LITENING AN/AAQ-28 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

AN/AAQ-28 LITENING ADVANCED TARGETING POD (ATP) SYSTEM SUSTAINMENT AND PRODUCTION REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) The Government is conducting market research for information and planning purposes only to identify potential sources to administer and manage full repair and production capabilities for the LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod system as well as any changes that may occur during the period of a potential future contract. Both LRU and SRU test equipment will be available to perform testing during in-plant depot repairs for the length of the contract. If necessary, manufacturing test equipment may be used to perform Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP) or troubleshooting of LITENING repair items on a non-interference basis. The contractor shall have the capability to provide software updates, fixes, corrections within a reasonable period, which will be negotiated as the requirements are identified. The contractor shall incorporate change requests for the software update and deliver software products, including the technical data packages that meet the operational needs of the user. Changes to lower-level specifications shall be documented in applicable System/Subsystem Specifications, Software Requirements Specifications, and Interface Requirements Specifications. The contractor shall coordinate software change efforts with Precision Attack Integrated Product Team (PA-IPT). The contractor shall provide technical support to field operations and customer inquiries such as resolving operational questions and maintenance problems. Requests for assistance and actions taken shall be logged into the maintenance database. Technical Order 11F1-AAQ28-2 TECHNICAL MANUAL WORK PACKAGE MAINTENANCE MANUAL LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod system is comprised of hardware and highly specialized software developed and customized to support the Joint and Air Force's Air Defense mission. Since the software is highly specialized, no commercial uses exist for this equipment. The Government does not own or have access to the Technical Data Package (TDP) for LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod. New software development may not be a good option for the Government because it might be too expensive and exceed timeliness of providing capability to operational missions. The Government shall encourage opportunity for teaming arrangements with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) to discuss the proprietary software data. The contractor shall provide the necessary labor, materials, facilities, and equipment required to analyze, troubleshoot, repair, overhaul, and test LITENING assemblies, parts and the operating system software that are maintained or repaired. These services also include alignment, adjustment, calibration, testing, movement, storage, and reporting status related services to the repair and return of LITENING ATPs to the users. Contractor shall furnish, repair, replace or provide new components, equipment and materials shall conform to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications. The new components and material shall be of the same exact manufacturer, class, grade, type, and function as those being replaced unless otherwise approved by the contracting officer. The contractor may recommend substitutions; however, the contractor must obtain approval from the contracting officer prior to purchasing or installing any component or material. The contractor shall provide all written specifications and details of the proposed material, component or equipment to the contracting officer or authorized approval authority as designated by the Contracting Officer. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) Code 26916: Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM); the only source of manufacture and repairs for the LITENING. NGC has been the only vendor on LITENING system from the initial conceptual design. NGC is currently on contract (sole source) for the sustainment and production of LITENING System. NGC's in-depth system security knowledge and information assurance risk management framework (RMF) as well as on-time responses to helpdesk trouble tickets, demonstrate that NGC can successfully perform CLS and production requirements. The US Government possesses no TDP for the highly specialized software developed and customized to support the Joint and Air Force's Air Defense mission. Since the software is proprietary there are no COTS software items existing that can be customized, modified, or tailored to meet the requirement and no software data rights to support this effort. This is a Request for Information (RFI), for market research purposes only. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a follow-on effort, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. This is not a Request for Quotation, a Request for Proposal, an Invitation for Bid, or any other commitment by PA-IPT to contract for the items contained in this RFI. The Government will not reimburse costs incurred while developing a response to this RFI. Regarding industry RFI responses, PA-IPT will not release to any firm, agency, or individual outside the Government, any information marked - PROPRIETARY without written permission from the respondent. Regulatory Guidance 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes. Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Although - proposal and - offeror are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. This solicitation is issued for the purpose of market research in an effort to overcome barriers to competition. (End of provision)