SECTION 1: SYNOPSIS

This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems Undersea Systems (PEO IWS 5.0). The Government is conducting market research seeking industry input and interest for potential systems engineering, software development, program management, logistics and supportability engineering, configuration management, hardware and software integration (including integration of Government Furnished Property (GFP), as applicable), test, evaluation, and installation support of Surface Ship Undersea Warfare (USW) systems, including the AN/SQQ-89 Surface Ship Combat System, with provisions included to support other Surface USW systems and components.

PEO IWS 5.0 executes the acquisition and total life cycle system support responsibility for the Navy’s Surface Ship USW programs. The requirement consists of the AN/SQQ-89(V) fitted on Cruisers (CGs) and Arleigh Burke Destroyers (DDG-51s), as well as derivative USW efforts in support of Frigates (FFs), DDG-1000, and Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class systems, as well as USW support systems for Carriers (CVNs) and Amphibious class ships. The AN/SQQ-89(V) family includes currently developed AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 for cruisers and destroyers, AN/SQQ-89(V)16 for Frigates, and AN/SQQ-90 for DDG-1000.  Each USW system variant combines improved sensors, support systems, and USW weapon control systems with advanced acoustic data processing and displays. The systems are specifically designed to support multiple ship class requirements by leveraging technology and common components to meet operational requirements for each ship class. Individual systems integrate the specific USW combat system with MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter, shipboard electronics, weapon control and launch systems, and other sensors.

The AN/SQQ-89(V) Surface Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Combat System provides integrated Undersea Warfare (USW) combat management, fire control, command and control, and onboard training to enable surface combatants to support engagement of USW targets in both open ocean and littoral environments. The AN/SQQ-89(V) provides surface warships with a seamlessly integrated USW/ASW detection, localization, classification and targeting capability.

Surface USW Combat Systems consist of a services, equipment, and computer programs that provide U.S. Navy DDGs, CGs, and other surface ships with the capability to effectively meet their offensive and defensive USW mission requirements within a multi-mission operational context. The USW combat system-designated AN/SQQ-89(V) is an element of the AEGIS Combat System on forward fit DDGs, back fit DDGs, and back fit CG platforms. The system is fully interoperable with the parent combat system. The AN/SQQ-89(V) family of systems provides the capability for the AEGIS Destroyers and Cruisers to support battlespace dominance through effective conduct of USW operations in open ocean and littoral environments. It supports implementation of command doctrine for end-to- end execution of assigned USW missions. This support includes the ability to plan, conduct, and evaluate underwater searches; to detect, classify, localize, and track contacts; and to engage or evade submarines, small objects, and torpedo threats as part of multiple platform or individual ship operations. Various combinations of the AN/SQQ-89(V) and supporting subsystems are installed onboard CG-47 and DDG-51 class ships and are intended for installation aboard LCS, future FFs, and future DDGs.

The AN/SQQ-89(V) family of hardware baselines will be upgraded with the latest market-based Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) hardware every two (2) years with supporting system software upgraded with updated capabilities at a minimum of every two (2) years. As part of the Technology Insertion (TI)/ Advanced Capability Build (ACB) process, the extent of hardware and software upgrades and technical refreshes applied to the baseline is based on cost trade analyses, resolution of Fleet generated issues, and the approved budget. The requirement supports delivery of the AN/SQQ- 89(V) configuration as the initial system baseline as part of AEGIS backfit, forward fit, and modernization programs. These programs, once installed, will be supported through the TI/ACB process and will receive TI hardware to resolve obsolescence and ACB software to incorporate future capabilities. The program is in a post delivery, technology refresh and sustainability life cycle phase to continue to standardize the system across each ship variant.

Fundamental to the development, testing, fielding and support of the AN/SQQ-89(V) family is the ability to work cooperatively with as many as twenty-five (25) development contractors as new capabilities are developed and integrated.  Also key is the ability to integrate biennial software improvements on production representative TIs in multiple configurations as necessary to replicate different classes of surface warships.  These TI/ACB combinations must support frequent updates, tests, troubleshooting, and life cycle support.  

SECTION 2: GENERAL INFORMATION

Pursuant to FAR 52.215-3, this RFI is for planning purposes only and is issued solely for conducting market research in accordance with FAR Part 10. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any comments and questions submitted or information provided as a result of this notice. This does NOT constitute a Request for Proposal. The Government is NOT seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. This notice shall not be construed as a contract, a promise to contract, or a commitment of any kind by the Government. Specific responses will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation. If a solicitation is issued in the future, it will be announced via the System for Award Management (SAM) and interested parties must comply with that announcement. It is the responsibility of interested parties to monitor FBO for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

Any small businesses that believe they can accomplish this entire requirement should indicate their small business status (see FAR Part 19) in their response.

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing using the form contained in Attachment 1. Attachment 1 shall be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer’s email addresses by August 02, 2021 16:00 ET. Verbal questions will not be accepted.

Questions shall not contain classified information.

SECTION 3: REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW

The Navy issues this Request for Information to help determine the interest, technical capability, and qualifications of industry to meet the Government's needs to perform systems engineering, software development, program management, logistics and supportability engineering, configuration management, hardware and software integration (including integration of Government Furnished Property (GFP), as applicable), test, evaluation, and installation support of Surface Ship USW systems, including the AN/SQQ-89(V) system, with provisions included to support other Surface USW systems and components. Interested parties are requested to provide the following in their responses:

Section 1 of the response shall provide administrative information, and shall include the following as a minimum:

• Organization name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, and name and e-mail of designated point of contact.
• Business type (large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged business, HUB Zone small business, woman-owned small business, very small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business).
• Country of origin for main component(s).

