4.3 Engineering and Support for engineering, software and information systems support to the Structural Appraisal of Fatigue Effects (SAFE) program

DESCRIPTION: SYSTEMS ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR ANALYSIS, DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATION OF WARFARE SYSTEMS IN VARIOUS NAVY PLATFORMS SYNOPSIS The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR); Aircraft Support Contracts Department (AIR 2.5.1.3), Patuxent River, MD 20670-1127 announces its intention to issue a Request For Proposal (RFP) to procure, on a competitive basis, services and materials necessary to provide engineering, software and information systems support to the AIR 4.3 Structures Division. Efforts will support the Aircraft Structural Life Surveillance (ASLS) program which is responsible for administering the Navy's aircraft structural integrity program. Requirements include but are not limited to data processing, data quality control, data recovery, usage studies, and fatigue analysis, load/stress/strain analysis. This procurement action is a follow-on to the existing contract number; N00421-04-D-0071. The incumbent contractor is L-3 Communications Titan Corporation, Four Greentree Center, 13000 Route 73, Suite 400, Marlton, NJ 08053-3408, formerly doing business as TITAN Systems Corporation. The appropriate NAICS code is 541330, with a small business standard of $23.0 million. The Government anticipates release of the electronic RFP on/or about 16 January, 2009 with an anticipated closing date of 17 February 2009. There is no commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation make an award or be responsible for any monies expended by any interested parties in support of the effort mentioned above. Information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit or award a contract. THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. It is a tool being used to notify potential, eligible, and interested businesses (both large and small) capable of providing these services and products prior to issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP). The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this synopsis. The Government intends to make a single award on or about 4 May, 2009 for a contract with a ceiling value of $48 million based on best value source selection processes. REQUIREMENTS The Aircraft Structural Life Surveillance (ASLS) program is responsible for administering the Navy's aircraft structural integrity program. The primary product to communicate the fatigue status of individual aircraft's fatigue is the Structural Appraisal of Fatigue Effects (SAFE) program. The mission of the SAFE program is to collect, process, and report fleet-wide individual aircraft/component structural usage and fatigue life information accurately, quickly, and inexpensively to attain maximum economic service lives for the U.S. Navy aircraft without compromising structural safety. SAFE products support customers making aircraft retirement, acquisition, modification, and maintenance decisions. The offeror shall provide technical support to the SAFE program as necessary develop, verify, execute, and enhance individual aircraft structural fatigue life tracking methods and processes. The offeror shall demonstrate knowledge needed to perform the following tasks: 1. SAFE Fatigue Tracking: Technical investigations shall be provided in support of the Structural Appraisal of Fatigue Effects (SAFE) element of the ASLS program: 1.1. Collate, quality control, process and store individual aircraft usage information necessary to produce quarterly SAFE reports for Navy and Marine Corps aircraft including, but not limited to AV-8B, C-2, C-130, E-2, E-6, EA-6B, F-5, F-16, F/A-18, T-2, T-34, T-38, T-44, T-45, P-3, and S-3. 1.2. Process and store monthly individual aircraft fatigue life expended status necessary to produce the monthly fatigue updates for Navy and Marine Corps aircraft. 1.3. Implement and maintain computer software on a NAVAIR-designated computer system to review/retrieve individual aircraft usage data utilized/available for each Type/Model/Series (T/M/S) aircraft in the SAFE program. 1.4. Operate and maintain production Navy fatigue tracking software on the NAVAIR computer system. 1.5. Provide updates to configuration management plans for subcontractors. 1.6. Incorporate software upgrades to all fatigue tracking software. 1.7. Implement upgraded Fatigue Analysis of Metallic Structures (FAMS), NASGRO computer program, AFGRO computer program, and Service Life Assessment Program Individual Aircraft Tracking software as delivered by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). 2. Structural Teardown: This effort is intended to produce a report that will assist in the validation of the fatigue tracking algorithm utilized by NAVAIRSYSCOM (AIR-4.3) measuring the Outer Wing Panel fatigue life consumed. The provider shall evaluate and report on the material condition of three retired outer wing panels and shall determine the structural integrity of these same units. This evaluation shall include the visual, non-destructive and destructive inspection of the critical areas of the outer wing panels, sufficient in quality and fidelity to establish the flight worthiness of these panels and have been coordinated with AIR- 4.3 point of contract. The candidate outer wing panels will be provided by the government. 