RFI IRSS Engine Study Final.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Robins Air Force Base Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC)/WIU Special Operations Forces/ Personnel Recovery (SOF/PR)

AC-130J Infrared Suppression System (IRSS) Engine Study

CAUTION:

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to provide specialized engineering studies on AC-130J aircraft engines modified with the Infrared Suppression System (IRSS). Specifically, the contractor shall perform the necessary systems engineering activities to confirm that the integration of the IRSS conforms to the safety, reliability, maintainability, and availability metrics for the AE2100D engines in accordance with existing Technical Orders (TO)s, maintenance manuals, and existent service contracts with the engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce. The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined. The sole source for this effort is: Mercer University Research Center (MERC), 135 Osigian Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31088-7810, 478-953-6800.

The Government does not own or have access to the data for these items. The Government has determined that this system is not a commercial item.

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.

This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only and is not a Request for Quotations or Proposals. No solicitation document exists, and a formal solicitation may or may not be issued by the Government as a result of the responses to this RFI. The Government will not be liable for payment of any response preparation expenses nor does the Government intend to pay for the information submitted in response to this posting. 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. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. 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

As prescribed in FAR 15.209(c), insert the following provision:

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

(End of Provision)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain(s) a description of the AC-130J IRSS Engine Study 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. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

4. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to the Program Management (PM) and Contract Specialist listed below.

PM: Michelle Thompson, AFLCMC/WIU Phone: (478) 327-3385 Email: michelle.thompson.12@us.af.mil

Contract Specialist: Carolyn “Ashley” Blann, AFLCMC/WIUKA Email: carolyn.blann@us.af.mil

AC-130J Infrared Suppression System (IRSS) Engine Study

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to provide specialized engineering studies on AC-130J aircraft engines modified with the Infrared Suppression System (IRSS). The IRSS is an exhaust flow path modification for the AC-130J propulsion system which passively adjusts the engine exhaust gas temperature. The modification results in measurable performance changes of the combined airframe/engine system, compared to the baseline. Specifically, the contractor shall perform the necessary systems engineering activities to confirm that the integration of the IRSS conforms to the safety, reliability, maintainability, and availability metrics for the AE2100D engines in accordance with existing Technical Orders (TO)s, maintenance manuals, and existent service contracts with the engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce.

Systems Engineering analysis of the IRSS integration shall include, but not be limited to:

• Exhaust system airflow

• Impact on engine power – Ground, flight, degraded engine, degraded mod.

• Impact on exhaust gas temperature margin.

• Engine transient operation

• Ground operations

• Engine compartment ventilation

• Fire detection and suppression

• General impact on engine life

Figure 1 Installed IRSS

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

AC-130J Infrared Suppression System (IRSS) Engine Study

Part I. Business Information

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

· Phone Number:

· E-mail Address:

· Web Page URL:

Government Proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 541330 – Engineering Services

· 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 to exceed 10 MB per email. Multiple emails are acceptable. Responses must be sent via email to all of the following:

PM: Michelle Thompson, AFLCMC/WIU Email: michelle.thompson.12@us.af.mil

Contract Specialist: Carolyn “Ashley” Brown, AFLCMC/WIUKA Email: carolyn.blann@us.af.mil

Questions relative to this market research should be addressed to the PM.

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 classified 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. 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.

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).

B. Engineering Services Questions

1. Describe your services capabilities and experience with regard to the requirements of this effort. Specifically address familiarity with AC-130J aircraft engines and the IRSS.

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 for the same or similar services, which are currently provided in the commercial and/or military environment 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, and evaluation processes/procedures with regard to the required items.

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

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

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