RFI_for_AN_ALQ-131,_-131A,_-131B,_and_-184_System_Hardware_and_Software_Sustainment.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

Electronic Attack Pods AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ-131A, ALQ-131B, and

AN/ALQ-184 System Hardware and Software Sustainment

14 SEP 18

AN/ALQ-131, 131A, 131B & 184 System Hardware and Software Sustainment RFI ii

Contents Purpose

Brief Description

Engineering Expertise and Skills Sought

Contractor Capability Survey

Part I Business Information

Part II Capability Survey Questions and Requested Information

General Capability Requested Information

Engineering Requested Information

Production Requested Information

Testing Requested Information

Commerciality Requested Information

Purpose The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Electronic Warfare and Avionics SPO, Electronic Warfare Program Office is seeking sources to determine the availability of capable contractors to provide specialized sustaining engineering services (SES) in support of AN/ALQ-131A production;

AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ 131A, AN/ALQ 131B and AN/ALQ-184 software sustainment, hardware sustainment; and hardware modification for all three systems; as well as Operational Flight Program

(OFP) Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) services for the AN/ALQ-184. A potential source shall possess the expertise and capability to step in with no loss of technical/engineering execution coverage, and no reduction in operational tempo, while performing all the required duties.

The objective of the AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ 131B production effort is to produce and test

AN/ALQ-131A pods, AN/ALM-256A Support Equipment (SE) kits and both pod and SE spares as determined by production lot quantities. The effort will also acquire specialized contractor sustaining engineering support for AN/ALQ-131 and AN/ALQ-131A system level deficiencies, supportability problems due to obsolescence, engineering laboratory test support, and investigations and analysis necessary to ensure availability and effectiveness of the AN/ALQ-131(V) System of Systems.

Subordinate to the work on system-level deficiencies, the effort will require resolution of obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing source (DMS) issues at the component or Shop Replaceable Unit (SRU) level as well as continued sustaining engineering support for the Electronic Warfare Avionics Integration

Support Facility (EWAISF).

Due to the rapid and continuous evolution of the electronic battlefield arena, the pods must continuously be updated to keep up with emerging threats. Numerous systemic deficiencies exist across the system at the Line Replaceable Unit (LRU)-level owing to the age of the technology as well as the age of the industry which produced it. These deficiencies must be continuously addressed through planned and urgent responses to operational deficiencies with hardware modifications.

Note: THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide

AN/ALQ-131A pod, SE, and spare production, specialized AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ 131B, and AN/ALQ-

131A sustaining engineering services and specialized AN/ALQ-184 OFP IV&V. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Air Force has not made a commitment to procure any of the items/services discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

The AFLCMC EW SPO is seeking sources and market research information that supports the requirements described above and includes hardware production, software sustainment, hardware modifications for all of the systems described below:

HW PRODUCTION (AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALQ 131B):

Pods: The contractor shall produce AN/ALQ-131A pods in accordance with government approved configuration. First article may be required and pod test activities will be provided as necessary. Tests will ensure any government approved engineering change orders from the original baseline are incorporated so that production units represent the latest AN/ALQ-131A production configuration.

Production pods shall be configured with specific design requirements unique to each customer for

USAF and several FMS countries as approved by the PEO.

Spares: The contractor shall produce pod and Support Equipment (SE) spares sets in a quantity specified in the contract. Each set of spares shall include all non-legacy components used in the upgraded EA Pod and the SE kit. The contractor shall perform Acceptance Testing on 100% of spares set components in accordance with the government approved Acceptance Test Plan and documented in an Acceptance Test Report.

Support Equipment Kits: The contractor shall produce and test AN/ALM-256A kits as necessary to ensure that any government approved engineering change orders from the original baseline are incorporated so that production units represent the latest AN/ALM-256A production kit configuration.

