Request for Information (RFI)

N00019-27-RFI-PMA208DRM

Title: Additively Manufactured Solid Propulsion System for a Supersonic Aerial Target

Issued By: Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), on behalf of Program Management OƯice, Aerial Targets (PMA-208)

Date of Issuance: 15 May 2026

Response Due Date: 15 June 2026, 5:00 PM ET

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION & DISCLAIMER

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND

PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE GOVERNMENT

MAY USE THE INFORMATION RECEIVED TO INFORM A POTENTIAL PROTOTYPE PROJECT

UNDER OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY (OTA), PURSUANT TO 10 U.S.C. § 4022. THIS

ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. ALL

INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI IS VOLUNTARY AND THE

GOVERNMENT WILL NOT COMPENSATE ANY RESPONDENT FOR ANY COST INCURRED IN

DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT A

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL; YET IS A MARKET RESEARCH TOOL TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL

FIRMS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SUPPLIES DESCRIBED HEREIN PRIOR TO AN

ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO PAY

FOR ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL SOURCES AS A RESULT OF THIS RFI.

THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A

COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY KIND. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT

OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR

NON-FAR BASED AGREEMENT (E.G. OTHER TRANSACTION) AS A RESULT OF THIS

ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES

TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. FAILURE TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE

WILL NOT PREVENT A COMPANY FROM PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE COMPETITION

RELATED TO PMA208’S ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED SOLID PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR A

SUPERSONIC AERIAL TARGET. INFORMATION PROVIDED SHOULD BE UNCLASSIFIED. ANY

INFORMATION SUBMITTED MAY BE REVIEWED AND USED ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT.

2.0 BACKGROUND & CAPABILITY REQUIREMENT

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Program Executive OƯice for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO (U&W)), Aerial Targets Program Management OƯice, (PMA-208) at Patuxent River, MD is conducting market research to determine the amount of responsible sources that have the capability, experience, facilities, and potential solutions for the capability gap described herein. PMA-208 is seeking information on industry's capability to design, develop, qualify, and manufacture a solid-propellant propulsion system for a supersonic aerial target. The Government's objective is to leverage advanced manufacturing techniques, including but not limited to Additive Manufacturing (AM), to enhance the propulsion industrial base, improve system aƯordability, and increase supply chain resilience. The Government is exploring a strategy wherein the propulsion system would be developed to a Government-owned Technical Data Package (TDP) and subsequently provided to a prime air vehicle integrator as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). This RFI seeks to understand the feasibility, risks, and ROM cost/schedule associated with developing a form, fit, and function replacement for a legacy ducted rocket motor.

NAVAIR is considering awarding one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTA), pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022 “Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects,” for solid-propellant propulsion system for a supersonic aerial target.

The Government reserves the right to pursue production of a successful prototype(s).

3.0 REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

The Government seeks a propulsion system with the following top-level, unclassified characteristics:

3.1 System Type: Solid-propellant ducted rocket motor.

3.2 Performance Profile: Capable of boosting a target vehicle to supersonic speeds and sustaining flight at Mach 2.5 or greater at sea-skimming altitudes for a duration exceeding 60 seconds

3.3 Form, Fit, Function (FFF) Envelope:

Form Factor: Must integrate within a cylindrical envelope of approximately 15 inches in diameter and 120 inches in length.

Mass: Total system mass not to exceed 600 lbs.

Interfaces: Must provide standard mechanical (e.g., bolt patterns) and electrical (e.g., Military Standard (MS) connectors for ignition) interfaces to the airframe.

Operating Environment: Must be qualified for all environmental conditions associated with naval carrier and shore-based operations, including shock, vibration, temperature extremes, and corrosive environments.

4.0 INFORMATION REQUESTED FROM INDUSTRY

Interested parties may submit a Capability Statement identifying their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Capability Statements received will be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Capability Statements submitted should be pertinent and specific in the technical/management/business area under consideration.

