RFI W31P4Q-24-R-0020 - Amendment 0002.pdf

Amendment 0002 Request for Information (RFI) W31P4Q-24-Q-0020 Aerothermal Aero-Optics Evaluation Center Support

The purpose of this amendment 0002 is to provide an updated/revised information concerning the Government’s needs.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY - This notice serves as market research in accordance with FAR Part 10. This RFI 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. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever.

All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses will not be returned to the responder. The information gathered from this announcement will be used to determine if responsible sources exist, and to assist in determining if this effort can be competitive and/or set aside for Small Business. Furthermore, the Government will use the information, in part, to determine the best acquisition strategy for a potential procurement action and to assist in making future acquisition strategy decisions. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

The Combat Capabilities and Development Command (DEVCOM) Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC), Software, Simulation, Systems Integration Directorate (S3I) is exploring options to provide research, testing, and analysis of supersonic and hypersonic vehicles and their components at flight representative conditions in a clean air wind tunnel environment. This support will accommodate customer requirements, including the DEVCOM AvMC, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), United States Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other Government organizations.

The objective of this program is to provide for the research, testing of high-speed vehicle concepts, and analysis of supersonic and hypersonic vehicles and their components at true design conditions in wind tunnel environments that may include shock tunnels and long duration test facilities capable of testing full scale models in clean air environments. This includes the evaluation of aero-dynamic, aero-thermal, aero-optics, aero-propulsion, and multi-body separation effects. The succeeding paragraphs will describe the nature and scope of the support to be provided by the contractor.

1. Test Support Services includes test planning, integration, coordination, facility modifications to support a test entry, test article design, fabrication, and instrumentation, installation, testing operations and removal, test data reduction, analysis, and reporting. Testing of this nature includes full-scale static and/or dynamic tests at conditions that replicate flight conditions for the vehicle. Testing may include, but is not limited to, force and moment measurements, pressure and thermal measurements, and optical analysis of the flow field.

2. Operation, Maintenance and Development Support includes operation and maintenance of the facilities and all of their subsystems, facility upgrades, and future capability development. The contractor shall maintain the facilities and all of their subsystems including but not limited to the instrumentation suite, balances, and nozzles, in a calibrated, operational state, even when no testing is scheduled in the near term. In addition, the contractor shall provide a basic operating cadre, both to maintain the facility and to respond to user coordination requirements. These coordination requirements would include assisting AvMC with informing the potential user market about the facility and supporting preliminary planning activities with identified users.

3. Contract Management: The contractor shall designate a Test Operations Manager to be the primary point of contact for the Government Test Coordinator.

4. Technology: The contractor shall support special studies and technology development efforts that may have a direct performance impact on the proposed program or, in a broader sense, other on-going programs. These efforts are intended to explore and develop new technologies and to incorporate these new technologies into existing system frameworks. These technologies may include the incorporation of new testing and measurement techniques and the expansion of operating envelopes of the existing facilities.

5. Security Requirements: The contractor shall provide security to a level necessary to meet the requirements of the tasks required. The contractor’s work effort shall not be above the level of SECRET. Contractor personnel shall retain a SECRET level clearance for the duration of the tasks.

The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 541715 with a Small Business Size Standard of 1,500 employees. The Product Service Code is AC24. Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify their business size in their capabilities statement.

If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information:

1) Organization name, address, point of contact-name and email address, Web site address, telephone number, and business size standard (Large/Small) and

2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort addressing the requirements in paragraphs 1-5 above, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

Interested parties are requested to submit a capabilities statement of no more than ten (10) pages (diagrams and tables not include in page count) in length in Times New Roman font of not less than 10 pitch. This documentation must address at a minimum the following items:

1) What type of work has your company performed in the past in support of the same or similar requirement?

2) Can or has your company managed a task of this nature? If so, please provide details.

3) Please describe the capabilities of your current test facilities to perform testing at Mach numbers above 5 in a clean-air, flight representative environment. Include information regarding test times, testing tempo, and test section size.

4) Please describe your expertise and experience in the development, operation, maintenance, and upgrading of large-scale hypersonic test facilities, including shock tunnels and long duration facilities.

5) Please address the following technical capabilities related to hypersonic wind tunnel testing:

• Wind tunnel model design and manufacture

• Instrumentation development including aero-optical capabilities

• Wind tunnel test planning and execution

• Dynamic testing, including multi-body separation events

• Data acquisition and analysis

6) Can or has your company managed a team of subcontractors in similar type efforts before? If so, please provide details.

7) Provide a statement including current small/large business status and company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history, office locations, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, etc.

8) Include in your response your ability to meet the requirements in the Facility and Safeguarding requirements set forth above.

The response date for this market research is August 13, 2024. All responses to this RFI may be submitted via email to Ms. Michele Smith, Contract Specialist at michele.d.smith2.civ@army.mil and courtesy copy to Mr. Timothy Griffin, Contracting Officer, at timothy.j.griffin49.civ@army.mil.

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