Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) Energy Storage Subsystem (ESS) Future French Carrier, United States Navy (USN) CVN 82, and Potential USN CVN 83 Production

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) intends to enter into sole source negotiations and subsequently award a contract to Kato Engineering, Inc., Mankato, MN. This contract is for the procurement of up to a quantity of 36 Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) Energy Storage Subsystems (ESSs) in support of the anticipated Future French Carrier (FFC), United States Navy (USN) CVN 82, and potential USN CVN 83 aircraft carriers, to be procured as options under this procurement.  Supplies and services to be procured through the contract actions include the manufacture, assembly, inspection, integration, test, delivery, storage management, installation checkout parts and support, and certification of the EMALS ESS shipsets and the associated program management, schedule updates, and technical data updates. 

This procurement will also include associated configurations changes, primarily obsolescence, and the associated engineering (design definition, verification, test and reports); integrated logistics support and updates; and manufacturing and installation of forward-fit solutions. Provisions may also be provided for retrofit kits, and/or new complete items to support validation testing, associated NRE, and associated logistics impacts, prototype testing, test plans and reports, computer software, manufacturing acceptance tests and fielding support, and ship-riders provisions for operational support.

Additionally, this procurement will include On Board Repairs Parts, peculiar support equipment, maintainer and operating training courses for the FFC, and an option for EMALS ESS at Patuxent River, MD. 

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS.  This acquisition is being pursued on a sole source basis under the statutory authority of Title 10, U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), as implemented Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements”.  As the sole designer, developer, and manufacturer of EMALS ESS, Kato is the only responsible source with access, unique knowledge, experience, special skills, facilities, manufacturing techniques, and technical data required to fulfill the EMALS ESS production requirements.  Award to another source would result in duplication of costs and unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements. Further, NAVAIR does not have an adequate technical data package nor sufficient license rights to the technical data to support a competitive procurement.   

Companies interested in subcontracting opportunities should directly contact the following: 

• Jodi Zimmerli, Government Buyer for Kato via email: Jodi.Zimmerli@mail.nidec.com or phone: 507-345-2728
• Abdel Vazquez, Materials Manager for Kato via email: Abdel.Vazquez@mail.nidec.com or phone: 507-345-2857. 

There is no commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or be responsible for any money expended by interested parties before award of a contract for the effort described above.  Information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit for or award a contract.