MK_54_Common_Parts_Procurement_-_Request_for_Information.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedo

Common Parts Procurement

N00024-14-R-6410

DISCLOSURE:

This is a Request for Information (RFI) notice only. This RFI is for informational planning purposes and it not to be construed as a commitment by the Government for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, or services. This notice does not constitute a solicitation or a promise of a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties' expense. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified. Proprietary information received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The Government will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative because of this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. Specific responses to the approaches will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations.

A. General and Background Information:

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Program Executive Office (PEO) Submarines (PEO-SUB), Undersea Weapons Program Office (PMS 404), issues this RFI to help determine the technical capability and qualifications of industry to meet the Government's needs to increase the inventory of the

MK 54 Lightweight Torpedo (LWT).

The MK 54 LWT is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) torpedo designed to be used in highly complex littoral scenarios. It must operate in shallow water acoustic and environmental conditions, be effective in the presence of threat countermeasures and have MK 46 ASW capability in deep-water scenarios, and replaces both the MK 46 and MK 50 LWT torpedoes in the United States Navy (USN) inventory. The

USN utilizes the MK 54 LWT in both its surface and air ASW forces.

The MK 54 LWT combines the reliable MK 46 Propulsion System with proven hardware components and technology from the MK 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) and MK 50 torpedoes to provide a highly reliable, variable-speed weapon with full performance over the depth and speed ranges of interest. It incorporates an advanced guidance and control (G&C) section employing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processing technologies and tactical software improvements to significantly increase shallow water counter-countermeasure capability at reduced life cycle costs. The MK 54 MOD 1 LWT improves on the MK 54 MOD 0 LWT with a higher fidelity sonar system improving the weapons overall effectiveness.

The MK 54 LWT consists of four separate torpedo sections. Each torpedo section requires assembly, integration and test of Functional Item Replacements (FIRs), system cables and other piece parts to produce the torpedo section. The four torpedo sections are:

I. Nose Section

a. Array Nose Assembly (ANA) and Transmitter

i. Consists of an Acoustic Array Assembly (AAA):

MOD 0 – A 52-element array (procured on separate contract)

MOD 1 – A 112-element array (procured on separate contract)

ii. It converts electrical energy into acoustic energy, and vice versa.

iii. Transmitter – (2 designs, non-interchangeable between MK 54 MOD 0 and

MK 54 MOD 1)

iv. Receiver – (2 designs, non-interchangeable between MK 54 MOD 0 and

MK 54 MOD 1)

b. The Processor Group Assembly (PGA) – (2 designs non-interchangeable between MK 54

MOD 0 and MK 54 MOD 1)

i. The PGA is a 7-slot 6U VME chassis which contains sonar signal processing and tactical data processing cards for guidance functions, a custom interface card (CIC), a modular recording and exercise control system (MRECS) card, and three (3) spare slots for expansion.

ii. The sonar signal processing design achieves detection in adverse environments by using a combination of active and passive detection algorithms. The sonar signal processor passes detections through multiple rejection algorithms to filter out non-targets.

iii. The tactical data process tracks, maps, classifies, and calculates various target statistics, and then analyzes these statics over multiple listening intervals to rank potential targets, edit out false targets, and pursue actual targets.

II. Warhead Section (reused from the MK 46 Torpedo)

a. Consists of the MK 103 MOD 1 Warhead and a MK 20 MOD 0 Exploder.

b. Consists of an explosive-loaded aluminum shell, an exploder, a 45-conductor thru-section cable, an influence coil, magnetic assemblies, and hydrostatic pressure components.

c. Certified for Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO).

d. The Warhead section has been deployed on USN ships, aircraft, and helicopters for over 30 years with no safety incidents.

