RATO (Rocket Assisted Take Off) Motor and Initiator
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
This opportunity was awarded. See the award notice from , or the latest solicitation from .
- Solicitation number
- FA8213-RATO
- Agency
-
AFLCMC Hill AFB
Lifecycle Management Center, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center at Hill Air Force Base is seeking to procure Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) rocket motors and initiators used to launch BQM-167 aerial target drones. This is a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) firm-fixed price contract with five one-year ordering periods. Potential contractors must undergo a comprehensive qualification process that requires demonstration of manufacturing capabilities, technical data package verification, and rigorous testing procedures. Suppliers must be from the United States or Canada and will be evaluated based on their ability to meet strict technical specifications, with qualification testing estimated to take 180-360 days and costing approximately $100,000 for initiators and $5 million for rocket motors. The solicitation (FA821325RB005) was posted on December 19, 2024, with proposals due by February 6, 2025, and interested parties are encouraged to contact the primary contracting officer with any questions.
The contract is not set aside for any specific business category and is open to full and open competition. First article testing will require 8 contractor-tested and 1 government-tested units for both RATO motors and initiators, with production deliveries beginning 180 days after first article approval in the initial period and 270 days after order award in subsequent periods. Incremental deliveries are planned at approximately 50 units every other month over 545-635 calendar days. While specific production quantities are to be determined, the government will conduct testing and evaluation to ensure compliance with critical performance requirements. The total estimated value and specific budget ranges were not explicitly disclosed in the pre-solicitation documents, but the comprehensive qualification process and detailed technical requirements suggest a significant investment in maintaining these critical aerospace components for target drone operations.
Notice text
5 versions
Update #5 · Latest ·
AMEND 4:
This amendment is to make publicly known the following information for industry consideration. Due to mission criticality of the requirement schedule it is the governments intent to include the following requirement(s) necessary to be considered as a capable and qualified source for contract award.
1. Contractors are required to be qualified per the JQR requirements (Attached) by the time of award. If a contractor is not qualified by the time of award, they will not be considered. the current estimated schedule to become qualified is 180-365 days.
2. Contractors are required to be flight certified (have an air worthiness certification) for their proposed design by the time of contract award. The current estimated schedule for air worthiness certification is 2-4 years.
Any questions or comments may be directed to the Listed POC: Jesse.whinham@us.af.mil
AMEND 3:
Updated the JQR Qualification process QandA supplemnt to add questions 7-11. These are in regards to the JQR requirements.
AMEND 2:
Updated the JQR Qualification Process QandA supplement to add Questions 4-6. These are in regards to the JQR Qualification and what constitutes a similar Item. Please note that the performance specifications referenced are protected under Distribution D and is only authorized to be distributed to the department of defence (DOD) and DOD contractors only. All interested parties will need to request a copy from the Point of Contact listed to ensure there are no restictions against them.
Prospective Offerors are advised that foreign participation is permitted at the prim contractor level. Foreign owned firms are advised to contact the contracting officer before submitting any proposal information to determine whether there are restrictions on receiving an award or the Performance Specification Documents.
AMEND 1:
This Synopsis has been extended through 17 January 2025. Additional information regarding the JQR qualification process has been provided. See attached documents:
- JQR Qualification Process Q&A supplement.pdf
- Contractor Feedback and Government Response (002).docx
- DI-NDTI-81307A
- DI-NDTI-80809B
If there are still additional questions regarding the JQR process, please reach out to the PCO listed in the contact section of this Synopsis.
This is the official synopsis for RATO Solicitation: FA821325RB005
All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.
This acquisition is to establish a five (5) – year indefinite delivery – indefinite quantity (IDIQ) firm-fixed price (FFP) contract. This IDIQ will consist of five (5) – one year ordering periods. The United States Government (USG) intends to procure Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) rocket motors and initiators. These rockets are used to launch a remotely piloted target drone called the BQM-167 aerial target drone.
The USG reserves the right to not issue a solicitation in response to this Synopsis. Interested parties with questions may reach out to the Primary Contracting Officer as listed below.
The JQR documents describing the required process needed to become qualified (as a requirement to be considered a technically acceptable source for award) are listed in the attachments below.
Update #4 ·
AMEND 3:
Updated the JQR Qualification process QandA supplemnt to add questions 7-11. These are in regards to the JQR requirements.
AMEND 2:
Updated the JQR Qualification Process QandA supplement to add Questions 4-6. These are in regards to the JQR Qualification and what constitutes a similar Item. Please note that the performance specifications referenced are protected under Distribution D and is only authorized to be distributed to the department of defence (DOD) and DOD contractors only. All interested parties will need to request a copy from the Point of Contact listed to ensure there are no restictions against them.
Prospective Offerors are advised that foreign participation is permitted at the prim contractor level. Foreign owned firms are advised to contact the contracting officer before submitting any proposal information to determine whether there are restrictions on receiving an award or the Performance Specification Documents.
