17 -- Ski Jump Ramp

The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) intends to award a sole source contract to Williams Fairey Engineering Limited (WFEL), P. O. Box 41 Crossley Road Heaton Chapel, Stockport Cheshire SK4 5BD England. This sole source award will be made to design, fabricate, deliver, and provide analysis and set-up documentation for a Ski Jump Ramp in support of flight test operations of the F-35B Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft, which weighs approximately 62,000 lbs. A Ski Jump is used to assist STOVL aircraft during shipboard takeoffs. This land based Ski Jump will be used to exercise the F-35B STOVL JSF prior to conducting shipboard testing. The contract requires expertise in the design of structures to withstand the complex dynamic loads imparted by a STOVL aircraft during Ski-Jump Takeoffs and in the design and production of structures that limit the risk of Foreign Object Damage (FOD) to an aircraft. The requirement involves design, production, and delivery of equipment, analysis, and documentation products to provide a Ski Jump Test Capability. A sole source acquisition is required under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) due to WFEL's unique experience in Ski Jump structures, specialized production expertise, and critical appreciation of aircraft-compatible design requirements. The anticipated period of performance is one base year with one option year. The base year of the contract will be for the design of the ramp. The option year of the contract will include fabrication, testing, and delivery of the ramp, consultation during the initial ramp set up, as well as analysis and documentation. All interested parties may identify their capability and respond to this requirement. The Government will consider all capability information received prior to the closing date of this synopsis. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No phone inquiries will be entertained. Responses shall be made in writing by email, U.S. mail, or facsimile to the attention of Jason Lawson using the contact information provided in this synopsis.