Palletized Munition RFI Final - For beta.sam.pdf

Capability Request for Information (CRFI) FA8650-20-S-9304

Air Force Strategic Development Planning & Experimentation (SDPE)

Palletized Munition Flight Experiment

1.0 General Introduction

The Air Force Strategic Development Planning & Experimentation (SDPE) Office is conducting market research analysis and invites responses to this Capability Request for Information (CRFI) regarding potential experimentation with Palletized Munitions systems that could include ground and flight tests.

The purpose of this RFI is to accomplish two objectives: 1) Gather information on existing or potential Palletized Munition concepts to understand how systems could be employed and what key experimentation efforts are required to assess the feasibility and advantage of potential concepts, 2) Engage with industry and obtain information (data call) on the potential availability of Palletized Munition systems suitable to support prototype experimentation in a relevant environment to inform on possible future acquisitions, potential operational assessments and/or rapid transition to a fielded capability.

The ability to mass firepower in future conflicts increases the range of OPLAN execution options against peer adversaries. Delivering standoff type weapons in mass, from non-traditional delivery platforms, is one potential option to deliver mass firepower and could prove pivotal in future conflicts. The concept of “a bomb bay in a box”, where mobility aircraft air drop multiple, independent munitions from outside of a threat area could augment traditional delivery methods.

The SDPE Office supports Air Force development planning efforts by examining the operational utility of emerging technologies and potential operational concepts. These technologies and concepts are examined through experimentation and demonstration efforts designed to rapidly field capabilities. Partnering with SAF/AQP and Air Force Warfighting Integrating Capability (AFWIC), the SDPE Office is examining the operational utility of possible Palletized Munition technologies. This CRFI aims to gather information on existing or potential Palletized Munition concepts to understand how this concept could be employed and what key experimentation efforts are required to assess the feasibility and advantage of potential concepts.

THIS IS A CAPABILITY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This CRFI solicits information from Department of Defense (DoD), other government agencies, US companies who are able to provide full or partial material solutions that may involve design, development, prototype(s), developmental and operational testing, and production of end items that offer solutions or added capabilities for Palletized Munitions systems. This CRFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) and/or solicitation, or a promise to issue an RFP and/or solicitation in the future. This CRFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, SDPE is not currently seeking proposals, and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this CRFI. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All costs associated with responding to this CRFI will be solely at the responding party’s expense.

Not responding to this CRFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP/solicitations, if any are issued. Small Businesses are encouraged to provide responses to this CRFI in order to assist SDPE in determining potential levels of competition available in the industry, as well as helping to establish a basis for developing any subsequent potential subcontract plan goal percentages. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U. S. Government to form a binding contract.

It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this CRFI. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this inquiry. This announcement is not to be construed as a formal solicitation. It does not commit the Government to reply to information received, or to later publish a solicitation, or to award a contract based on this information. All products must comply with the “Buy American Act”.

2.0 Proprietary Materials Protection

This notice is part of Government Market Research, a continuous process for obtaining the latest information from industry with respect to current and near-term capabilities that provide systems with the required performance as well as the ability to support the potential acquisition of a desired numbers of systems. The information collected may be used by the Government to explore acquisition options and strategies for possible approaches within the military. All information received in response to this CRFI that is properly marked “proprietary” will be handled accordingly. Proprietary information must be clearly marked on the outside container and on the materials inside. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly identified.

CRFI responses containing information marked as “proprietary” will be protected as proprietary information. Such information will be reviewed by a team comprised of Government as well as contractor personnel hired to provide technical assistance to the Government. All members of the team will be reminded of their obligation to protect such information to the maximum extent permitted or required by the Economic Espionage Act, 18 U.S.C. 1831 et seq., and other applicable statutes or regulations.

Additionally, Government members will be reminded of their obligations to afford protection under the Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. 1905. All contractor members are required to protect the information by the terms of their contracts. Responders are advised that employers of commercial firms under contract of the government may be used to process responses, provide technical assistance, and/or other administrative duties requiring access to other contractor’s proprietary information. These support contracts include non-disclosure agreements prohibiting their contractor employees from disclosing any purpose other than which it was furnished.

3.0 Description

Candidate Palletized Munition systems selected to participate in SDPE-sponsored experimentation may take part in multiple flight experimentation profiles. The extent of the flight profiles is undetermined at this time and will depend on system or systems (pallet/munition/aircraft) selected. The palletized munition concept seeks to capitalize on current airlift capability to increase delivery of massed firepower. The pallet/munition interface should minimize changes to the selected munition and make no changes to the aircraft itself. The pallet will be expendable and can either utilize a current DoD pallet design, or a yet to be designed pallet.

The specific aircraft and location supporting each flight experiment profile is to be determined.

4.0 Requested Information

4.1 Written Responses

Companies electing to participate in this data call should submit a White Paper that includes the following information:

• Business Background – Provide a brief company profile and general business background information

• Palletized Munition System Description – Provide the following system information:

Palletized Munition Concept

• Key experimentation efforts – understand how to operationalize a Palletized Munition system and what are the strategic advantages

• Cost & Schedule from concept through development to prototype fielding o Rough order of Magnitude (ROM) (with assumptions) regarding how Air Force can rapidly field capability and optimize the solution over time o List of, and schedule for, key experiments o What would be delivered first?