III. Warshot Fuel Tank Section

a. The Control Group Assembly (CGA)

i. It uses a digital autopilot leveraged off MK 48 ADCAP technology.

ii. It provides the required dynamics and navigation capabilities that exceed those required by the MK 46 torpedo.

iii. Uses a state-of-the-art Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Inertial

Measurement Unit (IMU) and depth sensor assembly to satisfy dynamic and control specification requirements.

b. Fuel Tank Shell

i. Consists of aluminum shell (other shell body).

ii. Contains Monopropellant OTTO fuel II storage (fuel tank).

iii. Capacity of 87 lbs. (Nine gallons of OTTO fuel II).

iv. Contains three interconnecting compartments.

v. Parts include a pressure regulator, a vent plug, a fuel fill plug and a fuel interlock valve.

IV. Afterbody Section

a. The Afterbody section contains the torpedo propulsion system.

b. It comprises parts from the MK 46 Torpedo Afterbody plus an MK 54 MOD 0 Afterbody

Upgrade Kit.

c. The components ignite and sustain the combustion of the OTTO fuel II and convert the generated gases into rotational energy to drive two counter rotating propellers.

d. The Afterbody Upgrade Kit is composed of:

i. Speed Control Valve

ii. Cables

iii. Accessory Bulkhead

iv. Dual-Winding Alternator (DWA)

v. Alternator Geartrain

vi. Fuel Pump Head

vii. Seawater Pump Manifold

viii. Thermal Battery Holder

ix. Miscellaneous Items (Tubing, etc.)

Figure 1. Four Main Sections of the MK 54 LWT

Nose Warhead Fuel Tank Afterbody / Tailcone

B. Purpose:

PMS 404 is performing market research to gain an understanding of industry’s technical and manufacturing capabilities and interest in:

I. MK 54 LWT FIR hardware production and testing to ensure compliance with Technical Data

Package (TDP) and specifications are interchangeable with existing fleet inventory FIRs and sections, II. FIR and section level system integration and testing, III. FIR, and/or section qualification and acceptance philosophy, and

IV. Identification of major cost drivers that should be considered.

The MK 54 MOD 0 LWT Array, Receiver and Transmitter are procured through a competitive contract

(N00024-13-C-6412), while the MK 54 LWT MOD 1 Sonar sections are planned to be procured under a sole source contract that is expected to be awarded second quarter FY 15 (Array, Receiver, Transmitter, MOD 1 PGA). All remaining parts common for both configurations are currently being procured under an FY 11 contract (MK 54 MOD 0 PGA, CGA, IMU, Fuel Tank, Afterbody upgrade kit and cables)

(N00024-11-C-6410). This contract will supply common parts for the MK 54 MOD 1 LWT in the FY

15 procurement as well as MK 54 MOD 0 LWT Kits for both USN and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) torpedoes. A follow-on production contract is needed for continued procurement of MK 54 MOD 0

LWT Kits to sustain the USN and FMS quantity requirements from FY 16 through FY 20, as well as to procure the common parts used in the MK 54 MOD 1 LWT.

Figure 2. MK 54 MOD 0 LWT Kit Procurement

It is expected that the MK 54 MOD 0 LWT will be procured utilizing a build-to-print and performance specification for the various FIRs.

Build-to-Print Only o The Afterbody Section, Fuel Tank, and cables are procured as build-to-print specifications.

Build-to-Print and/or Performance Specifications o The CGA, IMU and PGA components will be a mix of build-to-print and performance specifications.

MK 54 MOD 0 and Common Parts Kit Contract MK 54 Array Kit Contract MK 46 Legacy

Current production baseline TDPs will be provided to the Contractor as Government Furnished

Information (GFI). Build-to-print item TDPs will be supplied as information only as a foundation for the next design of these FIRs. FIR and/or section level Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) is available and may be provided to support design, production, test and integration efforts. The

Contractor(s) will be responsible for the qualification and testing of all the FIRs and/or sections to be delivered. The Contractor may be required to utilize Government infrastructure and/or test capabilities

(compliment of test equipment, processes and technical knowledge exist) or produce test equipment at

Contractor site capable of verifying all hardware/firmware complies with test specifications and requirements.

