The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is performing strategic market research within the realm of Data Strategy and Software Development Solutions in its preparation to re-compete the Missile Defense Data Center (MDDC) contract (HQ0147-14-D0002). This Special Notice is to inform industry of MDA’s desire to conduct virtual one-on-one presentations with the Defense Industrial Base. There will not be an open forum where the government presents at one single time to interested parties. Purpose Driven by a potential need to shift how the MDA procures solutions and services, early engagement with industry provides opportunity to learn about market capabilities and ways that industry fulfills requirements. The purpose is to gather industry perspectives as well as input and feedback into latest industry practices, trends, solutions, processes, pricing strategies, and cost drivers. The goal is to determine whether technology and business practices have evolved in recent years within industry and to provide the MDA the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of changes; recognizing there is a constant evolution of technology and processes in the private sector. (FAR 10.001(a)(3)(iv)) The information gained through the one-on-one presentations will be used to shape the acquisition/source selection process, acquisition strategies, and requirement documentation to enable the incorporation of applicable commercial and industry practices. Characteristics of presentations Presentations provide an opportunity for the MDA to learn about issues that are important to industry. Presentations provide a training event to learn and understand how industry defines and fulfills requirements. The MDA seeks industry perspective on providing services/products/solutions. The MDA hears directly from industry about providing these services to the MDA. The MDA listens to what the private sector says the Government needs to be responsive to. The MDA listens and learns while industry presents its knowledge, practices, and perspective. Presentations covers what industry wants the MDA to know about processes, standards, and technology trends. Questions by the MDA may be asked to seek clarification of presentation points. The MDA is not asking for information that could be considered acquisition sensitive or proprietary. Industry provides information that informs how and what requirements may be incorporated into a Performance Work Statement. (FAR 12.213) Scope of industry presentations Migration of applications to government approved commercial cloud provider(s) Current software development methodologies (e.g., agile, DevSecOps) to support rapid delivery of standardized, reliable, integrated and secure mission capabilities Cloud utilization for mass data storage and distribution to include big data analytical capabilities Big data transfer solution sets Data ecosystem, data sharing, data architecture, data lifecycle management, and a data ready workforce Additional points to address in presentations Effective vendor/supplier management strategies Price/cost drivers, common industry performance and cost measures, terms and conditions Emerging commercial trends that shape demand Acquisition strategies and functional policy to buy smarter, reduce costs and improve performance Barriers often created by the government, to include requirements, source selection approaches, solicitation/contract terms and conditions, and proposal documentation instructions that don’t mesh well with current industry practices Anything that might impede the willingness and ability of capable and innovative firms to participate in government acquisitions Any adjustments needed to the traditional acquisition approach to eliminate barriers and conduct acquisitions more in tune with industry practices Administrative details All interested parties will have up to one hour to provide a virtual one-on-one PowerPoint presentation to the government, limited to twenty slides. All responses should be in .pdf electronic format only. All interested parties shall email Jay Carroll,
[email protected], no later than 0600 MST on 1 November 2021 of your interest in presenting. Include a list of individual attendees (name, phone number, email) with the request. The one-on-one presentations are currently scheduled for 9/10 November 2021. Each interested party will be notified of their presentation time no later than 3 November 2021. Each interested party shall submit a read ahead briefing by 0600 MST on 8 November 2021. The Skype platform will be used for these presentations. Details will be provided with the notification email. Address administrative questions to Jay Carroll,
[email protected]. Address technical questions to Jo Sharp,
[email protected] This Special Notice and subsequent one-on-one presentations are for informational purposes only. This is not a request for proposal. This notice does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses in any form are not offers and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. Any information submitted by respondents to this notice is strictly voluntary. The Government is neither committed nor obligated to pay for the information provided. No basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this special notice. Information and materials submitted in response to this request will not be returned. Proprietary or classified material shall not be submitted. Submission of a response to this synopsis signifies agreement to allow MDA to use the information in the development of an acquisition approach/strategy.