Shells: The contractor shall either convert provided AN/ALQ-131 Block I pods to AN/ALQ-131A

Block II or produce new shells for AN/ALQ-131A production see details below:

Conversions – The contractor shall convert and test Block I to Block II shells in the AN/ALQ-

131A production configuration. The contractor shall include reused AN/ALQ-131 Block II parts, newly remanufactured parts, or parts reused from an AN/ALQ-131 Block I. Conversions and production will be in accordance with Government approved conversion procedures resulting in a configuration that meets the AN/ALQ-131A production requirements.

New Shells – The contractor shall manufacture and test newly manufactured Block II pods in the pre-AN/ALQ-131A production configuration containing all newly remanufactured AN/ALQ-131

Block II parts. Government approved drawings will be used for the production which will result in the configuration that meets the AN/ALQ-131A production requirements.

SW SUSTAINMENT (AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALQ 131B AN/ALQ-131, and AN/ALQ-184):

Block Cycle Updates (AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B):

The effort will acquire specialized contractor sustaining engineering support for software sustainment of the AN/ALQ-131A, which includes software test, software studies and analyses, software engineering (including requirements definition and analysis, software design, coding, integration, testing and documentation), software support, test support, and system test and evaluation. The objective is to provide routine, mission critical, and emergency software maintenance support for the

AN/ALQ-131A. Tasks include software maintenance and deficiency analysis support for the following computer software configuration items: Digital Receiver Exciter (DRE) and Milli-Computer

Replacement (MCR) Operational Flight Programs (OFPs), Mission Data File Generator (MDFG), firmware (Interface Module and DRE), AN/ALQ-131A Flight Data Recorder (FDR), AN/ALM-256A

Intermediate Level Support Equipment (ILSE) software, and AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALM-256A, and

AN/ALQ-213 Software Simulation Tools.

Non Block Cycle Support (AN/ALQ-131A, ANALQ-131B and AN/ALQ-184):

Non-Block Cycle efforts for the AN/ALQ-131A will include initial deficiency investigations of test and field reported issues, high priority tasks which cannot be incorporated into an ongoing block cycle due to time criticality (e.g., PACER WARE), and customer support.

This effort will also acquire specialized contractor IV&V support of the AN/ALQ-184(V) Electronic

Attack (EA) pod Operational Flight Program (OFP) software. The OFP is written in assembly language, C, and C++ running on IBM PowerPC microprocessors, Zilog Z8 microcomputers, Zilog

Z8002 microprocessors, and a TI 320C31. The required engineering support consists of performing

AN/ALQ-184(V) OFP Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V), updating existing verification and validation tools, updating existing verification and validation tool documentation, providing familiarization on verification and validation tools, and updating software documentation. This support applies to all parts of the OFP including the RePLACE® and IO1553 code modules.

HARDWARE MODIFICATIONS (AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALQ-131B, AN/ALQ-131, and AN/ALQ-

184):

The contractor shall accomplish AN/ALQ-131A/B and AN/ALQ-131B design, prototype and production of modification kits to address capability and requirements changes as directed by the

Government and identified in the system roadmaps. The system roadmaps document technology insertion projects that will address jamming systems’ capability needs to address new threat systems or existing threat systems capability gaps for countermeasures, system reliability and maintainability issues, operational deficiencies and/or suitability issues. The contractor shall design, build, integrate, and test hardware and software components to modify existing AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B pods as identified in government approved roadmaps and specified by the contract.

The effort will acquire specialized contractor sustaining engineering support for AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ-184, AN/ALQ-131B and AN/ALQ-131A system level deficiencies, supportability problems due to obsolescence, engineering laboratory test support, and investigations and analysis necessary to ensure availability and effectiveness of the AN/ALQ-131(V) System of Systems. Subordinate to the work on system-level deficiencies, the effort will require resolution of obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing source (DMS) issues at the component or Shop Replaceable Unit (SRU) level as well as continued sustaining engineering support for the Electronic Warfare Avionics Integration Support

Facility (EWAISF) and the Electronic Combat International Security Assistance Program (ECISAP).

Responses must be received no later than close of business 30 days from posting.

