RFI_DMSMS_F-15_Robins.docx

Request for Information (RFI) F-15SA Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) Analysis Tool Survey

This market survey is being conducted to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the qualifications for procurement of system to identify Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) issues on both a proactive and reactive basis and to provide viable recommendations to Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) to resolve those issues. Additionally, the contractor shall load final resolutions to DMSMS issues into the software tool that may be used by US Government Country managers supporting the RSAF. Additionally, the contractor’s DMSMS tool shall be capable of identifying Technical Orders errors in part nomenclature and Source Material Recovery (SMR) codes and providing a built-in form to correct these errors.

FAR 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997)

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

b) Although “proposal” and “offeror” are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of conducting market research to identify potential sources.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Below is a document containing a description of the service requirements 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 this requirement. 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.)

a. Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business.

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 anthony.brzezicki.2@us.af.mil and Darrell Tripp darrell.tripp.2.ctr@us.af.mil not later than close of business on 02 December 2025. All responses to this request for information must be received no later than close of business 02 December 2025.

6. Please send responses to Mr. Anthony Brzeicki at anthony.brzezicki.2@us.af.mil, darrell.tripp.2.ctr@us.af.mil and leon.castellano@us.af.mil.

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The F-15 Foreign Military Sales, Systems Program Office, AFLCMC/WAQI provides the technical and engineering expertise necessary to facilitate RSAF sustainment of F-15 aircraft, to include Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) identifications and recommended resolutions. DMSMS resolution is necessary to maintain and sustain all systems and subsystems of RSAF F-15 aircraft, test and support equipment while ensuring compliance with Operational Safety, Suitability, and Effectiveness (OSS&E) principles. DMSMS includes forecasting and evaluating future component and part availability, and developing potential solutions to obsolescence and procurement problems, and recommending the most effective resolution for systems and components identified as having a DMSMS issues. The final decisions on resolving a DMSMS issue will affect provisioning quantities in the future. This acquisition provides RSAF with obsolescence management and DMSMS resolution services and recommendations for selected components, assemblies, systems and parts for the F-15 weapon system as well as test and support equipment. The requirement consists of loading parts from the Bill of Materials (BOMs) for systems, components, assemblies or parts as provided to the contractor into a single access point DMSMS tool for obsolescence analysis. Each BOM item shall identify its status as either available for purchase, obsolete, or date the item will become obsolete.

Obsolescence analysis will result in DMSMS resolution recommendations to our FMS partner who will make a final decision on which solution best fits their needs. That solution will then be loaded back into the DMSMS tool. Additionally, it allows the customer to suggest changes to the tool when those changes make a more efficient process. With available data in a Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) analysis tool, the contractor shall analyze obsolete items and those soon to be obsolete and make recommendations to resolve potential supportability risks. The contractor shall also provide engineering and technical services for the effort to include activities which enhance logistics processes to overcome obsolescence and DMSMS issues. The contractor shall coordinate all efforts to develop DMSMS solutions with appropriate Government Engineers, Configuration Managers (CM), Flight Safety, Technical Order (TO) specialists and logisticians when applicable, using existing government databases whenever possible. Additionally, the RSAF differs in how they address DMSMS issues and therefore, AFLCMC/WAQI requires the contractor to support requests for DMSMS action based on the business standards of a particular country. Face to face contractor interface will serve to optimize AFLCMC/WAQI coordination between country managers, logistics and item managers, equipment specialists (ES), subject matter experts (SME), as well as Government engineers. Program’s control of DMSMS issues and the tool production will be accomplished through this coordination and direct reach back to the DMSMS corporate support team resources. By leveraging contractor reach-back and collaboration directly with Government engineers and in coordination with other Government resources, the contractor can maximize DMSMS efforts to more efficiently provide detailed recommendations to our FMS partner. Using a single DMSMS tool is the most efficient manner to address obsolescence issues driven by industry that impact our FMS partners. Using a single DMSMS tool will ensure the BOMs are loaded, updates occur on time, and the information in the DMSMS tool reflects the most current data for developing engineering resolution recommendations and to load country specific resolution decisions. Additionally, this process, in conjunction with the DMSMS tool, will provide more accurate, detailed and meaningful reports to decision makers. The contractor shall directly interface (face to face) and coordinate with the F-15SA Program Office, to ensure obsolescence issues are proactively addressed. Government databases, some of which are only accessible on-base, shall be used to gather additional data to better evaluate options.

