Request for Information.docx

Repair of Air Force Engine Test Stands

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the repair data, expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to repair the T-20 series and T-21 series Engine Test Stands (ETS) and related components. The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined. RMSC is 3H, which indicates that repairs be made by the actual manufacturer for the second or subsequent time as the Government does not possess sufficient, accurate, or legible data to repair this part.

The Government does not own or have access to the Executive software for these items. The Government has determined that this system is not a commercial item but has some commercial components. Commercial item descriptions, commercial vendor catalog or price lists, or commercial manuals assigned a technical manual number apply.

Contractor shall furnish all material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, technical manuals, and services. No current configuration samples are available for examination. Contractor-furnished material or parts used for replacement shall equal or exceed the quality of the original material or parts.

Previous Contract Work statement is provided as a restricted attachment. To gain access you must submit a system request for access. That request must include your CAGE to show that you are a federal contractor.

Current sole source vendor for this item is Atec Inc., 12600 Executive Drive, Stafford TX 77477-3604, CAGE 09552. Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain a description of the ETS requirement and a Contractor Capability Survey. The Survey allows Contractors to provide their company’s capability.

2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.)

a. Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business.

3. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

4. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to the PM or PCO.

Repair of T-20 Series and T-21 Series Engine Test Stand (ETS)

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to repair the T-20 and T21 Engine Test Stands (ETS).

This requirement is for repair and associated services. Our repair services strategy is a ten-year contract (five-year basic plus five option years) and covers FY23 to FY33. The projected repairs will be a Best Estimated Quantities (BEQ) of 14EA per year.

The Government’s needs for repair services are required in order to support Air Force engine testing requirements. The T-20 test stand supports testing, at the Field and Intermediate Maintenance Level, of turbojet and turbofan aircraft engines that exist in the Air Force inventory to evaluate problems so that repairs can be accomplished and perform production runs after repairs are complete. The T-21 test stands accomplish the same objective for T56 turboprop engines. Each test stand consists of four major parts: Thrust Trailer, Fuel Trailer, Control Cab, and the Instrumentation Data and Control (ID&C) System, plus the miscellaneous Equipment Kit. In the case of the T-21 Series test stands, the Thrust Trailer is replaced by the Turboprop Trailer Assembly. The adapter kits allow the engines (F100, F101, F110, F118, F119, F404, J85, TF33, TF34, and T56 and all engine variants) to be mounted to the test stands. The adapter kits include hardware, cables, bell mouths, engine inlet screens, etc.

The T-9 and T-4 are noise suppressors that test strictly off airframe engines. The T-9 and T-4 use throttles and ID&Cs that are identical to what is used in the T-20 Engine Test Stand. However, the T-9 and T-4 test cells do not utilize typical engine test equipment such as the thrust trailer, fuel trailer, or control cab. The throttles, ID&Cs and any interfaces needed for them that are included in the T-9s and T-4s will be part of this contract as well. Additionally, Air Start systems are required for the T-4 ETS. There are currently 156 total ETSs in the field.

There are six versions of the ETS which vary by application or capability. The T-20 is a bare thrust frame configuration with inverted mounting in a T-9 hush house. This variant does not include a fuel system or control cab, as these are managed as part of the hush house program. The T-20A is a legacy analog instruments configuration and is rarely used anymore. It includes the thrust frame, control cab, fuel system and ID&C. The T-20B is another legacy instruments system with analog and digital readouts but no interfaces or system integration. The T-20C is the standard configuration digital control system with complete integration of all instrumentation and control. The T-20C is the standard that all locations are repaired to and significant headway has been made in that process.

The T-21 is a legacy instruments system used to mount and test the only the T56 3.0 engine variant with 54H60 propeller system. The T-21D is the standard configuration digital control system capable of testing T56 3.0 and 3.5 variants with either 54H60 or NP2000 propeller systems. The T-21D is the standard for all T56 engine testing that all locations are repaired to and that process is complete.

