15 September 2003
Source: http://www1.eps.gov/spg/DHS%2DDR/USCG/GACS/Reference%2DNumber%2DHSSCST%2D04%2DR%2DAR001/SynopsisP.html

Document Type:	Presolicitation Notice
Solicitation Number:	Reference-Number-HSSCST-04-R-AR001
Posted Date:	Sep 15, 2003
Original Response Date:	Oct 10, 2003
Original Archive Date:	Oct 25, 2003
Current Archive Date:
Classification Code:	99 -- Miscellaneous

Contracting Office Address

DHS - Direct Reports, United States Coast Guard (USCG), Commandant (G-ACS), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second St., SW, Washington, DC, 20593-0001

Description

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is initiating an aggressive two-phase Systems Development and Demonstration (SD&D) program for antimissile devices for commercial aircraft. DHS will investigate directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) and other technologies to provide protection against man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). This program is not intended to develop new technologies, but rather migrate existing technologies from the military environment to the commercial airline industry. This PRESOLICITATION NOTICE introduces the DHS Counter-MANPADS Development Strategy and announces a Briefing to Industry.

A solicitation will be released approximately two weeks prior to the Briefing to Industry. Potential offerors should prepare questions and comments for discussion at the Briefing to Industry. The Briefing to Industry, tentatively set for the week of 6 October 2003, will be held in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Further details will be published through FedBizOps. A one-day briefing to industry will consist of two parts: Program Briefing (morning) and questions/ discussion (afternoon). The Program Briefing will include the Counter-MANPADS SPO organization, introduction of key personnel, goals and objectives, schedule, funding posture, and contracting approach (Other Transactions for Prototyping) used for the DHS Counter-MANPADS solicitation.

STRATEGY: The RDT&E strategy is to issue a two-phase solicitation for a Systems Development and Demonstration (SD&D) program, with potential awards to multiple contractors. This program is not intended to develop new technologies, but rather migrate existing technologies from the military environment to the commercial airline industry.

Phase I of the Counter-MANPAD program will explore through an intensive six-month effort quantified solutions to the potential threat of MANPADS to commercial aircraft, followed, in Phase II, by an 18-month prototype development program using existing technology, which will be subjected to demonstration tests and evaluation.

Phase I of the program will investigate: system cost, including component, integration, and certification; airframe and avionics integration and FAA certification issues; performance against the current and emerging threat; reliability and failure rate; maintenance, including built-in testing, handling, and special ground support equipment needs; operating and support costs; concept of operations, including air crew involvement, go/no-go doctrine, and airport operational procedures.

System designs will be developed during this phase meet government-defined parameters associated with acquisition and life cycle cost, performance, reliability, maintainability, integration with commercial aviation practices and procedures; analyses that supports the ability of the designs to meet these parameters will be provided to the Government, and the Government will be provided full and complete access to the analytic and other means by which these claims are supported.

Systems designs will have been expected to have passed through a critical design review during this phase. Following definition of these performance objectives, a thorough assessment will be made of the operation and supportability costs, unit system costs, and aircraft integration costs and issues to support a Key Decision Point (KDP) 1 milestone, and later KDPs and other milestones (as defined in Department of Homeland Security Investment Review Process documentation).

Phase II execution is contingent upon a favorable KDP-I decision.

SOLICITATION: A full and open competition will solicit proposals that shall describe existing technology and the approach offerors will employ to perform the prototype development effort in two phases. Proposals shall describe the offeror's technology and how it will be migrated from military applications to commercial airline applications in a cost effective manner. Proposals shall be conceptual in nature, with the actual detailed statement of objectives and technical approach to be developed during Phase I following contract award(s). The proposals shall address notional concept of operations; high-level system costs (acquisition and life cycle); overall aircraft integration issues; and a technical approach to modeling and simulation for assessing performance against current and emerging MANPAD threats.

The solicitation will describe top level requirements (e.g., performance, operations and supportability, and costs), program parameters (funding, schedule, and deliverables), the contracting method (Other Transactions for Prototypes), and the evaluation methodology.

PHASE I EXECUTION: Actual performance under Phase I will address in detail: system cost, including component, integration, and certification; airframe & avionics integration and FAA certification issues; performance against the current and emerging threat; reliability and failure rate; maintenance, including built-in testing, handling, and special ground support equipment needs; operating and support costs; and concept of operations, including air crew involvement, go/no-go doctrine, and airport operational procedures. Deliverables will document these findings. The Government (including supporting contractors) will be provided full and complete access to the analytic and other tools used to support these findings. A Phase I mid-term review will be held to discuss progress-to-date and plans for completing the Phase I objectives, including the identification of long-lead items that may be procured during Phase I. Awardees shall prepare technical and cost proposals for the Phase II effort (prototype development through test, evaluation, and certification). The potential for multiple awards under Phase I exists, with a period of performance of six months.

PHASE II EXECUTION: Prototype development of two units will be initiated if a favorable KDP-I decision is issued following Phase I. Major activities in Phase II will include building the systems, aircraft integration, test and evaluation, and FAA certification. Test and evaluation activities may include wind tunnel, reliability, tracking accuracy, hardware-in-the-loop and live fire testing, and operational suitability evaluations. Operational suitability evaluations will include environmental testing, maintainability, built-in testing, handling, and special ground support equipment. The potential for multiple awards exists, with a period of performance of 18 months. A production decision will be based on the outcome of the Phase II effort, and will be contracted for separately.

DHS anticipates award for Phases I and II will be through Other Transactions for Prototypes, authorized under Section 831(a)(2) of P.L. 107-296. Aggregate value of awards under Phases I and II will be approximately $100,000,000.

The Counter-MANPADS Special Program Office (SPO) within the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate will manage this effort and coordinate communications and liaison with external stakeholders such as the airlines, aircraft manufacturers, the military, civil aviation authorities (including the FAA and NTSB), airport authorities and operators, aircraft developers, aviation suppliers and pilots, and aviation maintenance organizations.

CO, Michael Jones 202-692-4214; Technical POC, Jim Tuttle, 202-692-4377

Original Point of Contact

Valerie Veatch, Contracting Officer, Phone 202-267-2607, Fax 202-267-4019, Email vveatch@comdt.uscg.mil