RFI_Sensor Jan2025.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Aircraft Sensor Services

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This is an RFI released pursuant to FAR 15.201(e). This RFI is issued solely for information, planning purposes and market research only; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP or Broad Area Announcement (BAA). This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is not at this time seeking proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay any cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP or BAA. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. All submissions become the property of the Federal Government and will not be returned.

CBP Background:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Air and Marine Operations (AMO) is performing market research to determine available sources who can provide technical support services for sustainment, maintenance, upgrades, modification, and intermediate and/or depot-level repairs for the following:

· Seavue Radar

· APG-66(V)5 Radar

· AAQ-22 Star Safire II EO/IR

· Minotaur Mission System

· NSIU Computer

· OSI computer variants

· SADS Computer

· Ancillary Systems

· TPX-54 IFF

· HF-9000 radios

· Subordinate components which include communication, radar, and other equipment and systems.

These systems are a key enabler for the missions that CBP’s P-3 Orion, De Havilland Canada DHC-8, General Atomics MQ-9, and Beechcraft 200 LR Multi-role Enforcement Aircraft MEA to perform mission requirements to include: Radar, infrared optics and cameras, long distance electro-optical systems and selected communications equipment. These sensors must be maintained in a constant state of readiness and repairs must be performed at both the organizational level and the depot-level.

The intent of this RFI is to gauge industry interest, capabilities, and relevant experience on the topics indicated above.

TASKS

The tasks related to this RFI are as follows:

· Operational support of mission systems used for crisis, disaster, emergency and consequence management. Additional mission systems support Intra-Agency information exchange, personnel and asset tracking, and information assurance. Mission system data supports research and development, technology surveys and insertion, system design, integration, acquisition, installation, testing and evaluation, concepts of operation, and training. Provide technical support of mission equipment, including 24-hour troubleshooting assistance.

· Provide repair support of repairable items of mission equipment, including, sensors, communications, radar, and other equipment and systems .

· Maintain the following repair benches – all of which must be located at CBP or contractor leased spaces at Cecil Commerce Center, Jacksonville, FL. The contractor may required to lease space on behalf of the government for this requirement.

· SeaVue Radar Repair Bench

· Provide repair and parts support for the SeaVue Radar;

· APG-66 Radar Repair Bench

· Provide repair and parts support for the APG-66 Radar;

· Maintain a AAQ-22 EO/IR Repair Bench

· Provide repair and parts support for the AAQ-22 EO/IR system;

· Maintain a Minotaur Mission System Repair Bench in CBP spaces at Green Cove Springs, FL;

· Test, repair and provide logistical support for the TPX-54 IFF;

· Provide logistics support as necessary to facilitate the (primary) technical support functions; and

· Perform and/or facilitate intermediate and/or depot-level repair of selected radar, communications, and sensor equipment and components.

These services will be performed at the P-3 Inventory Control Point located at 13618 Lake Fretwell Street, Jacksonville, FL and CBP Warehouse at 1065 Bulk Head Road, Green Cove Springs, FL. CBP will furnish repair benches and office space to the contractor. This potential contract requirement will not pay for the movement of personnel into the performance area. This effort will require travel onto military bases, other CBP locations (within the U.S. and its’ territories) and the contractor will be required to represent CBP at other vendor locations, when needed.

SECURITY CLEARANCE

All employees shall be capable of favorably passing a CBP Background Investigation (BI). CBP has identified positions within this contract, which in addition to the CBP BI, also require a DOD Secret clearance.

CONTRACT CAPABILITIES

CBP is seeking to determine industry’s capabilities in submitting competitive proposals for technical support services as it relates to this RFI. The questions in sections A – D shall be addressed in the response:

A. Experience

1. Your response should address the following questions in the section below:

2. This RFI addresses specific sensor equipment that will be repaired. Address your company’s experience as it relates to TPX-54 IFF, P3 Signal Light Control Assy, Cockpit Tactical Controller, Detection Enforcement Operator Hand Grip Controller, ICS Jack box, AAQ-22 Star Safire II EO/IR, NSIU, SADS, OSI, OSI-I, OSI-G, Minotaur Mission System, APG66 Radar, and SeaVue Radar repair.

3. Key personnel will be required to have OEM certification of Factory Intermediate Level Repair Training on the sensor equipment. This will be a requirement of the contractor, how would your company address these requirements?

4. Do you have experience with Naval Air Systems Command technical publications and P-3 aircraft operations and maintenance practices?

5. Technical support will also include installation and maintenance of fiber optic based Rockwell Collins HF-9000 radio system. Address your experience in maintaining this system.