This procurement contract will have a base year (FY 16) and four option years (FY 17-20). The

Contractor will be required to produce Pre-Proof of Manufacturing (Pre-POM) and First Article units to be provided to the Government for qualification and validation testing, which will require a significant amount of non-recurring engineering hours/efforts. Additionally, the Contractor will perform kit design efforts to solve obsolescence issues initially and throughout the life of the contract. As such, it is anticipated that the following contracting approach will be taken:

I. Three (3) Pre-POM PGAs & CGAs to support Government testing for Operational Software compatibility. Fixed-Price Incentive (FPI) type contract line item is anticipated for this item.

Current FIRs from the FY 11 contract will supplied as GFE to modify with the new components due to obsolescence. This will allow the contract to modify middleware and board support packages to make them compatible with the software interface specification and early delivery will allow Government software development, integration, and safety testing.

II. Nine (9) First Article Units to be delivered that demonstrate Contractor manufacturing capability. Fixed Priced Incentive (FPI) type contract line item is anticipated for this item.

Contractor HALT, HASS and POL testing will be required as well as design verification testing

(DVT) for functional items impacted by design changes, and first article testing. The

Government will also conduct Government first article testing separately as well as land-based software integration/testing and safety testing. The Government will also conduct in-water verification testing prior to a Production Readiness Review (PRR). The Contractor will be required to conduct a number of design reviews due to design changes that address any obsolescence issues.

III. Up to five hundred fifty (550) MK 54 MOD 0 LWT Common Part Kits and up to five hundred fifty (550) MK 54 MOD 0 LWT PGA units and W4 Cables as two (2) separately Firm-Fixed-

Priced (FFP) contract line items. Contract type is subject to change. Based on current budgets and FMS sales projections, this is expected to buy 40-50% USN content with the remainder as

FMS procurements.

IV. Engineering Services and Hardware Maintenance/Repair under anticipated Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee

(CPFF) contract line items.

V. Production Support Material (PSM) and Spares under anticipated FFP contract line item(s).

VI. Warranty (on Item IV above) under anticipated FFP contract line item(s).

VII. Small Business Subcontracting Incentive under an anticipated FFP contract line item(s).

VIII. Government Purpose Rights under an anticipated FFP contract line item(s).

IX. TDP Update under an anticipated FFP contract line item(s).

The Contractor will deliver the hardware to the Government to allow the integration and assembly of the torpedo sections into the MK 54 LWT all-up round at Government facilities. Fueling and fuel handling shall be conducted at the Government facility and shall not be required of the Contractor. The

Contractor will be provided with up to four (4) test stations as GFE that are certified to test and accept the FY 11 FIR design for MK 54 MOD 0 LWT, and the Contractor may be required to modify these test stations and/or the test station software to be fully compatible with the FIR design and software changes made for obsolescence. The Government maintains an infrastructure of first article and environmental testers, which may be utilized by the Contractor. The Contractor may be required to procure additional

FIR level testers to meet their production throughput requirements, but it is not anticipated that the

Government will procure additional FIR level testers on the planned contract. The Contractor will determine the best solution in utilizing existing Government infrastructure or replicate this infrastructure at the Contractor’s factory considering performance, cost and schedule tradeoffs. A Public Private

Partnership utilizing a work for private parties’ agreement for use of the Government facilities and personnel is an available consideration. A Government-Owned – Contractor-Operated facility is not available to support this procurement.

The warhead section components and the OTTO fuel required for Fuel Tanks would not be part of the acquisition. A non-explosive (inert) representative warhead may be provided as GFE to support section level testing.

C. Planned Acquisition and Additional Requirements:

The MK 54 LWT torpedo is being procured in a MK54 MOD 0 LWT configuration in this contract.

This procurement is needed to sustain the USN increases in MK 54 LWT inventory over several years.

A full and open competitive procurement of up to 550 kits per year awarded under one contract is planned over five (5) years. Contract award is anticipated in FY 16. Requirements that are under consideration for the contract include:

I. Base Year Pre-POM and POM units: shall be delivered and tested prior to initial production delivery, including environmental, design verification (DVT) and First Article Testing.

