MARBLES Plus B52 ASC RFI 9SEP2024.pdf

Modular Aircrew Restraint, Back and Leg Support (MARBLES) and B-52

Advanced Seat Cushion (B-52 ASC)

Request for Information (RFI) # FA8606-24-R-2009

General Introduction:

1. This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) only. Air Force Life Cycle

Management Center (AFLCMC) Human Systems Program Office (AFLCMC/WNU) is conducting a market assessment to identify potential sources and companies that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to respond to the requirements listed in this document.

AFLCMC/WNU is issuing this combined RFI to explore innovative and cost-effective options to provide this capability and to obtain valuable feedback on the requirements for the Modular

Aircrew Restraint Leg, Back and Leg Support (MARBLES) and B-52 Advanced Seat Cushion

(ASC). This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and will be considered to determine the acquisition strategy for the United States Air Force (USAF) MARBLES and B-52

ASC solutions as well as potential future solicitation.

2. This is not a request for competitive proposals. AFLCMC/WNU is not seeking proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party’s expense.

3. This RFI does not commit the Government to reply to the information received, or to later publish a solicitation, or to award a contract based on this information.

4. Respondents may be contacted if additional information is needed to fully understand the marketplace and/or comments to the requirements presented below.

Background:

The current use Personnel Clothing Unit (PCU)-15 and PCU-16 torso harnesses, Advanced Concept

Ejection Seat (ACES) cushion and back cushion, Miscellaneous Unit (MXU)-22/Parachute (P) lumbar pad and B-52 seat cushions utilized by USAF aircrew were developed in the 1960s. The MARBLES program is calling for solutions that utilize modern innovations and industry practices to improve upon the existing harnesses and cushions. The B-52 ASC program is calling for solutions to improve upon the existing B-52 seat cushions. AF aircrew report significantly higher chronic neck, shoulder, and back injuries than general AF population. Contingency and future operations may require aircrew to fly longer missions and wear additional torso mounted equipment further increasing potential fatigue, discomfort, and injury. The expected result of the MARBLES effort is a modular, integrated solution that will improve aircrew comfort, resilience, and safety during flight. The expected result of the B-52 ASC program is a new seat cushion which will improve B-52 aircrew comfort, resilience, and safety.

Purpose:

The purpose of this RFI is to gather information on the current state and availability of vendors who can provide items that can meet USAF requirements for the MARBLES and B-52 ASC programs as discussed in the requirements below. These requirements are not all encompassing but are currently considered the most critical in determining item suitability.

1. MARBLES & B-52 ASC

a. The MARBLES system is to consist of four distinct components: Torso Harness, Seat

Cushion, Back Cushion, and Lumbar Pad.

b. B-52 ASC is to consist of only a seat cushion component.

c. MARBLES shall apply to the ACES equipped aircraft including but not limited to: F-15, F15EX, F-16, F-22, A-10, B-1, and B-2.

d. B-52 ASC shall apply only to B-52 ejection seats.

e. MARBLES & B-52 defined legacy systems include but are not limited to:

i. Current torso harnesses used with ACES:

ii. Current ACES seat cushions:

iii. Current ACES back cushions:

iv. B-52 current ejection seat cushion: P/N 194-780127.

f. MARBLES & B-52 ASC shall require no modification of aircraft.

g. MARBLES & B-52 ASC shall accommodate the aircrew population to be defined as 98% of USAF male and female aircrew with the Joint Strike Fighter Civilian American and

Designation Basic Assembly

P/N Typical Fit

PCU-15 68J369

5th to 95th percentile

PCU-16 38J370

Less than 5th percentile

Part Number Config Rev Platform

831711 -403 B-1B

J119126 -501 F F-15, F-16, A-10

37324 F-22

Part Number Config Rev Platform

831792 F B-1B

J115982 -501 K F-16, F-15, A-10

J109707 -509 C F-22

European Surface Anthropometric Resource (JSF CAESAR) United States (US) Sample

Multivariate Cases 1 through 8 (AFRL-HE-WP-2003-0142).

