Light Weight/ Light Duty Mat System

This is a sources sought synopsis. This Request for Information (RFI) is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal and should not be construed as a commitment by the Government to award a contract as a result of this request for information. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst is seeking alternative sources and no-cost samples of a light-duty mat in support of the Expeditionary Airfield Program in accordance with the attached Performance Specification. Bid samples will be utilized for testing and will not be returned. The Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) Concept is a shorebased, aviation weapons support system which permits deployment of landing force aircraft within an effective range of ground forces. This concept allows for the construction of portable, reusable, forward-deployed airfields which can be assembled in a building block concept for the rapid introduction of air power. These airfields are fabricated from aluminum panels, designated AM2 Mat. The AM2 Mat expanses can be assembled to form an airfield's runways, taxiways, parking areas, and other areas required for aircraft operations and maintenance. While AM2 Mat is a highly capable medium-duty, battle-proven airfield surfacing system, the substantial weight and cube embarkation profile of this system is slowly reducing the operational capability and feasibility of deploying this system for all applications. Some operational commanders have elected not to employ the use of the only airfield surfacing system in the inventory. The direction of the Marine Corps is advancing towards reliance on a small, lightweight MEU concept with heavy use of rotary aircraft such as the CH46, CH53, AH1 and UH1, as well as the V22 Tilt-Rotor aircraft. These aircraft do not require an airfield surfacing system that can withstand high impact/wheel loads. A light-duty mat would be more practical and mobile to support the parking, ground operations and air taxiing of these aircraft. This type of mat would have the ability to be installed, removed and repositioned rapidly as the front moves forward and would not be required to withstand the high thermal profiles of the JSF or AV8B. The light-duty mat must, at a maximum, be 10% of the weight of the present AM2 Mat and 33% of the volume of AM2 Mat. AM2 Mat weighs 6.5 pounds per square foot and has a volume of .25 cubic feet per linear foot. The light-duty mat must have the ability to withstand direct impingement of exhaust temperatures not to exceed 600 degrees F, for a maximum of one minute, without loss of strength. All interested sources with qualified systems are encouraged to respond to this synopsis to identify their devices, qualifications and production status no later than 29 June 2009. All responses should be forwarded to Ms. Christine Somerset, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Hwy 547, Lakehurst, NJ 08733-5082. Ms. Somerset may be reached at 732-323-1600 or christine.somerset@navy.mil. All Bid Samples should be forwarded to Mr. Ralph Paz, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Hwy 547, Lakehurst, NJ 08733-5082. Respondents are notified that a formal solicitation MAY NOT necessarily result from this RFI. The Government will not reimburse the respondent for any costs associated with the information submitted in response to this request, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any costs incurred in developing the information provided to the Government. The Government will not release any information marked with a Proprietary legend, received in response to this RFI, to any firms, agencies, or individuals outside of the Government without written permission in accordance with the legend.