Sources Sought Synopsis-Boresight System 2024.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS Questionaire

F-16 Boresight System Robins Air Force Base Warner Robins Air Logistics Center

CAUTION:

This market survey is being conducted to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements for qualification and production of an F-16 Boresight System for use by United States Air Force (USAF) personnel. The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined. 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.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain a description of the F-16 Boresight System 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.

3. ATTENTION: SMALL BUSINESS RESPONDENTS who are interested in participation for this effort:

a. No set aside decision has been made; however, the Government will determine the final strategy after thorough analysis of the small business responses and other market research available, considering the demonstrated interest and capability. Please ensure that you provide a thorough response to each question. If your company does not currently possess the full capability required to fulfill the entire requirement, what teaming/partnership/joint venture/subcontracting arrangement do you have in place to fulfill the government needs? Providing evidence of this arrangement, e.g. emails, letter, etc. that demonstrates a united response to this SSS is highly encouraged, but not required. The evidence should state the type of arrangement and the role each member will fulfill. If you are only interested in being a subcontractor to the future awardee, state the portion of the work that your organization has capability of fulfilling.

b. Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business.

4. 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 Robert Rollins, Robert.Rollins.2@us.af.mil.

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The Boresight is a system that is used to align Head-Up Display (HUD), Gun, Inertial Navigational Unit (INU), Radar antenna, and other aircraft sub-systems for iterations of the F-16 aircraft. The Boresight system consists of a measurement system and aircraft-specific fixtures that attach to specific aircraft alignment points already established by the aircraft manufacturer on the aircraft. This acquisition supports F-16 only. USAF fielding needs would preclude from scratch development.

Boresighting is a maintenance-based operation required after the following events: hard landing, excessive g loads or unusually violent maneuvers, replacements of LRU mount, pilot reported discrepancy and crash damage repair or depot maintenance. The operation consists of two parts. First a confidence check is performed to verify alignment of all sub-systems. Following the confidence check, if adjustments are needed, the user would then make necessary modifications to the aircraft to regain proper alignment.

Some of the key technical requirements are:

· The boresight system shall verify whether a sub-system is aligned within tolerances.

· The boresight system shall align a sub-system that is already identified out of tolerance or misaligned.

· The boresight system shall perform confidence check and boresighting to the following sub-systems: Fire Control Radar (FCR) antenna, Heads-Up-Display (HUD), Gun system, Rate Sensor Unit (RSU), Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Unit (EGI/INU), Left and Right Angle-of-Attack (AOA), and Left and Right hard points.

· The boresight system shall be completely digital; analog instruments shall not be provided. The boresight system shall perform all calculation without intervention of the operator.

· The contractor shall furnish a complete F-16 aircraft boresight fixtures, as detailed and necessary for mounting on different sub-system of the aircraft. The boresight system shall come with aircraft-specific fixtures that attach to specific aircraft alignment points already established by the aircraft manufacturer on the aircraft. No aircraft modification shall be allowed. Fixtures shall include all associated hardware necessary for proper performance of the boresight system.

· The boresight system shall maintain a calibration cycle no less than 24 months. The boresight system shall be designed to be calibrated by regional Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratories (PMEL) within the Government.

· The operating system software of the boresight system shall be a supportable version of Windows, Linux, or other similar operating system software fully compatible with system hardware.

See attached draft PD for additional requirements. All requirements within PD are important.

Section 4 is still under revision.

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:

· Phone Number:

· E-mail Address:

· Web Page URL:

· Government Proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 336413

· Service Disabled Veteran Small Business(Yes / No)

Responses to the Capability Survey Part I and Part II must be received no later than close of business (2, September 2024). 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 the following:

· Robert Rollins, Robert.Rollins.2@us.af.mil

Part II. Capability Survey 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 experience in generating technical data, provisioning drawings and USAF Technical Orders.

4. 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.

5. What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices does your company employ? Provide a description of your quality program (ISO 9001, AS9100, etc.)

6. Describe your capabilities and experience in manufacturing with regard to the requirements of this effort. Describe your capabilities and experience in developing/modifying manufacturing procedures.

7. Demonstrate your ability and experience in the manufacture of the same or similar components, which are currently utilized in the commercial or military environment by providing the following information on the same or similar items:

a) Contract Number

b) Procuring Agency

c) Contract Value

d) Number of assets shipped

8. Describe your capabilities and experience in supporting USAF DT/OT processes/procedures with regard to manufacturing items.

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

10. How will your organization address the interface requirements with the F-16? If there is prior approval for FMS aircraft, what technical information would you require to make sure the boresight solution would also work in the F-16 USAF?

11. If the item cannot be manufactured in total, state what your organization can produce.

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

13. Are there requirements within the attached Purchase Description that would prevent the product to be technically acceptable?

14. Within paragraph 3.14.1, corrosion control, do you consider this requirement adequate, achievable, and reasonable or what changes would you recommend?

15. If awarded a contract, how long would it take to have a first article unit ready for testing? After test approval, how long would it take to delivery the first production unit?