SOURCES SOUGHT
15 -- Helicopter
- Notice Date
- 7/31/2007
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 336411
— Aircraft Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, NAVAIR HQ, Building 2272 47123 Buse Road Unit IPT, Patuxent River, MD, 20670, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-N00019-07-P7-ZD280Helicopter
- Response Due
- 8/14/2007
- Archive Date
- 8/29/2007
- Description
- This announcement constitutes a Request for Information for planning purposes. This is NOT a Request for Proposals. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME. The United States Navy Test Pilot School (USNTPS) has established a need and a set of desired capabilities for a helicopter to support their Rotary Wing Test Pilot Curriculum. The intent of this RFI is to assist the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in conducting market research to identify if a commercial off the shelf helicopter will be able to meet these needs, with little or no modifications being needed. As a top level summary of some of the required system capabilities, the air vehicle should be capable of meeting the following needs: 1. Aircraft g-load envelope zero to plus 2.5g for normal loadings, airspeeds, and operating altitudes 2. Un-refueled endurance of at least 2.0 hours 3. Have a glass cockpit with Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and Radar Altimeter. 4. Operations in Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) 5. Accommodation of an Electro-Optical Sensor 6. Have irreversible flight controls The USNTPS and PMA-207 are sponsoring an Analysis of Options (AoO) to fill their Rotary Wing needs. To support the AoO, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is conducting a market survey to obtain industry input relative to its capabilities to satisfy the USNTPS needs. The data is to evaluate the candidate helicopter??s potential to perform missions in support of the United States Navy Test Pilot School (USNTPS) Rotary Wing Curriculum. In addition to data on the candidate aircraft, any background that can be provided to evaluate the weight and performance impacts of any modifications that may be required to be fully responsive. The scope of the development effort required to perform the modifications including estimated development cost and schedule, would be useful. Industry is requested to provide supporting data to the AoO by answering the following questions with respect to each candidate aircraft. Please identify to what standard each attribute is qualified, or applicable configuration or conditions for the information provided. If the capability available from the production aircraft differs from that in the question, describe what level of capability is available without modification. Multiple entries from a single vendor are acceptable and encouraged. Note that several questions deal with operations at a Standard USNTPS loading configuration. This load condition is defined as: 2 Pilots @ 200 lbs each, 1 flight test engineer @ 200 lbs (in a seated position to observe the cockpit), crew equipment @ 20 lbs, data acquisition package @ 100 lbs, and fuel reserve of 20 min at max endurance speed at SL. Please include in your response information addressing: 1. Provide a precise description of the current production aircraft (Responses should include, but not be limited to these areas of interest: rotor system, number of engines, provisions for crew compartment environmental control, minimum and maximum number of occupants, and landing gear configuration). 2. What is the aircraft weight empty and operating weight empty (includes core avionics, crew, etc.)? 3. What is the aircraft useable fuel capacity, and unusable fuel? 4. What is the aircraft design gross weight and maximum structural design gross weight? What are the center of gravity limits and the impact of operations at USNTPS standard load configuration for operations at Sea Level/103?a deg F and 5,000 ft density altitude? 5. What is the maximum gross weight for Hover In Ground Effect (HIGE) and Hover Out of Ground Effect (HOGE), at Sea Level/Standard Day and Sea Level/103?a deg F? 6. What is the maximum useful load (payload + fuel) for takeoff to HIGE at Sea Level/Standard Day and Sea Level/103?a deg F? What is the payload component? Fuel load component? 7. What is the aircraft cruise speed at Sea Level/Standard Day, Sea Level/103?a deg F, and 5,000 ft density altitude (at USNTPS standard load configuration)? 8. What is the aircraft endurance on a Sea Level/Standard Day, Sea Level/103?a deg F, and at 5,000 ft density altitude (at USNTPS standard load configuration flying)? Present endurance numbers assuming 5 minutes warm-up at MCP, 2 minutes HOGE at MRP, and allowing for the fuel reserve of 20 minute of flight at max endurance speed at SL. Also, provide payload-endurance curves showing the impact on endurance for changes in payload. 9. What are the minimum and maximum load factors at design gross weight and max structural design gross weight? What are the side slip limits at design gross weight and max structural design gross weight (for both at USNTPS standard load configuration/5,000 ft density altitude)? 10. What is the service ceiling (at USNTPS standard load configuration)? 11. What are the sideward and rearward flight speed limits at Sea Level/Standard Day and Sea Level/103?a deg F (at USNTPS standard load configuration)? What is the critical azimuth (if any) and what factors shape it? 12. Does the aircraft incorporate design features to increase crashworthiness? Does the aircraft include stroking, crashworthy pilot seats, and crashworthy cabin seats? To what standards do these features comply? Does the aircraft include a crashworthy internal fuel system? To what standards does this feature comply? Is Wire Strike Protection Equipment incorporated into the aircraft (and if so, what frontal area is covered)? Are practice autorotations to landing authorized? 13. What are they roll and pitch attitude limits (at USNTPS standard load configuration at 5,000 ft density attitude)? 14. What is the cabin configuration (for example, two pilots, one observer in back)? Describe the standard cabin layout, including layout drawings. 15. Does the aircraft include a fully integrated, Night Vision Device (NVD) compatible, glass cockpit capable of displaying integrated information from navigation, communication, and performance monitoring systems on Multi-Functional Display (MFD) screens? Is interaction with the MFDs through programmable keypads? Is all functionality available from both control stations? Describe the standard cockpit layout. 16. Describe the standard avionics package. Does the basic aircraft have an integrated Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Radar Altimeter, and U/VHF radio? Are the radios digital and do they allow communication with both civil and military traffic? Does the aircraft include a fully integrated mission management system? 17. Is the aircraft IFR capable? Is the aircraft rated for icing flight conditions? 18. Does the aircraft include integrated navigational/target FLIR imagery capabilities? If so, with what FLIR system is the aircraft currently delivered? 