Interested parties are requested to provide a capabilities statement (no more than 20 pages) addressing the following:

4.1 Corporate Capability & Experience

Describe your organization's experience in the design, analysis, manufacture, and testing of solid or hybrid propulsion systems, particularly ducted rockets.

Describe your organization’s experience and facility maturity with Additive Manufacturing (AM) of flight-critical metallic components, specifically with high-temperature nickel or titanium alloys.

Detail your experience with flight hardware qualification programs under NAVAIR or other Department of War agencies.

Outline your experience operating as a supplier of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) or integrating GFE into a higher-level assembly.

4.2 Technical Approach

Please provide pertinent Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for the relevant bullets below utilizing the following definition table for TRL:

Level Definition TRL 9 Actual system proven through successful mission operation.

TRL 8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration.

TRL 7 System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

TRL 6 System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

TRL 5 Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

TRL 4 Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory environment.

TRL 3 Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

TRL 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated.

TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported.

Table 1: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Definitions Table

Provide a conceptual technical approach for developing a propulsion system that meets the requirements in Section 3.0.

Identify the proposed manufacturing processes (e.g., L-PBF, DED, hybrid AM-subtractive) and materials for the primary structural components.

Describe your approach to material characterization, process control, and non-destructive inspection (NDI) for ensuring the reliability of AM components.

4.3 Development, Qualification, & Producibility

Provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) schedule outlining the key phases and milestones for a development program, from preliminary design through flight qualification.

Provide a ROM NRE cost estimate for this development and qualification program.

Provide a ROM recurring unit cost estimate (or range) for the production of this propulsion system at a rate of 20-40 units per year.

Describe your current production capacity and any facility/workforce investments required to achieve this production rate.

4.4 Risk

Identify the top 3-5 technical, programmatic, and industrial base risks you foresee with this approach and your potential mitigation strategies.

Describe your approach to managing warranty and liability for a system built to a Government-owned TDP and provided as GFE to a third-party integrator.

5.0 DISCLAIMER

Any information received in response to this request will be properly protected and handled accordingly; In order to complete its review, NAVAIR must be able to share information within the Government and with contractor support staƯ (CSS).

6.0 RESPONSE SUBMISSION

6.1 All responses shall be submitted via email in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format to the points of contact below no later than the close of business on 15 June 2026. Interested parties are advised against submitting Capability Statements that merely mimic information in this RFI, provides brochure-like information, or provides general information. Responses to this RFI are not to exceed 20 pages in length on 8.5X11 inch paper with one-inch margines and font no smaller than 10 points Times New Roman.

Primary: Joseph Perriello, Contract Specialist, joseph.c.perriello.civ@us.navy.mil

Secondary: Raymond Cannon, Procuring Contracting OƯicer / Agreements OƯicer, raymond.c.cannon2.civ@us.navy.mil

5.2 Questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted via email to the primary point of contact. The Government is not obligated to respond to questions submitted by industry as part of this RFI. The Government is not accepting phone calls or meetings regarding this RFI at this time.

Classified material SHALL NOT be submitted. All submissions shall include this RFI Reference Number, company name, company address, CAGE code, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, and a point of contact information (including name, position, phone number, and email address) who is able to discuss the Capability Statement submitted.

All information submitted will be adequately safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure.

All submissions shall utilize the markings below:

Controlled by: Department of the Navy Controlled by: NAVAIRSYSCOM PEO (U&W) PMA-208 CUI Category[ies]: Controlled Technical Information / Export Controlled Distribution/Dissemination Control: Distribution D: Department of War and U.S. DoW Contractors Only POC: Pete Jensen, peter.a.jensen6.civ@us.navy.mil

Responses that fail to comply with the above instructions or present ideas not pertinent to subject, may not be reviewed. All information received in response to this Notice that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Information submitted in response to this RFI is submitted at no cost to the Government and will not be returned. The Government is under no obligation to provide responses or comments to information received from interested parties.

Note: If an interested person is a foreign concern or if a U.S. interested person has a team member or partner who is a foreign entity, both identification of this partnership to the Government and adherence to all International TraƯic and Arms Regulations (ITAR) are required.