Attachment 1_FPS-117 Slip Ring.pdf

RFI Number: RFI-AEWS-Slip Ring-2025 Issuing Agency: United States Air Force (USAF), Atmospheric Early Warning System (AEWS) Program Management Office Response Date: 15 September 2025 Point of Contact: Dustin Seidl, Chris Jarman, Cameron Tucker

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND DISCLAIMER

This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the United States Air Force. This RFI is for market research and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The Air Force 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.

The purpose of this RFI is to identify potential sources, capabilities, and a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost and schedule to design, develop, and produce a Form, Fit, and Function (FFF) replacement for a radar slip ring. This information will be used to develop a budget submission for a Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) program.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The Government seeks to engage with industry to develop a new slip ring solution that can be seamlessly integrated into the existing AN/FPS-117 radar system. The solution must be a FFFI replacement for the current slip ring.

3.0 SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of this potential effort is anticipated to be a three-phased approach:

1. Phase I: Reverse Engineering and Design (RDT&E): The contractor will be required to perform a full reverse engineering effort on a Government-furnished sample unit to create a new technical data package. This effort will include, but not be limited to, mechanical and electrical testing, material analysis, and the development of a full FFF design.

2. Phase II: Prototype Development and Qualification (RDT&E): The contractor will manufacture one or more prototype units based on the design developed in Phase I. These prototypes will be subjected to rigorous testing to ensure they meet all performance requirements and environmental specifications.

3. Phase III: Production (Procurement): Once the new design is qualified and approved, the contractor will enter a low-rate or full-rate production phase to deliver new slip rings for the entire fleet.

4.0 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The replacement slip ring must meet or exceed the following performance and physical requirements. The Government will provide a sample unit to aid in the reverse engineering effort.

Reliability / Maintainability Mean Time to Failure 125,000 Hrs

Technical Specifications Channel Qty Specification Coaxial Rotary Joints 6 Coaxial Slip Rings 8 Signal Slip Rings 50 (25 slip rings) Control Slip Rings 6 Power Sliprings 5 Fiber Optic n/a Rotation Rate 0-6 RPM (Up to 15 RPM with reduced life)

Environmental Qualifications:

Operating Temp -40 to +58 C Non-Operating Temp -57 to +68 C Operating Altitude 15,000 FT Non-Operating Altitude 40,000 FT Shock MIL-STD-202, Method 213, test condition A (50G, 11ms, ½ sine) Vibration MIL-STD-202, Method 201, (10G, 10-55 Hz) Salt MIL-STD-202, Method 101, Test Condition B (48 hrs, finish only) Sand and Dust MIL-STD-202, Method 110

5.0 REQUESTED INFORMATION

Respondents are requested to provide the following information no later than 15 September 2025.

• Company Information o Company Name, CAGE Code, UEI Number o Point of Contact (Name, Title, Phone Number, Email Address)

• Capability Statement o Describe your company’s experience and expertise in the design, development, and manufacturing of custom slip rings, particularly for military or aerospace applications.

o Describe your experience with reverse engineering and developing technical data packages from scratch.

• Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Cost and Schedule:

o Provide a ROM cost estimate for each of the three phases outlined in Section 3.0.

Please provide a breakdown of costs by major categories (e.g., labor, materials, testing, etc.).

o Provide a ROM schedule in months for the completion of each phase.

o Crucially, please explicitly state all assumptions you have made to arrive at your cost and schedule estimates.

• Technical Approach and Risks:

o Describe your proposed technical approach to solving this obsolescence issue.

o Identify any technical risks you foresee and how you would mitigate them.

• Small Business Status:

o Indicate your small business size status relative to this requirement.

6.0 SAMPLE UNIT AVAILABILITY

The Government may provide an opportunity to evaluate a non-functional slip ring unit available for inspection under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Interested parties wishing to inspect a sample unit should contact the point of contact listed in this RFI to arrange.

7.0 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Responses to this RFI are due by the date specified above. Please submit your response electronically in PDF format to the Point of Contacts listed.

Contract Officer Contract Specialist Chris Jarman Cameron Tucker christopher.jarman@us.af.mil cameron.tucker.6@us.af.mil 801-586-5439 801-586-1573

Lead Program Manager Dustin Seidl dustin.seidl@us.af.mil 801-777-1683 mailto:christopher.jarman@us.af.mil mailto:cameron.tucker.6@us.af.mil mailto:dustin.seidl@us.af.mil