Please send responses to christopher.nelson.74@us.af.mil with copy to ronald.arbour.3@us.af.mil.

Brief Description

The primary mission of the AN/ALQ-131, -131A, -131B and -184 Electronic Attack Pods is to identify and counter increasingly complex, diverse enemy air defense systems. The pods consist of a multitude of receiver, transmitter and signal processing sub-systems. In addition, several support tools and specialized test and measurement equipment ((AN/ALM-256 and AN/ALM-256A ILSE) and AN/ALM-233 mailto:christopher.nelson.74@us.af.mil mailto:ronald.arbour.3@us.af.mil

Automatic Support Equipment (ASE)) complete the overall system architectures. The AN/ALQ-131(V) and AN/ALQ-184(V) systems were first designed, developed, assembled and deployed in the mid-1980s with incremental hardware and data-flow upgrades since then. Since the early 1990s the AN/ALQ-

131(V) and AN/ALQ-184(V) have been the primary electronic attack defensive systems for the C-130, F-

15, F-16 and A-10 combat aircraft.

The AN/ALQ-131A program incorporates a permanent modification to the AN/ALQ-131. The modification integrates a Digital Receiver/Exciter (DRE), which is a digital receiver and advanced techniques generator, and the radio frequency chain from the AN/ALQ-184, into an AN/ALQ-131 pod shell. Anticipated operational and system deficiencies with new components, as well as AN/ALQ-131 and AN/ALQ-184 components reused or modified in the AN/ALQ-131A, will also have to be resolved.

To keep pace with the evolution of the electronic battlefield arena, and to correct software operational and system deficiencies, routine, mission critical, and emergency software maintenance support is required for the AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B Computer Software Configuration Items (CSCIs).

The mission of the ALQ-131 and ALQ-184 electronic attack pods is to counter increasingly complex, diverse enemy air defense systems that are constantly evolving in both capabilities and technical characteristics. Consequentially, each system must be continuously updated to maintain the pod’s capabilities against these evolving threats and to correct deficiencies identified by operational use. The current version of the ALQ-131 Block II is a product of Westinghouse Electric Co. (now Northrop

Grumman (NGC)) and was fielded in the early 1990’s. The ALQ-184 is a product of Raytheon and was fielded in the late 1980’s, early 1990’s. Both systems have been incrementally updated in hardware and software since being originally fielded.

Threat evolution and proliferation and platform self-protection requirements drive the need for production of additional AN/ALQ-131A electronic attack systems. Addition of AN/ALQ-131A systems also requires production of additional AN/ALM-256A Intermediate-Level Support Equipment (ILSE) to maintain the system through preventative maintenance and fault detection and isolation. Production rates of no less than 3 pods per month and as high as 12 pods per month are required.

Engineering Expertise and Skills Sought

Ability to update the current Technical Data Package (TDP) to comply with latest government CDRLs and drawings.

Capability for production and manufacturing capacity to produce AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B at a rate of 3, 7 or 12 units per month for a 7 year period, to be initiated 12 months ARO.

Ability to complete AN/ALM-256A modification kit first article and acceptance testing and develop an acceptable tech data package.

Ability to complete AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALQ-131B and AN/ALM-256A spares kit first article and acceptance testing and develop an acceptable tech data package.

Ability to complete AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B modification prototypes, verify the capability improvement, produce a first article, accomplish acceptance testing and develop an acceptable tech data package.

Ability to complete AN/ALQ-131 Block II shell production first article, accomplish acceptance testing, and produce shells, IAW Government furnished tech data package.

Ability to complete AN/ALQ-131 Block I to AN/ALQ-131 Block II shell modification first article, accomplish acceptance testing, and produce shells, IAW Government furnished tech data package.

Access to AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ-184, AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B Original Equipment

Manufacturer (OEM) Design Activity engineering design notes, proprietary system test notes and non-delivered engineering data to overcome government data shortages to facilitate in-depth system level investigation and redesign activities.

