Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
1/16/2015
The Hill AFB division of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center on Tuesday released a Request for Proposals for Reentry Field Support Equipment (RFSE), which will replace 40-plus-year-old nuclear warhead test equipment consisting of the Reentry System Test Set (RSTS) and Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle (SERV) Field Test Set (SFTS). The RFSE solicitation has attracted interest from Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, although only Lockheed Martin has told NS&D Monitor that it is bidding on the technology. “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,” said John Parker, Director of Weapon Systems Sustainment and Modernization for Northrop Grumman Technical Services. Responses to the RFP are due Feb. 26.
Award Intended for Lowest-Cost Offeror
The 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, the Evaluation Factors for Award (EFA) document states. RFSE bidders will be evaluated on price, technical adaptability and past performance, according to the document, but the Air Force is mainly interested in affordability on this award, 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.”
