200512 UJTS RFI.pdf

Ser. 20-0001/UJTS

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR

UNDERGRADUATE JET TRAINING SYSTEM

FIELD CARRIER LANDING PRACTICE & CARRIER

TOUCH-AND-GO EVENTS

Prepared for and by:

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE

PMA-273 NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

Patuxent River, MD 20670

14 MAY 2020

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release: distribution unlimited.

1 DESCRIPTION

This Request for Information (RFI), Serial Number 20-0001/UJTS, is a continuation of on-going market research conducted in support of the Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program. For further background, reference should be made to the market survey posting under N6134018R0066, dated 21 May 2018. In addition, NAVAIR is publicizing Appendix A updated Capability Requirements. Appendix A provides updated draft characteristics of the UJTS based on market research and industry responses to date.

In accordance with the policy in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.101, NAVAIR is seeking industry feedback to determine the extent to which nondevelopmental items are available that could meet the Government’s requirements. To that end, this RFI is focused on the suitability of an existing land-based jet trainer aircraft design (i.e. nondevelopmental, as defined under FAR 2.101) to satisfy certain requirements under consideration for the next generation US Navy undergraduate jet trainer aircraft. Of particular interest, and the subject of this RFI, is the capability of a nondevelopmental aircraft to perform Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) events and Carrier touch-and-go events, and the corresponding effects of these high sink rate landings.

The information provided in response to this RFI will be used to assess the current state of technology and inform whether the candidate system(s) can satisfy the capability requirements to perform missions in support of Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) T-45 Combined Multi- Service Pilot Training System (i.e., CNATRAINST 1542.167B) and the Advanced Strike Fighter Undergraduate Military Flight Officer Training System syllabi (i.e., CNATRAINST 1542.164A).

The responses will also assist in the requirements generation process, development of the acquisition strategy, and budgetary submission.

1.1 Undergraduate Jet Training System Overview

Jet training capability is required to provide advanced training for undergraduate United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) Carrier jet pilots. The T-45 Combined Multi-Service Pilot Training System currently supports CNATRA’s Intermediate and Advanced Jet Training Syllabus and is anticipated to be re-capitalized by replacement, during the 2028 timeframe (or sooner).

1.2 This is a Request for Information Only

This market research is for information gathering and/or internal planning purposes only. This RFI does NOT constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), a Request for Proposals (RFP), a Request for Quote (RFQ), nor is it a promise to issue an RFP in the future or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. This RFI does not commit the Government to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No solicitation documents exist at this time. Thus, at this time, the Navy is NOT seeking proposals and will NOT accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the Government will NOT pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense.

2 SPECIFIC ITEMS OF INTEREST

To understand how the USN and USMC can best satisfy the capability needs identified for a future UJTS, NAVAIR is interested in obtaining the following information about the capabilities and performance of existing land-based jet trainer aircraft as they relate to the Navy jet flight training needs. To this end, NAVAIR is requesting industry responses to the following areas of interest.

2.1 Aircraft Description

The respondent should provide a narrative description of the aircraft included in response to this

RFI.

2.2 Requirements

The respondent should evaluate the capability of the existing aircraft design against the following threshold and objective requirements:

A. FCLP events requirements [Threshold]. For the purposes of this RFI and consistent with CNATRA training practice, unflared field landings and FCLP events are treated as a single landing type for frequency and characteristics. The term FCLP should be understood as the normal landing type used ashore.

• Conduct FCLP events ashore.

• Conduct fixed angle of attack (AOA) approaches and landings at representative glideslope and airspeed.

• Maintain a representative sight picture during AOA approach.

• Maintain design service life of the aircraft with FCLP included in the usage profile.

B. Carrier touch-and-go event requirements [Objective]

• Conduct touch-and-go landings on an aircraft Carrier (no arrestments or catapult launches).

• Conduct fixed AOA approaches to Carrier touch-and-go at representative glideslope and airspeed.

• Maintain a representative sight picture during AOA approach.

• Maintain design service life of the aircraft with FCLP and Carrier touch-and-go events included in the usage profile.

Additional draft capability requirements and system characteristics are included in Appendix A.

The Appendix A is provided for context and for purposes of informing industry when formulating a response to the RFI. The respondents should provide responses to the ability of the candidate system to meet those requirements.

2.3 Sink Speed Assessment

Respondents should provide a sink speed assessment. Respondents should explore the application of advanced technology (e.g. Precision Landing Mode on F-18E/F) that result in reduced variability of touchdown conditions, and provide an assessment of potential benefits from the incorporation of such technology.

2.4 Multivariate Landing Loads Analysis

Respondents should provide a multivariate landing analysis in accordance with Appendix B.

The analysis parameters specified for the FCLP sink speed distribution were derived from current T-45 training operations.

2.5 Dynamic Loads Analysis

Respondents should provide a dynamic loads analysis using critical points from the multivariate landing analysis.

2.6 Tire Load and Deflection Analysis

Respondents should provide a tire load and deflection analysis. The analysis should determine the maximum expected tire load and speed profiles for all mission and ground handling conditions. The mission and ground handling conditions include but are not limited to the following: taxi, turns, takeoff, and landing shore-based [Threshold] and Carrier touch-and-go events [Objective]. The tire design should account for all critical gross weights, CGs, velocities [Threshold], and landing on a cable [Objective] such that the loads do not exceed tire capability, aircraft structural or operational limits.