Recommended resolutions shall be passed to Government managers and respective countries. The contractor shall be the primary means of providing frequently generated outputs of the DMSMS tool to the Government as scientific and technical reports. The contractor shall also facilitate information and data gathering for this effort through direct access to select US Government legacy supply chain and maintenance data systems, and interface with other on-base Government and contractor personnel. RSAF will benefit from this service with increased F-15 aircraft reliability, maintainability, and sustainability in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. The contractor shall deliver all work products and services within established cost budgets. The contractor shall provide delivery of all Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) items on time and accurately. The contractor shall conduct acceptable Contractor Safety Program and promptly provide Mishap Notification and Reporting when applicable. Finally, the Contractor’s DMSMS tool will identify TO errors and provide an on-line method to prepare the necessary Government forms to correct errors identified.

REQUIREMENTS:

The contractor shall plan, schedule, and perform management activities for all aspects of this work statement. Tasks required may include, but are not limited to, loading BOMs in the DMSMS tool, performing maintenance data updates, conducting data analysis, parts research, part sourcing, DMSMS resolution development, recommendations, case reporting, information gathering, tracking, organizing, developing, coordinating, and reviewing data required for AFLCMC/WAQI FMS customer support. The contractor shall, after a country has decided upon a specific recommendation, load that decision into the DMSMS tool for future reference. Additionally, should the FMS customer or the US Government decide that a software change is required to meet an FMS customer demand or to improve efficiency, after a thorough review of the requirement with the US Government, provide the estimated cost for that requirement to the US Government. That price will be “to be determined” (TBD) under the initial contract. The DMSMS Management Plan developed at the kick-off meeting will define the format of the reports and provide some insight into their frequency in accordance with the needs of the FMS Customer MFT.

The contractor provided DMSMS tool shall have the capability to load and status all types of parts, for all F-15 aircraft systems, subsystems, and test and ground support equipment. Access to the DMSMS tool shall be provided to US Government PM and other contractors as required and deemed appropriate by both the PM and the PCO. The contractor shall provide an integrated master schedule to load and status the data required by the Government including but not limited to a “burn down” chart to indicate when all parts required for loading and status will be completed. Additionally, the tool shall have the ability to manage DMSMS cases and to generate standard DMSMS reports such as:

Product Discontinuance Notices (Red Flag) Product Change Notices Last/Life of Type Buy Notice Impact Analysis System Health Analysis Logistics Analysis Business Case Analysis The DMSMS tool shall be available 24/7 at least 98% of the time. The actual availability time for each month (as stated in a report from the DMSMS operating system) shall be reported monthly in the MSR. Availability times less than 98% for any one month will be reported to the PCO for disposition. Finally, the tool shall contain all of the requirements stated in this PWS as well as any future mutually agreed upon capabilities.

Receive specific report requests from the US Government and provide obsolescence management reports to country managers. The contractor shall provide obsolescence management reports to Government managers as requested and tasked by the Government PM/CO/COR.

Perform data mining to identify systems, sub-systems, lower-level assemblies and parts for DMSMS tool loading. The contractor shall perform data mining of customer provided source documents. Data mining will be prioritized by the customer based on their requirements to address a specific systems’ DMSMS issues over another. The contractor shall review the supplied technical data documentation and all approved source document change information to determine the indentured assembly tree structure and associated BOM information to be loaded into the DMSMS tool and which specific parts will need to be flagged in the tool to indicate whether or not a particular part can be procured from a qualified source to reflect the most current hardware configuration available.

Perform data maintenance for document revision updates. When source document updates are provided by the customer, the contractor shall update the DMSMS tool utilizing the most efficient methods for refreshing the data.

Identify documentation errors, provide corrections (where possible), document errors using errata sheet format and incorporate corrections into the DMSMS tool. Document errors or inconsistencies shall be identified during the contractor data loading and maintenance process. The source document errors/corrections such as incorrect part numbers, mil standard updates, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code changes, description errors, quantity errors, etc. shall be corrected in the DMSMS tool based on information from the Government program manager. For part numbers that are shown in more than one technical order, all data for that part number should be the same for that particular country. For example, if a part number contained in TO has an SMR code of PAOZZ and in another TO for the same country that part number has an SMR code of PAODD, this part number and the SMR codes should be flagged as an error and reported to the Government program manager. Using the same example, a single part number appearing in more than one place in a particular TO may have more than one nomenclature. The contractor shall notate the errors/corrections and provide the information to the Government program manager using contractor supplied errata sheets. The contractor shall also ensure that the DMSMS tool has the capability to produce an on-line AFTO Form 22 that will allow logisticians to create a TO change form from within the DMSMS tool.

