RFI Aging and Surveillance.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Air Delivered Munitions (ADM) Predictive Age Life Model (PALM) Creation in Support of USAF’s Bombs Aging & Surveillance Program

AFLCMC EBHKC at Hill AFB, UT, seeks information and feedback from our industry partners for a potential upcoming requirement. Please answer the questions listed at the bottom of this document with as much detail as possible. Additional feedback, insights and recommendations are welcomed.

Please send responses to both email addresses listed below:

Ryan Mitchell at ryan.mitchell.21@us.af.mil Nick Padgett at david.padgett@us.af.mil

Overview:

The purpose of this contract is for engineering services and support for the creation of the Predictive Age Life Model (PALM) to determine the useful life of each bomb type in USAF inventory. PALM creation will involve identification of bomb-specific aging mechanisms via sub-scale and full-scale testing to include arena and sled testing support, modeling & simulation analyses, mathematical modeling, measurement of mass properties, CT-scanning all bomb test articles, dissection and coring and iteratively modifying and validating structural-based and hydro-code-based PALM with sub-scale and full-scale test results, respectively.

The applicable NAICS Code is expected to be 541380 – Testing Laboratories and services.

The USG intends to hold an Industry Day shortly following the closure of this RFI as part of market research, though an Industry Day is not required and the USG may decide at any point not to hold an Industry Day.

Questions:

A. General Capabilities & Experience:

1. Describe your experience in conducting Aging and Surveillance (A&S) testing and analysis on energetic materials and munitions, specifically air-delivered munitions (ADMs). Provide examples of similar projects and the types of ADMs involved.

2. Demonstrate your expertise in developing and validating Predictive Age-Life Models (PALMs) for munitions.

3. Detail your experience working with various explosive fill types mentioned in the PWS (e.g., Tritonal, PBXN-109, AFX-757, AFX-795, AFX-1282, PBXN-110).

B. Specific Technical Questions:

1. What are your proposed methods for creating and validating PALMs that accurately predict both the performance and shelf-life of ADMs?

2. How would you address the challenges or risks associated with modeling the effects of voids and other anomalies in explosive fills on ADM performance?

3. How would you address the challenges associated with obtaining accurate and reliable data from embedded recorders during sled testing?

C. Facilities and Resources:

1. Describe your facilities for handling, storing, and testing energetic materials, including safety features and security measures.

2. Do you have the necessary equipment and personnel to conduct all the testing and analysis described in the PWS? If not, describe your subcontracting strategy.

D. Contract Structure

1. Please refer to the attached draft solicitation document and provide feedback on the suggested CLIN structure.

E. PWS

1. Provide feedback on PWS. Are there any areas in need of clarification?

F. Source Selection

1. Are there any suggested key elements the USG may want to take into consideration when making a source selection?