Direct knowledge of current AN/ALQ-131 sub-assembly and component integration activities including qualification activities of new major component & manufacturers.

Direct knowledge of current AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B OFPs to include the DRE and MCR and MDFG.

Direct knowledge of current AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B OFP Computer Software Component

(CSC) to CSC interfacing, OFP to CSCI to peripheral CSCI interfacing, OFP built-in-test, Digital

Receiver Exciter (DRE)/Millicomputer Replacement (MCR) Loader Verifier (DMLV), and memory utilization for OFP and mission data.

Direct knowledge of current AN/ALQ-184 OFP to include the Pod System Processor Program (PSPP) and Technique Generator Program (TGP).

Direct knowledge of current AN/ALQ-184 OFP CSC to CSC and OFP to CSCI to peripheral CSCI interfacing as well as OFP, built-in-test, and mission data memory utilization.

AN/ALQ-131 and ALM-256 maintenance experience including working knowledge of the Electronic

Warfare Avionics Integrated Support Facility (EWAISF) and the Electronic Combat International

Security Assistance Program (ECISAP).

AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALQ-131B and ALM-256A maintenance experience including working knowledge of the Electronic Warfare Avionics Integrated Support Facility (EWAISF) and the Electronic Combat

International Security Assistance Program (ECISAP).

AN/ALQ-184 and ALM-233 maintenance experience including working knowledge of the Electronic

Warfare Avionics Integrated Support Facility (EWAISF) and the Electronic Combat International

Security Assistance Program (ECISAP).

AN/ALQ-184 IV&V experience testing the OFP to include managing support tools as well as a working knowledge of the Electronic Warfare Avionics Integrated Support Facility (EWAISF) and the Electronic

Combat International Security Assistance Program (ECISAP).

Access to OEM research regarding proprietary ongoing tech-insertion efforts in support of FMS fleets from which the AF derives sustainability synergies in support of the AF fleet.

Access to the OEM CCB for continuous sustainment of the AN/ALQ-131 and AN/ALQ-131A drawing data base and publication of engineering changes to drawings being released to vendors by the OEM.

Access to the specially-designed OEM-owned near-field anechoic chamber for ongoing testing of ALQ-

131 transmit and receive antenna assemblies and radomes.

Access to the OEM proprietary RePlace© software tools and engineering data used in IV&V of the

AN/ALQ-184 OFP.

Access to the OEM proprietary FDAD™ software tool and engineering data used in the software testing and sustainment of the AN/ALQ-131A OFPs, MDFG, ILSE S/W and FDR.

Note: Due to the high probability of task requiring access to OEM data, an Associate Contractor

Agreement (ACA) Relationship is required. Provide a copy of your current ACA with the OEM to obtain full access to the proprietary engineering data, drawings, and resources. If no ACA is currently in place, provide a copy of your OEM-signed letter of their intent to subcontract or sell all the above data/information/access. Alternatively, provide narrative description your company’s ability to obtain and maintain access to OEM data.

Contractor Capability Survey

Part I Business Information

Provide the following business information for your company and for any teaming or joint venture partner.

Company/Institute Name:

Address:

Point of Contact:

CAGE Code:

Phone Number:

E-mail Address:

Web Page URL:

Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code:

541330

Based on the above NAICS Code, state whether your company is:

Small Business (Yes / No)

Woman Owned Small Business (Yes / No)

Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes / No)

8(a) Certified (Yes / No)

HUBZone Certified (Yes / No)

Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes / No)

Service Disabled Veteran Small Business (Yes / No)

Central Contractor Registration (CCR). (Yes / No)

A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership).

Part II Capability Survey Questions and Requested Information

General Capability Requested Information

Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and the nature of the goods and/or services that relates to

Engineering Services expertise listed in this RFI. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure.

Describe your company's past experience on EW integration projects. 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).

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

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.

Describe your configuration management processes and how you identify and resolve issues with software development, requirements traceability, parts obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources problems. What are the particulars of the licenses involved with any software tool used?

