Navy explores HUBzones for submarine support work

The Navy is looking for support for how it maintains and procures submarines.

In a new sources sought notice, the Navy says it needs support such as help desk, operations, cybersecurity, software development, data base management and NMCI support.

That IT work will support the Navy Submarine Maintenance, Engineering, Planning and Procurement Activity at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.

In the notice, the Navy says it is doing research on whether a HUBzone small business is capable of providing the support.

The current contract is held by Trowbridge & Trowbridge, a woman-owned small business in McLean, Virginia. They are not a HUBzone small business.

But just because the Navy is considering a HUBzone contract, that doesn’t mean they will make it a HUBzone contract.

They first have to get enough HUBzone businesses to respond to the notice and show they are qualified.

At the top of the list of things the Navy is looking for is the ability to provide IT support services at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

After that, they need to be able to support 3,400 users and operate a help desk operation. Another requirement is CMMI level 3 or higher.

The requirements also include specific software packages such as Adobe, Oracle 12 database, Apache and Windchill.

There also are security clearance and Secret Facility Clearance requirements.

The Navy is open to the formation of joint ventures to pursue the work.

The request for information was released March 19. Comments are due April 3.