Request for Information (RFI) Network Tactical Common Data Link (NTCDL) Scalable Surface Terminal Technologies 1DESCRIPTION 1.1RFI Scope The Naval Information Warfare Command (NAVWAR), on behalf of the Program Executive Office (PEO) Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence (C4I), Communications and GPS Navigation Program Office (PMW/A 170) is seeking potential sources to provide an overarching Common Data Link (CDL) solution for all U.S. Navy (USN) Line-of-Sight (LOS) Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) communication requirements. This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) only. This is not a notice of solicitation issuance. This RFI is intended solely for early market research, information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Results of market research will be used to determine whether qualified sources exist and whether commercial non-developmental items are available to meet the requirements, or if not currently available, if current products could be modified or otherwise incorporated with other items to meet the requirements. At this time, the Navy is not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI and that all costs incurred or associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Small businesses having the capabilities to perform the tasking below are encouraged to respond. However, not responding does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If an RFP is issued, it will be synopsized on the Contract Opportunities (formerly FEDBIZOPPS) website at https://sam.gov/ and the NAVWAR e- Commerce Central website at https://e- commerce.sscno.nmci.navy.mil. It is the responsibility of the potential responders to monitor these sites for information pertaining to this requirement. 1.2Program Overview 2BACKGROUND As a Navy Tactical Communications (TACCOM) Program of Record (POR), the Network Tactical Common Data Link (NTCDL) is conceptualized as being a modular and scalable shipboard CDL Surface Terminal (ST). For detailed requirements vendors must be request technical information once Joint Certification Program (JCP) number is provided to the Contracting Officer, Heidi Radaford via email
[email protected]. The current NTCDL Surface Terminal is under development through contract N00039-16-C-0087. 3REQUESTED INFORMATION 3.1Format Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with commercial product literature supplemented by amplifying written information. By submittal of the white paper, the respondent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Government, its agents, and employees from every claim or liability, including attorney’s fees, court costs, and expenses, arising out of, or in any way related to, the misuse or unauthorized modification, reproduction, release, display, or disclosure of any information provided by the respondent to the Government which includes the white paper submittal. Responses are due no later than 27 September 2021, 10:00 PST. Responses shall be submitted via e-mail only to Michael Ferlo at
[email protected] and Heidi Radaford at
[email protected]. Proprietary information, if any, SHALL BE CLEARLY MARKED. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. PMW/A 170 intends to have the following support contractors assist in the handling, reviewing and processing of submitted documentation: Booz Allen Hamilton and Technology Unlimited Group. Industry respondents are encouraged to execute Proprietary Information Agreements (PIAs) that would permit these support contractors to assist the Government with review and evaluation of responses submitted to this RFI. In the absence of an executed PIA, respondents shall include a statement in their response that explicitly states that support contractor personnel from the aforementioned firms are permitted to review the response. If a PIA is not executed, or a respondent indicates that support contractor personnel from the aforementioned firms are not permitted to review the response, the response will be reviewed by Government personnel only. The points of contact for submission of the PIAs are: Company: Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) POC: Kim Olsen Email Address:
[email protected] Company: Technology Unlimited Group (TUG) POC: John Reddan Email Address:
[email protected] 3.1.1Response Section 1 Section 1 of the response shall provide administrative information and shall not exceed five (5) pages. Section 1 shall include the following as a minimum: •Name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, and e-mail of designated point of contact. •Business type (large business, small business, small-disadvantaged business, 8(a)-certified small-disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business, woman- owned small business, very small business, veteran-owned small business, service- disabled veteran-owned small business) based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334220. •“Small business concern” means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR part 121. A small business concern for the purposes of this procurement is generally defined as a business, including its affiliates, no more than 750 employees. Additional standards and conditions apply. Please refer to Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR 19 for additional detailed information on Small Business Size Standards. The FAR is available at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/. •The facility security clearance of the respondent. •Either (a) a copy of an executed Proprietary Information Agreements (PIAs) with Booz Allen Hamilton and Technology Unlimited Group as identified in Paragraph 3.1 above; or (b) a statement that the respondent will allow the Government to release its proprietary data to Booz Allen Hamilton and Technology Unlimited Group. In the absence of either of the foregoing, the Government will assume that the respondent does NOT agree to the release of its submission to Government support contractors. In that event, the response will be reviewed by Government personnel only. Executed copies of the PIAs will not count against the five (5) page limit of this section. 3.1.2Response Section 2 Section 2 of the response shall address the technical requirements of this RFI and shall be limited to thirty (30) pages. Interested parties are requested to provide commercial product literature(s) and supplementary writing responses which provide additional amplification that address the questions below. The page limit does not apply to the commercial product literature(s) nor reports documenting the certification of the proposed solution or solution elements. Describe your company’s capability to manufacture and or provide a system based technical requirements: a.Describe whether existing systems/products would meet the projected technical requirements. If the existing product only addresses partial requirements, indicate the variance, along with a suggestion on how existing systems/products could be modified to meet the Government’s requirements, or how the Government’s requirements could be changed or modified to reduce costs and accommodate existing commercial systems. b.Outline system compliance with any applicable commercial or military design standards including any qualifications for shock (MIL-DTL-901E), vibration (MIL-STD- 167-1), shipboard electromagnetic compatibility (MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD- 464), and shipboard environmental (MIL- STD-810). c.Highlight any system related technology enhancements in antenna design, above deck and below deck equipment interconnection, system cooling, and reductions in size, weight, and power requirements from what is listed in the requested specifications d.Published Unit Costs for similar- to production systems to assist the Government in developing estimates for budgeting purposes. e.Manufacturing periods for similar-to production systems to assist the Government in projecting procurements for fielding purposes. 3.1.3Request Technical Requirements Document To request a copy of the technical requirements, each company must sign and return the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) posted below entitled, "Bidder's Repository NDA" and provide the e-mail address, phone number for each requested user, and provide Joint Certification Program (JCP) active certification number to Heidi Radaford at
[email protected]. Each company may request access for up to two representatives. Each user is required to be a U.S. DoD contractor. If an interested company is a U.S. DoD contractor and does not have a JCP certification number, please go to website https://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/ Services/JCP/DD2345Instructions/ and submit a complete DD Form 2345 to Joint Certification Office (JCO). Once DoD Contractors have been approved, the Government will provide the technical requirements via DOD Safe. 4INDUSTRY EXCHANGES NAVWAR representatives may choose to meet with RFI respondents in order to perform Market Research. Such exchanges, should they occur, would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, especially any development and certification risks. 5QUESTIONS Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Heidi Radaford via email
[email protected] no later than 25 days after release of this RFI. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions will be answered by posting answers to the NAVWAR E-Commerce Central website; accordingly, questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions will be answered. To access the NAVWAR E-Commerce Central website, go to https://e- commerce.sscno.nmci.navy.mil. Click on Headquarters, then Market Surveys, then Network Tactical Common Data Link (NTCDL) to view important information related to this RFI. Interested parties are invited to subscribe to the NAVWAR website to ensure they receive any important information updates connected with this RFI. To subscribe, click on https://e- commerce.sscno.nmci.navy.mil/.