Joint STARS Joint Program Office, ESC/JSK, 75 Vandenberg Drive, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-2119

28 -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION -- JOINT STARS REENGINING PROGRAM POC PCO, Kathy McIntyre, 781-377-6743; Buyer, Mariah Houton, 781-377-6983 WEB: ESC Business Opportunities Web Page, http://www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil. E-MAIL: Click Here to E-mail the POC, houtonm@hanscom.af.mil. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR JOINT STARS REENGINING PROGRAM 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. 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. BACKGROUND: The USAF E-8 Joint STARS aircraft are refurbished Boeing 707-300 series aircraft. The aircraft are being delivered with used TF33-PW-102B engines (commercial JT3D-3B). A program is currently underway to upgrade these engines to the TF33-PW-102C (commercial JT3D-7) configuration beginning with retrofit in Oct 98. Based on the E-8 predicted system life and the age of the JT3D, the USAF is also interested in the possibility of leasing replacement engines or reusing existing USAF engines for the E-8. This RFI requests from potential offerors information (cost, schedule, and performance) and ideas to establish various approaches for satisfying the USAF requirements. 2.0 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: 2.1 BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. All suggested approaches to reengining Joint STARS will be considered. An example of a possible approach is for the government to provide excess engines from the C-141 aircraft (TF33-P-7) to industry, have industry overhaul the engines and then provide them back to the government over time, at a cost that includes recouping any nonrecurring costs. No up-front investment costs to the government, and overall low life cycle cost are prime considerations for the reengining effort. The government is also very interested in a partnering relationship between the government depot and an engine manufacturer, or leasing agent, for overhaul, maintenance and long term flight use. New innovative and creative solutions are encouraged, including any potential for an international cooperative program. Alternative ideas for acquisition of assets will also be considered. 2.2 TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE. The USAF intends to replace the TF33-102/JT3D family of engines for the E-8 with a new powerplant or a powerplant adaptation kit for an existing USAF owned or commercial engine that meets the following requirements: (1) Uninstalled thrust greater than 19285 lbs. and up to 21,000 lbs. (2) Must meet current wing and pylon structural limitations. (3) Installed Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC) at Mach 0.75/35,000 ft, equal to or less than 0.85. This should be based on taking off at a gross weight of 326,000lbs (140,000 lbs. takeoff fuel load), and landing at a gross weight of 195,000 lbs. (15,000 lbs. landing fuel). This is based on flying a typical E-8 mission profile. (4) Allows an aircraft availability of .95 (due to powerplant systems defined as the "spare engine" configuration). (5) Combined engine change/ops check time of 36 hours or less. (6) Engines must be interchangeable. (7) Not less than 4000 Hrs between overhauls (may be tailored out if guaranteed availability is offered). (8) No degradation to Prime Mission Equipment capability. (9) Be able to takeoff at 326,000lbs and fly unrefueled 11-12 hours while flying a typical E-8 surveillance mission, (time on Station greater than or equal to 10.5 hours) at 35,000 feet. This would include accounting for divert requirements and orbit location from airfield. (10) Permits an average rate of climb of 2,000 feet per minute when taking of at a gross weight of 326,000lbs, and climbing to 35,000 feet. Permits 4 engine climb gradient greater than or equal to 3.5% at max inflight gross weight. Permits a 3 engine climb gradient of 3 % (11) Thrust reverser is not required but may be included as an option. (12) Minimum 90 KVA generator with growth capability to 120 KVA (option) (13) Meets Stage III noise and existing DoD emissions requirements (14) Maintains or improves existing crosswind and minimum air control speed requirements, this may involve the use of an engine failure assistance system to reduce minimum control speeds. (15) Bleed Air to meet SAE 4766 quality standards (16) Interfaces compatible with existing aircraft systems configuration, i.e. bleed air, electrical, fuel, fire extinguisher, instrumentation, etc. 2.3 COST REQUIREMENTS: (1) No upfront Non-Recurring Engineering charges (groundrule) (2) Guaranteed Per-Engine, Per-Year Lease Cost (4) Cost to develop USAF organic capability for depot level repair and overhaul and if necessary achieve FAA certification capability (option) (5) Contractor Logistics Support costs (option) (6) Spares cost (if any) to include Quick Engine Change (QEC) kits and range and depth of spares (7) Aircraft system modification costs (8) Support equipment costs (9) Organizational level training costs (10) Tech Data and Flight manual costs (10) Other costs as necessary 2.4 QUANTITIES AND SCHEDULE: (1) Notional period of a lease is 15 years. (2) Current E-8 fleet is 16 aircraft. (3) Assume per month/per aircraft average of 9 sorties (7 hours/1 cycle per sortie.) (4) Retrofit: Meets first fielded aircraft 2 years after contract award (5) Training, Spares and Support Equipment -- Meets first fielded aircraft retrofit date. 2.5 LOGISTICS SUPPORT: (1) Availability of Contractor Logistics Support (including support to deployed/contingency operations) (2) Technical Data and Flight Manuals (3) Maintenance Data -- Extent of data is determined by lease agreement repair criteria and required organizational level maintenance (4) Training and Support Equipment required. 3. CONTENT OF RESPONSE: Offeror's format acceptable. In addition to capability of the offeror's product to meet specific requirements, offeror' are encouraged to provide the following additional information: (1) Potential partnering arrangement with the government depot (2) The capability of the propulsion system to compensate for failing to meet all stated requirements by offering other advantageous features or performance (3) The feasibility of modifying existing engines (commercial or USAF) to meet the requirements (4) Available product literature, including technical specifications test data, and general cost data covering the end items and any related support services such as training (5) Engine design stability, the prospects for future engine design enhancements, and their impact on the propulsion system during the projected term of any lease. 4. INFORMATIONAL CONFERENCE: The government will host an upcoming informational conference at the Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, MA. Please contact the PCO or Buyer if you wish to be invited to the informational conference Posted 12/23/98 (D-SN283013). (0357)

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