NAVAIR posts ISR-related sources sought

On April 27, the Naval Air Systems Command posted a sources sought notice related to a FALCON-I system for operational support of USSOUTHCOM (Solicitation Number: N68335-18-RFI-0253). Responses are due by 4:00 p.m. Eastern on May 4.

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Advanced Concepts & Rapid Transition Division (AD-4.11.6) was established in October 2014 as the technology incubator and capability development division for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Rapid Capability Engineering & Integration Department (AIR-4.11) and other Government entities by rapidly leveraging advanced concepts and systems in order to realize innovative solutions. AIR-4.11.6 also collaborates throughout AIR-4.11 to ensure emerging technology can be expeditiously transitioned to larger integration projects as part of cost efficiency and speed to the fleet initiatives. AD-4.11.6 customers operate across multiple environments utilizing a variety of conventional (e.g., Army and Navy) and non-conventional (e.g., United States Special Operation Command (SOCOM)) forces. Special purpose hardware and services are necessary to meet rapidly evolving threats and needs associated within these operational environments. To meet these needs, a superior level of subject matter expertise, technological developments, and material integration capabilities are provided.

Requirement

USSOUTHCOM is responsible for collecting (ISR) and Electronic Support data and disseminating this data within the Area of Responsibility (AOR) and to the intelligence community. The primary means to collect this data is via persistent commercial airborne assets with government provided payloads and data links. This effort requires the contractor to provide a fully integrated Contractor Owned, Contractor Operated (CO/CO) Bombardier DHC-8/200 multi-sensor aircraft with installed Government Furnished Property (GFP) MACHETE Foliage Penetration (FOPEN) LIDAR and TRACER FOPEN SAR systems, onboard Satellite Communications systems and associated ground processing systems, referred to as the FALCON-I system for operational support of USSOUTHCOM’s requirement for airborne ISR mission requirement at a FOL in Bogota, Columbia.  Additionally, this effort will require the Contractor to maintain the aircraft and to provide support for upgrades, removal/replacement/repair efforts and developmental testing, evaluation, integration and operation on currently integrated systems and associated ground systems, as well as additional systems required by the Government, to include improved LiDAR onboard processing systems, a new MACHETE LIDAR system, and a new TRACER SAR system.

This effort is for the contractor to provide support for an average rate of 72 flight hours per month; however mission tasking combined with flight testing of new ISR systems may surge monthly totals to 120 flight hours per month for a maximum of 240 flight hours over a 60 day period.  All unused monthly hours and costs associated with them below the monthly average of 72 flight hours shall be accrued in reserve for use to meet future mission requirements and or unscheduled maintenance of the GFP systems during this contract.

This requirement is based on the current Operational Tempo.  Additionally, the Contractor shall provide the personnel required to collect and process the FOPEN LIDAR and SAR data, as well as other ISR system data as required.  The Contractor will also be required to maintain the FOL  in Bogota Colombia to include all contracted facilities, lodging, maintenance, storage and logistic support activities for the FALCON-I system and its associated equipment and personnel.

Full information is available here.

Source: FedBizOpps