RFI B-52 CONECT.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

B-52 Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT).

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources with the expertise, capabilities, experience, and repair data necessary to meet qualification requirements to repair the B-52 Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT). The National Stock Numbers (NSNs) and Part Numbers (PNs) are as follows:

LRUs:

NSN 5821-01-657-6453CX, P/N 7000386-19 PROCESSOR GROUP, SIG (Crew Workstation, CW)

NSN 5821-01-657-6452CX, P/N 7000946-19 PROCESSOR GROUP, SIG (Central information Management server, CIMS) NSN 5821-01-664-4605CX, P/N 73000053-19 Display Unit, Sig (Multi-Function Color Display, MFCD)

NSN 5831-01-577-4150CX, P/N 827-10075-5 Control, Intercommunication (Intercom control Unit, ICU) NSN 5831-01-575-8723CX, P/N 827-10075-8 Control, Intercommunication (Interphone Station, IS)

NSN 6110-01-645-3768CX, P/N 827-10075-10 Panel, Control, Elec (Interphone Control Panel, ICP)

NSN 7035-01-573-5916CX, P/N 827-10056-1 Server, Automatic Data (FSU) NSN 5895-01-577-0420CX, P/N 827-10057-1 Modem Communication (IDM) NSN 5821-01-574-0364CX, P/N 827-11290-1 CIMS/FSS Panel NSN 5895-01-573-6231CX, P/N 827-11313-1 COM3 Panel

The B-52 CONECT is currently repaired by Boeing (82918) under contract FA8107-19-D-0001.

The RMC/RMSC code for the B-52 CONECT is R4/R. This market research will be the first time repairs are performed directly through the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

Honeywell is the OEM of the CW, CIMS, and MFCD. Telephonics is the OEM for the ICU, ICP, and the IS. L3Harris is the OEM of the FSU. Extant is the OEM of the IDM. Boeing is the OEM for the CIMS and COM3 Panels. The Government does not own the technical data required to perform organic repairs, and acquiring the data through purchase or reverse engineering is uneconomical.

The contractor shall furnish all material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, and services.

The contractor is responsible for providing, maintaining, and calibrating all support equipment required at their facility or a subcontractor’s facility. Contractor furnished material or replacement parts shall equal or exceed the quality of the original material or parts.

Honeywell is the manufacturer of the CW NSN 5821-01-657-6453CX, CIMS NSN 5821-01- 657-6452CX and MFCD NSN 5821-01-664-4605CX and the only known sole source contractor for repairing this item. Contractors and institutions responding to this market research are hereby notified that participation in this survey does not guarantee participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

Telephonics is the OEM for the ICU NSN 5831-01-577-4150CX, ICP NSN 6110-01-645- 3768CX, and the IS NSN 5831-01-575-8723CX and the only known sole source contractor for repairing this item. Contractors and institutions responding to this market research are hereby notified that participation in this survey does not guarantee participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

L3Harris is the OEM of the FSU NSN 7035-01-573-5916CX and the only known sole source contractor for repairing this item. Contractors and institutions responding to this market research are hereby notified that participation in this survey does not guarantee participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

Extant is the OEM of the IDM NSN 5895-01-577-0420CX and the only known sole source contractor for repairing this item. Contractors and institutions responding to this market research are hereby notified that participation in this survey does not guarantee participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

Boeing is the OEM for the CIMS and COM3 Panels NSN 5821-01-574-0364CX & NSN 5895- 01-573-6231CX and the only known sole source contractor for repairing this item. Contractors and institutions responding to this market research are hereby notified that participation in this survey does not guarantee participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997) applies to this Request for Information:

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as provided in subsection 31.205-18 Bid and Proposal (B&P) Costs, of Federal Acquisition Regulation

(b) Although the terms "proposal" and "offeror" may appear in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only and will not be considered a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of informational planning and budgetary forecasting by the government.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain a description of the NSNs listed for repair requirements and a Contractor Capability Survey. The Survey allows Contractors to provide their company’s capability.

2. If, after reviewing these documents, you wish to participate in this market research, you should provide documentation demonstrating your company's capability to meet these requirements. Failure to provide adequate documentation may prevent the government from properly assessing your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please explain how you would overcome this deficiency to fulfill the requirement (e.g., through teaming or subcontracting).

a. Identify any specific areas of work that your organization believes should be set aside 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 regarding this market survey should be addressed to Kelsey Rowell, Program

Manager, 478-397-2284 or via email at kelsey.rowell@us.af.mil.

