V-22 Interface Units (IUs)

1. Description: 

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) is seeking information from industry on developmental or non-developmental technology solutions for the redesign of the Interface Units (IUs) obsolete components. Impacted Weapon Replacement Assemblies (WRAs) are the Nacelle Interface Unit (NIU), Wing Interface Unit (WIU), and Avionics Bay Interface Unit (ABIU). The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is GE Aviation Systems Limited (CAGE: K5294).

1. Disclaimer:

This is a request for information (RFI) only. This RFI is issued solely as market research for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a request for proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.  This RFI does not commit the government to contract for any supply or service as a result.  The requirements are subject to change and the information provided below is for informational purposes only.  Further, the Government is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.  Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI.  All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense.  Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.  If a solicitation is released, it will be announced on https://sam.gov, the Government Point of Entry (GPE), in accordance with FAR 5.101. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this website for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

1. Background: 

The V-22 platform is facing availability and obsolescence challenges with the following V-22 WRAs: NIUs, WIUs, and ABIUs. These WRAs have parts that have been identified as End of Life (EoL) with no replacements available. Additionally, the WRAs contain proprietary interdependencies, severely limiting long-term sustainment options and future capability insertion. The primary requirement is addressing flight critical obsolescence concerns with minimal impact to interfaces and architecture of existing mission systems and air vehicle that contain, or operate with, the aforementioned three WRAs, while preserving or enhancing current operational capability.

1. Eligibility and Instructions for Receipt of GFI:

The Government does not possess the drawings, technical specifications, or other data necessary to support this requirement, as such information is proprietary to the OEM. Interested parties may contact the OEM directly to request any technical information the OEM is willing to provide in order to facilitate a response to this requirement.

1. Requested Information: 

Interested parties should submit their UNCLASSIFIED response in accordance with Paragraph 5, with any supporting documentation, to include the following content:

General Information (1 page limit)

1. A general introduction to the respondent’s business
2. CAGE code, DUNS Number, and mailing address
3. Business size.  Indicate whether contractor is a large business or qualifies as a small, small disadvantaged, veteran-owned small business, women-owned, 8(a), HUBZone, or service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern
4. Foreign Ownership/Interest.  Identify if the company is foreign owned or if there are foreign nationals in board or executive level positions.
5. Point of contact to receive/provide additional information or clarification.

Vendor Capability (3 page limit)

1. Provide a general description of the respondent’s capabilities.
2. Describe any unique, exceptional, and/or differentiating capabilities.
3. If this effort proceeds to acquisition, describe what your anticipated role would be (e.g., Prime, Sub-contractor for an individual WRA, etc.).
4. Describe similar avionics development and integration efforts you have undertaken (please include Government contract numbers, if applicable).  What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
5. Describe your experience using relevant civilian and military standards (see below).  Identify if you see any of these as problematic or challenging and why.
   • Military Standards including:  MIL-STD-810H Environmental Requirements, MIL-STD-461G and MIL-STD-464D Electromagnetic Environmental Effects, MIL-STD-704D Electrical Power Hardware Qualification, MIL-STD-810 Environmental Qualification, MIL-STD-461 Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) Qualification, MIL-STD-882E Safety Products and Processes, MIL-HDBK-472 Maintainability Prediction, MIL-STD-31000B Technical Data Packages, MIL-STD-1568D Materials and Processes for Corrosion Prevention and Control in Aerospace Weapons Systems, MIL-HDBK-502A Product Support Analysis, MIL-HDBK-2155 Failure Reporting Analysis and Corrective Action Taken, MIL-STD-1472G, Department of Defense Design Criteria Standard: Human Engineering, MIL-STD-1796A, Department Of Defense Standard Practice: Avionics Integrity Program, Software Development using DO-178C Processes.
   • Hardware Development using DO-254 Processes.
   • Logistics Product Data GEIA-STD-0007 Rev. C and Logistics Product Data Handbook GEIA-HB-0007B.
   • S1000D Common Source Database.
   • Relevant handbooks: MIL-HDBK-704 Department of Defense Handbook: Guidance for Test Procedures for Demonstration of Utilization Equipment Compliance to Aircraft Electrical Power Characteristics, MIL-HDBK-454 General Guidelines for Electronic Equipment.
6. Describe your experience with development, verification, and support using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods.

Vendor Schedule Estimate (2 page limit)

Provide a schedule timeline with estimated durations for a design and development phase and a production phase of this effort, including key milestones such as design completion, prototyping, testing, qualification, Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP), and full rate production.  Are there any key schedule risks and how would you mitigate them?

Statement of Objectives (SOO) Comments, Vendor Processes, and Business/Programmatic Approach (12 page limit)

Review the Interface Units SOO document and provide observations and comments on the Government’s general acquisition and technical approach, including: 

1. What programmatic risks do you anticipate and how would you recommend the Government reduce those risks? Also describe any technical and key cost risks and how you would plan to mitigate them.
2. What performance incentives would best incentivize completion within cost, schedule and performance requirements?
3. Are the Government’s Development and Production timelines reasonable and achievable?
4. Is there anything about this acquisition that unreasonably limits your ability to respond to a future solicitation?  If so, what changes would you recommend?
5. What additional GFI would be required in a solicitation to propose a technical solution?
6. Provide specific suggestions on how it could be refined to more effectively communicate the project goals and desired outcomes. 
7. Highlight any objectives that may be unclear, unachievable, or ambiguous, considering current industry capabilities and best practices.

