Mechanical Engineering Support and Assistance (MESA) Request for Proposal (RFP)

Active

Contract Opportunity

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) invites your organization to submit a written Cost Type and Fixed Price proposals in conformance with the instructions contained in this letter and its enclosures, which comprise the RFP for JPL’s acquisition of the subject effort. The awarded, small business subcontractors will provide the labor, materials, equipment, and facilities necessary to perform mechanical systems engineering tasks in support of non-flight and flight technology development, system engineering,

hardware development, and integration and test activities. JPL intends to award both subcontract types to more than one (1) subcontractor. Each task effort against the subcontract will be directed on a Subcontract Work Order (SWO) basis.

This RFP does not commit JPL or the Government of the United States to pay any costs incurred in submitting your proposal. Proposers participate in this RFP process solely at their own risk and expense. JPL reserves the right to cancel this RFP and to reject any or all proposals.

This Request for Proposal is a 100% set-aside for small business concerns:

The APEX Accelerators can provide guidance to small businesses in Government Contracting and other free services such as counseling, training, workshops, etc. APEX website: www.apexaccelerators.us

An additional resource for small businesses is the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The SBDC program is the SBA’s largest small business development program and offers free services as well.

SBDC Website: https://pcrsbdc.org/

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and description for this acquisition is 541715 Exception 3 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). The size standard for this NAICS code is

Provide your CAGE Code and the name of your cognizant Government Audit Agency (i.e. DCAA, etc.), if any, their phone number and point of contact, and a copy of the letter that indicates their approval of your organization’s direct and indirect rates.

This competitive solicitation may result in the award to multiple subcontractors. Awards will be issued to subcontractors with capabilities in the Core Mechanical and one or both Specialty Mechanical disciplines as described in the Subcontract Statement of Work and RFP Instructions. Proposers must respond to the instructions for both cost reimbursable and fixed price subcontracts or will otherwise be deemed nonresponsive. A single award for one subcontract type will not be made. JPL intends to award each source the following two (2) SWO driven subcontract types:

1. 
   

   Cost Reimbursable Plus Fixed Fee

   
   


2. 
   

   Fixed Price

   
   

Note: This is not a Staffing Subcontract.

The subcontracts awarded as a result of this RFP will be in effect for three (3) years with the possible award of one option for two (2) additional years for a total of five (5) years. Funding for the work will be at the individual Subcontract Work Order level. It is anticipated that JPL will award each cost reimbursable subcontract an amount of $9M and each fixed price subcontract an amount of $2.25M.

In the unlikely event that the awarded subcontractors should default at any time, JPL reserves the right to consider their replacement with the runner-up proposer.

If a joint venture business is proposing, each joint venture partner must qualify as a Small Business under NAICS Code 541715 Exception 3. See 13 CFR § 125.8(a). Each entity that is a partner to the joint venture should complete the A-22 Small Business Joint Venture certificate set forth in the RFP. If an entity submits a proposal as a joint venture, JPL may consider and evaluate the relevant capabilities, past performance, experience, business systems, and certifications of each separate business entity forming the joint venture, as well as the joint venture itself.

A mentor-protégé joint venture consisting of a protégé Small Business and its SBA-approved mentor may also submit an offer, provided that the protégé is small under NAICS Code 541715 Exception 3. See 13 CFR § 121.103(h)(2)(ii). Each entity that is a partner to the joint venture should complete the A-22 Small Business Joint Venture certificate set forth in the RFP. Mentor-protégé joint ventures must also provide proof that they have been approved by SBA at the time they submit their proposal. See 13 C.F.R. § 125.9.

While there might be circumstances in which extensive experience by a mentor in an SBA-approved mentor protégé joint venture might offset critical requirements by a protégé, it would be best if both members of the joint venture meet the critical required experience. Any proposer who does not have the required experience will not be a viable competitor, has no reasonable chance of competing and is expressly discouraged from proposing.

