RWP_Independent Air Supply.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE TEST CENTER (AFMC)

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CALIFORNIA

NOTICE TO: Velocity Alliance Consortium and Industry Partners

Request for White Papers

Project Title: Independent Air Supply

Authority: 10 U.S.C. § 4022

Primary NAICS Code: 541330 — Engineering Services (Military and Aerospace Equipment)

Primary PSC Code: 4310 — Compressors and Vacuum Pumps

Offerors may recommend an alternate NAICS and/or PSC for consideration.

Section 1.0: Introduction and Purpose

Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) at Arnold AFB, TN, is issuing this Request for

Whitepapers (RWP) through the AEDC Velocity Alliance Consortium and SAM.gov. The strategic objective of this project is to establish an independent, secondary, and dedicated conditioned air supply to an existing test cell.

The Government reserves the right to award up to two prototype agreements for the initial proof of concept milestones (1-3).

Section 2.0: Project Scope and Key Objectives

The scope of this project encompasses all design, analysis, procurement, documentation, fabrication, installation, inspection, demonstration, and testing necessary to provide a complete and functional pressure and temperature-controlled air supply to the test cell.

Key objectives include but are not limited to:

• Demolition and Isolation: The safe isolation, demolition, removal, and disposal of all existing ducting, piping, tubing, wiring, cables, and equipment within the defined test cell boundary that will not remain in service.

• Process Air System: Installation of a process air supply consisting of at least four identical, stand-alone modular compressor units feeding a shared air header to the dryers, heaters, expansion turbines, and a final mixing chamber.

• Utilities and Power Integration: Connecting to and integrating with base utilities and existing power distribution equipment.

• Instrumentation and Controls: Developing a fully functional local control network utilizing Emerson RX3i PLCs, Proficy Machine Edition programming, and a Cimplicity HMI interface.

Section 3.0: Instructions for Performer's Response

Performers must submit a comprehensive whitepaper detailing their technical capability and schedule feasibility.

3.1 Technical Competency

Whitepapers must demonstrate the Performer’s capability to meet the following evaluation criteria:

1. Compressor and Process Air Engineering Capability: Describe the Performer’s experience and capability to design and integrate a modular process air system consisting similar to this effort in size and complexity.

2. Control System and PLC Integration Capability: Detail the Performer’s capability to develop a local control network utilizing Emerson RX3i PLCs, Proficy Machine Edition, and

Cimplicity HMI capable of controlling pressures stated in the requirements documents, while supporting simultaneous unclassified and classified operations.

3. High-Pressure Piping & Vessel Compliance Capability: Demonstrate capability to design, fabricate, and test pressure vessels and piping systems compliant with ASME Boiler and

Pressure Vessel Code, ASME B31.3, and AEDC Safety Standards (Appendix C) with a minimum corrosion allowance stated in the requirements documents.

4. Project Execution & Verification Capability: Show capability to manage and execute rigorous systems engineering milestones, including standard design reviews and physical system verification of thermal cold soak and hot soak conditions sustained for at least 4 hours.

3.2 Intellectual Property (IP) & Data Rights

The Performer's whitepaper must address and reference "Article: Intellectual Property Rights”. The

Performer must provide formal written confirmation in its response that the Government shall receive

Unlimited Data Rights to all technical data, analysis, drawings, software, code, and programming produced in performance of this effort.

3.3 10 U.S.C. 4022(d) Appropriate Use of Authority

The Performer must meet the statutory requirements of 10 U.S.C. § 4022(d). The Performer's whitepaper must explicitly address compliance with these criteria verbatim:

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022(d), the Government may enter into an agreement under this authority only if:

(1) There is significant participation by at least one nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution; or

(2) All significant partners in the consortium are nontraditional defense contractors, nonprofit research institutions, or small businesses; or

(3) At least one-third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by sources other than the Federal Government

3.4 Pricing and Schedule

• Base Milestones: Provide detailed fixed pricing and a resource-loaded schedule down to

WBS Level 3 for all Proof of Concept milestones (Milestones 1 through 7).

• Unpriced Options (Operational Utility Prototype): Provide a Rough Order of Magnitude

(ROM) for these milestones (Milestones 8 through 14), along with an estimated schedule and execution methodology.

