**Amendment 0001** RFI / SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS - EXPERIMENTAL FACILITIES TECHNICIAN SUPPORT SERVICES

Background
The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) needs technical support for experimental facilities and laboratories conducting basic and applied research, testing, and analysis on weapons, munitions, materials, manufacturing, vehicle technology, human engineering, and Army survivability and lethality. The work supports technical data collection, resolution of fielded-system problems, and validation of predictive and physics-based performance analyses.

Work Details
Provide hands-on technical support for ARL research and experiments, including preparing facilities and laboratories; scheduling work; designing and fabricating hardware; installing and setting up equipment; conducting tests and experiments; and repairing, inventorying, and maintaining equipment. Develop and use instrumentation; prepare samples and conduct mechanical testing; record, reduce, and interpret data; and maintain databases and archival systems. Individual experimental programs may last from days or weeks to years.

Support the following research and test areas:
- Energetics and weapons testing: energetic processing and testing facilities, energetics materials facilities, small- and medium-caliber ranges and other range facilities, armor targets, advanced munitions testing, full- and model-scale penetrator testing, and impact physics research.
- Guidance and vehicle research: electronic circuitry and instrumentation for guidance technologies, shops and trades, and vehicle technology research.
- Materials research: composite materials; lightweight and specialty metals; ceramic and transparent materials; coatings and corrosion; and materials manufacturing.

Operational requirements include occupational safety, environmental and hazardous-material controls, PPE, hearing-conservation screening, OPSEC, and protection and handling of classified, sensitive, and controlled unclassified information.

Place of Performance
ARL experimental facilities and laboratories at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Adelphi, Maryland; and other sites including Graces Quarters, Maryland; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Dugway Proving Ground, Utah; Meppen, Germany; Nevada Test Site, Nevada; White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The listed sites are not exhaustive.

Bidder Requirements
This is a sources-sought RFI, not a request for offers. The RFI requests a capability summary demonstrating relevant experience from the previous two to three years across the stated interest areas, with examples of past projects and deliverables. It contemplates a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.

Potential sources must have valid Defense Intelligence Agency or equivalent accreditation at the TS/SCI level and TS/SCI safeguarding capability. A facility need not be accredited when the white paper is submitted, but accreditation is expected by release of any resulting RFP and is required before release of a solicitation using the RFI results. The RFI requests information about facility accreditation and expiration, Special Access Program experience, and company security capabilities. Personnel must be capable of obtaining clearances and hold valid clearances before assignment.

Respondents are asked to describe facility security, OPSEC and program protection, encrypted transmission of unclassified data, DD254 compliance, and the ability to operate and maintain a secure shared data-collection site. The RFI also asks about the Facility Security Officer, foreign ownership and foreign-national employees, and SCIF accreditation. One submission is allowed per CAGE code; teaming submissions are to use the prime contractor’s CAGE code.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity appears to have a confirmed incumbent based on the prior contract W911QX24C0005 awarded to Bowhead Global Systems And Technology for $42,316,987 (11/17/23–11/22/26). That contract provides research and development technician support services for experimental facilities, which aligns closely with the current RFI’s focus on hands-on technical support for ARL experimental facilities and laboratories (e.g., preparing facilities, installing and maintaining equipment, conducting tests/experiments, and supporting data collection and analysis). The scope reads like a continuation of ongoing experimental facility technician support rather than a substantially different requirement.