THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. FURTHER, IT DOES NOT REPRESENT A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR COSTS INCURRED IN PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF DATA OR ANY OTHER COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. This is a Sources Sought Notice (PUR200191) with the intent to award a sole source purchase order to Mechanical Simulation Corporation (MSC), under the authority of FAR 13.106 based on their unique technical qualifications as the only known contractor that can provide maintenance and technical support of its proprietary software. The NTSB knows of no other sources capable of meeting the maintenance and technical support requirements described below. Notice is provided as information to the marketplace, market research, and is an invitation for any other qualified companies to express their interest in and demonstrate their capability to provide the software maintenance and technical support described below. Background The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent Federal agency with the primary missions of investigating civil aviation accidents in the United States and significant accidents in the other modes of transportation -- railroad, highway, marine and pipeline -- and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents. The NTSB Office of Research and Engineering, (RE) Vehicle Performance Division (RE-60) has a requirement for maintenance and technical support of two (2) existing licenses for the TruckSim Driving Simulator for Windows with sensors software and one (1) existing license for CarSim Driving Simulator for Windows with sensors software. This software is used for the modeling of vehicle dynamics and collision avoidance systems in real-time. The performance period of the maintenance and technical support for each software license will be for one (1) base year and up to four (4) option years. The base year is from 07/09/2020 through 07/08/2021. Requirements In order to analyze highway accidents, the NTSB maintains a sophisticated state-of-the-art real-time highway vehicle driving simulator designed and manufactured by MSC and operated using their proprietary TruckSim and CarSim software. The Driving Simulator for Windows with Sensors software package produced by MSC is used to model collision avoidance systems available on modern cars and trucks in the simulator environment. Because the design and specifications of the TruckSim and CarSim Driving Simulator for Windows with Sensors software is proprietary to the MSC, no other vendor is known to have the technical specifications or design knowledge needed to provide proper maintenance and technical support for their proprietary software. Sources capable of fully satisfying the above requirements are invited to submit capability statements/expressions of interest providing the Government the necessary information to determine actual capability. At a minimum, this information, which must be prepared specifically in response to this notice should, must include: (1) identification of company or organization; (2) an assertion of existing, full capability to meet proposed requirements; (3) business/contracts/marketing office point(s) of contact; (4) notification of business size and /or special status; and (5) any additional information that may be useful to the successful procurement of the requirements, if solicited. These expressions of interest shall adhere to a five (5)-page submission limit plus web links and any specialized product descriptions. The statement of qualifications should include only information that clearly demonstrates the respondent's capabilities, expertise, and experience to provide the requirements described in this notice. General marketing material should not be included. The NTSB prefers that companies do not submit proprietary material. However, the Government recognizes that proprietary data may be a part of your submittal. If so, clearly mark such restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non-proprietary information. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, which shall be considered by NTSB. Parties must submit information within seven (7) days of publication of this notice. NTSB will not return capability statements and the supporting documentation submitted in response to this notice. Telephone responses and inquiries will not be accepted. You may email questions regarding this notice to the issuing office to Bryan Moy via email at:
[email protected].