Market Research Survey.docx

463L AIR CARGO PALLET

(NSN 1670-00-820-4896 CT)

CAUTION:

This market survey is being conducted to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements for the manufacturing of the 463L Air Cargo Pallet for use by the United States Air Force (USAF), Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and other Federal Agencies. 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 463L Air Cargo Pallet 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 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.). Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business.

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

Market survey should be returned by 13 June 2025. Responses and questions relative to this market survey should be emailed to Wesley Hardy, Wesley.Hardy@us.af.mil or Tim Hudson, Timothy.hudson@us.af.mil.

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION:

The 463L cargo pallets have served the United States Logistics (military, domestic, and humanitarian) missions since 1963 with few modifications. The 463L pallet is a single purpose, air transport certified asset, measuring 88”x108”x 2.25”, weighing 300 lbs. or less, and composed of aluminum outer skins with a balsa wood core. The pallets are used for transport throughout the military airlift system which includes cargo loaders, forklifts, highline docks and warehouse conveyor systems. The cargo aircraft include the C-5, C-17, C-130, KC-46 and Civil Reserve Air Force (CRAF) aircraft equipped with 463L railing systems.

This survey focuses on the current specification pertaining to your company’s capability with manufacturing 463L pallets. The purpose of this survey is to determine your company’s capability with manufacturing the 463L pallets in the current configuration IAW attached drawings in the required quantities to meet Air Force demand. Projected quantities are estimated to be 1,583 pallets manufactured per month.

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:

Prime:

· Company/Institute name:

· Address:

· Point of Contact:

· CAGE Code:

· Phone Number:

· E-main Address:

· Web Page URL:

· Size of business pursuant to North America Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 321920

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

Subcontractor:

· 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: 321920 Based on the above NAICS Code, state whether your company is:

A statement as to where and who will supply the core materials for the prospective item (balsa core, aluminum skinned pallet)

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

Questions relative to this market research should be emailed to Wesley Hardy, Wesley.Hardy@us.af.mil or Tim Hudson, Timothy.Hudson@us.af.mil

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

A. General Capability Questions:

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

2. Describe your company’s past experience on previous projects similar in complexity 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).

Past Contract Information:

· Contract #:

· Period of Performance:

· Customer/Agency:

· Point of Contact:

Description

· Requisition #:

· Systems Contract #

· Period of Performance:

· Customer/Agency:

· Point of Contact:

· Description:

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

4. 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.

5. What is your company’s current maximum production capacity per month? Provide information on any facility reserves you may possess to increase repair capacity in the event of an immediate need to critical operational mission requirements.

6. Regarding the current specification for production (for the production estimate of 5,000 per month), do you anticipate submitting a proposal?

7. Regarding the current specification for production (for the production estimate of 500 per month), do you anticipate submitting a proposal?

8. Once you have ramped up to the required production quantities per month, how long would it take you to ramp up to produce an additional surge quantity of 2,000 per month?

9. Is there a maximum production quantity that would prevent you from submitting a proposal? What kind of advance notice would be necessary for optional buys or kind of lead time after an order is placed would be necessary?

10. How does your company accommodate surge requirements (move to two or three shifts, open new production lines, or etc.)? Is there a maximum number that would prevent your company from quoting based on your capacity?

11. Are there specific requirements in the documentation that we provide that would currently preclude your product from being a viable solution to our requirement?

12. Include a detailed listing of facilities and equipment, including quantities, required to satisfy the requirements of this effort.

a. Provide an outline of the proposed process, including inspections.

b. Include a brief description of material/product flow through the manufacturing process.

13. How long of a contract period of performance would you be willing to quote on?

B. Manufacturing and Hardware Production Questions:

1. Describe your capability and experiences in the manufacturing/fabrication of components.

2. What time basis (monthly, semi-annual, annual) would you purchase materials used in the production of pallets?

3. Can you procure/obtain materials (aluminum sheets, balsa wood, extrusions) in quantities necessary to meet the estimated monthly quantities?

4. Can these materials be purchased domestically?

5. Do you have any transport agreements that would benefit the movement of pallets?

6. Does your company have the capability to use the adhesive called out in MIL-DTL-27443H? The referenced paragraph is 3.2.3:

7. Does your company currently have the venting system required for this adhesive in accordance with MMM-A-132, Type I, Class 3 (FM-47)? If no, what would it take to set up the process?

8. Does your company have experience with aluminum surface preparation for adhesively bonding panels in accordance with ASTM E864 (Sulfuric Aci-Sodium Dichromate or Sulfo-Ferric Etch)? If yes, provide an example of how the etching process is utilized. If no, what would it take to set-up the process?

9. Does your company have experience with aluminum surface preparation for adhesively bonding panels to wood panels which are used as structural components? Provide an example.

C. Software Development Questions:

Describe your capabilities and experience in managing software development projects, including subcontractor involvement. Include any experience in project planning, work breakdown structures, resource allocations, schedule tracking, risk analysis and cost management.

D. Operational Questions:

1. Describe your capabilities and experience in modifying existing systems/equipment to solve maintenance and support problems in the production environment.

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

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

4. Describe your company’s process to establish, conduct, document, and maintain a corrosion prevention control program for components made from steel alloys.

E. Commerciality Questions:

1. Are there established catalog or market prices for our requirement? 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? Is our requirement offered to both under similar terms and conditions? Briefly describe any differences.

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

SPECIFICATION:

MIL-DTL-27443H DETAILED SPECIFICATION PALLETS, CARGO, AIRCRAFT, TYPE HCU-6/E AND HCU-12/E

DRAWINGS:

7031843 HCU-6E Pallet Assembly, Cargo 7231258 Rail, Short-Cargo, Pallet, HCU-6E 7133042 Extrusion, Pallet Rail – Airborne Cargo 7231256 Rail, Long-Cargo, Pallet, HCU-6E 7133043 Ring Assembly-Pallet 7031839 Clip, Angle, Pallet Corner