REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MISSION NETWORK TACTICAL NETWORK TRANSPORT (TNT) ON-THE-MOVE (OTM) SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Maryland

11/15/2024 09:25 AM EST

12/02/2024 10:00 AM EST

DEPT OF DEFENSE - DEPT OF THE ARMY - AMC

The Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and resources to support the requirement for Logistics Support, Technical Services, Engineering Support, Repair, Reset/Deep Clean Requirements, Obsolescence Monitoring and Resolution in accordance with FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii).

The estimated period of performance of this acquisition is ten (10) total years, a base period of five (5) years from date of award, April 2025, with five (5) one (1) year options expiring April 2035 for a total of approximately $240M. This contract type is anticipated to be Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF), Cost no fee, and Firm Fixed Price (FFP).

This is a sources sought announcement looking for vendors who are capable and interested in providing Technical Support Services and Program Management Support Services in support of Communication-Electronics Command (CECOM) Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC) Command, Control Communications Tactical (C3T) Directorate with life cycle management support for the Tactical Network Transport (TNT) On-The-Move (OTM) Configuration Items (CIs) and equipment. This Technical Support effort will include Engineering Support for obsolescence management and mitigation, Technical Field Service Representative (FSR) for both Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside Continental United States (OCONUS), Deep Clean/Depot Maintenance for the CIs, Repair of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), Program Management, Training Support and other support services and data products related to life cycle deliverables to ensure the ongoing sustainability of eleven (11) of the twelve (12) CIs under the TNT OTM portfolio.

DISCLAIMER

This is a Request for Information (RFI) for planning and market research purposes only and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government, IAW FAR 5.207(c)(16)(iii), all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.

This is NOT a Request for Quote or Proposal. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or reimburse any costs associated with the preparation of responses to this RFI. This RFI will be used to gather market research and to make decisions regarding the development of acquisition strategies.

Any and all references in this RFI to Government-available technical data refers to Technical Manuals (TM), Repair Parts and Special Tools List (RPSTL), Provisioning Parts List (PPL), and Engineering Data For Provisioning (EDFP). The Government does not own or have access to any additional technical data on the TNT OTM system.

Services Sought

Technical Support Services/Field Service Representative (FSR) and Other Personnel Support

The Contractor may be required to travel to unit locations to restore TNT OTM CIs to Fully Mission Capable and operational status. The Contractor shall restore the CI(s) to a fully operational status for problems caused by use, age, defect, and failed LRUs. The Contractor shall assist the on-site unit personnel in packaging the unserviceable LRUs for shipment and direct the unit to turn the part back to their local Supply Support Activity. The Contractor shall provide qualified and proficient FSR support capable of meeting the requirements described above. FSRs must be willing to deploy to Theater of Operations as needed in support of these requirements. The Contractor will handle any Government Furnished Equipment/Material to include unit spares responsibly to prevent damage. The Contractor shall provide on-site materials and services required for performing technical assistance to restore the system to operational condition when the materials are unavailable from the user site. The contractor shall be responsible to travel to all CONUS and OCONUS locations identified by the customer.

LRU Inspection, Testing and Repair

After a test and inspection (T&I) of the LRU, the Contractor will determine if the LRU is a repair as defined below.  If the estimate of the repair effort will cost 65% of the item’s acquisition cost or greater, the LRU will be considered Beyond Economical Repair (BER) and disposition will be requested from the Government.   Repairs will be considered any damage of the piece part components and/or assembly damage to the whole LRU but not to exceed the BER threshold of 65% of the item’s acquisition cost.  Repair should include mitigating all damaging factors. The contractor shall perform the following actions including but not limited to:

1. Preliminary Induction Inspection.  A joint inspection and induction shall be performed by the Contractor, with Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) - Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) or authorized Government representative as deemed necessary by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).
2. Property identity
3. Damaged or mishandled items.
4. Completeness of items.
5. Completeness and accuracy of accompanying paperwork / Documentation
6. Determine and document if LRUs were received in reusable packaging material and/or containers. 
7. The Contractor shall report these deficiencies and submit a Supply Discrepancy Report (SDR)
8. Visual Inspection for Repair. The Contractor shall conduct a visual inspection to determine if the equipment is defective
9. LRU Functional Test. The Contractor shall functionally test or inspect each LRU.  The Contractor shall take action to eliminate all corrosion and/or foreign matter from the LRUs as part of the repair process.
10. All LRU repairs will be required to be delivered back to the Government within a turnaround time, currently to be determined

Repair Baseline

"Repair" is defined as a series of major overhaul tasks described in FAR 22.1003-6(a)(1) required to restore a part to Condition Code "A". Condition Code "A" is defined to be a part that is serviceable and issuable to all customers without limitations or restrictions. The part must meet all form, fit, interface, and drawing requirements. For function, the repaired part is indistinguishable from a newly manufactured part. For appearance, the part may have minor paint chips or scratches, but not major exterior damage such as dents, paint deterioration/rust, seal degradation, or cracked coverings. For life expectancy, the part has the same, or nearly so, life expectancy of a newly procured item.

Depot Maintenance/Deep Clean

Forecasted Depot Maintenance and Deep Clean workload will be determined prior to contract award and will change each year.  The determined quantity is not guaranteed annually and will fluctuate based on the Army’s requirement.  The Contractor shall provide all labor, travel, tools, equipment, materials and facilities required to perform Depot Maintenance and Deep Clean efforts. 

Depot Maintenance Support

Depot Maintenance Support shall be provided for all LIN/Configuration Items listed below in Appendix B. Depot Maintenance support efforts include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Conduct inventories after receipt of the equipment.  These inventories will need to be reviewed and compared to Unit conducted inventories that are completed prior to the shipping of the assets.
2. The contractor shall perform pre/post checks of equipment, deep cleaning, calibration, troubleshooting, and identify and repair to fully mission-capable status any faulty LRUs, and any other tasks deemed necessary to provide Depot Maintenance. The contractor will be required to have long lead LRUs on hand for replacement of failed LRUs.
3. The contractor shall leverage Depots, Regional Support Centers (RSCs) and Contractor facilities already in existence to facilitate this task. Contractor shall report LRU maintenance and repairs through failure data reporting.
4. The contractor shall alert the Government of any faulty LRUs once identified. The contractor shall report to the Government any LRU problems which could adversely affect software updates but proceed with Depot Maintenance as possible. Contractors shall ensure repaired CIs receive the unit's current baseline software.

Onsite Weapon System Deep Clean

Deep cleaning shall be provided for all LINs/CIs listed below in Appendix B. Deep clean efforts will be conducted at unit locations and will be coordinated by the COR or designated Government representative.  Deep clean efforts include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Conduct joint inventory, to include available spares, with Unit representative on site utilizing the latest associated Configuration Item DA2062 Hand Receipt.
2. Deep cleaning is defined as opening and cleaning the interior of LRU components to remove dust and sand buildup only. LRUs that are currently under warranty shall not be opened to avoid voiding any existing warranty.
3. Interior cleaning of LRUs shall only be performed using compressed air or an electrostatic discharge vacuum. Do not attempt to clean using any other methods, tools, or solvents.
4. Do not clean new LRUs from stock or the supply system.
5. Do not clean non-functional LRUs.
6. A list of missing LRUs will be provided to the Unit representative on site as well as the COR or designated Government representative.
7. If unit spare LRUs are available, the contractor will assist the unit in installing/replacing any failed LRU with that spare.
8. Do not disassemble laptops to clean them. Only clean to the extent possible by opening access points such as CD-ROM doors.
9. Do not open and clean the interior of the NCW modem.
10. Do not clean, treat, or attempt to remove any corrosion, pitting, stains, or any other discoloration from interior components of LRUs. Corrosion, pitting, stains, or any other discoloration on the interior components of LRUs is acceptable if the LRU is functional.
11. All onboard generators shall be included in the deep cleaning efforts.

Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS)/Obsolescence Management

The program shall address how the contractor will identify part obsolescence issues, assess potential risk, develop an obsolescence strategy and determine the most cost-effective solution to part obsolescence issues. The Contractor shall flow down DMSMS/Obsolescence requirements to subcontractors. The Contractor’s DMSMS/Obsolescence Plan shall also include procedures for participation in the Government Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP). Contractor responsibility includes all costs associated with identifying and investigating DMSMS/Obsolescence issues, including the development of candidate mitigation strategies to propose to the government. Should an availability or obsolescence issue arise, the contractor will submit an Obsolescence Alert Notice.

Obsolescence Management - Engineering Change Proposal

For any item identified by the contractor that will become obsolete or end of life (EOL) in the DMSMS report IAW the Government may request the contractor resolve the obsolescence issue. If the Government requires a resolution, the Government will request a formal Engineering Change Proposal (ECP). The contractor shall submit an ECP to solve the obsolescence issue for that item. All Class I Engineering Changes shall require government approval prior to implementation. A Class I Engineering Change is any change to the form, fit or function of information contained in approved configuration documentation for which the government is the current document control authority. A Class II Engineering Change is an engineering change that does not meet the criteria of a Class I Engineering Change. Class II Engineering Changes do not require government approval. The government shall be notified and provided a copy of the change. A copy of each contractor internal Class II ECP should be made available for informational purposes only at no cost to the government. The implementation of a Class II Engineering Change shall not impact contract cost. If implementation of a Class II Engineering Change impacts schedule, the government may seek remedy. Alternate solutions may consist of one or a combination of the following:

1. Alternate components
2. Alternate sources
3. Last time buys by Contractor or supplier
4. Substitutions
5. Redesign
   1. Identification of a replacement
   2. Testing
   3. Engineering services, including initial non-recurring engineering services, assembly, technical data, and drawings
   4. Hardware and software modifications and retrofits
   5. Logistics document changes (Technical Manuals, Provisioning Parts Lists, Maintenance Allocation Charts, Repair Parts & Special Tools Lists, Electronic Data for Provisioning, etc.),
   6. Manufacture of any modification kits
   7. Integration of the solution into the TNT OTM portfolio of systems 

Responses required to the following questions:

1. Provide the following Point of Contact information:

Company:

Cage Code and DUNS Number:

Address:

Point of Contact:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

1. Identify your company's size standard based on the primary North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code of 334290. The Small Business Size Standard for this NAICS code is 800 employees. For more information, refer to:   https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf.

Large Business Concern

Small Business (SB) Concern

8(a) Certified

Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)

Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)

Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)

Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)

1. Has your Company provided any of the above services to the Army or other Government Agencies in the past? If so, provide the Agency Contract Number, Point of Contact (POC), e-mail address, phone number, and dollar value of the Contract.

1. What is your company’s experience with the TNT OTM program? If your company has completed work on any OTM systems in the past, provide a brief synopsis of the CPARS report to indicate past performance.

1. The Government does not own the rights to the technical data for these systems except for the limited technical data described above (TMs, RPSTL, PPL, EDFP).  If your company does not own the technical data rights for these CIs, how will you obtain or create the technical data?  Provide realistic estimate of the timeline for the effort to obtain or create the technical data.
    
2. If your company’s strategy to obtain or create the required technical data includes reverse engineering, explain the strategy to be used to perform the reverse engineering and the effect this process will have on the services provided (time, cost, etc.). What type of teaming arrangements will the company have to successfully complete the reverse engineering? Will there be a gap in service due to the effort to reverse engineer the technical data?  What type of testing will be conducted to ensure the technical data created by the reverse engineering process is accurate and reliable?

