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Update: 15 Apr 2022 This update to the Sources Sought Notice is adding the Distribution Agreement (DA), extending the due date from Apr 26, 2022 to May 3, 2022 and updating the instructions for obtain... Update: 15 Apr 2022 This update to the Sources Sought Notice is adding the Distribution Agreement (DA), extending the due date from Apr 26, 2022 to May 3, 2022 and updating the instructions for obtaining information. TEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CENTER (TRMC) 5TH GENERATION AERIAL TARGET (5GAT) SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (SSN) ? DESCRIPTION: U.S. Army Contracting Command - Orlando (ACC-O) has a requirement for the U.S. Army Program Executive Officer for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), Program Manager Cyber Test Training (PM CT2), Threat Systems Management Office (TSMO), to provide a 5th Generation Aerial Target (5GAT) prototype. The anticipated contract is for development and integration testing of an affordable, unmanned, low observable, model-based, full-scale aerial target prototype aircraft/s and support of the Government-led ground and flight testing. This task is a follow-on effort to W91238-17-C-0005 and is anticipated to be a Single Award Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity contract with a five-year base and one (1) two-year option period with delivery orders issued against the ID/IQ as required. The anticipated award date for the IDIQ is FY 2023. ACC-Orlando is issuing this Sources Sought Notice (SSN) as a means of conducting market research to identify vendors having an interest in, and the resources and capability to conduct a 5th Generation Aerial Target (5GAT) prototype development and integration test task as well as to support subsequent Government ground and flight test and LRIP activities. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the acquisition strategy, if a requirement materializes. Based on the responses to this sources sought notice and the market research conducted, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part) or procured through full and open competition. All small business set-aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions. Please note, a CUI supplementary annex containing further details and context is available to qualified US contractors, as defined by DoDD 5230.25 (which established the certified DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, as the mechanism for certifying qualified U.S. Contractors). For more information on establishing eligibility, please refer to DoDD 5230.25 and the Joint Certification Program, both of which can be accessed from: https://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/Services/JCP/ Qualified U.S. contractors must request a copy of the CUI supplementary data package by emailing thomas.l.halverson.civ@army.mil and providing a certified DD Form 2345. Upon confirmation of eligibility, the supplementary data package will be provided via encrypted e-mail or other secure means. Responses from parties who have not received access to the CUI annex will not be considered. DISCLAIMER: “THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND IT 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 THE PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS NOTICE IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), IF ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE POINT OF ENTRY (GPE). IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR THE GPE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS REQUIREMENT.” BACKGROUND: Under Contract W91238-17-C-0005, awarded on 24 March 2017 the Government accepted delivery of the first 5GAT aircraft at Dugway Proving Grounds (DPG) in July of 2020 and successfully completed low- and high-speed taxi testing through October 2020. In the intervening months, the Government accepted delivery of the 5GAT Aircraft (as tested) Technical Design Package (TDP) that will be made available to potential bidders if/when a request for proposal (RFP) is released by the Government. REQUIREMENT: The requirement is for the acquisition of one or more low cost, low observable, full scale, transonic, aerial target(s) provisioned for integration of a threat representative electronic attack capability. The Government is interested in advanced manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing technologies to improve product quality while reducing production costs. The Government-led ground and flight test operations and maintenance support will occur at the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground - West Desert Test Center (DPG-WDTC), Utah, and other DoD test and training ranges (UTTR, NTTR, WSMR, China Lake, Pacific and Gulf Ranges). Both the prototype aircraft and target command and control system should be transportable for worldwide operations. The aerial target prototype(s) to be developed and tested to determine its ability to support DoD fifth generation developmental and operational test and training requirements, including: aircraft/missile/weapon systems test and evaluation programs, aircraft/missile/weapons systems lot acceptance programs, demonstrations, research and development activities, production verification, special tests, and Red/Blue force training programs. SCOPE: The scope of effort to be provided includes but is not limited to: aircraft design and development; avionics and subsystem design modification, development, integration, and integration testing; aircraft assembly and disassembly, packaging, warranty, and shipping. Field support services to be provided include but are not limited to: test site preparation, aircraft re-assembly, pretest checkout, ground and taxi testing; preflight test and checkout, launch, flight, control, recovery, retrieval, and