RFI AFRL RQKP 2024 0002 A.pdf

RFI-AFRL-RQKP-2024-0002

Runway Independent Mobility / Next Generation Intra-theater Airlift (NGIA)

Request for Information (RFI)

1. Contracting Office Address

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) – Wright Research Site, AFRL/RQKPB, Area B, Bldg 45, 2130 8th Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433.

2. Overview & Disclaimer The Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate (AFRL/RQ) is seeking information on advanced configurations, propulsion and power generation/regulation concepts and technologies for a contested logistics aircraft with attributes for agility in the objective area, airlift capacity, speed, range and survivability to sustain joint force operations within the contested environment; with envisioned start of Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase and first prototype delivery in the early 2030’s.

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only, as defined in FAR 15.201(e), to obtain pricing, delivery, capabilities, and other market information for planning purposes. This RFI shall not be construed as a formal solicitation or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any product or service. This RFI is not a request for competitive proposals; therefore, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders to this RFI will have no competitive advantage in receiving any awards related to the submitted topic area.

The information requested will be used by the Air Force to facilitate decision making for potential future acquisitions. Submission of any information in response to this RFI is completely voluntary, and costs associated with any submission will not be reimbursed by the Government. Responses to this RFI will not be returned.

There is no guarantee that any submission in response to this RFI will result in a Government program. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. The information submitted in response to this RFI may be used to help the Government further define its requirements. If the Government develops a program that addresses any submitted or similar topic, the resulting procurement will address technology and business specific requirements as defined by the Government to achieve the required objectives.

The Government will not use any proprietary information submitted to establish the capability, requirements, approach, or solution so as to not inadvertently restrict competition. In order to complete its review, AFRL/RQ must be able to share the information within the Government and with its support contractors; therefore, any responses marked in a manner that will not permit such internal Government review will be returned/deleted without being assessed/considered. All information received shall be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure.

3. Background Information

The Department of the Air Force’s (DAF’s) goal is to enhance existing airlift capability and capacity with an intra-theater platform that can fight through damaged infrastructure on responsive timelines. The primary mission will include intra-theater airlift to support Agile Combat Employment (ACE) for both cluster-to-cluster and intra-cluster movement of cargo and personnel to/from unimproved surfaces and/or damaged runways. Secondary missions will include joint support, forward area refueling point (FARP) operations, rapid force projection, and non-traditional base defense.

The emphasis of this RFI is to expand the potential solution space by considering a platform with short to very short takeoff and landing performance to specifically address the primary and secondary contested logistics mission outlined above.

4. Requested Information

AFRL/RQ is seeking information from industry to help shape future AFRL investments in this area. Responders are welcome to answer any or all of the questions posed below and also provide additional pertinent information as deemed appropriate. AFRL is specifically seeking information directed at rapid development of integrated, mission-driven vehicle and integrated propulsion, power generation/regulation concepts and technologies that enable the Mission Threads and Desired Attributes.

Distribution of Mission Threads and Desired Platform Attributes is authorized to the Department of Defense and U.S. DoD contractors only. Requests for this document must be referred to the AFRL/RQKPB Contracting Office by sending an e-mail to Peter.Seiley@us.af.mil.

Key areas of interest include the following:

A. Substantiated strategies for structured, time-phased risk reduction experiments and demonstrations which will minimize the time and development cost required to mature critical-path technologies needed to deliver first prototype in the early 2030’s.

B. With consideration to (A) above, innovative ideas for modifying an aircraft design to achieve extremely short or vertical take-off and landing capability with smaller payload weight. Innovative ideas to account for foreign object damage and to counter ground effects of unpaved or unprepared ground environments.

C. Identification of high impact, low TRL technologies which would require early start within an overall Research and Development (R&D) roadmap.

D. Information of how Digital Engineering will be applied to the design and development process to reduce timelines, overall development costs, and develop derivative configurations.

E. Concepts for supportability that enable rapid onload-offload of cargo and to minimize material handling equipment required at austere operating locations.

F. Enumerate the key tradeoffs between survivability and performance vs.

development and procurement costs in the provided aircraft design.

G. What additional information would industry need to establish a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for this type of work?

H. Identify required test facilities and capabilities (e.g. altitude test cells, ranges, labs etc.) for engine development and risk reduction efforts. Identify any existing capabilities that may require upgrade/modifications to include potential investments.

