DESCRIPTION: 

This is a request for information (RFI) and Sources Sought (SS) Notice only. This RFI/SS is being issued solely for information and planning purposes.  It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.  Solicitations are not currently available. Any request for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government (USG) to contract for any support or service whatsoever.   All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the USG will not pay for information requested nor will the USG compensate any respondent for costs incurred in developing information provided to the USG.   Not responding to this RFI/SS does not preclude participation in any future RFPs, if any are issued.  Respondents will not be obligated to provide the services described here.  If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized @ https://sam.gov.  It is the responsibility of potential offerors(s) to monitor this site for addition information pertaining to this requirement.

BACKGROUND: 

The Office of the Program Manager -Saudi Arabian National Guard (OPM-SANG) has a recurring requirement for Aviation Training and Support Services that functions as a force multiplier for the OPM-SANG in their mission to develop a more capable, self-sufficient defense force for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of the National Guard (MNG).  The MNG requires Aviation Training Support Services (ATSS) to provide individual and military occupational specialty training, logistical support, and support to operate multiple airfields in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). At the direction of the MNG, the OPM-SANG is executing an acquisition strategy that divides the current directed source contract into multiple function based competitively awarded, contracts. The third of these separate competitive procurements is anticipated to be for Integrated Maintenance Support Services (IMSS). Therefore, the OPM-SANG and the Army Contracting Center-Rock Island, IL (ACC-RI) is conducting additional market research to determine the interest and availability of potential sources to provide these support services to the MNG.  See attached Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) for more details on the requirements.

The IMSS effort is an integral part of the modernization process which covers all elements, missions, and functions of the MNG as well as those requirements needed to support the activities of the Office of the Program Manager. The ultimate program goal is the development within MNG of the capability to unilaterally initiate and sustain modern military organizations and systems. The USG anticipates implementing this Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program using procurement and contract management procedures in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) including Department of Defense (DFARS) and Army (AFARS) Supplements.

Currently, the IMSS is expected to be a single award, full and open competition with an anticipated one (1) year period of performance with four (4) one (1) year option periods. The USG anticipates contract type will include a hybrid of Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract with Cost Reimbursement (CR) contract line-item numbers (CLINs) for travel and Other Direct Costs (ODCs). 

REQUESTED INFORMATION

For ease of assessment of responses by the USG to this RFI/SS, please respond by individual questions and reference the question being answered.  (i.e., 1.a.).  Please limit your response to this RFI/SS to 15 pages.  All written RFI/SS responses must be provided in Microsoft (MS) Word (Office 2013) compatible format or Adobe PDF.  Submissions must be capable of being printed 8.5 x 11-inch paper with one inch margin and no smaller than 12-point Aerial font.  Line spacing shall be set no less than single space.

1. COMMERCIALITY 

1. Has your firm performed or is currently performing IMSS efforts in support of Foreign Military Sales or Department of Defense operations Outside the Contiguous United States (OCONUS)? If so, was the USG contract issued as a Commercial Contract as defined under Part 12 or Non-Commercial under FAR Part 15 of the FAR?

2. SERVICE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

1. Please provide the type of work your company has performed in the past in support of same/similar requirement(s). Include information such as contract number, organization supported, indication of whether a prime or subcontractor, contract value, Government point of contact and current telephone number, and a brief description of how the contract referenced relates to the IMSS services described in the attached draft PWS;

1. Describe the explicit technical skill and experience which your company possesses which will ensure capability to perform the requirements as outlined in the Draft PWS;

1. Resources available such as corporate management and currently employed personnel to be assigned to this effort to include professional qualifications, specific experience of such personnel, and the ability to have personnel located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).  The initial planning should address current hires available for assignment, possible subcontracting/teaming arrangements, and strategy (contingency hires) for recruiting and retaining qualified personnel;

1. The majority of the labor categories required for this effort will be required to work in the KSA.   Please provide a statement regarding your firm’s capability to obtain the required permission for company employees to work in the KSA.  Please also, provide a statement regarding the company's ability to begin performance upon contract award;

1. Are you currently providing any similar type services to the USG in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region? State your role as the Prime/Sub? Please list contracts/task orders and the dollar value of the contract/task order. Note which contract/task order where you provided at least fifty percent (50%) of the labor utilized in the work. 

1. Is your company currently providing similar services under any other USG or commercial contracts? If yes, please list contracts/task orders and the dollar value of the contract/task order.

1. Does your company solely focus on providing this type of support services for rotary wing maintenance support services to the DOD OCONUS? If yes, please identify what countries are involved? Were the OCONUS requirements performed by foreign or domestic employees? 

3. ADMINISTRATIVE: 

1. The USG plans to utilize the North American Industry Classifications System (NAICS) code “488190 - Other Support Activities for Air Transportation”.  Do you believe this is the appropriate NAICS Code for synopsis purposes? If not, please identify what you deem more appropriate and why. Does your company have a registered North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE)?

1. What does your company see as risk areas and/or potential issues associated with an acquisition of this type? How should the USG mitigate these risks/issues?

1. Please provided recommendations on a suitable CLIN structure based on a hybrid contract of FFP CLINs, with CLINs for CR for ODCs and Travel. 

1. Please provide a statement on how plans to abide by Saudi Arabian Ministers' Resolution No. 124, dated 29 Nov 2013, which commits a prime contractor to subcontract no less than 30% of subcontract opportunities with Saudi Arabian firms. 

1. Provide comments regarding any restrictive or confusing aspects of the draft PWS. This portion of your response does not count against the 15-page limit; however, comments should be limited to an additional 3 (three) pages maximum. Input is for the USG consideration only and no responses will be posted at this time.

1. OTHER INFORMATION

An industry day and one-on-one potential vendor meetings related to this procurement is anticipated to take place on site in the KSA.  It is anticipated that a Draft Solicitation for industry comments may be released next quarter with a final solicitation issued soon after the site visits/one-on-meetings. However, these dates are estimates and subject to change without notice.

Any awarded contract will include the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.228-7001, Ground and Flight Risk Clause.

Source Selection will be conducted per applicable procedures and guidance of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Part 215 (to include Army Source Selection Manual, AFARS Appendix AA, currant date). 

All information regarding this potential requirement will be posted at https://sam.gov.  Only comments, not questions, are requested under this RFI/SS announcement.  All submissions should include a title page with the following information:

    • Company or Organization name and mailing address (City/State/Zip)

    • Company web page URL, if applicable

    • Point of Contact both in KSA and CONUS (name, title, phone number,

                and email addresses)

    • NATO CAGE, CAGE Code, DUNS, and NAICS Codes

Please provide a complete response to all questions above. Merely submitting company brochures or incomplete responses will not add value to the market research analysis being conducted by the USG.  

Feel free to offer any constructive comments, innovative ideas, performance or quality incentives and measurements, best industry practices, or acquisition streamlining ideas that might enhance this IMSS acquisition program. 

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on https://sam.gov. Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform all elements of the PWS are invited to submit a response to this RFI/SS by 1530 CT on 16 September 2022. Please reference W90BRJ-22-R-IMSS on all correspondence related to this RFI/SS.  All comments and responses shall be submitted to Reid Drewes @ [email protected] and Derek Schnorrenberg @  [email protected].