refurbishment; ancillary device installation, and flight testing; maintenance of common and peculiar ground support equipment, operator level maintenance, intermediate level maintenance, depot level maintenance, and target logbook maintenance. SOLUTIONS: The Government is considering three different solutions with cost and schedule being important considerations: (1) Contractor propose a solution based on the 5GAT Aircraft #1 Government Technical Design Package (TDP) to include additional engineering changes to address emerging requirements (contact the 5GAT PMO for 5GAT #1 aircraft design, development and build documents); (2) Contractor propose an existing aircraft of their own choosing with evidence that it meets the base performance as well as emerging requirements; (3) Contractor propose a new design, development, prototype and test effort that would meet the program objectives. The government’s objective is to begin taxi and flight testing at Dugway 18 – 24 months after contract award. Government Furnished Information (GFI) will be provided with final solicitation, to include the complete 5GAT Aircraft #1 Technical Design/Data Package to offerors. Government Furnished Equipment/Materials (GFE/GFM) currently owned by the Government (5GAT PMO) is available for this requirement to include 2 GE-J85 jet engines (plus 1 spare) with gearboxes, tooling for parts and assemblies, autopilot/avionics software, subsystems control software, hydraulic pumps, and generators; landing gear; system specific end items; ground support equipment; ground handling devices; a target ground control system; test equipment; ancillary devices; Class V items (explosive items such as flares) and some left-over parts. PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS: • Cost. The target should be affordable (development cost for two (2) aircraft less than $50M and average unit flyaway cost of less than $10M). Affordability will be based on life cycle costs, i.e., design/design changes, development, procurement, and operations and support; however, for these limited lifetime vehicles, emphasis will be placed on procurement cost. Cost is a very important consideration to the Government. • Passive signature. The target should provide passive radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) signatures representative of manned, 5th Generation threat fighters at both initial engagement ranges as well as intercept ranges. In general, this requires the target vehicle to be “full-scale.” • Mission endurance. The target should be capable of a mission endurance of 90 – 120 minutes. • Internal payloads. The target should provide for internal carriage of active electronic signature devices to include Air Intercept (AI) radar emulators, and electronic attack (EA) payloads. • External payloads. The target should be capable of carrying external (under-wing) stores. (External payloads are exempt from the passive signature requirement.) • Chaff/flare. The target should provide internal volume, power, and cooling for an AN/ALE-47 system to include up to eight chaff/flare dispenser modules. • Flight Termination System (FTS). The target should include a FTS that supports range safety requirements for the capability to terminate the target at any point in the flight profile in accordance with RCC 319-07, RCC 313-01 and MIL-STD-464A. • Takeoff and Landing Performance. The target, when used in conjunction with the ground control station, should be capable of accomplishing takeoffs and landings from a sea-level runway 7,000 feet long and 150 feet wide. • Provisioning is required for integration of a scoring system that is compatible with a low observable target. • Range and Ground Control Station (GCS) Interoperability. The target should be capable of being integrated onto the various ranges mentioned above using an existing mobile ground control station and/or the fixed ground control stations currently fielded at each range. • Service Life. The target should provide a minimum service life of not less than 25 sorties or 50 total flight hours (all sorties combined). ELIGIBILITY: The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing), with a Size Standard of 1,500 Employees. The applicable Product Service Code (PSC) is 1550 (Unmanned Aircraft). SUBMISSION DETAILS: Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package demonstrating ability to provide the above discussed aircraft. Respondents should differentiate between current and future capabilities. Please provide any questions you may have as well as what you may require to prepare a complete proposal. The information in this SSN is preliminary and may be updated or changed prior to any formal release of a Request for Proposal (RFP). The Government may request additional information upon review. Unclassified responses to this SSN, shall be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialist via secure email, thomas.l.halverson.civ@army.mil and to the Contracting Officer via email, rebeca.a.gonzalez.civ@army.mil, no later than 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on 26 April 2022 and reference this synopsis number in the subject line of the e-mail and on all enclosed documents. If additional time to respond is needed due to pending completion of registration of their DD2345 Military Critical Technical Data Agreement, please notify the contract specialist and contracting officer of your addition time request. Unclassified responses are preferred, all classified submissions or information shall be coordinated with the James A Tedeschi (Program Manager) for proper handling of such information. Interested companies MUST have an active SECRET facility clearance and storage to participate. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. The submission of the capabilities statement package is for planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to procure any services or for the Government to pay for the information received. No solicitation document exists at this time. Written responses to this notice should consist of the following: 1. Identify their business type (i.e., small business, large business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a) certified small business, women-owned small business, HUBZone, or service-disabled veteran-owned small business) under NAICS 336411, the name of the business providing the capabilities statement with the address, primary points of contact to include phone numbers, email, business CAGE Code, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. If you plan on subcontracting to other companies in order to deliver technical capability, please provide details on exactly which tasks will be assigned to those subcontractors; in addition, provide the names of those anticipated subcontractors, and list the anticipated percentage of small business subcontracting. 2. It is requested that written responses be submitted in Microsoft Word document or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) and no longer than 20 pages in length. 3. State the scope of present and/or past experience (within the last 5 years) with affordable/low-cost, expendable/attrit-able, low observable (threat representative RCS), full scale, unmanned, remote controlled, transonic aerial target design, development and testing as discussed above to include: design, development, adaptive manufacturing techniques, avionics and subsystem integration and testing, electronic attack and active emitter provisions (space, weight, and power), target command and control, disassembly, reassembly, site preparation, ancillary device installation, pretest checkout, ground test, preflight checkout, flight testing, and maintenance. Include the contract number, dollar value of contract(s), whether performance was done as the prime or subcontractor, the complexity, and Government requiring activity and/or Contractor points of contact. 4. State the scope of present and/or past capabilities and experience (within the last 5 years), technologies, and facilities relevant to developing full scale targets (5GAT aircraft, Valkyrie drone, or other similar unmanned aircraft), that are required for training programs, Aircraft/Missile/Weapon Systems test and Demonstrations, Research and Development activities, Production Verification and special test programs. If not alone, identify with whom you have a teaming agreement in place to satisfy these requirements and describe your team capabilities. Your response shall include planned team member information, including (1) above. 5. A description of the proposed solution to include a software and hardware approach which should address power, control, subsystems, and physical design. It should also address the current status of development, test/demonstration, and manufacturing, use of existing technologies/designs that may accelerate development, fielding and sustainment of the target. 6. Include an assessment of the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRLs) of the critical technologies (in the target system and major subsystems components). 7. The Government may request a site visit to your facilities for fabrication and modification, and system integration labs as well as to discuss your design and pricing model. Please include a point of contact to schedule potential site visits. 8. Modifications to existing vehicles are acceptable but should be considered in the context of how the existing vehicle configuration inhibits or enhances demonstration of key objectives. 9. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) pricing: a. An estimate of non-recurring costs to complete any remaining design, development, integration to fully test the system capabilities in an operational environment, and to qualify the solution suite (such as Airworthiness and Range Safety standards). b. The estimated unit cost for a Full Rate Production (FRP) quantity of at least 100 expendable target solution units, maximum of 20 units per year on an annual procurement basis. c. Any assumptions made regarding the need for government furnished material/ property, facilities, information, or other support. d. A discussion of major procurement and sustainment cost drivers and a sustainment cost estimate for the solution suite. 10. Provide any risk you have identified with the program and how your company could mitigate. Please include information from the Government that your company would need to assist in your business decision for this acquisition. Please do not send non-relevant marketing data. *NOTE 01: If the interested party is a foreign concern, or if a US interested party has a team member or partner who is a foreign entity, then they will need to adhere to all United States of America (USA) Department of Defense (DoD) International Traffic and Arms Regulations (ITAR) requirements. *NOTE 02(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) was updated in September 2021. The current clause adds the definition of “Similarly Situated Entity” and the 50% calculation for compliance with the clause. Small business prime contractors may now count “first tier subcontractor” work performed by a “Similarly Situated Entity” as if it were performed by the prime contractor itself. To assist in our market research and set-aside determination 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 Limitations on Subcontracting requirements, please identify the name & DUNS/CAGE Code of the specific firm(s) you intend to partner/subcontract with to meet the requirements as well as their SB 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 SSN in order to assist the Government's capability determination.