1.0 Contracting Office:
Headquarters, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Special Operation Forces Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L), Directorate of Contracting (SOF AT&L-K), 7701 Tampa Point Boulevard, MacDill AFB, Florida.
2.0 Introduction:
USSOCOM is issuing this Request for Information as part of a market survey. This RFI is for information purposes only and issued in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, Market Research. This RFI does not constitute an invitation for bids (IFB), a request for proposal (RFP), a solicitation, a request for quote (RFQ) or an indication the Government will contract for the items provided by any responder(s). RFI’s are a market research tool used to determine potential and eligible businesses capable of providing the services described herein, determine the extent of available commercial products and/or services available, as well as determining other aspects of competition and defining the Government’s requirement. There are no funds available to pay for the preparation of responses to this notice. The Government will not reimburse responder(s) for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of the information requested. Response to this RFI is strictly voluntary and will not affect any potential offeror's ability to submit an offer if a solicitation is released. The Government will disregard any requests for a solicitation package. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this RFI or otherwise pay for the information requested. The Government will not return submissions to the responders. The Government may request responders provide additional information/details based on their initial submissions.
Any resulting contract will require, at a minimum, Secret level security clearances for all contractor personnel and facility access at the time of contract award. There is a potential requirement for a higher level of clearance access for certain locations.
Potential Places of Performance:
3.0 Description:
USSOCOM operates the RQ-29 unmanned aerial system (UAS), a USSOCOM unique configuration UAS, to support Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) for USSOCOM operations. RQ-29 aircraft are equipped with Electro-Optical/Infrared, ISR sensors, signals intelligence payloads, and VORTEX video and data transceivers, and are deployed at remote locations Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS). This requirement is for the procurement of aircrews and contractor logistics services on the RQ-29 system. A fully operational system consists of the RQ-29 air vehicle, USSOCOM unique payloads and mission systems, Ground Support Equipment (GSE), and Ground Control Stations (GCS). The fully operational system will be split into two elements: a Mission Control Element (MCE) to execute the mission, and a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) to launch, recover, and maintain the air vehicle. RQ-29 aircraft are based on Pipistrel Sinus light sport aircraft that are converted to UAS. Aircraft inventory requirements shall increase as procured aircraft are delivered.
The prime contractor will be required to provide fully trained, licensed, and qualified MCE and LRE aircrew (pilots and sensor operators) inside and outside the continental US. The prime contractor will need to establish working relationships with the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to access all required data to fulfill the requirements to support the entire USSOCOM RQ-29 fleet of systems for the airframe, engines, propellers, accessories, GCS, and systems. The scope of the maintenance services ranges from organizational to intermediate to depot level maintenance for the aircraft, aircraft subsystems, GCS, network connections, and related equipment at sites both inside and outside the continental US. It also includes organizational, intermediate and depot level maintenance for support equipment, and other ground equipment as well as repairable and consumables in direct support of ground and flight operations.
4.0 Responses:
Responses are requested from all interested and capable sources with systems answering the questions in Section 8.0. Please respond with a white paper via electronic mail no later than 30 calendar days after the posting of this RFI. Responses shall be limited to no more than 15 single-sided 8.5 x 11-inch pages, no smaller than 12-point font, and 1-inch margins. Responses shall be compatible with Microsoft Office and Adobe Products. Photographs, pictures, and hyperlinks are permitted. Newspaper column formatting, fold out pages or zip files are not permitted. It is the respondent's responsibility to monitor this site for the release of any follow-on information.
Responses shall include your CAGE code, Unique Entity Identifier number, current number of employees, annual revenue history, office location(s), the respondent's web page URL, and a statement regarding current small or large business status based on the designated NAICS code.
Please submit responses via electronic media (PDF, Word, Excel, etc.) to the poinst of contact listed below.
Amy Chauvin, Contracting Officer, amy.e.chauvin.civ@socom.mil.
Courtesy copy: Jude Lucien, Contract Specialist, jude.d.lucien.civ@socom.mil;
Kerry McDonald, Contract Specialist, kerry.a.mcdonald.civ@socom.mil.
5.0 Proprietary Information:
Responders are required to segregate and clearly mark proprietary information. Responses to this RFI that indicate the information therein is proprietary or represents confidential business information will be received and held in confidence for US Government use only. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
6.0 Contractor Support: The Government will utilize contractor consultant/advisors to assist with the execution of this RFI. All advisors shall comply with procurement integrity laws and signed non-disclosure agreements with USSOCOM. The Government will take all necessary and required actions to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data.
7.0 Questions
7.1 General:
1. Include the Source Sought Notice number for which you are responding.
2. Company Name; Company Address; CAGE Code; and Points-of-Contact (Primary and Secondary) name, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address.
3. Company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history, office location(s), business size, and a statement regarding current small/large business size status.
4. Prior/current corporate experience performing efforts of similar size and scope within the last three years, including contract number, organization supported, indication of whether a prime or subcontractor, contract values, Government point of contact with current telephone number, and a brief description of how the referenced contract relates to the product/services described herein.
5. If qualifying as a small business, provide an explanation of your company’s ability to perform at least 50% of the tasking described herein within the period of performance.
7.2 Site Maintenance:
1. Describe your company's ability to begin performance upon contract award without the requirement for additional negotiations or contract awards to procure rights to start performance for any resultant effort.
2. Describe your company’s experience performing maintenance on aircraft and subsystems that do not have approved technical publications.
3. Describe your company’s experience performing maintenance on USAF aircraft and subsystems. What data would you require to perform Organizational and Intermediate-level maintenance?
4. Describe your company’s experience sustaining a Government provided Authority to Connect (ATC), Authority to Operate (ATO), Interim Authority to Test (IATT), or other accreditation allowing connection to and usage of a DoD network.
5. Describe your company’s experience sustaining the cyber posture of a DoD accredited system.
6. If qualifying as a small business, provide an explanation of your company's ability to perform at least 50% of the tasking described herein within the period of performance.
7.3 Airworthiness:
1. Describe your company’s experience maintaining an airworthiness certification. Has your company ever directly obtained or supported Military Flight Releases?
7.4 Air Crew:
1. Describe your company’s experience training, certifying, and providing aircrew certified to operate DoD systems.
7.5 Support to Engineering:
1. Describe your company’s experience supporting or leading mishap investigations on Government systems.
2. Describe your company’s experience supporting or leading engineering investigations on Government systems.
3. Describe your company’s experience supporting Government Configuration Management (CM) processes.
7.6 Supply Support:
1. What experience and capabilities does your company have in providing supply support for the RQ-29 or similar aircraft; to include utilizing USAF systems and Contractor Inventory Control Point experience?
2. For any of the services described in Site Maintenance question 1 performed Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS), provide contract numbers which demonstrate the experience claimed included:
a. Complying with a Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA).
b. Handling customs and clearance processes.
c. Handling export-controlled items, specifically Packaging, Handling, Storage & Transportation (PHS&T) issues to include hazardous materials and MILSTRIP processes.
d. Managing personnel at overseas locations.
8.0 Questions: If you have any specific questions relating to this RFI please submit them via email to the contacts listed herein.
Amy Chauvin, Contracting Officer, amy.e.chauvin.civ@socom.mil.
Courtesy copy: Jude Lucien, Contract Specialist, jude.d.lucien.civ@socom.mil;
Kerry McDonald, Contract Specialist, kerry.a.mcdonald.civ@socom.mil.