h. MARBLES & B-52 ASC components may be supplied in different sizes to accommodate differing bodily proportions.

i. MARBLES & B-52 ASC shall not increase time for aircrew emergency ground egress from supported aircraft compared with legacy systems.

j. MARBLES & B-52 ASC shall not reduce aircrew reach to cockpit controls compared to legacy systems.

k. Testing with Anthropometric Test Dummy (ATD or “manikin”) utilizing MARBLES &

B-52 ASC shall not exceed aircrew injury thresholds (reference CSB-002 rev. A and

MIL-HDBK-516C):

i. During live-fire ejection by temperature-controlled component testing at +70°F, Dynamic Response Index +Z-Axis (DRZ) shall not exceed 18.0

ii. During live-fire ejection by temperature-controlled component testing at +165°F, DRZ shall not exceed 22.0

iii. Maximum allowable standard deviation across multiple live-fire tests shall be

1.0.

iv. Forces transmitted to occupant from a Vertical Drop Test (VDT) at 12G shall not exceed:

1. DRZ of 18.0 at any time.

2. 1000 lbs. imparted to lumbar of 5th percentile size and weight ATD.

3. 1500 lbs. imparted to lumbar of 50th percentile size and weight ATD.

4. 2200 lbs. imparted to lumbar of 95th percentile size and weight ATD.

l. MARBLES & B-52 ASC shall not displace the seated aircrew more than ±2 inches from the thrust line of the ejection seat (reference MIL-DTL-9479E, 3.2.17.1 and Figure 2) compared to legacy systems.

m. MARBLES & B-52 ASC shall endure environmental testing (IAW MIL-STD-810H

Change 1; “Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests”; 18 May

2022):

i. To include air pressure (altitude), explosive decompression, exposure to rain, operating temperature range (-65°F to +165°F), temperature shock, electrical surface resistivity, solar radiation, dust, sand, and fungi.

n. MARBLES & B-52 ASC materials selection shall be tested IAW 14 CFR 25.853

Appendix F Part I(a)(1)(ii):

i. MARBLES & B-52 ASC materials average tested burn length shall not exceed

8 inches.

ii. MARBLES & B-52 ASC materials average tested burn time shall not exceed

15 seconds.

iii. MARBLES & B-52 ASC materials average tested dripping flame time shall not exceed 5 seconds after falling.

o. MARBLES & B-52 ASC shall be sustainable and transportable within existing USAF and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) infrastructure.

p. The contractor shall provide documentation including:

i. Component level detail drawings.

ii. Manufactured assembly detail drawings.

iii. Operation/Operator instructions

iv. Troubleshooting guides or troubleshooting instructions

2. ACES Torso Harness System:

a. Safety & Egress:

i. ACES Torso Harness shall provide for attachment to ACES structure.

ii. ACES Torso Harness shall provide for attachment to ACES parachute by two canopy release points of:

1. Koch Gen II Canopy release (P/N 990010-1 / 990010-9) or Frost Canopy release (P/N 81116-10).

iii. ACES Torso Harness shall restrain aircrew in the event of a crash.

1. ACES Torso Harness shall withstand 40G forward crash testing with 95th percentile ATD.

iv. ACES Torso Harness shall remain releasable by aircrew and emergency responders following crash testing.

v. ACES Torso Harness shall maintain all aircrew ejection sequence functions in live-fire ejection sled testing of the escape envelope of 0 to 600 Knots Equivalent

Airspeed (KEAS):

a. ACES Torso Harness shall restrain aircrew to ejection seat during catapult phase of ejection.

i. At applicable airspeed, Torso Harness shall restrain aircrew to ejection seat during drogue parachute phase

b. ACES Torso Harness interface to the ejection seat shall release aircrew from seat during ejection phase Seat-Aircrew-Separation

