RCS Sources Sought 8 Nov 22.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Radar Cross Section Testing Capabilities for 5th Generation Aircraft

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only, which, as part of market research, is being issued in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 15.201(e). The US Air Force (USAF) seeks information on industry capabilities related to radar cross section testing (RCST) on stealth platforms and low observables (LO) coatings. The USAF desires an increased understanding of existing and emerging technologies and applications, to include maturity level and technical feasibility for potential use in measuring and tracking radar signatures of various 5th generation or later air vehicles currently in the USAF inventory, in production, in development, and/or in early concept stages.

This is not a solicitation/request for proposal and no contract shall result from this RFI. The USAF reserves the right to cancel this RFI, either before or after the closing date, and in the event of cancellation, the USAF has no obligation to reimburse potential respondents for any costs.

BACKGROUND:

The USAF has invested significantly in stealth technology to maintain its competitive advantage against adversaries, with stealth being a principal design characteristic for 5th Generation and later air vehicles. LO coatings give these air vehicles the ability to avoid radar detection, thus ensuring lethality and survivability in combat and success across their broad range of missions.

During the sustainment of these air vehicles, it is essential the vehicles maintain LO integrity as they face challenges related to stability over time, battle damage, modification of the airframe, or other scuff and refresh actions. In accordance with a Signature Management Plan, the radar signature of an air vehicle is measured and tracked using RCST techniques. After determining what the threat radar “sees” in a combat environment, the USAF can take actions intended to correct significant deficiencies in LO integrity.

RCST is most often accomplished by suspending and rotating the aircraft in an anechoic chamber and collecting multiple elevation, near field, and 360° azimuth radar measurements (turntable test). Other methods that utilize handheld zonal tools, or leverage radar at one of the USAF’s flight range facilities, are often used as a complement to the turntable’s capabilities.

The USAF does not currently own and operate a turntable facility. Instead, the USAF contracts with Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMC) to perform F-22 whole aircraft RCST using a turntable at an LMC facility, and LMC and its co-production partners perform F-35 whole body aircraft RCST during production at their facilities.

With the USAF’s fleets of stealth aircraft increasing, USAF operators and maintainers need to explore the broad range of potential alternatives for accomplishing RCST that can deliver long-term cost-effective sustainment of those fleets for their intended purposes. The USAF asks interested respondents to submit narrative replies to the questions set forth in this RFI. To the extent available, respondents can submit detailed answers and relevant supporting materials sufficient to facilitate the USAF’s understanding of a respondent’s capabilities. USAF personnel may subsequently contact individual respondents to explore information further.

INFORMATION REQUESTED:

NOTE – Ensure responses do not risk disclosure of sensitive, controlled, or classified information. If necessary, subsequent meetings might be arranged where appropriate measures can be applied to protect sensitive, controlled, and classified information relevant to the questions in this RFI.

1. Describe your experience with stealth technology and low observables coatings. Identify specific weapon systems you worked with where you gained that experience.

2. Describe your experience with radar signatures, in particular experience performing data collection, data reduction, analyzing, or otherwise associated with radar cross section testing. Specifically identify experience as it would relate to radar signatures associated with stealthy platforms and technologies.

3. Describe the software tools used for data collection, and specifically for data reduction.

What methods are used to remove the aircraft mounting and/or lifting hardware, or other clutter sources or multi-bounce associated with the measurement.

4. Describe the end/delivered products from the test event.

5. Describe the secure method(s) you recommend for radar cross section test results data collection and transfer to support analysis/use by other contractors and/or Government personnel.

6. Describe technology (current or in development) that may allow for alternate ways to verify aircraft signature (other than “turntable”)

7. Where you have experience specific to radar cross section testing, describe the tools, methods, and processes you used. Be as specific as possible about the platform subjected to testing. Describe the extent of the testing conducted and limitations to the tools, methods, and processes; for example, did the work capture data on the whole aircraft (or other tested platform), or was it limited to smaller specific areas of the platform?

8. Describe the types of technical information you would need, to include proprietary data and/or competitively restricted processes, in order to perform radar cross section testing on specific USAF 5th Generation platforms. Identify whether you have data rights to the necessary information, or otherwise have the ability to access the information. Specify where you would need the USAF to provide data in order to perform the testing.

9. Describe available facilities and equipment (in your possession, control, or access) to perform radar cross section testing. If you do not currently have facilities and equipment available, describe your ability to secure them. Identify any facilities and equipment you would need the USAF to provide. Describe capacity limitations that might exist in your available facilities and equipment, and your ability to expand capacity (amount and timeframe) if needed to respond to changes in demand. Include any facility constraints that would impact specific existing, in production, or in development 5th Generation platforms that could be within your capability to support.

10. The USAF’s 5th Generation fleets could be based, operated, and/or maintained around the world in both peacetime and wartime scenarios. With respect to a testing concept you might be able to provide, discuss what provisions the USAF would need to plan in order to ensure its worldwide fleets could be tested. Specifically, would the USAF testing strategy need to be built around fixed locations, mobile capabilities, or a combination of testing methods and processes?

11. If the USAF were to rely on radar cross section testing at a contractor operated facility, do you have an available workforce with the requisite skills and experience to perform repairs to the low observables coating to correct deficiencies impacting radar signature?

12. Describe the quality parameters of tools, methods, and processes you have used in performing radar cross section testing. How much variability will test results show when a test is repeated without having altered the tested platform?

13. What technical risks do you consider most significant in successfully creating a radar cross section testing program? Which of these risks have you encountered, and what steps were you able to take to manage the risks effectively?

14. What process improvement opportunities do you foresee in the field of radar cross section testing? Are automation tools surfacing that can advance the testing process, improve quality, increase throughput, or otherwise offer advantages for the USAF?

15. In building a business case for a radar cross section testing strategy, and in managing a testing program’s impact on fleet readiness, are there factors such as cost-effective throughput levels, platform testing times and life cycle timelines, and labor force variables the USAF should consider? Do you have suggestions regarding those factors?

16. Describe the examples of non-recurring and recurring costs you would expect to encounter if you were asked to establish a radar cross section testing program for the USAF. Identify assumptions that favorably and unfavorably impact your suggested cost examples.

BUSINESS INFORMATION:

Please provide the following business information for your company/institution.

Company/Institute Name:

Address:

Point of Contact:

CAGE Code:

Phone Number:

E-mail Address:

Web Page URL:

Submit information to the points of contact identified below. Responses are requested by close of business 9 Dec 22.

Contracting Office Address:

AFSC OL:H/PZIEB

6038 Aspen Ave Hill AFB UT84056-5825

Primary Points of Contact:

Brad Tobler Contracting Officer, AFSC OL:H/PZIEB

E-mail: bradley.tobler.2@us.af.mil

1Lt Erin Speer Contracting Specialist, AFSC OL:H/PZIEB E-mail: erin.speer.2@us.af.mil