II. Delivery of a Contractor-validated TDP for the MK 54 LWT Kit and delivery of a separate TDP for all Contractor-validated improvements to FIR level test equipment (includes Government

Purpose Rights).

III. Supporting production quantities of MK 54 LWT Kits:

a. CGA (Performance Specification)

b. IMU (Performance Specification)

c. Associated Cables, Warshot Fuel Tank, and Afterbody Upgrade Kit (Build-to-Print)

IV. Supporting the necessary production quantities of PGAs for MK 54 MOD 0 LWT (performance specification).

V. Spares procurement in the base year and each option year.

VI. Production Support Material will be procured to support initial acceptance testing and compatibility testing at Government laboratories. This includes assets to be used for environmental testing.

VII. Hardware Repair and Maintenance services in the base year and each option year.

VIII. Engineering services and support for any unexpected technical issues that may occur during manufacture, production, and/or testing. Technical Instructions (TIs) will be issued to furnish qualified engineers to conduct studies, provide services, testing, prototyping, and/or analyses of design and/or production related issues to determine the best pathforward/solution.

IX. A warranty will be included as a separately priced option.

X. Supporting FIR/ torpedo section level hardware and software integration.

XI. Providing GFE upgrades, maintenance and repair, as required.

XII. Providing documentation preparation and updates, including quality plans, test plans and procedures, and manufacturing processes.

XIII. Working with Government Integrated Product Teams to provide strategies and design analysis for obsolescence and value engineering for replacement of obsolete parts and components.

D. Requested Information:

Respondents are requested to provide the following information. Respondents should tailor their responses based on their proposed team or company strategy. Citing prior experiences relating to the questions will aid in the Government assessment of industry capability.

I. Identify any risks you perceive with the proposed strategies (technical, cost drivers, schedule) and describe reasonable/achievable alternatives to reduce the risks.

II. Describe how you would approach (i.e., partnerships, in-house, subcontracting, vendors) and manage the production and “make-buy” decisions.

III. Identify the critical corporate capabilities and certifications necessary to achieve the proposed procurement approaches referenced in paragraph B. Examples of capabilities and certifications include quality processes, Failure Analysis and Corrective Actions, and International Standards

Organizations Certifications).

IV. Describe your capabilities and experience with assembly and production of complex electronic and/or mechanical components and test equipment including test processes, sub-contractor and vendor management, and manufacturing process controls.

V. Describe your management approach to ensure the design is procurable throughout the life cycle. Address approaches for qualifying replacement components, improving life cycle supportability, and minimizing commercial off the shelf obsolescence issues.

VI. Identify the minimum quantity of FIRs and/or torpedo sections necessary for your company to sustain stable annual production throughput.

VII. Describe your experience working directly with Government organizations and the risk and impact of using a Government facility for design verification testing, first article testing, Environmental testing, and final acceptance testing access to Government personnel and facilities (including test equipment) have on FIR and/or torpedo section costs and sustainable production capabilities?

VIII. Describe your experience with public private partnerships and the advantages and disadvantages these arrangements have in meeting the production objectives discussed above.

E. Submission Details:

Respondents to this RFI should adhere to the following details:

I. Interested parties should provide company profile to include the following:

a. Company Name

b. Company Address

c. Point of Contact

d. E-mail Address

e. Website address

f. Telephone Number

g. Business Category (i.e., large, small disadvantaged, veteran, woman owned, etc.)

h. Number of employees

II. Interested parties are requested to respond with a white paper in the following format:

Microsoft Word for Office 2003 (or newer) compatible

25 pages or less (including cover and administrative pages)

1-inch margins

12 point font (or larger)

III. All responses are due no later than 08 JULY 2014. Responses shall be submitted via e-mail only

(no telephone inquiries or paper submittals) to Ricardo Welsh (ricardo.welsh@navy.mil).

Proprietary information, if any, must be clearly marked. To aid the Government in its review, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become

Government property and will not be returned. Any questions should be directed to the Contract

Specialist, Ricardo Welsh, via e-mail (ricardo.welsh@navy.mil).