Posted: June 8, 2018, 8:01 p.m. EDT
The Air Force MGUE Increment (Inc) 1 program is currently developing modernized form factors to support testing and integration of Military-code (M-code) receiver cards into a select number of lead platforms from each of the military Services. The MGUE Inc 2 Program will advance the development of receiver technology to additional applications, including a joint, common, modernized MGUE Handheld device.
The Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) is a military GPS Handheld currently in use throughout the DoD. The DAGR provides a moving map display and is reliable in extreme environments with L1/L2 dual frequency tracking. With over 500,000 DAGRs produced, it is designated for multiple Services' combat operations as a primary and alternate GPS source. Additionally, the DAGR provides enhanced protection against jammers and was among one of the first handheld GPS programs in the U.S. to include Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) security architecture technology. The next handheld modernized MGUE Handheld will evolve from SAASM to include M-code technology.
The Air Force has released two Requests for Information (RFI) over the previous years that are related to developing a modernized handheld GPS receiver. In April 2016, the Government released a RFI requesting Statements of Capability to explore non-development efforts. On 5 September 2017, the Government released a second RFI requesting Statements of Capability from potential offerors interested in competing for future MGUE M-code-capable Handhelds. Since then, interested vendors have provided better understanding on their respective technical development approaches and business cases. Further, the technical requirements have matured with the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) approval of the MGUE Inc 2 Capabilities Development Document (CDD) on 6 April 2018. As a result, the Government is announcing an Industry Day intended to provide industry with the latest information on Government acquisition strategy and user requirements, particularly plans to mitigate system development risk through early risk reduction and prototype development.
Purpose
The purpose of this announcement is to notify interested industry sources about a MGUE Inc 2 Handheld Industry Day where the Government will provide interested parties an opportunity to better understand the MGUE Modernized Handheld risk reduction plan and requirements. Specifically, the GPS Directorate intends to inform vendors on an early risk reduction strategy, currently under Government review, through prototype development, with program goals, schedules, and contracting mechanisms to meet risk reduction objectives. The GPS Directorate intends to solicit vendor inputs on business conditions to increase industry participation through alternative acquisition means, which may include exercising multiple Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contracts.
Additionally, the GPS Directorate intends to make available one-on-one sessions with individual companies for follow up questions and to better understand each vendor's ability to meet the requirements and acquisition approach. Vendors may choose to demonstrate applicable products during a separate and dedicated time to facilitate two-way discussions with the GPS Directorate and Government user representatives of the handheld. Ideas on how to speed development, reduce development risk, and gain user feedback early and often are encouraged.
Discussion
The MGUE Inc 2 program is planning multiple awards for the early risk reduction and prototyping of the MGUE Handheld in early 2019. It is anticipated that a Miniature Serial Interface (MSI) receiver card form factor will be developed and become available in FY22; for more information on the MSI, see FedBizOpps Solicitation Number 17-048.
The Government is evaluating the usage of OTA and other contracting options to meet the execution goals of early risk reduction for the Handheld. The application of OTA will, in the views of the MGUE Inc 2 program, encourage industry participation through minimizing barriers to entry for small businesses and non-traditional vendors and to increase opportunities among entities to promote integrated research and prototyping efficiencies. An Other Transaction (OT), such as Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) or the Defense Ordinance Technology Consortium (DOTC), provides an alternative contracting vehicle path from Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based acquisitions consistent with the MGUE program's goal of technology maturation and risk reduction of MGUE Handheld prior to development. The Government anticipates the performance of such work to follow the current revision of 10 U.S.C. 2371b, which stipulates the requirement for participation from a non-traditional defense contractor or small business, or a financial or in-kind cost-sharing agreement with the Government. According to the NAICS code 334220, the size standard in number of employees for small business is 1,250. See 10 U.S.C. 2371b for complete details on OT statutory requirements.
Please note that the acquisition strategy information included in this notice is for market research purposes and is subject to change.
Industry Day
The Government is hosting an Industry Day for the MGUE Inc 2 Handheld to be held from 0900 to 1200 PDT on 28-29 June, followed by one-on-one sessions. The industry day will be at Engility's facility, located at 200 North Sepulveda Blvd, El Segundo, CA 90245.
The schedule of the event is expected to comprise of the following:
General Briefing (Day 1)
Representatives from the Air Force and other Services will be present to discuss the following topics:
MGUE Overview
Modernized Handheld requirements
Government risk reduction and development approach
Marine Corps brief
(tentative) Army brief
One-on-one Sessions and Demonstrations (Day 1 and/or 2)
If desired, a 30-minute one-on-one session with representatives from the GPS Directorate will be available. Companies will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the MGUE Handheld draft requirements, proposed development strategy, production cost targets, , or provide a demonstration of the contractor's current technology. Feedback provided at this early stage is critical in evaluating MGUE's current risk reduction plans and gaining mutual understanding between government and industry to improve the next M-code handheld acquisition effort.
