Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Procurement Operations, Dept. 16, Post Office Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101

16 -- MODEL AH-1W COCKPIT UPGRADE PROGRAM Sol N63664 Contact Buyer, Mr. Mark Hillman, Phone 817/280-4935, Fax 817/280-8871, Purchasing Manager, Mr. Gary Etheridge, Phone 817/280-8201, Fax 817/280-8871 Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. (BHTI) is conducting a competition for the development of the Cockpit Upgrade for the Model AH-1W Helicopter as an element of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase of the H-1 Upgrade Program to be performed by BHTI under Naval Air Systems Command Contract Number N00019-96-C-0128. The cockpit upgrade will equip the AH-1W with fully integrated avionics and weapon systems and a glass cockpit. The selected Subcontractor will have the responsibility for the cockpit upgrade to include core avionics, cockpit equipment for associated control and display, stores management and fire control, and an integrated helmet and sight system (IHDSS). The Subcontractor's tasks will include hardware and software development and integration. Additionally, the Subcontractor will have responsibility for integration of a BHTI provided pilotage night sensor system (PNSS). The Subcontractor will provide the baseline cockpit design and will function as a member of the H-1 Cockpit Working Group which has responsibility to finalize the cockpit upgrade design as required to meet customer requirements. The Subcontractor will also develop and fabricate an integration test bench suitable for his development requirements and subsequent checkout of equipment prior to delivery to BHTI. During the EMD Phase of the program, the Subcontractor will provide two ship sets of flight worthy hardware and all associated engineering, manufacturing, program management and logistics functions. Potential future production requirements for the cockpit upgrade include approximately 180 each AH-1W aircraft to be remanufactured plus additional FMS sales. The subcontract for the AH-1W Cockpit Upgrade Program is planned to be awarded during FY1997. The Government will approve the BHTI Request for Consent to Award prior to subcontract award. The subcontract award will be based upon the results of the BHTI competitive solicitation. BHTI plans to release a ``draft'' request for proposal during September 1996; formal requests for proposal (solicitations) are planned to be released during October 1996. Subcontractor proposal submittal deadline is planned for January 1997. Interested persons should identify their interest and capability to respond to the stated requirements in writing to the contacts identified herein. No telephone requests for the solicitation package will be accepted. BHTI will release requests for proposals only to responsible sources with capabilities to respond to the total stated subcontract requirements. (227)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0263 19960815\16-0002.SOL)