CH-53K Forward Looking Infrared System Competition and Production

September 14, 2023 Notification - The Government is providing the three (3) attached documents as read ahead for the Industry Day to be held on 21 September 2023.  The full general session slides will be uploaded after the Industry Day is complete.

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)

Solicitation #: N0001923R0093

Procurement Type: Announcement for Industry Day

Requirements Office: PMA-261, Heavy Lift Helicopter

Title:  CH-53K Forward Looking Infrared System (FLIR) Competition

Background:  The CH-53K is the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. The most powerful helicopter in the Department of Defense, the CH-53K is a new-build helicopter that will expand the fleet’s ability to move more material, faster throughout the area of responsibility using proven and mature technologies. The current domestic Program of Record (POR) for the CH-53K is 200 aircraft.  The FLIR is a required avionics component of the CH-53K to provide navigation and surveillance missions capability.  It is the Governments requirement to outfit all 200 CH-53Ks with a more capable FLIR system.

To support this requirement, NAVAIR intends to compete this effort via full and open competition. This effort will be formally solicited under one Request for Proposal.  Prior to the release of the formal solicitation, which is estimated to occur in February 2024, the Government intends to release a draft RFP.  The planned resultant contract will be  a Single Award Firm Fixed Price Contract to include all integration, production, and kit deliveries.   

NAVAIR intends to conduct an in-person Industry Day session on 21 September 2023 at Patuxent River Naval Air Station (PAX NAS), Patuxent River, MD.  The purpose of this Industry Day is to provide our industry partners an avenue to learn about the planned effort and to collect any written questions or feedback that prospective offerors may submit prior to or through the course of the Industry Day.  

In order to access PAX NAS, prospective offerors should coordinate BASICS requests with Giovanna Bonefont at giovanna.s.bonefont.civ@us.navy.mil and David Fuchsluger at david.a.fuchsluger.civ@us.navy.mil.  The main Industry Day event will occur at the PAX NAS Library.  Directions will be provided upon request.

The Government intends to hold 1-on-1 sessions with any potential offerors that are interested, however; all request for 1-on-1 sessions must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST September 19, 2023.  In addition, the Government intends to make available a CH-53K Production Representative airframe for potential offerors to take measurements, perform potential product fit checks, and review for any potential obstructions.  Access to Production Representative airframe will only be provided during planned 1-on-1 sessions.  Access to the airframe will not be provided any other time during the Industry Day. 

Industry Day attendance is not a requirement and in no way affects any company from submitting a proposal in response to any forthcoming solicitations. The Industry Day for this requirement will only address information related to the CH-53K FLIR competition.  Further, prospective offerors do not have to attend the Industry Day in order to obtain presentation materials or submit questions.  All information presented at the Industry Day will be made available to prospective offerors at https://www.sam.gov, where questions can also be submitted electronically.  The CH-53K FLIR competition will be listed under N0001923R0093. 

Please register for this Industry Day, pursuant to RSVP requirements listed below. 

The Industry Day e-mail responses must include a subject line titled:  "CH-53K FLIR Competition Industry Day Registration".

Industry Day information is as follow:

Date:     September 21, 2023 

Time:     0800 Check-In

              0830 Start

Place:    22269 Cedar Point Road, #407

             Patuxent River, MD 20670

RSVP:    NLT 1200 EST, 19 September 2023 to Giovanna Bonefont – giovanna.s.bonefont.civ@us.navy.mil, David Fuchsluger -  david.a.fuchsluger.civ@us.navy.mil, and Garrett Douglass at garrett.w.douglass.civ@us.navy.mil.

With your RSVP provide the following information:
     -Name of Business
     -Address of Business
     -Cage Code
     -Attendee(s) Name
     -Point of Contact
     -Telephone Number
     -Email Address
     -Indicate Large or Small Business
     -Permission to distribute Company contact information
     -Company's areas of related expertise
    

Additional Industry Day information including directions, required documents, agenda, questions forms, and ground rules will be provided by e-mail to those companies who RSVP as instructed above.

This notice is only for announcement of Industry Day 1.   The Government intends to release, via an amendment to this notice, the draft requirements documents on September 14, 2023.  Any information provided as part of this notice is not to be considered a RFP or Invitation to Bid.  The documents provided are solely to be used to understand the Government’s intent in procuring the subject effort.  If the Government determines that budget and resources are available, a formal RFP will be released for the subject requirement. The final date to submit advanced questions regarding the Industry Day 1 documentation will be: 5:00 p.m. EST, 19 September 2023 via e-mail, to Giovanna Bonefont – giovanna.s.bonefont.civ@us.navy.mil, David Fuchsluger -  david.a.fuchsluger.civ@us.navy.mil, Garrett Douglass at garrett.w.douglass.civ@us.navy.mil.

E-mails MUST contain the following in the subject line: "CH-53K FLIR Competition Industry Day", Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Additional question forms will be provided at Industry Day.  It is entirely within the USG discretion to answer any questions related to this Industry Day or any content covered therein.  Any questions and answers will be provided to all members of industry via this notice at SAM.gov.