This announcement constitutes a Sources Sought Synopsis. This is NOT a Request for Proposal. The following information is provided to assist the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in conducting market research of industry to identify potential contractors who have the skills, experience, qualifications, and knowledge required to successfully support an H-1 aircraft Performance Based Logistics (PBL) product support strategy, and to exchange ideas with industry on how best to implement an H-1 aircraft PBL program. The U.S. Marine Corps H-1 Upgrades program is a remanufacture of legacy aircraft to increase payload, power, endurance, and range. The program incorporates state of the art designs into the existing fleet of AH-1Ws and HH/UH-1Ns, converting them to 180 AH-1Zs and 100 UH-1Ys, respectively. The upgraded aircraft will have several common systems such as: four-blade main and tail rotor systems; hinge-less and bearing-less main rotor system; updated drive train systems; crashworthy seats; and modified landing gear. The AH-1Z and UH-1Y will also have an integrated cockpit display to provide enhanced navigational reliability and accuracy, and a Helmet Mounted Display System that is compatible with all cockpit avionics and will improve weapons delivery. The original equipment manufacturer and prime contractor for the H-1 Upgrades Program is Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. The H-1 Upgrades program is currently in the later stages of the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. Low Rate Initial Production was approved in Oct 2003, with the first production aircraft delivering in FY 06. H-1 aircraft operate from Marine Corps Air Stations (MCAS), Navy ships, and improved and unimproved airfields, worldwide. The H-1 maintenance concept is three levels of maintenance (organizational, intermediate and depot) in accordance with OPNAV Instruction 4790.2. O-level maintenance is performed by USMC personnel that have custody of the aircraft/equipment (inspecting, servicing, lubricating, adjusting, and replacing parts). I-level maintenance is performed by designated maintenance activities for direct support of organizational activities (calibration, repair or replacement of damaged or unserviceable parts, components, or assemblies). D-level maintenance is performed on material requiring major rework or a complete rebuild of parts, assemblies, subassemblies, and end items, including manufacture, modification, testing, and reclamation of parts as required. The Navy/Marine Corps H-1 aircraft have been designated as a Joint Chiefs of Staff planning scenario aircraft. Accordingly, as delineated in Title 10 USC Sec. 2464, H-1 depot maintenance must be performed at a Government owned and operated facility, by Government personnel. For depot level maintenance, public/private partnership is the required approach to meet Title 10 USC core logistics capability requirements. Except for the depot work covered under Title 10, the above scope of work is notional in nature. As such, innovative approaches to providing a broad based support package that is efficient and embraces continuous process and product improvement, is being sought, to optimize the life cycle support provided to the Navy/Marine Corps forces operating H-1 aircraft, worldwide. To provide a more cost-effective readiness solution for the entire H-1 Upgrade program, PBL support is being considered for all H-1 AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft, and peculiar support/test equipment. PBL is a support strategy that places primary emphasis on optimizing weapon system support to meet the needs of the Warfighter. Its primary tenets are documentation of Warfighter performance requirements as measurable metrics in Performance-Based Agreements (PBAs), designation of single point accountability for performance with a Product Support Integrator (PSI), and development of support metrics and accompanying incentives to ensure that the performance objectives are met. In short, PBL is buying Performance, not transactional goods and services. PBL delineates performance goals of the weapon systems support infrastructure, ensures that responsibilities are assigned, provides incentives for attaining these goals, and facilitates the overall life-cycle management of system availability, reliability, supportability, and total ownership costs. PBL is an integrated acquisition, engineering, and logistics process for buying weapon system support. Some of the areas of interest are described below:Product support integration and management. Establishment of a single point of accountability for managing and integrating all support elements being provided for the aircraft, aircraft systems, and peculiar support/test equipment. Technical data support and management. Management of recorded information of scientific or technical nature i.e. technical maintenance and operator manuals, engineering drawings, and supporting graphics; in addition to the implementation of a long-range requirement to develop, deploy, and maintain Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs). Support and test equipment. Life cycle support and management of all peculiar support and test equipment (hardware & software) required for the operation and maintenance of the weapons systems. This includes ground handling and maintenance equipment, tools, metrology and calibration equipment, and other test equipment. Maintenance planning. Establishment and update of maintenance concepts and requirements for the life of the system, and the development and implementation of a plan for improving reliability, maintainability and life cycle supportability, i.e. levels of repair, repair times, testability requirements, support equipment needs, obsolescence management, projections, and resolution, technology insertion, manpower skills, facilities, organic and contractor mix of repair responsibility, etc. Manpower and personnel. The identification of personnel (military & civilian) requirements, i.e. skills and grades required to operate, maintain, and support systems over their lifetime.Training and training support. Processes, procedures, techniques, training devices, and equipment used to train personnel to operate and support a system. Design interface. The relationship of logistics-related design parameters to readiness and support resource requirements, i.e. design for supportability, effective operation and maintenance, etc. Supply support. Management actions, procedures, and techniques necessary to determine requirements, to acquire, catalog, receive, store, transfer, issue and dispose of spares, repair parts, and supplies. The process includes provisioning for initial support, as well as acquiring, distributing, and replenishing inventories. This effort includes establishing a business relationship with the organic designated rework points for depot level maintenance and repair. Supply chain management is the function of supplying materiel and logistics services to USMC units throughout the world. Packaging, handling, storage, and transportation (PHS&T). Combination of resources, processes, procedures, design considerations, and methods to ensure that all systems, equipment, and support items are preserved, packaged, handled, stored, and transported properly. Facilities. Management of real property assets required to support a system, including studies to define types of facilities or facility improvements, location, space needs, environmental requirements, and equipment. Configuration management (CM). Manage the process for establishing and maintaining consistency for a product's performance, functional, and physical attributes with its requirements, design and operational information throughout its life. The CM element includes product (system, hardware, software, firmware) associated data and documentation including, but not limited to, information associated with: requirements, functional performance, design, test, drawings, plans, and procedures and maintenance or operational documentation. Sustaining engineering and logistic support. Provide engineering and logistic support commensurate with the quantity and complexity of the aircraft, aircraft systems and associated peculiar support equipment. This effort includes technical support for quality deficiency reports, configuration changes, technical publication deficiency reports (TPDR), engineering investigations, etc. The Marine Corps’ vision of a highly maneuverable, highly flexible, decentralized operational force requires a similar approach to logistics - an adaptable, flexible, and responsive logistics system. Companies interested in responding to this request for information should mail the following: a company pamphlet, brochure, or short statement of the company's abilities/history with this type of service, the name and telephone number of a company representative that can be contacted, and the company's address. Once responses are received, interested parties may be requested to provide a presentation to further describe their capabilities and allow an opportunity to exchange ideas on how best to provide cost-effective performance based outcomes for the H-1 aircraft. Written responses to this announcement can be submitted to: Mr. Greg Wagenknecht NAVAIRSYSCOMHQ NAVAIR Contracts 2.3.2.3 47123 Buse Road Unit IPT Patuxent River, MD 20670-1547
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