NGES Sources Sought WNUK-24-0010.pdf

Next Generation Ejection Seat for the F-15, F-16, F-22, and B-1 Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS): # WNUK-24-0010

General Introduction:

1. This announcement constitutes a Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS) only. The Air Force Life

Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Human Systems Division (AFLCMC/WNU) is conducting a market assessment to identify potential sources and companies that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience with Ejection Seats to meet the AF requirements. AFLCMC is issuing this SSS to explore cost-effective options to provide this capability and to obtain valuable feedback regarding the attached System Requirements Document (SRD).

2. This is not a request for a quote, request for proposals (RFP), or an invitation to bid, nor is this to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will not reimburse or pay for any information submitted in response to this SSS or any follow-up information requests. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All costs associated with responding to this SSS will be solely at the responding party’s expense.

3. Not responding to this SSS does not preclude participation in any future RFP. Small

Businesses are encouraged to provide responses to this SSS to assist AFLCMC in determining potential levels of competition available in the industry, as well as helping to establish a basis for developing any subsequent small business subcontract plan goal percentages. An acquisition strategy is still being 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.

4. Note that if there is sufficient demonstrated interest and capability among small business contractors, then it may be determined that a small business set-aside is appropriate. A key factor in determining if an acquisition will be a small business set-aside is that two or more potential small business prime contractors must be capable of performing at least 50% of the effort, as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.219-14, “Limitations on Subcontracting.” If it is determined that a small business set-aside is appropriate, and your company anticipates submitting a proposal as the prime contractor for a small business set- aside, please provide specific details and rationale as to how compliance with FAR 52.219-14 with subcontracts are to be used, provide anticipated percentage of effort to be subcontracted and whether small or large businesses will be used. Respondents should clearly delineate any teaming and/or subcontracting arrangements and provide previous experience in teaming. If this effort is not set-aside for small business, then the Government will consider using small businesses. Large and small businesses should provide a reasonable expectation for small business utilization as a percent of total contract value, as well as supporting rationale for the recommended percentage.

5. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and the U.S.

Government cannot accept to form a binding contract. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor the SAM (sam.gov) site for any additional information pertaining to this SSS.

6. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this inquiry. Respondents shall not construe this announcement as a formal solicitation. It does not commit the government to reply to the information received, or to later publish a solicitation, or to award a contract based on this information.

7. The Government may contact companies if it requires additional information to fully understand the marketplace and/or comments to the requirements presented in the

SRD.

8. Responders should also state whether they are interested in being a prime contractor for this requirement or a subcontractor.

Purpose:

9. Gather additional information on the current state and availability of vendors which can provide an ejection seat that meets Air Force safety and sustainment requirements and that integrates with the existing Crew Ejection Seat Escape System (CESES) on the F-15, F- 16, F-22, and B-1 without or with limited modification to the CESES on these aircraft. The Government is requesting feedback on the requirements contained within the SRD.

Respondents may provide feedback on any, all, or combination of platforms.

Next Generation Ejection Seat (NGES) Safety Improvement Requirements:

10. Respondents can find NGES requirements in the attached SRD. Please document any feedback to each of the requirements. The scope of your comments should include the following:

a. Your ability to currently meet each of the requirements in the

SRD without further development of your seat

b. List of requirements that cannot currently be met and

c. Anticipated schedule of each MDS and associated seat installation will be completed.

11. If a company is capable of some, but not the entire requirement stated in this Sources Sought

Synopsis, please provide a response that explains the requirements for which you are capable and how you intend to overcome any deficiencies.

Sources Sought Responses:

12. Please provide your SSS responses to Michael Crane (michael.crane.11@us.af.mil) by

12:00pm EST on 06 SEP 2024. Title e-mail responses in the subject line of the e-mail as follows: “Response to NGES Sources Sought Synopsis”.

13. Responses shall include the following information:

a. Company/Institute name

b. Address

c. Point of Contact

d. CAGE Code

e. DUNS Number

f. Phone Number

g. E-mail Address

h. Web page URL

14. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded a DoD contract. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this requirement, if applicable to the company’s capabilities, should be included in the company’s NAICS code listing in SAM. The NAICS Code for this action is 336413, size standard 1,250 employees. Based on the NAICS Code, state whether your company qualifies as a:

• Small Business (Yes/No)

• Women-Owned Small Business (Yes/No)

• Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business (Yes/No)

• Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes/No)

• 8(a) Certified (Yes/No)

(If yes, SBA Certification Date:

SBA Graduation Date: .)

• HUB Zone Certified (Yes/No)

• Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes/No)

• Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes/No)

• Statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if mailto:michael.crane.11@us.af.mil foreign owned, please indicate country of ownership).

15. Please provide the following (or similar) technical information:

a. Ability to meet the NGES Program Requirements

b. Compliancy Matrix traceable to Verification Cross Reference Matrix

(VCRM) located in the attached System Requirements Document (SRD) to include the likelihood of success/ability to meet and comments addressing actions/level of effort to meet requirements.

c. Platform level integration with aircraft prime contractors producing a platform level compliance report (CR) demonstrating compliance against impacted airworthiness criteria, updating and/or modifying aircraft Time Compliance Technical Order (TCTO)/Technical Order (TO), drawings, and specifications required to remove the legacy ACES II ejection seat configuration, install, and manage the configuration of a new ejection seat.

d. Digital technical engineering data to allow for modeling and simulation which can include but is not limited to data such as seat 3D CAD, structural seat meshes and/or CFD models, planned seat critical properties required for accurate modeling such as expected centers of gravity, moments of inertia, total weight, catapult peak thrust among other parameters that can be utilized to model test conditions and understand expected operational test results.

e. Digital Configuration and Data Materiel Management strategy such as Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) or similar models to include technical engineering data and industry best practices.

16. Please provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate. ROM length should be no more than 2-3 pages. Provide estimated cost for the following: This section of your response should provide estimated costs for development (if/as required by platform), non-recurring engineering, qualification testing, future production costs, and integration into respective airframe/cockpit for all four platforms. Specifically for production, include seat unit costs and monthly production capacity for a total of 3,000 production units and 50 test units. Please include estimated costs associated with Contractor Field Team (CFT) install of production units. The Government is interested in obtaining product support engineering data or a Technical Data Package (TDP) that includes Level 3 drawings IAW MIL-STD-31000, rev B, sections 4.2 and 5.4.1.3. Furthermore, please provide an estimate for technical manuals for the ejection seat and parachutes, initial provisioning data and any required updates through full rate production, and training costs to include training evaluations and fielding. Additionally, please include an estimate for digital technical engineering/modeling efforts described in section 15d/e above. Finally, the Government is interested in obtaining technical data rights for demonstrated competitive procurement for the design of the NGES, spare parts, and time change items. Please provide your willingness to provide such technical data rights as well as a ROM for subject rights.

17. Please limit your responses to no more than 20 pages, to include product sheets, test data, answers to the questions above; identify a representative to support further Government inquiries and requests for clarification of the information provided, if needed. The Government will consider all Marketing materials as an insufficient response to this SSS.

18. Respondents should indicate which portions of their responses are proprietary and mark accordingly, and all proprietary information must be clearly marked on the outside container and on the materials inside. The Government will handle all information properly marked as proprietary information. The Government is not liable for, or suffer any consequential damages, for any proprietary information not properly identified.

Questions:

19. The Government will not provide answer responses to questions from interested parties.