ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System Mission Data Verification System

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS: This is a request for information/market research to provide data for planning purposes. This sources sought synopsis does not constitute a request for proposal, request for quote, invitation for bid, nor does its issuance in any way restrict the Government as to its ultimate acquisition approach. The Air Armament Center, Operational Contracting Office, Eglin AFB, Florida, is seeking potential sources capable of providing all equipment, tools, materials, logistics, technical support, and other items and services necessary provide an ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser System Mission Data Verification System (CMDSMDVS) for Eglin AFB, Florida. Requirement: The CMDSMDVS is a dual cabinet configuration capable of housing the ALE-47 and ALQ-213 systems in a 10 Digital Sequencer Switch (DSS) configuration with aircraft/simulated controls for the F-16, HC/MC-130, EC-130H, MC-12, HH-60 and A-10 aircraft t. The CMDSMDVS consists of a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) consoles with a specially designed wiring harness to duplicate aircraft installs and faceplate panels for system, subsystem control, signal interconnect and monitoring. The CMDSMDVS consists of two 24" wide cabinets designed with mounting provisions for the ALE-47 and ALQ-213 specific Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), interface hardware, power supplies and cooling fans. System LRUs are accessible from both the front and rear of the cabinets and securely mounted with the connectors facing the rear for easy removal and replacement. One cabinet, referred to as the Basic Console, has the system control and display LRUs mounted in the front panel and secured by a threaded back plate or dzus bracket to allow removal from the front without the risk of loose hardware being dropped into the CMDSMDVS. It also has provisions for mounting 3 DSS and 6 dispensers and can operate as a standalone unit. The system wiring harness has a sufficient service loop to allow these LRUs to be removed/replaced from the front panel without requiring access to the inside of the console. The capability to connect a Memory Loader Verifier/ Common Aircraft Portable Reprogramming Equipment or equivalent to reprogram the installed system (via 1553 bus/aircraft style connection) is provided on the front panel. In addition, an interface connector is also provided on the front panel to allow the CMDSMDVS to be interconnected and support mission data verification in an integrated mode, via discrete lines and 1553 bus, to the other on board EW systems (ALR-69, ALR-56M, ALQ-211 AAR-44, AAR-47, and AAR-54) installed in the different aircraft configurations. All signal injection points, measurement and monitoring points, and cable access used on a routine basis are accessible from the front panel of the console. The second cabinet/console, referred to as the Companion console, is capable of interfacing with the Basic console to extend the capability to a 10 DSS configuration. The console will contain all the hardware and wiring to support 7 DSSs mounted internally with 14 Dispensers (buckets), and 4 simulated Safety Switches mounted in the front panel. Individual power supplies and interface connections (both discrete and bus) will be provided in the console. The companion console will interface with the basic console via a single umbilical cable between the two consoles. Magazine Present and payload switches will be provided on the front panel, to allow the operator to select the type of payloads installed. The CMDSMDVS consoles are designed to operate on 60 Hz 115 VAC power with all necessary power supplies required for systems operation mounted internally in the console. Input power to the console is controlled through a single circuit breaker in series with an Emergency Shutoff switch, thus providing a single power interrupt in the event of an emergency. In addition, a power strip, with its own circuit breaker and ON/OFF switch, is installed in the front of the Basic console to provide non-interrupted power for ancillary equipment. Test points to monitor the input power to the console, output of the internal power supplies, and internal system operating voltages are available on the front panel. The COTS cabinets have hinged rear door with lift-off hinges and lift-off side panels to allow for quick and easy access to the inside of each cabinet. The cabinets are also equipped with locking swivel casters to permit easy movement of the console within the laboratory. In addition, the cabinet base has provisions built in for lifting with a fork lift. The cabinet includes cooling fans to ensure a positive air flow for cooling. Size of each console is such that it easily fits through a standard door opening (34.75" wide x 83" high). Console wiring harnesses and cables provide the voltage, signal, control, bus interconnections and interfaces to allow the CMDSMDVS to operate as if it were installed in an aircraft. The CMDSMDVS wiring harness supports the installation and operation of up to 10 Digital Sequencer Switches, 6 Safety Switches (1 actual and 5 simulated by toggle switch), 20 Dispensers (D-49 Bucket), 1 Remote Dispense Switch, 1 Programmer, and 1 Cockpit Display Unit (CDU) of the basic ALE-47 CMDS. In addition, the wiring harness also supports independent use of the F-16, HC/MC-130, EC-130H, MC-12, HH-60 