Sealed Lead Acid Battery (SLAB) aircraft battery options for the USCG MH-65E aircraft.

*Ammendment 1 is to extend closing date.* 

The United States Coast Guard (USCG), Aviation Logistics Center (ALC), Short Range Recovery (SRR) Product Line is conducting research to survey the market for all available Sealed Lead Acid Battery (SLAB) aircraft battery options for the USCG MH-65E aircraft. The MH-65E currently uses a Saft Ni-Cad aircraft battery part number 40208-2, a 24-volt, 43 Ah battery, for turbine engine starting and emergency power. The prospective SLAB alternative must be a direct “plug-and-play” fit to and weigh no more than the existing Saft Ni-Cad, which weighs 84.1lbs. The SLAB alternative must have equivalent or larger capacity and endurance than the Saft Ni-Cad. The SLAB must have clear traceability to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Traceability means a clear, complete, documented, and auditable paper trail which traces each step from an OEM approved source.

This is not a request for quote or proposal. This RFI is for market research purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for quotes/proposals and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. This RFI notice has been issued to survey the market to identify possible sources for consideration. This notice is to assist the USCG in determining potential sources. All contractors responding to this RFI notice are advised that their response to this notice is not a request to be considered for a contract award.

The USCG ALC requests capability statements from interested companies for the purpose of identifying OEM certified sources able to provide Sealed Lead Acid Battery (SLAB) aircraft battery options for the USCG MH-65E aircraft.

Please respond to the following questions in additions to submission of your company’s capability statement:

1. Is your company the OEM or OEM Service Center certified?

2. Is your company capable of supplying the part above?

3. Is your business a large or small business? If small, define your company’s socioeconomic classification.

4. If your company is a small business, are you capable of performing at least 50% of the work, in order to comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Clause 52.219-14, specifically 52.219-14(c)(1), “At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.” Does the company send out work to subcontractors? If so, how much work and what type of work is subcontracted?

5. What is your company’s estimated lead time for providing these items?

6. Does your company offer warranty on repairs/modification? If yes, what is the standard warranty?

After the review of the responses to this sources sought announcement, and if the USCG still plans to proceed with the acquisition, a solicitation announcement will be published on SAM.gov website. Responses to this RFI synopsis are not adequate responses to any future announcement. All interested offerors will have to respond to the solicitation in addition to responding to this RFI synopsis. Responses to this RFI synopsis are NOT a request to be added to a prospective offerors list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. Reimbursement will not be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests.

Closing date and time for receipt of response is April 22, 2024, at 1:00 pm EST. Telephone responses will not be accepted.  Responses should be submitted to alyson.s.harrison2@uscg.mil. Please indicate 70Z03824IB0000016 in the subject line.