MODIFICATION
15 -- Iraq CounterInsurgency (COIN) Aircraft
- Notice Date
- 5/17/2007
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 336411
— Aircraft Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- 1970 Monahan Way, Bldg 11A Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7211
- ZIP Code
- 45433-7211
- Solicitation Number
- FA8617-07-R-0001
- Response Due
- 5/25/2007
- Archive Date
- 6/18/2007
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 1. Synopsis The 337 Aeronautical Systems Group (AESG), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, is conducting a market survey of potential sources to provide both a Counter Insurgency (COIN) Aircraft and Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) for the Government of Iraq and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). Based upon the results of this market survey, the 337 AESG may award a single contract for the aircraft and CLS support. 2. Background The first fully COIN mission capable aircraft must be delivered in country (Iraq) no later than 30 November 08. CLS support shall be in place 30 days in advance to support operational requirements for the aircraft as they arrive. This project will be considered a Foreign Military Sale; however, it will be required to comply with all applicable USG Federal Acquisition Regulations. The selected source must meet all requirements listed in paragraph 3. 3. Contract Requirements a. Eight (8) COIN Aircraft fully weapons tested and certified meeting requirements as specified in paragraph 3.g. below b. Delivery schedule: i. Nov 08 1 Aircraft ii. Jan 09 3 Aircraft iii. Apr 09 4 Aircraft c. 12 month in-country CLS beginning 30 days prior to delivery of first aircraft. d. All aircraft Supportability and Logistics Requirements as listed in paragraph 3.h. below. e. Options for additional aircraft in Lots of 6. f. All Technical Manuals (in English) to support maintenance, training, and flight operations. g. Aircraft Requirements: i. Mission Capability: The USAF plans to acquire a Commercial-Off-The Shelf (COTS) aircraft modified to perform COIN operations. The COIN aircraft must be a lightly armored, 2-seat, turbo-prop aircraft capable of locating, tracking, identifying, and engaging a variety of targets with a suite of Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors and laser-guided/unguided air-to-ground weapons/missiles. Further, it must be able to share data and imagery with other COIN aircraft and current IqAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Counter Terrorism (CT) aircraft. Finally, it must incorporate an IR threat detection and countermeasure system and be capable of performing a dual role as an advanced fixed-wing flight trainer aircraft. ii. Operating Environment: The COIN aircraft will operate within harsh desert conditions at all times of the day or night. It must be capable of operating routinely under the following conditions: 1. Ground temperatures as high as 53 degrees Celsius and field density altitude of 5000 feet. 2. Day and night, in both Visual Meteorological and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (VMC/IMC) iii. Interoperability: COIN aircraft data, imagery, and voice capabilities should be compatible with equipment used by Iraqi ground forces, special operations forces, and current/planned ISR and CT aircraft. Section vi.,4, below will identify specific communications and data specifications required. The USAF desires the capability for air-to-air transmission and reception of imagery and data between similarly equipped COIN aircraft to facilitate sensor cueing. iv. Mission Concept: The COIN aircraft will provide the IqAF with a critical offensive and operational over watch capability in the COIN fight. It will also have a dual role as an intermediate/advanced single-engine fixed-wing trainer aircraft. 1. The COIN aircraft, capable of being manned by either a crew of one pilot, or a pilot and a sensor operator, will arrive in an area of interest with the ability to receive data and imagery from other IqAF surveillance, CT, and COIN platforms. Whether cued by an external sensor or its own sensor suite, the COIN aircraft will be able to find, fix, identify, track, target, and engage emerging and time-sensitive targets. It may have a variety of laser guided precision weapons and non-precision weapons at its disposal in order to create effects tailored specifically to the unique situations it will encounter in the COIN environment. v. Strategy for Future Growth and Capability: 1. DoD and NATO standards to enable future expansion and interoperability with other platforms. 2. The USAF or the Government of Iraq (GOI) must have the option to purchase additional COIN aircraft in lots of 6 aircraft. vi. Aircraft Performance Requirement: 1. General Airframes and Avionics Requirements. The COIN aircraft shall: a. Use a PT-6-based turboprop engine fueled by JP-8 or similar fuel to maintain commonality with other Iraqi aircraft. It is desired that the engine provide as a minimum 1200 Shaft Horse Power (SHP). b. Be in current/wide production and in wide use or be a variant of turboprop aircraft currently being used widely such that a high degree of commonality is maintained. c. Possess crew stations for a two-man crew with dual sets of flight, navigation, communication, and weapons controls. d. Be capable of full employment (aviation, navigation, communication, sensor use, and weapons delivery) with only one pilot and an empty back seat. However, the aircraft must have the ability to inhibit weapons release from either seat. e. Be suitable as an intermediate/advanced