28 -- J52 CIP

The Naval Air Systems Command intends to issue a sole source contract to United Technologies Company/Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT in support of the J-52 engine in the Navy's EA6-B aircraft. The Component Improvement Program (CIP) is responsible for providing engineering support categorized into the following:1. Problem solving by rapidly investigating and resolving problems with safety, readiness, and operability. 2. Problem Avoidance through a program of mission testing, hardware sampling, and engineering analysis designed to forecast the wear out rates, life limits, and problems with hardware before they occur in the fleet. 3. Product Improvement by developing and qualifying: design changes, repair procedures and alternate sources that will provide savings in operation and support costs. All services shall be provided by Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford, as they are the original manufacturers, and the only company in possession of proprietary information of the J-52 engine. Pratt & Whitney also possesses the following capabilities that are necessary for satisfying the three categories of engineering support: 1. In-place engineering teams knowledgeable of the J52 design and manufacturing methodologies. 2. An in-place Logistics support team familiar with Navy maintenance practices and J52 maintenance and support concepts. 3. Access to facilities capable of conducting simulated sea-level testing of the J52 engine 4. Access to component and Rig test facilities capable of conducting a full range of turbo-machinery diagnostic testing. 5. Access to an engineering design team with a full range of knowledge involving state-of-the-art propulsion and power technology areas, such as applied mechanics, heat transfer, vibration and stress analysis, thermodynamics, and aerodynamics. 6. Demonstrated experience in managing design, development, qualification, and support of the J52 engine. Pratt & Whitney's proprietary knowledge of design methodologies and specific equipment is necessary to eliminate undesirable interactions between the engine and redesigned parts and components. The CIP effort will include investigation of problems, the design of engineering solutions, development of other corrective actions, and performance of unique testing as set forth in the selected Engineering Project Descriptions (EPDs). Resulting contract actions shall be carried out as cost-plus fixed fee task orders under a five (5) year Basic Ordering Agreement.