B. Performance To determine industry knowledge and performance as it relates to this RFI, the following task examples shall be addressed in the response:

AAQ-22 Star Safire II

1. An AAQ-22 Star Safire II EO/IR systems installed on P-3-B Airborne Early Warning aircraft require periodic purging and pressurization with nitrogen to prevent moisture from forming inside the turret at altitude. A turret has been turned in with a discrepancy of “System was unusable at altitude due to excess moisture on lenses. Turret will not hold a nitrogen charge”. After inducting the unit into repair, all cover O-rings were changed, but unit continued to leak nitrogen in all elevation positions except “STOW”.

What item(s) are likely in need of repair/replacement and how would you go about sourcing, repairing and replacing these items?

APG-66 (v) 5 Radar

2. The APG-66 (v) 5 radar system was purposely built for the U.S. Customs Service in 1999. A total of five modified Signal Data Processors were provided to the government for use on four CBP P-3 Long Range Tracker (LRT) aircraft. In order to support an expanding fleet, additional Signal Data Processors need to be sourced. Using excess equipment provided by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Falcon 20 Program, how would you go about modifying a USCG APG-66 (v)2 Signal Data Processor chassis to convert it to the CBP configuration for operation in LRT aircraft?

SeaVue Radar

3. The SeaVue radar is used on CBP P-3 LRT, DHC-8, and Predator-B UAS aircraft. An antenna from the DHC-8 program has arrived in repair status with a stated discrepancy of “antenna causes waveguide pressure fault”. Installation of the antenna on the hot-bench test setup has confirmed the discrepancy. A visual inspection of the antenna revealed dark colored dust in the middle of the antenna yoke assembly. What item(s) are likely in need of repair/replacement? Explain and describe the process of how you would repair and replace these items.

Minotaur Mission System

4. The Minotaur Mission System is used on CBP DHC-8, MEA and Predator-B UAS aircraft currently, with expansion to include the P-3 aircraft. A Minotaur Processor has arrived for repairs. The repair status has a stated discrepancy with multiple video freeze ups on the Minotaur Mission processor. What item(s) are likely in need of repair/replacement? Explain and describe the process of how you would repair and replace these items.

C. Capability To determine industry resources and capability as it relates to this RFI, the following questions shall be addressed:

1. Considering the very specialized technical nature of this work, what is your realistic lead time to operational capability following contract award, i.e. 30, 60, 90, 120, X days?

2. Do you currently have the key personnel / expertise on staff for this opportunity or do you need to recruit key personnel and expertise?

3. If recruiting key personnel, what is your onboarding lead time, i.e. 30, 60, 90, 120, X days?

D. Corporate Information These duties are currently fulfilled under the GSA OASIS Contract under Pool 1 for Engineering Services. The duration of a new contract is expected to be five-years if all option periods are exercised.

A summary description shall be submitted that details the technical capabilities of the company to perform the requirement.

Vendors responding to this RFI should provide:

(a) Name and address of the firm

(b) Size of the business

(c) Identify if an OASIS+ contract awardee. If yes, please provide the Domain and NAICS awarded.

E. Administrative/Format/Response Information This notice is for informational and market research purposes only. This synopsis does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The following NAICS code of 541330, Engineering Services is being considered for this requirement. However, the NAICS code may change based upon the receipt of responses from this RFI or by further review from the Government.

Respondents are advised that CBP will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this request for information synopsis.

1. Acknowledgment of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the Government's evaluation of the information received. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this RFI or the Government's use of such information as either part of an evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.

2. Vendor responses are limited to a maximum of 15 pages.

3. All pages shall be appropriately numbered and identified by the complete company name, date, and referenced RFI number listed in the header and page numbers in the footer (e.g. 6 of 6). Page size shall be no greater than 8 1/2" x 11." The top, bottom, left and right margins shall be a minimum of one inch each. Font size shall be no smaller than 12-point. Arial or Times New Roman fonts are required. Characters shall be set at no less than normal spacing and 100% scale. Tables and illustrations may use a reduced font size not less than 8-point and may be landscape. Line spacing shall be set at no less than single space. Each paragraph shall be separated by at least one blank line. Page numbers, company logos, and headers and footers may be within the page margins ONLY, and are not bound by the 12-point font requirement.

4. All responses shall be submitted electronically. Responses should be identified with RFI-CBP-Sensors2025 in the e-mail subject line. Electronic responses are to be e-mailed in Microsoft Word either password protected or encrypted e-mail. A password shall be emailed separately. Telephone or mailed responses will not be accepted.

5. Vendor questions and comments related to this RFI are due no later than Wednesday, February, 5, 2025 by 1300 hrs or 1:00 PM local Washington, DC time and should be forwarded via email to Contracting Officer, Caitlin Jenkins at caitlin.m.jenkins@cbp.dhs.gov .

Final responses must be received no later than Wednesday, February 12, 2025 by 1300 hrs or 1:00 PM local Washington, DC time. Final responses should be forwarded via email to caitlin.m.jenkins@cbp.dhs.gov .