Helicopter Emergency Oil System

INTRODUCTION The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Redstone Arsenal on behalf of U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC) Technology Development Directorate -Aviation Technology, Systems Integration & Demonstration (TDD-A/SID,) Fort Eustis, Virginia is issuing this sources sought notice as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the capabilities and resources to perform a research and development effort to address improved loss of lubrication capabilities of turboshaft engines for rotary wing applications. Under normal operations, flowing oil provides lubrication and cooling to engine mechanical systems. In a loss of lubrication condition, which could be due to a variety of reasons including small arms fire, where the primary oil flow no longer exists, the mechanical components generate more heat due to increased friction, which can lead to component failure. The Army desires the ability to run for a longer period of time after a loss of lubrication condition to improve aircraft survivability and to allow for a longer period of time to be able to maneuver out of the battlefield and land safely. The current turboshaft engine requirement is for 6 minutes of operations in loss of lubrication conditions. The Science and Technology (S&T) objective is to extend the loss of lubrication operational capabilities to beyond 20 minutes. One way to meet this requirement is to employ the use of an emergency auxiliary oil system. An auxiliary system takes over during the loss of primary oil flow, however, it requires the aircraft to always carry around the additional associated weight. This additional weight reduces aircraft payload and range, which is not desired. The purpose of this research effort is to develop and demonstrate an emergency lubrication system that is integrated into the existing primary oil system of the engine. This system must maintain 20 minutes of limited lubrication oil to the engine mechanical systems in emergency situations, such as loss or damage to the engine oil tank. Additional requirements for the system include the ability to fit within the existing engine envelope and a restriction on adding any weight to the engine beyond the current oil system. The starting point for this effort shall include a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 prototype to demonstrate system concept. The anticipation is to reach TRL 4 with hardware demonstration within 15 months of award and TRL 5 within the next 2 to 3 years. The estimated period of expected performance is approximately 36 months with the effort anticipated to commence approximately 3rd Quarter CY 2021. The intent is to procure these services on a competitive basis. BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES (IN FULL OR IN PART) OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION, and multiple awards MAY be made. All Small Business Set-Aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Location - Contractor Worksite DISCLAIMER - THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. RESPONSES WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE RESPONDER. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, IF ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE POINT OF ENTRY (GPE). IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR THE GPE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMMATION PERTAINING TO THIS REQUIREMENT. RESPONSE GUIDELINES: If your organization has the potential capabilities to perform the above described effort, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, CAGE and DUNNS number, email address, Web site address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. a.) What type of work has your company performed in the past in support of the same or similar requirement? Include any history of weapon systems integration on rotary and/or fixed wing aircraft? b.) Can or has your company managed a task of this nature? If so, please provide details. c.) Can or has your company managed a team of subcontractors before? If so, provide details. d.) What specific technical skills does your company possess which ensure capability to perform the tasks? e.) Respondents to this notice also must indicate whether they qualify as a Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern. Please note that under a Small-Business Set-Aside, in accordance with FAR 52.219-14, the small business prime must perform at least 50% of the work themselves in terms of the cost of performance. f.) Include in your response your ability to meet the requirements in the Special Requirements. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Demonstrate familiarity with current and future aviation weapon systems. ELIGIBILITY The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 541715 with a Small Business Size Standard of 1000 The Product Service Code is AC12. Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify their business size in their capabilities statement. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND SUBMISSION DETAILS (CAPABILITIES STATEMENT) All interested, capable, and responsible sources that wish to respond to this sources sought, must submit a Capabilities Statement addressing the above not later than the response closing date and time. Responses must be submitted through the DoD Safe Access File Exchange at https://safe.apps.mil/. Submissions through SAFE site require an email at least three business days prior to the due date with subject - Drop-off: Helicopter Emergency Oil System to the Government POC (Thomas Verry at thomas.j.verry.civ@mail.mil) and a submission link will be provided. Please limit responses to no more than 10 pages, not including preprinted product data sheets or marketing materials in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF.). All responses must be UNCLASSIFIED. All questions must be submitted via e-mail, with - RFI: Helicopter Emergency Oil System in the subject, to the points of contact (POC) for this RFI; Thomas Verry at thomas.j.verry.civ@mail.mil or laurie.a.pierce2.civ@mail.mil. No telephone inquiries or requests will be entertained.