Taxiway Edge Lights
This Request for Information (RFI) is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal. It shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to award a contract as a result of this request for information.
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Naval Air Warfare Center Lakehurst NJ (NAWCADLKE) is requesting information from industry in order to identify airfield lighting manufacturers capable of producing airfield lighting to be integrated into the US Marine Corps Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) Legacy Hardwired Lighting System. The EAF Legacy Hardwired Lighting System has been in service for over 30 years. Due to obsolescence issues, NAVAIR is considering integrating battery powered Taxiway Edge Lights with the legacy high intensity runway edge and threshold lights to support non-precision approaches. Broad industry participation is desired but NAVAIR is keenly interested in designs that are currently in production or near production. Material identified as Company Proprietary provided in response to this RFI will be treated as such by the Government.
1. PURPOSE: This notice is part of Government Market Research, a process for obtaining the latest information on the ‘art of the possible' from industry with respect to their current and near-term abilities. All company proprietary information contained in the response shall be separately marked. Any proprietary information contained in response to this request that is properly marked will be properly protected from unauthorized disclosure. The Government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one firm to establish the capability and requirements for any future systems acquisition so as to not inadvertently restrict competition.
2. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this Request for Information (RFI) are to identify responsible sources and interested parties who have proven solutions that can meet or exceed EAF requirements.
3. BACKGROUND: The mission of the NAVAIR EAF program is to equip the US Marine Corps to support Naval Aviation with the flexibility and capability to rapidly deploy and establish survivable, self-sustaining airfields in austere, expeditionary operating environments. The EAF Concept is a shore-based, aviation weapons support system which permits deployment of landing force aircraft within effective range of ground forces. This concept allows for the construction of portable, reusable, forward-deployed airfields that can be assembled in a building block concept for the rapid introduction of air power. The EAF family of systems supports a myriad of airfield configurations, ranging in size and complexity from single-aircraft vertical take-off and landing sites, to short runways for tactical aircraft, to extended runways for heavy cargo lift, through the deployment of airfield surfacing systems, expeditionary arresting gear, airfield terminal guidance systems and airfield lighting and marking systems. The EAF Legacy Hardwired Lighting System has been in service for over 30 years. The approach and strobe light subsystems are nearing a point of technological obsolescence, leading to capability gaps and an inability of continued support.
4. REQUIREMENTS: The Taxiway Edge Light shall be a battery operated LED light that meets the photometric requirements of an FAA L-861T Taxiway Edge Light, which is also Night Vision Device (NVD) compatible. If there are any test results available, including but not limited to those performed by third-party test facilities, please include with your response.
A. Photometric/Radiometric.
1. Please describe the photometric and optical properties including the minimum average intensity, vertical and horizontal beam coverage. If there are multiple intensity steps, please provide the intensities at each of the steps.
2. Please describe the radiometric and infrared (IR) properties, including Radiant intensity, average NRIb, and centroid wavelengths. If there are multiple IR intensity steps, please provide the intensities at each of the steps.
B. Control:
1. Please describe the control characteristics of the light fixture.
2. Is there the ability to control the light output of each light at the light unit itself? Can the visible and IR intensities be controlled independent of each other? Can the light output both visible and IR simultaneously?
3. Please describe how the light unit is controlled remotely. Can the visible and IR intensities be controlled independent of each other? Can the light output both visible and IR simultaneously?
4. Is there the ability for the light to turn on and off automatically depending on ambient light conditions? How are the visible and IR intensities set? At what ambient light level will the fixture turn on? At what ambient light level will the fixture turn off?
C. Electrical characteristics:
1. How much power does the light fixture consume while on its highest intensity step? Please include data for both visible and IR output, plus all control and wireless electronics.
2. How much power does the light fixture consume while in "standby" mode, where there is no light being emitted, only wireless and control electronics consume power?
D. Battery:
1. What chemistry does the battery utilize and what is the rated capacity? What is the run time of the light fixture at its highest output? What is the runtime while the ambient temperature is -40F? +150F? Does the light remain at its set intensity until it reaches a low power cutoff? Does the light lower its output over time to extend run time? If so, please explain how this is accomplished.
2. Please describe how the battery is charged from an external source, including physical connections and electrical demands. How long does it take to fully charge the battery, and what capacity does the battery charge to? What about when the ambient temperature is -40F? Are these values the results from testing, or theoretical?
E. Solar:
1. Does the light fixture have a self-contained photovoltaic/solar recharge capability? If so, what is the energy generated capacity? How many panels are used, and what is their orientation? Can the orientation be adjusted? What is the required solar irradiance needed to fully charge the battery?
F. Installation:
1. Please describe how the lighting fixtures are typically installed. Is there any frangibility in this mounting method?
2. Does the light fixture have the ability to operate from an external power source? If applicable, please describe this, including the physical interface connections, as well as the electrical requirements.
G. Packaging, transportation, and storage:
1. Please describe how the components are packaged for transportation, shipping, and storage. What is the quantity of components included in a taxiway lighting package? What ancillary equipment is provided in this package?
2. Do the battery powered components have the ability to be charged while in storage? If so, please describe the physical connection to the component for battery charging. Also, please describe the physical connection and electrical requirements of the battery charger from an external power source.
H. Remote control:
1. Please describe any and all remote controllers that may be used. Is it battery operated? What is the form factor of the battery? Is it rechargeable? If so, how is it recharged? What is the runtime of the remote control?
2. Please describe any wireless communication used. Is there a wireless protocol or standard used? What frequencies are used? Is the wireless signal encrypted? If so, please describe the encryption method used.
3. Does the remote control have the ability to control multiple taxiway lighting packages?
4. Does the remote control have the ability to independently control different light types, such as taxiway, obstruction?
5. Does the remote control have the ability to independently control multiple groups of the same light type, such as multiple taxiways? If so, what is the maximum number of groups?
6. Please describe how a light fixture is configured to work with the remote control.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. It is not a Request for Proposal, a Request for Quotation, an Invitation for Bids, a solicitation, or an indication that the PMA251 Program Office or NAVAIR will contract for the items contained in the RFI. NAVAIR will not pay respondents for any information generated for or provided in response to this RFI. The Government will not reimburse the respondent for any costs associated with the information submitted in response to this request, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any costs incurred in developing the information provided to the Government. The Government will not release any information marked with a Proprietary legend, received in response to this RFI, to any firms, agencies, or individuals outside of the Government without written permission in accordance with the legend. Submit your response in a Microsoft® Word or compatible format document in no more than twenty single-sided, single-spaced pages, 12-point, Times New Roman font, using a minimum of one-inch margins.
Rene Brown, Phone 732-323-2780, Fax 732-323-2359, Email rene.brown@navy.mil