I. Explain assumptions made in planning for a 20% margin for power and thermal management capability. Identify limiting conditions, systems or technologies for mission system power or system thermal management capacity growth.

J. Provide any operational analysis that substantiates a different field performance metric than those listed above.

K. Innovative teaming arrangements of traditional military prime contractors with non-military contractors to achieve a mix of experience in advanced aero-configuration design, lean programs and rapid airframe/propulsion/power development, manufacturing, and cost-effective sustainment.

5. Response Instructions Written responses to this RFI are encouraged but not mandatory. Annotated briefings are acceptable. Annotated briefings should be provided if responders wish to participate in the Virtual Stakeholders’ Forum. If submitting a written response, it shall be limited to 30 double-spaced pages with one-inch margins using standard letter-size 8½” x 11” paper. The page count includes any title page. The font for text should be Times New Roman 12-point or larger.

Please pay attention to any company templates that automatically create a “company proprietary” or similar type statement. Those must be removed from the response. IF APPLICABLE, clearly indicate the appropriate distribution statement (B, C, D, etc.), Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), or ITAR-restricted. Multiple responses from a firm are acceptable. Marketing information is NOT acceptable in the response.

Endorsements from elected officials at the federal, state, and/or local levels are NOT acceptable in the response.

The government anticipates having a Stakeholders’ Forum, in mid-November 2024, to discuss this potential future research area. Each contractor who responds to this RFI may choose to present their response to this RFI verbally to a government-only audience, not to exceed 1 hour. An agenda and detailed logistics information for this Virtual Stakeholders’ Forum will be provided once within 1 week of the response deadline.

6. Request for Clarification

A responder may request clarification, in writing, from the Contracting Office for any aspect of this RFI that is unclear, by sending an e-mail to Peter.Seiley@us.af.mil.

Technical questions regarding this RFI should be submitted in writing to Barth Shenk, barth.shenk@us.af.mil, or Daniel Thomson, AFRL/RQ, daniel.thomson@us.af.mil.

7. Submission of Documentation

Written responses are due to the Contracting Office identified below no later than 3:00p.m.

EST Friday, 1 November 2024. Requests to participate in the Virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, accompanied with annotated briefings should also be provided no later than 3:00p.m. EST Friday, 1 November 2024. Respondees that elect to respond shall provide one (1) electronic copy (in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Adobe Acrobat) delivered either via email (Peter.Seiley@us.af.mil) or via DoD SAFE. If the contractor needs a DoD SAFE drop-off invite from the AF, please send that request to Peter.Seiley@us.af.mil.

Submission of marketing information, existing commercial documentation, and product literature is NOT an acceptable response.

8. Additional Information All responsible sources may submit information that shall be considered by the agency.

If late information is received, it may be considered, depending on agency time constraints. All routine communications regarding the announcement should be directed to the contractual point of contacted listed above. The Government may or may not use any responses to this RFI as a basis for a subsequent project. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. The Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to the respondents with respect to any of the information submitted under this RFI. Any questions submitted in response to this RFI may or may not be answered by the Government POC and may or may not be published.

Any answers published by the Government would only be intended to provide clarification on the information requested. No requests for a bid package or solicitation will be accepted; a bid package or solicitation does not exist at this time.

9. Support Contractors Only Government employees will review submitted information. Please be advised that employees of commercial firms under contract to the Government may be used to administratively process submissions and perform other administrative duties requiring access to other contractor’s proprietary information. These support contractors include nondisclosure agreements prohibiting their contractor employees from disclosing any information submitted by other contractors or using such information for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished.

10. Timeline

The following is the timeline for the RFI.

4 October 2024: RFI clarifications due 1 November 2024: RFI responses due Mid-November: Stakeholders Forum

11. Submission Checklist (if written response is selected) o 30 pages maximum including any title page. Less pages acceptable.

o 8 ½” x 11” paper o Double Spaced o One-inch margins o Times New Roman 12-point font or larger o No Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost detail is being requested in response to this RFI o No marketing information, commercial documentation, or product literature o Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or PDF format only o Submitted via email or DoD SAFE.

o IF APPLICABLE, clearly indicate the appropriate distribution statement (B, C, D, etc.), o Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), or ITAR-restricted o No marketing information, commercial documentation, or product literature o No endorsements from elected officials at the federal, state, and/or local level o Due date is 3:00 PM EST, Friday, 1 November 2024.