PROPOSERS ARE ADVISED THAT JPL HAS IDENTIFIED A MANDATORY QUALIFICATION FOR THIS RFP. THE MANDATORY QUALIFICATION IS TO PROVIDE THE PROSPECTIVE PROPOSER WITH A BASIS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THEY MIGHT MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR CONSIDERATION OF AWARD. PROPOSERS MUST MEET THE MANDATORY QUALIFICATION BY TIME OF THIS SOLICITATION IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED A SELECTED SOURCE AND THEREBY ELIGIBLE FOR AWARD. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PROPOSER ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Proposers must show verification by DCAA or other audit agency, of an accounting system that has been audited and determined adequate for determining costs applicable to this contract, in accordance with (Federal Acquisition Regulation) FAR 16.301-3(a)(1). Proposers must state if their accounting system is adequate for accumulating costs. They will provide one of the following:

• 
  

  A Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) accounting system certification/report.

  
  


• 
  

  A third-party accounting system certification/report (e.g., another government agency or prime contractor).

  
  


• 
  

  A letter or report from the proposer’s independent accounting firm stating that the firm approves of the adequacy of the proposer’s accounting system.

  
  

Adequacy of the accounting system must have been completed within the last three years. Supporting documentation must be provided that any identified material deficiencies have been resolved and the degree to which the subcontractor’s accounting system has been deemed adequate for cost reimbursement subcontracts. Each proposer will be required to complete the RFP Attachment A-20 “Evidence of Adequacy of Accounting System”. Proposers must meet the mandatory qualification as of the release date of the subject RFP to be a qualified source.

JPL has defined the Standard Subcontract’s Statement of Work (SOW) scope in two categories: Core and Specialty. Proposers must demonstrate capabilities in all Core disciplines, as well as in one or both of the Specialty disciplines. Additionally, the prime subcontractor with a facility clearance is preferred but not required for award consideration.

All questions made to JPL after the official RFP release date must be submitted by email to the undersigned. When appropriate, responses to requests, as well as any JPL initiated changes, shall be posted on the RFP website. The questions and answers will be posted on the RFP website: https://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/opportunities/ in addition to the SAM.gov site. The questioner will remain anonymous. Each website will contain the RFP and a continually updated set of all questions and answers pertaining to the RFP, in the form of an addendum. Review the websites on a weekly basis for updates. The final day to submit a request for clarification and/or additional information is October 11, 2025, 3:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).

No later than September 18, 2025, 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) as a convenience to JPL, provide to the undersigned, an email statement that you do or do not intend to submit a proposal; and, if you do, how will you structure your organizational response to the RFP (e.g., prime contractor-subcontractor teaming arrangement, sole proposer, SBA approved Mentor protégé joint venture or other joint venture). Submit with your intent statement the accounting system verification for meeting the mandatory qualification outlined above. Attachment A-14 “Past Performance” is also due September 18, 2025, by 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).

Please note that phase 1 of your proposal is due at JPL no later than October 14, 2025, by 3:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). Submit your proposal by email to the undersigned. All important dates pertaining to the RFP have been outlined below.

Failure to provide any of the data requested in this RFP may render the proposal nonresponsive. Should you have any questions, please address them to the undersigned by email.

Sincerely,

Christine M. Zuro

Subcontracts Manager

Phone No.: (747) 261-8835

E-mail: Christine.M.Zuro@jpl.nasa.gov

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Addendum No. 1 (September 9, 2025)

This addendum is provided to all proposers for clarification of the subject RFP for Mechanical Engineering Support and Assistance (MESA).

1. Mandatory Qualification. We are planning to submit a proposal response

on behalf of a Joint Venture (JV) comprised of two small business partners.

One of the JV partners has an accounting system that was approved by the

DCMA within the past three years. The other JV partner has an accounting

system that was audited and approved by DCAA ten years ago. The NASA

Headquarters Office of Procurement provided written confirmation in

September 2025 that the 2015 audit report is still valid and that the

accounting system is considered to be compliant with FAR 16.301-3(a)(1).

Would this satisfy JPL’s Mandatory Qualification?

JPL’s Answer to Question 1: For the Joint Venture (JV) partner with the

DCMA approved accounting system within three years, provide a copy of the

adequacy letter. The letter should provide information that the accounting

system is adequate for the subcontract vehicle.