Provide obsolescence status for components and parts. The contractor shall monitor the current manufacturing status (active/obsolete) for all F-15 weapon system and related support and test equipment components and parts as specified for the customer by the FMS Country Manager. Components and parts may be structural, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, assembly or avionic related parts. Based on the type of part and driven by the typical lifecycle of the embedded technology, the contractor shall establish the applicable timeframe for periodically updating the part obsolescence status. The timeframe may vary from 3-12 months between status updates. Once the time period has elapsed, the contractor shall re-verify the part status and ensure the most current status is updated in the DMSMS tool.

Provide obsolescence status for systems, sub-systems, assemblies, and COTS parts, listed in Attachment A. The Government may require the contractor to monitor the obsolescence status for any particular system, sub-system, assembly, or for Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) type parts as provided to the contractor. the contractor shall capture and display the current manufacturing status for the specific part. The contractor shall update the manufacturing status (active or obsolete) on a semi-annual basis for all systems, sub- systems and components.

SMR Codes. The contractor shall identify a part that is coded with an SMR code beginning with “M” indicating that part is a “local manufacture” item, DMSMS analysis shall consider this as a qualified source and shall be indicated as such in the DMSMS tool. A report shall be available in DMSMS to allow users to complete a report of all items that have an SMR code beginning with “M” by TO.

Acquisition Advice Code “V”. For example, parts with a Service Agency (SA) of DF (indicating Air Force) and an AAC code of “V” or “Y” shall be coded as obsolete (red) if all services (SA) contain the same “V” or “Y” code. If another service, other than the USAF (SA “DF”) lists this part with an AAC code indicating that they have a source, then the item shall be coded as having at least one qualified source (Yellow). When the phrase “When exhausted use” is contained in the phrase code portion of a DoD system, appropriate research into the new part number/NSN shall be conducted to determine the correct status of the new part. No status shall be assigned until appropriate research has been conducted on the “When exhausted use” NSN or part number. If the new part number has more than one source, then this part shall be coded as having two or more sources (green). If there is only one source for the new part number, the item shall be identified as a sole source part (yellow). The contractor shall be capable of producing a report that lists all of the part numbers that have the phrase “When exhausted use” along with the new part number/national stock number (NSN) and the TO, figure and index references for each part identified. The contractor shall also ensure that the DMSMS tool has the capability to produce an on-line, partially populated AFTO Form 22 that will allow logisticians to create a TO change from within the DMSMS tool.

Acquisition Advice Code “J” or “Z”. For example, parts with an SA of DF and an AAC codes of “J” or “Z” shall be coded as obsolete (red) if all services (SA) contain the same “J” or “Z” code. Otherwise, if one of the SA services has a source (AAC D for example) then the item shall be coded as at least sole source (Yellow). If any of these parts have enough available stock (based on stock available data from either the USAF or country availability data, then the item shall be coded as logistically solved (Purple).

Provide Alert Notifications such as Last Time Buy notices for Product Discontinuance Notices (PDNs) and Product Change Notices (PCNs). The contractor shall provide alert notifications for Last Time Buy (commonly referred to as Life of Type (LOT)) notices, PCNs, and (PDNs). The contractor shall immediately provide the alert to the Government program manager. Examples of this are: A component that is loaded in the DMSMS tool has a PDN issued by a manufacturer, any time a component status is changed from “active” to “dead” within the FMS F-15 configuration, or any time a manufacturer issues a LOT date for an item.

Create and Manage obsolescence case data. The contractor shall create and track proactive and reactive case management as directed by the Government program manager or CO. These directions will come in the form of either recurring reports or special studies. Once the research is complete, contractor shall make all the case data available to the Government. The Government then provides information back on actions taken to resolve the problem. The contractor then notes the information in the case and calculates any cost avoidance for the resolved problem and then closes the case.