19. Does the aircraft have a digital data bus that records flight data information that can display test data points? Is the data bus a 1553 data bus? Can the device and/or data be pulled off the aircraft for use in the classroom? What is the media of the recorded data? 20. What is the engine version included in the present production configuration? What ratings does this engine have (i.e., Continuous, 30 minute, 10 minute, etc.)? What are typical fuel flow values in hover, loiter, and cruise flight? Is the transmission sized to allow incorporation of an up-rated engine? Is there a Fully Automated Digital Electronic Control (FADEC)? 21. Please provide configuration drawings illustrating the aircraft geometry, folded and unfolded (if applicable) as well as an inboard profile illustrating the locations of major subsystems, and the volume available in the cockpit and cabin. 22. Is the aircraft presently in full rate production? Who are the customers? What is the current production rate? What is the maximum production rate? 23. If a contract were let today, when could the USN take delivery of its first aircraft? When could the USN take delivery of aircraft two through five? 24. Please identify the standard technical, operating, and maintenance manuals delivered with the aircraft. 25. Does the aircraft have an FAA flight certification? 26. Does the aircraft have dual flight controls? Can the aircraft be flown single piloted? 27. Does the aircraft have a cargo hook? What is its maximum and minimum gross rating? 28. Does the aircraft have an Automatic Flight Control system (AFCS) that at a minimum provides aircraft stability augmentation and may be turned on or off by the pilot? Does the aircraft have an AFCS that provides airspeed, heading, and altitude hold modes as well as turn coordination? 29. Are the flight controls irreversible? Do they provide an artificial feedback to the pilot? Can the trim system be turned on/off? 30. Does the main rotor head fold for ease of handling and storage? 31. For the aircraft currently in production, what is the Firm Fixed Price (FFP) for: a. Basic Air Vehicle b. Engine and accessories c. Software program and licensing (or will this be covered by a Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) contract) d. Avionics and/or systems kits to meet operational performance e. Initial set of operational and maintenance publications ( or CLS details) 32. For equipment in the previous questions (NVD, TCAS, GPS, FLIR etc.) please answer the following questions: a. Are these currently in the baseline aircraft? b. Have they been put on the aircraft as options? Specifically, has the design of their A Kit (installation kit) been completed and are their Manufacturing Engineering process sheets detailing the installation steps? 33. For the aircraft currently in production, what is the support/maintenance philosophy? 34. Describe the terms of a CLS agreement if that is what would be proposed. a. What would be the $ / flight hour and what would this cover. b. What would be the inherent availability of the aircraft? c. Will a CLS contract guarantee so many aircraft per day ready to fly at specified times? d. Would the CLS cover future routine aircraft upgrades and / or configuration changes? e. Would this include software changes? Would this include software maintenance? f. Would all of these updates and SW maintenance be included in the $ / flight hour or would there be a yearly set charge for these? 35. For the aircraft currently in production, what is the aircraft's average fuel consumption? 36. For the aircraft currently in production, what is the aircraft's design service life? 37. For the aircraft currently in production, what is the average utilization rate (flight hours per month) and maintenance man-hours per flight hour? 38. For the aircraft currently in production, what are the average engine overhaul / refurbishment cost and periodicity? 39. For the aircraft currently in production, what are the average airframe overhaul / refurbishment cost and periodicity? 40. For the aircraft currently in production, what is the aircraft-level reliability (mean flight hours between failure (MTBF))? What is the inherent availability of the aircraft? 41. For the aircraft currently in production, what is the experienced average repair cost (repairables and consumables) per flight hour? 42. For the aircraft currently in production, what are the annual software maintenance costs? What are the annual technical publication update costs? Questions pertaining to this notice may be emailed to the contract specialist at leann.warner@navy.mil, with copy to michael.a.cosgrove@navy.mil. The deadline for submission of questions concerning this notice is 4:30 PM EST on 06 August 2007. The responses to all questions received by this date will be posted at http://www.navair.navy.mil/doing_business/open_solicitations/. Responding parties should submit a written statement of interest along with the above requested supporting unclassified data, and POC to contact for any necessary clarification or additional data required by the analysis. Electronic responses to this notice must be emailed to the contract specialist at leann.warner@navy.mil no later than 4:30 PM EST on 14 August 2007. All responses submitted must specify, on the cover page of the response or in the transmittal letter submitted with the response, the business size/status of the organization (i.e., large business, small business, certified 8(a) concern, veteran-owned, hubzone, women-owned, etc.). Small businesses that possess the required capability are encouraged to submit responses to this notice. The electronic copy of your response must be in Microsoft Word 2003 readable format. Following a review of the responses received, NAVAIR may elect to schedule one-on-one meetings with some respondents to gain additional information about their proposed solution(s). NOTE: This RFI is issued for the purpose of determining market interest, feasibility, and capability of sources and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), a Request for Proposals (RFP), a Request for Quotes (RFQ) or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. The Government is only seeking possible sources and information for the Analysis of Options and future needs. No solicitation document exists. However, respondents to this Request for Information will not be excluded from consideration for contract participation in any potential follow-on hardware development activity. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this notice will not be returned. No reimbursement will be made for any costs to provide information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Information contained herein is based on the best information available at the time of publication, is subject to revision, and is not binding upon the Government. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced under a separate Federal Business Opportunities announcement.
- Place of Performance
- Address: TBD
- Zip Code: 20670
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 20670
- Record
- SN01357829-W 20070802/070731221951 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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