REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROMMANUFACTURERS OF INTERCOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS THE COMMON AVIONICS INTERCOMMUNICATIONS SET R&M IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SEEKS INFORMATION FROM POTENTIAL MANUFACTURERS OF INTERCOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. Battelle Memorial Institute is disseminating this Request For Information (RFI) notice to solicit information from current intercommunications (IC) system manufacturers and any parties interested in producing such devices. The information shall include descriptions of currently available and planned products that meet the requirement for the generic purpose of distributing many audio sources (voice radios, crew station to crew station audio, navigation tones, etc.) to many listening (crew) stations. The IC systems also provide multiple crew station use of radio transmitters. Information on products such as infrared and RF intercom systems, audio filters, wireless aviation headphones (RF or infrared), or other new technologies that may be applicable are also requested. Contact information is also requested for each submittal. Battelle is conducting a study for the United States Air Force to assess and ultimately enhance the functionality, reliability, and maintainability of IC system within Air Force applications. A potentially significant acquisition and logistics cost savings has been identified through the approach of developing a common intercom system to replace several intercom systems currently in the US Air Force Inventory (AIC-10, AIC-18, AIC-25, etc.). The Air Force's Avionics Planning Baseline identifies 15 to 18 intercom systems with differing technology spanning a 30-year time frame (1950s to 1980s). These systems account for thousands of installations. By replacing each of these functionally similar systems with a common intercom system, significant life cycle cost savings could be realized by reducing the technical data maintenance, spare parts inventory, support equipment and training costs. The study will result in an initial assessment to determine the feasibility and engineering approach to achieving a common intercommunication system. WEB: -, -. E-MAIL: Ann Marie Fink, Battelle Memorial Institute, finka@battelle.org. Posted 11/20/98 (W-SN273631).

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