2.7 Clearance Assessment

Respondents should provide a clearance assessment, verifying the landing gear arrangement and servicing criteria prevents ground contact (e.g. servicing equipment, runway lights [Threshold], arresting cables, camera deck plates [Objective]) at all external stores loading configurations, engine runs, and for flat gear, or flat tire, or flat gear and flat tire situations. External stores are not anticipated for Carrier touch-and-go events.

2.8 Cable Rollover Assessment

Respondents should provide a cable rollover assessment. The tire design parameters of the assessment should account for all critical gross weights, CGs, and velocities such that the loads do not exceed aircraft structural or operational limits. The assessment should also show tire plowing of the cable will not occur.

2.9 Strength Survey

Respondents should provide a strength survey of the airframe, engine, and landing gear using the critical loads resulting from the dynamic loads analysis. The strength survey should highlight any negative margin areas against the following normal strength criteria:

• No structural damage or detrimental deformation at or below 115% of limit loads.

Detrimental deformation includes gross section yielding, permanent buckling, or deformation, or temporary deformation sufficient to cause interference, inhibit proper operation, or result in release of retention devices, and

• No structural rupture or collapse at or below 150% of limit load.

2.10 Service Life Assessment

Respondents should provide a service life assessment of the airframe and structural components when subjected to usage with FCLP events included [Threshold] and both FCLP & Carrier touch-and-go events [Objective]. For the purposes of this study:

• Both FCLP and Carrier touch-and-go loading distribution shall be as per the results of the multivariate landing loads analysis.

• Estimated aircraft utilization is 400 flight hours per aircraft per year.

• FCLPs occur at the rate of 1200 per aircraft per year.

• Carrier touch-and-go events occur at the rate of 45 events per aircraft per year [Objective]

• All usage other than landings events may remain as per design usage.

• Service life shall be evaluated against standard USN fatigue criteria of calculated operational time to a point where a 0.01 inch crack is assumed to have developed with a scatter factor of 3.0 applied.

2.11 Recommended Modifications to Existing Aircraft

The respondent is requested to provide expert opinion on the structural modifications recommended to satisfy the Threshold and Objective requirements. For each recommendation, the respondent should provide the estimated effect on structural life, ground test verification requirements, flight test evaluation requirements, schedule estimates, and a rough order of magnitude of program cost.

2.12 Aircraft Pricing Information

NAVAIR is seeking rough order of magnitude pricing information based on an existing land-based jet trainer aircraft design that aligns with the Appendix A requirements. The information should focus on the aircraft acquisition cost, inclusive of the costs identified in section 2.11. The response should provide assumptions that informed the estimate. In addition, the Government is interested in understanding industry’s input regarding significant positive and negative contributors to aircraft procurement cost (e.g. delivery cadence, quantity, terms & conditions, capabilities, etc.).

3 RFI RESPONDENT INSTRUCTIONS

• The Government is interested in ensuring the content of this RFI is well understood by industry prior to the submittal of written responses. To this end, NAVAIR is conducting one-on-one teleconferences with interested prime contractors within two weeks of this announcement. Please request a teleconference via the Contract Specialist and Procuring Contracting Officer listed below.

• All final responses should be submitted no later than 13 JUL 2020 at 16:30PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). Responses should be submitted electronically via email to:

- Procuring Contracting Officer – Blake A. Strickland – blake.strickland@navy.mil

- Contract Specialist – Priscilla E. Ibañez – priscilla.ibanez@navy.mil

Large files may be delivered via DOD SAFE. Delivery of DOD SAFE Files should be coordinated with the Contract Specialist, Priscilla Ibanez.

• Proprietary information should be clearly marked. It is the responsibility of respondents to clearly mark submitted information with appropriate restrictive markings. The Government shall not be liable for any proprietary information not properly identified.

Any materials submitted in accordance with this RFI which contain information that is marked as proprietary will be protected as proprietary information.

• No classified documents shall be included in your response.

• Information submitted in response to the RFI will not be returned and becomes the property of the US Government (except properly marked proprietary information).

• Data submitted in response to this questionnaire will be distributed and discussed within the Government. Respondents are further advised that the Government’s analysis of your responses will require disclosure of your responses to supporting contractor personnel.

US Government support contractors will assist in the review of any data provided by respondents to this RFI. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) has been signed by the support contractors with the US Government that precludes them from disclosing any data outside of the US Government. Accordingly, respondents are asked to provide concurrence in their submissions that the data submitted may be reviewed by US Government Support Contractors. All information will be handled by US Government and Support Contractor personnel as procurement sensitive information.

• Although not desired, a partial response to the RFI is acceptable.

• Questions regarding this RFI should be directed to the Procuring Contracting Officer, via email, at blake.strickland@navy.mil and Contract Specialist at priscilla.ibanez@navy.mil.

• The electronic copy of your response must be in Microsoft Office 2010 or Adobe Acrobat XI readable formats.

• Respondents should provide identifying contact information, to include:

- Company Name and address,

- Name, title, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address of point of contact,

- CAGE Code and DUNS Number (if applicable),

- An inventory list of all response files/elements which allow the Government to determine that the complete response has been received, and

- If your company is not the manufacturer of the aircraft being described, please identify the manufacturer and identify your relationship with the manufacturer.