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SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT The Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command (MARFORCYBER) is seeking sources for Cyber Operations - Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (CO-SETA). INTRODUCTION: Thi... SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT The Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command (MARFORCYBER) is seeking sources for Cyber Operations - Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (CO-SETA). INTRODUCTION: This is a SOURCES SOUGHT TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION to determine the availability and technical capability of all business types (including the following subsets, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, HUBZone Firms; Certified 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Woman Owned Small Business) to provide the required products and/or services. The MARFORCYBER is seeking information for potential sources for support services to provide an array of research and development, critical technical disciplines core to engineering, delivering, and maintaining MARFORCYBER IT products and capabilities DISCLAIMER: THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT 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. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. CONTRACT/PROGRAM BACKGROUND: Contract/Delivery Order Number: N66001-16-D-0441/ N6600117F0630 Brief Description: Cyber Operations Support Contractor: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Business Type: Large Life Cycle Contract Value: $2,389,303.00 Period of Performance: 08/07/2017 – 08/08/2021 Contract Type: CPFF Contract/Delivery Order Number: N00178-04-D-4119 / N6600119F3502 Brief Description: Cyber Operations Support Contractor: Science Applications International Corp Business Type: Large Life Cycle Contract Value: $72,371,870.25 Period of Performance: 7/15/2019 - 14 July 2024 Contract Type: CPFF REQUIRED CAPABILITIES: 5.1 Task 1 - Systems Engineering. The Contractor shall provide on-site expertise for systems engineering, assessments of technology maturity, and technical assistance with platform requirements. The Contractor shall advise and provide recommendations to safeguard the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure against cyber-based attacks, protect Government technologies and capabilities, and strengthen the security of the IT infrastructure that is developed, integrated, and managed by MARFORCYBER. Contractor shall support the systems engineering, capability development, transition, and sustainment of the Deployable Mission Support System (DMSS) Program and related initiatives. Contractor shall support the integration between the MARFORCYBER G-9 staff and PMM-173 as it relates to the DMSS Program and related initiatives. 5.1.1 Subtask 1 – Technical Planning. Technical planning is the process of planning the technical evolution of a program or system to achieve its future vision or end-state. The Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Developing, maintaining and executing the program’s Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) Providing key technical inputs and ensuring the SEP alignment to other program plans Defining the scope and objectives of the technical effort Identifying constraints and risks. Dividing the program scope and objective into discrete elements Identifying technical reviews and audits as well as their timing Establishing and maintaining schedules and costs Preparing and updating planning documentation Identifying areas for potential tailoring of artifacts and reviews 5.1.2 Subtask 2 – Decision Analysis. Decision analysis is a systematic, quantitative, and visual approach to making strategic business decisions. Decision analysis uses a variety of tools and incorporates aspects of psychology, management techniques, and economics. The Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Reviewing requirements and assumptions to establish the overall decision context Identifying methods and tools to be used in the analyses Developing decision criteria (objectives and measures), criteria weight, and associated rationale Identifying and tracking assumptions Developing prototypes and proofs of concept to demonstrate the feasibility of various alternatives Identifying and define alternatives to be evaluated Analyzing and assess alternatives against the service or program criteria Synthesizing results determining the suitability of solutions/courses of action Analyzing sensitivities, outside influences to the program or service Developing decision briefing with action/implementation plan(s) Making appropriate recommendation(s) to decision maker as expected/requested 5.1.3 Subtask 3 – Technical Assessment. The technical assessment lays a foundation for the architectural and functional assessments that define an application and related data structures. The Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Establishing event-driven technical plans Identifying appropriate measures and metrics, including how, when and where the data will be gathered Identifying performance measures to assess program health, technical progress and end-to-end performance Conducting analyses to determine risk and to develop risk mitigation strategies Conducting assessments of technical maturity, process health and stability, and risk Proposing changes in the technical approach to address risk mitigation activities Advising the Government Program Manager (PM) regarding the technical readiness of the program Providing independent subject matter experts (SMEs) for reviews and audits 5.1.4 Subtask 4 – Requirements Management. Requirements Management is the process of documenting, analyzing, tracing, prioritizing, agreement on requirements, controlling change and communicating to relevant stakeholders. It is a continuous process throughout a project. The Contractor shall build artifacts including, but not limited to the following: Establishing and maintaining a Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) Preparing Business Case Analyses (BCAs) that support IT investment decisions Preparing and/or supporting the development of Initial Capabilities Documents (ICDs) and non-material solutions in Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy (DOTMLPF-P) Change Recommendations (DCR) Preparing and/or supporting the development of an Analysis of Alternatives (AoAs) Supporting Initial Technical Reviews (ITRs) and Alternative System Reviews (ASRs) Preparing and/or supporting the development of Capabilities