RFI_H-1 Engineering Support Services_Final.pdf

Request for Information:

Engineering Support Services of the H-1 Helicopter Platforms

This market survey is being conducted to identify potential sources that may be able to provide engineering support for the United States Air Force (USAF) TH-1H and UH-1N helicopter platforms hereby referred to collectively as H-1. This support will provide the USAF H-1 System Program Office (SPO) technical expertise, access to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) proprietary data including but not limited to structural/component data, drawings, qualification data, and analysis techniques as required to adequately maintain operational, safety, suitability, and effectiveness (OSS&E) for the H-1 platform. Sole source to Bell Helicopter is anticipated due to the lack of proprietary data and engineering expertise needed to perform this support effort.

The Contractor will be required to furnish all material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, and services. The Contractor will be 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 does 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.

In accordance with FAR 52.215-3:

a. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

b. Although “proposal” and “offeror” are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

c. This Request for Information is issued for the purpose of market research.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Below is a document containing a description of the H-1 Engineering Support Services requirement and a Contractor Capability Survey, which allows you to provide your 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. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.)

a. Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out 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.

Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to Gregory Hendricks gregory.hendricks.5@us.af.mil and Deborah Ross deborah.ross.5@us.af.mil.

mailto:gregory.hendricks.5@us.af.mil mailto:deborah.ross.5@us.af.mil

Request for Information:

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The USAF currently has 90 H-1 helicopters, distributed throughout a number of USAF units within the United States and overseas bases. UH-1N helicopters are specially equipped to operate in search and rescue, missile support, training, Very Important Person (VIP) transport, and special operation force missions. The TH-1H helicopters are the sole rotary wing aircraft used by the USAF for undergraduate pilot production.

At least a portion of the H-1fleet is expected to remain in service until 2042. While the Government had a full data package delivered with the aircraft in the 1960’s, the data has not been maintained over the years to a level that adequately captures all design changes since aircraft delivery. A multi-disciplined engineering team with expert knowledge is needed to provide repair instructions which may require modification support, accident investigation support, re-qualification data, and technical order changes. Life cycle sustainability for the H-1 necessitates engineering support available through a contractual agreement.

Occasionally, the UH-1N Organic Depot locations require engineering assistance to resolve Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) issues beyond the published technical orders. The US Government engineers require access to engineering data to effectively resolve any PDM issues and manage requirements.

We are conducting market research to identify potential sources of expert knowledge, drawings, technical data specifications, proprietary data, analysis and reports pertaining to H-1 helicopters as requested by the Government. The Contractor will be required to provide engineering assistance for repair questions and modification of the H-1 for which the Government does not have the expertise necessary to take such actions independently.

In addition, the Contractor will be required to support mishap investigations and provide solutions to grounding issues. Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations dictate timely responses.

Field technical assistance requests immediately impacting mission requirements must be resolved within five (5) days of receipt. The USAF may require immediate assistance with expert technical knowledge in these instances.

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:

• Company/Institute Name:

• Address:

• Point of Contact:

• CAGE Code:

• Phone Number:

• E-mail Address:

• Web Page URL:

• Size of Business pursuant to Government Proposed North American Industry

Classification System (NAICS) Code: 541330; Size Standard: $41.5M

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).

Electronic responses to the Capability Survey Part I and Part II must be received no later than 4:30 EST 26 March 2021, to the undersigned below. 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.

Responses must be sent via email to the following:

• Gregory Hendricks, Contract Specialist (gregory.hendricks.5@us.af.mil)

• Deborah Ross, Contracting Officer (deborah.ross.5@us.af.mil)

• Brent Byerly, Program Manager (brent.byerly.3@us.af.mil)

Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to the PCO, Contract Specialist, and Program Manager.

mailto:gregory.hendricks.5@us.af.mil mailto:deborah.ross.5@us.af.mil mailto:brent.byerly.3@us.af.mil

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

General Capability Questions:

1) Describe briefly the capabilities of your company and the 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 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.

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

5) What engineering support experience do you have with the TH-1H and UH-1N helicopter platforms?

Engineering Services Questions:

1) Describe your experience working mishap investigations and other Aircraft on Ground (AOG) issues relating to the H-1 helicopter.

2) Describe your capabilities and experience providing field technical assistance for the H-1 helicopter.

3) Describe your in-house expert knowledge, drawings, technical data, specifications, data and reports pertaining the H-1 helicopter.

4) Describe an instance where engineering assistance was provided to the government to resolve an organic Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) issue beyond the published technical orders for the H-1 helicopter.

5) Describe an example of when your capabilities and sustaining engineering expertise resulted in a cost savings for the H-1 helicopter.

6) How will you organization address the absence of proprietary drawings, specifications, technical data, test procedures, etc. pertaining to the H-1 helicopter?