The ETS tests the following engines: F100, F101, F110, F118, F119, F404, J85, TF33, TF34, and T56 that support the following aircraft: A-10, B-1, B-2, B-52, C-130, E-8C, F-15, F-16, F-22, T-7, T-38, and U-2. The ETS can be used outside or inside a Hush House which reduces testing noise. A Contractor must provide telephone support for the operating locations, perform Teardown and Evaluations (TDE), repair the ETS to the latest configuration, update technical manuals and drawings for Air Force operations, recommend engineering changes IAW USAF processes to address configuration changes or obsolescence, and maintain USAF standard ETS configuration.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

Repair of T-20 Series and T-21 Series Engine Test Stand (ETS) Part I. Business Information

Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

· Phone Number:

· E-mail Address:

· Web Page URL:

· A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership).

Responses to the Capability Survey Part I and Part II must be received no later than close of business 10 September 2021. Please ensure data is in a readable electronic format that can be received through a firewall. Attachments shall not to exceed 10 MB per email. Multiple emails are acceptable. Responses must be sent via email to the following:

· Contracting Officer Robert Rollins robert.rollins.2@us.af.mil

· Program Manager Will Buckhalter william.buckhalter.2@us.af.mil

Questions relative to this market research should be addressed to the PCO. Email subject should reference RFI #(insert RFI number).

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

A. General Capability Questions:

1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and nature of the goods and/or services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure.

2. Describe your company's past experience on previous projects similar in complexity to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact (Contracting Officer or Program Manager).

3. Describe your company’s experience in repairing the Part Number/NSNs listed above that make up theEngine Test Stand (ETS).

4. Describe your company's capabilities and experience in generating USAF technical data, engineering drawings and manuals. Identify what software programs are utilized to generate these data products and what formats are available for delivered items.

What is your company’s current maximum capacity per month for tonsite repairs? Provide information on number of Field Service Reps and their training and experience level? What would be your production lead times for ID&C, Oil Preservation System, F100 and F110 Bellmouths, T-21 Run-Up Trailer, Electronic Propeller Control System and F100 Signal Simulators?

5. What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices does your company employ? Provide a description of your quality program (ISO 9001, AS9100, etc.).

a. Provide a detailed quality plan implementing AS9100 (or equivalent).

6. Describe your company’s experience supporting low-bypass, supersonic-capable jet engine testing.

7. Describe your company’s experience and methods for supporting configuration management and control across a fleet of systems.

8. Describe you experience with Air Force Cybersecurity management and implementation. Provide any systems that you have completed this process.

9. What is your experience with software development? Do you have, or have a plan, to obtain Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)?

B. Repair Questions:

1. Describe your capabilities and experience in repairing existing systems/equipment (hardware and software) to solve maintenance and support problems in the field environment and solving problems over the phone.

2. Describe your capabilities and experience in developing/modifying repair or maintenance procedures. Include associated upgrade of technical orders and preparation of new technical orders.

a. State the types of diagnostic and troubleshooting tools utilized for efforts such as this.

3. Demonstrate your ability and experience in repair of the same or similar components, which are currently in use on commercial or military ETS by providing the following information on the same or similar items:

a) Contract Number

b) Procuring Agency

c) Contract Value

d) Number of assets shipped

4. Provide your commercial manual(s) or Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP) and your rights to these manuals and or ATP used in the depot level repair and functional check of these or similar assets for Government Engineer review.

5. Describe your capabilities and experience in test, evaluation, repair or maintenance procedures specifically for ETS.

6. Describe your configuration management processes and how you identify and resolve parts obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources problems?

7. Discuss your process for addressing any fit, form, function, and or interface issues that may arise out of this effort.

8. Describe your process for maintaining Government Furnished Property.

9. Include a detailed listing of facilities and equipment, including quantities, required to satisfy the requirements of this effort.

a. Provide an outline of the proposed process, including inspections.

i. State the type of test procedures are anticipated for this effort.

ii. State the type of inspection processes anticipated for this effort.

10. How will your organization address the absence of drawings, specifications, technical data, test procedures, etc.?

11. If the item cannot be repaired in total, state what your organization can repair.

12. State any technology insertion ideas for the item that would be suitable for this effort.

13. Discuss any reverse engineering or item replacement opportunities that may be present.

C. Commerciality Questions:

1. If you offer this product and/or service to both U.S. Government and commercial sources, is the same workforce used for both the U.S. Government and general public?

2. Is our requirement offered to both under similar terms and conditions? Briefly describe any differences.

3. Describe your standard warranty and return process for goods and services furnished to the government for items similar in nature to this requirement.