Supplemental F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Service Life Modification (SLM) Capacity Request for Information (RFI)

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), on behalf of the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265), is conducting market research to determine the industrial base’s existing capability and facility capacity to provide supplemental or secondary Service Life Modification (SLM) turnkey capacity for F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft starting in FY29.

The Government seeks mature, currently operational—facilities, personnel, processes, tooling, and infrastructure capable of supporting SLM workload. The Government is not seeking conceptual or developmental solutions that would require significant new construction, extensive infrastructure development, or multi-year implementation before becoming operational.

The Government currently executes these requirements through a hybrid framework utilizing the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) (The Boeing Company) and a Naval Aviation Enterprise organic depot (Fleet Readiness Center Southwest) under a public private partnership with the OEM. To support long-term strike fighter inventory requirements, the Government is evaluating the availability of additional commercial or second-source depot modification repair overhaul (MRO) capacity.  

Information submitted in response to this notice will assist the Government in determining its long-term acquisition strategy through 2038, including whether to establish an additional qualified source to supplement the current capacity or maintain the current hybrid framework mentioned above under the authority of FAR 6.103-3(b)(1) (Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy (DPCAP) Class Deviation (CD) 2026-O0017) / 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(3)(A) (Industrial Mobilization).

PMA-265 anticipates a maximum SLM induction profile of up to 47 aircraft per year across the industrial base. Actual aircraft allocation among available sources may vary based on Fleet requirements, aircraft availability, demonstrated performance, schedule, and available capacity.

1. Scope of Interest

The Government is seeking information on industry capability to perform the SLM workload to supplement current capacity, including but not limited to:

• Aircraft induction, preservation, inspection, and documentation;
• F/A-18E/F and EA-18G SLM Specification Modification work;
• Installation of applicable Structural Technical Directives (TDs) and Advanced Capability Modifications such as Block III upgrade kits;
• Procurement and management of all required material, including long-lead material, using corporate approaches that support anticipated year-of-execution requirements and ensure material is available for installation when required;
• Inspection-based repairs and structural modifications;
• Manufacturing or sourcing of repair parts and materials, as required;
• Aircraft systems troubleshooting and functional verification;
• Aircraft records and database updates; and
• Support for Functional Check Flights and coordination with Government representatives.

The Government recognizes that individual respondents may be capable of supporting only a subset of this work or a limited annual quantity. Responses identifying supplemental capability, secondary capability, or potential teaming arrangements are encouraged.

2. Information Requested

Interested firms are requested to provide the following information:

I. Company Information

• Company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, and email address.
• Business size and applicable socioeconomic status, if any.
• Relevant experience performing MRO / depot-level maintenance, advanced avionic systems modification, modernization, structural repair, or sustainment work on tactical aircraft.

II. Facility Information

• Location(s) of existing facilities proposed for this effort.
• Number, type, and dimensions of available aircraft bays or work positions, including usable floor area, hangar-door dimensions, overhead clearance, and any facility limitations. For planning purposes, the aircraft footprint is 45 feet wide by 61 feet long
• Availability of a suitable runway and airfield support for F/A-18 and EA-18G series aircraft.
• Current facility utilization and the earliest date capacity could be made available.
• Access to required security, quality assurance, tooling, material handling, and aircraft-support infrastructure.
• Current, or ability to obtain, Defense Security Services (DSS) facility clearance of Secret.
• Consistent with Executive Order 14372, Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting, and the USW(A&S) memorandum, Prioritizing the Warfighter and Negotiation of Contractor Facilitation Costs (dated 4 May 2026), respondents shall identify whether they anticipate using their own capital to fund stand-up costs necessary to perform the proposed work and describe any Government support, reimbursement, or other enablers required to establish the proposed capability.

III. Capacity and Throughput

• Maximum number of F/A-18E/F and/or EA-18G aircraft the company could induct and complete annually.
• Expected induction ramp-up profile by year.
• Estimated average turnaround time from induction through return to the Fleet.
• Constraints that may limit throughput, including workforce, facilities, supply chain, engineering support, tooling, or Government-furnished material.
• Ability to adjust capacity in response to changing Fleet requirements or surge demand.
• Availability of funds to purchase all material to protect quantity throughput and maintain a stock of consumables to perform repair incidents throughout the modification (such as addressing corrosion), parts managements to include obsolescence and manufacturing parts capability.

IV. Technical Capability

• Experience with F/A-18-series aircraft or comparable military tactical aircraft.
• Capability to perform structural inspections, repairs, modifications, TD incorporation, Non-destructive Inspections (NDI), wiring/electrical work, and systems troubleshooting.
• Capability to manufacture repair parts or develop repair procedures when required, using Government- or original equipment manufacturer-provided engineering direction.
• Ability to manage material procurement, kit installation, consumables, and repair-incident-to-modification requirements.
• Experience coordinating with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) or similar Government quality-assurance organizations.
• Ability to recruit, retain, and sustain sufficient qualified personnel to support anticipated SLM workload, including structural engineering personnel eligible for appointment as Naval Air Systems Command Designated Engineering Representatives (NAVDERs) to support the engineering analysis and disposition of aircraft-specific structural findings within the scope of authority delegated by NAVAIR. Respondents should describe their current and projected staffing capacity; recruitment, retention, and succession approaches; and ability to surge personnel as workload requires.

V. Cybersecurity

• Ability to comply with applicable Department of the Navy, NAVAIR, and Department of War cybersecurity requirements for the protection, handling, storage, transmission, and access of Government information and data in performance of the proposed work.

VI. Additional Information

• Identify any Government support, data, tooling, facilities, training, technical assistance, or other enablers that would be needed to establish or expand SLM capability.
• Provide any recommended acquisition, phasing, or transition approach that would help establish supplemental capacity while minimizing risk to Fleet readiness.

3. Response Instructions

Responses should be limited to ten (10) pages and submitted electronically to jacob.r.heintze.civ@us.navy.mil no later than 3 December 2026.

This RFI is issued for market research and planning purposes only. It is not a solicitation, request for proposal, or commitment by the Government to award a contract or reimburse any costs associated with responding. Information received may be used to assess available industry capability, capacity, potential small-business participation, and possible acquisition approaches to provide supplemental or secondary capacity for SLM work on F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft.