RFI Future Pallet 2025.pdf

New Air Cargo Pallet (Future All-Aluminum Pallet)

CAUTION:

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to produce the future all-aluminum air cargo pallet for use by United States Air Force (USAF), Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and other Federal Agencies. The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined.

The Government owns the Technical Data Package (TDP) which is a partial solution and will require some modification.

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 parts used for replacement shall equal or exceed the quality of the original material or parts.

Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain a description of the Air Cargo Pallet requirement and a Contractor Capability Survey. The Survey allows Contractors to provide their company’s capability.

2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities.

3. ATTENTION: SMALL BUSINESS RESPONDENTS who are interested in participation for this effort:

a. No set aside decision has been made; however, the Government will determine the final strategy after thorough analysis of the small business responses and other market research available, considering the demonstrated interest and capability.

Please ensure that you provide a thorough response to each question. If your company does not currently possess the full capability required to fulfill the entire requirement, what teaming/partnership/joint venture/subcontracting arrangement do you have in place to fulfill the government needs? Providing evidence of this arrangement, e.g. emails, letter, etc. that demonstrates a united response to this RFI is highly encouraged but not required. The evidence should state the type of arrangement and the role each member will fulfill. If you are only interested in being a subcontractor to the future awardee, state the portion of the work that your organization has capability of fulfilling.

b. Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business.

4. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research.

Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

5. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to the PCO.

New Air Cargo Pallet (All-Aluminum Future Pallet)

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The Government’s requirement for air cargo pallets is in high demand in order to support current operations. The air cargo capability transforms strategic intent into tactical reality, ensuring that every mission-critical resource reaches its destination with the reliability, speed, and precision that operational success demands.

This requirement is currently satisficed by the 463L cargo pallets which has served the United States Logistics (military, domestic, and humanitarian) missions since 1963 with few modifications. The 463L pallet is a single purpose, Air Transportability Test Loading Activity (ATTLA) certified asset, measuring 88” x 108”, weighing 300 lbs. or less, and composed of an aluminum outer skin with a balsa wood core. The pallets are used for transport throughout the military airlift system which includes cargo loaders, forklifts, and conveyor systems. The cargo aircraft include the C-5, C-17, and C-130.

Purpose of RFI:

The purpose of this RFI is to determine if your company can manufacture the cargo pallet to a new configuration for future requirements. The Government’s TDP is a partial solution. This future air cargo pallet shall consist of extruded aluminum panels that are friction stir welded (FSW) together to form an all-aluminum pallet. These designs are in accordance with structural requirements currently in review.

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to produce the All- Aluminum Future Air Cargo Pallet based on the attached TDP.

This requirement is for production. Our production strategy is undetermined. The projected quantities will be Best Estimated Quantities (BEQ) of 1,583 a month. Describe your surge production capabilities and timeline to meet potential emergency or large-scale procurement requirements, including any advance notice, funding, or resource commitments needed to achieve maximum output capacity.

The Government has a near-complete design solution and invite industry partners to:

• Propose optimization to the Government’s design

• Recommend minimal design modifications that could improve testing outcomes while maintaining design integrity

• Identify opportunities to increase reliability and operational performance within our established framework

• Provide insights on production efficiencies and cost reduction opportunities

Note: While the Government has identified a known technical challenge within our current design approach, we believe leveraging industry expertise and innovative manufacturing capabilities will enable the Government to collaboratively address this issue through minimal, targeted modifications. The Government is committed to transparency in this partnership and welcomes industry insight to refine the design and build the best possible product that meets our stringent operational requirements.

The Government is not seeking alternative design concepts but rather manufacturing excellence and minor design refinements that ensure design requirement compliance.

Design Requirements:

Durability & Construction:

• The pallet shall withstand strains, jars, vibration, and other conditions incident to shipping, storage, installation, and service, to include austere environments

• Constructed as an integral unit requiring no assembly or attachment of separate parts during operational use

• Construction and assembly shall comply with AF Drawing 201993426* Operational Specifications:

• Design life: Minimum 10 years

• Load capacity: 10,000 pounds

• Maximum pallet weight: 300 pounds

• Nominal dimensions: 88.000" x 108.000" x 2.25" (per AF Drawing 201993426)

Manufacturing Compliance:

• All construction shall be in accordance with AF Drawing 201993426*

• Integral unit construction with no field assembly required

• Must be compatible with the 463L rail locking system

*Given these fixed requirements and near-complete design solution, industry expertise is sought to optimize the pallet design and recommend minimal design alterations that ensure compliance with these specifications while addressing known and unknown technical challenges. Industry should focus on achieving these requirements through enhanced production methods and minor refinements that maintain design integrity.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