B-52 Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT)

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources with the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the qualification requirements for depot-level testing and repair of the B-52 Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT). The National Stock Numbers (NSN) and Part Numbers (PN) are as follows:

Item NSN PN

PROCESSOR GROUP, SIG (CW) 5821-01-657-6453CX 7000386-19

PROCESSOR GROUP, SIG

(CIMS)

5821-01-657-6452CX 7000946-19

Display Unit, Sig (MFCD) 5821-01-664-4605CX 73000053-19 Control, Intercommunication (ICU) 5831-01-577-4150CX 827-10075-5 Control, Intercommunication (IS) 5831-01-575-8723CX 827-10075-8 Panel, Control, Elec (ICP) 6110-01-645-3768CX 827-10075-10 Server, Automatic Data (FSU) 7035-01-573-5916CX 827-10056-1 Modem Communication (IDM) 5895-01-577-0420CX 827-10057-1 CIMS/FSS Panel 5821-01-574-0364CX 827-11290-1 COM3 Panel 5895-01-573-6231CX 827-11313-1

The Crew Workstation (CW) is a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) on the B-52. Each aircraft has six (6) CWs installed. The CW provides video/graphics processing, video (A) source for the MFCD and a Mission Planning workstation via two graphics/video processing elements, the Graphics Controller (GC) and Pentium Client (PC). The primary display element is the GC which generates the video (A) raster type graphics. The CW is not nuclear hardened. The CW was developed by Honeywell and integrated into the B-52 by Boeing.

The Central Information Management System (CIMS) is a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) on the B-52. Each aircraft has two (2) CIMS installed. The CIMS hosts central processing for CONECT software functions, including situational awareness, tactical data link management, and weapon retargeting and retasking. Two CIMS units are present: CIMS A, located in the upper right-hand equipment rack, and CIMS B, located in the lower left-hand equipment rack. The CIMS features an open architecture design incorporating three CPCI Single Board Computers (SBC) with several types of discrete IO and communication port interfaces hosted on PMC modules. The CIMS was developed by Honeywell and integrated into the B-52 by Boeing.

The Multi-Function Color Display (MFCD) is a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) on the B-52. Each Aircraft has six (6) MFCDs installed. The MFCD is comprised of an Electronics Assembly (EA) and a Display Head Assembly (DHA). The MFCD utilizes a 6" x 8" AMLCD panel in a landscape orientation to provide high resolution color video and graphics formats to the operators. The electro-mechanical bezel provides an operator interface for mode selection, video processing selection, day/Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) selection, and control of display brightness and contrast. The MFCD displays data from the Crew Workstation (CW). The MFCD was developed by Honeywell and integrated into the B-52 by Boeing.

The Interphone Control Unit (ICU) interfaces with the Interphone Control Panels (ICP)s via a digital RS-485 bus. This link contains the ICP digital audio (microphone and headset) and controls. There are two Interphone Control Units (ICU) installed in the Audio Interphone System for redundancy. ICU #1 is located in the lower forward equipment bay. ICU #2 is located in the upper right hand equipment rack. Each ICU contains three (3) PC-104 circuit cards; a CPU card, a Voice Network Interface Card (VNIC) card and a Wideband card, in addition to one (1) main board and provide audio interconnections requested by either the CIMS or manually by the interphone Control Panel (ICP) operator.

The maintenance interphone station (IS) is located in the front wheel well, and provides intercommunication between maintenance personnel and the aircraft flight crew.

The ICP is the operator interface to the AIS. It communicates digitally over an RS-485 link with the ICU. An RS-485 digital interface carries audio, control and status information between each ICP and its associated ICU. The ICP contains pushbutton switches with LED indicators that provide a status for radio operation, navigation aids, interphone operations, RPTT/IPTT function, CALL, MUTE, and backup functions. The ICP contains the audio interface to the operator accommodating high and low impedance headsets and dynamic and electret microphones.

The FSU located in the upper right hand equipment rack provides a receptacle for the removable storage devices (RSD). It provides all interfaces to the aircraft or the mission planning system.

The FSU has a front door covering the RSD slots. The door(s) is integral to the FSU. The door has a positive locking mechanism to secure the door and provides environmental protection to prevent contamination of the connectors in any non-populated RSD slots. The FSU chassis contains electrical interface connectors, LEDs, embedded power supplies, a heater, fans, filters, processors and external communications connections. The FSU external communications is primarily through Ethernet connections and discrete indicators. The FSU has two Removable Storage Devices (RSDs) provide the means of transferring data between the ground-based storage management system and the aircraft and to store data generated during the mission. The FSU supports file level access to data stored on the RSDs and provides for the partitioning of the storage media. It will support the organization of partitions into files, folders and subfolders. It has the capability of preventing write access to selected files/folders/subfolders. The FSU supports multi-protocol file locking.

The Improved Data Modem (IDM) located in the lower left hand equipment rack provides the capability to transmit and receive data to and from a digital message device using TACFIRE, AFAPD protocol, IDL protocol or MIL-STD-188-220. The IDM operates on aircraft 28 volt (de) and has a green LED mounted on the front of the IDM to indicate that the internal power supplies are operational. The IDM contains a modem module, a power module, and an interface module. The modem module performs signal modulation and radio interface and provides for high level host interface and message generation. The power module converts aircraft 28VDC to 5VDC, provides EMI filtering, overvoltage protection, and reverse voltage protection. It also serves as an Ethernet to serial bridge. The interface module translates the single-ended MIL- STD-188-184 radio interface to double-ended MIL-STD-188-184 interface.

