Request for Information - Landing Gear.docx

417th Supply Chain Integration (SCI) Request for Information

This announcement constitutes an official Request for Information (RFI). This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) or an Invitation for Bid (IFB), nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the government.

Scope The 417th Landing Gear Supply Chain Management Squadron (417 SCMS), Enterprise Hill Commodity Council (EHCC) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) are developing the follow-on strategy to the Landing Gear Collaborative Supply Chain Integration (LG-CSCI) contract. The intent of this effort is to build upon and apply lessons learned from the LG-CSCI program to improve on the model and provide increased readiness for the AF fleet.

Background The 417 SCMS, EHCC and DLA team are currently using LG-CSCI to purchase landing gear spare and consumable components for support of multiple aircraft weapon systems (A-10, B-1B, B-2, B-52, C-130, C-17, C-5A, E-3, KC-135, F-15, F-16, F-22, F-4, F-5, T-38). The list of National Stock Numbers (NSNs) is comprised of approximately 4000 different components, ranging from consumable items (O-Rings, Bushings, Shims, etc.) to complex forged repairable items (Landing Gear Cylinder assembly, Landing Gear Piston assembly, etc.) requiring several skilled processes for manufacture resulting in long production timelines.

Currently LG-CSCI is a Small Business set-aside, single award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract, it is a 10-year contract with a 5-year base and 5-year option. The prime contractor is responsible for the quality and delivery of all parts, regardless of the source of manufacture.

The USAF owns the preponderance of the technical data and maintains a Boeing Rights Guard agreement for limited data on the E-3 and KC-135 landing gear systems. The majority of the NIINs are currently manufactured or supplied by approved small businesses. It has been determined that in order to be successful this contract strategy must:

· Allow the contractor to leverage the Government’s buying power

· Provide a single contractor with management responsibility for the entire population of NIINs

· Improve forecast transparency and collaborate on demand forecasting

· Provide alternative First Article Testing (FAT) facilities

· Improve communication between Government Engineering authorities and manufacturers

· Provide incentives and dis-incentives for contractor performance Based on the improvements made between LGPVC and LG-CSCI, it has been determined that a single award IDIQ type contract will provide the optimal environment for program success. The single award approach will provide one contractor with the complete site picture of the 417th competitive Landing Gear supply chain. This approach will allow for proactive and comprehensive supply chain management providing for improved On-Time Delivery (OTD) rates and reduced Production Lead Times (PLT).

Developing Strategy The objectives of this performance based Long Term Contract (LTC) are to: (1) Improve Landing Gear piece part and assembly supportability (2) Increase the Landing Gear Industrial base by developing new qualified sources (3) Maintain and update tech data packages and (4) Reduce lead times for long lead items e.g. Forgings/outside processing.

Performance requirements will include On-Time Delivery, PLT, and Quality.

The Landing Gear acquisition team is asking for feedback from Industry representatives regarding this strategic support acquisition for Landing Gear spare parts.

Questions:

1. Please provide the following business information for your company and for any teaming and joint venture programs:

a. Company Name

b. Address

c. Point of Contact

d. Cage Code

e. Phone Number

f. E-mail Address

g. Web Page URL

h. Size of Business and North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Code

2. The Government is anticipating a 10-year Firm Fixed Price contract for this effort. Please describe any risks or issues you see with this contract length and pricing structure.

3. This contract will include performance metrics that will measure Production Lead Times (PLT) and On-Time Delivery. Do you see any other Metrics or Incentives that may be applicable?

4. Does your company have the capability/capacity to procure or produce all of the NIINs in Attachment 1? If not, can you provide an example of your teaming arrangement?

5. Engineering Questions:

a. What is your experience in identifying and qualifying engineering approved sources of manufacture?

b. What issues/risks do you see associated with sourcing (e.g. long lead items, forgings, castings etc.)?

c. What experience does your company have with USAF Landing Gear engineering protocols, ECPs, Quality Management, years of experience, etc.?

d. Forging lead times:

i. Does the commercial landing gear industry experience issues procuring forgings?

ii. Is there a procurement technique that could be used to shorten forging lead times and make them more predictable? For example, pre-purchasing time with the mills and forging houses.

iii. What commercial best practices for forging procurement would be beneficial to incorporate into the contract?

iv. Do you believe there is a CLIN structure other than FFP that would result in shorter lead times?

e. Some items may require First Article Testing (FAT) be completed at the USAF testing facility.

i. What are the perceived risks with utilizing USAF facilities for FAT evaluations?

ii. What suggestions can you provide to improve the FAT evaluation process?

6. Logistics / Program Management Questions:

a. Describe your company’s experience with USAF Landing Gear Supply Chain Management specific to the following:

i. Forging constraints

ii. Outside processing

iii. Forecasting/Planning

iv. Asset tracking

v. Subcontractor Management

vi. Quality Control (ISO 9001/AS 9100, NADCAP)

b. Does your company have experience managing USAF Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS)?

i. Does your company have experience with USAF legacy weapon system obsolescence management.

c. Does your company have experience identifying and evaluating MILSPEC requirements ensuring most up to date revision is being used?

d. Please describe any other experience or qualifications you have in regards to supporting USAF Landing Gear requirements.

7. Supply Chain Risk Management SCRM Questions:

a. Does your company have an active Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) or equivalent in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophic event that causes facilities or operations to be disrupted?

b. Does your company have a policy/plan for surge operations?

c. Describe any affiliations your company has with foreign countries, or companies owned by entities in foreign countries, at the company and sub-vendor levels. Are any of your sub-vendors or affiliates in countries barred from doing business with the United States (U.S.)? See link below for a list of countries/entities currently sanctioned from doing business with the U.S.

https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/sanctions-programs-and-country-information

d. Does your company have a policy/plan for preventing and mitigating risks associated with internal and external information systems security?

e. Has the company implemented cybersecurity requirements given in DFARS clause 252.204-7012, "Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting"?

8. Please provide any additional information/feedback that you believe would be relevant to this initiative.

The government is accepting responses to this request for information via email only. Please provide written responses to the Contracting Officer and Program Managers by the date specified in the SAM.gov posting at the following email addresses:

Nathan Flinders Contracting Officer Nathan.Flinders@DLA.mil

Trevor Russell Program Manager Trevor.Russell.2@us.af.mil

Jessica Petrilla Program Manager Jessica.Petrilla@us.af.mil

Attachment:

1. DRAFT 417th SCI NIIN List