SOURCES SOUGHT
16 -- Aircraft Wireless Internal Communications System (AWICS) Technology Upgrade
- Notice Date
- 3/14/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 336413
— Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- N68936 Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Dept.1 Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Dept.1 429 E. Bowen Rd - Stop 4015 China Lake, CA
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- N6893613R0047
- Response Due
- 4/14/2013
- Archive Date
- 4/14/2014
- Point of Contact
- Kelley McClean, Contract Specialist (760) 939-8638
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This announcement constitutes an RFI notice for planning purposes. This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP). NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME. Air Combat Electronics (PMA 209), in support of the Director, Air Warfare (N98), is surveying industry for capabilities to provide an encrypted Aircraft Wireless Internal Communication System (AWICS) that can meet the requirements of air and ground crew members performing duties in the back of the aircraft, while dismounted from the aircraft, and during hoist and other normal aircraft operations. PMA 209 will use the RFI respondents' information to formulate acquisition approaches and plan for appropriate future investments. AWICS was established to eliminate the entanglement hazards posed by the Internal Communications System (ICS) long cord component currently used by air and ground crew members on rotary wing, tilt rotor, and fixed wing aircraft. Incorporation of this wireless technology will enable safer communication between air and ground crew members during all phases of ground and flight operations. The Navy's (on behalf of Naval Aviation: Navy and Marine Corps) principal requirement is to eliminate the long cord entanglement hazard. The government encourages industry to respond to this RFI even if your system does not meet all of the current AWICS requirements, as the responses will assist the finalization of the requirements generation process. Therefore, there is a possibility that not all desired performance characteristics stated herein will be included in the potential AWICS solution. CONTENT OF RFI RESPONSE To consider the appropriateness of each candidate solution, certain data documenting the technology, design, performance characteristics and associated costs are desired. Please describe your product and its current state of maturity and address the questions on the following pages where possible. Although some specific questions may not be applicable to your system, please address each item as listed to the extent practicable. Further, should your proposed system not meet the desired requirements, please address if you could conceptually meet the threshold requirement levels provided and if so, how you would accomplish this, to include cost and schedule data. The configuration of a proposed solution does not necessarily need to be the final end-state configuration (i.e., proposed solutions may be improved over time). In addition to the specific requested data on the candidate systems, any substantiating supplemental background, comparative analysis or trade studies that can be provided to evaluate the system will greatly improve the understanding of the submission. Please include information addressing the following questions in your response: GENERAL 1.Provide a general description of the proposed system (Responses should include, but not be limited to these areas of interest; system architecture, common standards, operational capabilities, supportability, etc.). 2.Provide configuration drawing(s) inclusive of overall dimensions. 3.If the proposed system is presently in service, who are the customers? What is the current production rate? What are the maximum production capacities? If any, what changes are planned to the existing system? 4.Provide the overall system and individual subsystems' Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL). 5.Does your company adhere to or is it certified for any International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards? If so, please list standards and indicate if you adhere to or are certified for the standard. If certified, provide date of last recertification. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS 6.Will the proposed system be able to provide clear unsecure and secure cordless ICS capability for air and ground crew members? 7.What is the maximum range of the proposed system during ground and flight operations? The desired maximum range for ground operations is 1500 feet. The maximum range for flight operations will vary depending on the aircraft and where the system is employed. 8.What is the maximum number of users (air and ground) who may be on the proposed system at the same time having full duplex capability? The minimum desired number is six. 9.What is the battery life of the proposed system? The desired time is greater than or equal to eight hours. 10.What is the encryption capability of the proposed system? 11.What is the number of channels that the proposed system can provide? The desired number is greater than or equal to twenty-five. 12.What is the Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) for the proposed system? The desired MTBF is greater than or equal to 2000 hours. 13.What is the Operational Availability of the proposed system? The desired Operational Availability is greater than or equal to 99 percent. 14.Will the proposed system be compatible with the range of internal communication system headsets and microphones used by Naval Aviation air and ground personnel? 15.Will the full functionality of the proposed system limit air and ground personnel's ability to monitor and transmit on the host aircraft ™s radios? 16.Will the proposed system meet Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) safe requirements and adhere to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) standards in MIL STD 464 and 461? Specifically, will the proposed system function in the EMI environment aboard Aviation compatible ships? 