SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- USAFE-AFAFRICA European-Wide Information Technology Enterprise Network (EITEN) Services
- Notice Date
- 7/2/2021 2:14:04 AM
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541519
— Other Computer Related Services
- Contracting Office
- FA5641 764 ESS PK APO AE 09094-3187 USA
- ZIP Code
- 09094-3187
- Solicitation Number
- FA564121R0010
- Response Due
- 7/14/2021 8:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 12/31/2021
- Point of Contact
- Nathaniel Searing, Phone: 4963715365286, Christin Grub, Phone: 496315366032
- E-Mail Address
-
nathaniel.searing@us.af.mil, christin.grub.de@us.af.mil
(nathaniel.searing@us.af.mil, christin.grub.de@us.af.mil)
- Description
- European-Wide Information Technology and Enterprise Network Services (EITEN) IDIQ service contract in support of US Air Forces Europe and Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA/A6) *** 2 July 2021 Update *** Based on inquiries from interested vendors, the following additional information is provided by the Government: EITEN is a new effort without a current incumbent, although the scope of the EITEN solicitation could incorporate current USAFE efforts when their current performance periods expire.� The anticipated initial task order for EITEN is a follow-on requirement currently fulfilled under FA5641-17-F-Q503 (IT Support Services). Other USAFE IT services requirements are currently fulfilled under various contracts, including but not limited to FA5641-17-F-Q502; FA5641-17-F-0024; FA5641-19-F-A010; FA5641-19-F-A024; FA5641-19-F-A026; FA5641-21-F-0008 and FA5641-20-F-0041.� The anticipated EITEN solicitation and resulting contract, if awarded, will not be a Requirements Contract and it will be up to the ordering contracting office to determine if EITEN meets their needs. *** end of update *** Introduction The 764th Specialized Contracting Squadron intends to solicit a European-Wide Information Technology and Enterprise Network Services (EITEN) Indefinite-Delivery-Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) service contract in support of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE)/Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA). Services are anticipated to be performed at multiple locations within USAFE-AFAFRICA. Performance is�expected to begin in July 2022, and the�government is considering an anticipated IDIQ ordering period of up to ten years. If an IDIQ contract is awarded for this requirement, the guaranteed minimum is unknown at this time, but the Government anticipates a maximum ceiling NTE $1B. �The draft Basic Performance Work Statement (PWS) and first Task Order (TO) PWS is provided for more detailed information regarding this requirement. This is NOT an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP). This is a Sources Sought and Request for Information (RFI), part of ongoing Government conducted market research for planning purposes. A solicitation is not being issued at this time and this notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation. The Government will not provide reimbursement for costs associated with this request. Responses shall be treated as information only, become property of the US Government, and will not be used as a proposal. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this RFI is strictly voluntary; responses will not be returned. The information obtained from industries responses to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and a future RFP. Purpose This sources sought and request for information (RFI) helps the Government obtain adequate knowledge of industry capability, understanding of the marketplace and ensure competition among potential contractors. The Government will gain knowledge of interested, qualified companies and their capability of satisfying this requirement. This market survey is for information only and the type of solicitation may depend upon responses to this sources sought and RFI. Industry Responses Please provide�on company letterhead the following information: company name, point of contact, address, phone number, email address DUNS number, and CAGE code, as well as�a brief (2 pages or less) capabilities statement. Responses are requested as soon as possible but not later than 14 July 2021 at 1700 hours Central European Time (CET). Additionally, the Government requests interested vendor input on the�enclosed attachments, and responses to the market research questions. All responses shall be submitted via e-mail to the 764th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron EITEN Acquisition Team: Mr. Nathaniel Searing, Procuring Contracting Officer, nathaniel.searing@us.af.mil Ms. Pamela Black, Contract Specialist, pamela.black@us.af.mil Ms. Christin Grub, Contract Specialist, christin.grub.de@us.af.mil Mr. Rajko Kraft, Contract Specialist, rajko.kraft.de@us.af.mil Attachments Draft basic IDIQ Performance Work Statement Draft model task order PWS (Information Technology Support Services) Draft labor category descriptions Vendor comment response matrix Questions for Interested Vendors Is your company capable of fulfilling the entire requirement outlined in the draft Basic Performance Work Statement (PWS)?