SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Market research to determine the existence of sources, to include small businesses, that are capable of providing systems maintenance and support pertaining to the development and use of the Infantry Warrior Simulation (IWARS)
- Notice Date
- 9/2/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- RDECOM Acquisition Center - Natick, ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011
- ZIP Code
- 01760-5011
- Solicitation Number
- W911QY09MA001
- Response Due
- 9/10/2009
- Archive Date
- 11/9/2009
- Point of Contact
- Joni St. Pierre, 508-233-5240
- E-Mail Address
-
RDECOM Acquisition Center - Natick
(joni.stpierre@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This Is A Sources Sought Announcement Only For Purposes Of Conducting Market Research. Requests For A Solicitation Will Not Receive A Response. The U. S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center is conducting market research to determine the existence of sources, to include small businesses, that are capable of providing systems maintenance and support pertaining to the Infantry Warrior Simulation (IWARS) software and associated web accessible Data Access and Retrieval Tool (DART). The Modeling & Analysis (M&A) Team Technology, Systems & Program Integration Directorate (TSPID), Natick Soldier RDEC is seeking to identify sources that are capable of conducting systems maintenance and support pertaining to the use of the Infantry Warrior Simulation (IWARS). Specific work pertains to maintaining IWARS compatibility with current operating systems, maintaining ability to utilize changing hardware capabilities, maintaining Soldier performance databases needed to support model development and analysis, developing training manuals, providing training and IWARS systems documentation supporting maintenance and interoperability. These needs are driven by the success of the Infantry Warrior Simulation and Data Access and Retrieval Tool development and its subsequent approval and adoption by numerous agencies within the Army and DoD, in addition to international partners. The Infantry Warrior Simulation is an analysis driven simulation focused on the Soldier, the small unit that he is a member of and the equipment that they may utilize. It is primarily used as a tool in the conduct of analysis pertaining to the value of equipment to overall operational effectiveness across a range of missions, environments and threats. The IWARS is a complex simulation which operates on PC based platforms and has the ability to federate with other models and simulations to provide capabilities beyond those resident in any single model or simulation. We benefit from making the current version of the IWARS available to a wide range of agencies while we conduct significant work to improve the tool with new analysis capabilities. Beyond the core development there is the need to make sure the program is compatible with selected operating systems, and that use of the tool in a range of applications by a diverse user community is supported. Documentation and training are two of the more significant components that support use. Another component that supports the use of IWARS is the Data Access and Retrieval Tool (DART). DART is a DA approved human performance data repository, and numerous agencies contribute material and utilize the materials contained within the DART. In part, because DART is web accessible, we must satisfy a number of network security requirements. The anticipated work of interest involves: 1. Update and modification of all necessary components of the Infantry Warrior Simulation (IWARS) software to provide compatibility with current Windows Operating Systems. 2. Maintenance of the Data Access and Retrieval Tool (DART) to ensure its availability to a wide range of Army and DoD communities. This will require that new data are appropriately housed in the DART and that security measures are taken to comply with appropriate DA and/or DoD requirements. 3. Update of the IWARS training package to be more comprehensive for new users and to provide training modules for intermediate users. Development of help tools that provide simplified user access and answers to IWARS related frequently asked questions (FAQ). Provision of interactive tools that allow existing users to provide feedback on any difficulties encountered using IWARS and any desired capabilities. Execution of training classes. Respondents to this sources sought request shall submit: 1. Information pertaining to their knowledge of the IWARS program as it relates to components that would need to be modified to provide compatibility with current Windows operating systems and the changes that would be required. 2. Information pertaining to their knowledge of the DART as it relates to ensuring its availability, specifically related to the security requirements that need to be satisfied and how the DART software components would have to be maintained and modified. 3. Information pertaining to their knowledge of the IWARS, the help tools and the latest training materials with a focus on how these may be made more useful to beginning and intermediate users. 4. Information on capabilities pertaining to the conduct of training courses. The Government will not reimburse any business concern for any information submitted in response to this sources sought request. Submission of information is voluntary. Any proprietary information will be treated as restricted company information and will not be disclosed outside of the government personnel involved in this action. Business concerns submitting responses should indicate whether they are large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone or service disabled veteran owned small business. The information provided in response to this sources sought announcement will be used to identify potential responsive sources for this requirement. Determination as to a respondents suitability as a responsive source will be made by the Government based upon the objectives and criteria contained in this request. Large business concerns are not prohibited from responding to this announcement. All interested business concerns are required to respond to this sources sought announcement via email no later than 10 September 2009, 1:00 p.m. EDT. Responses must include company point of contact, email address, telephone and fax numbers. All interested business concerns responding to this sources sought announcement shall send their submission to Mr. Robert Auer via email at Robert.J.Auer@us.army.mil. All technical questions regarding this sources sought announcement should be directed via email or (508) 233 5529 to Mr. Robert Auer.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/USAMC/DAAD16/W911QY09MA001/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: RDECOM Acquisition Center - Natick ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street Natick MA
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Record
- SN01938586-W 20090904/090903002026-d8dc7aac2c5178241c280488e06d06ba (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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