USMC Ground Training Systems Support West (GTSS-W) - 8(a) Market Research

United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Ground Training Systems Support (GTSS)-West

SUBJECT: Sources Sought: Ground Training Systems Support-West (GTSS-W)
AGENCY: Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD)
ANTICIPATED NAICS CODE: 541330 Engineering Services (Exception 1: Military & Aerospace Eq.)
SMALL BUSINESS SIZE STANDARD: $47M
ANTICIPATED PSC: J069 - Maintenance/Repair/Rebuild of Equipment-Training Aids and Devices

CURRENT CONTRACT NUMBER: N6134024C0003
 

Purpose: 

This is a Sources Sought Notice issued for market research and planning purposes ONLY. This notice does NOT constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. The Government is seeking information to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified 8(a) vendors to fulfill the requirements described herein. The Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this Sources Sought Notice. All costs associated with responding to this notice will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued.  It is the responsibility of any potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. Please note: This requirement is currently performed within the SBA 8(a) program and the Government intends to maintain this strategy in accordance with 13 CFR § 124.515. Non-8(a) firms are ineligible for award and are advised not to submit capability statements, as they cannot be considered for this acquisition.

Requirement Description: 

The Naval Air Warfare Center-Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) has a follow-on requirement for the Ground Training Systems Support West (GTSS-W) program. The proposed contract will provide comprehensive training systems support comprising systems operations, exercise support, equipment maintenance, inventory management, and supply support at the following Marine Corps sites:

• Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twenty-nine Palms (29P), CA
• Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), Miramar, CA
• MCAS, Yuma, AZ and Bob Stump Training Range Complex
• Marine Corps Base (MCB), Camp Pendleton, CA (CPCA)
• Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB), Barstow, CA
• Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC), Bridgeport, CA

The scope of the GTSS-W requirement includes, but is not limited to, GTSS training systems, training equipment, support equipment and test equipment maintenance; ballistic concrete maintenance; grounds maintenance; berm maintenance; limited vegetation management; repair by replacement; range training device modifications at Government direction; training system relocation; supply support; tools and spare parts custody; and hazardous waste management. The services are used to provide training exercise support, operator support, and deployment preparation for Marine Corps and other military/civilian training events.

Performance Standards and Quality Assurance Metrics

To ensure high-level operational readiness, technical security, and overall sustainment of critical training systems, the Government intends to evaluate potential sources based on their capability to meet the following performance standards.  Respondents should demonstrate their capability and experience for continuous readiness under the following structured metrics:

• Systems Operations & Maintenance: Provide routine and corrective maintenance for Live Fire Ranges, Ballistic Concrete Ranges, Infantry Immersion Trainers (IIT), Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) Ranges, and various specialized target systems.

• The Contractor must maintain 90% Operational Availability (Ao) or greater for all continuous operational support systems.

• The Contractor must resolve equipment failures within the following Level of Repair Analysis:

• Organizational-Level (O-Level) Repairs: Completed within 24 hours.
• Intermediate-Level (I-Level) Repairs: Completed within 10 days.
• Depot-Level (D-Level) Repairs: Completed within 30 days.

• The Contractor must complete 100% of scheduled preventative maintenance tasks, corrosion control, and visual system alignments.

• Logistics & Supply Support: Operation of warehouse facilities, supply management, inventory control (including Item Unique Identification [IUID] compliance).
• Specialized Maintenance & Handling: Proper maintenance of ballistic concrete (including inspections and pre-assembled patching), maintenance of earthen berms, and compliant handling, storage, and transportation of Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) and natural gases (CO2, O2, propane).

• Security & Clearances: Performance requires contractor personnel to obtain and maintain base access (e.g., DBIDS) and comply with local unclassified security/OPSEC directives. Personnel requiring access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must possess a completed background investigation (minimum of a Tier 1/NACI) for a Public Trust Position.

Response Submission Instructions: 

Firms that believe they can demonstrate the capabilities required to be considered for this opportunity must submit an electronic response to the Contract Specialist, Nicole Fosmoe at contact@example.gov, no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 07/29/2026. Please include a reference to “[Your Company’s Name] Response to GTSS-W Sources Sought Notice” within the subject line of the e-mail. A courtesy copy shall be provided to Colin Kelly, the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO), at contact@example.gov. Responses should include the following two sections:

Part I: Corporate Overview

1. Company Name, CAGE Code, UEI, Company Address, and Points-of-Contact (POC) including full name, phone number, and email address.
2. Company Business Size and status under the referenced NAICS code (541330) Exception 1.
3. Company’s anticipated SBA 8(a) program graduation date.