• Affordability Statement: The Government seeks prototype proposals with a base milestone

1-3 price not exceeding $250k. Offerors should not interpret this figure as a ceiling (or as a floor) on prototype proposals; rather, this information is provided as a courtesy to prospective offerors. The Government may select a proposal for award with a price below, at, or exceeding this figure if it finds the proposal provides the best value/solution and funds are available.

• Pricing Constraints – Proposal Validity:

Based on market standard practices, all Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) submissions for the Proof of

Concept (PoC) phases must remain valid and binding for a minimum of 180 days from the date of the initial Other Transaction Prototype (OTP) award. Rough Order of Magnitude

(ROM) estimates for subsequent fabrication phases are exempt from this hold but must reflect accurate market conditions at the time of submission.

3.5 Cybersecurity and CMMC Compliance

Performers must comply with “Article: Cybersecurity Requirements (CUI and CMMC)".

Compliance with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Cybersecurity Maturity Model

Certification (CMMC) requirements is mandatory and flows down to all subcontractors, partners, and team members. The prime Performer is solely responsible for ensuring complete team compliance.

Section 4.0: Evaluation Details

The Government will evaluate Performer whitepapers based on a "Go/No-Go" compliance check followed by a qualitative evaluation of three core criteria of equal importance:

The Government will evaluate Performer whitepapers using a three-step evaluation process based on the following criteria of equal importance:

1. Technical Capability: The Performer’s demonstrated technical expertise, experience, and overall capability to execute the design, fabrication, installation, integration, and verification of the Independent Air Supply system in accordance with the Statement of Objectives (SOO) and

Performance Parameters. This includes evaluating the Performer’s understanding of the unique high-altitude testing and operational requirements of the test cell.

2. Schedule and Feasibility: The feasibility, realism, and completeness of the Performer's proposed milestone schedule and engineering methodology. This includes evaluating the

Performer's capability to execute the required design reviews (CRR, PDR, CDR, FDR, VRR, SRR) and meet the transition and soak-time requirements.

3. Cost/Price Realism: For Base Milestones (Proof of Concept), the Government will evaluate the realism and reasonableness of the proposed fixed price. For Unpriced Options (Operational

Utility), the Government will evaluate the feasibility of the proposed estimated schedule.

Whitepapers will be evaluated on a 'Go/No-Go' basis for compliance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022(d) appropriate use criteria and Unlimited Data Rights confirmation prior to undergoing full technical evaluation.

Section 5.0: Successful Prototype Definition

To establish the transition criteria to potential follow-on production or operational deployment, the success of each prototype phase is defined as follows:

5.1 Proof of Concept Prototype (Fixed-Price)

The Proof of Concept Prototype is deemed successful upon the completion and formal approval of all engineering design, analysis, and validation planning deliverables, as demonstrated by:

1. Delivery of an approved Statement of Work (SOW), Power Study Report, and Site Plan.

2. Submittal and formal Government approval (via signed AEDC-1683 and closed AEDC-1565 logs) of the following standard design reviews:

o Contractor Readiness Review (CRR) o Preliminary Design Review (PDR) o Intermediate Design Review (IDR) o Critical Design Review (CDR) o Final Design Review (FDR)

3. Stamping of all final engineering drawings, schematics (P&IDs), and mechanical/structural analyses by a Professional Engineer licensed to perform work in the State of Tennessee.

4. Government approval of the complete Verification, Validation, and Acceptance Plan (VVAP) and System Test Plan prior to commencing physical fabrication.

5.2 Operational Utility Prototype (Unpriced Option)

The Operational Utility Prototype is deemed successful when the physical independent air supply system is completely fabricated, installed, integrated, and verified on-site at the test cell at Arnold

AFB, TN, meeting all of the following performance thresholds:

1. Air Supply Performance: The system successfully provides process air flow, pressure, and temperature at the plenum inlet flange as specified in the Performance Parameters.

2. Modular Compressor Capacity: The modular design, consisting of four identical stand-alone compressor units, successfully demonstrates that each unit provides a minimum air flow and pressure as specified in the Performance Parameters.

3. Soak-Time and Continuous Run: The system successfully maintains the following soak conditions for the duration specified in the Performance Parameters.

