Request_for_Information_-_Palletized_Seating_KC-46.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

AFLCMC/WKK

Palletized Seating (KC-46)

This RFI does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposal (RFP), or Request for

Quote (RFQ), nor does the issuance restrict the Government's acquisition approach. Any information received is considered market research and may be utilized by the Government in developing its Acquisition Strategy, Statement of Objectives and performance specifications and metrics. This market research will be used to assess the availability and adequacy of potential sources prior to issuing an RFP. The contract vehicle for this effort has not yet been determined.

The Government will not respond to or conduct formal debriefings to businesses as a part of this

RFI. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.202(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

Responses to this RFI will not result in a contract and will not obligate the Government in any way. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

Responses to the RFI will not be returned.

SECTION 1 – CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS

The KC-46 Program Office requests the vendor to design, develop and prototype palletized seating systems to accommodate passenger carriage in KC-46 aircraft in both a 10-seat configuration and a 12-seat configuration. The vendor shall explore design options and provide a recommended solution to the government, along with necessary design information for fabrication and implementation. The vendor shall be able to produce a minimum quantity of 6, and a maximum quantity of 32 palletized seating units in the timeline established by the government.

The seat pallet interface with the aircraft cargo handling system shall be identical to the standard

463L Pallet Base which is 108 inches by 88 inches. Seat pallet configurations must include a 108 inch bias capable of holding 10 forward facing seats and an 88 inch bias capable of holding 12 forward facing seats.

12-seat pallet must be re-configurable to remove 1 row of seats to provide a cross aisle for egress when seat pallet is installed near the over-wing exits. Re-configuration must be accomplished without the use of specialized tools, rather standard maintenance tools.

Seat cover material will be medium to dark blue in color and must be rugged enough to withstand the harsh conditions of austere environments (e.g., Kevlar, Nomex, etc.) with the ability of being easily maintained. Each seat must have storage capability to store oxygen equipment such as an Emergency Passenger Oxygen System (EPOS).

The fully loaded pallet (with 250 pound passenger, 10 pounds personal bag, emergency passenger oxygen system (EPOS), floatation device, and bridge plate) cannot exceed a total weight of 3,520 pounds on the 108 inch bias or 4320 pounds on the 88 inch bias. The fully loaded seat pallet cannot exceed a C.G. height of 30.75 inches

Seat pallets must meet the following USAF air-worthiness certification requirements per Mil

HDBK 516C:

KC-46 passenger movement operations to include crash load survivability, sections:

9.7.1, “Seating System Load Capability”; 9.7.3, “Restraint Systems Loads”; 9.7.4, “Occupant Strike Envelope”, and 18.1.1, “Passenger Seating and Restraint Systems”

Flammability and toxicity requirements, section 8.4.14, “Fire Resistance”

Each seat must meet standard floatation capability, section 18.1.14, “Floatation Devices”

Each seat must have a single point release restraint system per section 18.1.2, “Restraint

System Release Point”.

The palletized seat system shall have the capability of restraining a 250 pound passenger to the seat, and the seat and passenger to the pallet, when the pallet is secured by the aircraft cargo restraining system(s). It must be able to withstand static forces per SAE AS8049 Table 4 and dynamic forces per SAE AS8049 section 5.3. The pallet shall remain in one piece. Otherwise, permanent deformation is permitted. The palletized seats need not be serviceable after undergoing such a load.

If vendor seats are certified to FAA TSO-C127, they may use that certification as verification of meeting the SAE AS8049 requirements for their seats. This, however, only applies to the seats.

The entire palletized system must still be qualified to the above requirements.

Provision 100% top down break down to provide all spare parts required to enable future organic sustainment and repair end item.

Pallets must be equipped with "anti-rattle" clamping devices to minimize pallet movement with a minimum slip force of 200 pounds.

Vendor must deliver a minimum of 2 10-seat pallets and 4 12-seat pallets USAF air-worthiness certified seat pallets within 120 after receipt of order or by 01 February 2017, whichever is sooner should the Government decide to procure.

SECTION 2 - INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONSE

Submit a fifteen (15) page (maximum) paper describing how your company can satisfy the requirements described in Section 1 above. The responses shall be formatted on 8.5 x 11 inch paper in Microsoft Office 2007 and Adobe Acrobat; foldouts and attachments are permitted, but will be assessed towards the total page count. Cover pages will not be counted against the fifteen

(15) page limit. Company brochures will not be considered adequate responses. Pages shall be single spaced, single sided. The font shall be Times New Roman and the font size shall be no less than twelve (12) point. Use at least 1 inch margins on the top and bottom and ¾ inch side margins. Information must be in acceptable Adobe version and MS office products version.