2.1. Coordinate disassembly and laboratory efforts, facilities and equipment, including technical support necessary to perform a detailed destructive inspection of three aircraft Outer Wing Panel (OWP) lower covers. 2.2. Disassemble three OWP. 2.3. Non-Destructively Inspect (NDI) lower cover area via eddy current method. Document findings. 2.4. Prepare coupons from lower cover based upon eddy current NDI findings. 2.5. Break and fractographically analyze coupons removed from lower cover. Document findings. 2.6. Prepare and submit bimonthly status reports. 2.7. Prepare and submit a final report documenting NDI findings. 3. Strength Engineering: Provide structural engineering technical support regarding the aircraft Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). Engineering analyses, investigations, technical studies, and tests related to structural components, and repair of Navy aircraft shall be performed to ensure timely and effective implementation of structural life extension decisions and to ensure fleet structural integrity for the existing aircraft program. 3.1. Perform analysis of the aircraft structural components and structural life assessment program test results. Tasks include assurance of structural margins and airworthiness assessment of aircraft configuration. 3.2. Evaluate analytical and empirical determinations of airframe service life and make recommendations for altering the requirements to maintain and/or extend the life of aircraft. 3.3. Perform structural static and fatigue analysis in support of aircraft and flight clearance requests. Make recommendations to NAVAIR engineers. 3.4. Attend Navy/Contractor technical meetings related to aircraft structural life analysis and fatigue tests as required. 4. Loads and Dynamics Engineering: Engineering and Technical Services in support of the T/M/S program shall include but not be limited to: 4.1. Review load criteria reports, loads wind tunnel data, loads analysis for accuracy and methodology. Report all findings to AIR-4.3.3.3. 4.2. Provide recommendations to AIR-4.3.3.3 on the improvement of the loads development program for aircraft acquisition program. 4.3. Review flight test instrumentation, Flight Test Plans, and Test Schedules. Provide written comments and recommendations to AIR-4.3.3. 4.4. Review plans and procedures that are in place to support flight operations and data processing and provide recommendations to AIR-4.3 and AIR-4.1 as required. 4.5. Facilitate the exchange of flight test data plots and other data between aircraft OEM and NAVAIR, AIR-4.3. 4.6. Facilitate coordination of incremental, on-site, data reviews between OEM and AIR-4.3. LABOR QUALIFICATIONS The contractor is required to provide personnel having professional and technical experience, which will ensure accomplishment of the tasks specified in the statement of work. The specified experience included as part of the required qualification shall have been obtained in the fields of endeavor indicated. Additionally, unless stated otherwise, experience must have been obtained within the last seven years. The contractor should strive for technical excellence beyond these qualifications. All personnel performing work under this contract must be capable of obtaining a SECRET level security clearance upon notification that such clearance is required. The years experience required depends on the degree the proposed individual holds. The Contract type is anticipated to be Fixed Price Labor Hour - Time & Material with the possibility of some Fixed Priced line items at an estimated cost of $48,000,000.00 over a period of five years. These services shall be performed at the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland. The period of performance is comprised of one base year plus four option years with performance commencing approximately 01 March 2009. The following offers examples of personnel qualifications and their respective labor categories: Key Labor Categories are as follows: 1. Program Manager: A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering or Applied Mechanics is required. A minimum of fifteen (15) years of recent and relevant experience in aeronautical engineering is required with at least four (4) recent years in engineering management. The position requires experience leading an engineering design/analysis team on a contemporary military aircraft program. The proposed employee must demonstrate the ability to guidance, direction and supervision of projects in a broad range of structural technologies related to design, development, testing and fleet operations of military aircraft. A sound knowledge of aircraft structural development concepts and methods for analyzing, monitoring, and maintaining structural integrity of fleet aircraft is required. Experience and expertise in the derivation of aircraft mission profiles, corresponding repeated loads for aircraft/components, and repeated loads spectra; derivation of aerodynamic, ground, inertial, or vibro-acoustic design loads, including the effects of aero-elasticity; analysis of flight-test loads and parameters; design experience on metallic and composite airframe structures; structural analysis (i.e., strength, aero-elastic, aero-servo-elastic, vibro-acoustic, or dynamic response analyses) and/or finite element modeling; fatigue/durability and damage tolerance analysis; probability and statistics; full scale aircraft or major airframe component static, dynamic, or fatigue testing; and aircraft flight loads monitoring systems. 