Part II: Capabilities Statement

Please consider the following elements in your response:

1. Provide a list of any similar Government contracts you are currently performing or which you have performed, including the contract number, the contracting agency, a brief description of the effort, and the contract period of performance.
2. Operational Availability (Ao): The GTSS-W Performance Work Statement (PWS) requires maintaining a 90% or greater Ao across multiple complex training systems. Briefly describe your experience and capabilities in tracking Operational Availability or other similar performance metrics.
3. Management of preventive vs. corrective maintenance and rapid resolution of equipment failures to prevent training degradation.
4. Ballistic Concrete Maintenance: The requirement mandates strict compliance with ballistic concrete patching, specifically using pre-assembled patch kits (e.g., Amidon kits or equivalent) and ensuring cavity depths do not exceed 6-8 inches. Detail your experience in maintaining live-fire shoot houses, including lead/silica dust safety compliance. Note: For the purpose of GTSS-W, replacement concrete block is furnished by the Government. Patch kits are the responsibility of the contractor.
5. Phase-In / Transition: The PWS requires 100% readiness by the Contract Support Date (CSD), including joint baseline inspections of the Material Support Package (MSP). Briefly outline your typical Phase-In methodology for similar efforts.
6. Capital Equipment: Please provide a summary of the types of equipment your company currently has available and/or which it has experience in acquiring for use on other programs. For reference, the GTSS contractor will be required to provide equipment including, but not limited to, light and heavy-duty transportation vehicles, landscaping and maintenance equipment, standard tool sets, power and hand tools, cleaning supplies, cleaning equipment and painting equipment for the performance of the GTSS-W program.
7. Geographical & Environmental Risk: Sites like 29 Palms and Yuma involve extreme weather, remote off-road travel, and specific vehicle requirements (e.g., 4WD with constant radio comms). Describe your Risk Management approach to geographical separation, adverse weather preparations, and ensuring proper vehicle/PPE fielding for your workforce.
8. Simultaneous Operations: Briefly speak to your experience in managing a workforce located across geographically separated ranges (e.g., Yuma, AZ and Bridgeport, CA)?
9. HAZMAT & Ordnance Handling: The contractor will handle HAZMAT, natural gas (CO2, O2, propane), and transport explosives/ammunition (requiring 49 CFR compliance). Describe your corporate experience maintaining licenses, managing satellite accumulation areas, and training personnel for these hazards.
10. Supply Chain & Obsolescence: How does your firm proactively manage equipment obsolescence, warranty tracking (via PDREP/PQDR), and the procurement of suitable Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) consumable replacement parts?
11. If interested in the prime contractor role and plan on subcontracting to other companies in order to deliver technical capability, please provide details on exactly which tasks will be assigned to those subcontractors; in addition, provide the names of those anticipated subcontractors.

LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING:  If you are a small business interested in being the prime contractor for this effort, please be advised that the RFO clause 52.219-14, “Limitations on Subcontracting,” includes the definition of “Similarly Situated Entity” and provides a methodology for the 50% calculation for compliance with the clause.  Small business primes may count “first-tier subcontracted” work performed by Similarly Situated Entities as if it were performed by the prime itself.  To assist in our market research and determination for this effort, if you are a small business interested in priming this effort and plan to utilize “Similarly Situated Entities” to meet the Limitations on Subcontracting requirements, please identify the name, CAGE Code (and UEI, if known) of the specific company(s) you intend to partner/subcontract with to meet the requirements as well as their small business size status under the NAICS Code that you as the prime would assign for their workshare. Information regarding any planned “Similarly Situated Entity” should be included in answering any questions outlined in the Sources Sought Notice to assist the Government’s capability determination.

For information or questions regarding this Sources Sought Notice, contact the cognizant Contract Specialist, Nicole Fosmoe at contact@example.gov  or the PCO, Colin Kelly at contact@example.gov.

Classified material SHALL NOT be submitted.