B-52 Data Interface Unit/Data Transfer Receptacle (DTR) - Buy and Repair F3I DTR

B-52 Data Interface Unit/Data Transfer Receptacle (DTR)

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources with the expertise, capabilities, experience, facilities, and technical capacity necessary to manufacture/provide and  repair the B-52 Data Interface Unit/Data Transfer Receptacle (DTR).

The National Stock Number (NSN)  and Part Number (PN) are as follows:
LRU: NSN 7025-01-738-4504AY, P/N P210015K0001-1, INTERFACE UNIT, DATA

This Request for Information (RFI) supports a buy and repair requirement for the new Form, Fit,  Function, and Interface (F3I) DTR. Kihomac, Inc. is currently manufacturing the F3I DTR under  contract SPRWA1-21-D-0015. The Government owns, or will provide under appropriate controls, the  manufacturing and technical data necessary to support competitive production and repair of this 
item. The Government intends to compete this requirement on the open market to obtain new  production units and repair services.

The legacy B-52 DTR is repaired by Symetrics Industries (CAGE 22830) under contracts  FA8539-20-D-0013 and FA8539-25-D-0004. This market research effort pertains to the F3I DTR  identified above, currently being manufactured by Kihomac, Inc. under contract SPRWA1-21-D-0015,  and is intended to identify sources capable of supporting competitive manufacture and repair using 
Government-owned technical data.

The DTR is a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) on the B-52 aircraft, with two DTRs installed per  aircraft. The DTR transfers Offensive Avionics System (OAS) information to and from storage on the  Data Transfer Cartridge (DTC) across its interface with the Fibre Channel or MIL-STD-1553A data bus  system. Additionally, the DTR provides status over the MIL-STD-1553A and Fibre Channel buses  indicating that the DTC is successfully installed.

The required scope shall include, as applicable, manufacture and delivery of new production DTR  units; hardware repair and return of unserviceable DTR units; obsolete parts resolution;  engineering support to investigate Deficiency Reports (DRs); Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and  Material Shortages (DMSMS) support; development, maintenance, and execution of required inspection,  test, and acceptance procedures; and configuration management support to ensure newly manufactured  and repaired units conform to the applicable Government-furnished technical data package. All newly manufactured and repaired units must meet applicable form, fit, function, and interface requirements.

The contractor shall furnish all necessary material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, facilities, and services required to perform the work. The contractor is responsible for acquiring, maintaining, and calibrating all support equipment required at its primary or subcontractor facilities. Contractor-furnished material or replacement parts must equal or exceed the quality,
tolerances, and specifications identified in the applicable technical data package.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain a description of the NSN listed for buy and repair requirements and a Contractor Capability Survey. The Survey allows Contractors to provide their company’s capability.

2. If, after reviewing these documents, you wish to participate in this market research, you should provide documentation demonstrating your company's capability to meet these buy and repair requirements. Failure to provide adequate documentation may prevent the government from properly assessing your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please explain how you would overcome this deficiency to fulfill the requirement (e.g., through teaming or subcontracting).

              a. Identify any specific areas of work that your organization believes should be set aside exclusively for Small Business.

3. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

4. Questions regarding this market survey should be addressed to Tyler Martens, Program Manager, 478-955-5165 or via email at tyler.martens.2@us.af.mil.

DISCLAIMER:

This Request for Information is for market research and planning purposes only. This is not a request for proposal, does not constitute a solicitation, and shall not be construed as a commitment by the government to award a contract. Responses to this RFI are not offers, and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. The Government will not pay for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of responses. Any information submitted by respondents is strictly voluntary.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

B-52 Data Interface Unit/Data Transfer Receptacle (DTR)

Part I. Business Information

Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming 
or joint venture partners:
•  Company/Institute Name:
•  Address:
•  Point of Contact:
•  CAGE Code:
• Phone Number:
• E-mail Address:
• Web Page URL:
•  Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: NAICS Code 811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

Based on the above NAICS Code, please indicate whether your company is a:
•  Small Business                (Yes / No)
•  Woman Owned Small Business       (Yes / No)
•  Small Disadvantaged Business        (Yes / No)
•  8(a) Certified                 (Yes / No)
•  HUBZone Certified              (Yes / No)
•  Veteran Owned Small Business       (Yes / No)
•  Service Disabled Veteran Small Business  (Yes / No)
•  System for Award Management (SAM)   (Yes / No)
•  A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please  indicate the country of ownership).

Responses to the Capability Survey Part I and Part II must be received no later than the close of business on 23 November 2026.

Please ensure data is in a readable electronic format that can be received through a firewall. Attachments shall not exceed 10 MB per email. Multiple emails are acceptable. Responses must be sent via email to the following:

•  Chiquita Glover-Perkins, PCO, chiquita.glover-perkins@us.af.mil
•  Tyler Martens, PM, tyler.martens.2@us.af.mil

Questions related to this market research should be addressed to the PM.

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

A. General Capability Questions:

1. Briefly describe your facility’s capabilities and the goods and/or services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure.

2. Describe your company’s past experience on previous projects similar in complexity. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, quantities, and agency/organization supported.

3. Describe your company’s experience in repairing B-52 DTRs or comparable avionics Line Replaceable Units (LRUs).

4. Describe your company’s experience in manufacturing B-52 DTRs or comparable avionics LRUs. Include experience with production, assembly, inspection, testing, and delivery of newly manufactured assets.

5. Describe your company’s capabilities for generating, handling, processing, and storing classified material and data, if required for performance of this effort.