2. Senior Scientist Engineer: A Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Materials (Metals and/or No-Metals) Engineering or Applied Mechanics from an accredited college or university is required with a minimum of fifteen (15) years of recent and relevant experience in contemporary aircraft airframe design and analysis. A Master's degree plus an additional fifteen (15) years of recent and relevant experience in addition to the required minimum of 15 years experience may be substituted for a Ph.D. A Bachelor's degree plus an additional twenty five (25) years of relevant experience in addition to the required minimum of 15 years experience may be substituted for a Ph.D. This position requires knowledge of structural technologies related to design, development, testing, and fleet operations of military aircraft. Knowledge and experience in all ten (10) of the following disciplines is required: (1) U.S Navy carrier-based aircraft design criteria and specifications with an original equipment manufacturer; (2) Derivation of aircraft mission profiles, corresponding repeated loads for aircraft/components, and repeated loads spectra; (3) Derivation of aerodynamic, ground, inertial, or vibro-acoustic design loads, including the effects of aero-elasticity; (4) Analysis of flight-test loads and parameters; (5) Design experience on metallic and composite airframe structures; (6) Structural analysis (i.e., strength, aero-elastic, aero-servo-elastic, vibro-acoustic, or dynamic response analyses) and/or finite element modeling; (7) Fatigue/durability and damage tolerance analysis; (8) Probability and statistics; (9) Full scale aircraft or major airframe component static, dynamic, or fatigue testing; and (10) Aircraft flight loads monitoring systems. 3. Senior Engineering Analyst: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Materials (Metals and/or No-Metals) Engineering or Applied Mechanics form an accredited college or university is required. A minimum of twelve (12) years of recent and relevant experience in contemporary aircraft airframe design and analysis. This position requires knowledge of structural technologies related to design, development, testing, and fleet operations of military aircraft. Knowledge and experience in military aircraft design criteria and specifications; derivation of aircraft mission profiles, corresponding repeated loads for aircraft/components, and repeated loads spectra; derivation of aerodynamic, ground, inertial, or vibro-acoustic design loads, including the effects of aero-elasticity; analysis of flight-test loads and parameters; design experience on metallic and composite airframe structures; structural analysis (i.e., strength, aero-elastic, aero-servo-elastic, vibro-acoustic, or dynamic response analyses) and/or finite element modeling; fatigue/durability and damage tolerance analysis; probability and statistics; full scale aircraft or major airframe component static, dynamic, or fatigue testing; and aircraft flight loads monitoring systems. 4. Information Technology (IT) Manager: A Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or Engineering from an accredited college or university is required. A minimum of six (6) years of experience is required in computer science, information management, and project/program management. Experience in a major team leadership position on information technology projects and demonstrated communication skills is required. Experience in operating and/or programming relational data base management systems (RDBMS); data modeling and relational database design - specific training in data modeling and database design is also required; translating broad information technology needs into plans and standards (Specific MIL-STD-498 experience is desirable); implementing design and development of new information systems applications; demonstrated understanding and practical use of configuration management techniques and project life cycle methods; planning, coordinating, and executing test activities for a software release including: test scheduling, defining test metrics, defining test cases and scripts, executing tests, debugging, and capturing and reporting the results of the tests; directing and managing a systems/software development team in the design, development, test, and integration of new information systems applications; developing work breakdown structures, developing project schedules, establishing project metrics, tracking and reporting progress against schedule, reporting status, implementing corrective actions as needed