Development Documents (CDDs) and Capability Production Documents (CPDs) 5.1.5 Subtask 5 – Risk Management Process. Risk Management is defined as the process of identifying, monitoring, and managing potential risks in order to minimize the negative impact they may have on an organization. The Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Risk Identification Risk Analysis Risk Mitigation Planning Implement Risk Mitigation Plan Risk Tracking 5.1.6 Subtask 6 – Requirements Analysis. Requirements Analysis is the process of defining the expectations of the users for an application that is to be built or modified. Requirements analysis involves all the tasks that are conducted to identify the needs of different stakeholders. The Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Defining a capability that links the needs of the users to the system to be designed and developed Defining a system that meets users’ mission requirements within specified cost and schedule constraints Providing insight into the interactions among various functions to achieve a set of balanced requirements based on user objectives Analyzing user requirements and translate user needs into basic functions Developing a quantifiable set of performance requirements Defining each function that the system is required to perform Defining implementation constraints (stakeholder requirements or solution limitations) Translating performance requirements into specific system technical design requirements and functions 5.1.7 Subtask 7 – Implementation Support. Implementation Support is a planned approach to integrate new or upgraded software or systems into the existing workflow of an organizational structure to help ensure the success of the Agency’s’ overall system. The Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Identifying and analyze constraints imposed on the design solution Developing, designing and implementing prototypes and solutions Analyzing candidate system element design and implementation solutions Identifying fabrication and quality procedures Obtaining or acquiring access to materials and tools required to build system elements Obtaining external system elements as applicable Building system elements Determining system elements’ functionality against specified product quality characteristics Documenting fabrication and production issues and associated corrective actions Delivering implemented system elements for integration and subsequent verification 5.1.8 Subtask 8 – Verification Process. The verification process is used to evaluate whether a product, service, or system complies with regulations, specifications, or conditions imposed at the start of a development phase. The Contractor shall manage and execute verification activities and methods as defined in the functional and allocated baselines, and review the results of verification. 5.1.9 Subtask 9 – Validation Process. Process validation is the analysis of data gathered throughout the design and manufacturing of a product in order to confirm that the process can reliably output products of a determined standard. The Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Supporting the validation process throughout the lifecycle Developing and performing early program-validation activities Validating the initial product baseline Conducting validation operational testing on a production-representative system in an operationally realistic environment 5.2 Task 2 – System’s Design and Analysis. The objective of the Design Analysis Engineering task area is to analyze and refine requirements using various methodologies throughout the life cycle of the system. Focus areas within the Design Analysis Engineering task area include engineering assessment, pilots and initiatives, modeling and simulation, and systems analysis and investigation. 5.2.1 Subtask 1 – Engineering Assessment. The Contractor shall assess the systems engineering activity or problem in the context and operational environment in which the solution will be embedded. This comprehensive viewpoint enables the ability to develop and apply solutions that consider all aspects of a problem, their relationships, and interactions with other projects or services. This task area requires a high-level of skill, breadth, and depth of senior expertise to assess the technical domain and solution space, designs, and architecture. In support of this area, the Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Identifying the nature and sources of uncertainty, lack of effective control, and complexity in their environment and then select and apply appropriate strategies for managing or mitigating their impacts Analyzing and understanding the customer’s enterprise or cross-agency environment in the context of customer and stakeholder needs and challenges, formulate and adjust plans and steps needed in effectively providing unique and effective perspectives, enhance enterprise integration, identify challenges, recognize mission/operational gaps, mitigate risks, and ensure delivery Recommending the use of mature and advanced technologies and methodologies to assess the soundness of technical requirements and/or solutions; review compatibility among new and legacy systems; and determine extensibility and scalability for future changes in scope and requirements Providing recommendations in the areas of technical planning and evolution management or modernization of Government enterprises Providing knowledge on emerging technologies, along with concept and approaches from academia and industry, to ensure that all aspects of the problem are considered Providing recommendations regarding the transformation and adoption of services and products 5.2.2 Subtask 2 – Pilots and Initiatives. Pilots/initiatives include evaluation criteria to incorporate future design considerations and determine success and that are made at the end of the pilot/initiative. The Contractor shall research system elements, methods, and constructs to support investigations of systems engineering activities on a limited scale in a similar environment. The Contractor shall support and/or participate in designing, developing, planning, implementing, running, analyzing, assessing, and terminating pilots/initiatives with their Government partners and other staff as assigned on a wide range of systems during the performance of this Contract. In support of this area, the Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Preparing pilots/initiatives Conducting pilots/initiatives Testing and evaluating pilots/initiatives Analyzing results and providing recommendations Research, use and