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Introduction The United States Government (USG) Army Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) is conducting market research to determine potential sources, if any, for potential innovative appro... Introduction The United States Government (USG) Army Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) is conducting market research to determine potential sources, if any, for potential innovative approaches to upgrade the AH-64E Tail Rotor Drive System (TRDS) for the Project Manager, Apache Attack Helicopter (PM AAH) within the Program Executive Office for Aviation (PEO AVN). The USG seeks to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to improve the current design that will enable the AH-64E to realize an increased performance. The vendor shall provide all resources, except those proposed to be provided by the Government, necessary and incidental to the performance of the work required for the effort. The effort shall be inclusive of all Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE), Program Management, Manufacturing, Technical Documentation, Technical Support, and other engineering support for the redesign of specific Tail Rotor Drive System components: Common Drive shafts Couplings Intermediate Gearbox Tail Rotor Gearbox This Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain qualified vendors to provide plans, procedures, design information, and reports addressing the NRE efforts stated above. Additionally, USG-ACC-RSA is seeking sources with a strong background, history and/or past performance in streamlining and facilitating rapid acquisition and addressing obsolescence.. Responders shall provide their performance history and back it with evidentiary data. Interested vendors are encouraged to provide substantiated evidence of their capabilities and successes in the areas cited above. The submission of this information is solely for informational, market research, and planning purposes and is not a request for competitive proposals, quotations or an invitation to reimburse vendors for either effort or associated costs to respond or for any information provided. This notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This notice does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice or any follow up information requests. All costs associated with responding to this notice will be solely at the responding party’s expense. Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the US G to form a binding contract. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor the Federal Business Opportunities (WWW.FBO.GOV) site for additional information pertaining to this notice. Purpose The purpose of this RFI not only to determine potential sources, but to inform industry of a USG need to improve the AH-64’s tail rotor performance by designing it to handle an increased torque load. The Government requests comments related to: Section 3.0 – Weight Characteristics Section 4.0 – Performance Requirements Section 5.0 - Reliability Section 6.0 – Proposed Schedule Any data marked proprietary as part of a response to this RFI will NOT be reviewed by the USG because it cannot be used to influence a potential Apache drive system Upgrade RFP. Any changes or modifications made to the Apache Tail Rotor Drive System derived from responses to this RFI will be incorporated on a non-attribution basis. Weight Characteristics The proposed design will be no more than a 10% increased weight over the legacy design. All proposed efforts should have a plan to investigate a weight reduction to include thermoplastics or carbon fiber technology. 4.0 Performance Requirements The proposed design will need to be able to realize a full authority Tail Rotor system with an aircraft Gross Weight over sigma to equal 25,793 lbs NTE a shaft horse power of 3400, with growth capability up to 27,634 lbs gross weight of sigma. 5.0 Reliability/Accessibility/Maintainability The proposed design is required to meet or exceed the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) imposed on the current design. The design will utilize existing mounting points on the airframe and not require airframe modifications. Maintainer burden will be evaluated in the proposed design. 6.0 Proposed Schedule The new design needs to be fully qualified and ready for flight testing by 2nd QTR FY22. PM AAH has alignment obligations with a dependency on a new Tail Rotor Drive System. 7.0 Requested Information Answers to the below inquiries will be reviewed to determine capability and the likelihood that requirements can be executed based on capability and the chosen approach of respondents. At a minimum, the below information must be included. • Company or organization name and mailing address (City/State/Zip) • Company web page URL, if any • Point of Contact (name, title, phone number, and e-mail address) • CAGE Code and NAICS Code 7.1 Company Information 7.1.1 Describe your corporate experience and performance of requirements of this type, size, and complexity of effort within the last 5 years. For each such experience referenced, please provide: contract number, organization supported, indication of whether performance was as a prime or sub-vendor contract value, government point of contact, and a brief description of how the referenced contract relates to the requirements objectives. 7.1.2 Provide a summary of the company's capability to meet the requirements objectives and perform the efforts for a contract of this magnitude. This description shall demonstrate, through experience an understanding of the following: (a) drivetrain system design and testing, (b) drivetrain system integration, and (c) airworthiness substantiation of hardware. 7.1.3 Describe your company's organization to include major products/services, primary customer base, number of employees, annual revenue history, office location, Cage Code(s), statement regarding current Small Business Administration (SBA) business size and socio-economic classification (i.e., small, Small-Disadvantaged, Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned, HUB Zone, etc.), statement whether your interest in this effort is as a prime Offeror or to express interest regarding subcontracting possibilities, and contact information (telephone and email) for points of contact of those able to discuss the material submitted. 7.1.4 Describe your capacity and facilities for this effort. Explain any element of this requirement (i.e., engineering, documentation, technical data development, testing, etc.) that your company either does not have or that must be established to accomplish tasks that may result from the requirements. 7.1.5 Describe your company’s estimated rate of production for the new Tail Rotor drive system. Once in full-rate production, what is the estimated manufacturing lead time and what is the total monthly capacity? 7.1.6 Describe any limitations your company may have for responding to these requirements. Include limitations and courses of action necessary to overcome the limitation. Identify whether the limitation is based on cost, schedule or technical performance issues you feel should be considered. 7.1.7 Plans for Internal Research and Development (IRAD) and/or existing Government funded Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) development (for CRADA identify contract and Government POC), if any. 7.1.8. Risks or issues with providing a solution within the planned timeframe in Section 6.0. 7.1.9. Free-form information addressing any area or providing additional Contractor Furnished Information (CFI) as desired. Vendors are encouraged to describe their readiness or non-readiness to move into an Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase for their specific technology approach to these requirements. 7.1.10. Plans to transition the product to production and production capabilities. 7.1.11 Describe your company’s capabilities, experiences, and standards used in qualifying for environmental requirements including temperature, altitude, temperature shock, solar radiation, rain, vibration, salt fog, fungus, sand/dust, shock, acceleration, explosive atmosphere and humidity. Please include any standards used. Identify what testing if any has already been accomplished on one of your similar products. 8.0 Financial No financial information required. 9.0 Review Process The submissions will be reviewed by USG representatives, as approved by the PM AAH and other governing agencies. All information provided will be adequately protected in accordance with its markings. 10.0 Response Deadline Submissions are due no later than 5:00 pm Central Standard Time (CST), 5 working days after posting of this extended RFI. Submissions shall be sent electronically via the Department of Defense Safe Access and File Exchange (DoD SAFE) website (https://safe.apps.mil/). Use the following distribution email address as prompted by the site: hillary.d.pierce.civ@mail.mil. Submissions shall also be sent via email to hillary.d.pierce.civ@mail.mil. The subject line for the email submission should read: RFI: Apache Tail Rotor Drive System- YOUR COMPANY NAME. No hard copy or fax responses will be accepted. If a late submittal is received, acceptance of such will be at the discretion of the USG. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above listed service are invited to submit a response within five (5) working days after release of this extended RFI request.