Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
2/13/2015
The Air Force is extending by 21 days the response deadline for a Request for Proposals the service released on Jan. 13 for Reentry Field Support Equipment (RFSE) to support testing and maintenance of Minuteman 3 reentry vehicles, according to a Feb. 9 announcement. Interested contractors must now submit proposals by March 20. Yesterday was the deadline for industry to submit questions. The RFP response extension was prompted by a delay of the service’s posting of answers to industry questions regarding the RFSE RFP. While the Air Force was expected to post industry Q and A’s on FedBizOpps on Feb. 9, the service instead announced that it is pushing back the posting to Feb. 16 because of “issues that have arisen from questions.” The RFSE will replace the 40-plus-year-old Minuteman 3 Reentry System Test Set (RSTS) and Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle Field Test Set (SFTS).
“Numerous Questions”
The Air Force stated it has received “numerous questions” from industry after releasing the RFP. The solicitation has attracted interest from companies including Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, which told NS&D Monitor that it is bidding on the technology. John Parker, Director of Weapon Systems Sustainment and Modernization for Northrop Grumman Technical Services, said his unit was “looking at” the solicitation, but stopped short of stating a commitment to bid. “We’ll take a look at the opportunity; we’ll see if think we’ve got a skill set that fits that opportunity and make a decision from there. We’re looking at it.” Responses to the RFP are due Feb. 26.
Award Intended for Lowest-Cost Offeror
The RFSE’s Evaluation Factors for Award (EFA) document states that proposals will not be ranked by non-price factors, and an award will be made to the lowest offeror if its proposal is technically acceptable. RFSE bidders will be evaluated on price, technical adaptability and past performance, according to the document, but the Air Force appears to be mainly interested in affordability, as the source selection is described as “lowest-price” and “technically acceptable.” “Technical tradeoffs will not be made and no additional credit will be given for solutions that exceed required minimum thresholds,” the EFA states. “It is the Government’s intent to award without discussions. Therefore, it is imperative that offerors submit an initial offer that contains the offeror’s best terms. However, if, during the evaluation period, it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government to hold discussions, offeror responses to evaluation notices and the final proposal revision will be considered in making the source selection decision.”
RFSE Combines Functionality of Aging Test Sets
The RFSE combines the testing functionality of the RSTS and SFTS, and supports the buildup of the Reentry System prior to mating it to the Minuteman 3, according to the ICBM Systems Directorate’s Statement of Objectives about the RFSE. The RFSE suite is designed to help sustain the ICBM to 2030, and consists of the Reentry System Test Console (RSTC), Forward Section Test Set (FSTS) and a set of support equipment. The selected contractor will be responsible for delivering seven RFSE suites and four sets of support equipment, as well as managing production, integration, quality assurance technical direction, coordination and administrative effort, to Vandenberg AFB. “A kickoff meeting will be held within 30 days of contract award at the Contractor’s production facility,” the SOO states. “An Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) shall be completed within two months of contract award. The Contractor shall propose baseline changes via an IBR and the changes are subject to approval by the Government.”
