Inactive
Notice ID:N6134018R0103
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. A sources sought notice for this requirement was posted from 22 August 2018 to 07 September 2018 under Solicitation Number N61340-18-R-0103 and no resp...
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. A sources sought notice for this requirement was posted from 22 August 2018 to 07 September 2018 under Solicitation Number N61340-18-R-0103 and no responses were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) Orlando intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract with the Aechelon Technology Company, San Francisco, California for procurement of modifications to the existing Aechelon-to-Next Generation Threat System (NGTS) P-8A Simulation Interface, new databases consisting of airfields and 3D models (further referred to as P-8A database), and modifications to existing databases for the United States Navy (USN) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Training Systems under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.� The expected period of performance of the contract is two-and-a-half years from contract award. The duration is based on the amount of time to perform USN database development, RAAF database development, and installation/integration which synchronizes to USN TSR-16 (St. Louis, Jacksonville, and Whidbey) and RAAF-3 (St. Louis and Australia). The anticipated overall value of the contract action is $5,920,000. Aechelon Technology was selected as the Image Generator (IG) and Database vendor by the Prime Contractor on the P-8A System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract N00019-04-C-3146. During the execution of the SDD contract, the Prime Contractor performed a trade study and determined that Aechelon Technology provided the best solution for simulating the P-8A Natural Environment and the P-8A Database. After the initial selection under the SDD contract, all of the Prime Contractor’s efforts related to IG and P-8A Databases were completed on a sole source basis to Aechelon. Market research continues to reveal that Aechelon Technology is the only known source that possesses the required technical expertise and knowledge to complete the IG and Database work procured on the following P-8A training system contracts as a Subcontractor. The follow-on to the initial SDD selection of Aechelon as a Subcontractor was the LRIP I-III contract N00019-09-C-0022, LRIP IV-FRP I contract N00019-12-C-0112, and the current FRP II contract N00019-14-C-0067. NAWCTSD is currently seeking to award a Firm Fixed Price contract, directly to Aechelon, on a sole source basis to meet the current fleet deficiency with a dramatically reduced schedule. Currently, a lack of operationally relevant entities and operational areas is negatively impacting current fleet readiness, successful mission accomplishment, and the fleets ability to use its existing capabilities safely. The P-8A database is integral to P-8A training and is required to be upgraded to train for operations against new threats and flight operations from airfields and areas of interest that were not previously delivered or have changed since initial delivery in 2011 and subsequent update in 2014 for the world wide database. The RAAF-specific P-8A database was then delivered in April 2018 and also requires upgrades. The P-8A database was developed based on specific P-8A operating areas where aircrews perform simulated missions in operationally realistic areas of the world. These operating areas were developed for specific Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) and Out-the-Window simulations based on Aechelon-proprietary technology for real-time paging and integrated with the P-8A Host Computational System and NGTS. Aechelon runtime format is the only format that will run on P-8A training systems. Any source other than Aechelon, would result in re-architecture of the P-8A training systems consisting of replacement of the entire suite of IG hardware, re-integration with the P-8A training baseline, and re-procurement of existing database development work. This would result in the need to replace $35.3M in hardware, perform $3M in non-recurring RADAR database paging development, and re-development of over $32M in existing P-8A databases based on the costs derived from recent procurements with RAAF production training devices, Production Concurrency Upgrade (PCU) 15 and PCU 17 efforts with P-8A. The P-8A database is extensively utilized on the suite of P-8A Training System devices including: 17 Weapons Tactics Trainers (WTT), 20 Operational Flight Trainers (OFT), 15 Part Task Trainers (PTT), and 8 Deployable Mission Rehearsal Trainers (DMRT). These devices utilize Aechelon’s proprietary data and hardware consisting of: 140 Aechelon IG, 4 Aechelon Unified Storage Systems (USS), and 143 Aechelon RADAR Data Generators (RDG). These upgraded Aechelon-based training system devices will simulate current up-to-date natural and tactical environments for the warfighter to train on in a simulated environment. Due to Aechelon’s intellectual property and data rights, a sole source procurement is necessary and imperative to develop and integrate new and modified P-8A databases with Aechelon. Aechelon does not sell its intellectual property and data rights, but rather provides licenses or data rights under applicable Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement requirements, as required for the use of its technical data, software, and visual databases. Also, Aechelon does not provide manufacturing rights to its IG and other system products. In order to make the training devices concurrent with the aircraft, in the required timeframe, contracting with Aechelon, on a sole source basis, is necessary. This pre-solicitation notice is not a request for competitive proposals. It is a notice that outlines the Government’s intent to award a contract on a sole-source basis with Aechelon. However, interested sources may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirements. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. In doing so, interested sources must submit detailed technical capabilities, ability to obtain P-8A aircrew and maintenance elements and simulation technical data, and any other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the needs of the Government. Detailed capabilities must be submitted by email to Mr. Vance Rosebush at vance.rosebush@navy.mil in an electronic format that is compatible with Word 2003, no later than close of business on 26 September 2018. Small businesses can inquire with Aechelon at (415) 255-0120 or sales@aechelon.com for possible subcontracting opportunities. Small businesses interested in subcontracting/supplier opportunities are also encouraged to notify the Government POC identified below as well as the NAWCTSD Small Business Deputy at leslie.faircloth@navy.mil. All information shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the Government. Responses shall be limited to no more than TEN (10) pages. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This pre-solicitation notice is not to be considered a request for quotations or proposals. No solicitation document is available. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice, but will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more advantageous to the Government. If no affirmative written response is received, a sole source contract will be awarded to Aechelon for the procurement of modifications to the existing Aechelon-to-NGTS P-8A Simulation Interface, new databases consisting of airfields and 3D models, and modify existing databases for the USN and the RAAF P-8A Training Systems. This acquisition is being pursued on a sole source basis under statutory authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). Matters pertaining to this notification may be directed to Vance Rosebush at (407) 380-4867 or via email at vance.rosebush@navy.mil.