Provide comments regarding the Vendor Processes and Business/Programmatic Approach, including:

1. Provide a description of your integration methodology/approach (including existing mission systems and air vehicle data architectures).  Describe the degree of integration difficulty you foresee and how your approach mitigates that difficulty.
2. Secure and Resilient Supply Chains: Provide a detailed description of your supply chain risk management processes.  Include your strategies for ensuring resilient and secure sourcing and distribution of parts essential to the avionics solution.
3. Software Data Rights: Describe the vendor’s willingness to provide complete source code with unlimited data rights necessary for the technology refresh and how provided source code can be used for integration and future modifications by the customer or third-party entities; specify any restrictions or conditions that may apply to data rights.
4. Interface Data Rights: Describe the vendor’s willingness to provide Unlimited Rights for each WRA’s external interfaces (physical, logical, and data).
5. Sustainability and Supportability: Describe how your avionics solution ensures long-term sustainability, including specific strategies for maintainability, reliability, and overall supportability across the system’s lifecycle.  How long do you think the solution is sustainable?  Discuss any key Product Support Element assumptions and/or risks.  Discuss options for life-cycle sustainment support utilizing existing commercial and/or Department of Defense infrastructure.
6. Describe how you manage obsolescence risks (i.e., diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages (DMSMS)) during design, production, and sustainment.
7. Describe any technical risks and how you would plan to mitigate them (unless described elsewhere in your RFI response).
8. Describe any key cost risks and how you would plan to mitigate them.

Vendor Technical Approach (12 Page Limit)

Provide a summary of the solution approach that contains a description of the proposed technological solutions/products and supporting technical data.  This should include:

1. Detailed description of the technology solution elements.   Specifically identify which elements are non-developmental items (NDI) or custom designs.  For custom designs, summarize the degree of customization (e.g., completely new vs. minor change to existing NDI) and degree of risk(s).
2. End product physical dimensions and performance specification data
3. System reliability and maintainability characteristics (e.g., MTBF estimate)
4. Design provisions to support incremental upgrades
5. Technology insertion opportunities
6. How mature are the solution technologies?  Have any not been fielded in operational environments?

5. Responses:

a. CLASSIFICATION: All responses must be UNCLASSIFIED in entirety.

Data Markings.  To complete its review, NAVAIR must be able to share the respondent’s information within the Government and with covered Government support contractors as defined in DFARs 252.227-7989 Rights in Technical Data, Computer Software, and Computer Software Documentation—Other Than Commercial Products and Commercial Services.  (DEVIATION 2026-O0036).  Any responses marked in a manner that will not permit such review may be returned without being assessed or considered. All submissions must include a statement which clearly allows for the information to be disclosed with covered Government support contractors.

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA): Please initiate a request through NAVAIR Contracts Team, Jeffrey Norris at contact@example.gov and Samantha Barbaris at contact@example.gov

b. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  If the respondent is a foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) concern or if a U.S. respondent has a team member or partner who is a foreign entity, adherence to all ITAR regulations is required.

c. Response Submissions. Full response submissions with the requested supporting unclassified data above must be received electronically no later than 5:00 PM ET on 28 July 2026 to the NAVAIR Contracts Team, Jeffrey Norris and Samantha Barbaris at the following e-mail addresses: contact@example.gov and contact@example.gov. Submissions via E-mail and/or DoD SAFE Drop off are accepted. If a DoD SAFE Drop off is required, please send a request to the points of contact above at least 2 full business days prior to your intended submission date.

Format: Provide full unclassified response via electronic media that is Microsoft Office 2016 compatible or PDF/A.  Electronic media must utilize Optical Character Recognition and allow printing, copying, and word search to permit efficient & effective evaluation of responses.

Page Limits: Responses should observe the page limits requested, inclusive of any attachments and enclosures.

Language & Font:  Responses must be entirely in English and utilize Times New Roman 12-point font.

6. Questions:

Direct unclassified questions regarding this RFI electronically in writing to NAVAIR Contracts Team, Jeffrey Norris at contact@example.gov and Samantha Barbaris at contact@example.gov. All questions and requests for information must be made in writing via email.  Telephone requests for additional information will not be honored.  All questions and answers regarding this RFI may be posted as updates to this notice.  The Government reserves the right to not address questions received after the timeframes posted in this notice.

7. Summary:

This is a request for information only to identify sources that can provide an obsolescence solution for the Interface Units (NIU, WIU, and ABIU) for the V-22 aircraft.  The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the government.  This is not a request for proposals.  The Government has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought.  No funds are available to pay for preparation of responses to this announcement.  Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary.  All submissions become government property and will not be returned.