Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF AUGUST 14, 2004 FBO #0992
SOURCES SOUGHT

A -- Army Airborne Command and Control System (A2C2S) Depot Support

Notice Date

8/12/2004
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

Contracting Office

US Army Aviation and Missile Command (Missile), ATTN: AMSAM-AC, Building 5303, Martin Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
 

ZIP Code

35898-5280
 

Solicitation Number

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 

Response Due

9/15/2004
 

Archive Date

11/14/2004
 

Point of Contact

Charlene Bell, 256-842-7687
 

E-Mail Address

Email your questions to US Army Aviation and Missile Command (Missile)
(charlene.bell@redstone.army.mil)
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

1. Purpose - The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to collect information to be used in support of a Business Case Analysis (BCA) to be used to help determine the most effective means of depot support for the A2C2S. This RFI is being published in accordance with FAR Part 15.201 and is for planning purposes only. The government does not intend to enter into business relationship based solely on the information received from this request, or to reimburse the costs incurred by any respo ndent for providing the information requested. These efforts are being performed as part of a Performance Based Logistics (PBL) initiative. 2. The System To Be Supported 2.1 The A2C2S is an on-the-move Command and Control (C2)system that enables commanders and their staffs to maintain digital connectivity while operating from a temporary remote site or while moving through/over the battle space. The C2 system consists of two kits: An A-Kit and B-Kit. The A-Kit is permanently affixed to the host aircraft, the UH-60L, and consists of antennas, wiring, floor modifications and aircraft interfaces (power, structural, etc.) to enable installation of the B-Kit in the host plat form. 2.2 The B-Kit consists of operator workstations, computer and networking systems, and the communications equipment required to host and support the C2 process. The computer and networking assemblies are Common Hardware and Software (CHS) supported items. 2.3 A2C2S provides a robust communications suite. The suite includes multiple Very High Frequency (VHF), Frequency Modulation (FM) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Line-of-Sight (LOS) Combat Net Radios (CNRs), and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS)CNR bands, such as High Frequency (HF) and Satellite Communications-Demand Assigned Multiple Access (SATCOM-DAMA) as well as wide-band digital radios, and the TOCNET intercom system. This connectivity enables warfighters to exercise C2 of assigned and attached elements and to coordinate with adjacent, supported, and supporting forces via voice and data equipment with battlefield information processing and connectivity. The majority of the communications suite is organically supported. The exceptions are the ARC-231 which is Raytheon supported and the TOCNET intercom which is CHS supported. 2.4. Army Battle Command Systems (ABCS) software is acquired, managed, and maintained by each associated Battlefield Functional Area (BFA) PMO, and constitutes the vast majority of the software script being utilized on the A2C2S. However, A2C2S does requ ire a software set to facilitate system initiation, data synchronization, system self test, and radio/intercom control functions. At this time, the OEM (Raytheon) is responsible for the development and maintenance of the A2C2S specific software. 2.5 Blue Force Tracking - Aviation (BFT-A)is an attached subsytem that receives power from the A2C2S B-Kit and pushes data through the B-Kit's KVM. BFT-A is managed and maintained through the associated PMO. 2.6 A2C2S has Power-0n-Self-Test(POST) Built-In-Test(BIT) capabilities to assist the 31U and the FFSR in performing troubleshooting and repair actions; however, the level at which the POST/BIT and associated troubleshooting matrixes contribute to meeting overall maintenance requirements in questionable. 3. Program Status - A2C2S is currently in Limited Rate of Initial Production (LRIP) with a total of three Rapid Deployment (preproduction) systems currently in use by the 4ID and 1CAV. Ten LRIP systems will be built in the next two years. In the near te rm, the A2C2S will be distributed in pairs at the division level with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Force Modularity initiatives serving as driving factors to the prioritization of gaining units. Thereafter, Full Rate Production (FRP) is likely to facilitat e the build and field of ten to fifteen systems per year. The Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) for the A2C2S is 120 systems. 4. Support Requi rements 4.1 The A2C2S Operational Requirements Document specifies the most binding support requirements in operational terms. At the system level, A2C2S must be operationally available 90 percent of the time, with an average repair time of 40 minutes. Operation al Availability (OA) will be used as a performance metric for determining the level of success of the Primary System Integrator (PSI) at any given time. OA requirements drive support infrastructure contributors such as the technical proficiency of the sup porting technicians, the level of sparing at given location, the repair turn-around time of lower indentured assemblies, and the timeliness of movement of material. The support integrator will be responsible for meeting the OA through managing all factors contributing to the calculation. The methods of OA calculation, contributors to the calculation, and sources for the contributors of the calculation will be agreed to by both the PSI and the government prior to entering into a business relationship. 