THERMAL ANALYSIS ENGINEERING SERVICES

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Contract Opportunity

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) invites your organization to submit a written Cost Type proposal in conformance with the instructions contained in this letter and its enclosures, which comprise the RFP for JPL’s acquisition of the subject effort. This is a Small Business Set Aside per Attachment A-6.

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.

For small businesses participating in this RFP, 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 offer free services as well.

SBDC Website: https://pcrsbdc.org/

Please refer to RFP Attachment A-6 Notice of Small Business Set-Aside. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and description for this acquisition is 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), Exception 3: Guided Missiles and Space Vehicles, Their Propulsion Units and Propulsion Parts. The size standard for this NAICS code is 1,300 employees. Additional information can be found here: https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards.

JPL has not yet received funding to support this acquisition and anticipates, but cannot guarantee, that funding will be forthcoming. This RFP is being issued at this time in order to maintain project schedule and to allow for timely award of a subcontract if the anticipated funding arrives in a timely fashion.

Submit your proposal by email to the undersigned.

In compliance with RFP Attachment A-17 Proposer Accounting System and Cost Accounting Standards Coverage & Disclosure Statement Information and A-20 Evidence of Adequacy of Accounting System, the proposer shall provide one or more of the following documents:

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


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


3. A letter from the proposer’s accounting firm stating that the firm approves of the adequacy of the proposer’s accounting system for accumulating costs under a cost reimbursement subcontract.

Please note that your proposal is due at JPL no later than April 23rd, 2025, 3:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). Attachment A-14 Past Performance is due as soon as possible, preferably by April 12th, 2025, by 3:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). At the time you respond to Attachment A-14, please state in an email if your company has a facility clearance, for information purposes only. This information will not be considered in the evaluation and selection process.

All questions made to JPL after the official RFP release date must be received via email. The questions and answers will be posted on the RFP website: https://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/opportunities/. The questioner will remain anonymous. This 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.

Note: JPL intends to award multiple Cost Reimbursable Type Subcontracts in this initial study phase, see General Instructions 3.2 below.

Failure to provide any of the data requested in this RFP may render the proposal nonresponsive.

By no later than April 12th, 2025, as a convenience to JPL, provide to the undersigned, an email statement that you do or do not intend to submit a proposal.

Should you have any questions, please address them to the undersigned by email.

Sincerely,

Megan E. Lagace

Subcontracts Manager

Phone No.: (626) 213-1113

E-mail: megan.e.lagace@jpl.nasa.gov

Attachments:

RFP consisting of:

• Cover Sheet and Table of Contents

• General Instructions

• Technical/Management Instructions

• Cost/Price Instructions

• RFP Attachments

Standard Subcontract consisting of:

• Standard Subcontract

• Referenced Exhibits

• Referenced GPs & AGPs

• Subcontract Form Set

GENERAL INFORMATION

Note to all Proposers:

Under the JPL/NASA Prime Contract the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) operates the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). JPL is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) funded by NASA that conducts research and development in space science and other science areas specified or approved by NASA. See FAR 35.017 for description of FFRDC. JPL is also the name of an unincorporated subdivision of Caltech a private non-profit educational institution chartered under the laws of the State of California. JPL is not an agent of the Government.

In connection with research performed under JPL/NASA Prime Contract, JPL is frequently called upon to obtain and evaluate cost or pricing data submitted by subcontractors as required by FAR 15.402, 15.403-4(b) and 15.404-2(a). JPL is authorized to obtain proposal evaluations and rates and factors from either the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) or the appropriate contract administrative/audit activities as necessary to evaluate a prospective subcontractor’s proposal.

Addendum No. 1 (April 23, 2025)

This addendum is provided to all proposers for clarification of the subject RFP.

The above entitled RFP states in the cover letter that “All questions made to JPL after the official RFP release date must be received via email. The questions and answers will be posted on the RFP website: https://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/opportunities/.” Currently, there is a delay in posting to this site. As such, addenda will be emailed to known prospective proposers.

1. Is JPL able to provide a copy of the cybersecurity template entitled ““JPL_AGP_Cyber_Review_Template_Rev_41.xlsx” as referenced in the standard subcontract under Special Provision 4.0 “Security Requirements For Registering Subcontractor’s Information Technology Devices?”
   
   
   
   1. Yes, a copy of this template will be uploaded to Sam.gov and sent to known prospective proposers via email.
   
   
   
   


2. Should it be assumed that this subcontract will be more than $2 million, and if so, are proposers required to fill out attachment B-10 and Section 3 Attachment A-17?
   
   
   
   1. The B-10 needs to be completed only when there is scope negotiated that exceeds the $2M for actual scope to be performed, not RWOs. CAS does not apply to Small Businesses. Please check the box for that exemption.
   
   
   
   


3. Would the current status of key personnel who are not yet U.S. citizens pose any issue regarding participation?
   
   
   
   1. A significant part of the technical information JPL intends to exchange with subcontractors would be considered export controlled. Time is of the essence for future work under this subcontract, therefore it is essential that JPL have a subcontract that does not require LRS (Limited Release System) or URS (Unlimited Release System) reviews in order to exchange information. Having non-U.S. citizen key personnel will eventually pose an issue when it’s required the subcontractor work with export-controlled information. If your company plans on making key personnel U.S. persons, it is encouraged that the timeline be included in the proposal response.
   
   
   
   


4. Will JPL require a sealed package or detailed pricing data from the proposer's subcontractors?
   
   
   
   1. JPL will not require a sealed package. JPL will require detailed pricing data from any lower-tier subcontractors, which should be transposed via the A-15, Tab 4-3.
   
   
   
   


5. Are proposers expected to submit three separate basis of estimate documents for each RWO?
   
   
   
   1. Only FY 25 rates should be used on the RWOs. Proposers should submit a total of three RWO proposals based off of the three RWOs that are attached to this solicitation.
   
   
   
   


6. Regarding the proposal due date of April 23, would JPL be willing to provide an extension to May 14?
   
   
   
   1. This addendum officially changes the RFP due date to May 14, 2025, 3:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).
   
   
   
   


7. On page 6 of the JPL RFP, the table cites a 100-page page limit for the technical/management volume. Would JPL consider increasing this page limit to 150 pages?
   
   
   
   1. This addendum officially changes the page limit to 150 pages.
   
   
   
   


8. On page 7 of the JPL RFP, items 1.1.1.1 and 1.1.1.3 refer to “other customers.” Does this mean non-JPL customers?
   
   
   
   1. Yes, this refers to non-JPL customers.
   
   
   
   


9. The Preliminary Information section includes a choice between “Task or Support Type.” Will JPL please provide a definition of each so that proposers can know exactly what is being requested?
   
   
   
   1. Task type work provides specific tasks for the subcontractor to complete. This work type for this subcontract effort will be task type. Support Type work does not have defined tasks and the subcontractor would be given daily direction from JPL.
   
   
   
   

The RFP due date is 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.

Attachments/Links