REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) C-5 DUAL POWER WINCH (DPW)

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the repair data, expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to purchase the C-5 Dual Power Winch (DPW), NSN: 1680-01-593-5680UC, P/N: 200413780-20.

The DPW is currently being repaired by Thomas Instrument, Inc. under contract FA8538-22-D-0009.   The Repair Method Code (RMC) /Repair Method Suffix Code (RMC/RMSC) for these items is R3/P which means the Government does not own the rights in technical repair data to compete the requirement as a full and open competition and thus must acquire a repair contract directly from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). This service has been performed multiple times by Thomas Instrument, which is the original manufacturer of the DPW. The technical data required to organically repair or compete the repair is not owned by the Government and is uneconomical to acquire the data by purchase or to reverse engineer the item. No samples are available for potential suppliers to evaluate.

Contractor shall furnish all material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, and services.  The contractor is responsible for providing, maintaining, and calibrating all support equipment required at their facility or a subcontractor’s facility.  Contractor furnished material or parts used for replacement shall equal or exceed the quality of the original material or parts.

Thomas Instrument is the manufacturer of the DPW and the known sole source contractor for repair of this item. Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards.  The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997) applies to this request for proposal:
(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as provided in subsection 31.205-18 Bid and Proposal (B&P) Costs, of Federal Acquisition Regulation

(b) Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only.  It shall not be used as a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of informational planning and budgetary forecasting by the government.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contains a description of the DPW repair requirements and a Contractor Capability Survey. The Survey allows Contractors to provide their company’s capability.
2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements.  Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities.  If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.)
   1. Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business.
3. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research.  Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.
4. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to J. McKenzie Grinstead, Program Manager, via email at Jessica.Grinstead@us.af.mil

  *** The entire Request for Information (RFI) is attached***