Section 2 of the response shall provide a technical description and information, and shall include the following as a minimum:

Company Qualifications and Experience

1. Describe your capabilities and experience working in a collaborative, peer-review environment with Navy Laboratories, academia, and other industry partners to integrate capabilities and enhancements from different third-party developers into a surface acoustic warfighting system.
2. Describe your experience working directly with government organizations and Integrators using Government and contractor facilities (including test equipment) for Subsystem and System Level Tests. Identify government contracts within the last five (5) years with similar scope and provide a brief overview of company responsibilities and magnitude of its role.
3. Describe your capabilities and experience in the development and integration of complex, networked acoustic processing and fire control, to include integration with complex system-of-systems combat systems, such as the AEGIS Combat System and constituent weapon systems and launchers.
4. Describe your facilities and infrastructure to perform classified software development and conduct classified on-site and distributed system testing to support multiple ship classes and AEGIS baselines, including classified connections for remote data sharing and testing with other government and contractor facilities.  Describe your ability to conduct classified electronic communications with the Government and other industry partners, including the ability to gain approval and operate COMSEC equipment. 
5. Describe the ability of your facilities and infrastructure establishment to conduct DevSecOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Development, or your plans to attain this ability in the near future.
6. Describe your experience in developing Level 3 Technical Data Packages (TDP) for integrated systems production and life cycle support.
7. Describe your ability to protect critical program information.

Technical Approach

1. Describe your approach for the efficient integration of system improvements and capabilities from third-party developers in an open architecture approach without compromising a third-party developer’s intellectual property rights.
2. Describe your approach for developing a comprehensive and agile Test and Evaluation program to include integration testing with the AEGIS Combat System and supporting systems; integrated ASW capability evaluation; ASW scenario testing with Fleet operators; and Navy Cybersecurity Red Team events.
3. Describe your experience with Navy processes and certifications necessary to deliver the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15, including Element or System-level Certification, AEGIS Combat System Certification, Weapons Systems Explosive Safety Review Board (WSESRB), and Cybersecurity Risk Management Framework. 
4. Describe innovative methods and technologies for speeding AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 capability development and enabling more frequent software deliveries to the Fleet while maintaining software quality and technical rigor.
5. Describe your approach for implementing cybersecurity principles into your software development processes and overall AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 system design.
6. Describe your approach for maintaining a cost-effective, common software baseline that supports SQQ-89 variants on different surface ship platforms, including Cruisers/Destroyers (CRUDES), Frigate, and Littoral Combat Ship, and Foreign Military Sales.
7. Describe your ability and approach to leveraging submarine acoustic processing capability improvements and enhancements in support of AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 capability development.
8. Describe your ability and experience in the design, development and integration of commercial hardware assemblies within electronic enclosures, and testing enclosures for compliance to MIL-STD shipboard requirements for Shock, Vibration, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Temperature, Altitude, Humidity, Airborne Noise, Structureborne Noise, Power Quality and Safety.
9. Describe your ability and experience on Performance Based Logistics (PBL) Business Case Analyses (BCA) as a part of the systems engineering that address Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) elements such as supply support, technical manuals, and training and alternatives for fulfilling associated requirements.
10. Describe your experience performing Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Level of Repair Analysis (LORA), Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) Analysis, and other ILS products.

Data Rights:

1. For the technical approach outlined in section II above, provide details on any limitations of technical data rights, specifically proprietary information.

SECTION 4: SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

Responses under this RFI can be unclassified or classified:

1. UNCLASSIFIED responses should be in PDF or MS Word format and emailed to Caryl Sturt, Contract Specialist, [email protected], with a copy to the Contracting Officer, Joshua Tuxhorn, [email protected]. The subject line of the email should read as follows: “AN/SQQ-89 Surface Ship Combat System RFI Response - Development”
2. CLASSIFIED responses shall be submitted via certified USPS mail to the following address and marked in the following manner:

OUTER ENVELOPE – (no classification marking):

PEO IWS 5.0 Document Control Unit

Attn: Stephen Lee

1333 Isaac Hull Ave SE

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376

The inner wrapper of the classified response should be addressed to the attention of Stephen Lee, PEO IWS 5.0 and marked in the following manner:

INNER ENVELOPE – (marked with the overall classification of the material):

AN/SQQ-89 Surface Ship Combat System

Attn: Stephen Lee, PEO IWS 5.0

1333 Isaac Hull Ave SE

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376

Respondents to this RFI must adhere to the following details:

1. Submissions shall be single spaced, typed or printed in Times New Roman font with type no smaller than 12-point font.

2. Submissions shall not exceed ten (10) single-sided pages. Product specification, sketches, or listings of authorized distributors do not count toward the page limitation.

3. Paper should be 8 1/2 x 11 inches with a minimum of 1 inch margins around the page. Any text contained within tables, graphs, etc. should be 8-point Times New Roman font or larger.

4. Included files should be created/prepared using Microsoft Office 2010 compatible applications. Graphics, photographs, and other data that may not be compatible with Microsoft Office 2010 should be submitted in PDF format.

5. Submitted electronic files should not be compressed and should be limited to the following extensions:

.docx Microsoft Word

.xlsx Microsoft Excel

.pptx Microsoft PowerPoint

.pdf Adobe Acrobat

.mmpx Microsoft Project

In accordance with FAR 15.201, responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. As such, the Government will not reimburse any costs associated with responding to this notice. Information submitted in response to this Sources Sought will become the property of the United States Government. Submitters should properly mark their responses with the appropriate restrictive markings. Information that is proprietary or competition sensitive will be protected from disclosure under the public records law only if properly labeled as such.