15 October 2024
Amendment 02 Increase in page count from 10 pages to 12 pages when and if a release for submission is issued through SAM.gov. This sources sought synopsis is a notice of information ONLY.
01 October 2024
Amendment 01 Additional Information Requested in the Description Section in bold 10.4 and 11.2
SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY
CLS AN/TYQ-23A (V)1/2
Notice Type: Sources Sought
1. Contracting Officer
1.1 Department of the United States Air Force (herein referred to as "Air Force"), Air Force Material Command, AFLCMC/HBZKB; Attn: Wendy Farley, 6039 Wardleigh Road, Building 1206, Hill Air Force Base (AFB), Utah 84056-5831, commercial phone number: (801) 586-3464.
2. Notice
2.1 This is not a solicitation but rather a Sources Sought Synopsis to determine potential sources for information and planning purposes only.
2.2 The purpose of this Sources Sought is to conduct market research to determine if responsible sources exist, to assist in determining if this effort can be competitive and/or a total Small Business Set-Aside. The proposed North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code is 541990 which has a corresponding standard of $19.5M. The Government will use this information to determine the best acquisition strategy for this procurement. The Government is interested in small businesses to include 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Hub zone, and Women-Owned small business concerns. The government requests that interested parties respond to this notice if applicable and identify your small business status to the identified NAICS code. Additionally, please provide any anticipated teaming arrangements, along with a description of similar services offered to the government and to commercial customers for the past three years. Any responses involving teaming agreements should delineate between the work that will be accomplished by the prime and the work accomplished by the teaming partners.
3. Description
3.1 The Air Force is conducting market research to identify potential contractor sources that will meet Air Force requirements for the development of Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) for the AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2 which includes the TSC-250 Communication Data Link System (CDLS). The AN/TYQ-23A (V)1/2 is part of the Control and Reporting Center (CRC) which is a ground-based Theatre Air Control System (TACS), The CRC is a network of radar sensors and C2 processors that are responsible for radar surveillance and the direction/control of air operations supporting the Joint Force Commander (JFC) and Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) and provides decentralized execution of air operations in an assigned area. The CRC consists of the AN/TPS-75 Radar, AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2 Operations Module (OM), AN/TSC- 147 Joint Tactical Information Distribution Systems (JTIDS) Module (JM), and AN/TRC-213 & 214 Remote Radio Secure Voice System (RRSVS).
3.2 The AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2 is a Command and Control (C2) system that provides the capability to plan, direct, control tactical air operations and perform specified airspace management tasks. The purpose of this sources sought is to establish a basic understanding of what the government's requirements will be for the sustainment of the AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2. The system is currently in sustainment and continually addressing obsolescence issues and updating capabilities to meet cybersecurity requirements and user requirements. The new CLS contract is estimated to start in January 2026.
4. Technical Requirements/Support Concept
4.1 Contractor shall identify their technical capabilities and experience to the following technical requirements:
5. Supply Chain Management
5.1 Supply Chain Management (SCM) support will include procuring pipeline spares, tracking the repair and/or replacement of parts including Readiness Spares Packages (RSP), Package, Handling, Storage and Transportation (PHS&T) as well as disposal of parts.
6. Parts Obsolescence
7. Software
7.1 CLS will require management of Software within the AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2.
7.2 The contractor will need to develop and test software patches that maintain the security of the AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2.
7.3 The contractor will work with the Program Office Cybersecurity leads and the designated testing organizations to ensure follow-on ATO's are based on the current Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Cybersecurity policies and directives.
7.4 The Contractor will have to work with Air Force software testing agencies and may be required to support Developmental Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT) events.
7.5 The contractor shall be required to support kit proofing on any Time Compliance Technical Orders) TCTOs releasable to the field.
7.6 The main software for system operations are as follows: Red Hat Linux 8, 9; Windows Server 2019/2022; Windows 10/11; Joint Range Extension (JRE) Ultra Electronics Air Defense System Integrator (ADSI); Solipsys Multi-Source Correlator Tracker (MSCT) / MSCT Display, Solipsys Streaming Adaptation Server (SAS); VMWare Horizon View; Teradici PColP; General software (e.g., McAfee Antivirus, Java, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat)
7.7 All software licenses for Commercial Software will need to be managed, procured, and updated by the contractor. The MSCT software or any other noncommercial software will be managed by the CRC Program Office.
