Description
Organization: NAVAIR, PEO (CU)
Team Name: Tactical TOMAHAWK Weapons Control System Competition Team
Related Acquisition Topic(s): Alpha Contracting, Commercial and Non Developmental Items (CANDI), Cost As an Independent Variable (CAIV), Integrated Product Teams (IPT), Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD), Open Systems, Paperless Contracting, Performance Based Acquisition
Description:
The Tactical TOMAHAWK Weapon Control System (TTWCS) Competition Team is nominated for the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award in the area of Contracting. Through exemplary acquisition process innovation, this astute team saved the Department of Defense over $21 million and provided the best value contract solution for the Navy’s Tactical TOMAHAWK Weapons Control System. TTWCS is the latest evolution in capabilities for the TOMAHAWK Weapon System (TWS). Scheduled for Initial Operating Capability in FY 03, TTWCS will upgrade the obsolete Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) hardware in the Advanced TOMAHAWK Weapon Control System (ATWCS) and add increased functional capabilities to support the new Tactical TOMAHAWK cruise missile. TTWCS will employ COTS and Government Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) technology within an open systems architecture.
The competition team was tasked with selecting a TTWCS Consolidated Engineering And Development Contractor (CEDC). The CEDC would be responsible for all TTWCS development and test for Arleigh Burke DDG-51, and Ticonderoga CG-47 class ships and Combat Control System (CCS) MK 2 equipped SSN-688 attack submarines. A goal of the competition was to increase contracting efficiency over the ATWCS acquisition plan by placing several contract efforts under a single contractor team. The TTWCS contract would include hardware (design, procurement and logistics support), software (development, modification, and integration), systems engineering, and technical management services. The procurement also included options for installation, repair, training, and publications support. Another key goal of this contract was to allow maximum flexibility for the contractor team to build “what” TTWCS requires without the government specifying “how” it shall be built.
The procurement strategy included: a full and open competition, “smart” reuse of software and hardware from the ATWCS program, and Acquisition Streamlining Initiatives promulgated by DoDD 5000.2-R. The competition team’s innovative use of a Statement of Objectives (SOO) and Performance-based Requirements vice Statement of Work and Detailed Specification along with industry participation during the Request for Proposal development significantly improved the competitive process quality and potential competitor’s understanding of the requirements. Drafts of the SOO, Performance Specification and RFP were posted on a web page and fostered early communication with industry and generated invaluable feedback in preparation of the final RFP release. The competition team defined only minimal program deliverables and encouraged the contractor teams to determine the range of deliverables required to adequately manage the program. The team sought and received innovative approaches for documentation transmittal via electronic media vice paper for more efficient and expeditious review and delivery. The RFP encouraged use of Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to provide “insight” vice “oversight”, foster increased interaction between the government and industry members and facilitate establishment of one TTWCS “Team”.
A multi-disciplined team was assembled to evaluate the industry proposals and ensure a successful “systems approach” was used for TTWCS. The evaluation team was expertly led by two key individuals; the Integrated Product Team Manager for TTWCS as Chairman of the Technical Evaluation Team, and the Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO) as Chairman of the Competitive Award Panel. The technical evaluation team represented a variety of functional areas and field activities involved in the current ATWCS program. Many of these evaluators are now key IPT members for the TTWCS program.
The TTWCS team’s technical evaluation criteria focused on how the contractor proposed to meet system requirements through smart reuse of existing hardware and software and infuse new technology where appropriate. Use of an “Open System” environment was critical to future system extensibility. Key to the planned evolution of the TOMAHAWK weapon system was the use of emerging commercial technology while maintaining the current TOMAHAWK high standards for weapon precision and safety. The criteria considered a system engineering approach and the contractor’s integration of TTWCS with other major internal and external combat system components.
Bidders were asked to quantify how they would manage the Total Ownership Cost (TOC) of the TTWCS. The CEDC lends itself to holding the Contractor responsible for controlling life cycle costs through the TOC concept. This method allowed the competition team to use Cost as an Independent Variable (CAIV) in the evaluation of the CEDC competitors and select the “best value” approach. The evaluation team remained focused on this goal in the face of intense congressional interest. This interest resulted in a need to request alternate proposals and increased the evaluation workload by 150% (5 proposals vs. 2).
When awarded in May 1999, the contract demonstrated that the program goals were met using the philosophy and methods of acquisition streamlining. The competitive team’s innovative approach resulted in a best value contract with cost savings of over $21M. Additionally, reuse of proven COTS and GOTS hardware and software reduced the TTWCS procurement and installation costs from 25% to 34%, depending on ship configuration, from the ATWCS program. The use of commercial best practices and technology will allow the Tactical TOMAHAWK Weapons Control System to be more adaptable and extensible at reduced costs.
The TTWCS Competition Selection Team’s demonstrated exemplary contracting innovation is a positive contribution to the goals of DoD’s acquisition process improvements. The contract they brought to fruition will be the framework by which the next generation weapons control system will be efficiently developed and fielded for the Tactical TOMAHAWK missile. The TTWCS will also provide the Navy with a common control system for its array of surface combatant land attack weapons.