� Identify barriers to performance if any. The Government is considering additional performance locations outside of the currently known locations in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain and Turkey. These may include locations in Europe or Africa. Identify any challenges which would prevent your firm from successful performance in the specified locations? The Government contemplates pricing based on ceiling rates for each labor category anticipated. The Government is seeking industry input on this pricing arrangement, in particular if industry can propose rates by individual country within Europe and Africa, for Main Operating Bases only, or some other method. The Government seeks to create a menu of pre-priced labor categories in which to quickly execute future task orders, making the process as efficient as possible for both the Government and Industry. Upon review of RFI Attachment 4 Labor Categories and Descriptions, what additional categories would you propose for this requirement? Many of the positions on this contract are expected to require a U.S. Secret clearance and require the contractor to have an appropriate facility clearance for performance. This requires the contractor to hire predominately U.S. citizens to perform the work. Logistical support and SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) status for contractors is granted or denied by the host nation government and cannot be guaranteed by the U.S. Government.� Considering the requirement will be performed in the USAFE-AFAFRICA AOR do you see a lack of logistical support or lack of SOFA status as a barrier to being able to successfully staff your team. Will this potentially be an inhibiter to successful performance? See the DOCPER website for more information on this topic: https://www.eur.army.mil/contractor/. In your firm�s opinion, is DOCPER status required for this work or could offerors perform this requirement without DOCPER status for its employees? The Government has not yet committed to a contract type, and seeks industry feedback on its proposed contract type. The government is considering awarding a single-award indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract or a multiple-award wherein each country/MOB/etc is covered by a single contract. The Government anticipates utilizing cost-reimbursable CLINs for travel and materials CLINs; however the Government appreciates industry feedback on CLIN type for labor. �How would you structure CLINs differently?� What period of performance would you propose? Does your company prefer to define its own FFP labor categories and rates for the IDIQ with an associated contractor defined job description or use standard Government FFP labor categories with job descriptions defined by the government and rates defined by the contractor? Identify any other customary commercial practices that have not been addressed in this sources sought and would be pertinent to this requirement. Industry review and input on the PWS is always beneficial for authoring a well-written requirement. Please identify any concerns or questions you have regarding the draft IDIQ PWS, draft Task Order PWS, and what information your company would like to see not only in the IDIQ PWS but future Task Orders. Feel free to include any changes to the PWS you recommend via the provided comment matrix. It is possible that some or all of the contractor�s employees may be governed by host nation labor law (TUPE, etc.) while working on a future contract. What is your experience with staffing contractor workforces in foreign locations and complying with host nation labor law? The Government anticipates a US Dollar denominated contract price. Please identify any risks or concerns with this approach. The Government believes industry can provide the skill-sets needed to meet this requirement and views the highest risk to be associated with host-nation rules (DOCPER, TESA, etc.) and pricing of labor categories. What risks do you see associated with this acquisition and how would you mitigate those risks? If the Government set �floor rates� to prevent unrealistically low-bids, would this level the playing field for industry or simply introduce other risks or concerns? In the last 5 years, tell us what, if any, experience do you have within Europe or Africa with the labor categories identified in RFI Attachment 3 (Labor Categories and Descriptions), and/or Information Technology Support Services of a type akin to RFI Attachment 2 (Model TO PWS). The Government does not anticipate a lowest-priced-technically-acceptable approach to�this acquisition, and instead�anticipates defining best value�in a way that ensures offerors can effectively price this effort to perform the service at the high-quality level required by USAFE-AFAFRICA/A6. What technical criteria does your firm view as critical to ensuring the Goverment recieves�high quality service performance for EITEN?� Additionally, would the utilization of a Highest Technically Rated Offeror approach�appeal to your firm?
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
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- Place of Performance
- Address: DEU
- Country: DEU
- Country: DEU
- Record
- SN06050969-F 20210704/210702230115 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
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