RFI - Interim Link-16 on HC-130J .docx

Request For Information (RFI) for Interim Link 16 Capability for HC-130J

CAUTION:

(a) The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to integrate a Multifunctional Information Distribution System – Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS-JTRS) Link-16 radio system as part of an interim HC-130J Link 16 solution.

(b) The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined.

(c) This requirement provides a temporary (T-1) Link-16 Line of Sight (LOS) data capability on up to twenty two (22) HC-130J aircraft. The Link 16 system includes integrating one (1) MIDS – JTRS radio and developing and installing group A (to include antennas, equipment rack, filters, wiring, etc.). The Airborne Mission Networking (AbMN) software and architecture will be integrated into the current Situational Awareness and Communications Upgrade (SACU) system. The Government does not have access to the data for the AbMN items.

(d) The Government will provide a MIDS-JTRS radio as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). The Government has determined that this system is not a commercial item.

(e) This effort is currently projected to be a Sole Source contract to Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). SNC has all the ABMN software data required to integrate the Link-16 system into the current SACU system The Government does not own or have access to the ABMN software data item required for this modification. SNC will have limited nonrecurring engineering due to their work on the MC-130J and EC-130J ABMN modifications, which will reduce the cost and schedule for the HC-130J effort.

(f) 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.

(g) 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.

Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997)

(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 Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs.

(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 solicitation is issued for the purpose of market research in an attempt to overcome barriers to competition.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain a description of the MIDS-JTRS Link-16 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. 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 Survey. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

4. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to the Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO) and Program Manager (PM) (as listed later in this document).

Interim Link 16 Capability for HC-130J

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to integrate a temporary (T-1) Link 16 LOS data capability on HC-130J aircraft. The system will be implemented with Group A to include Link-16 antennas, equipment rack, filters, and wiring. Government Furnished Equipment includes a MIDS- JTRS radio with power supply. Software requirements include integrating a MIDS- JTRS Link-16 radio into the SACU equipment, replacing the SAMS-ESA software with AbMN Lite software, controlling the MIDS-JTRS from Combat System Officer (CSO) laptop and Pilot and Copilot Toughpads, and displaying data on the CSO laptop and Pilot and Copilot Toughpads.

To reduce non-recurring engineering and accelerate delivery, the Contractor shall leverage the engineering design and analysis completed on the MC-130J and EC-130J AbMN systems.

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:

· Government Proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 336411.

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

· 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 30 days after posting of RFI. 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 should not exceed the equivalent of 15 type-written pages (including attachments) on letter size paper using size 11 or 12 font. Responses must be sent via email to all of the following:

· Jeffery Pruitt (PCO), email: jeffery.pruitt.1@us.af.mil

· Patrick Jones (PM), email: patrick.jones.22@us.af.mil

· Glenice (Clif) Menchew (Eng), email: glenice.menchew.1@us.af.mil

· John Langston (Eng), email: john.langston.8@us.af.mil

Questions relative to this market research should be addressed to the PCO with courtesy copies to the other government addressees listed.

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 and past experience providing multiple modification teams to conduct aircraft modifications a multiple government locations at the same time.

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

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

6. 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).

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

8. 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?

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

10. Describe your capabilities and experience in hardware and software with regard to the requirements of this effort.

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

12. Describe your process for maintaining GFE inventory records.

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

14. Describe your services capabilities and experience with regard to Link 16, SACU, AbMN, and the requirements of this effort.