Provide component resolution services to identify potential solutions (applicable to parts that have an obsolescence status). The contractor shall identify obsolescence problems, analyze the data available, manage obsolescence case data, and provide recommended courses of action, alternate solutions, associated costs, and impact to supply levels to government managers. The contractor shall use the Government provided source documentation, technical data and stock balance data if available. If no stock available balance data for a particular FMS customer is available, recommended solutions should assume there is no balance available.

Identify and prioritize obsolescence issues utilizing stock and usage data. The contractor shall identify and prioritize obsolescence issues using data such as, but not limited to (MICAP information, part number, inventory, usage, usage by day, week, month, annually, production lead time, etc.) when logistics and maintenance data are provided by the Government. The contractor shall provide the Government with the ability to quickly identify logistics solutions via stock on hand and usage data when available. In those cases where the DMSMS tool determines that obsolescence will eventually impact supportability, the contractor shall consider demand rates and strive to locate enough existing stock to support a bridge-buy until the technical solution can be fielded. The obsolescence management team shall consider lead times when recommending solutions and determine if there are any existing plans for a technology refresh.

Provide an Obsolescence Management single point of contact. The contractor shall identify an obsolescence management task leader to serve as a single point of contact for this program. This point of contact shall have the responsibility of overseeing the team and managing Government data to include scheduling data loading & maintenance activities, providing obsolescence risk information, managing case tracking activities, reviewing alert notifications, initiating component resolution services, assisting with customer questions and reports, and coordinating software programmatic support.

Participate in obsolescence teleconferences and working group meetings. The contractor shall attend working group meetings as requested or required and request such meetings with appropriate Government and FMS customers when appropriate. The contractor shall develop agenda when requested and deliver the agenda not later than five (5) business days in advance of the meeting. The contractor shall provide draft meeting minutes not later than five (5) business days after the meeting concludes. The Government will review and respond with updates and corrections within ten (10) business days, and the contractor shall return final minutes not later than five (5) business days after receiving Government comments to the draft.

Document and report all obsolescence issues and recommendations. DMSMS scientific and technical reports are a key deliverable of this program and occur continuously throughout the performance period at unset intervals, as issues unfold. Recommendations and other reports will be delivered when developed; each will have a journalized tracking number. The reports shall be delivered electronically in any MS Office application compatible with Government software to include e-mail alerts. All obsolescence issues, alerts and recommendations will be summarized in the Quarterly Scientific Technical Report.

The contractor shall utilize all databases available, either Government or commercial, to obtain information required to effectively and comprehensively provide solutions to any DMSMS issue identified. Additionally, the contractor shall meet regularly with Government country managers as well as item managers and engineers to identify and resolve specific DMSMS issues. Close coordination with Government engineers, ESs and SMEs is a keystone of this effort and makes face to face communication a must in order to completely understand the issues and explore the many options that may be available. An isolated workforce off-base will be hamstrung in exploring all of the potential DMSMS resolution options and is not conducive to an environment that requires many moving parts. Government engineering is available on base with hundreds of years of experience, and this effort will require leveraging that experience in order to provide reliable options that meet customer needs. Additionally, many times DMSMS issues are identified through the local FLO office on base and, with English as a second language, understanding both the issue and the importance of that issue is a factor of culture and knowledge of the customer that can only be understood by regular interface on specific issues. Item managers often have specific knowledge of a particular part and where its future lies and, with on-base DMSMS personnel, the DMSMS team can easily access those item managers as well as the technicians working on similar issues on depot aircraft as well as equipment specialists who are experts at interrupting technical data. In many cases technical order changes will be generated that require direct interface with technical order personnel (located on base) who can offer suggestions to change the technical data to reflect the intent of a particular solution. It is essential that the DMSMS contractor team be an integral part of the day-to-day work of Technical Coordination Program (TCP) team as well as the Sustainment and Provisioning teams. The services provided in this effort are essential to the efficient sustainment of the F-15 aircraft for our foreign partner.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

F-15SA Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) Analysis Tool 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: 488190

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

A. General Capability Questions:

Describe your company's past experience in procuring flightline and backshop support equipment.

· Include contract numbers

· A brief description of the work performed

· Period of performance

· Agency/organization supported

· Individual point of contact (Contracting Officer or Program Manager).

What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices do your company employ? Please provide a description of your quality program (ISO 9000, QS-9000, EIA-599, or otherwise).

B. Commerciality Questions:

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

Describe any previous certifications by the prime aircraft manufacturer, or by the customer (USAF) to deliver support equipment.