ACC Contracting Squadron, 227 Hunting Ave., Suite 301, Langley AFB, VA 23665-2771

K -- TARS MOORING SYSTEM MODIFICATION SOL F44650-98-SS002 DUE 061898 POC MSgt Kathy Jackson, Contract Manager or Mr Richard Cannella, Contracting Officer 757-764-7583 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Manager via e-mail, kathy.jackson@langley.af.mil. BACKGROUND: The U.S. Air Force, Air Combat Command (ACC), is tasked with the operations, maintenance, and support of the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS). The primary mission of TARS is to support the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) in counter-narcotics and drug surveillance missions in support of U.S. national security objectives. The program consists of 11 sites along the Gulf Coast and Southwest. POTENTIAL NEED: ACC intends to transition the TARS system to a 420,000 cubic foot aerostat configuration using a fixed mooring system platform which allows for 360 degrees of rotation. Currently, the system consists of six (6) sites operating a 71M aerostat on a fixed-mooring platform; four (4) sites operating a 420K aerostat utilizing a winch truck system; and one (1) site operating two (2) 275K aerostats. The ACC standardization objective is to be able to operate the 420K aerostat at all of the referenced sites on a standardized, fixed-mooring system platform. Our current strategy is to accomplish this standardization in a two-phased approach. The initial phase (definition of need) is to replace the 420K/winch-truck configuration with a fixed-mooring system. Secondly, we intend to convert the fixed 71M sites to a fixed 420K aerostat configuration. We currently do not have it planned to convert the 275K aerostat location. An alternative the Air Force has been considering is the modification of existing 71M mooring systems to accommodate a 420K aerostat. The Air Force has two (2) spare 71M mooring systems and two (2) nose cones that could be furnished as Government Furnished Property if this alternative is chosen. ACC is accomplishing market research in an attempt promote full and open competition to the maximum extent practicable and to define our requirements in terms that will enable and encourage offerors to supply commercial items/services, if possible. We invite all sources to participate in our market research in support of the ACC mission. Potential offerors are given an opportunity to comment on this requirement or to recommend application and tailoring of requirements documents and alternative approaches. The Air Force is seeking sources that could meet the ACC performance requirement of a fixed mooring system to operate a 420K aerostat at the locations identified above. If you have interest in this requirement, you are requested to submit a summary of your capabilities, your opinion on the commerciality of this requirement, and identify if you would desire to meet with ACC representatives to obtain further details. Identify in your correspondence if items/services should be protected from release outside the government due to proprietary and/or competitive restrictions. Summaries should be received at ACC CONS no later than 18 Jun 98 and can be submitted by any of the following means: By Mail: ACC Contracting Squadron/LGCO Attention: MSgt Kathy A. Jackson 130 Douglas Street, 4th Floor, Suite 401 Langley AFB, VA 23665-2791 By Email: kathy.jackson@langley.af.mil By FAX: (757)764-8602 (0153)

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