Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Contracts Department, Building 129-2, Highway 547, Lakehurst, NJ 08733-5083

48 -- CONSTANT RUNOUT VALVE (CROV)/RETRACT SYSTEM SOL N68335-99-RFI-904 DUE 100499 POC Barbara J. Petrzilka, (732) 323-2067, FAX (732) 323-4822 This is a Request for Information (RFI). There is no solicitation available at this time. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to the RFI, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing the information provided to the Government. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division is seeking sources to design, develop, manufacture, test and support a new Constant Runout Valve (CROV)/Retract System that utilizes a microprocessor based feedback control system. The present CROV is classified as an angle body globe valve, with a 5-inch orifice and is part of the Mark 7 Arresting Gear. When the aircraft arresting hook engages the cross-deck pendant, cable payout causes the crosshead/ram motion to rapidly build cylinder pressure and force fluid through the CROV into an accumulator. The purpose of the CROV is to throttle, or regulate the flow of fluid and maintain cylinder pressure at a constant level throughout most of the arrestment. Cylinderpressure may exceed 11,500 psi range, depending on incoming aircraft energy. Accumulator pressure is maintained at 400-600 psi. During the course of the arrestment, the valve closes at a rate which maintains a steady cylinder pressure, until the aircraft velocity slows to the point where cylinder pressure drops off and finally to zero when the arrestment is complete. The present CROV is mechanically operated by a system of cams, levers and cables. The improved CROV and Control System shall consist of a control valve, method of hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical actuation, all equipment necessary to supply power for the actuation, sensors and computer control equipment to provide a desired pressure profile in the Mark 7 accumulator, with uninterruptible power supplies to keep the system operational for up to two hours and 120 complete arrestment and retraction cycles. The improved Mark 7 CROV and control system is intended to increase the arresting capability aboard CVN aircraft carriers for any combination of aircraft weight and speed arrestment situations. The control system shall include preset programming for any desired arrestment scenario. A more complete description of the basic performance requirements/goals of the new system will be provided to respondents. It is anticipated that the program will be conducted as a phased acquisition, with up to two awards for initial design to be downselected to a single production contractor. Respondents will be asked to provide comments regarding their technical capabilities, comments on the proposed requirements description, and a discussion of their ability to provide Logistics support for such a system. Included in the logistics discussion should be comments on the company's capability/willingness to provide drawings and software to the Government which will allow for engineering investigations, and to allow for configuration control evaluation, etc. Note that any drawings and software provided would not be utilized for competition or disclosed outside the Government unless unlimited rights are granted to the Government in the case of commercial type components. Further, the Government requests comments regarding the capability to acquire or be granted unlimited rights to drawings and software in the event that the original equipment manufacturer no longer makes the required component. It is anticipated that this procurement will involve Militarily Critical Technology and will be subject to the ITAR. See Note 8. It is requested that respondees either provide a valid executed DD Form 2345 or that processing of such a form through DLSC be initiated. The RFI package is anticipated to be available no later than 7 September 1999, with responses to the package anticipated to be due by 4 October 1999. Requests for the RFI package shall be submitted to Ms. Barbara J. Petrzilka, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft division, Code 252220B129-2, Highway 547, Lakehurst, NJ 08733-5082, who may be reached at (732) 323-2067, FAX (732) 323-4822. Posted 08/27/99 (W-SN373359). (0239)

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