The Barracuda Mine Neutralizer Sources Sought/Request for Information   4

This notice is for market research purposes only and does NOT constitute a request for proposal. This notice shall not be construed as a contract, a promise to contract, or as a commitment of any kind by the Government. The Government is NOT seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals.

This Sources Sought/Request for Information (RFI) notice is issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the Program Executive Office (PEO) Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Mine Warfare Program Office (PMS 495) Directorate. The Navy is conducting market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 to determine whether two or more small business sources possess the requisite capabilities to successfully perform the requirement to manufacture, assemble, test and deliver the Barracuda Mine Neutralizer. In addition, the announcement requests industry comments on how the Government can satisfy its needs, alternative approaches, technology availability and risk, the identification of cost drivers, and suggestions on ways to enhance or sustain competition. This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only and part of market research and will not be shared outside of the Government. When/if the Government issues a Request for Proposal (RFP), interested contractors will be expected to thoroughly address the RFP requirements regardless of the circumstances surrounding this RFI.

The objective of this source sought/RFI is to help the Government determine the technical capability and qualifications of companies in meeting the Government's needs for the Barracuda Mine Neutralizer, a mission module within the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Countermeasure (MCM) Mission Package (MP).

Barracuda will be employed as part of the LCS MCM MP and will be deployed from the MCM Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV). Barracuda will be a modular, low cost, semi-autonomous, expendable neutralizer conforming to the A-size sonobuoy form factor. Barracuda will use wireless communications, allowing for tetherless operation from the MCM USV. In the future, Barracuda may be deployed from other deployment platforms able to accommodate an A-size launcher.

The Barracuda will be hosted aboard the LCS to execute MCM missions and at shore-based MCM operations to perform Fleet training. Barracuda will conduct neutralization operations from the surface through deep water during the day or night.

Due to the nature of this requirement, the prospective offeror will need to demonstrate the required level of technical expertise, as well as the ability to fulfill the requirements described in this notice.

Interested parties are requested to respond with a white paper company profile to include the following:

1. A presentation of your organization's relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities particularly in regards to weapons and explosives.

2. An understanding of the major scientific challenges and tradeoffs to achieving the desired capability.

3. Potential solutions to achieve the capability including current Technology Readiness Levels.

4. Provide a detailed discussion of risks to achieving the mission in all relevant environments.

5. Describe the recommended autonomous functions and the rationale.

6. Describe the modular components and discuss any risks to conforming to the A-size form factor and to militarization of the system.

7. Past performance on projects of a similar technology, domain, and/or scope.

Responses:

Interested firms who believe they are capable of providing the above mentioned services and that meet SECRET clearance requirements are invited to indicate their interest by providing:

-Company name

-Company address

-Overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address),

-Cage code,

-Point of Contact, to include

E-mail address,

Telephone number,

Fax number,

-Facility clearance;

-Business Size Status (i.e. Large, SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.

-Number of Employees

Interested parties are requested to respond to requested information in this RFI with a white paper in Microsoft Word for Office 2010-compatible format. Please limit responses to 25 pages or less (including cover and administrative pages); 1-inch margins; and 12 point font (or larger).

Response Deadline and Submissions:

Responses are requested no later than 08 February 2017 at 5:00 PM EST. Responses shall be submitted via e-mail only to tiara.robinson@navy.mil , with a CC to mercedes.burrell@navy.mil .

Proprietary information, if any, must be clearly marked. The subject line of the email should read "Barracuda Mine Neutralizer Request for Information". To aid the Government in its review and evaluation, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. It should be noted that telephone replies will not be accepted.

DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES:

This notice is not a request for proposals and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. Sources choosing to respond to this notice are wholly responsible for any costs/expenses associated with submitting a response. Therefore any cost associated with the market survey submission is solely at the interested vendor's expense. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. The information obtained from submitted responses may be used in development of an acquisition strategy and a future solicitation. Submissions will not be returned.