Request for Information
Market Research Request for Information - B-52H Wheel & Brake Upgrade
The US Air Force has approved initiation for the B-52H wheel and brake system improvement (WBSI) program. The Government is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to update market research information, validate technical/economic feasibility, and facilitate program planning. This information will be used to support a USAF determination regarding pursuit of Improved Item Replacement Program (IIRP) funding for procurement/implementation of the upgraded hardware.
This RFI addresses wheels and brakes only. General fleet/aircraft information and preliminary performance requirements must be requested through the contracting officer. Please understand that this improvement program will NOT consider/accommodate modifications of any kind to the aircraft. The new configuration wheel/brake must be designed as a system and must interface physically/functionally with the existing aircraft. For this reason, please ensure that you carefully consider static/dynamic torque requirements in your response.
In developing your response, you are reminded that the Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for the information solicited. The Government intends to evaluate your feedback and post a draft Request for Proposal towards the end of this year (CY2019). Also, failure to respond to this RFI will NOT preclude you from the opportunity to propose on an expected/future B-52H wheel/brake system improvement solicitation. If you choose not to respond to any or all of the detailed information requested, the Government would still appreciate confirmation of your level of interest (or lack of interest) if/when an official solicitation is released.
Requested Information
•1) Please comment on your ability to support development, qualification, manufacturing, and shipment of B-52H model hardware assuming a contract award start date on 1 Aug 2020.
•2) Please comment on your ability to reach the following program milestones. Assume that a prototype demonstrator will NOT be utilized for proposal substantiation.
•· Preliminary Design Review (PDR) 4 months after contract award
•· Critical Design Review (CDR) 8 months after contract award
•· Qualification safety of flight tests complete 18 months after contract award
•· Flight test hardware available 22 months after contract award
•3) Please comment on your ability to satisfy preliminary performance requirements with special emphasis on the following:
•· Wheel weight (bias-only compatible vs potential for radial/bias compatibility)
•· Brake dry weight (new and worn)
•· Static/dynamic torque performance
•· Energy capacity/thermal performance
•4) Please indicate the production lead time required prior to initial delivery of wheels and brakes. Please identify any challenges from your perspective related to supporting fleet retrofit over two years starting in FY2024.
•5) Please provide the following information based on a 12,500 mile wheel life design requirement and a 400 landings-per-overhaul brake design requirement (estimated quantities in parentheses):
•· Estimated cost to the government (if any) for data deliverables provided as part of the development and qualification of the new wheel and brake
•· Estimated wheel unit cost - installs and initial spares assemblies (800+)
•· Estimated wheel unit cost - flight test assemblies (24)
•· Estimated wheel unit cost - replenishment items (any quantity)
•· Estimated brake assembly unit cost - installs and initial spares assemblies (700+)
•· Estimated brake unit cost - flight test assemblies (24)
•· Estimated brake assembly unit cost - replenishment items (any quantity)
•· Estimated initial unit costs for the following spare assemblies:
•o Heat Sink (20)
•o Piston Adjuster (100)
•o Piston Housing (20)
•o Torque Tube (20)
•· Estimated wheel spares package/kit cost - assume sufficient quantities to support 25 aircraft at one operating location for two years (5 total packages)
•· Estimated brake spares package/kit cost - assume sufficient quantities to support 25 aircraft at one operating location for two years (5 total packages)
•· Estimated cost for wheel special tool kit (if required) (1)
•· Estimated cost for brake special tool kit (if required) (1)
•· Estimated cost for wheel/brake static display (2)
•6) Please identify any other critical program issues/problems you anticipate and identify potential mitigations for them.
General information and draft preliminary requirements must be requested by potential DoD contractors through the contracting office. The Point of Contact (POC) for this RFI is Kyle Swaner (Tel: 385-519-8684, e-mail: Kyle.Swaner@us.af.mil).
Kyle Swaner, Contract Specialist, Phone 3855198684, Email kyle.swaner@us.af.mil
