Description:

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Automatic Deployment Unit and Powered Inertia Reel Device

For

T-38C Ejection Seat

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the necessary expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to overhaul/repair the automatic deployment unit (ADU) and powered inertia reel device (PIRD) components.  The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined.

The last known vendor to repair these items were Martin Baker America. The technical data to repair/overhaul this item is not owned by the Government and is uneconomical to acquire the data by purchase or reverse engineering. No samples are available for potential suppliers to evaluate.

Contractor shall furnish all material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, and services.  The contractor is responsible for providing, maintaining, and calibrating all support equipment required at their facility or a subcontractor’s facility.  Contractor furnished material or parts used for replacement shall equal or exceed the quality of the original material or parts.

Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation of this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation of this survey.

FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997) applies to this request for proposal:

1. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

1. Although “proposal” and “offeror” are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

1. This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: Automatic Deployment unit and Powered Inertia Reel Device

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain a description of the automatic deployment unit and powered inertia reel device for the T-38C Ejection Seat. A Contractor Capability Survey is also included. The Survey allows Contractors to provide their company’s capability.

1. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements.  Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities.  If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.)
   1. Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business.

1. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

1. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to the PCO.

[Marwa Fuller AFSC/PZAA

Contracting Officer

Support Equipment/ATS Contracting Section

marwa.fuller@us.af.mil]

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to overhaul/repair the automatic deployment unit and powered inertia reel device. The powered inertia reel or PIRD is located in the center of the seat back just below the headrest. The inertia reel device fulfills two functions: (1) it acts like the shoulder belt in a car, restraining the pilot against a 2gx forward (-x) motion and (2) upon ejection, it retracts the pilot to an upright posture to minimize the possibility of spinal damage due to spinal misalignment upon