Description
This notice is hereby modified to provide clarification that two concurrent contract awards may be executed to meet the following ACTD requirements. The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) of Huntsville, Alabama, in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). The Office of the Secretary of Defense has designated USSOCOM as the lead to an advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) of a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker based, standoff Precision Guided Munition (PGM) released from an AC-130. The purpose of this ACTD is to demonstrate the military utility of such a capability, not to develop a SAL PGM for an AC-130 or to mandate a particular technology for any possible future production effort. Additionally, the initiation of this ACTD does not mean that a formal program has been initiated. Instead, if this ACTD is successful in that military utility is proven, then a formal program may be initiated. If a formal program is later initiated, then other technologies that are currently less mature than the proposed technology for this ACTD or that do not meet the requirements of this ACTD might be possible solutions. In contrast, without a successful ACTD, further pursuance of this type of technology on a Gunship platform by DoD might not occur at all. The reason justifying the lack of competition is that NGC’s SAL guided Modified Brilliant Anti-armor Technology (BAT) Submunition, based on the fully developed, qualified, and fielded BAT submunition, is the only technology that currently meets the Department of Defense (DOD) ACTD guidelines for maturity, while addressing the unique capabilities required to successfully perform this ACTD. With respect to the unique capabilities required for performance of this ACTD, the BAT submunition must have a SAL PGM, internal carriage that will not cause depressurizing the aircraft, adversely impacting the drag of the aircraft, and not exceeding 50 pounds per munition. Moreover, the BAT submunition must have standoff range capability and allow variable time delay fuzing. These unique capabilities are an integral part of this ACTD. Award to other than NGC would not allow USSOCOM to meet the criteria to execute an ACTD and demonstrate military utility. Additionally, the sole source to NGC is justified by the competitive nature of the OSD ACTD review and selection process. This contractor submitted ACTD was the only one proposed which addressed incorporation of a previously developed munition onto the AC-130 to dramatically improve its warfighting capabilities. Period of performance is for approximately three years. The expected NAICS is 332993. Any responsible source responding to this announcement must address the requirements of Note 22. Specifically, a Note 22 response must show (1) that the proposed technology meets the technology readiness levels of this ACTD and (2) that the proposed technology has the unique capabilities required to perform this ACTD. Any questions regarding the above requirement should be submitted in writing via facsimile to ((813) 828-7504) attention Mr. Charlie Bright or email to brightc@socom,mil