The CIMS/FSS control panel, located at the RNA V station, provides centralized power application and power control of CONECT components, with the capability to reset some CONECT central processing components. It contains lights to indicate the state of the system during startup and displays the status of the FSS based on discrete signals provided by the FSS.

The CIMS/FSS control panel has two FSU power on lights and two FSU ready lights. The FSU power on light and FSU ready light are provided for each half of the FSU. An FSU power on light is used to indicate the FSU has power available. The FSU ready light indicates the FSU is operational.

The COM 3/fill panel located at the RNAV station enables the operator to load fill/crypto data and select the desired antenna for communications. The black data fill input sends fill data to the Warrior RT for filling preset channels and waveform data. The red data fill input sends cryptographic information to the Warrior RT such as COMSEC Key Encryption Keys (KEKs) and Traffic Encryption Keys (TEKs). The panel contains an upper and lower SATCOM antenna pushbutton selection switch. The switch control positioning of the RF relay and selects the antenna to be used. The relay also 11' 0 provides the circuit for the applicable switch light to indicate positive identification of which antenna is in use. The panel contains mode status annunciator lights which provide indication when COM 3 is in the SATCOM or LOS mode.

The service shall include repairs, obsolete parts resolution and the necessary engineering support to investigate Deficiency Reports and Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS).

The repairs must meet all form, fit, function, and interface requirements. However, the Government does not own the data or the data rights necessary to compete the repair of this part.

It has been determined to be uneconomical to reverse engineer the data, qualify a new source, or buy the data and/or data rights. The OEMs are the only known source(s) of repair for this system and has been since it was fielded.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

B-52 Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT)

Part I. Business Information

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

Company/Institute Name:

Address:

Point of Contact:

CAGE Code:

Phone Number:

E-mail Address:

Web Page URL:

Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code:

NAICS Code 811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

Based on the above NAICS Code, please indicate whether your company is a:

Small Business (Yes / No) Woman Owned Small Business (Yes / No) Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes / No) 8(a) Certified (Yes / No) HUBZone Certified (Yes / No) Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes / No) Service Disabled Veteran Small Business (Yes / No) System for Award Management (SAM) (Yes / No) 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 the close of business on 22 September 2025. Please ensure data is in a readable electronic format that can be received through a firewall. Attachments shall not exceed 10 MB per email. Multiple emails are acceptable. Responses must be sent via email to the following:

Jason Morgan, PCO jason.morgan.37@us.af.mil Kelsey Rowell, LM kelsey.rowell@us.af.mil

Questions related to this market research should be addressed to the PCO.

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

A. General Capability Questions:

1. Briefly describe your facility's capabilities and 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. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, and agency/organization supported.

3. Describe your company’s experience in repairing the B-52 CONECT LRUs.

4. Describe your company's capabilities for generating, handling, processing and storing classified material and data.

5. What is your company’s current maximum monthly capacity for this particular type of requirement? Provide information on any facility reserves you may have to increase capacity in the event of an urgent need to support critical operational mission requirements.

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

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

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 depot environment.

2. Provide your commercial manual(s) or Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP) along with documentation of your rights to use them, for depot-level repair and functional checks of these or similar assets for Government Engineer review.

3. Describe your capabilities and experience in test, evaluation, repair or maintenance procedures.

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

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

6. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting on hand/work-in-process balances and repair status to your customer.

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

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

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

C. Commerciality Questions:

1. Are there established catalog or market prices for our requirement?

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

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

D. Continuity of Operations and Cybersecurity

1. 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?

2. What mitigation strategies are in place for your company to resume operations and to prevent further disruptions?

3. Is your company facing financial disruption, impending merger, acquisition and/or foreign investment?

4. If there is Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI) of your company, what percentage of the company is owned by the foreign entity(ies)? Which foreign country(ies)/entity(ies) owns part or all of your company?

5. Does your company have a policy or plan for preventing and mitigating risks associated with the security of internal and external information systems?

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

E. Engineering Services Questions

1. Describe your capabilities and experience providing engineering services relevant to the requirements of this effort.

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

3. Demonstrate your ability and experience providing the same or similar services currently offered in commercial and/or military environments by providing the following information on the same or similar items:

a) Contract Number

b) Procuring Agency

c) Contract Value

d) Services Provided

4. Describe your capabilities and experience in any required test, evaluation, and repair processes/procedures with regard to the required items.

5. Describe how you/your organization will identify and resolve parts obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources problems?

6. Discuss your process for addressing any form, fit, and function issues that may arise out of the requirements of this effort.

7. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting on hand/work-in-process balance and manufacturing status to your customer as required.

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