Request for Information and Draft PWS Feedback for DICE Laboratory Sustainment and Engineering Support

Background
The Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to gather industry feedback on a draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) for the Development Integration Certification Environment (DICE) Laboratory Sustainment and Engineering Support.

The DICE Laboratory serves as an enterprise-level testing facility designed to support Navy Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems integration and testing prior to fleet deployment. This contract aims to transition the DICE Laboratory Support requirement from a 100% Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) structure to a hybrid Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) and CPFF structure, requiring a TS/SCI cleared workforce for major C4ISR programs over an anticipated 5-year period.

Work Details
The contractor will be responsible for performance-based laboratory sustainment, physical plant operations, daily facility opening/closing operations, routine IT systems administration, cybersecurity compliance maintenance, test staging, and configuration tracking support.

Key tasks include:
1. Core Laboratory Operations & Sustainment: Daily maintenance of laboratory facilities including physical plant management and IT systems administration.
2. Technical & Test Event Surge Support: On-demand technical support during unscheduled fleet emergencies or rapid testbed reconfigurations.
3. Laboratory Infrastructure Sustainment: Maintenance of cable plants and server racks across designated labs.
4. Cybersecurity Compliance: Routine vulnerability scanning and patch management.
5. Testbed Staging: Configuration of test environments for scheduled customer events.
6. Configuration Management: Maintenance of accurate records for all laboratory assets and changes.
7. Project Management & Reporting: Monthly status reporting on task completion and operational readiness.

Period of Performance
The contract is anticipated to span over a period of 5 years.

Place of Performance
NIWC Pacific facilities in San Diego, CA.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must be SeaPort-NxG contract holders with personnel holding appropriate security clearances up to TOP SECRET / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).

All contractor personnel executing cybersecurity tasks must maintain active DoD 8140.01 / DoDD 8570.01-M Cyberspace Workforce IAT Level II credentials.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
The prior SeaPort-NxG awards indicate a confirmed incumbent and closely related continuity for CANES and C4ISR network engineering support, including Science Applications International Corporation’s N6600123D0004 (ISEA support) valued at $260,069,219 (12/09/22–12/08/27). That work includes sustainment and technical/engineering assistance with configuration management, cybersecurity/network information assurance accreditation, and installation/integration and life-cycle support for afloat and ashore C4I systems—capabilities that align with the DICE Laboratory sustainment and engineering support scope (laboratory operations, IT/cyber compliance maintenance, test staging/configuration tracking, and surge support) as a continuation of ongoing CANES-related engineering and verification activities.