Part I. Business Information

Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners (reply to each individual item, N/A if it does not apply):

• Company/Institute Name:

• Address:

• Point of Contact:

• CAGE Code:

• Phone Number:

• E-mail Address:

• Web Page URL:

• Government Proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code:

331318

Based on the Government proposed NAICS Code, state whether your company is:

• 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 close of business October 19th 2025. Please ensure data is in a readable electronic format that can be received through a firewall. Attachments shall not to exceed 10 MB per email. Multiple emails are acceptable. Responses must be sent via email to the following:

• Douglas Lindsey Douglas.lindsey@us.af.mil

• Shakilrah Walker Shakilrah.walker@us.af.mil

• Tiffany Davis-Patterson tiffany.davis-patterson@us.af.mil

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

A. General Capability Questions:

1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and nature of 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 to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact (Contracting Officer or Program Manager).

3. Describe your company's capabilities for generating, handling, processing and storing

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) material and data.

4. Describe your company's capabilities and experience in generating technical data, engineering drawings and manuals. Identify what software programs are utilized to generate these data products and what formats are available for delivered items.

5. Describe your company’s capability to obtain or manufacture molds/tooling. Also, provide information on your type of molding process.

6. What is your company’s current maximum capacity per month for this particular type of requirement? Provide information on any facility reserves you may possess to increase capacity in the event of an immediate need do to critical operational mission requirements.

7. Regarding the current specification for production, do you anticipate submitting a proposal?

8. Once you have ramped up to the required buy quantities per month, how long would it take you to ramp up to produce an additional surge quantity of 4,167 per month?

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

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

10. Is there a maximum production quantity that would prevent you from submitting a proposal? What kind of advance notice would be necessary for optional buys or what kind of lead time after an order is placed would be necessary? Please elaborate on any schedule conflicts or obstacles that would prevent you from meeting the optional buy quantity.

11. How does your company accommodate surge requirements (move to two or three shifts, open new production lines, or etc.)? Is there a maximum number that would prevent your company from quoting based on your capacity?

12. Are there specific requirements in the documentation that we provide that would currently preclude your product from being a viable solution to our requirement?

13. Include a detailed listing of facilities and equipment, including quantities, required to satisfy the requirements of this effort.

a. Provide an outline of the proposed process, including inspections.

b. Include a brief description of material/product flow through the manufacturing process.

14. How long of a contract period of performance would you be willing to quote on?

B. Commerciality Questions:

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

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

3. Is our requirement offered to both under similar terms and conditions? Briefly describe any differences.

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

C. Manufacturing Questions

1. Describe your capabilities and experience in manufacturing with regard to the requirements of this effort.

2. What time basis (monthly, semi-annual, annual) would you purchase materials used in the production of pallets?

3. Can you procure/obtain materials in quantities necessary to meet the estimated monthly quantities?

4. Can these materials be purchased domestically?

5. What is your experience with fabrication of aluminum extrusions? What is your experience with integrating aluminum extrusions into the manufacturing process? What is your experience with Friction Stir Welding (FSW)?

6. Describe your capabilities and experience in developing/modifying manufacturing procedures.

Include associated upgrade of technical orders and preparation of new technical orders.

7. Demonstrate your ability and experience in the manufacture of the same or similar components, which are currently utilized in the commercial or military environment by providing the following information on the same or similar items:

a) Contract Number

b) Procuring Agency

c) Contract Value

d) Number of assets shipped

8. Provide your commercial manual(s) or Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP) and your rights to these manuals and or ATP used in the manufacture and functional check of these or similar assets for Government Engineer review.

9. Describe your capabilities and experience in test, evaluation, and repair processes/procedures with regard to manufacturing items.

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

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

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

13. Include a detailed listing of facilities and equipment, including quantities, required to satisfy the requirements of this effort.

a. Provide an outline of the proposed process, including inspections.

i. State the type of test procedures are anticipated for this effort.

ii. State the type of inspection processes anticipated for this effort.

iii. NDI/T.

iv. Destructive testing/inspection.

14. If the item cannot be manufactured in total, state what your organization can produce.

15. State any technology insertion ideas for the item that would be suitable for this effort.

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

D. Software Development Questions:

1. Describe your capabilities and experience in managing software development projects, including subcontractor involvement. Include any experience in project planning, work breakdown structures, resource allocations, schedule tracking, risk analysis and cost management.