SOLICITATION NOTICE
15 -- T-38C Escape System Upgrade Program (ESUP)
- Notice Date
- 7/21/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 336411
— Aircraft Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- BLDG 11A, Room 201-I 1970 Monahan Way WPAFB, OH, 45433
- ZIP Code
- 45433
- Solicitation Number
- FA8617-04-R-6154
- Archive Date
- 7/30/2005
- Point of Contact
- James Van Oss,937-904-4192
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to james.vanoss@wpafb.af.mil
(james.vanoss@wpafb.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- UPDATE (7-21-04) Questions and Answers INDUSTRY DAY 10 MARCH 2004 1. QUESTION: Will contractor be allowed to bring seats in for a pre-RFP evaluation? ANSWER: Yes 2. QUESTION: Will the contractor be able to attend/participate in the formal evaluation? ANSWER: The contractor will be required to install their production representative seat but will not be allowed to participate in the formal evaluation and measurement process. You will be allowed to observe and answer any questions that the Government might have while conducting the measurements/accommodations but not participate. 3. QUESTION: Will the Government provide T-38C cockpit geometry? ANSWER: CDs with T-38C cockpit geometry were mailed to respective offerors on 19 Jun 2004. 4. QUESTION: Will formal cockpit evaluation include other activities such as maintenance? ANSWER: Not formally during the cockpit evaluation -- to be completed as part of the source selection. 5. QUESTION: Will there be an aft seat forward visibility evaluation? ANSWER: Yes 6. QUESTION: Will the requirement be for a three mode or four mode ISS? ANSWER: Information will be released in the RFP. 7. QUESTION: Is it desirable that seat adjustment exceeds limits currently imposed by aircraft controls to accommodate future aircraft modifications? ANSWER: Requirements for Increment 1 is that the accommodation is to be no worse than currently exists in T-38C with Northrop seat. Any increase in accommodation resulting from Increment 1 will be considered as part of a best value decision. 8. QUESTION: When will the Indian Head Test Program on the modified M25A1 thruster be completed and the report issued? Are there any plans for a follow- on program to evaluate the effect of increased thrust on the canopy jettison performance and the time taken to clear the escape path? ANSWER: The testing has been completed, with a test report scheduled to be available by 02 Aug 2004. The Government plans no follow-up program. 9. QUESTION: Will the results of the Indian Head EPC technology feasibility study be reported separate, or is it awaiting completion of the updated thruster testing Are there any preliminary conclusions about which technologies may or may not be feasible? ANSWER: Indian Head EPC technology survey study was briefed at 10 March 2004 Industry Day. The EPC study was initiated to gain insight into what technologies are available, not necessarily feasible. It was meant to be a review of potential EPC concepts. Feasibility of any offered system will be determined by the programs performance parameters that are a part of the forthcoming RFP. The thruster study is a separate effort. No conclusions about feasibility, with reference to use on the T-38C, will be made based on either study. 10. QUESTION: Would the Government, under any circumstances, find a canopy cutting/fracturing system acceptable for the T-38 ESUP? ANSWER: The Government will not provide/define design solutions to the offerors; only requirements are defined. However, all risks associated with any technical solutions, as proposed, will be analyzed and evaluated during the source selection along with any and all corresponding costs (e.g. acquisition costs, maintenance and support costs, etc.). 11. QUESTION: Will all anthropometric/reach measurements be taken with the seat full-up/down? Is there any danger this could disguise an improvement achieved in positions that *match* the full-up/down extremes of the current Northrop seat? ANSWER: The measurements will be done at the design eye, full up, full down positions thus we can then predict accommodation at all seat positions. Additionally, measurements will be taken at full aft to full forward in 1 inch increments. 12. QUESTION: What are the plans for the upgrade (time + location)? Will the upgrade be accomplished (1) base by base, (2) mixed base support, (3) all updated within x months? ANSWER: The upgrade will be accomplished base by base. 13. QUESTION: Please expand on the Government s intent for new MA25 thruster A statement was made that this is not a developmental program but it appears that the Government is developing a new thruster system - please clarify? Is it the Government's intent to provide this new thruster system as GFAE after development is completed or based upon the study results, is it the USAF's intent that each contractor bid the production implementation of their escape path configuration? ANSWER: The Indian Head MA25A1 efforts are meant to determine if the basic component can be safely upgraded with increased energetic loading and what performance can be expected with such upgrades. The Government will supply this data to industry for informational purposes only, the contractor s may use the Indian Head information as they see fit. It is not the intent of the Government to provide the thruster as GFAE. 14. QUESTION: Discuss current 50 KT speed requirement for canopy removal/chute. Is the 50KT needed to remove the canopy or is it needed to achieve parachute deployment? Which is the critical factor, one or both? ANSWER: With the current seat and current system timing, both factors are critical. 15. QUESTION: What metrics will be used to evaluate seat performance? ANSWER: This information will be contained in the RFP. 16. QUESTION: Has the modified M25A1 resulted in an increased physical envelope? If yes, has the availability of the increased envelope been confirmed or evaluated (in the aircraft)? ANSWER: The modification of the M25A1 is internal. There is no change to the size/shape of the unit. No evaluation of the M25A1 on the aircraft has taken place or is planned by the Government. 17. QUESTION: What testing is being done on the thruster in the area of complete mechanism/linkage to determine what, if any, distortion or failures occur? ANSWER: No such testing has been undertaken or is planned by the Government. 18. QUESTION: The Government has projected approximately $40M in FY05 - how will it be spent? Can you share any current budgetary projections? ANSWER: Our intent in FY05 is to initiate compatibility testing and purchase initial seats/ISS depending on the FY05 appropriation. The projected profile is to buy seats/ISS for 60 aircraft per year and install in the following year. //END OF UPDATE// For more information on ESUP--T-38C Escape System Upgrade Program (ESUP) please refer to http://www.pixs.wpafb.af.mil/pixslibr/ESUP/ESUP.asp
- Web Link
-
ESUP-T-38C Escape System Upgrade Program (ESUP)
(http://www.pixs.wpafb.af.mil/pixslibr/ESUP/ESUP.asp)
- Record
- SN00627663-W 20040723/040721212149 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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