15 -- MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT

Notice Date

April 6, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of the Treasury, United States Customs Service (USCS), Procurement Division, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 4.2-E, Washington, DC, 20229

ZIP Code

20229

Solicitation Number

Reference-Number-AIR-2001

Response Due

April 30, 2001

Point of Contact

Diane Sahakian, Contracting Officer, Phone (202) 927-0642, Fax (202) 927-1190, Email diane.v.sahakian@customs.treas.gov -- Sharon Chadwick, Contract Specialist, Phone (202) 927-0518, Fax (202) 927-1812, Email

E-Mail Address

Diane Sahakian (diane.v.sahakian@customs.treas.gov)

Description

1.0 INTRODUCTION. The United States Customs Service wishes to explore the feasibility and practicality of replacing its aging fleet of maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) with a new multi-mission platform to improve safety and operational effectiveness and lower fleet operating costs. The aircraft shall be configured for the maritime patrol and logistics missions but the design should allow for growth potential for additional missions such as long-range air interceptor/tracker and counterdrug intelligence collection. 2.0 REQUEST. Customs is seeking industry interest in information on commercially available aircraft (including mission equipment) that can satisfy all or a large portion of the general requirements stated below. In the interest of accountability and oversight, Customs is intent on awarding a contract to a prime contractor for the end product (aircraft and integrated mission equipment). 3.0 MINIMUM OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS (GENERAL): 3.1 Type of Aircraft: A new multi-engine turbine-powered aircraft to ensure the ability to accomplish current and projected mission(s) safely and efficiently. The aircraft shall be current production and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certified to enhance procurement an availability, manufacturer and vendor "commercial-off-the-shelf" support and to reduce research and development cost and time. The aircraft mission equipment shall be installed in compliance with FAA certification rules and regulations prior to delivery to Customs. 3.2 Noise Limitation Requirements. At a minimum, the aircraft and its engines shall comply with the Stage 3 noise requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 36. 3.3 Capacity. The aircraft shall accomodate seating for two crewmembers in the cockpit, a minimum of one sensor operator and three passengers in the main cabin. Each crewmember and passenger station must have supplemental oxygen available. The aircraft maximum ramp weight with a full fuel load and Customs mission equipment (sensors, communciations, and survival equipment), shall have a minimum useful payload of 1,800-pounds to accommodate 6 personnel with personal equipment and baggage. The aircraft shall also be equipped with a cargo door to enable loading of bulky or oversized cargo. At a minimum, the lavatory shall be equipped with a toilet and a privacy partition. 3.4 Climb Performance, Range and Endurance. The aircraft climb performance must comply with FAR Part 25 regulations. It shall have a minimum cross-country range of 2,000 nautical miles (NM) with National Business Aircraft (NBAA) IFR fuel reserves. The aircraft shall also have the endurance to perform the following MPA profile with NBAA IFR reserves: Transit 200 NM to the patrol area at maximum cruise speed, 6-hour patrol at 2,000 feet MSL, and Transit 200 NM to return to base. 3.5 Operating Speeds. The aircraft shall have a dash speed of 200 knots true airspeed (KTAS) or more at transit altitude and a maneuvering speed of 120 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) or less at patrol altitude (2,000 feet) on a standard day at 90% gross weight. (Note: The aircraft shall satisfy these speed requirements with the installed mission payload an any assoicated pods). 3.6 FAA Certification. The aircraft shall be FAA-certified for the following: Normal category, Day/night VFR and IFR operations, Flight into known icing conditions, Extended over-water flight operations, Category II landing operations, Operation to an altitude at or above FL 250. 3.7 Runway. The aircraft shall have capability to take off from and land on an 8,000-ft runway at max gross take-off and landing weights at a pressure altitudeof 5,000 feet, in dry runway conditions, and at a temperature of 80 degrees F. 3.8 Aircraft Security. The aircraft shall be equipped with an electronic security system capable of detecting and recording aircraft tampering and intrusions. 3.9 Refueling Capability. The aircraft shall have single point and gravity refueling capabilities. 3.10 Avionics/Communications. The aircraft shall comply with worldwide airspace and navigation requirements. The aircraft shall include a radio suite that provides secure-capable HF, VHF-AM, high VHF-FM, low VHF-FM and UHF band communications. The aircraft shall also include the following: 1)UHF MILSATCOM or commercial SATCOM capability. 2)Internal Communications System (ICS) capable of processing audio and data throughout the aircraft. Each crewmember station shall be equipped with an ICS selector panel to allow internal and external communications. The communications system must be accessible from various locations throughout the aircraft. 3)Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II "Enhanced" with ground proximity warning. 4)Transponder with Mode C, Mode 3 and embedded Mode S. 5)Flight Data and Cockpit Voice Recorders. 6)Audio Panel capability for 8 communications radios. 3.11 Sensor System. The aircraft shall have a totally integrated sensor system that is commercially available, currently in production, operationally viable (demonstrable) and capable of being easily retrofitted with the latest configurations. At a minimum, the sensor system shall have the following performance capabilities: 1)A multi-mode stabilized 360-degree azimuth radar with high-resolution imaging, multi-target tracking capability and weather detection capability. The sea search mode must be capable of detecting small vessels in rough seas. The synthetic aperture mode must be capable of detecting overland vehicles and mapping/imaging overland sites. The weather detection mode must be capable of providing information to the sensor and cockpit displays. 2)An electro-optics/infrared system housed in a 360-degree continuous rotation turret that is capable of performing in a hot, humid, tropical climate. The electro-optics/infrared system shall produce high-resolution color images in daylight and high-quality thermal imaging in low-light conditions. The electro-optical and infrared sensors shall interface with the radar and provide automatic video tracking in both electro-optical and infrared modes with operator selectable optical focal lengths. 3)An operator console/station that provides display, control and video/audio recording of both (radar and electro-optics/infrared) sensor systems. The operator console/station shall also have the following: a)Complete comunications capability utilizing all of the installed radios. b)Mapping/navigation information for the surveillance aircraft as well as the target(s) of interest. c)Growth capability/provisions for additional systems such as communications intelligence (COMINT) and 2-way data/imagery transfer. 4.0 DESIRED CAPABILITIES. 1)Auxiliary Power Unit, 2)Growth capability/provisions for additional systems such as electronic/infrared countermeasures (as a defense against portable and mobile surface-to-air missile weapons). 3)Ability to operate independently of any ground support equipment. 4)Short/unimproved runway take-off and landing capability. 5)Fuel dump capability. 6)Second operator console/station. 5.0 RESPONSES: This RFI is issued as a market survey and should not be construed as a solicitation for bids or proposals. Sources responding to this RFI should not submit more that the minimum information necessary for the Government to make a determination that sources capable of satifying its requirement exists. Responses to this RFI should include information as to type of aircraft, mission equipment, operating capabilities, and price range. All information response to this RFI should be submitted no later that 4:00 p.m. (EST) on April 30, 2001, to U. S. Customs Service, Office of Finance, Procurement Division (Room 4.2-E), Attn: Sharon Chadwick, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20229. Questions and comments should be submitted in writing and directed to Contracting Officer Sharon Chadwick at (202)927-0518, FAX (202)927-1812 or email: sharon.a.chadwick@customs.treas.gov

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010410/15SOL008.HTM (D-096 SN50I5C1)