single-engine fixed-wing flight trainer with systems which allow the aircraft to be easily reconfigured for COIN operations. f. Possess light armor to protect the occupants of both seats and engine compartment from small arms fire. g. Be suitably equipped and approved for operation during day or night. h. Be suitable equipped and approved for operation and navigation in both Visual and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (VMC/IMC). i. Possess a night vision goggle (NVG)-compatible cockpit and external aircraft lighting. j. Be capable of loitering in excess of 4 hours while maintaining a 45 minute fuel reserve while loaded with two GBU-12 or Mk-82 type weapons. k. Be capable of carrying external fuel tanks. l. Possess an environmental control system that provides cabin air conditioning capable of cooling the aircraft to a minimum temperature of no greater than (required) 27 degrees Celsius or (desired) 22 degrees Celsius with ambient outside air temperature (OAT) of 53 degrees Celsius. m. Possess a heads-up display (HUD) and other avionics which conform to applicable DoD standards. n. Be equipped with ejection seats that provide safe ejection parameters at ground level with zero airspeed. 2. Aircraft Sensor Suite Requirements: The COIN aircraft shall possess an integrated sensor suite and be capable of being modified to: a. Include a space-stabilized electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) sensor mounted in a way that minimizes vibration and obstruction to the sensor?s field of view. b. Include a laser range finder, laser illuminator, and laser designator. The laser designator may either be separate from or integrated with the EO and IR sensor. c. Be capable of enabling a pilot or sensor operator in either seat to view real-time, full-motion video, and capture still image. The sensor operator display should show target coordinates in either Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) or latitude/longitude format. When selected, the data shall be automatically transferred into the aircraft fire control system. d. Be capable of transmitting real-time, full-motion video and still imagery to ground stations (required), other COIN aircraft (required), the IqAF CT-equipped aircraft (desired), and the IqAF ISR-equipped aircraft(required). See table below. e. Be capable of receiving and recording real-time, full-motion video and still-photography to imagery from other COIN aircraft (required), the IqAF CT- and ISR-equipped aircraft (desired), and the ISR-equipped aircraft (required). See table below. COIN Aircraft Receive Imagery From Transmit Imagery To Ground Stations X Other COIN Aircraft X X ISR XCT X X Other ISR Aircraft X X f. Be capable of digitally recording all sensor information, with automated time and position (coordinates) data. g. Provide references/scales to image displays for determining cardinal directions and horizontal ranges (Desired). It is also desired that the display indicate modes of operation, relative pointing position, and area and point track modes. h. Enable sensor operation from, as a minimum, the front seat via Hands-On-Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) controls. 3. Aircraft Defensive Avionics Suite Requirements: The aircraft shall be capable of being equipped with a defensive avionic suite that consists of the AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning system and the AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser system. 4. Aircraft Communications/Data Link Requirements: The COIN aircraft shall possess an integrated communications and data link suite which will: a. Provide internal crew intercom capability. b. Provide at least 2 radios (3 are desired). For commonality with Iraqi Ground Forces and other IqAF aircraft, or provide encryption capability that is compatible with the current Iraqi aircraft. c. Be able to communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and operational agencies within the designated frequency ranges. d. Be capable of receiving data from the video downlink system carried on the ISR-equipped aircraft. (Desired) e. Be capable of sharing data (to and from) other COIN aircraft, the CT-equipped aircraft, and the ISR aircraft. 5. Aircraft Navigation Requirements: The COIN aircraft shall: a. Be suitably equipped and approved for operation under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) as defined by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) or equivalent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulation (FAR). b. Be equipped with an integrated Inertial Navigation System (INS) capable of cold-start alignment in less than five minutes. c. Be equipped with a civil-code (SPS) Global Positioning System (GPS) capable of providing position and altitude updates to the aircraft INS. If possible, an Embedded GPS/INS (EGI) solution is preferred. d. Be equipped with an encoding transponder for ATC identification for operations within civil and military airspace. e. Be equipped with an autopilot. f. Be capable of navigating and performing instrument approaches using GPS, ILS, and VOR/DME navigational aids (NAVAIDs). g. Provide a data transfer cassette or similar data transfer device capable of transferring data from mission planning computers to aircraft navigation and mission management systems. h. Enable entry of coordinates into aircraft systems/sensors to be in either UTM or latitude/longitude format. 