Expendable pallet/munition/etc.?

o What would be required to accelerate fielding?

o Impacts of a spiral development/off ramp approach

• Responses must include a roll-on-roll-off deployment design (i.e. palletized options), a proposed long-range munition, and objective military platform to deliver the munition.

• The concept must account for industrial capability to produce a pallet/delivery option, the government’s access to the munition design and characteristics, and ease of access to the objective platform. Because of the multi-purpose role of the pallet, the data rights to the pallet may require government ownership.

• Could the concept be integrated into other aircraft (civilian)? If so, what type of modification(s) would be required?

System Characteristics - The Palletized Munition system should:

• Handle multiple types of munitions, with mixed configurations (current and future)

• Optimize munitions payload

• Consist of a smart pallet capable of updating information to the munition (e.g.

retargeting)

• Minimize connections between aircraft and pallet

• Be attritable, no expectation of system recovery after use

• Use conventional airdrop infrastructure/techniques

• Utilize government owned pallet or new pallet design that will be government owned

• Include a delivery mechanism that will be government owned

• Maximize mass projected Range from target – for current and future munitions

• Require no aircraft modifications

• Utilize standard airdrop procedures (if nonstandard procedures need to be used or developed, explain how this would be implemented).

Complexity – If the system is at a particular engineering level, please specify that level and provide a Roadmap to advance the concept as a military solution. Additionally, provide an estimate of per-unit-cost, typical operating cost, and overall budget required if this solution was fielded in an operational environment.

Logistics – Where would the munitions get palletized, i.e. at the factory or in theater? Would this be achieved using standard equipment?

Palletized Munition Concept – Describe the proposed concept of the Palletized Munition system, to include:

• Description of the Palletized Munition system configuration

• Illustrative diagram of all HW components, interconnects, and data flows

• Key experiments including ground and potential flight tests required

• Desired flight experimentation profile - duration, aircraft attitudes, altitudes, airspeeds, terrain coverage, environmental conditions, etc.

4.2 CRFI Response Section Composition

CRFI responses must be comprised of two (2) sections as described in Section 4.2.1 or “Section One” and 4.2.2 or “Section Two” below. Please limit your responses to a page count of 5 pages or less for Section One and 25 pages or less for Section Two.

4.2.1 CRFI Response – Section One

Provide administrative information in Section One of your response in a Microsoft Word compatible document. Address at least the following in Section One:

• Company Name

• Point of Contact (POC) name

• Mailing Address

• Overnight Delivery Address (if different from mailing address)

• Phone Number

• Fax Number

• E-Mail Address of POC

• Please provide a statement that the respondent will allow or will not allow the

Government to release proprietary data to the Government support contractors identified

• Companies will provide plan(s) for complying with the Buy American Act

4.2.2 CRFI Response – Section Two

Provide the information requested in paragraph 4.1 above in Section Two of your response.

Please provide responses in Microsoft Word compatible documents, Microsoft PowerPoint compatible presentations, Adobe .pdf files, Microsoft Excel compatible Spreadsheets and/or a combination thereof.

Submit responses in both electronic (soft) and printed (hard) copy forms. Submit electronic copies via email to dean.evans@us.af.mil and michael.wafzig@us.af.mil no later than 30 March

2020 @ 1700 EST.

Submitters may be offered an opportunity to discuss the content of their submittal with SDPE personnel. Government attendees would be limited to SDPE personnel/support contractors.

Allotted time and location will be determined at a later date.

For email correspondence, title e-mail responses in the subject line of the e-mail as follows:

“RESPONSE TO SDPE on Palletized Munition Flight Experiment”

Additionally, provide two printed (hard) copies of each response either by certified mail or hand delivery to:

SDPE

1864 4th Street, Bldg. 15 Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433 NLT 30 March 2020 @ 1700 EST.

Questions: Responses from U.S. firms will be accepted to this Palletized Munition CRFI.

Responses to questions from interested parties will be collected, answered, and posted back to the beta.sam.gov website as an amendment to this CRFI. Should proprietary information be involved, or the answer addresses a question peculiar to a certain Company, the response will be provided on an individual and case-by-case basis. Post submittal, one-on-one information sessions with respondents are not contemplated; however, they may be offered to responders to clarify the government’s understanding of their submittal, the capability ramifications, or to discuss their business approach. Information feedback sessions may be offered to respondents after the CRFI assessments are completed.

Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. All questions will be answered via posting answers to this website; except as provided above. Additionally, questions must NOT contain trade secrets or classified information. The Government reserves the right to not address questions received after 23 March 2020.

This notice may be updated as additional information becomes available. For more information on “Palletized Munition Flight Experiment” please contact the AF POCs using the email addresses listed below.

AF Points of Contact (POC) for Palletized Munitions Flight Experiment CRFI:

Mr. Joel Watson, Contracting Officer, joel.watson@us.af.mil or 937.713.9813 Mr. Michael Wafzig, Contracting Officer, michael.wafzig@us.af.mil or 937.713.9979

Technical Point of Contact:

Dr. Dean Evans, Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation, AFSDPE, dean.evans@us.af.mil, 937-422-0446.

THIS IS A CAPABILITY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (CRFI) ONLY to identify a capability to provide a Palletized Munition system for operational experimentation. The information provided in the CRFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government.

SDPE has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this CRFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as an authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.