Support of the Low Probability of Intercept Altimeter (LPIA) System

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), located in Patuxent River, Maryland, is seeking to establish a Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) for the procurement of Low Probability of Intercept Radar Altimeter (LPIA) Receiver-Transmitter systems, including models RT-1805/APN-02, RT-1805/APN-04, RT-1805/APN-05, and associated software to support the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, other Department of Defense activities, and International Programs Office customers. The Government has invoked FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) justification, determining that the LPIA systems are available only from the original source and that awarding to any other contractor would result in substantial duplication of costs to the Government. BAE Systems, the original equipment manufacturer and sole designer, developer, and producer of both the hardware and software for these systems, is positioned as the only responsible source capable of modifying, developing, producing, maintaining, and supporting these systems due to its exclusive possession of necessary technology and documentation. While this is a pre-solicitation notice rather than a formal request for proposals, interested parties may submit responses by the March 13, 2026 deadline to indicate their interest and capability, though the Government will make any final determination to conduct a competitive procurement solely at its discretion.

This procurement opportunity carries no set-aside designations and is anticipated to be awarded to BAE Systems, Wayne, New Jersey, as the incumbent contractor and sole identified responsible source. The notice does not provide specific award values, budget ranges, or quantities for the LPIA systems to be procured under the BOA, as this is a pre-solicitation phase designed to assess market interest and capability prior to formal contract award. The Government will evaluate all responses received before the March 13, 2026 closing date exclusively for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement, though the Government's decision regarding whether to compete this requirement remains entirely discretionary. The procurement falls under NAICS code 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing) and PSC code 5841 (Radar Equipment, Airborne), indicating the specialized nature of this airborne radar equipment procurement.