6. Aircraft Weapons Employment Requirements: The COIN aircraft shall provide the capability to carry and employ both non-precision and precision weapons. If a RFP is released for this effort specific weapon requirements will be contained therein. vii. If technology export is slow for certain technologies the following options should be followed in preference order: 1. Option 1: Integrate the Group A wiring and Group B equipment and use hardware or software to inhibit use of these technologies until technology is released. Engineer an inhibit function via hardware or software to disable the designator functionality until technology is released. 2. Option 2: Integrate the Group A wiring and leave Group B equipment off for delivery. Integrate/test the designator, but do not deliver the designator. Integrate Group A/Group B, flight test and deliver without weapons. h. CLS Requirements: i. The COIN aircraft must be capable of sustaining fully mission capable (FMC) operations availability rates of eighty percent (80%). ii. The Contractor for the COIN platform shall be required to assist in the design of an Integrated Logistics Support program including (all logistics, operations and technical literature to be provided in English): 1. A technical maintenance program based on OEM Commercial and Non-Developmental Item documentation. The program shall conform to requirements set forth by the aircraft?s Airworthiness Authority (AA). The maintenance program shall use an organizational level maintenance concept with major repair or overhaul accomplished at AA approved overhaul facilities. 2. A recommended spare parts package to support the desired operations tempo (OPTEMPO) of 100 hours per month per aircraft for a 1-year period. 3. Technical maintenance manuals, parts manuals, and inventory documentation to support the recommended parts, tools and test equipment upon first delivery. iii. All manuals and software products (to include avionics software) required for life-cycle support (LCS) of the fielded systems upon first delivery. iv. The maintenance concept to take maximum advantage of parts standardization, interchangeability, and commonality; to minimize the number and types of required spares. v. Intermediate and depot level maintenance and supply support services will be provided through Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) for a period of 12 months. 4. Technical Considerations In addition to the information requested above, interested firms should also submit sufficient information to permit evaluation and qualification of their technical capabilities. The 337 AESG will be assessing the level of market interest and competitiveness for this acquisition based on responses to the following: a. Does your firm have the resources to dedicate to this schedule driven requirement? If affirmative, please provide specific examples. b. What strengths does your firm have that enhance your ability to meet and/or exceed the Nov 2008 delivery requirement for a fully operational aircraft? c. Do you have a current aircraft in production to satisfy all operational requirements? If not, what capabilities will need to be developed and integrated into your aircraft? What impacts to the delivery schedule are expected if development is required? d. Does your firm have qualified personnel available to support on-site/in country maintenance activities? Is your firm committed to the initial and potential long-term in-country CLS requirement? All firms are asked to provide a telephone number, an e-mail address, and a facsimile number in their response. Information marked ?Proprietary? will be protected, and will not be divulged unless mandated by existing laws. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO 664AESS/PK, BLDG 11A, ROOM 201-I, 1970 MONAHAN WAY, WPAFB OH 45433-7211, NOT LATER THAN CLOSE OF BUSINESS 18 May 2007. The point of contact is Christopher Kirbabas at (937) 904-4314. Any non-technical and/or contractual questions should be referred to this individual. Program/technical questions should be directed to Mr. Forest Oberschlake at (937) 904-4275. In accordance with recent changes to the Air Force Materiel Command Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, the position of the ASC Ombudsman has been terminated. If any potential source has questions or concerns about this particular acquisition, please direct all comments to the Contracting Officer Christopher Kirbabas at (937) 904-4314. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS SYNOPSIS IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND IT MUST NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE US GOVERNMENT. Firms responding to this announcement should indicate whether they are a large or small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business, HUBZone small business, and/or service-disabled veteran-owned small business. The North American Industrial Classification System Code 336411, Aircraft Manufacturing, applies to this acquisition with a size standard of 1,500 employees. All potential sources must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration database to be awarded a DoD contract. Interested firms are encouraged to first register as a potential source on the PIXS Web Site (http://www.pixs.wpafb.af.mil). PLEASE INFORM US IF YOUR FIRM INTENDS TO PERFORM THE WORK SOLELY OR IF YOU DESIRE TO SUBCONTRACT WITH THE PRIME CONTRACTOR. For more information on "Iraq CounterInsurgency (COIN) Aircraft", please refer to: https://www.pixs.wpafb.af.mil/pixs_solicitation.asp?id=5223
- Web Link
-
Iraq CounterInsurgency (COIN) Aircraft
(https://www.pixs.wpafb.af.mil/pixs_solicitation.asp?id=5223)
- Record
- SN01296756-W 20070519/070517220847 (fbodaily.com)
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