U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command RFI: Small Satellite (SMALLSAT) Communications
GENERAL INFORMATION
Notice Type: Sources Sought
Posted Date: April 30, 2013
Response Date: May 15, 2013
Archiving Policy: Automatic, on specified date
Archive Date: June 29, 2013
Original Set Aside: N/A
Set Aside: N/A
Classification Code: 18 — Space vehicles
NAICS Code: 517 — Telecommunications/517410 — Satellite Telecommunications
Solicitation Number: SMALLSAT-RFI
Agency: Department of the Army
Office: U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command
Location: U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Deputy Commander
Request for Information / Sources Sought Notice for Small Satellite (SMALLSAT) Communications For the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Request For Information (RFI). The Government is in need of information on potential sources that could provide services in support of ongoing research and development of Army Small Satellite (SMALLSAT) platforms and capabilities to support the future Joint Force and meet evolving requirements. The US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT) Technical Center is assessing and investigating evolutionary space based communication technologies, capabilities and concepts that might be readily adaptable into future Army SMALLSAT platforms. The purpose of this RFI is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of vendors who can successfully support a requirement of this nature if materialize. Responses must clearly demonstrate technical qualifications, capability and expertise on the subject.
Responses to this notice will be used as part of the information gathered as market research. All small businesses within this industrial base are invited to respond. Capability statements from small business concerns will aid the Government in determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals that may be associated with this topic in should the Government decide to issue a solicitation in the future. The Government has not formalized an acquisition strategy, there is no solicitation and there is no other information available at this time. Only timely responses to this RFI will be accepted. There is no set requirement, acquisition strategy or statement of work available. In order to protect the procurement integrity of any potential future procurement that may arise from this announcement, information regarding the technical point of contact will not be given and no appointments for presentations will be made at this time.
The interest of this RFI is to identify and understand evolving and/or mature S-, Ku-, Ka- and V-Band communication technologies, concepts, and applicable peripheral subsystems that would be space based and primarily operate through software programmable control interfaces and functions. These technologies and concepts must reflect sufficient maturity and design rigor as to be readily adaptable (or with minimal reasonable additional engineering effort) into a size, weight, and power envelope of a nominal SMALLSAT configuration whose total aggregate mass (objective vehicle) does not exceed 100 Kilograms. This convention reflects the satellites mass upper limit and is independent of a specific set of mission capabilities or performance characteristics. Responders should limit their submissions to technologies and concepts that will achieve acquisition level maturity and availability by 2019. The stated constraints and objectives in this RFI should not limit consideration of non-traditional technologies, concepts, and/or designs that would reasonably enhance or advance the level of communications capabilities for this class of satellite.
Responses by Interested Parties
This is not a request for proposal, quotation, or invitation for bid notice. This RFI is issued under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3 – Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes. (Oct 1997), it is for planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or enter into a binding agreement. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the FAR. Although quote mark proposal quote mark and quote mark offeror quote mark may be used in this RFI, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.
Respondents are advised that USASMDC is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. The USASMDC may contact respondents to this RFI if clarifications or additional information is desired. Responses to this RFI do not bind USASMDC to any further actions related to this topic. This announcement contains all information required to submit a response. The USASMDC appreciates responses from all interested parties including, but not limited to, private or public companies within the SMALLSAT or satellite communications industrial base, its second-tier suppliers and those representing associations, universities, university affiliated research centers, and government research laboratories. The USASMDC will entertain joint responses from self-formed teams in order to capture broad shared perspectives.
If you believe your firm qualifies as a potential contractor and has existing qualified personnel, relevant past performance experience, and the technical capability to perform the type of work specified, please submit the following information:
1. Company name and mailing address.
2. Proposed role in the acquisition.
3. Point of contact (name, telephone number, and e-mail address).
4. Socio-economic status under the above stated NAICS (e.g., other than small business, small
business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business, veteran-owned small business and service disabled-veteran owned small business.).
5. Current number of employees.
6. Average annual revenue for the past 3 calendar years.
7. Discuss the type and number of facilities that are currently available and would be proposed to be used to satisfy the requirement (describe the type of facilities, capacity, and facilities clearance level).
