Departure alerting system and outside air temperature display for F-5 aircraft

Background

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), PMA-226 Specialized and Proven Aircraft, Adversary Integrated Product Team (IPT), is considering procurement of a Departure Alerting System (DAS) and Outside Air Temperature (OAT) display for use on legacy single-seat F-5N and dual-seat F-5F aircraft and Block-Upgrade F-5N+ and F-5F+.  F-5 aircraft are susceptible to aerodynamic departure and entry into Out-of-Control Flight (OCF), which has resulted in multiple mishaps over its operational history. The F-5N is a unique United States Navy (USN)/United States Marine Corps (USMC) configuration based on the legacy F-5E variant with Improved Handling Qualities (IHQ) which incorporates leading edge extensions, autoflaps, and a shark nose radome. The OAT is readily available via an ARINC 429 signal supplied by the digital air data computer, but it is not displayed in the cockpit to the pilot. That same signal also contains other in-flight data, such as true angle of attack and true airspeed, which could be useful in the development of a DAS.

The purpose of this Sources Sought is to query Industry for options to develop and integrate a DAS that is also capable of displaying the OAT for both F-5 configurations. Ideal solutions are fully Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) already designed and qualified for the F-5E (IHQ) and F-5F (IHQ) configurations. COTS solutions should have demonstrated performance characteristics suitable to minimize Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) development time and cost. 

Size Status

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334511, size standard 1,350 Employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 1680, Miscellaneous Aircraft Accessories and Components. Companies must identify their size status, the results of which will be utilized as guidance to determine any potential set-aside basis.

Requirement Statement

An interested party shall provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) and notional schedule for the proposed solution, which should account for all primary drivers to departure from controlled flight.  Additionally, it should meet the following requirements stated in the attached document titled “DAS Requirements”.

The ROM and technical solution should detail the pedigree of the proposed solution, including applicability to the F-5E (IHQ) and F-5F (IHQ) configurations, test history and available technical and test data to substantiate its maturity.  Anticipated NRE should be detailed and include any required adaptation of a COTS solution, including lab and/or flight test, development of airworthiness qualification/test data, other technical data, and proposed level of effort for installation as applicable. Schedule information for integration efforts shall define component lead-time After Receipt of Order (ARO) and production throughput (lot size per unit of time). Additionally, the schedule should include an estimated time between critical project milestones including, but not limited to, requirement meetings, design reviews, prototyping, and testing.

Anticipated Period of Performance (PoP)

NRE is anticipated to complete no more than eighteen (18) months from the date of receipt of award. Airworthiness approval is anticipated to require no more than four (4) months from Government receipt of technical data and completion of a prototype/validation installation. The aircraft retrofit schedule is To Be Determined (TBD) based on proposed solutions from industry.

Estimated Quantities

The Government estimates requiring between twenty (20) and forty (40) units under the resulting contract.

Capability Statement Requested

Capability statements in response to this Sources Sought must be electronically submitted in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) via email to Ms. Kristin Nelson at kristin.a.nelson13.civ@us.navy.mil and Mrs. Catrina Farrell, catrina.m.farrell.civ@us.navy.mil. The deadline for capability statement submission is 21 March 2025 at 11:00 AM EDT. It is requested that interested, capable, and qualified vendors submit a capability statement (no more than 10 pages in length, single spaced, and 12-point font minimum). Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and should be clearly marked.  To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information.  Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The statement must address, at a minimum, the stated requirements as described above, and:

1. Provide a brief company introduction and details on the company/organization, to include; Company Name, mailing address, and Points of Contact (POC) including name, telephone number, fax number, and email address; 

2. Briefly identify your company’s experience in performing work of similar size and scope.

3. Respondents to this notice must also indicate whether they are a large business or qualify as a Small Business concern, Veteran-owned Small Business Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small business concerns or Service- Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern.

4. Company Business Size, CAGE code, DUNS Number, Office location(s), annual revenue history, include number of employees, statement indicating business size and, if company is small, small disadvantaged business (SDB), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), HUBZone Small Business (HUBZone), or 8 (a) business;

5. All data received in response to this sources sought, marked or designated as corporate or proprietary, will be protected from release outside the Government. Information and materials submitted in response to this request will not be returned. Classified material shall not be submitted.

6. If your company intends to team with a qualified subcontractor, please provide an explanation of your company’s ability to perform at least 50% of the cost of the contract performance. Please note that under a Small-Business Set-Aside, in accordance with FAR 52.219-14 Class Deviation 2020-O0008 Revision 2, the Offeror/Contractor agrees in performance of the Delivery Order in the case of a contract for Services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities.

7. What specific technical skills does your company possess which ensures capability to perform the tasks?

8. Provide a top-level schedule outlining specific events/milestones and durations necessary for development/modification, test, integration, and delivery of hardware to include, but not limited to, follow-on production phase delivery. 

9. Detail any assumptions, such as necessary Government Furnished Material, required to support the presented technical solution/approach.

Summary

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ONLY to identify sources that are currently capable or interested in providing a solution for the F-5N/F Departure Alerting System and Outside Air Temperature display requirement. The information contained within this Sources Sought is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. At this time, the USG has not made a commitment to procure and goods and/or services; therefore, this Sources Sought shall not be misconstrued as a Government commitment or authorization for the USG to incur costs or distribute imbursements.  All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

DISCLAIMER. This sources sought announcement is published for informational purposes only and utilized as a Market Research tool. This is not a solicitation. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses in any form are not offers and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No funds are available to pay for preparation of responses to this announcement. Any information submitted by respondents to this notice is strictly voluntary. Firms responding to this announcement will not be individually notified if the requirement is solicited. Solicitations will occur through the Contract Opportunities section of SAM.gov. The Government will use the responses to this announcement to make an informed decision concerning the strategy it will pursue to meet its objective, including determining set-aside opportunities.