne assets; application of rules of engagement (ROE); various aspects of kill chain execution; target search, identification and designation; persistent ISR; moving target acquisition and monitoring; planned and ad-hoc mission tasking and execution; and other tactical employment concepts. 2. Indoctrinate cadets into USAF operational culture. Cadets will fill all leadership and instructor roles to the extent possible within the constraints of the USAFA training and academic requirements. However, to ensure success, the contractor fills an essential training and mentoring responsibility. The contractor must be familiar with and able to instruct cadets on current airpower TTPs, weapons and threats. At all times the contractor will present a high level of professionalism and competence with respect to current USAF and joint operational norms. Operational rated experience is desired. 3. The Air Operations Center (AOC) provides administrative and flight following support for all USAFA UAS operations. This includes providing daily flight briefings; creation/maintenance of training and flight evaluation folders; RQ-11 maintenance, storage and issuance of equipment and inventories; airspace scheduling and de-confliction; frequency scheduling and de-confliction; real-time "Ops Sup" command and control support to include single-point-of-contact support between UAS flight crews and the 306th FTG (e.g., SOF, Weather, OSS NOTAMS shop, etc.). The AOC will need to be manned IAW USAFA UAS Operating Instructions, Volumes 1, 2, and 3. 4. The contractor will need to provide flying and administrative support on an as required basis recognizing the vagaries of weather, scheduling, the USAFA cadet schedule, and other competing demands which will require a flexible schedule. Interested businesses shall provide the following information: A. Company name, mailing address, cage code, DUNS number, point of contact (POC), POC telephone number and e- mail address. B. Business size status (i.e. 8(a), HUBZone, Woman/Women Owned or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, small business, large business, etc.). C. Answers to the following questions: 1. Can you provide brief synopsis documenting previous operational training experience? 2. Does your company have at least 3000 mishap-free flying hours with the RQ-11 or a similar aircraft type? 3. Do you have experience operating multiple aircraft simultaneously? Explain. 4. Does your company have a formal certification process for crew members to ensure they are qualified to operate the aircraft to meet all of the USAFA requirements? Can you provide documentation to demonstrate certification? 5. Can you provide formal training and all necessary documents regarding the proposed aircraft to the USAFA faculty and staff prior to the start of performance? Will you also be able to provide intermittent training for new staff members? 6. The goal of the USAFA program is to provide strategic level training to our cadets. Are you capable of delivering this type of training? 7. How much of the work will be performed by your company? What portions will be subcontracted? 8. Since this program will directly involve USAFA cadets, timeliness and professionalism are essential. Can you provide a brief synopsis which verifies experience in a professional, military environment? Attached to this Sources Sought is a DRAFT Work Statement. This work statement is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation or a commitment to issue a solicitation in the future. Responses to this notice are not considered offers, shall not be used as a propsal, and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Comments and/or suggestions are encouraged and can be included with your response to this sources sought notice. If your firm is capable and qualified to provide the services required respond in writing to the point of contact indicated within this announcement. Responses are due no later than 4:00 PM (MST) on 3 April 2015 by e-mail. Questions should be addressed to the Contracting Officer, Mara Strobel, 719 333-4899 or sent by e-mail to mara.strobel@us.af.mil. This is only a Source Sought notice and IS NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP). No solicitation is being issued at this time, and this notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. Contractors must have a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov by time of award.