4. Transient Performance and Recovery:

o The system transitions from soak conditions to start conditions within the timeframe specified in the Performance Parameters.

o The system successfully maintains steady-state pressure and temperature stability to within the tolerances specified in the Performance Parameters.

o The system successfully maintains pressure and temperature within the deviation tolerances specified during transient events.

o The system successfully regains normal steady-state stability within the timeframe specified following a transient event.

5. Air Quality and Flow Uniformity:

o Air purity complies with ISO 8573-1 Class 1P.

o Humidity ratio is maintained within the parameters stated in the Performance

Parameters.

o The system successfully provides a flow field exhibiting turbulence intensity, total pressure deviation, and total temperature deviation within the limits specified in the

Performance Parameters.

6. Integration and Transition Constraints:

o Operational mode transition from Independent to Plant Testing (or vice-versa) is achieved within the timeframe specified in the Performance Parameters.

o Mechanical and electrical safety measures are verified, including key interlocks (Kirk

Key) and noise levels as specified in the Performance Parameters.

o Local Emerson RX3i PLCs enclose all logic and communicate securely with the test cell TACS system without unauthorized modifications.

Section 6.0: Program Milestones

The anticipated program milestones are listed in order of physical execution. Offerors may propose alternative milestones for consideration.

Milestone Description / Key

Deliverable Phase Type

Prototype

Group Success Variables

Milestone

Project Kickoff

Meeting &

Coordination

[Base

Milestone]

Proof of

Concept

Initial coordination and schedule baseline

Milestone

SOW, Power Study, &

Site Plan Submittal

[Base

Milestone]

Proof of

Concept

Draft SOW, Power Study Report, and Site Plan

Milestone

Contractor Readiness

Review (CRR)

[Base

Milestone]

Proof of

Concept

Approved CRR package, WBS, and baseline cost estimate

Milestone

Preliminary Design

Review (PDR)

[Priced

Option]

Proof of

Concept

PDR Package, interface diagram, initial drawings

Milestone

Intermediate Design

Review (IDR)

[Priced

Option]

Proof of

Concept

IDR Package, mechanical/structural analyses, draft plans

Milestone

Critical Design

Review (CDR)

[Priced

Option]

Proof of

Concept

CDR Package, complete calculations, VVAP & System Test

Plan

Milestone

Final Design Review

(FDR)

[Priced

Option]

Proof of

Concept

Approved FDR, PE-stamped drawings (TN)

Milestone

Equipment

Procurement &

Fabrication

[Unpriced Option]

Operational

Utility

Fabricated modular compressors, dryers, and heaters

Milestone

Demolition &

Isolation Execution

[Unpriced Option]

Operational

Utility

Completed demolition and safe isolation of legacy piping

Milestone

Facility Installation &

Mechanical

Integration

[Unpriced Option]

Operational

Utility

Piping installation, electrical, and raw water cooling connections

Milestone

Verification Readiness

Review (VRR)

[Unpriced Option]

Operational

Utility

Approved VRR package, NDE and hydrostatic test results

Milestone

Operational Testing &

System

Commissioning

Verification of flow, temperature, and pressure ranges

Milestone

System Readiness

Review (SRR)

Signed SRR indicating successful performance test of soak/start conditions

Milestone

Training, Handover, and Closeout

[Unpriced Option]

Operational

Utility

Delivery of native AutoCAD files, PLC/HMI source code, manuals, and orientation

Section 7.0: Submission Details

• Whitepaper Proposal Deadline: 18 September 2026, 2:00 PM CDT

• Submission Format: Electronic submission via email or the AEDC Velocity Alliance secure portal or via email to the Agreements Officer, in PDF format. Font should be no smaller than

10 pt and submissions may not exceed 20 pages (excluding cost proposals, statutory compliance certifications, and any drawings).

• Government Point of Contact (POC): Agreements Officer, Haley Smith, haley.smith.10@us.af.mil

Section 8.0: Attachments

1. Statement of Objectives (SOO)

2. Attachment 1 – Performance Parameters (CUI - Distribution D)

3. Appendix A – Reference Drawings (CUI - Distribution D)

4. Appendix B – Design Review Expectations

5. Appendix C – AEDC Safety and Engineering Standards

6. Appendix D – Road Load Limits (CUI - Distribution D)

HALEY M. K. SMITH, DAF

Agreements Officer mailto:haley.smith.10@us.af.mil