4.2 For the purpose of this RFI, depot level maintenance is considered to be all maintenance functions above the capabilities of the trained soldier (MOS 31U) within a using unit and includes on-aircraft troubleshooting and repair. Such an approach meets the government's intentions to establish a two-level support approach for the A2C2S. Forward Support Representatives (FSRs) will augment the soldier's capabilities and will be required to be proficient in all A2C2S associated technologies. The support i ntegrator will be required to become knowledgeable on all other existing and future battle command support resources Digital System Engineers, Logistic Assistant Representatives, Central Technical Support Facility(DSEs, LARs,CTSF, etc.) in order to identif y and take advantage of possible efficiencies. 4.3 A2C2S is a complex integration program utilizing standardized (federally stocked) and nonstandard products (Contractor off the shelf (COTS)); therefore, the support integrator will be responsible for the establishment of support/repair capabilities fo r nonstandard material, pivoting off of established support concepts for both standard and nonstandard material, and in-turn taking measures to mitigate support shortfalls while maximizing the availability of all A2C2S associated items. Sparing and invent ory management for standard material will be handled via standardized processes. Organically managed/supported items will be provisioned so that A2C2S populations are considered as part of the overall DA/DOD assest requirements. Nonstandard items may be stocked/repaired/managed by the PSI using methods that are transparent to the soldier while providing the government with near real time Total Asset Visibility (TAV) of all stocks. The PSI will be required to develop a storage/warehousing strategy as a pi votal part of the overall support concept. The A2C2S provisioning conference is scheduled for early in the 2nd QTR of FY05. Participation of the PSI in the provisioning process in order to influence how materials are managed as part of an overall support concept is required. 4.4. The PSI will be required to implement Unique Identification (UID) requirements in support of inventory and transportation requirements IAW current/pending DA/DOD mandates. UID will be a key contributor to maintaining TAV of all assets, weather in se rvice as part of an active sytem, or in storage as a spare, or during transit. The PSI will be responsible for establishing material transportation methods that effectively meet movement requirements in support of garrison, training exercise, and continge ncy missions. UID technologies will be used to track material movements in an end-to-end, factory-to-foxhole manner. 4.5 Responsibility for logistics product (technical manuals and provisioning master record(TMs and PMR)) maintenance, will transition from the OEM to the PSI. A baseline for each product for the purpose of tr ansition will be established with the assistance of the PSI. For the purpose of support approach establishment, any logistics analyses previously performed that may be of benefit to the PSI will be made available. 4.6. Once the business relationship between the Program Management Office (PMO) and the PSI is established, the PSI associated support team members will be included as members of the A2C2S System Support IPT. Voting membership will be established bilater ally at a later date. The current IPT includes representation from the PMO,Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), TRADOC, CECOM LRC and AMCOM IMMC. 5. Business Case Analysis (BCA) 5.1. The BCA will consider both economic and noneconomic contributors. Economic contributors will not only include the cost of the services provided by the Forward Support Representative (FSR), but will also consider the costs of associated supply suppor t and transportation methods that in the end contribute to an overall operational availability (OA) of the A2C2S. Other economic contributors include the cost of updating logistics product (technical manuals, provisioning records,etc.), the cost associat ed with program management, and the cost associated with any type of initial/capital investment required to implement the overall support approach. 5.2. Non-economic contributors include the ease in which the business relationship can be initiated and maintained betweeen the PSI and the PMO, the ability of the support provider to maintain consistent support at all user locations during times of peace and war, the ability of the PSI to integrate service considerations into current/future DA/DOD organic support capabilities and methodologies, the ability to augment these organic support capabilities to better meet A2C2S support requirements, and the abi lity to generate and capitalize on the synergies that can be derived through the support of like items/assemblies/subsystems/systems. 6.0. Respondents to this RFI are welcome to provide any level of information that is either directly or indirectly related to the information/requirements/descriptions provided above; however, each respondent must provide a single point of contact and ass ociated contact information (telephone number and e-mail address) as part of the information submittal. The overall intention of the PBL initiative is to provide the PMO with a single integrator for system support, encompassing maintenance services, spari ng, software support, inventory management, transportation, and logistics product updates. Partnering between private and public entities is viewed as the solution set that could provide the government with a support infrastructure that takes full advanta ge of the best business practices from within the organic army and the commercial world.
 

Place of Performance

Address: US Army Aviation and Missile Command (Missile) ATTN: AMSAM-AC, Building 5303, Martin Road Redstone Arsenal AL

Zip Code: 35898-5280

Country: US
 

Record

SN00642647-W 20040814/040812212605 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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