Request for Information (RFI) Boom Lab.pdf

TECHNOLOGY TRANSITION OFFICE

COMBAT REFUELING & OPERATIONS NETWORKED UNIVERSAL SYSTEMS

(CRONUS) Joint KC-135 Electrified Boom Lab

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

6 August 2026

NOTICE

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation nor commit the government to award a contract now or in the future, as defined in RFO 15.101(c). Submitting information for this RFI is voluntary, and participants will not be compensated. Responses to this RFI will be treated as information only and not as a proposal. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government’s use of such information. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. The information provided may be used by the AF in developing its acquisition strategy, statement of work/statement of objectives, and performance specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained within their response as instructed later in this posting.

1.0 Introduction and Purpose

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is issuing this RFI to identify capable industry partners and gather information regarding the installation of a KC-135 Electrified Boom Automation Lab.

This lab will be installed in the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) motion capture lab in Area B at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. The purpose of this initiative is to bridge the gap in technology demonstration—from laboratory, to prototyping, to platform integration. The facility will allow engineers, researchers, program managers, and warfighters to identify, integrate, test, qualify, and demonstrate candidate technologies for boom automation in a scalable laboratory environment.

2.0 Background and Scope

The Government plans to acquire a KC-135 tail section with a movable boom from the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG). This hardware will serve as Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE).

The scope of the anticipated effort encompasses all design, engineering, fabrication, integration, installation, and testing required to deliver a fully functional lab.

Successful integration will require:

• A structural support system capable of handling all static and dynamic loads of the tail section and boom.

• An overhead actuation system enabling the boom to move through its complete refueling envelope (yaw, pitch, and probe extension).

• The proposed suspension and actuation design must have a zero-floor-footprint within the motion-capture lab volume and must not obstruct the field of view of the wall and ceiling-mounted motion-capture cameras.

• A digital hardware interface for commanding movements and reporting system status.

• Facility modifications, including structural reinforcement, utility hookups, and demolition (if required) within the AFIT-owned laboratory space.

3.0 Response Requirements

The Government requests that interested vendors submit a Capability Statement and Information Whitepaper addressing the following areas:

3.1 Technical Approach & Capability

• Structural & Facility Integration: Describe your approach to engineering structural supports capable of handling the KC-135 tail/boom static and dynamic loads within an existing facility. Discuss your experience with similar facility modifications and crane/actuation installations.

• System Actuation & Control: Detail your conceptual approach to providing precision actuation to move the boom through its refueling envelope. Include your approach to developing the necessary digital control station, software interfaces, and API to communicate with Government computer systems.

• Systems Engineering & Safety: Briefly outline your approach to managing system safety (IAW MIL-STD-882) and overall systems engineering for a turnkey integration project of this scale.

3.2 Programmatic & Logistics Approach

• Logistics & Transportation: Describe your approach to safely transporting the GFE KC-135 tail section from an intermediate contractor facility to the final AFIT installation site.

• Schedule Feasibility: The Government anticipates a 12-month design/installation Base Period and a 12-month maintenance/support Option

Period. Please comment on the feasibility of this schedule and identify any major schedule drivers or risks. Please also provide the government when the GFE would need to be provided, post contract award.

• Statement of Objectives feedback: Offerors should include any requested feedback to the attached Statement of Objectives that the government should consider.

3.3 Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM)

• Provide a high-level Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for the turnkey solution, separated into the 12-month design/installation Base Period and the 12-month maintenance/support Option Period. (Note: This is for budgetary planning purposes only).

4.0 Submission Instructions

Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically no later than September 6, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST.

Format Requirements:

• Page Limit: Submissions shall not exceed 6 pages (excluding cover page and

ROM).

• File Format: PDF or Microsoft Word.

Company Information: Submissions must include the following metadata on the cover page:

o Company Name, Mailing Address, and Website o CAGE Code and Unique Entity ID (UEI) Number o Point of Contact (Name, Title, Phone Number, and Email Address) o Business Size and Socioeconomic Status (e.g., Small Business, SDVOSB, WOSB, 8(a)) relative to NAICS Code 541330 (Engineering Services).

Points of Contact for Submissions & Contracting Questions:

Ryan D. Sims– Contracting Officer, AFRL/RSKDA Email: ryan.sims.2@us.af.mil

For technical or programmatic questions, please contact:

Brent Richburg - Program Manager, AFRL/RR, Email: Brent.richburg.1.ctr@us.af.mil mailto:ryan.sims.2@us.af.mil mailto:Brent.richburg.1.ctr@us.af.mil

5.0 Disclaimer

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All information submitted in response to this RFI is voluntary, and the U.S. Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the U.S. Government.

5.0 Disclaimer