81 -- Packaging for BEAR systems

The Government intends to host an Industry Day to solicit ideas for commercially available packaging solutions for optimizing packing of equipment in 20 foot ISO shipping containers. This is a request for information only. This notice does not constitute an IFB or RFP and is not to be construed as a committment by the Government. The Government does not intend to pay for the information obtained during the Industry Day nor for the time or expense of those industry participants involved. Air Force Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) systems include 5 different equipment sets including Housekeeping, Flight Line and Industrial Operations configurations. Assets vary from rolling stock and large end items to small repair and spares parts which support shelters, water and power distribution systems, kitchens, latrines, etc. The assets are grouped by "capability". For example, spares and repair parts needed to support equipment when deployed are packaged in the same container as the equipment end items. Current packaging is optimized for air deployment on military aircraft using standard 463L pallets and 463L-compatible ISU-90 containers. Program objective is to transition a number of BEAR sets to TRICON and 20' side opening intermodal shipping containers for truck and sea movement. ISO packing must allow for continued grouping by capability plus the ability to remove packed items in 20 ISO using a 13K forklift at deployed locations and also allow rapid conversion back to 463L configurations when necessary. Preliminary investigations have shown there is real potential for damage and considerable loss of efficiency when attempting to pack piece parts on standard 108" X 88" pallets in 20' ISOs and secure them for transport with nets (see photos attached). The purpose of this Request for Information is to solicit commercially available packing solutions that are readily adaptable to the concept of operations (CONOPs) outlined above. This would include but not be limited to racks, shelving, and/or modular and stackable boxes that readily fit inside TRICON and or 20' ISOs and can be safely handled with 13K forklifts. We intend to host an Industry day at Dyncorp's Albany Aggregation Site (AAS), 601 Holly Drive, Albany GA on 29 Aug 2006 to allow interested vendors to tour the warehouse and actually see the assets that require packaging. This will also be an opportunity for vendors to discuss/display/propose prospective or alternative solutions that could satisfy long term outdoor storage requirements, and still address the limiting factors (13K forklift) of the CONOPs outlined above. For planning purposes please contact, Ms. Melinda Griffin (contact@example.gov) phone +1 (555) 000-0000 or Mr. Phil Milling (contact@example.gov) phone +1 (555) 000-0000 at Dyncorp's facility by 22 Aug 2006 with names of people attending, equipment/items you will bring, space needed for display, etc. For additional information related to packing specifics please contact TSgt Ron Doll (contact@example.gov) or SSgt Daren Manson (contact@example.gov) , at Holloman AFB NM phone +1 (555) 000-0000. Please cc Captain Anthony Wong (contact@example.gov) (phone +1 (555) 000-0000) on any email correspondence.