(SAS).

c. Following SAS, ACES Torso Harness shall maintain aircrew attachment to ejection seat parachute.

b. Construction & Materials:

i. ACES Torso Harness system shall weigh less than 5.6 lbs., excluding attached aircrew flight equipment (AFE) Subassemblies.

ii. ACES Torso Harness shall have a designed safety factor minimum 1.5x of the forces the ACES Torso Harness system experiences during crash and ejection, until aircrew is safely released from ACES Torso Harness.

iii. ACES Torso Harness attachment to parachute risers shall withstand parachute opening shock forces through parachute risers: 4500 lbf minimum on a single riser and 6000 lbf minimum total riser force.

iv. ACES Torso Harness restraint and strength shall not be compromised by environmental conditions: operating temperature range, temperature shock, precipitation exposure, or solar radiation

c. Aircrew Population Compatibility:

i. ACES Torso Harness shall be adjustable to fit tightly to individuals’ torso and leg proportions in the aircrew population.

ii. ACES Torso Harness may be supplied in differing sizes to accommodate differing anthropometric cases of the aircrew population.

d. AFE Compatibility:

i. ACES Torso Harness shall not interfere with the wearing and use of aircrew flight clothing, Multi-Climate Protective System, mask equipment, helmets and

Helmet-Mounted Devices (HMD), anti-exposure suits, Anti-G garments, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear equipment (CBRN), survival vests and life preservers.

ii. ACES Torso Harness shall provide for secure attachment and use of AFE

Subassemblies:

1. HMD connectors include but are not limited to Night Vision Goggles

(NVG) and Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS).

2. Attachment locations compatible with oxygen connectors CRU-60/P, 94/P, 120/A, 122/A shall be placed to accommodate limited length oxygen hoses.

3. ACES Torso Harness shall provide for the attachment of PCU-10/P (P/N

8140561-10) or PCU-11/P (P/N 66E1697) Personnel Lowering Device

(PLD) in the lumbar area.

a. Torso Harness attachment for PLD V-ring (P/N PS27765-1) shall support weight of aircrew and equipment of at least 350 lbs.

b. Torso Harness shall provide for the attachment of the PLD

Hardware Pocket accessible to aircrew.

c. Torso Harness shall provide for the attachment of the PLD

Hardware Lanyard which limits the possibility of entanglement with other objects.

4. ACES Torso Harness strapping, components, and parts shall not obstruct bladder relief use for both male and female aircrew.

5. Other accessories include but not limited to minimum survival kit SRU-

16/P; distress marker light pocket; emergency radio beacons AN/URT-

33, AN/URT-44, and AN/URT-46.

e. Service Life:

i. ACES Torso Harness shall have a shelf life not less than 3 years.

ii. ACES Torso Harness shall have a service life not less than 7 years and not to exceed 10 years from date of manufacture.

3. ACES Seat Cushion System:

a. ACES Seat Cushion shall be supplemental or replacement for ACES current seat cushion or attachable to ACES Torso Harness (including ACES current torso harnesses PCU-15/P and PCU-16/P).

i. If attached to the ACES pan, ACES Seat Cushion shall provide attachment points requiring no modification to the ACES.

ii. ACES Seat Cushion design shall not obstruct the aircrews’ full range of motion of supported aircraft’s adjacent controls and connections.

1. Controls layout and orientation varies by supported aircraft and to include but not limited to stick, harness release, and ejection controls.

iii. ACES Seat Cushion removal and installation shall not require use of special tools.

iv. ACES Seat Cushion maintenance and cleaning shall not require removal of the ejection seat from the aircraft.

b. ACES Seat Cushion shall not weigh more than 5.0 lbs.

c. ACES Seat Cushion shall reduce aircrew reported discomfort on sorties ranging up to 14 hours.

i. Baseline: 39% of male aircrew reported discomfort after sortie.

ii. Baseline: 54% of female aircrew reported discomfort after sortie.

iii. ACES Seat Cushion reduction of discomfort shall be verified together with

ACES Back Cushion and ACES Lumbar Pad.

d. ACES Seat Cushion shall reduce aircrew seated pressure points (“hotspots”) compared to

ACES current seat cushion.

i. Seat Cushion pressure points shall be verified by pressure mapping testing utilizing representative aircrew population.

e. ACES Seat Cushion shall not increase risk of aircrew injury during ejection compared to

ACES current seat cushion.

i. ACES Seat Cushion risk of aircrew injury shall be verified together with ACES

Back Cushion and ACES Lumbar Pad.

ii. ACES Seat Cushion risk of aircrew injury shall be verified by live-fire sled utilizing ATDs 5th and 95th percentile.

f. ACES Seat Cushion shall have a shelf life not less than 6 years.

g. ACES Seat Cushion shall have a service life not less than 3 years.

4. ACES Back Cushion System:

a. ACES Back Cushion shall be supplemental or replacement for ACES current seat back cushion or attachable to ACES Torso Harness (including current torso harnesses PCU-

15/P and PCU-16/P).

i. ACES Back Cushion system shall provide cushioning for occupant middle/upper back (thoracic) and shoulders.

ii. ACES Back Cushion removal and installation shall not require use of special tools.

iii. ACES Back Cushion maintenance and cleaning shall not require removal of the ejection seat from the aircraft.

b. ACES Back Cushion shall not weigh more than 4.0 lbs.

c. ACES Back Cushion shall reduce aircrew reported discomfort on sorties ranging up to 14 hours.

i. ACES Back Cushion reduction of discomfort shall be verified together with

ACES Seat Cushion and ACES Lumbar Pad.

d. ACES Back Cushion shall not increase risk of aircrew injury compared to ACES current seat back cushion.

i. ACES Back Cushion risk of aircrew injury shall be verified together with ACES

Seat Cushion and ACES Lumbar Pad.

e. ACES Back Cushion shall have a shelf life not less than 6 years.

f. ACES Back Cushion shall have a service life not less than 3 years.

5. ACES Lumbar Pad System:

a. ACES Lumbar Pad shall be supplemental or replacement for ACES current seat back cushion and/or attachable to ACES Torso Harness (including current torso harnesses

PCU-15/P and PCU-16/P).

i. ACES Lumbar Pad system shall provide cushioning for occupant lower back

(lumbar).

b. ACES Lumbar Pad shall not weigh more than 2.0 lbs.

c. ACES Lumbar Pad shall reduce aircrew reported discomfort on sorties ranging up to 14 hours.

i. ACES Lumbar Pad reduction of discomfort shall be verified together with ACES

Seat Cushion and ACES Back Cushion.

d. ACES Lumbar Pad shall not increase risk of aircrew injury compared to ACES Current

Seat Back Pad.

i. ACES Lumbar Pad risk of aircrew injury shall be verified together with ACES

Seat Cushion and ACES Back Cushion.

e. ACES Lumbar Pad shall have a shelf life not less than 6 years.

f. ACES Lumbar Pad shall have a service life not less than 3 years.

6. B-52 ASC System:

a. B-52 ASC shall be supplemental or replacement for B-52 current seat cushion.

i. B-52 ASC shall provide attachment points requiring no modification to the B-52

Ejection Seat and B-52 Ejection Seat Survival Kit lid assembly (P/N 024-

750088).

ii. B-52 ASC design shall not obstruct the aircrew’s full range of motion of B-52’s adjacent controls and connections.

1. Controls layout and orientation may vary by aircrew function and to include but not limited to items such as stick and ejection controls.

iii. B-52 ASC removal and installation shall not require use of special tools.

iv. B-52 ASC maintenance and cleaning shall not require removal of the ejection seat from the aircraft.

b. B-52 ASC shall weigh not more than 4.0 lbs.

c. B-52 ASC shall reduce aircrew reported discomfort on sorties ranging up to 36 hours.

i. Baseline: 39% of male aircrew reported discomfort after sortie.

ii. Baseline: 54% of female aircrew reported discomfort after sortie.

d. B-52 ASC shall reduce aircrew seated pressure points (“hotspots”) compared to B-52 current seat cushion.

i. B-52 ASC pressure points shall be verified by pressure mapping testing utilizing representative aircrew population.

e. B-52 ASC shall not increase risk of aircrew injury compared to B-52 current seat cushion during ejection.

f. B-52 ASC shall have a shelf life not less than 6 years.

g. B-52 ASC shall have a service life not less than 3 years.

Guidance:

When a respondent submits their information, they need to:

1. Clearly demonstrate your ability to meet the requirements listed above. Please provide the current product specifications, capabilities and any relevant data to prove its capabilities to meet the

USAF requirements.

2. If your company is capable of some but not the entire requirement stated in this RFI, please provide a response that explains the requirements for which you are capable and follow the same rules in the paragraph above.

3. Include a schedule for production and delivery.

4. Provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for the acquisition of 20 MARBLES systems and/or

B-52 ASC systems. The ROM Shall include the cost of each component separately (Torso

Harness, Seat Cushion, Back Cushion, Lumbar Pad). Please note: ROM pricing, if available, shall be considered informational and is not considered an offer to buy or an offer to sell and does not bind respondent or the USG into any purchase agreement or contract.

5. Explain how your products will comply with 10 U.S.C. 2533a (“The Berry Amendment”) as it pertains to textiles utilized in your design.

6. Please provide your RFI Reponses to Mr. Colin Cochran on or before 11 OCT 2024. Title email responses in the subject line of the emails as follows: “Response to MARBLES and B-52 ASC

Request for Information # FA8606-24-R-2009.

7. Responses shall include the following information:

• Company/ Institute Name

• Address

• Types of Business (including numbers of employees)

• Point of Contact

• Cage Code

• DUNS Number

• NAICS Code

• Phone Number

• Email Address

• Web page URL

8. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded a DoD contract. The North American Industry Classification System

(NAICS) code for this requirement, if applicable to the company’s capabilities, should be included in the company’s NAICS code listed in SAM.

9. Please limit your response to no more than 30 pages, to include product sheets, test data, graphs, charts, and answers to the questions above; and identify a representative to support further

Government inquiries and requests for clarification of the information provided, if needed.

Marketing materials are considered an insufficient response to this RFI.

10. Respondents should indicate which portions of their responses are proprietary and mark accordingly. All information received in response to this RFI that is properly marked as

“proprietary” will be handled accordingly. Proprietary information must be clearly marked on the outside container and on the materials inside. The Government shall not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages, for any proprietary information not properly identified.

11. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. All questions will be answered via email to all interested parties; except as provided above. Additionally, questions must NOT contain trade secrets or classified information. The Government reserves the right to not address questions received after

11 OCT 2024.

Questions:

1. Responses to questions from interested parties will be promptly answered via email, unless some release of proprietary information is involved, or the answer addresses a question specific to a company or that company’s response. Post submittal, one-on-one information sessions with respondents are not contemplated; however, they may be offered to responders to clarify the

Government’s understanding of their submittal, the capability ramifications, or to discuss their business approach. Information feedback sessions may be offered to respondents after the RFI assessments are completed.

2. Points of Contact (POC) for this RFI:

Colin Cochran, Contracting Specialist colin.cochran@us.af.mil

1st Lieutenant Dongli Ye, Program Manager dongli.ye@us.af.mil

Contracting Office Address:

Bldg. 12

1981 Monohan Way

Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433 mailto:colin.cochran@us.af.mil mailto:dongli.ye@us.af.mil