The Government mandates participation from its Federal Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I), and Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractors during the Industry Day briefings. Specifically, The Aerospace Corporation, MITRE, Engility, Tecolote Research Inc., Booz Allen Hamilton, Stellar Solutions Inc., and Lokahi LLC contractors will be present during Industry Day and one-on-one sessions. Please contact the Government points of contact below to express any concerns with these contractors. The MGUE Inc 2 Handheld Industry Day will be held at the "For Official Use Only" classification level. Companies attending the Industry Day shall limit their representation to no more than five attendees per company at the Industry Day general briefing and no more than five individuals (to include potential subcontractor representation) at the one-on-one sessions. If a company planning to participate in the Industry Day activities intends to discuss any subjects that may impact intellectual property provisions or rights, one of those attendees must be their in-house counsel as the government's GPS program attorney will be participating in such discussions.
Companies planning to participate in the Industry Day activities shall provide one consolidated attendance request, with the company name, point of contact, title, email address, phone number, whether or not a one-on-one session is desired, and the following information for each of the company's participants:
- First, middle and last name
- Driver's license number
- Birth country, birth city and state (if in the US)
- Citizenship information
- If in-house counsel is participating, in which states in-house counsel is licensed to practice law and provide bar license numbers
- Request for one-on-one meeting (Y or N)
- Request for demonstration (Y or N)
Please provide this information to Mr. Dominicke Ybarra (dominicke.ybarra@us.af.mil) and Capt Chance Johnson (chance.johnson.2@us.af.mil) no later than 1700 PDT on 18 Jun 2018. Additionally, if you wish to submit questions or comments to the Industry Day, please submit all inquiries to both POCs no later than 1700 PDT on 21 Jun 2018. Attendance at Industry Day and any discussions or release of information is strictly voluntary. Small businesses are encouraged to attend to interact with potential prime contractors. Due to physical security limitations, Foreign Nationals and electronic devices are not permitted at the Industry Day or one-on-one discussion location.
The following supporting documentation will be made available prior to Industry Day: the draft MGUE Handheld Technical Requirements Document (TRD) CI-MGUE_HH-880, and the MGUE Inc 2 Capability Development Document (CDD). The draft MGUE Handheld TRD CI-MGUE_HH-880 can be provided upon request from one of the POCs above. Contractors interested in the MGUE Inc 2 CDD may request access to the Tech Library by emailing the points of contact listed above and must obtain and sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to being granted access to the Tech Library. Some information in the Tech Library is classified and will require appropriate security clearances for individuals accessing the information.
Information regarding visitor access requests (VARs), instructions and forms to access the Tech Library, including access to classified documentation, will be provided to interested and eligible industry participants by Capt Johnson, upon receipt of the requested information above. Information herein is based on the best information available at the time of publication, is subject to revision, and is not binding on the Government.
Statement of Capabilities Submittal
Interested companies should submit a new or updated Statement of Capability (SOC) to provide the Government with formal written feedback on current Government handheld acquisition plan and approach. Specifically, the Government is seeking written feedback to the following questions and requests as part of the response:
- Provide any recommendations to change acquisition approach and the change's benefit to the Government, especially in areas to improve speed and agility. How often should the Government and users interact with industry throughout the prototype development? What type of interactions would be useful, and what is the recommended frequency of interactions and deliverables?
- Provide rough budget planning cost estimates for each risk reduction objective.
- Provide ability and evidence on how your company can satisfy OTA non-traditional defense contractor and/or small business criteria per 10 U.S.C. 2371b. If not, provide recommendations to remove barriers.
Request interested companies provide a SOC which addresses the Government approach presented at the Industry Day, and provides at the minimum inputs to the above questions no later than 27 Jul 2018. These answers are required to help inform the Government's acquisition strategy and associated budget planning.
Ombudsman
An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman does not affect the authority of the Program Manager, Contracting Officer, or Source Selection Official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. The ombudsman may refer the interested party to another official who can resolve the concern.
Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the Contracting Officer for resolution. Consulting an ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes. If resolution cannot be made by the Contracting Officer, the interested party may contact the ombudsman, Mr. James Tisdale, SMC/PKX, (310) 653-1889, 483 N. Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles AFB, CA 90245. The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency. Do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of information, verify due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the Contracting Officer, Mr. Dominicke Ybarra, SMC/GPK, (310) 653-2499, 483 N. Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles AFB, CA 90245.