For the other JV partner with the written confirmation from NASA, provide a

copy of the written confirmation from the Office of Procurement. This written

confirmation should provide information that the accounting system is

adequate for the subcontract vehicle

2. Past Performance A-14. For the past performance A-14 information, is five

the minimum number of past performance examples required by JPL? We

would like to submit seven past performance examples. Would this be

acceptable to JPL?

JPL’s Answer to Question 2: The maximum number of past performance

examples is five (5).

3. Technical/Management Volume Due Date. Will JPL please clarify the due

date/time of the proposal? Page 3 of the RFP specifies 3:00 pm whereas

Page 4 of the RFP specifies 12:00 pm on October 14, 2025.

JPL’s Answer to Question 3: The Technical/Management Volume due date

is October 14, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

4. Question about the subcontract selection process. Is there any

selection or filtering that JPL conducts before the RFP stage or should

small businesses proceed with submitting proposals under the current

RFP process? To put it simply: has JPL already screened potential

subcontractors based on the earlier Project Requirement and Capabilities

forms or is the current RFP open for all qualified small businesses to

compete?

JPL’s Answer to Question 4: The MESA Request for Proposal is an

open, competitive solicitation and is 100% set-aside for small business

concerns. In accordance with the RFP Instructions, paragraph 6.0 Source

Evaluation and Selection Process, source selection will be based on best

overall value determination, considering cumulative scoring across all

evaluation criteria.

The RFP due date is not changed by this addendum.

As required by the RFP’s General Instructions, indicate receipt of this and any other addendums relative to the subject RFP. Attachment A-1 must be submitted to JPL with your proposal.

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Addendum No. 2 (September 10, 2025)

This addendum is provided to all proposers for clarification of the subject RFP for Mechanical Engineering Support and Assistance (MESA).

1. Proposal Instruction Section 1.1: States “Adequacy of the accounting system must have been completed within the last three years.” Since DCAA audits are scheduled by the agency and not in the company’s control, would JPL consider extending the three-year limit to seven years? Given

these circumstances, the extended period would allow for proper alignment with audit cycles while still ensuring compliance and accountability.

JPL’s Answer to Question 1: The RFP Instructions state: “Adequacy of the accounting system must have been completed within the last three years. Proposers must meet the mandatory qualification prior to the release date of the subject RFP to be a qualified source.” Prospective bidders can

engage an accounting firm to conduct an accounting system review. One of the following reports will be accepted for review:

• A Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) accounting system certification/report.


• A third-party accounting system certification/report (e.g., another government agency or prime contractor).


• A letter or report from the proposer’s independent accounting firm stating that the firm approves of the adequacy of the proposer’s accounting system.

2. Section 3.13.1 of the Standard Subcontract: Includes a statement that the subcontractor facilities “Satisfies the requirements in Article 1 and is within close proximity approximately one hundred and fifty miles (150) miles driving distance of JPL.” Is it a firm requirement for this RFP that we have a facility located within 150 miles of JPL?

JPL’s Answer to Question 2: Yes, it is a firm requirement that the

subcontractor has a facility within one hundred and fifty miles (150) miles

of JPL.

3. Reference Criterion T1, Factors 2 and 4: With respect to identification

of personnel for SOW disciplines, is it permissible for a given person to be

identified as providing expertise under more than one technical discipline?

JPL’s Answer to Question 3: Yes, it is permissible for a given person to

be identified as providing expertise under more than on technical

discipline.

4. Reference Criterion T1, Factors 2 and 4: Can a given person be

identified as both Key Personnel of Program Manager and also as

providing expertise under one or more technical disciplines?

JPL’s Answer to Question 4: Yes, a given person can be identified as

both Key Personnel of Program Manager and also as providing expertise

under one or more technical disciplines.

The RFP due date is not changed by this addendum.

As required by the RFP’s General Instructions, indicate receipt of this and any other addendums relative to the subject RFP. Attachment A-1 must be submitted to JPL with your proposal.

Attachments/Links