NSWCPD Big Blue 4 Industry Day

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to questions submitted by industry regarding the NSWCPD Big Blue 4 (BB4) opportunity, following an industry day session and questions received in advance.

• Fee on Non-Labor Costs: Contractors will not be allowed to propose fee on non-labor costs, excluding travel (material and ODC Services).

• Ship Availabilities: The government anticipates task orders to support multiple ship availabilities.

• Labor Categories: The government will review and consider additional management support labor categories beyond clerk/typist and Systems/Program Analyst. They will also review minimum qualifications for all labor categories, including potentially revising the Bachelor's degree requirement for technical writers to include an equivalency of 7 years of experience with a High School degree.

• Acquisition Management Specialist: The government believes the asterisk indicating this as a key labor category was a misinterpretation and will review and clarify the SOW if appropriate, as no personnel are identified as key.

• Competition: The BB4 solicitation will be under unrestricted, full, and open competition. Any set-aside decisions will be made at the task order level.

• RFP Issuance: The BB4 MAC RFP will be issued through PIEE and SAM. The anticipated RFP release is Q4 FY26.

• Consortiums: A consortium of primes will not be possible for this type of contract, which is a Multiple Award Contract (MAC) where prime contract holders compete under the MAC, and then compete on Task Orders.

• Hazardous Waste Material Labor: Estimates for hazardous waste material labor will be at the task order level, and the base contracts will not evaluate costs. Level of effort and inclusion of hazardous material labor will be included in the RFP and task order solicitations.

• The RFP release date has been clarified to Q4 FY26.

• The government will review and potentially revise labor category qualifications and definitions.

• Set-aside decisions will occur at the task order level.

• The solicitation will be full and open competition, with no limit on the number of primes.

• No draft Section L&M is anticipated, and no further sources sought will be released; a pre-solicitation notice will be issued.

Industry Day Briefing / Other

This document contains slides from an "Industry Day" event for the "BIG BLUE IV" initiative, held on March 18, 2026. It provides an overview of the upcoming contract, its objectives, and related information for potential bidders. The presentation was conducted by NAVSEA Warfare Centers NSWCPD Contracting.

• Purpose: To support the transition of Hull, Mechanical & Electrical (HM&E) machinery technology to the U.S. Navy fleet and support Navy Modernization Programs. This involves Ship Changes (SCs) and SHIPALTs for upgrading and maintaining system/equipment readiness.

• Scope: Covers mid- to large-level modernization projects, including structural, outfitting, piping, ventilation, and electrical system modifications, as well as equipment repair and testing. Work will be performed at CONUS and OCONUS locations across various platforms (Surface, Submarine, Carrier, Amphibious).

• Big Blue III Contract Details: Awarded March 15, 2021, with an ordering period ending March 14, 2028, and a PoP end date of December 14, 2029. Contract ceiling is approximately $780M, with an estimated Level of Effort of 9,816,000 labor hours. It's a SECRET level contract with CPFF/FFP, IDIQ MAC structure.

• Big Blue IV Contract Structure: Anticipated to be a 5-year base with five 1-year option periods. The projected Level of Effort (LOE) is approximately 1.3M labor hours per year, with an estimated 85% Government Site / 15% Contractor Site work location.

• CMMC Requirements: Effective November 10, 2025, DFARS 252.204-7025 mandates Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 for contracts involving CUI or FCI. Contractors must undergo a CMMC Level 2 C3PAO assessment by November 2026.

• Procurement Process: Prime contractors will be awarded a BASE contract. Individual Task Orders will be solicited and competed among MAC contract holders, evaluated on cost, technical, and past performance factors.

• Anticipated Timeline (Tentative):

  • RFP Release: Q4 FY26
  • RFP Closes: Q1 FY27
  • Contract Award: Q2 FY28

• Contracting: Sean McGinley (sean.p.mcginley4.civ@us.navy.mil), Emily Simpson (Emily-Rebecca.simpson.civ@us.navy.mil)

• Small Business: Christie Colaianni (Christie.l.colaianni.civ@us.navy.mil)

• Ground rules state that all technical requirements in the briefing are summaries; final requirements will be in the RFP.

