REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
March 21, 2007
PERIOD OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSION ENDS
5:30 PM Monday, April 30, 2007
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (“The Commission”) invites submission of proposals to provide a report tracing the complete supply chains for three key U.S. weapon systems: (1) the F/A-22 Raptor jet fighter/attack aircraft; (2) the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class Destroyer; and (3) the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter (and derivatives), using the case study methodology.
ABOUT THE COMMISSION. The Commission was established by Congress in 2000 to monitor and report to Congress on the economic and national security dimensions of the United States’ trade and economic ties with China. Further details about the Commission are available on its website: www.uscc.gov.
ABOUT PROPOSALS. The Commission solicits proposals from contractors capable of providing a one-time report describing the source for every discrete part and subsystem contained in each of the three listed weapon systems. In the event no qualifying proposals are received addressing all three weapon systems, proposals also will be considered from contractors capable of providing a one-time report describing the source for every discrete part and subsystem contained in any one or two of the three listed weapon systems.
Among the matters to be examined in the effort and addressed by the report with respect to each of the three weapon systems it addresses are:
- How many discrete parts are utilized in the weapon system?
- List each discrete part.
- What is the commercial source for each of those parts?
- What is the location where each of those parts is manufactured?
- By what route, and as a component of which subsystem, does each part reach the prime contractor?
- What is the procurement lead time (from execution of a purchase contract by the next higher manufacturer/subcontractor/prime contractor in the procurement chain) for manufacture and supply of each part?
- What proportion (by number, and by value) of the parts of the weapon system is manufactured outside the United States? Of that proportion, what proportion is manufactured in a nation that is a party to a treaty alliance with the United States? Of the proportion manufactured in a nation that is not a party to a treaty alliance with the United States, what proportion is manufactured in the People’s Republic of China?
- Of those parts manufactured in a nation that is not a party to a treaty alliance with the United States, which ones are also available from a manufacturer in the United States or from a manufacturer in a nation that is a party to a treaty alliance with the United States, and which ones are not?
Proposals should include:
- A statement of the applicant’s relevant qualifications to satisfy the terms of this RFP;
- A presentation of the research methodology the applicant proposes to employ;
- An estimate of the time and resources the applicant will need to complete the required work (the work must be completed no later than July 31, 2007);
- The price the applicant will charge to the Commission to complete the work set forth in this RFP. The Commission for both budgetary and policy reasons generally has favored proposals for commissioned research with costs that do not exceed $20,000 but this amount is not an absolute limit.
At the Commission’s discretion, the report procured via this Request for Proposal may be posted on the Commission’s website.
The Commission will determine to which organization or individual responding to this request to award this work based on “best value” analysis of the proposals received, including costs, technical value, and ability to complete the work satisfactorily and deliver the requested product on time.
CONTRACTING PROCEDURE. Each organization or individual responding to this request must warrant that it/he/she is performing this work solely for the Commission and that the resulting study will not be shared with other parties without the prior written consent of the Commission.
Firms and individuals wishing to submit a proposal in response to this Request for Proposal must ensure that the response arrives at the following location by 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 30, 2007, or it will not be accepted or considered.
Electronic submissions are acceptable.
Kathy Michels
Associate Director
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Room 602
Hall of the States
444 North Capitol Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
kmichels@uscc.gov
Tel: 202-624-1409