USSOCOM SDN-Lite_112022

The notice is for informational purposes only IAW FAR 5.203(a). This is not a formal Request for Quote (RFQ) or proposal (RFP). Responses in any form are not offers and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has the need to incorporate (via contract modification) two additional ordering periods of our current Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, H92401-18-D-0005, for Satellite Deployable Nodes Lite (SDN-L) with Tampa Microwave LLC., 16255 Bay Vista Dr. Suite 100, Clearwater FL 33760. As previously announced in the Request for Information (RFI), (SDNLITERFI_092022) posted on 26 September 2022, the above contract is currently set to expire on 31 July 2023, and due to significant production delays resulting from the COVID-19 global pandemic and shifts in the SDN budget, SOCOM has not procured the quantities of terminals originally intended to replace the SDN-L legacy terminals and meet the pure fleet fielding requirement. Moreover, nationwide supply chain, transportation, and labor shortage issues have worsened this situation, as the aftereffects of COVID-19 are ongoing. Given these delays and the current budget, it would not be feasible to conduct a full Capital Equipment Replacement Program (CERP) of the SDN-L terminals by 31 July 2023. The modification will be executed under the authority of FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii), only one source is capable of satisfying the agency's requirements. This determination is based on the fact that Tampa Microwave is the sole manufacturer of this SDN-Lite modular terminal and all associated ancillaries. As such, the SDN-L system hardware, software, and associated technical data necessary for production and to provide the related training and sustainment services are proprietary to Tampa Microwave. Therefore, a follow-on contract from another source would require the wholesale duplication of a solution other than the Tampa Microwave terminal, which would require unnecessary extensive and expensive new production and integration efforts, including developmental and operational testing. The Government believes that acquiring a new SDN-L terminal variant at this time would cause substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and would result in further unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements. The Tampa Microwave SDN-L terminal was competitively selected as the SOF SDN-L terminal variant to replace USSOCOM's legacy Lite terminals in late 2018. Given the recent fielding of these terminals, USSOCOM currently has no plans to purchase an alternate capability at this time. Therefore, capability statements must demonstrate the ability to provide an alternate capability that not only meets all the key capabilities of the SDN-L terminals, is both ARSTRAT and WGS certified, but also offers increased capabilities that outweigh the substantial duplication of cost to the Government and significant delays in fulfilling USSOCOM's mission requirements that would be associated with introducing this new capability at this time. Based upon the responses received in response to the initial RFI, our internal knowledge of current capabilities available within Industry, as well as, future offerings, the Government determined that it is not in the Government's best interest to execute a new source selection for the SDN-L terminal at this time. That said, IAW FAR 5.207(c)(16)(ii), all responsible sources may submit additional capability statements that will be considered by the agency. Any party responding to this notice shall send clear, factual documentation demonstrating their ability to execute this requirement, given the information provided herein. All replies must be provided to the Government no later than Thursday, 10 November 2022, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. All inquiries and responses concerning this action shall be sent in writing via email to both Berenice Valenzuela, berenice.valenzuela@socom.mil and LTC Trevor Money trevor.money@socom.mil. Senders are responsible for ensuring the complete transmission and timely receipt. All inquiries to this notice shall be sent via e-mail to berenice.valenzuela@socom.mil and trevor.money@socom.mil