• All further dialogue should be directed to the Contracts Office via email, not directly to NSWCPD technical code.

• Q&A and attendee lists will be posted to SAM.gov.

• Remarks are not a guarantee of government action; the formal solicitation is the only document to be relied upon.

Other / Unclassified

This document announces an Industry Day for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) Big Blue IV (BB4) MAC Contract. The purpose is to inform industry partners about NSWCPD's next-generation requirements for the BB4 MAC Contract, which supports the transition of Hull, Mechanical & Electrical machinery technology to the U.S. Navy and various Navy Modernization Programs.

• Event Details: The Industry Day will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams on March 18, 2026, from 1000 to 1100 EDT.
• Registration: Interested vendors must register using the provided Eventbrite link. Instructions in the form should be read carefully.
• Content: The Navy will discuss upcoming projects to help industry strategize approaches to meet future demands. A DRAFT Statement of Work (SOW) is attached for background information. All discussions will be unclassified.
• Participation: Federal contractors (large and small) interested in NSWCPD requirements are encouraged to attend. There is no cost to attend.
• Questions: Advance questions can be submitted by March 13th, 12:00 PM EDT, to Emily-rebecca.simpson.civ@us.navy.mil with a specific subject line. Questions submitted during the event via Microsoft Teams are also permitted. A Q&A summary will be provided post-event.
• Networking: A list of attendees and contact information will be shared with participants for networking, unless attendees opt out.
• Disclaimer: Attendance or participation in this Industry Day or any subsequent RFI does not guarantee future contract awards. The government will not pay for any costs incurred in preparation for or attendance at this event.

Statement of Work (SOW)

This Statement of Work (SOW) is for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) to support various Navy Modernization Programs. The goal is to provide installation and technical services for upgrading Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E) systems and deploying technologies that enhance availability, reliability, and ship mission readiness, while decreasing maintenance requirements.

• Services: Includes design, development, build, testing, prototype engineering, technology insertion, performance analysis, system integration, installation support, logistics support, training development, program management, and on-site technical support.

• Platforms: Primarily U.S. Navy Surface Ships, Carriers, Submarines, and Service Craft. Also supports Foreign Military Sales (FMS) platforms, Military Sealift Command (MSC), land-based test sites, and other DOD platforms.

• Tasks: Covers industrial support for major modernization programs and critical-path Ship Changes (SCs) and Alterations (SHIPALTs). This includes component-level digital upgrades through system-level upgrades for HM&E and Electronic systems.

• Repair Services: May include ship/system maintenance and repair services that are fully bounded and conform to NSWCPD policy, particularly when conjunctive or concurrent with SC/Alteration efforts.

• Requires an approved NAVSEA 09MP Quality Plan/Quality Management System (QMS).

• Adherence to applicable safety regulations, environmental laws, and specific NAVSEA technical specifications and standard items.

• Quality Assurance (QA) and inspection support is mandatory.

• Detailed reporting requirements are outlined via Contract Data Requirements Lists (CDRLs).

• Performance will occur at various government site locations and shipyards worldwide, including major naval bases in the US (e.g., Norfolk, San Diego) and international locations (e.g., Japan, Spain, Bahrain).

• Specific locations will be defined in individual Task Orders.

• Non-Personal Services: The contract is for non-personal services; no employer-employee relationship is created.

• Personnel: All contractor personnel shall be U.S. citizens. Specific education and experience requirements are detailed for various labor categories.

• Security: Requires adherence to security training, potential for SECRET level clearances, and compliance with NISPOM and OPSEC requirements. Access to classified information up to SECRET level may be required.

• Quality Assurance: A NAVSEA 09MP approved QMS is mandatory. Specific QA/QC procedures and documentation are required.

• SUBSAFE: While SUBSAFE work is not authorized, prior SUBSAFE/SOC Awareness training is required for personnel working on submarines or adjacent spaces.

• Facilities: Contractor must maintain a presence in Norfolk and San Diego areas and possess capabilities in machine, structural, pipe, welding, and electrical shops.