Air Force Subscale Aerial Target - Fiber Optic Towed Decoy

Air Force Subscale Aerial Targets (AFSAT) - BQM-167A Fiber-Optical-Towed-Decoy (FOTD) - The Air Armament Center, 308th Armament Systems Wing, 691st Armament Systems Squadron, Contracts Office, Eglin AFB FL. The Air Force has a requirement for operation of fiber-optical-towed-decoy (FOTD) on the BQM-167 Subscale Aerial Target. The FOTD is a Government furnished payload, consisting of two wing mounted pods and one extendable/retractable towed decoy that must be integrated into the BQM-167 system under this contract effort. The FOTD system simulates real-world threats using a retrievable and reusable towed decoy. The FOTD system uses the Electronic Attack (EA) System components, already mounted onboard the BQM-167A, to generate all of the Radio Frequency Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) techniques, and then modulates a fiber optic laser for transmission to the trailing decoy. The optical signal is demodulated within the decoy, and the resulting RF signal is amplified and transmitted with the desired spatial separation, i.e. tow length. At the end of the event, the decoy is safely retracted and the target recovered. The towed decoy is approximately 2.4 inches in diameter and 15 inches long. The decoy is housed inside the Tow Reel Pod (55 inches long and 8 inches in diameter) which mounts on the wing of the BQM-167A target and weighs 83.3 pounds (with its mounting hardware). A Ballast Pod will be mounted on the BQM-167A target's right wing to exactly counterbalance the weight, center of gravity (CG) effects, and aerodynamic characteristics of the Tow Reel Pod. The FOTD system's receive antenna is internally mounted within the forward radome of the Ballast Pod. The Air Force has limited developmental funding for this effort. The Government does not own a technical data package and/or software data rights for the BQM-167A target system and its peculiar support equipment and therefore cannot provide this data to interested parties. The appropriate North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this proposed acquisition is 33641 with a size standard of 1500 employees. Potential offerors who have the capability to provide the FOTD shall submit a Statement of Capability (SOC) no later than 29 August 2008 demonstrating their capability to meet all of the above performance requirements. The SOC shall be limited to 25 pages including attachments. This synopsis neither constitutes a Request for Proposal or Invitation for Bid, nor does it restrict the government to any specific acquisition approach. This synopsis should not be construed as a commitment by the government for any purpose. As directed by the Foreign Disclosure Office, Eglin AFB FL, no foreign participation shall be allowed for this effort. An Ombudsman has been appointed to address concerns of offerors or potential offerors. The Ombudsman does not diminish the authority of the program manager or contracting officer but communicates contractor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. When requested, the Ombudsman shall maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. Matters of routine or administrative nature concerning this acquisition should not be addressed to the Ombudsman but rather to the contracting points of contact identified above. The Ombudsman is Col Arnold W. Bunch, (850) 882-5422, AAC/CV, 101 West D. Avenue, Suite 116, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-5422. See Numbered Notes 22 and 26.