By 
On November 17, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) posted a request for white papers (RFWP) for the Low Latency Foundation Data Prototype Project. White papers are due by 11:59 a.m. on December 8.
This RFWP is step-one of a two-step solicitation process conducted under the Department of Defense’s authority enter into other transactions to carry out prototype projects pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2371b.
In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 2371b(f), the Government may award a follow-on production contract or Other Transaction (OT) to the vendor of this prototype OT, or to a recognized successor in interest to the OT, following the successful completion of the prototype project. If there are multiple vendors for this prototype OT, the government may select one or more vendors for follow-on production.
If executed, the follow-on production contract(s) may be awarded without the use of competitive procedures.
Consistent with 10 U.SC. § 2371b(d), this prototype OT will be awarded only to an individual vendor or vendors in a teaming arrangement meeting at least one of the following requirements:
- At least one vendor is a nontraditional defense vendor or nonprofit research institution participating to significant extent in the prototype project;
- All significant participants other than the government are small businesses or nontraditional defense vendors;
- At least one third of the total cost is funded by sources other than the government; or
Any vendor that fails to meet at least one of these requirements will be disqualified from further consideration. For the purposes of this RFWP, vendors are expected to self-certify their qualification under 10 U.SC. § 2371b(d) using the cover sheet provided with this RFWP.
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) intends to make a single award, although it reserves the right to make no awards or multiple awards. All white papers submitted will be retained by NGA and will not be returned.
The OT agreement will include clauses for Preference for American Industry (which may preclude foreign bids if a capability can be found within American industry), Export Control (which includes identification of foreign workers), and Foreign Access to Technology. For the purposes of this RFWP, vendors are expected to identify any foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI), as well as any foreign nationals expected to perform duties under this prototype OT, using the cover sheet provided with this RFWP. Any vendor that fails to properly identify FOCI or foreign national employees expected to perform duties under this prototype OT will be disqualified from further consideration.
NGA intends for this prototype OT to be performed at the UNCLASSIFIED level. All files and communications must at the UNCLASSIFIED level unless otherwise approved by NGA. Vendors shall mark documents accordingly and shall inform the NGA Agreements Officer (AO) prior to sending any classified files or other classified communications related to this prototype OT. In the event that this prototype OT requires classified work, specific instructions will be provided by NGA and vendors will be required to submit a security volume with their proposals.
This RFWP is step-one in NGA’s two-step competitive solicitation process. Step-Two will be a Request for Proposals sent to those vendors in whom NGA has the greatest confidence, based on its evaluation of white papers in accordance with the evaluation criteria described in this RFWP.
Full information is available here.
Source: SAM
