Request for Information
Market Research Request for Information - B-52H Wheel & Brake Upgrade
The US Air Force is currently conducting a study to determine the technical and economic feasibility of improving the safety and reliability for the B-52H wheel and brake system. As part of market research, USAF is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to gather supplier inputs as part of that study. This information will be used to support a USAF determination of whether or not to pursue a Wheel and Brake System Improvement (WBSI) program.
This RFI addresses wheels and brakes only. General fleet and aircraft information, as well as preliminary wheel and brake requirements for the respective B-52H fleet, may be requested through the contracting officer.
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. This is not a guarantee of a future solicitation. Also, failure to respond to this RFI will NOT preclude you from the opportunity to propose on any future B-52H wheel/brake system improvement solicitation.
Requested Information
•1) Please comment on your ability to support development, qualification, manufacturing, and shipment of B-52H model hardware.
•2) Please identify potential program risk areas associated with supporting a potential WBSI program and identify possible mitigations, if any, to address those risks.
•3) Please estimate time required (in months from contract award) to reach the following program milestones. Assume that a prototype demonstrator will NOT be utilized for proposal substantiation.
•· Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
•· Critical Design Review (CDR)
•· Qualification safety of flight tests complete
•· Flight test hardware available
•4) Please provide a description of wheel and brake upgrade concept(s) that would meet USAF preliminary requirements. A separate, additional, RFI may be sought to assess the technical and economic feasibility for other potential B-52H wheel and brake concepts if necessary (i.e. 3000 psi carbon brake system).
•5) Please comment on the USAF preliminary wheel and brake performance requirements that may be problematic for B-52H new wheel and brake design.
•6) Please provide the estimated maximum energy that the wheel and brake could absorb, for both new and worn conditions, before interface temperature limits are exceeded or before thermal damage to the wheel or brake occurs. Assume a single stop condition with still air.
•7) Please provide the estimated maximum RTO energy that the wheel and brake could absorb, for both new and worn conditions, beyond the value specified in the preliminary requirements.
•8) Please provide estimated dry weights (new and worn brake) for an upgraded wheel and brake assembly. Please indicate weight delta between the radial/bias compatible wheel and a comparable bias-only compatible wheel.
•9) Please indicate the production lead time required prior to initial delivery of wheels and brakes. Please identify any challenges from a supplier's perspective related to supporting fleet retrofit over two years.
•10) Please identify provisioning requirements for bench stock items and special tools associated with the improved wheel and brake.
•11) Please provide the following information for each improved wheel and brake concept:
•· Projected landings per brake overhaul
•· Wheel fatigue life (miles)
•· Estimated cost to the government (if any) for development and qualification of a new wheel and brake
•· Estimated wheel unit cost - installs and initial spares assemblies
•· Estimated wheel unit cost - replenishment items
•· Estimated brake assembly unit cost - installs and initial spares assemblies
•· Estimated brake assembly unit cost - replenishment items
•· Estimated heat sink unit cost - initial spares (new items)
•· Estimated wheel spares package/kit cost - assuming sufficient quantities to support aircraft at one operating location for two years (one bench stock kit per base)
•· Estimated brake spares package/kit cost - assuming sufficient quantities to support aircraft at one operating location for two years (one bench stock kit per base)
•· Estimated cost for special tool kit(s)
•12) 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 Rocky Tello (Tel: 385-519-8203, e-mail: Rocky.Tello@us.af.mil).
Rocky Tello, Phone 385-519-8203, Email rocky.tello@us.af.mil