1. If your company’s strategy includes purchasing the data rights from the incumbent contractor, explain how the company will purchase the data rights and what effect this transaction will have on the services provided (time, cost, etc.).  Has the incumbent contractor been contacted?  Is the incumbent contractor willing to sell the data rights? How will this affect the cost of executing this task order?  What amount of time will the appropriate staff need to review and familiarize themselves with the data rights, once purchased?

1. The Government does not own the technical data rights for these CIs.  Does your company have any way to legitimately obtain the required technical data rights without performing reverse engineering? If so, please explain in detail how your company would accomplish the task.  What contingencies (resources, partners, cost, etc.) are necessary for this strategy to be successful? Will there be a gap in service due to the effort to obtain the data rights?

1. The Government cannot have a gap in service for the sustainment of these 11 CIs, nor can the Government have two active contracts simultaneously working.  Considering the limited availability of technical data for these systems, describe how your company will be able to meet the required Repair Turn Around Time (RTAT) for each LRU outlined in Appendix A at the time of contract award. If the required RTAT cannot be met upon contract award, describe what your company would need to do in order to meet the required RTAT, including a timeline for these efforts.

1. CIs of the TNT OTM program have been in the field since 2012.  Numerous ECPs have been implemented on secondary items over time, making the particular configuration of each fielded CI potentially unique. Knowledge of the possible secondary item configurations and their downstream effects on interoperability is essential in order to develop new ECPs for TNT OTM.  Provide evidence of the contractor’s knowledge of the ECPs which have been implemented across the TNT OTM baseline since the original TNT OTM baseline established in 2012.
    
2. Describe how your company would address obsolescence issues and determining/qualifying OEM form, fit, functional equivalency during repair services for all LRUs mentioned in Appendix A. Describe your company’s obsolescence management process.  Describe your company’s proactive part monitoring/ availability assessment strategy, including how it engages with sub vendors, to maintain a current, accurate understanding of obsolescence status for all LRUs.  Describe your current obsolescence reporting cycles.

1. Due to the number of secondary items in the TNT OTM program and the inevitability of obsolescence, ECPs to introduce new secondary items will be a routine action under this task order.  Due to the complex interoperation of the CIs within the TNT OTM system, new secondary items within one CI have the potential to affect the operation of other CIs.  The Government does not have or plan to provide a complete suite of TNT OTM CIs as GFE to the Contractor for testing of new secondary items.  Describe how your company will address testing new secondary items resulting from ECPs within all configuration baselines across the TNT OTM system to ensure they are interoperable. If your company does not have access to all CIs of the TNT OTM system at their facility, describe how your company would complete testing of secondary LRUs. CIs which will be supported on this effort are listed in Appendix B of this RFI.

1. How does your company track and document failure data on LRU sub-components / system components? How has your company provided this information to the government in the past?

1. Describe your company’s experience with creating, updating, and managing logistics deliverables, for example, documentation required for provisioning and cataloging parts.

The Government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to: 1) provide services consistent, in scope and scale, with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; 3) implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation; and 4) provide services under a performance based service acquisition contract.

NO PHONE INQUIRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

Your response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted in a Portable Document Format (PDF), no later than 10 A.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 02 December 2024, to the Contracting Officer, Thomas Lynn (thomas.e.lynn23.civ@army.mil), and Contract Specialist, Melody Thomas (melody.s.thomas.civ@army.mil).

All data received in response to this Sources Sought that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.

<OFFICE ADDRESS>

Department of the Army

DEVCOM C5ISR Center

Engineering & Systems Integration Directorate (ESI)

Command, Control, Communications Tactical Division

Mission Network Branch, FCDD-ISE-HDC Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005

The Government is not committed nor obligated to pay for the information provided, and no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought announcement.

Respondents capable of responding to only a portion of the total requirement of capability/components stated herein should respond, stating which portions they are capable of and how those portions would be integrated into the total requirement, as applicable.