leverage best technology already available within Government, commercial and academic sources 5.2.3 Subtask 3 – System Analysis and Investigation. The Contractor shall analyze and investigate existing systems potentially available to meet requirements. In support of this area, the Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Analyzing proposed and existing systems and services to identify problems and concerns Predicting the impacts of proposed changes Identifying and documenting dependencies, functionality, interoperability and performance of systems Investigating problems or potential problems, and recommend possible solutions Employing specialized tools to analyze system performance data for specific system domains Developing, providing, supporting and maintaining testing artifacts Developing custom tools, analytics, or configurations for performance monitoring and analysis tools Coordinating root cause assessments and develop proposals to solve problems Developing plans and proposals for selecting, acquiring or building, and deploying system instrumentation tools Performing system instrumentation activities Reviewing, documenting and assessing the effectiveness of the security model of a system under investigation Assessing system compliance with relevant system security policies, procedures, guidance, and best practices Proposing system mitigations, fixes, and enhancements to address security concerns 5.2.4 Subtask 4 – Emerging Technologies. The Contractor shall provide systems engineering support and services to the application of new technologies to improve and expand MARFORCYBER services to meet future mission needs, emerging threats, and improve Warfighter capabilities. The activities for this task include but are not limited to the following: Supporting the organizational objectives to embrace principled and robust use of modern innovation tools for problem-solving and accelerating transitions of emerging technologies from lab to production Utilizing design thinking to analyze the organizational and mission problems as they currently are and apply strategic foresight for the solutions to be agile and resilient to future organizational and mission problems Developing cost benefit analyses when proposing an emerging technology to include development and lifecycle costs Assessing what the technology's readiness level is in accordance with the current Department of Defense Technology Readiness assessment guidance and develop plans and timelines for maturation of the emerging technology Supporting the exploration of emerging technology’s impacts on the DoD operational environments; such that the utility and viability of emerging technologies are properly measured in their support of diverse classes of warfighters, mission areas, and support infrastructures 5.3 Task 3 – Systems Test and Evaluation. The Contractor shall manage and mitigate risks during the research and development phase of System development. The contractor shall provide the following to the Program Manager: Progress of the design process and on the product’s compliance with Contractual and operational requirements and evaluate the ability of the system to provide effective combat capability, including its ability to meet its validated and derived capability requirements, Manage technical and programmatic risks; verify the ability of the system to achieve Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) and that initial system production, deployment, and Operational Test &Evaluation (OT&E) can be supported. 5.3.1 Subtask 1 – General Test & Evaluation (GT&E) Requirements. The Contractor shall provide T&E technical support for Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E), cybersecurity, and Information Assurance (IA), and secondarily support various other Test & Evaluation (T&E) types including Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) and Interoperability activities of Information Technology (IT) and National Security Systems (NSS). The Contractor shall provide technical expertise for testing provisioned T&E cloud based infrastructure on all levels of classified networks. The Contractor shall engage early on during the program/project development and or integration to determine testing requirements. The Contractor shall assist the program/project office by refining the requirements and ensuring the requirements are testable, measurable, and operationally relevant. 5.3.2 Subtask 2 – Test Execution. The Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Performing tests as per test plan specifications for developmental testing, cybersecurity testing, IA testing, interoperability testing, and operational testing Collecting and archiving relevant test data and results, storing these in approved systems Evaluating end-to-end capabilities to ensure adequate testing of total system of systems performance is conducted 5.3.3 Subtask 3 – Test Reporting. The Contractor shall perform activities including, but not limited to the following: Verifying and analyzing test data Providing test and evaluation reports Providing evaluation results and recommendation briefings 5.3.4 Subtask 4 – Document Reviews. The Contractor shall review program/project documentation to include, system requirements specification, architectures, designs, Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP), test plans, test cases, test procedures, and test reports to verify adequacy and thoroughness. The Contractor shall provide an analysis for incorporation in the test documentation in accordance with current T&E policy and directives. 5.4 Task 4 - Intelligence System Engineering. The Contractor shall provide SME support for the purpose of providing technical, integration, software development, vulnerability assessments, analysis, package development, administer users accounts and interoperability support to MARFORCYBER and the Marine Corps Cyberspace Warfare Group (MCCYWG). There is a specific need for SME support for the following capabilities / programs: Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Collection and Analysis Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) All-Source Intelligence Analysis and Production, Intelligence Collection Management Exercise Planning 5.4.1 Subtask 1 – Intelligence System’s Engineering Support. The Contractor engineer support shall achieve the following objectives of programs and related efforts, this support is not limited to the following required actions and deliverables: Maintain a current knowledge base regarding engineering, logistics, acquisition, testing, accreditation, and configuration management (CM) of all Projects. Recommend and review course of action plans of any identified areas of concern. Act as liaison with industry and other Government agencies (e.g., attend meetings, demonstrations, etc.). Provide recommendations for problem resolution and performance enhancement. Assist in the preparation of technical and Project Management documentation in accordance with the required deliverables in support of this PWS. Maintain a current knowledgebase on all Electronic Warfare (EW) / SIGINT sensing capabilities and sensing applications that apply to the defense of the United States of America. 