Inactive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)

****UPDATE 29 SEPTEMBER 2021**** Based on final market research results, it has been determined that the CBID III requirement will be set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business concer... ****UPDATE 29 SEPTEMBER 2021**** Based on final market research results, it has been determined that the CBID III requirement will be set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business concerns. The CBID III SSN/RFI Questions and Answers are posted. The CBID III draft solicitation is anticipated to be posted under a Special Notice at W900KK-22-R-0003 on a future date to be determined during the 1st Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022. A CBID III solicitation is anticipated to be posted under a Special Notice at W900KK-22-R-0003 on a date to be determined during the 2nd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022. The Government anticipates an award of a Single Award Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract for CBID III with an estimated value under $50 million during the 2nd Qtr Fiscal Year 2023. Potential Offerors are encouraged to continue monitoring SAM.gov for future announcements concerning he CBID III requirement that may include: 1) posting of draft documents; 2) posting of a draft CBID III Solicitation/Request for Proposal; 3) notification of an Industry Day/Pre-Solicitation Conference with One-on-One Meetings; 4) posting of Questions and Answers; 4) posting of a Pre-Solicitation Notice; and, 6) posting of a CBID III Solicitation/Request for Proposal and notification of a Pre-Proposal Conference. ************************************************************************************** INTRODUCTION: The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Orlando (ACC-O), on behalf of the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), Project Manager Soldier Training (PM ST), Product Manager Virtual Training Systems (PdM VTS), is issuing this Sources Sought Notice as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support the requirement to acquire training products using accepted instructional system design standards, simulation products and services, and associated training architecture. The intention is to procure these services on a competitive basis through a potential Computer Based Instructional Development III (CBID III) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. This requirement is anticipated to be a total Small Business set-aside; however, the responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be considered in determining the final acquisition strategy. All socio-economic set-aside categories [i.e. 8(a), HUBZone, Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)] will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. DISCLAIMER: “THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP); 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. RESPONSES WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE RESPONDER. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE RFP, IF ANY IS ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE POINT OF ENTRY: ‘SAM.GOV’. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR ‘SAM.GOV’ FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS REQUIREMENT.” PROGRAM BACKGROUND: The Computer Based Instructional Development (CBID) program has had two previous IDIQ contracts awarded by ACC-O. This potential follow-on to the CBID program will allow the Government to procure Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI), courseware, electronic classrooms, training management tools, virtual simulation, and Training Aids, Devices, Simulators, and Simulations (TADSS). REQUIRED CAPABILITIES: The Contractor shall provide IMI, courseware, electronic classrooms, and training management tools, in accordance with TRADOC Pam 350-70 series for services in support of the areas specified in Program Background (above). Further detail are provided in the attached draft Performance Work Statement (PWS). If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, email address, website address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. The Government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to: 1) provide services consistent, in scope and scale, with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; 3) implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with tight program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation; and 4) provide services under a performance based service acquisition contract. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Personnel and Facility Security Clearances: DD Form 254,Contract Security Classification Specification, shall apply to this requirement and the prime contractor shall have or demonstrate ability to obtain a Secret Facility Clearance. Berry Amendment IT (e.g. Clinger-Cohen Act) Service Contract Act Government Furnished Property plan ELIGIBILITY: The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is ‘541519 - Other Computer Related Services’ with a Small Business Size Standard of $30 million. The Product Service Code (PCS) is ‘U099 - Education/Training-Other’. Small Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify their business size in their capabilities statement. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND SUBMISSION DETAILS (CAPABILITIES STATEMENT): Interested parties are requested to submit a capabilities statement of no more than ten (10) pages in length in Arial font of not less than 10 pitch. The deadline for response to this request is no later than 4 pm, EST, 28 Jun 2021. This documentation must address, at a minimum, the following items: 1) What type of work has your company performed in the past in support of the same or similar requirement? As part of the response, please identify the corresponding contract number, the draft CBID III PWS paragraph requirements that are similar to what your company completed, corresponding NAICS code, and if the effort was performed as prime or subcontractor. 2) Can or has your company managed a task of this nature? If so, please provide details, including the contract number, overall contract requirement, the draft CBID III PWS paragraph tasks that are similar to what your company managed, corresponding NAICS code, and contract value. 3) Can or has your company managed a team of subcontractors before? If so, provide details, including the contract number, corresponding NAICS code, and draft CBID III PWS paragraph tasks that the subcontractor's performed. 4) What specific technical skills does your company possess which ensure capability to perform the tasks? 5) Provide a statement indicating if your firm is a large or small business; if small business, please indicate any applicable socio-economic status (i.e., 8a, SDB, HUBZone, VOSB, SDVOSB, or WOSB) under NAICS 541519. In addition, please include office locations, DUNS number, and CAGE code. 6) Include in your response your ability to meet the requirements in the Facility and Safeguarding requirements. *NOTE (LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING): If you are a small business interested in being the prime contractor for this effort, please be advised that FAR clause 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, has changed. Class Deviation 2020-O0008 is now in effect which adds the definition of “Similarly Situated Entity” and changes the 50% calculation for compliance with the clause. Small business prime contractors may now count “first tier subcontracted” work performed by similarly situated entities as if it were performed by the prime contractor itself. Please read the full text of the clause deviation 52.219-14 Class Deviation 2020-O0008, dated 6 Nov 2020, at https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/class_deviations.html. To assist in our market research, and determination of any applicable small business set-aside for this effort, if you are a small business interested in priming this effort and plan to utilize a “Similarly Situated Entity” to meet the Limitation on Subcontracting, please identify the name and CAGE code of the specific firm(s) you intend to partner/subcontract with to meet the requirements, as well as their small business size status under the NAICS that you as the prime would assign for their workshare. Information regarding any planned similarly situated entity should be included in answering any questions outlined in the Sources Sought Notice in order to assist the Government's capability determination. The estimated period of performance consists of a single BASE year, plus four (4) OPTION years, for a total five (5) year performance period, with performance commencing in 1st QTR FY2023. Specifics regarding the number of option periods will be provided in the RFP. The contract type is anticipated to a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) single-award IDIQ. The proposed contract is anticipated to include tasking that would be accomplished by labor categories that are subject to the Service Contract Act or a collective bargaining agreement. Your response to this Sources Sought Notice, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the Contracting Officer, Robert D. Baird (Robert.D.Baird10.civ@mail.mil), and the Contract Specialist, Helen G. Simpson (Helen.G.Simpson2.civ@mail.mil), in Microsoft Word and Portable Document Format (PDF). All data received in response to this Sources Sought Notice that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government. All questions must be submitted to the Contract Specialist identified above. The Government is not committed nor obligated to pay for the information provided, and no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice.