SSS_RocketMotors.docx

SR-116 Rocket Motor Sources Sought Synopsis

SR-116 Rocket Motor for AIM-9P Sidewinder Missile

(NSN 1337-01-074-0479)

CAUTION:

This market survey/sources sought is being conducted to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements for qualification and production of the SR-116 rocket motor for use in the AIM-9P Sidewinder missile system. The level of security clearance is classified (confidential). There will be no foreign participation in this requirement because part of the requirement will use Foreign Military Financing (FMF), which prohibits using FMF funds for procurement outside of the U.S. per SAMM, paragraph C9.7.2.7.3. Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Below is a document containing a description of the SR-116 requirement and a Contractor Capability Survey, which allows you to provide your company’s capability.

2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.)

3. Please use this document to answer your questions. The word version is for you to type directly onto the document.

4. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

5. Questions relative to this market research should be addressed to Brianne Sherwood (amber.sherwood@us.af.mil), Carol Elliott (virginia.elliott.1@us.af.mil).

REQUIREMENTS DESCRIPTION

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

We are conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and manufacturing experience to produce SR-116 rocket motors. This system is not a commercial item. The Government owns limited data for SR-116 rocket motor. The Acquisition Method Code for the Rocket Motor, NSN: 1337-01-074-0479, is 3C, meaning that it will be acquired from the actual manufacturer and that the item requires engineering source approval by the design control activity. Most of Technical Data Package (TDP) is available. The basic rocket motor drawings are available. However, the specifications called out in the drawings are proprietary to Orbital ATK (CAGE: 70272). Specifications called forth in the drawing notes, such as the propellant formulation, are proprietary to the prime contractor. A list of proprietary specifications that will require reverse engineering is shown in Table 1. Unless you are a previous supplier of the SR-116, the Government believes a significant amount of reverse engineering or development on the part of the vendor will be required.

Table 1. Proprietary Specifications

Contractor shall furnish all, material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, and services. The contractor is responsible for providing, maintaining, and calibrating all support equipment required at their facility or a subcontractor’s facility. Contractor furnished material or parts used for replacement shall equal or exceed the quality of the original material or parts.

Contractors responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and manufacturing experience to produce SR-116 rocket motors as shown below:

This requirement is for production units. The Government will procure SR-116 rocket motors to support requirements for Foreign Military Sales. Below is a draft CLIN structure for qualified and unqualified sources.

Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)

Status Report

FA Inspection Report

FA Test Plan

Engineering Change Proposals (ECP)

Request for Deviation (RFD)

*Please fill in the pricing and delivery information in Question #3 in the Capability Survey

Figure 1 shows the SR-116. It is used on the AIM-9P that is a short range infrared missile. Multiple countries still use the AIM-9P that became operational in the late 1970s. The SR-116 is used specifically on the AIM-9P Sidewinder missile and is similar to other AIM-9 Sidewinder (AIM-9L/M/X) rocket motors. However they are not interchangeable.

Figure 1 (SR-116 Rocket Motor)

The SR-116HP-1 rocket motor is constructed of extruded aluminum alloy. It is 74.88 in. (190.20 cm) long, 5 in. (12.7 cm) in diameter and weighs 88.3 lb (39.74 kg) without wings. The motor produces 3500 lb (1575 kg) of thrust with a minimum total impulse of 12,000 lb (5400 kg) per second. The motor contains approximately 53 lb (23.9 kg) of High Temperature Plastic Bonded (HTPB) reduced smoke propellant. The propellant formulation is designed to produce a reduced smoke contrail when fired from the launching aircraft. The motor incorporates a mechanical safe and arm device. When the motor is shipped or handled the igniter is maintained in the safe (out-of-line condition) by means of an arming key. When the missile is loaded on the aircraft, the igniter can be placed into the fully armed condition by rotating the arming key 90' to the armed position. The igniter safe and arm design adds additional safety during handling and missile assembly. With this feature, the missile can remain on the aircraft while maintenance is being performed, provided the safety precautions called out in the aircraft maintenance TOs are complied with. Motor accessories include a thread protector. The nozzle is held in the motor assembly by means of a lock wire. The nozzle is sealed by two separate seals, one in the throat area, and one at the aft end of the exit cone. The forward end of the motor is threaded internally for acceptance of the target detector or influence fuze. The thread protector or front shipping closure provides protection on the threads during shipping and storage and provides the forward end components protection from the atmosphere and contamination. Located at the aft end of the rocket motor tube are four channels which are designed to receive the four wings and rollerons; each wing and rolleron is secured by five prestarted screws.