Responses are due not later than 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time, 26 February 2016. Send responses electronically to Contract Specialist, Devon Banks at devon.banks@us.af.mil; Commercial

Phone: (937) 656-9375 and Contracting Officer, Mathew G. Greathouse at mathew.greathouse@us.af.mil; Commercial Phone: (937) 255-9590. As this is an RFI document, initial prospective business responses should be in the form of a Capability Statement.

The Government recognizes that proprietary data may be submitted as part of this effort. If so, clearly mark such restricted or proprietary data. The Capability Statement should include the following elements in this format with the fifteen (15) page limit:

Prospective Business Identification

a. Company Name and Cage Code

b. Address

c. Phone Number

d. Fax Number

e. E-mail

f. Point of Contact Information

g. A website address that provides additional information about the prospective business

h. The highest security clearance that your company currently holds.

Identify whether company products or services are available through existing Air Force or GSA contracts and provide contract numbers.

Firms responding to this announcement should indicate whether they are an other than small business, small business, small disadvantaged business (SDB), woman-owned small business

(WOSB), economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB), 8(a)-certified business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), veteran-owned small business (VOSB), or Historically Underutilized Business Zone small business (HUBZone). The

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this action is 336413, size standard 1,000 employees; please indicate number of employees (or aggregate dollar amount) relative to the indicated size standard. All prospective contractors must be registered in the

System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded a DoD contract. Note that the

NAICS code for this requirement, if applicable to the company’s capabilities, should be included in the company’s NAICS code listing in SAM.

mailto:devon.banks@us.af.mil mailto:mathew.greathouse@us.af.mil

No acquisition strategy has been determined. Market research results will assist the Air Force in determining whether this requirement will be a full and open, a small business set aside, or a sole source acquisition.

If the interested party believes the product to be commercial in nature, information regarding any information regarding sales or offerings of the subject seat pallets to non-government entities should be included.

Note that, if this effort is not set-aside for small business, small business utilization will be considered. Request that large and small businesses provide a reasonable expectation for small business utilization as a percent of total contract value. Please provide supporting rationale for the recommended percentage.

If a company is capable of some, but not all of the consolidated requirements stated in this sources sought synopsis, please provide a response that explains the requirements for which you are capable.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) as defined and discussed in FAR 9.5, Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest, is a concern in all acquisitions across the Department of

Defense. Early involvement with our industry partners is a key element of the AFLCMC OCI process, and it is critical for the Government to be able to identify any potential OCI issues as early as possible for an acquisition. This would allow ample time to address and evaluate any potential OCI issues, if required, prior to contract award with minimal impact to critical acquisition schedules.

Interested contractors are requested to evaluate your potential OCI issues with regard to this requirement for palletized seating on the KC-46, and the contractor is encouraged to identify any

OCI issues, as stated in FAR 9.5 to the Contracting Officer (CO). This will assist the CO in determining if the contractor will need to submit an OCI Mitigation Plan for any solicitation that might result from this notice.

DUE DATE FOR RESPONSES

Capability packages are to be electronically submitted via e-mail to the Contracting Officer, mathew.greathouse@us.af.mil and the Contract Specialist, Devon Banks at devon.banks@us.af.mil no later than 3:00 PM EDT on 26 February 2016. Late responses may or may not be reviewed. Responses to this RFI will not be returned.

OMBUDSMAN

mailto:mathew.greathouse@us.af.mil mailto:devon.banks@us.af.mil

The Ombudsman hears concerns about specific issues in acquisitions, communicates those concerns to AFLCMC/CC, AFLCMC’s Deputy for Acquisition (DC(A)) or AFLCMC’s Deputy for Support (DC(S)) from industry or Government personnel, and assists in the resolution of those concerns. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes, nor does the

Ombudsman diminish the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection official. When approached with an issue or query the Ombudsman independently assesses the situation and provides a response or initiates a resolution, and when requested, will maintain confidentiality as to the source of the inquiry. Contact information for the AFLCMC

WPAFB Ombudsman is as follows:

Ms. Jill Willingham-Allen

E-mail: jill.willinghamallen@us.af.mil

AFLCMC/AQP

COMM: 937-255-5472

DSN: 785-5472

https://cs4.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/1678/AFRIMSSDocs/04_Contract_Management/AFRIMS%20New%20Contract%20-%20Award%202017/Market%20Research%20-%20RFI/AFRIMS_YYYYMMDD_RFI_COTS_or_Conversion/Jill.Willinghamallen@us.af.mil