Tanker Recapitalization Program Notice to Industry

The Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) plans to post a Request for Information (RFI) on the www.sam.gov (CUI) website in September 2023, seeking information from interested companies with the capability to deliver new commercial derivative air refueling tankers. This notice is simply a “heads-up” to allow potentially interested vendors be postured to respond to the RFI once it is posted later this month. The Tanker Recapitalization Program Office (AFLCMC/WLQ) is the office of primary responsibility for this effort.

The DAF’s goal for the Tanker Recapitalization Program is to replace aging KC-135 air refueling aircraft with an improved operational tanker which meets the draft “System Requirements Document (SRD) for the KC-135 Replacement Aircraft System.” The draft SRD will capture the current requirements for the Tanker Recapitalization Program with projected deliveries to begin after the last KC-46A delivery. Once released, the primary focus of the RFI is to solicit industry feedback, impacts, and comments to the draft SRD.

It is the Government’s intent to initiate and establish communication methods with interested parties and ensure proper communication prior to the intended release of the Request for Information (RFI). To do so, the Government hereby requests ALL interested parties fill out and return the completed attached excel document through DoD SAFE (https://safe.apps.mil/) to Nicole Miller, nicole.miller.29@us.af.mil and Angela C. Pereira Duque, angela.pereira_duque.2@us.af.mil. After submitting through DoD SAFE, please send a confirmation email to aflcmc.wlq.tanker@us.af.mil. If the response requires anything higher than CUI please contact William Riney, 937-255-8643 or william.riney.1.ctr@us.af.mil.

Please note:  in addition to this Tanker Recapitalization RFI, there will be a separate Mobility Cross-cutting Operational Enabler (COE) RFI released approximately the second week of September. The Mobility COE will also be hosting an industry day on/about 03 October at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. The Tanker Recapitalization and the Mobility COE RFIs are separate and distinct.

ESTIMATED TANKER RECAPITALIZATION RFI TIMELINE (6-8 weeks, subject to change):

Below is a notional schedule of the Tanker Recapitalization RFI submission timeline provided for planning purposes ONLY and is subject to change.

The RFI will contain information on the Tanker Recapitalization Program to include specific timeline and dates for industry to respond to technical questions in the RFI and draft SRD. Tentative RFI schedule:

• Release Tanker Recapitalization RFI and draft SRD:  Sept 2023
• Industry submits (optional):  written questions on the RFI, draft SRD and any “proposed” topics for discussion with SPO during a one-on-one session (est. 2 weeks)
• Government reviews and provides written responses to specific industry questions and acknowledges proposed discussion topics
• Industry one-on-ones with Government, if desired, to clarify previous Government responses and discuss any draft SRD topics previously identified for discussion
• Industry submits White Paper that addresses the RFI and draft SRD (est. 3 weeks)
• Government review of Industry’s White Papers
• If required, second one-on-ones with Industry to discuss Government comments
• Industry update and resubmit white paper based on second one-on-ones (est. 1 week)

​​​​​​​THIS IS A NOTICE TO INDUSTRY ONLY:

This Notice to Industry is being issued solely for information and planning purposes only; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue another RFI or RFP in the future. This Notice to Industry does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Air Force is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this Notice to Industry.  The Government does not expect any formal responses to this Notice to Industry. Any future Tanker Recapitalization Program updates, information, or RFI postings will be released on www.sam.gov (CUI) website. It is the responsibility of industry to monitor this site for additional future information.