SOURCES SOUGHT
16 -- EPAWSS Request for Information
- Notice Date
- 11/18/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 336413
— Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, ASC - Aeronautical Systems Center, 2275 D Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 45433-7218
- ZIP Code
- 45433-7218
- Solicitation Number
- EPAWSSRFI
- Archive Date
- 12/24/2011
- Point of Contact
- David W Morlock, Phone: 937-904-6681
- E-Mail Address
-
david.morlock@wpafb.af.mil
(david.morlock@wpafb.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This announcement represents a Request for Information (RFI) by the F-15 Division, WPAFB, OH to determine potential sources for a state of the art, wide bandwidth, highly integrated digital electronic warfare system with extensive leveraging of commercial off-the-shelf components and availability for increased growth through firmware and software reprogramming. The USAF is investigating a replacement for the existing F-15 Tactical Electronic Warfare Systems (TEWS) which includes the ALR-56C, ALQ-135, and ALE-45. The Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) upgrade will significantly improve the F-15's capability to autonomously and automatically detect, identify, locate, deny, degrade, disrupt, and defeat RF and EO/IR threat systems in mid-level to non-permissive environments in the 2015 to 2025 timeframe. PURPOSE: This notice is part of Government Market Research, a process for obtaining the latest information on the ‘art of possible' from industry with respect to their current and near-term abilities. All company proprietary information contained in the response shall be separately marked and properly protected from unauthorized disclosure. The government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one firm to establish the capability and requirements for any future systems acquisition so as to not inadvertently restrict competition. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Air Force is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested parties expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on Federal Business Opportunities (FedbizOpps) at https://www.fbo.gov. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this RFI are to identify responsible sources and interested parties who have proven solutions that can meet requirements. For the purpose of this RFI, the term "proven" means solutions at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 in accordance with the Technology Readiness Assessment Guide dated April 2011. Please provide justification for hardware TRL as well as algorithm and software maturity that your company claims. BACKGROUND: The current F-15C/D and F-15E Electronic Warfare (EW) internal self-protection suite was designed to permit operations in environments defended by 1980s-era radar based ground and air threats. The EPAWSS upgrade will significantly improve the F-15's capability to autonomously and automatically detect, identify, locate, deny, degrade, disrupt, and defeat RF and EO/IR threat systems in mid-level to non-permissive environments in the 2015 to 2025 timeframe. OPERATIONAL SCENARIOS: The EPAWSS is intended to improve F-15 survivability by enhancing the ability to detect, deny or defeat air and ground threats throughout mid-level to non-permissive threat environments. The EPAWSS will enable the following: • Detect, Identify (ID), and Locate Threats. The ability to provide indication, type, and position of airborne and ground-based radio frequency (RF) and electro-optical (EO)/infrared (IR) threats with the situational awareness needed to avoid, engage, or negate the threat. • Deny, Degrade, and Disrupt Threats. The ability to prevent a RF and EO/IR threat system from detecting or acquiring accurate targeting information prior to threat engagement. Necessary components include chaff, flares, decoys and jamming to complicate and/or negate an enemy threat targeting solution. • Defeat Threats. The ability to effectively counter enemy missiles/weapons once adversary threat systems engage and employ weapons against friendly forces through the use of chaff, flares, decoys, jamming, etc. The new system must be capable of being operated and maintained by Air Force flight-line maintenance personnel with minimal steps to access key operational LRUs. Data must be available for operations, depot level repair and troubleshooting of the system. REQUIREMENTS: The F-15 Division will require evidence of development in all of the following areas: • Interoperability with RF emitters and receivers (ex. AESA Radars, missile data links) • High Performance EW Receivers (Bandwidth, Sensitivity, Selectivity) • Ability to perform in a high pulse density environment • Ability to meet performance requirements in presence of RF Background Environment (White commercial signals, grey and blue signals in addition to the red signals of interest) • Advanced complex jamming techniques and directional jamming ability • Multi-threat engagement • Programmable performance via software and mission files • Programmability of chaff and flare sequences using current USAF expendables • Antenna performance sufficient to detect, degrade, or defeat threats in order to provide improved survivability • Effective Antenna performance at multiple polarizations • Geolocation ability • Reduction of presentation of false alarms • Providing omnidirectional intra-flight data link capability as part of the EW system • Coordinated multi-ship detection, tracking and ID capability • Low latency response time • Ability to communicate high speed data over Fibre Channel / Gigabit Ethernet • Advanced multi-core/multi-processor architectures • Open system architecture • Ability to provide embedded training • Data recording and transfer ability • Experience with Anti-Tamper technology • Ability to meet Information Assurance requirements • High reliability electronic systems • Maintainability considerations during design • Availability of data for operation, maintenance and repair (organizational and depot) • Ability to balance Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Cost • Large growth capacity Any proposed solution must meet all Operational, Safety, Suitability and Effectiveness (OSS&E) requirements mandated by the Department of Defense. *Note: Access to classified information is not required to respond to this RFI; however, in the event a RFP is issued in the future, the program will require access to SECRET/SPECIAL ACCESS REQUIRED and higher as well as facility clearances. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS Interested parties should provide capabilities, qualification statements, and examples that demonstrate their ability to satisfy the requirements detailed in the REQUIREMENTS paragraph of this announcement. Companies or parties are to submit responses in Adobe Acrobat compatible electronic format. The maximum page limit for responses is 30 pages, 8.5" x 11", including attachments, figures, and/or drawings, and no smaller than size 12 font. Responses must include: A) Company Name, Address, CAGE Code, Industry Point of Contact (POC) for technical and contractual issues to include name, position, telephone number, and e-mail address a. Identify at least one POC who is clearable to special access programs b. Please provide evidence that your company has facilities cleared to handle SECRET or higher and SPECIAL ACCESS REQUIRED programs B) Complete System Description C) Overall capabilities of the system as compared against the REQUIREMENTS section of this announcement D) Detailed information regarding the system capabilities/performance (prior testing, test reports, etc.) E) Hardware TRL and algorithm and software maturity levels along with justification (see attachment of Technology Readiness Assessment Guide dated April 2011) F) Availability of data for maintenance and depot level repair Reponses to this RFI must be submitted no later than 4:00 PM EST on 9 December 2011 and shall be transmitted electronically to David Morlock, david.morlock@wpafb.af.mil. DISCUSSIONS One-on-one information gathering sessions with respondents are currently not contemplated. The Government may elect to conduct one-on-one discussions with industry based on its analysis of the RFI responses, the quality of submission and the specifications in the information provided. The Government is under no obligation to conduct these sessions. The Government does not commit to providing a response to any comment or questions. Any revision to this RFI based on comments received remains solely at the Government's discretion. These initiatives may ultimately result in the Government developing and issuing an RFP for respondents. The above information is for sources sought only. SPECIAL NOTICE Respondent's attention is directed to the fact that contractor consultants and advisors to the Government will review and provide support during review and evaluation of submittals. When appropriate, non-government advisors may be used to objectively review a particular functional area and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. All advisors shall comply with procurement integrity laws and shall sign Non-Disclosure and Rules of Conduct/Conflict of Interest statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submissions in response to this RFI constitute approval to release the submittal to Government Support Contractors. Per FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997): (a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (b) Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. (c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of collecting Government Market Research, a process for obtaining the latest information on the ‘art of possible' from industry with respect to their current and near-term abilities Contracting Office Address: ASC/WWQK (F-15 Division) Attention: David Morlock 2725 C St. Bldg 553 WPAFB, OH 45433 Primary Point of Contact: David Morlock Contracting Officer David.Morlock@wpafb.af.mil Phone: 937-904-6681 FAX: 937-255-9876 Secondary Point of Contact: Cesar Palacios-Maya Program Manager Cesar.Palacios-Maya@wpafb.af.mil Phone: 937-904-6728 FAX: 937-255-9876
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ASC/EPAWSSRFI/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02626056-W 20111120/111118234430-47ccfe1e80be331b891f334527f09f5e (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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