RFI: Survivability for Aircraft Arming and Refuel Points.

INTRODUCTION The Army Contracting Command-Research Triangle Park Contracting Office is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support the requirement for research in Survivability for Aircraft Arming and Refuel Points. 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. 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. RESPPONSES WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE RESPONDER. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) OR INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) OR RFP, IF ANY 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. RFI: Survivability for Aircraft Arming and Refuel Points Introduction Despite the Army's tech-heavy shift to Multidomain Operations, it has not similarly updated the operations and safety of Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARP) for Army aircraft. FARPs need to be more efficient, harder to detect, and less vulnerable to enemy attack. The FARP is critical to keeping aircraft available to support troops in contact with the enemy. This task requires that the FARP be in an area open enough to land aircraft and close enough to combat to be of value. This, combined with the equipment required to rearm and refuel aircraft and how long this takes, makes FARPs easy targets for enemy aircraft, artillery, or drones. Refueling aircraft takes time, but rearming them is the most time-consuming FARP task. Refueling at the FARP varies depending on aircraft type and pumping/pressure capacity, and current systems ensure a steady pace while refueling so the hose and tank don't over pressurize and damage equipment, or overflow, creating fire hazards. Aircraft rearmament is time intensive because it requires the careful and manual handling of explosive ordinance. Rearming and refueling a helicopter platoon can take hours, and the priorities are ensuring survivability and avoiding enemy detection. Enemies will detect a stationary FARP easily, either visually or through the FARP's electromagnetic signatures, so it must be able to occupy a location quickly, establish the footprint, and be disassembled quickly. F Fast-paced operations can sometimes leave a FARP with limited defensive capabilities, so mobility is essential. For additional context for proposed solutions: There may be barriers to smooth setup and operation outside of Soldiers control such as rough terrain, bad/no roads, and availability of sufficient clear land area. When operations are complete, the FARP vehicles themselves must travel for resupply before another group of aircraft can be resupplied. A typical FARP has four service points and requires 26 personnel, at least 10 of whom must be petroleum service specialists (MOS 92F) - eight to refuel aircraft and two to monitor the emergency shut-off valves. It also requires 16 arming personnel (two per service point). These requirements can overextend the Forward Support Company's petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL), and ammunition personnel very quickly, especially if there is a need for a second FARP. For additional specifics on FARP vehicles/equipment, see the - Refueling Equipment section beginning on page 2-6 on the ATP 3-04.17 document link in the works cited section. The FARP should be capable of defending itself against known or expected threats, however this could require coordination of significant extra equipment and personnel. Management of excessive materiel not associated with refuel/rearm could cause slowdowns of transport or FARP operations. On the other hand, inadequate security could itself place aircraft, personnel, and FARP operations at risk. If under heavy attack or the FARP is at risk of being overrun, doctrine dictates that FARP operations should cease immediately, aircraft should be evacuated, personnel should move to rallying points, and if needed, FARP equipment should be abandoned until the situation is under control. The Army needs technology that meets the needs of the aviation community and directly supports the Army's Modernization Strategy's focus on force preservation and survivability. Improved survivability solutions will lead to increased effectiveness on the battle?eld and faster support of troops in contact. Response Instructions: Your response should have a cover page with your company information to include the Company Name, Address, UEI, Primary Point of Contact with a phone and email information. Please limit your response to each question to under 750 words per question Please provide the response to these questions in a single PDF format ?le You may answer all these questions or only a portion of the questions offered for consideration. Please email responses to FARPResearch@aal.army no later than the date/time specified in the notice. Questions for Consideration How would you increase the survivability of the Forward Support Company in the establishment of a FARP? How would you increase the survivability of the FARP during operations? How would you increase the survivability of the Forward Support Company in the breakdown and movement of a FARP? How do we decrease the amount of time the Aircraft is required to remain on the ground during Refueling operations? How do we decrease the amount of time the Aircraft is required to remain on the ground during Rearming operations? How would you support over time the increasing physical load requirements on Soldiers? Is there a way to conceal the location or presence of a FARP in the battlespace? How would you decrease the amount of time it takes to set up and disaggregate a FARP? Works Cited: https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN32371-ATP_3-04.17-001-WEB-3.pdf https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN36290-FM_3-0-000-WEB-2.pdf