R -- CH-46 Wireless Rotor Blade Lights

The Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, MD intends to negotiate and award a level of effort, time and materials order for the procurement of a reliable, wireless tip cap light for the CH-46 series helicopter rotor blade. Night flight operations require at least one rotor blade tip light be functional. The tip lights illuminate rotor arc situational awareness. The current wired tip light has poor reliability because the power wire running the length of the blade fails due to the affect of centrifugal force. A wireless tip cap light is needed that will eliminate these problems. A wireless system must be able to be turned on and off and can not adversely affect the blade weigh and balance. Boeing will evaluate existing technology such as motion activated, motion powered - faraday lights, LED's, Piesoelectric crystals, VHF/UHF wireless remote systems for possible application on the CH-46E rotor blade. The proposed order will be awarded on a sole source basis to the Boeing Company, Boeing Helicopters, Ridley Park, PA under Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA), N00019-05-G-0012. The authority permitting other than full and open competition is Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 2304(c) (1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The estimated period of performance for this effort is 1 October 2006 through 31 March 2007.See numbered note 22.