FSC code AC23, NAICS code: 541710 (Guided missile and space vehicle parts (except engines) research and development). The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is soliciting information in support of the Revolutionary Approach To Time-critical Long Range Strike (RATTLRS) Flight Demonstration Project (FDP). Sources/respondents should have a demonstrated capability to successfully design, fabricate, integrate and flight test a tactical strike-weapon-class supersonic air vehicle. This notice requests information on project execution plans and identification of the requisite technologies to ascertaining the feasibility and risks associated with such a flight demonstration project. The total projected technology development and flight demonstration cost is approximately $50M. As an applied research Science and Technology demonstration, RATTLRS will culminate in flight demonstrations of an integrated air vehicle, powered only by a supersonic turbine engine, in a size/shape/weight/configuration that is traceable to a tactical weapon system. The flight demonstration vehicle is expected to accelerate from a subsonic air launch condition to a minimum of Mach 3 using only turbine propulsion. For RFI response purposes, assume first demonstration flight prior to 36 months after project initiation, and all flight demonstrations completed by 45 months after project initiation. The flight vehicle to be demonstrated within RATTLRS should be a demonstration air vehicle only, having traceability to one of the following potential weapon systems: An air-launched (compatible with the F/A-18 launch platform) medium range weapon with a maximum vehicle weight of 1800 lbs including 500 lbs payload, or a ship-launched (Vertical Launch System (VLS) compatible) long-range weapon with a maximum weight of 3400 lbs including 750 lbs payload (includes vehicle and any booster required for VLS launch), or one vehicle compatible to both launch options. The government requests information in the following areas: I. An outline of a project execution plan with sections specifically addressing technical approach, risk mitigation, schedule and cost for a program that will design, fabricate, integrate, and ground/flight test a supersonic turbine-powered air vehicle. A. Technical Approach: 1. Provide a top-level description of the system concept development, design, development, and fabrication approach. 2. Identify and rationalize the requisite bench-scale, ground and flight demonstration phases of the project. 3. Provide rationale on how the flight demonstrations should be conducted (e.g. air or surface launched). 4. Provide rationale for the number of flight demonstrations required for validation and risk mitigation and the objective of each flight demonstration. 5. Identify the critical technologies required for this development and demonstration, along with the initial and final Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) for each critical technology. 6. Describe the respondent's ability to insert, mature and demonstrate previous unproven technologies within the scope of the project (i.e. component and system technologies which have not been flight demonstrated and/or demonstrated in a relevant environment). B. Risk Assessment: Provide a cost, schedule, and technical performance risk assessment of the project plan and specifically include: 1. An assessment of a turbine propulsion only, air vehicle system's ability to accelerate at 0.25 g or greater through the transonic flight region and its ability to cruise at a minimum of Mach 3.0. 2. Overall risk reduction plans required for the successful execution of such a flight demonstration series. 3. If achieving the flight demonstration goals within the $50M government cost estimate and/or the FY07 completion is perceived to pose an inordinate amount of risk, the government requests that the respondent identify the areas of high risk, providing rationale and suggestions to mitigate the risks. C. Schedule/Milestone: Provide a GANTT chart, in MS Project, identifying the major elements of the project, including preliminary and critical design phases, fabrication, bench-scale, ground and flight demonstrations, and go-no-go decision gates. D. Cost: 1. Estimate costs for the major elements of the demonstration project including but not limited to the following categories a.) concept development, preliminary design and system development, b.) bench-scale, ground and wind tunnel tests and c.) flight demonstrations (identify number of flight demonstrations and specify costs individually). Also, the respondent should consider novel approaches for conducting the flight demonstrations to obtain maximum technology verification/validation value. II. Provide any information regarding current research and/or demonstrations in weapon-sized flight vehicles using supersonic turbine propulsion, and related subsystem-level research and/or demonstrations which could be matured into a flight capability and the respondent's experience and ability to predict and analyze the performance of an integrated air-vehicle system configuration utilizing a supersonic turbine engine. Technical questions should be directed to the technical point of contact for the RATTLRS project, Curt Snyder, (
+1 (555) 000-0000) or email:
contact@example.gov. Responses to this request shall be unclassified, and are limited to 15 pages total with no more than 10 pages total of technical information and no more than 5 pages on cost; not including cover letter, cover page, and table of contents. Responses must be submitted no later than 4pm EDT on 15 May 2003. Respondents should submit one hard copy and one electronic copy to Peggy Richter at Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Weapons Division, Code 210000D/P. Richter, 1 Administration Circle, China Lake, CA 93555-6100 Electronic copy should be sent to:
contact@example.gov. If providing information electronically, please ensure that the information is compatible with and accessible using Microsoft Office 97 software. If the material provided contains proprietary information, it is the respondents' responsibility to mark and identify disposition instructions. Submitted data will not be returned. There is no commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, to make an award or awards, or to be responsible for any monies expended by any interested parties in support of any effort in response to this RFI. Information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit or award a contract. If a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website located at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. Respondents to this RFI that provide an email contact point will be notified if a BAA is released.