and A-10 aircraft ALE-47 and ALQ-213 controls. Aircraft ID switches are provided on the front panel to allow the operator to select the aircraft type being verified. Magazine Present, and payload switches are provided on the front panel to allow the operator to select payloads installed (growth/options). Aircraft peculiar switches (i.e. Weight-on-Wheels (WOW), manual dispense, station circuit breakers, and remote dispense) are available on the front panel and wired as they are on the aircraft. The breakout panel on the front of the CMDSMDVS provides both EW and Avionics (AV) bus and stub connections for monitoring or interconnection of equipment/systems to the busses. Bus terminations for each front panel bus connection are provided to terminate the bus connection, when not in operation, to prevent ambiguous/interference signals from being applied to the bus. AN/ALE-47 CMDS squib and logic power test points are also available on the CMDSMDVS breakout panel. An internal Missile Warning System (MWS) pulse simulator circuit card assembly (CCA) is provided to allow AN/ALE-47 integrated MD verification. AN/AAR-47 and AN/AAR-54 MWS interfaces to the CMDSMDVS are provided via discrete signal lines from the MWS or the simulated MWS input circuitry. Payload simulator CCAs will provide simulated load circuitry of the payloads in a variety of chaff and flare types such as the MJU-7, M206, RR-170, RR-180 dual chaff, and/or OTHER expendables for up to 10 DSS consisting of 20 independent dispenser magazines. One Payload simulator CCA is used for each dispenser. Payload simulator CCAs and wiring will be installed in the CMDSMDVS in such a way as to allow the CMDSMDVS to operate with either the actual buckets installed in the console or payload simulator CCAs, or a combination of both buckets and payload CCAs. The payload sim CCAs are designed to function with or without a host computer. In addition to simulating the CMDS payloads, the amplitude (current) and pulse width of the individual fire pulses will be monitored, detected, measured and time tagged to allow the operator to easily verify the fire pulse characteristics and timing of a dispense action (single dispense or burst/salvo of expendables) resulting from a threat signal or manual dispense command. Pulse and timing information is transferred to a host computer for display, and archiving for post test analysis. The 1553 Bus Simulator has the capability to allow user modification of message data during test and the ability to support pre-programmed message data for dynamic scenarios. Message data formats will be based on Government-provided interface description documents for the various systems under test. The bus simulator design for the CMDSMDVS has four 1553 channels with the capability to generate, input, and capture EW and AV bus messages for the ALE-47 and ALQ-213 systems, to include message traffic into and out of the CMDS systems in support of mission data verification with other onboard EW systems (Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and MWS)). This information will be recorded and displayed as a scrolling text file as well as being saved to a data file. At the completion of mission data verification or system "run," the operator has the ability to select any or all MIL-STD-1553 and discrete message data for permanent storage to a disk file. The data is stored in a commonly accepted, readily importable data format such as ASCII text, comma-delimited values, etc, that can be imported into a standard spreadsheet or database application such as Microsoft Excel or Access. Total storage capacity may be limited by system storage capability/disk space. A maximum captured data file size (buffer) of 10MB is planned for real-time data recording. When this buffer is full, it will be written to a large capacity storage device such as a Compact Disk or Digital Video Disk for permanent storage. The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed Price requirements type contract. The proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the future acquisition is 541380, with a small business size standard of $12.0 Million. If qualified and interested, please submit an email/fax/letter stating the name of your company, your interest, a Capabilities Statement, and your business size: indicating whether you are a small or large business for the purposes of the assigned NAICS code. Also identify a company Point of Contact (POC): name, telephone number with area code, and email address. Emails are preferred. The Gov. POCs for responses are listed below. AGAIN, THIS SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), OR AN INVITATION FOR BID. Responses should contain Company Name, Address, Point of Contact, Cage Code, Phone Number, Fax Number, and Size of Business. Responses should also identify whether the contractor can meet the responsibility of FAR 9.104-1(a) in regards to having adequate financial resources. In addition to the size of business, indicate all classes of business that fit your firm: i.e. Small Disadvantaged, Veteran-Owned, Woman-Owned, etc. Responses must be received no later than 13 March 2012 1500 CST. Responses and/or Questions to this sources sought should be e-mailed or faxed to the Attention of Thomas Rohr, thomas.rohr@eglin.af.mil. Fax number is 850-882-1680. All prospective offerors are responsible for monitoring this site for the release of all other information pertaining to the synopsis and solicitation.