17.Will the proposed system interfere with the aircrew's ability to ingress and/or egress the aircraft? 18.Will the proposed system be able to operate with a corded ICS? For a comprehensive list of the Department of the Navy's AWICS performance requirements, refer to attachment "N98 Memorandum for AWICS Proposed Abbreviated Acquisition Program Requirements." SECURITY 19. If the proposed system currently has secure communications capabilities, is it Type I NSA certified, and if so, to what level? SUPPORTABILITY 20.Please provide supportability data of the proposed system to include operational availability (Ao), Mean Time Between Operational Failure (MTBOF) and the Mean Time To Repair (MTTR). 21.Is the material of the proposed system currently marked IAW the latest version of MIL-STD-130? If not, please provide the plan to meet this requirement. 22.Diminishing Manufacturing Sources & Material Shortages (DMSMS) risks and issues could have an impact upon production and spares. OEMs must have a plan in place to manage sub vendor supplies. Does the proposed system face DMSMS risks and what is the plan to mitigate those risks? 23.Is an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM) currently available and linked in the design with the proposed system providing both integrated diagnostics and embedded training? 24.Does the proposed system have an integrated Built-in Test Equipment (BIT/BITE) capability? 25.What is the maintenance philosophy of the proposed system (i.e., are components repairable or consumable O-level to OEM etc.)? 26.Please identify Special/Peculiar Support Equipment (PSE) requirements related to the proposed system. 27.Does the proposed system currently meet Environmental, Safety, and Occupational Health (ESOH) standards? If not, please provide a plan for the proposed system to achieve ESOH standards. PROGRAMMATICS 28.After Receipt of Order (ARO) for the proposed system, when can the Government expect to receive the first system that meets the proposed configuration? Please include a projected master schedule that includes installation, test events and projected delivery of twenty (20) units. 29.When could the Government receive the proposed system in its current, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) configuration? 30.What data assertions accompany the proposed system? COST Please provide the following Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) substantiating data to include fees and others charges that convert all costs to the total price. Substantiation should be based on the respondents analogous cost history with any adjustments for complexity, work content, etc. 31.Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) of each proposed system to include: a.The flyaway cost of the basic system b.The recurring cost to modify the basic system to the configuration proposed c.The recurring cost of each subsystem and equipment d.The recurring cost of each install kit e.The recurring cost to modify the system, perform the installations and test the systems before delivery f.Any initial support equipment, data/pubs, training, logistics and spares costs to be paid by the Government 32.The nonrecurring (NRE) development ROM to design, build, test and produce the required modifications to the proposed system. Please include an estimate of the standard lines of code (SLOC) required for the integration effort and any integration labs developed to support this program. 33.Operating and Support ROM (O&S): a.Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) Costs i.Annual ii.What O and S cost elements are covered by the respondents CLS cost? b.What elements of O and S cost are not covered and would have to be done by the Government to include efforts with organic Government support? RESPONSE SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS Any questions in reference to this RFI shall be submitted electronically to Kelley McClean at kelley.mcclean@navy.mil and tara.brandt@navy.mil. 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. Interested parties should respond to the RFI with the requested data and the POC to contact for any necessary clarification or additional data required by the analysis. All data submissions shall include electronic media (Microsoft Office 2007 compatible) and one hard copy. Send to: Commander NAWCWD (Code 254100D) Attn: Kelley McClean 429 E. Bowen Rd., Mail Stop 4015 China Lake, CA 93555 The Government does not anticipate that a comprehensive response to this RFI will contain CLASSIFIED information. To the extent practical, responses should be UNCLASSIFIED, complemented by CLASSIFIED appendices if necessary. If a CLASSIFIED response is required, contact the POC for further instruction. NOTE: Government Subject Matter Experts and Contracted Support Services (CSS) will review Responses to this RFI. Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) between CSS and NAVAIR are currently on file with the Government. Vendors shall provide their acknowledgement and approval to have CSS review any responses without execution of an NDA between the respondent and the CSS. Should your organization require a copy of the NDA between the Government and CSS, please forward your requests to kelley.mcclean@navy.mil and tara.brandt@navy.mil. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. This RFI is issued for 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. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. The Government is only seeking possible sources and current capabilities for informational purposes. No solicitation document exists. No reimbursement will be made to respondents for any costs incurred in developing information for, participating in meetings with, or engaging in discussion with the Government 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.
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