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The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Redstone Arsenal on behalf of U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC) Technology Development Directorate -Aviati... The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Redstone Arsenal on behalf of U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC) Technology Development Directorate -Aviation Technology, Systems Integration & Demonstration (TDD-A/SID,) Fort Eustis, Virginia is issuing this sources sought notice as a means of conducting market research to validate the planned acquisition strategy and/or to identify potential sources who can provide specialized engineering, manufacturing, installation, ground and flight test support for assessment, modification, prototyping, qualification, and limited production manufacturing in support of current and future U.S. Army aircraft and associated subsystems. Services include: System development, system testing, assessments, troubleshooting, installation on aircraft, training, and engineering and technical support. The first projects are for the manufacture of airborne effects launchers. There are two airborne mission effects launchers. The first project will be the Modular Effects Launchers (MEL) for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA). The other launcher is the Air Launched Effects Support Structure (ALESS) for the C-12. These efforts will include design, modelling, analyzing, prototyping, testing, and obtaining operational certification(s) to deliver mission optimized prototypes that are integrated onto the FARA CP and C-12. Other potential projects include Army Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) unique aircraft modification requirements for low density mission equipment systems. A five year indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract is anticipated. Responses to this Notice will be used to validate the intended acquisition strategy which is to award a sole source contract under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements; this strategy is based upon the requirements discussed herein and the Supplemental Data Package (SDP) which must be requested. All Small Business Set-Aside categories will be considered. A solicitation will be issued at a later date. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Contractor’s Facility. The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Competitive Prototype (CP) and surrogate flight test aircraft will be located at Fort Eustis, VA and in Texas and Florida, and the C-12 aircraft will be located at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Due to the aggressive schedule and the ability to support an accelerated design, modelling, analyzing, prototyping, and testing, it is highly desirable for interested parties to be able to support on-site operational flight testing and programmatic evaluation meetings where test aircraft reside. 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. 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.” REQUIRED COMPANY CAPABILITIES Respondents shall be able to provide/obtain the following prototyping capabilities with established experience in manufacturing of aircraft parts and structural components successfully achieving aircraft integration and airworthiness approval: Ability to design, develop, perform analysis, modeling, simulation, prototype research, rapid prototyping and technology insertion, air platform system/subsystem integration, aircraft modification, testing, and calibration to field retrofits and sustainment support. Ability to design, fabricate and repair cable harnesses. Able to perform engineering – mechanical and electrical design, perform structural and electrical analysis, specifically focused on aviation platforms and associated systems (weapons, sensors, antennas, launchers, mounts, etc.) AS9100 / ISO 9001 certified engineering and prototyping facilities. Ability to generate documentation with the objective of obtaining airworthiness certification leading to issuance of an Army Aviation Airworthiness Release (AWR) approval. Ability to perform CAD/CAM Design / 3D Modeling / Finite Element Modeling / Drafting Support / SysML modeling Demonstrate a working knowledge of DoD Critical Safety Item (CSI) program and the Army Aviation AWR process is required. A documented process to meet airworthiness substantiation requirements is also required. Ability to maintain a configuration management system capable to support management, handle data storage, and maintain configuration control of design data, engineering changes, and all associated documentation. Ability to perform design conceptualization and re-design, hardware and software engineering, perform analysis, trouble shoot subsystems, perform quality assurance support, and prepare integrated logistic support for low density systems, subsystems and test-beds. This support will also include a full spectrum of engineering and manufacturing capability to re-engineer, produce and support the management of conceptual production systems/subsystems or components. Demonstrate adequate material purchasing system. Perform ground and flight Test and Evaluation support to include instrumentation, data acquisition and analysis, and report generation leading to system qualification. Ability to generate user-level instructions and training documentation for prototype or low density items. Access to, and hanger facilities at, an airfield supporting both rotary and medium sized cargo fixed wing aircraft is desirable. PROJECT BACKGROUND The FARA Competitive Prototype Project objective is to develop a weapons system to meet the Army’s Future Vertical Lift Capability Set 1 as embodied by the FARA. The MEL is one subsystem of the FARA CP Aircraft. The Government has the responsibility of supplying the MEL to the two air vehicle developers and this will be the first project for the FARA Competitive Prototype Project aircraft. REQUIRED SYSTEM CAPABILITIES The goal of the MEL is to provide the carriage, servicing, separation of, command and emergency jettison of expendable and non-expendable rail-launched and tube-launched stores on the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) in an internal bay to the aircraft. A supplemental technical data package with statement of work, a MEL system performance specification, and a MEL airworthiness qualification plan (AQP) may be made available upon request to those offerors who have a current and valid Joint Certification Program (JCP) certification number. A JCP certification number is required in order to obtain the supplemental technical data package. Please email your JCP certification number and CAGE code to the contracting specialist identified in Contact Information to receive the supplemental package. If your organization does not have a JCP certification number, please refer to the following website for assistance: https://public.logisticsinformationservice.dla.mil/jcp/search.aspx RESPONSE GUIDELINES: Interested sources with applicable technical expertise, manufacturing facilities, and experience shall submit the following: 1) Organization name, address, email address, Web site address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization, including small business category (small business, woman-owned small business, Small Business Administration 8(a)program, HUBZone Program, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, or small disadvantaged business concern; and 2) Tailored capability statement addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. a.) What type of work has your company performed in the past in support of the same or similar requirement? Include any history of weapon systems integration on rotary and/or fixed wing aircraft? b.) Can or has your company managed a task or manufacturing effort of this nature? If so, please provide details. c.) Can or has your company managed a team of subcontractors before? If so, provide details. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. d.) What specific technical skills does your company possess which ensure capability to perform the tasks? e.) Please note that under a Small-Business Set-Aside, in accordance with FAR 52.219-14, the small business prime must perform at least 50% of the work themselves in terms of the cost of performance. f.) Include in your response your ability to meet the requirements in the Special Requirements. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Personnel and Facility Security Clearances. Due to the aggressive schedule, clearances will need to be in place at contract award (est. not later than 30 May). A DD Form 254 Contract Security Classification Specification shall apply to this requirement and the prime contractor shall have or demonstrate ability to obtain a timely Secret Facility Clearance. Ability to obtain Type 10 Federal firearms license in a timely manner. Demonstrate familiarity with Army airworthiness program to include ability to generate ASD packages. Demonstrate familiarity with current and future aviation weapon systems. ELIGIBILITY The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 336413 with a Small Business Size Standard of 1250. The Product Service Code is 1560. Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify their business size in their capabilities statement. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND SUBMISSION DETAILS (CAPABILITIES STATEMENT) All interested, capable, and responsible sources that wish to respond to this Sources Sought notice shall respond with a Capabilities Statement addressing the above not later than response date/time. Responses must be submitted through the DoD Safe Access File Exchange at https://safe.apps.mil/. Submissions through SAFE site require an email at least three business days prior to the due date with subject “Drop-off Request Modular Effects Launchers” to the Government POC and a submission link will be provided. Please limit responses to no more than 10 pages, not including preprinted product data sheets or marketing materials in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF.). All responses must be UNCLASSIFIED. All questions must be submitted via e-mail, with “Sources Sought - Modular Effects Launchers” in the subject, to the points of contact (POC) identified in this notice.