Identify Sources With the Interest and Capability to Provide a Next Generation Ballistic Tolerant and Crash Resistant Fuel Cell for Use on U.S. Army Rotorcraft.

This RFI is solely for informational purposes only. Proposals are not being requested or accepted at this time. As stipulated in FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No solicitation exists at this time; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The decision to solicit for a contract shall be solely within the Government’s discretion. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on https://sam.gov.

Any information submitted by respondents to this notice is voluntary. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government reimburse any costs associated with the submission of information in response to this notice. Respondents will not be individually notified of the results of any Government assessments. The Government’s assessment of the white papers received will factor into whether any forthcoming solicitation will be conducted as a full and open competition.

Purpose:

            The U.S. Army is requesting information in the form of white papers from industry in order to identify sources with the interest and capability to provide a next generation ballistic tolerant and crash resistant fuel cell for use on U.S. Army rotorcraft. The next generation ballistic tolerant and crash resistant fuel cell must be lighter than existing fuel cells but still possess tolerance to ballistic and crash events as required by MIL-DTL-27422F for currently fielded U.S. Army rotorcraft. Any weight savings produced by a lighter fuel cell allows additional armament, fuel, armor, and other equipment to be placed on the airframe to increase the survivability of the rotorcraft. The goal of the effort is to mitigate integration and production risks for future and enduring fleet Army rotorcraft.  Companies wishing to respond must source the fuel cell from domestic sources or allies of the United States.

Requested Information:

            Any interested party should provide the following:

1. Cover page that includes:
   1. Company name, address, and website
   2. Point of Contact (POC) name, phone number, and email address
2. Company profile to include:
   1. CAGE code
   2. NAICS code
   3. Business Size and type of ownership of the company
3. Clear identification of the technologies and methods to fabricate the next generation fuel cell as well as challenges and confidence of success associated with fabricating said cells of various types, classes, and protection levels in accordance with MIL-DTL-27422F and ease of installation and integration onto rotorcraft vehicles. Identify difficulties and challenges in applying new technology/methods to currently fielded U.S. Army rotorcraft.
4. Evidence of technological subject matter expertise, manufacturing experience, and suitable facilities to design, fabricate and test fuel cells in accordance with MIL-DTL-27422F.
5. Country of origin for the fuel cells. What, if any, of the components of the fuel cell are made in the United States and what percentage of the total product does that constitute?
6. Identify the extent of subcontracting opportunities.
7. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) of the cost associated with the following options:
   1. Option 1 – Design, fabricate, and test two (2) Phase 1 test cubes in accordance with MIL-DTL-27422F
      1. One test cube is for ballistic testing and one test cube is for crash impact testing.
   2. Option 2 – Design, Fabricate, and test two (2) Phase 2 prototypes in accordance with MIL-DTL-27422F
      1. One prototype is for ballistic testing and one prototype is for crash impact testing.
8. An assessment of the implications (e.g. cost, weight, flexibility) of various types, classes, and protection levels of MIL-DTL-24722F.
9. An assessment of any residual technical risks remaining after completion of the Options described above.
10. Any additional information that will assist in understanding responses to this RFI.
11. If  you feel you have sufficiently reduced risk of a particular tank wall construction under Option 1, and wish to skip directly to Option 2, you must be able to prove substantiation through an official written communication from the US Army System Readiness Directorate (SRD) Propulsion Subsystems Team that you have successfully completed all the qualification requirements described under Option 1. Subsequently you may provide information regarding further qualification of the successful tank wall construction under Option 2. This should not be construed as any type of commitment by SRD.

Responses:

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. If proprietary information is submitted, it must be appropriately and specifically labeled as “proprietary.” It is the submitter's responsibility to clearly identify to the Government what is considered proprietary data. Any such proprietary data will not be released outside the Government. All responses must be UNCLASSIFIED.

Responses may be submitted electronically to the following e-mail addresses:

Deanna.C.Vancleaf.civ@army.mil AND Bethany.R.Rosser.civ@army.mil. Please provide all correspondence sent via email containing a subject line that reads “Next Generation Fuel Cell for U.S. Army Rotorcraft Response”. Attachments with files ending in .zip or .exe are not allowable and will be deleted. Ensure only .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xsls, or .xls documents are attached to your email. All other attachments may be deleted.

RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 3:00 P.M. (EST) ON 10 June 2022. Direct all questions concerning this requirement to Deanna.C.Vancleaf.civ@army.mil AND Bethany.R.Rosser.civ@army.mil.

Note: The Government will respond to questions from industry for thirty (30) calendar days from the release date of this RFI. All questions shall be submitted via e-mail. Any questions and answers will be uploaded to the RFI.   Telephone requests for additional information will not be honored. For questions, potential respondents shall e-mail Deanna.C.Vancleaf@army.mil AND Bethany.R.Rosser.civ@army.mil.