7.8 The SIL will play a major part in managing the software for the AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2.
8. Program Management
8.1 Program Management support will include, but not be limited to, risk management, development tracking and reporting on IMS schedules showing intended software and cybersecurity patch releases.
8.2 Monthly reporting will include, but not be limited to the following: monthly cost/ expenditure reporting, technical support requests, trip reports, meeting minutes, newly discovered parts obsolescence, spares status and reliability and maintainability data.
8.3 Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs) will be required periodically as well as semi-annual Program Management Reviews (PMRs). A Program Management Plan (PMP) that details organizational structure and processes used for sustainment. Travel may be required for Program Management Reviews (PMR) and Product Integration Working group (PIWG).
8.4 Members of the CLS contractor team (Program Manager, Engineers, Equipment Specialists, and Contracting Officers) will be required to participate in TlMs, PMRs and government Integrated Product Team (lPT) meetings as required.
8.5 The Contractor will need to provide a quality assurance plan that meets the ISO 9001:2015 standards.
9. Engineering Support
9.1 Engineering support will include configuration management reviewing and updating documents in accordance with applicable DOD standards related to engineering and configuration management, logistic planning, Configuration Control Board (CCB), safety issues -System Safety Program Plan (SSPP), Engineering Change Proposals (ECP), enhancements and upgrade recommendations when requested.
9.2 Responsibility in the Deficiency Reporting (DR) process will be required, systems manuals and Technical Order changes will be required.
9.3 Travel may also be required for Tech support and Program Management Reviews (PMR). Training and training material fabrication which includes updates and changes will be required when needed.
10. Technical Data
10.1 The contractor will provide updates to the AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2 Organizational Level and Depot Level TO's JAW current Air Force Technical Manual Contract Requirements TMCR (for example TM-86-0lN).
10.2 The contractor will update the AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2 Organization Level TOs for production baseline changes related to software and hardware changes and to incorporate AFTO Form 22 recommended changes that have been approved by the TO manager.
10.4 The requirement is to have subject matter experts to meet the requirements of section 10.4 of the PWS and how that will be accomplished.
11. Cybersecurity
11.1 The CLS contractor shall have a SIPRNet connection and SIPRNet email capability within 90 days after contract award to support collaboration for cybersecurity vulnerability mitigation. The contractor shall manage CRC Endpoint Security Solution (ESS) configuration for alternate site per applicable DISA STIGs.
11.2 The requirement is to have a SIPRnet established in the contractor facility or to have one within the first 90 days and how that will be accomplished.
12. Request Each Interested Contractor
12.1 Provide supporting rationale that your company can meet the requirements identified in this Sources Sought synopsis. Specifically, include a description of:
12.2 Current capability and experience developing similar systems.
12.3 Current experience with the technical requirements identified for this requirement.
12.4 Identify the level of subject matter expertise possessed by employees pertaining to the AN/TYQ-23A(V)1/2 and associated systems.
12.5 Provide highlights of successful past experience on similar Air Force or DoD contracts within the past ten years, and listing name of contract, contract number, and assigned Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) name and phone number for each contract.
12.6 Identify what level of Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System Identification Friend or Foe and Marx XII Systems (AIMS) certification has already been completed.
12.7 Identify if your company has a trouble ticket tracking system as well as a brief description of its capabilities.
12.8 Identify company's size and socio-economic status given the above identified NAICS Code, and if contractor is part of a small business/socio-economic program, provide verification.
12.9 Identify your company's ability to provide a COTS based solution.
12.10 Responses are due no later than 30 days after posting. No phone responses will be accepted. All responses shall be unclassified and reviewed (prior to submission to the Air Force) to ensure that there are no operational sensitivities. Note that a Request for Proposal (RFP) would include requirements that are more detailed than what is identified in this Sources Sought synopsis.
12.11 Updated responses may be sent in under the Amendment 01 header and note where the two bolded sections are located in the response.
