28--ENGINES, TURBINES, AND COMPONENTS.REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR THE IMPROVED TURBINE ENGINE PROGRAM

IMPROVED TURBINE ENGINE PROGRAM (ITEP), REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI), 14 DECEMBER 2010. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) OR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY COST ASSOCIATED WITH PREPARATION OF ANY RESPONSE TO THIS RFI OR ITS ASSOCIATED INFORMATIONAL PACKAGE. TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 PURPOSE 1.2 CONCEPT SECTION 2 ADMINISTRATIVE 2.1 PURPOSE 2.2 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED DATA 2.3 NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS 2.4 QUESTIONS AND DEADLINE SECTION 3 TECHNICAL DATA 3.1 PROGRAM OBJECTIVE 3.2 PURPOSE 3.3 CONCEPT DESCRIPTION 3.4 TRADE STUDIES 3.5 ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS SECTION 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 PURPOSE. THE U.S. ARMY UTILITY HELICOPTERS PROJECT OFFICE (UHPO) SEEKS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND QUALIFICATION (AND DEVELOPMENT OF REQUIRED LOGISTIC AND TR! AINING MATERIAL) OF AN IMPROVED TURBINE ENGINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) THE DRAFT PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AV-E-8593H (AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). THE ITEP IS A 3000 HORSEPOWER ENGINE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ADVANCED TURBOSHAFT PROPULSION CAPABILITY PRIMARILY FOR APPLICATION TO THE ARMY?S BLACK HAWK AND APACHE HELICOPTERS. THE ITEP IS BASED UPON ADVANCED AFFORDABLE TURBINE ENGINE (AATE) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH EMPHASIZES SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY AND REDUCED COST OF OWNERSHIP THAT SUPPORTS THE DOD?S CAPABILITY NEEDS FOR MULTI-MISSION MOBILITY, PERSISTENT ENGAGEMENT, PROTECTION, AND PERSISTENT C2ISR PLATFORMS. ITEP IS FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND QUALIFICATION OF A NEW CENTERLINE, TURBOSHAFT ENGINE THAT IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT MODERNIZATION REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE APACHE AND BLACK HAWK REMAIN OPERATIONALLY EFFECTIVE WELL INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. A RFI FOR THIS SUBJECT WAS ISSUED ON 22 JULY 2009. THIS RFI REQUESTS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ! RELATED TO ALTERNATE STRATEGIES AND TIMELINES AS A RESULT OF FURTHER ACQUISITION REFORM. 1.2 CONCEPT. FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE AATE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK AN ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT (EMD) EFFORT THAT RESULTS IN A FULL QUALIFICATION OF AN ENGINE THAT MEETS THE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE (AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST) AND CONFORM TO THE SPECIFICATIONS OUTLINED IN THE DRAFT PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AV-E-8593H (AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). SECTION 2 ADMINISTRATIVE 2.1 PURPOSE. TO EXPLAIN THE FORMAT AND TYPE OF INFORMATION THE GOVERNMENT WISHES TO RECEIVE IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI, AND TO DEFINE THE DATA THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE. RESPONSES SHALL BE STRUCTURED AGAINST EACH OF THE MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST, AS DESCRIBED IN THIS RFI AND SHALL BE IN ENGLISH USING U.S. MILITARY/NATO TERMS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. 2.2 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED DATA. ALL GOVERNMENT FURNISHED DATA WILL BE PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY ON CD-ROM. UPON RELEASE OF THIS RFI, CD-ROMS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY MAIL OR IN PERSON THROUGH THE CONTRACTING OFFICER AT CO! MMANDER, US ARMY AVIATION AND MISSILE COMMAND, ATTN: CCAM-BH-B, REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL 35898. THE CD- ROM WILL CONTAIN UNCLASSIFIED DATA AND DATA, WHOSE EXPORT IS RESTRICTED BY THE ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT (TITLE 22, U.S.C SEC 2751 ET SEQ), OR THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION ACT (TITLE 50, U.S.C. APP 2401-2402). ANY ENTITY THAT HAS RELEVANT AEROSPACE BUSINESS MAY REVIEW/RECEIVE THE INFORMATION BY SUBMITTING A REQUEST PROVIDING THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO VERIFY THE COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL SECURITY CLEARANCE TO THE CONTRACTING OFFICER, ADDRESS ABOVE. REQUESTS RECEIVED IN ANY OTHER MANNER WILL NOT BE HONORED. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED ON CD-ROM FOR CONTRACTOR USE: DRAFT ENGINE SPECIFICATION, AV-E-8593H PRF, COST AND SCHEDULE TEMPLATES AS WELL AS PROPOSED CONCEPTS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUESTED IN SUPPORT OF RFI RESPONSES WILL BE PROVIDED AS THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. 