China Aerospace Industrial Base Project

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS ANNOUNCEMENT IAW FAR 15.201(e). A MARKET SURVEY FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR QUOTES AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS SYNOPSIS. NO REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO THIS SYNOPSIS OR ANY FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION REQUESTS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SYNOPSIS IS TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF POTENTIALLY QUALIFIED SOURCES AND THEIR SIZE CLASSIFICATIONS (SMALL BUSINESS, LARGE BUSINESS, ETC.) PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST A COPY OF A SOLICITATION, AS ONE DOES NOT EXIST. The Government is seeking qualified, experienced sources in Chinese Aerospace Research as stated below in the project requirements section. Therefore, the Government is requesting that interested concerns with backgrounds in Chinese Aerospace Research furnish the following information: (1) Company name, address, point of contact, voice and fax telephone numbers and e-mail address. (2) Type of business, i.e., small, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, Hub Zone, serviced-disabled veteran-owned small business, large business, etc. under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541720 which contains a size standard $20.5 million, or suggest an appropriate NAICS. 3) Provide white paper outlining company's capabilities, not to exceed 10 pages, single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 font. Questions and E-mail responses to this request for information are preferred, and should be sent to: Kimberly Knott at kimberly.knott.1@us.af.mil, phone 334-953-8552 or Gail Vendel at gail.vendel@us.af.mil, phone 334-953-3521. The due date and time for responses to this sources sought is 12:00 pm Central Standard Time on 11 July 2017. CASI Aerospace Industrial Base project requirements 1. Background. a. The mission of the China Aerospace Studies Institute is to advance understanding of the capabilities, operating concepts, and limitations of China's aerospace forces, which encompass the PLA Air Force (PLAAF), Naval Aviation, Rocket Force and space assets. Created at the initiative of the Director, Strategy, Concepts, and Assessments, Headquarters of the United States Air Force (USAF), CASI aims to fill a niche in the China research community by providing high quality, unclassified research on Chinese aerospace developments in the context of U.S. strategic imperatives in the Asia-Pacific region. b. This document specifies the requirements for the CASI Aerospace Industrial Base project. 2. Requirements a. This China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) project will conduct research on the development of the Chinese aerospace and defense industrial base with particular focus on the improvements of its research, development, and manufacturing capabilities, the relationship between the PLA's aerospace community and the civilian Aerospace and Defense (AD) industrial base, the role played by key AD-related corporations such as Aviation Industry of China (AVIC) Corp., and the formulation of long-term weapons development and innovation strategies. The objective of this project is to conduct research aimed at filling analytical gaps in our understanding of China's aspirations to build more powerful aerospace forces. The project will examine issues related to the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), PLA Rocket Force (PLARF), PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) and the Chinese Aerospace and Defense industrial base that supports these entities. b. Literature review of primary and secondary sources: This will consist of a comprehensive assessment of the diverse range of primary Chinese language sources and secondary English language sources available on the Chinese AD industrial base. This will include but not be limited to books, newspapers, specialized journals, databases, blogs, online websites, academic dissertations, and catalogues. A detailed assessment will be conducted to determine the state of knowledge and key knowledge gaps. Moreover, this review will also provide insights as to useful analytical frameworks in which to examine the information that is available. c. Detailed analysis of the state of the AD industry and its relationship with the PLA aerospace community: This task will cover a detailed and extensive examination of the AD industrial base, especially looking at its institutional structure such as corporate entities, research base, leadership and management mechanisms, key programs, resource inputs, the state of civil- military integration, innovation dynamics, and the quality and scale of outputs. There will be a case study of select programs such as aero-engines and fighter aircraft. d. Implications for the U.S. and the USAF: This task will evaluate the implications for the United States and for the U.S. Air Force. This will include assessing how much progress the Chinese AD industrial base is making in narrowing its technological gap with the U.S. as well as with its regional partners such as Japan and South Korea, what the near, medium and long trends are, whether there is an intensifying and direct strategic competition in aerospace technological development between the Chinese and U.S. AD sectors, and whether Chinese aerospace capabilities will be exported and pose risks to the U.S. and its interests elsewhere in the world. e. MILESTONES, DELIVERABLES, AND SCHEDULE Milestones Date Planned Interim sponsor briefing 1 4 Aug 2017, onsite Interim sponsor briefing 2 28 Nov, 2017 in Washington Draft paper (s) available 5 Feb 2018, submitted electronically Project findings conference 27 Mar 2018, onsite Final reports due 4 May 2018, submitted electronically 3. Capabilities required a. Must demonstrate current or recent research and publications on the following topics: i. China's Defense Industrial base ii. Dual-Use Technology in China iii. The Research, Development, and Acquisition (RDA) process for China's Science and Technology (S&T) or Aerospace field iv. Policymaking and leadership for China's S&T or Aerospace field v. Impact of S&T on policymaking and resourcing in China b. Must have recent experience organizing and conducting research report conferences on science and technological topics. c. Must have own facilities to conduct research.