to keep project on schedule, working and escalating issues as needed, and maintaining a cohesive team; and developing and maintaining an IT architecture for an organization of moderate size. Non-Key Labor Categories are as follows: 5. Engineering Analyst: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Materials (Metals and/or No-Metals) Engineering or Applied Mechanics from an accredited college or university is required. A minimum of nine (9) years experience in aeronautical engineering disciplines is required. The position requires knowledge of structural technologies related to design, development, testing and fleet operations of military aircraft. Knowledge and experience in military aircraft design criteria and specifications; derivation of aircraft mission profiles, corresponding repeated loads for aircraft/components, and repeated loads spectra; derivation of aerodynamic, ground, inertial, or vibro-acoustic design loads, including the effects of aero-elasticity; analysis of flight-test loads and parameters; design experience on metallic and composite airframe structures; structural analysis (i.e., strength, aero-elastic, aero-servo-elastic, vibro-acoustic, or dynamic response analyses) and/or finite element modeling; fatigue/durability and damage tolerance analysis; probability and statistics; full scale aircraft or major airframe component static, dynamic, or fatigue testing; and aircraft flight loads monitoring systems. 6. Senior Engineer: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Materials (Metals and/or No-Metals) Engineering or Applied Mechanics from an accredited college or university is required. A minimum of six (6) years experience in aeronautical or mechanical engineering is required. This position requires sufficient knowledge and experience to assume project engineering responsibility for the project as might be assigned. Knowledge and experience in military aircraft design criteria and specifications; derivation of aircraft mission profiles, corresponding repeated loads for aircraft/components, and repeated loads spectra; derivation of aerodynamic, ground, inertial, or vibro-acoustic design loads, including the effects of aero-elasticity; analysis of flight-test loads and parameters; design experience on metallic and composite airframe structures; structural analysis (i.e., strength, aero-elastic, aero-servo-elastic, vibro-acoustic, or dynamic response analyses) and/or finite element modeling; fatigue/durability and damage tolerance analysis; probability and statistics; full scale aircraft or major airframe component static, dynamic, or fatigue testing; and aircraft flight loads monitoring systems. 7. Engineering Technician: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Materials (Metals and/or No-Metals) Engineering or Applied Mechanics from an accredited college or university is required. A high school diploma or G.E.D. plus an additional eight (8) years of recent and relevant experience in addition to that required below may be substituted for a bachelor's degree. A minimum of six (6) years experience in aeronautical or mechanical engineering is required. This position requires sufficient knowledge and experience to assume project engineering responsibility for the project as might be assigned. Knowledge and experience in military aircraft design criteria and specifications; derivation of aircraft mission profiles, corresponding repeated loads for aircraft/components, and repeated loads spectra; derivation of aerodynamic, ground, inertial, or vibro-acoustic design loads, including the effects of aero-elasticity; analysis of flight-test loads and parameters; design experience on metallic and composite airframe structures; structural analysis (i.e., strength, aero-elastic, aero-servo-elastic, vibro-acoustic, or dynamic response analyses) and/or finite element modeling; fatigue/durability and damage tolerance analysis; probability and statistics; full scale aircraft or major airframe component static, dynamic, or fatigue testing; and aircraft flight loads monitoring systems. 8. Information Systems Manager: A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics is required. A minimum of five (5) years experience in computer science, information management, and information systems administration is required. Experience is required in executing routine computer operating system operations on PC's, mini and mainframe computers and COTS word processing, spreadsheet, and database application operations on PC's; writing operating system scripts and/or COTS word processing, spreadsheet, and database application macros; writing code in current versions of standard procedural and/or object oriented programming languages; operating and/or programming relational data base management systems (RDBMS); translating broad information technology needs into plans and standards (Specific MIL-STD-498 experience is desirable); executing advanced and administrative operating system operations; performing a variety of operations as a manufacturer certified network engineer or professional in clients/server and/or cluster environment; implementing/maintaining local area network (LAN)/internet integration; providing advanced technical hardware and operating system software knowledge and recommendations to system designers, planners, and owners/operators. Advising application operations and database teams on operating systems issues and challenges in order to capture, store, maintain, and retrieve project data; and developing and/or maintaining an IT Architecture for an organization of moderate size. 9. Senior Applications Programmer: A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or Engineering form an accredited college or university is required. A minimum of four (4) years experience is required in computer science and information management. Experience in a Team/Leadership position and demonstrated communication skills are required. Experience is required in executing routine computer operating system operations on PC's, mini and mainframe computers and COTS word processing, spreadsheet, and database application operations on PC's; writing operating system scripts and/or COTS word processing, spreadsheet, and database application macros; writing code in current versions of standard procedural and/or object oriented programming languages; operating and/or programming relational database management systems (RDBMS); translating broad information technology needs into plans and standards (Specific MIL-STD-498 experience is desirable); planning, coordinating and executing test activities for a software release. This includes test scheduling, defining test metrics, defining test cases and scripts, executing tests, debugging, capturing the results of the tests and reporting them; and developing or facilitating employee training workshop sessions. 10. Applications Programmer: A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics or Engineering from an accredited college or university is required. A minimum of three (3) years of programming experience (two general or one specialized) is required. The specialized experience must include programming of relatively complex software systems and demonstrated capability, under supervision, of preparing software documentation and reports. Experience is required in executing routine computer operating system operations on PCs, mini and/or mainframe computers and COTS word processing, spreadsheet, and database application operations on PCs; writing operating system scripts and/or COTS word processing, spreadsheet, and database application macros; writing code in current versions of standard procedural and/or object oriented programming languages. 11. Data Technician: A high school diploma or G.E.D is required. Three (3) years of broad experience in performing duties necessary to assist engineers and programmers in preparing, inputting, reviewing data, and running programs on mini-computers or PCs is required (a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or Engineering may be substituted for the three (3) years of broad experience). Experience is required in executing routine computer operating system operations on PCs, mini-computers, and/or mainframe computers and COTS word processing, spreadsheet, and database application operations on PCs. 12. Clerk Typist: A high school diploma or G.E.D. is required. One (1) year of experience in performing duties necessary to assist with the fundamental duties as an office assistant. Knowledge and experience in a broad range of current office-based computer applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint) is required. 13. Engineer: A Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical, Aerospace, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Materials Engineering or Applied Physics from an accredited college or university. 14. Programmer: A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics or Electrical Engineering from an accredited college or university. Interested parties are asked to contact the Contract Specialist, Miriam-Ellen Bonk, Code 251315, Building 441, NAVAIRSYSCOMHQ, 21983 Bundy Road, Unit 7, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1127 at miriam-ellen.bonk@navy.mil by 2:30 pm 13 January 2009. Responders are asked to provide an email address along with point of contact information and will be added to the list of potential sources. All Internet responses must include the following information: Company Name; Company Address; Company Business Size; and Point-of-Contact (POC) name, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. The Request for Proposal will be made available on the NAVAIR Home Page at http://www.navair.navy.mil/doing_business/open_solicitations/ . Offerors who have requested a copy of the RFP will be notified via e-mail when it is released. Each offeror is responsible for monitoring the site for release of the solicitation and any related amendments, and subsequently downloading their own copy of the solicitation and applicable documents. No paper copies will be issued. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the agency in response to that solicitation. Questions or comments regarding this notice may be addressed to Mrs. Miriam-Ellen Bonk at 301-757-8958 or via email at miriam-ellen.bonk@navy.mil.