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

Describe your ability to levy on subcontractors and vendors the same requirements for TDPs as levied upon the prime contractor

Engineering Requested Information

Describe your capabilities and experience with AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ-131B, AN/ALQ-131A and

AN/ALQ-184 Electronic Attack Pods.

Describe your ability to develop / produce / maintain / deliver a Technical Data Package (TDP) that accurately depicts the final product of the new components and their integration into the AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ-131B, and AN/ALQ-184 systems.

Describe your capabilities and experience with ALM-256 and AN/ALM-256A ILSE and included support equipment.

Describe your capabilities to conduct acoustic noise, temperature and altitude, humidity, mechanical shock and explosive atmosphere testing.

Describe your capabilities and experience with the AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B DRE and MCR

OFPs, MDFG, firmware (Interface Module and DRE), AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B FDR, and

AN/ALM-256A ILSE software, to include FDAD and AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALQ-131B, AN/ALM-256A, and AN/ALQ-213 Software Simulation Tools.

Describe your capabilities and experience with the AN/ALQ-184 OFP software to include use of the

RePLACE® system, PSPP, TGP, CSCs and CSCIs.

Describe your capabilities and experience with AN/ALQ-184 and ALM-233 system maintenance.

Describe your capabilities and experience with AN/ALQ-131 and ALM-256 system maintenance.

Describe your capabilities and experience with AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALQ-131B and ALM-256A system maintenance.

Describe your capabilities and experience with AN/ALQ-131A, AN/ALQ-131B system knowledge to include digital architecture, RF architecture, and mission data.

Describe your capabilities and experience with AN/ALQ-184 system knowledge to include digital architecture, RF architecture, mission data, and HATCHECK.

Describe your capabilities and experience in modifying/interpreting Security Classification Guides

(SCGs), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Interface Design Documents (IDDs), and Software Version

Descriptions (SVDs) of complex Electronic Warfare (EW) systems.

Describe your immediate capabilities and experience in modifying/interpreting interface capabilities of

AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ-131B and AN/ALQ-131A sub-systems.

Describe your immediate intermediate level maintenance capabilities and experience operating, diagnosing, troubleshooting, repairing and sustaining the AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ-184, and AN/ALQ-

131A.

Describe your specific capabilities of working with Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts in the past and registration with the U.S. Department of State to obtain International Traffic and Arms Regulation

(ITAR) Department of State Proforma (DSP) licenses.

Describe your experience and successes with performing depot level repair and return for FMS countries.

Production Requested Information

Describe your capabilities and experience with production of the AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-

131B Electronic Attack Pod.

Identify long lead items (material, equipment, data, etc.) that may impact production and deliveries of the AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B Electronic Attack Pods.

Provide information supporting AN/ALQ-131A and AN/ALQ-131B pod production runs for approximate quantities of 3, 7 and 12 per month over a 7 year production.

Testing Requested Information

Describe your immediate capabilities and experience with writing, performing, and executing Acceptance

Test Procedures (ATP) and Functional Qualification Training (FQT).

Describe your immediate capabilities and experience with writing, performing, and executing aircraft ground checkouts, flight test, and flight demos.

Describe your immediate capabilities and experience with test equipment, routine lab testing, and regression testing.

Describe your capabilities and/or experience with development of and obtaining government approval for test plans and reports.

Commerciality Requested Information

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?

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

How do you support your product after it has been sold and delivered to the customer (i.e., resolving problems, design practices which avoid obsolescence, developing manual updates)?

Do you feel that your company would be able to provide firm-fixed prices for this effort for a period of 3-

10 years?

Describe how you would fill any short term emergency (urgent software updates) needs the government may have.

What are the quality assurances or testing processes your company utilizes in its design, manufacturing, and inspection practices, such as ISO 9001, AWS, ANSI, and CMMI.

Describe how your company follows the software configuration through Operational Flight Programs

(OFP), Mission Data File Generator (MDFG), and I-Level Support Equipment software.