Attachment 15 - JQR RATO Rocket Motor Aug2023.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

FAR 9.202(a) and DoD 4120.24M (Public Law 98-525, Title 10 USC Section 2319)

Section A: Item Identification

1. Stock Number (NSN): 1340-01-522-6689 DODIC: HA39

2. Part Number (P/N): 60490A20001, 745L407, 689-18000-1

3. Noun: Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) Rocket Motor

4. Application: Launch BQM-167A Aerial Target Drone

Section B: Justification For Establishing a Qualification Requirement and Reason Why Qualification Requirement Must Be Demonstrated Prior to Any Contract Award.

1. Characteristics associated with the manufacture of these rocket motors, if not correct, would result in product functional degradations. This item performs a critical function on the aircraft and special equipment is required for its manufacture and testing. Special care and attention is required but not limited to finish, processing, assembly, performance, and part interchangeability of this item.

2. The prospective bidder’s ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications and the execution of the qualification requirements specified herein are necessary to verify the structural and functional integrity and/or form, fit, and function of the item being procured.

3. Failure to procure this item from a fully qualified source could result in failure of the part, degradation of aircraft mission capability, or loss of aircraft.

4. Completion of the specified pre-contract award qualification requirements will assure the government that the offeror is technically capable of producing the item in compliance with the applicable technical specifications and associated drawings and within the schedule and economic constraints of our contracts. To protect the interests of the Air Force, only suppliers in the United States and Canada will be considered. There are sufficient technical and schedule risks, which can only be minimized by a completion of the requirements prior to contract award.

Section C: Qualification Requirements That Must be Satisfied to Become a Qualified Source and Qualification Waiver Requirements.

1. Prequalification Notice. The offeror shall notify the contracting officer of intent to qualify as a source for this rocket motor.

2. Facilities. The offeror must certify to the design control activity (EBHGB) that the offeror has the required facilities and equipment to manufacture, inspect, test, and package the item, or provisions for their acquisition or utilization from another source. When the offeror proposes to acquire these items, the offeror shall provide documented equipment orders or similar documentation for government inspection. The offeror shall make facilities, equipment, tooling, and personnel available for evaluation and inspection by the government.

3. Data Verification. The offeror shall verify possession of a complete data package by providing a list of applicable drawings, procedures, and specifications currently in his possession related to the manufacture of the RATO rocket motor. This package must be sufficient to show in thorough technical detail how the RATO shall be manufactured and tested. In addition, the package must contain a qualification test procedure designed to be a final functional checkout of manufactured devices sufficient in detail to ensure all operational functions meet specification.

When the offeror proposes to use industry standards during manufacture of the RATO, the offeror shall document the differences between the industry standard and the military standard, and state why those differences do not adversely affect the ability of the RATO to pass the final functional checkout. The design control activity shall determine if the industry standard is acceptable for use in the manufacture of the rocket motor.

4. Process Verification. The offeror shall identify sources for materials and standards for internally used processes. The offeror shall further define/provide written procedures for the utilization of any special test or inspection facilities and/or equipment. This documentation shall also include a diagnostic procedure showing the process the rocket motors being produced would undergo. The production process shall show how the offeror shall test, inspect, diagnose, produce and perform a final functional checkout. Development of special test procedures not available from the government is required. The offeror shall develop those procedures for review and approval by the design control activity. The contractor must be capable of locating alternative components to minimize any diminishing manufacturing source and material shortage (DMSMS) problems.

5. Test and Evaluation or Verification. The offeror shall submit to the design control activity an explanation of how they will certify that the test methods and production procedures meet the specifications for the rocket motor. The government retains the option to inspect the offeror’s production and testing facilities. To allow accomplishing this, the offeror’s facilities shall be made available to government inspection during the qualification effort upon ten days written notice of intent to inspect. A qualification test procedure per DI- NDTI-81307A and a qualification test report per DI-NDTI-80809B shall be provided through the contracting office. Qualification testing must be accomplished IAW SP201308358 Rev.

D, Paragraph 4.2.

6. Qualification Article. Upon satisfactory compliance with the provisions of Section C Paragraphs 1 through 5 above, the offeror shall build and test production equivalent RATO rocket motors IAW SP201308358 Rev. D Paragraph 4 to demonstrate production capability.

This production and testing shall be done at the offeror’s expense.

Estimated likely costs for government-unique testing and evaluation which will be incurred by the potential offeror to become qualified: $5,000,000.

7. Sensitive Military Technology. This section does not apply to the RATO rocket motor.

8. Testing and Production Evaluation. The offeror shall be required to submit a complete test report for the production capability demonstration verifying compliance with all performance, environmental, mechanical, and quality assurance requirements identified by the Technical Data Package. In addition the test report shall contain detailed documentation describing the testing procedures during production. This data shall describe in detail the point(s) in the production process that testing occurred, and if failures were noted, the corrective action taken and the results of the retest. The government retains the option to inspect the production and testing process, including on-site witnessing of any or all production and testing activities. The offeror will provide notification to the government of testing and evaluation 30 days in advance so that the government can witness, if needed, coordinate needed activities, support, etc.

9. Time Completion Estimate. It is the estimate of the design control activity that completion of this qualification effort should require 180 to 360 days. This is based on complexity and hazards associated with the rocket motor and other factors. This is not a deadline but a notification to a potential offeror of the time we believe will be required.

Events that occur during the qualification process may cause this time requirement to increase or perhaps decrease, depending on individual circumstances.

10. Time Limitation. An offeror may not be denied the opportunity to submit and have considered, an offer for a contract if the offeror can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the contracting officer and cognizant engineering activity that the offeror (or its product) meets these standards for qualification or can meet them 45 days before the date specified for award of the contract. The award will not be delayed to provide the contractor with an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to meet the standard specified in this source qualification statement.

11. Evaluation of Proposals Not Previously Qualified. The offeror must be fully qualified in order to be eligible for a contract award. Therefore, the offeror must fulfill all of the requirements stated, in writing, in this Justification for Qualification Requirements 45 days before the date specified for award of the contract. The government reserves the right to award a contract at the time specified for award, to a qualified source even though other sources may not have finished qualifying.

12. Waiver. Any offeror who has had previous experience in the production of the rocket motor or other similar rocket motors may apply to the design control activity for a waiver of some of the above requirements 45 days before contract award; Section C Paragraphs 1 through 5 will not be waived. A waiver will be granted only if the design control activity can establish the qualification of the offeror from previous knowledge/ interface or from written inputs from the offeror.

13. Approval. Once the qualification requirements are met, the offeror will be listed as an approved source for this rocket motor. Approval, however, does not guarantee subsequent contract award.

Section D: Signatures.

Jonathan Matheson AFLCMC/EBHGB Program Engineer

Lynn Thomas AFLCMC/EBHE Chief Engineer

Kevin Flinders AFLCMC/PZK Chief of Contracting Office

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