This Solicitation Industry Day was offered in conjunction with the IWRP 2 other transaction authority (OTA) program announcement requesting proposals from across industry for the opportunity to organize and operate IWRP 2 in the form of a consortium. The IWRP uses the alternative acquisition method, OTA, to streamline acquisition processes, develop prototypes, and rapidly provide advanced technologies to the fleet.
“We are always looking to engage with industry and this event offered us the opportunity to provide a better understanding of the government’s anticipated IWRP 2 other transaction (OT) strategy and our technical scope areas,” said Jee Youn Fickling, IWRP program manager, NIWC Atlantic.
Leadership from across the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) enterprise provided command overviews as well as expectations of IWRP 2. Additionally, the event gave industry the opportunity for questions and answers and an avenue to offer feedback for areas of IWRP 2 OT consideration.
“We see an enormous value in IWRP as one of the unique acquisition tools at the ready to rapidly deliver solutions and transition technology into the hands of the Warfighter,” said Steve Harnig, NIWC Atlantic contracts director.
Launched in 2018, IWRP 1 demonstrated success and effectiveness since its inception. The project initially received a $100 million ceiling and a performance period running through summer 2021. By June 2020, the IWRP team had allocated 100 percent of that ceiling requiring an increase in both the ceiling and period of performance (PoP). In response, the assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition approved a $400 million ceiling increase and a two-year PoP extension, which went into effect the summer of 2020.
“The use of IWRP continues to grow, and it is expected that $500 million in total ceiling could potentially be used by the end of fiscal year (FY) 2021 or first quarter FY22,” said Fickling. “IWRP 1 will conclude once it reaches the end of the PoP and ceiling threshold, but IWRP 2 will continue innovative prototyping through collaborative efforts with industry and academia. We are excited to see what the continuation of this effort will bring for the warfighter and the Navy.”
To date, IWRP has awarded 85 prototype projects with 36 prototypes currently in workflow for award in FY21 and FY22. Additionally, six of these awarded prototype projects transitioned as other transaction for production (OTPs) totaling $253 million in FY20 and FY21 with nine prototype projects currently in workflow to transition into production in FY21 and FY22.
“The IWRP team provides an opportunity to find solutions and prototype and produce innovative ideas that help us retire older and more vulnerable equipment,” said John Pope, executive director, NAVWAR. “IWRP enables us to rapidly deliver technology to the warfighter, which gives us the competitive advantage.”
Due to the successes of IWRP 1, the impact of this project is being applied and used across other NAVWAR scenarios for Information Warfare technology and innovation considerations.
“One example of how we’re leveraging IWRP in unique ways includes the use of Commercial Solutions Openings to support events like Advanced Naval Technology Exercises, where low-barrier-of-entry opportunities are available for industry participation in technology demonstrations and assessments for our Sailors and Marines,” said Fickling. “We fully expect to pursue more of these scenarios and innovation opportunities through IWRP 2.”
All presentation material used, questions and answers submitted before, during and after the Industry Day were recorded and posted to NAVWAR E-Commerce under the OT program announcement (PA) in the solicitation section (https://e-commerce.sscno.nmci.navy.mil/). NIWC Atlantic plans to release a PA for the OT through the NAVWAR E-Commerce website (https://e-commerce.sscno.nmci.navy.mil/) and SAM.beta.gov.
As a part of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, NIWC Atlantic provides systems engineering and acquisition to deliver information warfare capabilities to the naval, joint and national warfighter through the acquisition, development, integration, production, test, deployment, and sustainment of interoperable command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, cyber and information technology capabilities.