MQ-8C Flight Strain Analysis

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), NAS Patuxent River, MD, intends to procure and award to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI), Fort Worth, TX an engineering study for the analysis of flight strain, fatigue, and MQ-8C tail boom cracks using the commercial Bell 407 helicopter in support of the MQ-8C Fire Scout Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program.

This action is being awarded on a sole source basis in accordance with statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition under Title 10 U.S.C.2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR Part 6.302-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Type of Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements." BHTI was selected the sole source subcontractor of the MQ-8C airframe by Northrop Grumman Corporation. BHTI is unwilling to sell the data rights to support competitions for the services required to complete the engineering study/flight strain survey. As a result, only Bell Helicopter has the technical data, unique engineering support experience and detailed knowledge of the commercial Bell 407 aircraft to meet the Department of the Navy's requirements without causing unacceptable delays in the operational deployment schedule or unnecessarily increase program costs.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. Interested parties, however, may identify their interest and capability by responding to the requirement. The Government will consider all information received prior to the closing date of this synopsis. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract modification based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No phone inquiries will be entertained. Responses shall be made in writing by E-mail, U.S. mail or facsimile to the attention of Mr. Raymond Cannon or Mr. Erik Barkhimer using the contract information provided in this synopsis. Companies interested in subcontracting opportunities should contact Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. attention: Stacey Washington, Small Business Liaison, Email: swashington@bh.com or Phone: (817) 280-1793.