5.4.1.1 The Contractor shall have technical familiarity to work with the following thirteen (13) military sensing subject areas (this list is not all-inclusive): Countermeasures and counter-countermeasures. Directed energy/active systems. Electromagnetic (EM), electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), radar, acoustic, seismic, magnetic, and fused sensor combinations. Spectral bands of Electromagnetic (EM) sensors of interest include all wavelengths from the ultraviolet (UV) through radar (radio waves) Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT), Foreign Instrument Signals Intelligence (FISINT) types of sensors and countermeasures, sensor subcomponents, and materials technology Human Intelligence and Counterintelligence systems, processes, and methodologies. Manned and automated target acquisition/discrimination techniques. Marine Corps Tactical Sensing Capabilities. Signals Intelligence, electronic warfare, and countermeasures systems. Systems and applications for dissemination, utilization, and communication of intelligence information. Systems and applications for fusion, processing, distribution, and display of sensed information. Target, background, and atmospheric phenomenology. Unmanned sensing capabilities air, ground, surface, and subsurface vehicles and modalities as well as sensor subcomponents and materials technology. X-ray, UV, visible/optical, infrared, radar, laser, acoustic, aroma, biometric, seismic. Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence (ML/AI) Mesh Networking Cloud Deployment / Distributed Computational Environments Operational Electronics Intelligence (ELINT) / Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS) Architecture and Joint Tactical Terminal (JTT) Common IBS - Modules (CIBS-M) Systems. 5.5 Task 5 - Contract Management. 5.5.1. Overall Contract Management. Contract management is the process of managing contract creation, execution, and analysis to maximize operational and financial performance at an organization, all while reducing financial risk. The Contractor shall identify a Site Lead and alternate to provide ensure successful completion of the overall contract effort. The Contractor site lead shall oversee all contract level activities and provide the leadership and controls necessary to meet deliverable targets, maintain staffing at levels required to satisfy customer requirements, interface directly with Government leads for all supported areas, and exercise control over all assigned task personnel. 5.5.2 Recurring reports and documents. The Contractor shall provide Monthly Status Reports (MSR) of all activity the Contractor has completed monthly. The MSR is due to the Government leads and COR by the 5th workday of the month encompassing the previous month’s efforts. The Contractor shall take thorough meeting minutes during all meetings and provide meeting notes to the project officer within two business days of the meeting. The notes shall keep errors to a minimum, with little to no rework required. 5.5.3 Required Skills, Disciplines, and Technical Background. The Contractor staff shall provide personnel with the requisite education, training, skills, and experience necessary to support MARFORCYBER. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Requires a TS/SCI SOURCES SOUGHT: The anticipated North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) for this requirement is 541519, with the corresponding size standard of $27.5 million. This Sources Sought Synopsis is requesting responses to the following criteria from businesses that can provide the required services under the NAICS Code. To assist MARFORCYBER in making a determination regarding the level of participation by small business in any subsequent procurement that may result from this Sources Sought, you are also encouraged to provide information regarding your plans to use joint venturing (JV) or partnering to meet each of the requirements areas contained herein. This includes responses from qualified and capable Large Businesses, Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Service Disabled-Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Women-owned Small Businesses, HUBZone Small Businesses, and 8(a) companies. You should provide information on how you would envision your company's areas of expertise and those of any proposed JV/partner would be combined to meet the specific requirements contained in this announcement. In order to make a determination for a small business set-aside, two or more qualified and capable small businesses must submit responses that demonstrate their qualifications. Responses must demonstrate the company’s ability to perform in accordance with the Limitations on Subcontracting clause (FAR 52.219-14). SUBMISSION DETAILS: Responses should include: Business name and address; Name of company representative and their business title; Type of Business; Cage Code; Contract vehicles that would be available to the Government for the procurement of the product and service, to include ENCORE II, General Service Administration (GSA), GSA MOBIS, NIH, NASA SEWP, Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), or any other Government Agency contract vehicle. (This information is for market research only and does not preclude your company from responding to this notice.) Vendors who wish to respond to this should send responses via email NLT Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Michael D. Jackson and Jacelyn Stanton at michael.d.jackson1@usmc.mil and jacelyn.stanton@usmc.mil. Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than five pages) demonstrating ability to perform the services listed in this required capabilities. Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All government and contractor personal reviewing Sources Sought responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protection from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described 41 USC 423. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified.