Aircraft and Airframe Structural

US Army Program Executive Office for Aviation
SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (SSN) / MARKET RESEARCH
Aviation Reach, Protection, and Lethality

GENERAL INFORMATION
Document Type: Sources Sought/Request for Information / Market Research
Solicitation Number: TBD
Request Date: 29 June 2017
Response Date: NLT 3:00PM EST, 21 July 2017
Classification Codes: 15 - Aircraft and Airframe Structural Components NAICS: 336411

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and to identify interested sources. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. It is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Further, unsolicited proposals will not be accepted. Funding is not available at this time. The United States Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur costs for which reimbursement would be required or sought. Response to this RFI is voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this and any follow-on information requests. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP if one is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) website. It is the responsibility of the potential responders to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this subject.

DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information on industry's ability to meet emerging requirements to support Multi-Domain operations. A critical concern for future U.S. operations is the loss of presumptive air superiority resulting from adversary advancements. The difficulty in achieving air supremacy, or even localized air superiority, against sophisticated adversaries has significant implications under current operational constructs. Forces designed for, and accustomed to, air supremacy will face significant challenges in executing effective and efficient operations such as close air support for ground combat, air reconnaissance, and air mobility. Thus, the emerging operational environment is significantly different from the recent past as adversaries challenge U.S. air supremacy.

Improvements in reach, protection, and lethality of key systems will help create advantages allowing combat forces to maneuver in close proximity to civilian populations and defeat enemy forces in close combat. Active protection, autonomy, advanced propulsion and avionics subsystems, weapons systems, and hardened electronic systems will improve units' ability to absorb and survive first strikes of enemy fires. Maneuver units will also increase survivability and capacity by employing manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T). MUM-T will provide personnel protection by using autonomous or robotic systems to detect, identify, and penetrate high risk areas and may increase capacity to degrade, deny, and destroy enemy systems.

Additionally, responses may include data that vendors do not want disclosed to the public for any purpose, or used by the Government except for information purposes. If your company wishes to restrict the data, the title page must be marked with the following legend:

Use and Disclosure of Data:
This response includes data that shall not be disclosed outside the Government and shall not be duplicated, used, or disclosed -- in whole or in part -- for any purpose other than to evaluate this response. This restriction does not limit the Government's right to use information contained in these data if they are obtained from another source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are contained in Data Sheets [insert numbers or other identification of sheets].

Your company may also mark each sheet of data it wishes to restrict with the following legend: "Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title page of this response."

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS:
Communications Security (COMSEC) account will be required and future contractors will need to demonstrate their ability to maintain Defense Information Security Program Standards. Security requirements will be Top Secret for the facility and will vary for selected personnel (including Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information, and Communications Security). Potential solutions sought should be full National Security Agency (NSA) approved Type-1 and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) level encryption capability capable.

RESPONSES:

Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper, not to exceed 12 pages, describing responder's concepts to meet Aviation's strategic Reach, Protection, and Lethality requirements. Responders should include descriptions of their specialized expertise, resources, and technologies. Responders should also describe potential material/services solutions which meet criteria referenced in this document, including specification of attributes and performance estimates, if available.

Responses are due no later than 21 July 2017 1500 EST. Responses to this RFI should be sent via email to Mr. James Michael Black at james.m.black4.civ@mail.mil. Telephonic responses will not be accepted.

Selected responders will also have the opportunity to make a 30 minute presentation 10-11 August 2017 at the Aviation Center of Excellence Industry Days at Fort Rucker, AL.

Points of Contact (POC):
Any technical questions or requests should be addressed to:

LTC Michael B. Hale Michael.b.hale.mil@mail.mil
Mr. Michael Cowperthwait michael.t.cowperthwait.civ@mail.mil

Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information.