Recovery: Bio-Fuel/JP5 Blend Engine Certification

RECOVERY-THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO CONTRACTORS UNDER NAVAIR BOA N00019-09-G-0009. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) intends to award a sole-source, cost plus fixed fee Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) task order to General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE) under N00019-09-G-0009. The requirement is to test and qualify bio-fuel blends for the GEAE F414-GE-400. The GEAE F414-GE-400 engine, installed on the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft, will be the first to be certified to use a blend of bio-fuel with JP-5 fuel. Certification shall be demonstrated through ground engine tests and rig tests, as required. The effort shall determine that the F414-GE-400 engine will operate and meet all applicable specification requirements at Sea Level Static (SLS) conditions safely and effectively using the bio-fuel/JP-5 blend. Certification shall be provided no later than 31 January 2010. The contractor shall also provide F414-GE-400 engineering support during flight tests at NAS Patuxent River. The contractor shall conduct such tests and analyses as may be necessary to determine that F414-GE-400 engine operation with the bio-fuel/JP-5 mixture will not result in degradation or malfunction of fuel-powered or fuel-whetted engine components. The contractor shall also provide a general protocol for certifying all engines of their manufacture (both currently in Navy service and in the acquisition process) for operation with the bio-fuel/JP-5 blend. A final report, certifying that the bio-fuel/ JP-5 blend is acceptable for use in the F414-GE-400 aircraft engine, shall be provided by 30 September 2010. Certification of the F414-GE-400 engine to use biofuel conducted under this effort will serve as partial supporting flight clearance data. The effort shall be awarded as a cost plus fixed fee order due to the research and development nature of the fuel certification process. This award is based on Title 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), whereby the supplies or services required are available from only one source, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. GEAE is the sole designer, developer, and integrator of the above engine and is uniquely qualified to provide the complete range of program support required by the Fleet. GEAE is the only known firm that possesses the technical data necessary to fulfill the Governments requirements. Points of contact for this announcement are: Contract Specialist Karen Johnston at (301)757-4224, karen.johnston@navy.mil and Contracting Officer Damon McGill at (301)757-7063, damon.mcgill@navy.mil. Numbered note 22 applies.