NGP QnAs_14Mar24.pdf

Question Answer

Can the government supply the 2012 Hard Target Munitions (HTM) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) and HTM AoA Excursion from 2019 as GFI?

Necessary details from AoA's provided in classified briefing presented at industry day.

In section, 4.1.1.e and 4.2.1.e the government requests notional contractor average unit production price. How many total units should the contractor assume? Does the government also want NRE costs to first prototype?

NRE should be included in any included ROM. Initial quantities should reflect amounts outlined in the RFI. ~10 Subscale (geometric half scale) and 3-5 full scale items.

What are the most restrictive combat aircraft carriage and ejection design parameters for the NGP?

Outside the scope for this RFI, nominal release conditions provided in classified briefing at industry day.

4 How is the toughest-to-defeat target described? General target profiles covered during classified briefing at industry day.

5 What adversary defenses must the NGP survive in proximity to the target? Outside the scope for this RFI. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

How much standoff down range and cross range performance is desired for the

NGP?

Outside the scope for this RFI. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

7 Is there an anticipated start date for the 18-24 months development period? Assume a 2QFY25 start date.

8 What type of NGP R&D contract is envisioned? CPAF? FFP? Outside the scope for this RFI.

Does the USAF anticipate the use of directed subcontractors and their components?

Outside the scope for this RFI. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

From which aircraft – singular or plural - will the ~10 subscale warheads be flight demonstrated? Will mission planning for these demonstrations be performed with Tapestry Solutions software systems or by the NGP warhead developer?

Outside the scope for this RFI, initial test strategy will be covered at industry day.

From which aircraft – singular or plural - will the 3-5 full-scale warheads be flight tested? Will mission planning for these demonstrations be performed with Tapestry Solutions software systems or by the NGP warhead developer?

Outside the scope for this RFI, initial test strategy will be covered at industry day.

Next Generation Penetrator Questions and Answers 7 February - 6 March 2024 (includes questions submitted prior to Industry Day as well as those asked at Industry Day)

How many total units are anticipated to be procured by the USAF over the life if the NGP program?

Outside the scope for this RFI.

13 Is a sequential lot buy process envisioned? If so, how many lots? Outside the scope for this RFI.

14 Over which years will the procurements occur? Outside the scope for this RFI.

Will the government consider low cost rocket launches as early demonstrators of the penetrator (like Zombie)?

Outside the scope for this RFI. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

16 Please define GPS denied environments. Environment details will be covered during classified briefing at industry day.

17 How can we get ahold of 2019 HTM AoA excursion? Necessary details from AoA's provided in classified briefing presented at industry day.

18 If capability could be met in a smaller / multiple smaller weapons, would that be considered? Or is this trying to determine capability of a specific weight class?

System must meet all lethality, survivability, penetration, and accuracy requirements once fully defined.

Is 22K JUST for the warhead or does that include tailkit, carriage equipment, etv?

Maximum warhead weight is not more than 22k.

What does “subscale” mean in this context? Specific form factor / weight in mind?

Geometric half scale.

21 Is it intentional that “smart” fuzing was not mentioned? Only embedded? Outside the scope for this RFI. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

22 Will two fuzes be required? Outside the scope for this RFI. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

23 How important is redundancy in the system? Outside the scope for this RFI. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

24 Do you have a date for the draft RFP release? Not at this time

25 Will you release RFP before the FY25 budge drops Government intent would be to release draft RFP(s) prior to Budget, if RFP feasibility is determined.

26 What is the deliverables at the end of the 18-24 month period? Level 3 Design TDP, validated prototype, sub/full scale testing (sled), full scale static.

27 Will the subscale be a test vehicle only? Geometric half scale to collect data. Dimensional under ~4K lbs

28 What type of fill is required? If/when RFP is released, government will further define explosive fill requirement.

29 1500 impact speed? Drag associated with warhead/tailkit? If/when RFP is released, government will further identify terminal impact criteria.

30 Please provide GRA POCs and tutorial meeting schedule This information was sent out 8 March 2024 in the NGP Industry Day Follow Up email

31 Clarification of blast/frag or penetration, which is priority? Intent was for case break up only. No specialized fragmentation requirement at this time.

32 Requesting the sense of urgency of the program At present, 18-24 months is the only timeline known.

33 Is the effort focused on system size or is it trying to solve a certain problem? Requirement identified the warhead class to solve a problem set.

34 Recommendation of options to attack target set? Outside the scope for this RFI. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

35 Does the government plan to provide TTS target models or impact conditions?

If/when RFP is released, government will inform weapon design and if TTS target models are needed they will be provided.

36 What technical level of maturation for prototype will be required Desirement at the 18-24 month cycle will be level 3 TDP coming from modeling, prototyping, and test validation. Not production level.

37 Will there be a static detonation at WSMR for pressure measurements? Tests will be executed against representative target types.

38 Is a priority rating foreseen for this program At present we have been asked to execute on a UON timeline.

However, a UON has not been designated at this time.

39 Will the gov award multiple contracts? No strategy has not been determined at this time.

40 Will submitted designs be scored against WOSA? If WOSA scoring is utilized, defined scoring criteria will be provided by government in any RFP release.

41 Classification of program? Current elements of program are up to Secret level 42 Does 15 page limitation count the cover sheet Yes

Weapons GRA - will contractor implementation be needed at the end of 24 months

Identify risks within whitepaper regarding GRA implementation with mitigation methods if not meeting weapons GRA.

44 Does warhead construction include fuze Yes 45 Will there be a commodity strategy by the government Not identified at this time

46 What is the preferred format for future proposal? Word or PowerPoint? Recommendations and reasoning should be made in whitepaper.

47 At this time is the tail kit not a priority?

Warhead is primary and guidance system development/improvement will be secondary but include options, capabilities, and recommendations to your whitepaper.

48 Referencing the Guidance Section, will it be new or existing capabilities?

New & expanding or legacy added/expanded would be considered. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

49 Can info from platform, steer guidance development?

Recommendations and reasoning should be made in White Paper.

50 With this size; strakes and wings will be difficult to band like existing JDAM-solutio Recommendations and reasoning should be made in White Paper.

51 Is the Government/DoD working explosive fill solutions?

The HERD is engaged and identifying formulations to meet requirements

52 Can smaller test articles be used for speed of delivery?

Add thoughts, ideas and reccomendations should be included in your whitepaper.

53 What does the government see as the current highest risk? Being able to meet the timeline/schedule

54 Will the Government handle the testing?

Vendors will be in a support roll for any Government lead test efforts.

55 Is the release .75 +/- .02 firm?

Just a baseline to start. If/when RFP is released, government will further identify terminal impact criteria.

56 Are there any Non-GPS systems that are Go or No-Go?

All recommendations will be entertained if they can be shown to meet requirements. Include knowledge or details in your whitepaper.

57 Delineate TDP requirements regarding IP? WOSA compliance may be required at the interface level.

58 Will there be a mandate for a system design approach?

Determination has not been made. If you have knowledge or experience on that, please include it in your whitepaper.

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