The main function of the SR-116 is to propel the AIM-9P Sidewinder missile towards the target. Figure 2 shows the AIM-9P missile. The Sidewinder missile system was first adopted in 1952 with the introduction of the AIM-9B. By the latter part of the 1970s, the Sidewinder missile system was modified and improved into the AIM-9P. The AIM-9P-2 and P-3 were introduced in the mid-seventies for use by the USAF and use improved guidance electronics, a new rocket motor (SR-116) and an active optical fuze. The AIM-9P is a USAF sponsored development of the AIM-9J/N family, to provide a missile for use in less demanding applications. The AIM-9P evolved from an AIM-9P-2/3 “tail shooter” version to the all-aspect AIM-9P-4/5 version. The AIM-9P-5 is the only version with an infrared counter-countermeasures (IRCCM) capability. The changes incorporated into the AIM-9P-4 missile guidance control section (GCS) provides a significant increase in the performance of the missile, a forward hemisphere detection capability and additional pilot aids such as synthetic tone generation, automatic seeker uncaging and Head-Up-Display (HUD) compatibility. The AIM-9P-4/5 missiles were never used by the USAF but were strictly for strategic partner sales.

Figure 2: AIM-9P Sidewinder Missile

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

Part I. Business Information

Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

· Phone Number:

· E-mail Address:

· Web Page URL:

Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 336419, Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle parts and auxiliary equipment manufacturing

Please submit e-mails no later than close of business Monday, 21 March 2016. Please e-mail your responses to the following:

amber.sherwood@us.af.mil And virginia.elliott.1@us.af.mil

Questions relative to this market research should be addressed to the above recipients.

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

General Capability Questions:

1. Describe your company's past experience with previous rocket motor production efforts or efforts similar in complexity that you feel is pertinent to this requirement. This would include any reverse engineering efforts, which would be pertinent to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact (Contracting Officer or Program Manager).

2. After reviewing the technical data package, do you see anything that is missing that would prevent you from being able to produce this item. What could the Government provide that would make it possible for you to produce this item.

3. If you have not built this rocket motor before or a similar SR-116 version, you will be required to take an incomplete tech data package (TDP) and reverse engineer some of the motor requirements. There would be two phases. First, you will have to qualify a design. If the Government determines it is successful, you would then be permitted to produce production units. A key component that will require reverse engineering will be the propellant formulation that will meet the thrust requirements in order to satisfy the flight envelopes. The rocket motor will also need to be designed to meet a minimum 10 year service life. Describe your plan to reverse engineer, develop specifications, drawings, test requirements, and other missing documentation needed to safely produce rocket motors. Estimate the timeframe for your development and test program. Estimate a timeframe to successfully pass First Article Acceptance Test (FAAT). Estimate the monthly production capacity for rocket motors. Estimate prices for the FAAT, price to update the data package, and the price for the production units. As well as explaining your plan, please fill the pricing, delivery and production information in the below table:

Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)

Status Report

FA Inspection Report

FA Test Plan

Engineering Change Proposals (ECP)

Request for Deviation (RFD)

4. What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices does your company employ? Provide a description of your quality program (ISO 9001, AS9100, etc.).

5. Describe your configuration management processes and how you identify and resolve parts obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources problems.

6. Discuss your process for addressing any fit, form, and or function issues that may arise out of this effort, if new. If you plan to build a rocket motor previously used, then describe changes to the existing form, fit, and/or function that are anticipated.

7. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting on hand/work-in-process balances and repair status to your customer.

8. Include a listing of facilities and equipment, including quantities, required to satisfy the requirements of this effort. Describe what portion of the effort would be sub-contracted.

9. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and nature of the goods and/or services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure.

10. Describe your company's capabilities for generating, handling, processing and storing classified material and data.

11. Describe your company's capabilities and experience in generating technical data, engineering drawings and manuals. Identify what software programs are utilized to generate these data products and what formats are available for delivered items.

12. What is your company’s current maximum capacity per month for this particular type of requirement? Provide information on any facility reserves you may possess to increase capacity in the event of an immediate need do to critical operational mission requirements.

A. Commerciality Questions:

1. Is there established catalog or market prices for our requirement?

2. If you offer this product and/or service to both U.S. Government and commercial sources, is the same workforce used for both the U.S. Government and general public?

3. Is our requirement offered to both under similar terms and conditions? Briefly describe any differences.

4. Describe your standard warranty and return process for goods and services furnished to the government for items similar in nature to this requirement.

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