SSS_for_F16_AIFF_03MAR2025.pdf

Created on: 3 March 2025

Sources Sought Synopsis F-16 Advanced Identification Friend-or-Foe (AIFF) Combined Interrogator

Transponder (CIT)

1. NOTICE: This is not a solicitation, but rather a Sources Sought Synopsis to determine potential sources for information and planning purposes only. This Sources Sought Synopsis also serves as a notice of proposed contract action IAW FAR 5.201.

1.1 The purpose of this Sources Sought is to conduct market research to determine if responsible sources exist, to assist in determining if this effort can be competitive and/or a total Small Business Set-Aside. The proposed North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code is 336413, which have a corresponding Size standard of 1,250 employees. The Government will use this information to determine the best acquisition strategy for this procurement. The Government is interested in all small businesses to include 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned, HUBZone, and Women-Owned small business concerns. The government requests that interested parties respond to this notice if applicable and identify your small business status to the identified NAICS code. Additionally, please provide any anticipated teaming arrangements, along with a description of similar items offered to the Government and to commercial customers for the past three years. Any responses involving teaming agreements should delineate between the work that will be accomplished by the prime and the work accomplished by the teaming partners.

2. Program Details:

The U.S. Government is requesting information in an effort to identify vendors with the expertise, capabilities, and experience to successfully develop and produce a form-fit-function, replacement for the APX-125 Advanced Identification Friend-or-Foe (AIFF) Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT) on the USAF F-16 Blocks 30/32/40/42/50/52 C/D models.

Participating vendors shall meet the following requirements:

a. United States AIFF manufacturer that has past experience with both aircraft transponder and interrogation capabilities.

b. The manufacturer’s development and production facilities are located within the

United States.

c. The manufacturer’s production facilities have sufficient maturity to support a minimum of 6 test replacements from Fiscal Year (FY) 24 – FY25 and a maximum of 300 production AIFF CIT upgrades or replacements from FY24 –

FY27. The projected production quantities are in a range of 140 to 185 upgrades per year. The U.S. Government requires variable pricing for an Indefinite

Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract.

d. The manufacturer must meet US DoD security protection requirements.

e. The contractor must have a solution that meets the following minimum requirements:

i. An AIFF Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT) system which includes modes 1, 2, 3, 3a, C, S, and 5 capability to meet Air Force requirements.

ii. Size of CIT will be constrained to current F-16 footprint. Must meet latest

AIMS Mark XII A requirements.

iii. Requirement for KIV 77 or KIV 78 cryptologic Mode 5 applique applies.

iv. At implementation will meet all F-16 airworthiness criteria.

v. Be fully operable in an environment with ambient air temperature ≥ 200°F

(93.3°C) for a minimum of 2 hours.

vi. Have a Technology Readiness Level of 6 or higher that is ready for integration and final development starting in FY25.

vii. Capable of completing development and entering production by FY26.

viii. Meets U.S. Government Cyber-Security (Information Assurance) requirements.

ix. Qualified for use throughout the complete F-16 operational environment.

x. Supports USAF two-level maintenance concept and accomplishes Built-in-Test performance of 95%. Describe capability to support Intermediate level screening and any required support equipment.

xi. Provide your proposed solution for software development environment that will allow U.S. Government software sustainment facility to develop and maintain the AIFF Operational Flight Program.

xii. Provide schedule delivery estimates for U.S. Government software development tools, compiler, licenses, proprietary software, and any unique development environment requirements. Contractors are encouraged to provide budgetary estimates for software tools and licenses.

xiii. Provide a proposed delivery schedule for Test assets, Low-Rate Initial

Production (LRIP), and Production hardware. Contractors are encouraged to provide budgetary estimates for Test and Production unit costs.

xiv. Provide strategy and schedule estimate for depot support (Contractor

Logistics Support, contractor depot, or organic depot). Contractors are encouraged to provide budgetary estimates for organic depot standup.

xv. Provide a list of documentation, Government Furnished Equipment, and

Government Furnished Information the contractor requires from the U.S.

Government, as well as the dates by which they are needed.

Demonstrate how your company will acquire AIFF design source data, ICD information, specifications, and drawings, if required.

f. The AIFF CIT must require marking with UID.

g. Quality Assurance Plan

i. The Contractor shall have a Quality Assurance Plan that complies with

SAE AS9100 and AS9102. This program, as a minimum, shall include inspection, validation, evaluation, corrective-action, and procedures necessary to effect quality of all products provided under this contract.

ii. The program shall allow inspection by the Government and shall be applicable to all subcontractors and members of the contractor's team, as appropriate.

iii. Quality Assurance shall demonstrate that the government’s designs are adhered to, and that material used conforms to the approved designs/drawings provided by the government.

h. Delivery Requirements

i. For each AIFF requirement, the government may request a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) from the contractor at no cost to establish costing and budget requirements to procure the CIT and Integration support.

ii. A Delivery Order (DO) will be issued to the contractor to delineate the

Governments requirements and standards.

iii. Delivery Requirements will be specified on each solicitation and delivery order placed against this contract.

iv. A Status Report shall be provided documenting the effort towards achieving the contract objectives and subsequent Delivery Order (D.O.)

objectives.

i. Parts

i. Parts ordered via this contract will be in units of 1 to 500 each and will be determined by each delivery order.

3. This Is A Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS) Only

4.1 This SSS is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a

Request For Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This SSS does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. This is a sources-sought only, which, as part of market research, is being issued in accordance with (IAW) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 15.201(e).

4.2 The Air Force is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this SSS. All costs associated with responding to this SSS will be solely at the interested parties’ expense.

4. This is a request for information seeking sources capable of meeting the requirements listed above. When responding please include:

a. Company Name and Cage code.

b. A POC's email address and phone number.

c. Experience with regards to the manufacturing of aircraft wiring harnesses and harness kits. Also, describe how you would address the requirements in Section 3 of this Sources Sought.

d. Experience in meeting strict delivery schedules.

e. Suggested NAICS Code.

f. Business Size Classification for NAICS and qualifications if any and any sub-category.

g. Type of Small Business Classification (ex. Small Business, 8(a), Service-

Disabled Veteran Owned, HUBZone, and Women-Owned, etc.) per NAICS Code 336413.

Provide an electronic response and any attachments through e-mail to Eric Dumpert, Kirsten Rivera, and cc Jared Walker and Chris Espinoza. On the e-mail subject line include “F-16 AIFF CIT SSS Response – Company Name).”

Place of Performance:

Contractor Facilities United States

Primary Point of Contact:

Kirsten Rivera kirsten.rivera@us.af.mil Phone: 801-586-5695

Secondary Point of Contact:

Eric A. Dumpert Contracting Officer eric.dumpert.1@us.af.mil Phone: 801-777-5964

Program Manager:

Chris Espinoza christopher.espinoza.5@us.af.mil Phone: 801-777-0655

Deputy Program Manager Caryn Cantrell caryn.cantrell.1@us.af.mil

Phone: 801-777-7525 mailto:kirsten.rivera@us.af.mil mailto:eric.dumpert.1@us.af.mil mailto:christopher.espinoza.5@us.af.mil mailto:caryn.cantrell.1@us.af.mil