AMEND 1:
This Synopsis has been extended through 17 January 2025. Additional information regarding the JQR qualification process has been provided. See attached documents:
- JQR Qualification Process Q&A supplement.pdf
- Contractor Feedback and Government Response (002).docx
- DI-NDTI-81307A
- DI-NDTI-80809B
If there are still additional questions regarding the JQR process, please reach out to the PCO listed in the contact section of this Synopsis.
This is the official synopsis for RATO Solicitation: FA821325RB005
All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.
This acquisition is to establish a five (5) – year indefinite delivery – indefinite quantity (IDIQ) firm-fixed price (FFP) contract. This IDIQ will consist of five (5) – one year ordering periods. The United States Government (USG) intends to procure Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) rocket motors and initiators. These rockets are used to launch a remotely piloted target drone called the BQM-167 aerial target drone.
The USG reserves the right to not issue a solicitation in response to this Synopsis. Interested parties with questions may reach out to the Primary Contracting Officer as listed below.
The JQR documents describing the required process needed to become qualified (as a requirement to be considered a technically acceptable source for award) are listed in the attachments below.
Update #3 ·
AMEND 2:
Updated the JQR Qualification Process QandA supplement to add Questions 4-6. These are in regards to the JQR Qualification and what constitutes a similar Item. Please note that the performance specifications referenced are protected under Distribution D and is only authorized to be distributed to the department of defence (DOD) and DOD contractors only. All interested parties will need to request a copy from the Point of Contact listed to ensure there are no restictions against them.
Prospective Offerors are advised that foreign participation is permitted at the prim contractor level. Foreign owned firms are advised to contact the contracting officer before submitting any proposal information to determine whether there are restrictions on receiving an award or the Performance Specification Documents.
AMEND 1:
This Synopsis has been extended through 17 January 2025. Additional information regarding the JQR qualification process has been provided. See attached documents:
- JQR Qualification Process Q&A supplement.pdf
- Contractor Feedback and Government Response (002).docx
- DI-NDTI-81307A
- DI-NDTI-80809B
If there are still additional questions regarding the JQR process, please reach out to the PCO listed in the contact section of this Synopsis.
This is the official synopsis for RATO Solicitation: FA821325RB005
All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.
This acquisition is to establish a five (5) – year indefinite delivery – indefinite quantity (IDIQ) firm-fixed price (FFP) contract. This IDIQ will consist of five (5) – one year ordering periods. The United States Government (USG) intends to procure Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) rocket motors and initiators. These rockets are used to launch a remotely piloted target drone called the BQM-167 aerial target drone.
The USG reserves the right to not issue a solicitation in response to this Synopsis. Interested parties with questions may reach out to the Primary Contracting Officer as listed below.
The JQR documents describing the required process needed to become qualified (as a requirement to be considered a technically acceptable source for award) are listed in the attachments below.
Update #2 ·
AMEND 1:
This Synopsis has been extended through 17 January 2025. Additional information regarding the JQR qualification process has been provided. See attached documents:
- JQR Qualification Process Q&A supplement.pdf
- Contractor Feedback and Government Response (002).docx
- DI-NDTI-81307A
- DI-NDTI-80809B
If there are still additional questions regarding the JQR process, please reach out to the PCO listed in the contact section of this Synopsis.
This is the official synopsis for RATO Solicitation: FA821325RB005
All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.
This acquisition is to establish a five (5) – year indefinite delivery – indefinite quantity (IDIQ) firm-fixed price (FFP) contract. This IDIQ will consist of five (5) – one year ordering periods. The United States Government (USG) intends to procure Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) rocket motors and initiators. These rockets are used to launch a remotely piloted target drone called the BQM-167 aerial target drone.
The USG reserves the right to not issue a solicitation in response to this Synopsis. Interested parties with questions may reach out to the Primary Contracting Officer as listed below.
The JQR documents describing the required process needed to become qualified (as a requirement to be considered a technically acceptable source for award) are listed in the attachments below.
Update #1 ·
This is the official synopsis for RATO Solicitation: FA821325RB005
All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.
This acquisition is to establish a five (5) – year indefinite delivery – indefinite quantity (IDIQ) firm-fixed price (FFP) contract. This IDIQ will consist of five (5) – one year ordering periods. The United States Government (USG) intends to procure Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) rocket motors and initiators. These rockets are used to launch a remotely piloted target drone called the BQM-167 aerial target drone.
The USG reserves the right to not issue a solicitation in response to this Synopsis. Interested parties with questions may reach out to the Primary Contracting Officer as listed below.
The JQR documents describing the required process needed to become qualified (as a requirement to be considered a technically acceptable source for award) are listed in the attachments below.
Files
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RATO (Rocket Assisted Take Off) Motor and Initiator | Award Notice | |
| RATO (Rocket Assisted Take Off) Motor and Initiator | Solicitation | |
| This notice | Pre-Solicitation |
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