6. What is your company’s current maximum monthly capacity for this type of buy-and-repair requirement? Provide separate estimated monthly capacities for newly manufactured units and repaired units. Provide information on any facility reserves or surge capability available to support critical operational mission requirements.

7. What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices does your company employ? Provide a description of your quality program, such as ISO 9001, AS9100, or equivalent.

      a. Provide a detailed quality plan implementing AS9100, or equivalent, that addresses manufacturing, inspection, testing, repair,            configuration management, nonconforming material, and corrective-action processes.

B. Repair Questions:

1. Describe your capabilities and experience in repairing existing systems/equipment, including hardware and software, to solve maintenance and support problems in the depot environment.

2. Provide your commercial manual(s) or Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP), along with documentation of your rights to use them, for depot-level repair and functional checks of these or similar assets for Government Engineer review.

3. Describe your capabilities and experience in test, evaluation, repair, and maintenance procedures.

4. Describe your configuration-management processes and how you identify and resolve parts-obsolescence and Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) problems.

5. Discuss your process for addressing any form, fit, function, interface, quality, or configuration issues that may arise during repair of the assets.

6. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting on-hand and work-in-process balances, repair status, and asset disposition to your customer.

7. Describe how your organization will use Government-furnished drawings, specifications, technical data, and test procedures to perform the repair requirement. Identify any anticipated technical-data gaps and explain how your organization would address those gaps.

8. If the item cannot be repaired in total, state what portions, assemblies, subassemblies, or components your organization can repair.

9. Discuss any reverse-engineering, component replacement, redesign, or alternate-source opportunities that may be available to support repairability, parts obsolescence, DMSMS resolution, or sustainment of the item.

10. Describe your expected repair turnaround time, including estimated time required for evaluation, repair, testing, quality acceptance, and return shipment.

C. Manufacturing Questions

1. Describe your capability to manufacture, assemble, inspect, test, and deliver newly produced B-52 DTR units using Government-furnished manufacturing and technical data.

2. Describe your experience using Government-furnished technical data packages, including drawings, specifications, parts lists, manufacturing instructions, acceptance-test procedures, and configuration-control requirements.

3. Describe the facilities, production lines, special tooling, test equipment, support equipment, and calibration capabilities that would be used to manufacture the DTR.

4. Describe your process for establishing and maintaining production configuration control. Address engineering-change control, material substitutions, deviations, waivers, nonconforming material, and traceability.

5. Identify your estimated lead time for first-unit delivery and recurring production deliveries. Identify any long-lead materials, components, tooling, qualification testing, or supply-chain constraints that could affect delivery.

6. Describe your capability to procure, manufacture, qualify, and maintain traceability for components and replacement parts required to produce the DTR. Include your approach to counterfeit-part prevention and supplier-quality management.

7. Describe your manufacturing inspection and test process, including in-process inspection, final inspection, acceptance testing, and procedures for documenting test results.

8. Describe your process for resolving parts obsolescence and DMSMS issues associated with the production effort while maintaining required form, fit, function, interface, quality, and configuration requirements.

9. Describe your capability to support first article testing, production qualification testing, and any required Government source inspection or acceptance activities.

10. Describe any portion of the manufacturing effort that would require subcontracting, teaming, Government-furnished equipment, Government-furnished material, or additional technical support.

D. Commerciality Questions

1. Are there established catalog or market prices for this requirement, or for similar manufactured and repaired assets?

2. If you offer this product and/or service to both the U.S. Government and commercial clients, is the same workforce used for both?

3. Describe your standard warranty and return process for newly manufactured goods and repair services furnished to the Government for items similar in nature to this requirement.

E. Continuity of Operations and Cybersecurity

1. Does your company have an active Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), or equivalent, in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophic event that causes facilities or operations to be disrupted?

2. What mitigation strategies are in place for your company to resume operations and prevent further disruptions?

3. Is your company facing financial disruption, impending merger, acquisition, and/or foreign investment?

4. If there is Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) of your company, what percentage of the company is owned by the foreign entity or entities? Which foreign country or countries and entity or entities own part or all of your company?

5. Does your company have a policy or plan for preventing and mitigating risks associated with the security of internal and external information systems?

6. Has your company implemented cybersecurity requirements given in DFARS clause 252.204-7012, “Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting,” and DFARS clause 252.204-7021, “Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Requirements”?

F. Engineering Services Questions

1. Describe your capabilities and experience providing engineering services relevant to the requirements of this effort, including support for both manufactured and repaired assets.

2. Describe your capabilities and experience in developing or modifying manufacturing, inspection, test, repair, and maintenance procedures. Include associated updates to technical orders, technical manuals, work instructions, and preparation of new technical data, as applicable.

3. Demonstrate your ability and experience providing the same or similar services currently offered in commercial and/or military environments by providing the following information on the same or similar items:
a. Contract Number
b. Procuring Agency
c. Contract Value
d. Services Provided

4. Describe your capabilities and experience in any required test, evaluation, manufacturing, inspection, and repair processes or procedures with regard to the required items.

5. Describe how your organization will identify and resolve parts-obsolescence and DMSMS problems affecting production and repair of the required items.

6. Discuss your process for addressing any form, fit, function, interface, quality, configuration, or producibility issues that may arise under the requirements of this effort.

7. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting on-hand and work-in-process balances, manufacturing status, repair status, and asset disposition to your customer, as required.

8. Describe how your organization will use Government-furnished drawings, specifications, technical data, and test procedures to support this effort. Identify any anticipated technical-data gaps and explain your process for resolving those gaps through engineering analysis,Government coordination, or other appropriate means.