8. Discuss your firm’s capacity, as prime contractor, to execute multiple task orders simultaneously.
9. If a small business, discuss your firm’s ability to perform at least 51% of the requirement.
10. Provide a brief summary of your company’s experience and past performance within the past 3 years as it relates to the topic of this RFI. Each experience provided (Government or commercial) shall include (a) name of project (b) brief description of project (c) contract or project number (d) contract type (e) client/customer point of contact (name, address, phone number, e-mail address) (f) dollar value of the contract/project (g) period of performance of the contract/project (h) your role in the procurement (i.e., prime contractor, first tier subcontractor, second tier contractor or, other role).
Interested responders shall submit a capability statement of 20 pages or less at single space 12-point, Times New Roman font. Oral communications alone in response to this RFI will not be considered. RFI responses are requested in either Microsoft Word versions 2000-2007 (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat versions 6-8 (.pdf) formats. Use the following name convention: RFICOMScompanyname.doc or RFICOMScompanyname.pdf. Additional topics relevant to the stated subject area are welcome. A response may include a new topic as long as the topic does not exceed 2 pages, and the total length of the collective individual response does not exceed 20 pages. Cognizant of the large range of options available today and projected in the future due to commercial marketing of advanced communications technologies, spacecraft development trends and innovative partnerships, the purpose of this RFI is to gather information from industry and academia which can inform Army program planners. Responders shall clearly mark proprietary information, export controlled information [including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restricted information] or confidential information included in responses to this RFI.
The Army Contracting Command-Redstone, USASMDC/ARSTRAT Contracting and Acquisition Management Office (CAMO) is the responsible contracting office supporting this RFI. The POC for CAMO is Neisha Mendiola. All communications regarding this RFI shall be provided to neisha.m.mendiola.civ@ mail.mil. The Government has a preference to receive all data electronically by email. Interested parties may also submit their written data to the following address within the same timeline requirements. The appropriate mail address to use is: US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Attention SMALLSAT RFI Submission, CCAM-CAB-B / SMDC-CAMO / Neisha Mendiola, Bldg 5220 Von Braun Complex, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898. All responses shall be submitted to Ms. Neisha M. Mendiola, 256-955-5978, neisha.m.mendiola.civ@mail.mil, no later than 2:00 PM CST on 15 May 2013. Please reference the topic listed above on the subject line of your response.
Responders shall not expect a response to their submission. Further information will be posted to this website or other appropriate web sites if required and when available.
** Special Notice **
Notice is given that Radiance Technologies may assist the Government in review of any information submitted in response to this RFI. If an Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) exists or there is a potential for an OCI should this RFI result in the issuance of a solicitation a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is required. Responders shall contact the following individual at Radiance Technologies to process a NDA:
Kevin M. Bice
Sr. Contract Administrator
Radiance Technologies, Inc.
350 Wynn Dr.
Huntsville, AL 35805
256-489-8964 V
256-704-3412 F
kbice@radiancetech.com
* Mr. Bice is only to be contacted in regard to executing a NDA. No questions or data shall be provided to Mr. Bice that does not solely apply to the NDA process. The CAMO Contracts POC previously identified shall be contacted regarding any questions or concerns. Data that is marked proprietary shall not be delivered to the Government without an NDA in place.
Responders are given notice that they are accountable for marking their data package appropriately. If a contractor submits proprietary information under this RFI, the contractor will execute an agreement pursuant to FAR 9.505-4 (b) between themselves and Radiance Technologies. A copy of this agreement will be furnished to the CAMO Government POC, Ms. Neisha M. Mendiola, without exception.
Contracting Office Address:
US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Deputy Commander, ATTN SMDC-CM-AP, P.O. Box 1500, Huntsville, AL 35807-3801
Place of Performance:
US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command ATTN: SMDC-CAMO/CCAM-CAB-B/Neisha Mendiola, P.O. Box 1500 Huntsville AL
35807-3801
US
Point of Contact(s):
Neisha M. Mendiola, 2569555978
