Request For Information for T-38 A/C Forward Canopy Panel Redesign With Through-The-Canopy Ejection Capability

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS REQUEST IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, A SOLICATION, A REQUEST FOR QUOTES, OR AN INDICATION THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTRACT FOR THE ITEMS CONTAINED IN THIS NOTICE. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT REIMBURSE RESPONDENTS FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBMISSION OF THE INFORMATION BEING REQUESTED OR REIMBURSE EXPENSES INCURRED TO INTERESTED PARTIES FOR RESPONSES. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI OR TO OTHERWISE PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITED. Request for Information T-38A/C Forward Canopy Panel Redesign with Through-The-Canopy Ejection Capability, PN 2-13201-49, NSN 1560-00-886-1399 This announcement constitutes an official Request for Information (RFI). This not a Request for Proposal (RFP) or an Invitation for Bid (IFB), nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the government. 1. Purpose: The purpose of this RFI is to gather comments and identify potential sources, materials, timeframe, and approximate costs to redesign, test, and produce 550 ea. T-38 forward canopy transparencies to increase bird strike capability while maintaining the existing Through-The-Canopy (TTC) ejection capability. 2. Background: The T-38 System Program Office (SPO) requires an industry response regarding innovative or diverse technology that meet, what can only be described as, - conflicting' canopy performance needs i.e. maintain TTC capability and increase bird impact resistant capabilities. The current 0.23 inch thick stretched acrylic transparency can resist a 4-pound bird impact at 165 knots which does not offer a capability to resist significant bird impacts, and has resulted in the loss of six (6) aircraft and two pilot fatalities. Numerous attempts since 1970 were made to evaluate existing materials and redesign a transparency that could withstand a bird impact of 4 pounds at 400 knots. However, the increased transparency thickness proposal to increase bird strike survivability would have required modification of canopy operating mechanisms and addition of a transparency fracturing system, which significantly increased the cost of the modification. Although it would increase the level of bird impact protection, the proposal was cancelled due to the high cost of the modification. 3. Scope of Task: - Develop a new state of the art technology that will optimize the transparency design to maximize bird strike resistance while maintaining a total transparency weight of less than 68 pounds. Maintaining the weight below 68 pounds will negate the need to modify canopy operating mechanisms and significantly reduce costs. The contractor's response to the RFI should include an estimate of final bird strike resistance. - Redesigned transparency must retain the TTC ejection capability. - Materials must be manufactured in accordance with aviation industry standards, design specifications, requirements, and tolerances. - Incorporate existing transparency to canopy frame, fuselage attachment fitting, and canopy support. - Redesigned transparency should be able to maintain or improve current aircraft optical requirement (Optical requirements must meet approval of qualified FCF pilot), or current industry standards. 4. Information/Format: Potential offerors willing to become qualified source must be able to submit a Source Approval Request (SAR). Potential offerors shall provide information on relevant performance history and/or evidence of capability to satisfy this type of requirement, to include the NSN or PN (if existent). Potential offerors will demonstrate the offeror's infrastructure and integration capability to provide all aspects of this task to include but not limited to the following: - Manufacturing aircraft components, specifically canopy panels - Previous Government projects/qualification/approval/contract by similarity - Other pertinent data concerning your qualification to manufacture the required item. Please submit electronically your response in an executive summary format not to exceed 5 pages. If your response includes information you consider proprietary, please mark the information in accordance with regulatory guidance. Please do not include company brochures or other marketing information. Final vendor RFI responses are due by midnight 16 December 2013. The government does not intend to make an award on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for the information solicited herein. For questions, comments or RFI response, please contact: Attn: Kimberlene Butler Contracting Officer DSN 775-3801 6072 Fir Ave, Bldg 1233 HAFB UT 84056-5820 contact@example.gov