2.3 NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS. THE GOVERNMENT ANTICIPATES USING THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT CONTRACTO! RS TO ASSIST IN THE EVALUATION OF YOUR RESPONSES TO THIS RFI. COMPLETE EVALUATIONS OF RESPONSES WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE UNLESS RESPONDENTS EXECUTE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS WITH THESE CONTRACTORS. IF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT CONTRACTORS ARE TO BE UTILIZED DURING THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS, RESPONDENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO OBTAIN NECESSARY AGREEMENTS. RESPONDENTS SHOULD PROVIDE COPIES OF THESE AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR RESPONSES: A) CAS GROUP, WYLE, P.O. BOX 11190 (100 QUALITY CIRCLE) HUNTSVILLE, AL 35814 B) TECOLOTE RESEARCH, INC., 4950 CORPORATE DR., SUITE 140, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35805. 2.4 QUESTIONS AND DEADLINE. TO RECEIVE FULL CONSIDERATION, RESPONSES MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 60 DAYS AFTER RELEASE OF THIS RFI. PRESENTATIONS, IF REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACTOR OR THE GOVERNMENT, WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND COORDINATED THRU THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. RESPONSES TO THE RFI AND ANY PRESENTATION MATERIAL SHALL BE DELIVERED IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT (MICROSOFT WORD, MICROSOFT EXCEL, MICROSOFT POWERPOINT AND/OR MICROSOFT PROJECT SUBMITTED ! ON A CD-ROM). SECTION 3 TECHNICAL DATA 3.1 PROGRAM OBJECTIVE. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP AND QUALIFY AN ENGINE THAT MEETS THE PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES, AS SET FORTH IN THE DRAFT ENGINE SPECIFICATION (AV-E-8593H PRF) IN A COST EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY MANNER. 3.2 PURPOSE. THE GOVERNMENT DESIRES TO OBTAIN INFORMATION TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION AND CORRESPONDING ACQUISITION STRATEGY FOR THE IMPROVED TURBINE ENGINE. SPECIFICALLY, THE GOVERNMENT DESIRES INDUSTRY COMMENTS TO THE DRAFT ENGINE SPECIFICATION AND COST/SCHEDULE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND QUALIFICATION OF THE ENGINE. 3.3 CONCEPT DESCRIPTION. THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD PROVIDE COMMENTS TO THE DRAFT ENGINE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AND PROVIDE RATIONALE ON ANY PROPOSED REQUIREMENT CHANGES. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI SHOULD CONTAIN TECHNICAL INFORMATION SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONTRACTOR'S CONCEPTS AND PERFORMANCE. INFORMATION SHALL! BE PROVIDED IN SUFFICIENT DETAIL TO CONVEY AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROPOSED CONCEPT, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: PROPOSED CONCEPT, SCHEDULE, DEVELOPMENT COSTS*, RECURRING COSTS *, TEAMING REQUIREMENTS, PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES, AIRCRAFT MODIFICATION/IMPACTS, GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION (GFI) / GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT (GFE) REQUIREMENTS, TECHNOLOGY MATURITY USING TECHNOLOGY READINESS ASSESSMENT LEVELS USED BY DOD, AND PROJECTED COMPLIANCE TO THE DRAFT FADEC PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION (AVNS-PRF-10026) *. COST DATA SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN CURRENT YEAR (FY 11) CONSTANT DOLLARS AND INSERTED ON THE TEMPLATES PROVIDED IN THE CD-ROM. USE MONTHS AFTER CONTRACT AWARD AS A TIME BASIS FOR COST REPORTING. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING TECHNICAL DATA ON CONCEPTS, THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD DISCUSS ABILITY TO MEET FULL QUALIFICATION, LOGISTICS AND OPERATIONS REQUIREMENTS. 3.4 TRADE STUDIES. RECOMMEND AND PROVIDE RATIONALE FOR POTENTIAL TRADE STUDIES THAT OFFER APPROACHES THAT WOULD REDUCE TOTAL PROGRAM RISK, COST AND/OR SCHEDULE. INCLUDE COST AND SCHEDULE IM! PACT OF VARIOUS ACQUISITION STRATEGIES, SUCH AS DEFERRING FINAL DOWN-SELECT OF COMPETITORS UNTIL AFTER PRELIMINARY FLIGHT TEST RATING HAS BEEN ACHIEVED AND A FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION COMPLETED. 3.5 ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION IS DEFINED AS A SOLUTION NOT EXPECTED TO MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS AS SPECIFIED THROUGHOUT THIS RFI, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE OVERALL PROGRAM COST. SUPPORTING RATIONALE SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH ANY ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION. EACH DETAILED DESCRIPTION SHALL ALSO INCLUDE THE ESTIMATED SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONCEPT. ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS SHOULD CLEARLY DEFINE WHICH REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET. IF AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION IS RECOMMENDED, SUCH AS AN "EQUIVALENT" FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA), CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION (FAR) DESCRIPTION AND PARAGRAPH. FOR EXAMPLE, AN ALTERNATE SOLUTION MAY REQUIRE MEETING THE FAR 33.76 BIRD INGESTION REQUIREMENT IN LIEU OF APPLICABLE BIRD INGESTION REQUIREMENT OF THE DRAFT E! NGINE SPECIFICATION. A SOLICITATION NUMBER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED, BUT IT IS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSE ONLY.