Request for Information (RFI) for a Personnel Locator Beacon (PLB) designed to replace all URT-33 series beacons. Responses to this RFI are due no later than 03 October 2007.1.0 DESCRIPTION- The 77 Aeronautical Systems Group (77 AESG), is seeking feedback on the availability of a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) PLB that meets the PLB Performance Specification (Draft Rev D). For the COTS beacon you identify, note that all unit verification testing must have already been completed or will be completed by 01 Nov 07. Specifically, this RFI seeks the following information- Provide completed PLB Performance Specification Matrix identifying the requirements your beacon currently meets. For those requirements that currently cannot be met by your beacon, please identify what percentage or how close your COTS solution is to meeting it. Both the PLB Performance Specification (draft Rev D) and Matrix can be found on the FedTeDS website at www.fedteds.gov. Provide comment as to whether your COTS beacon currently has voice capability. ?Provide approximate cost information (i.e. order of magnitude, ballpark estimate, etc.) for 15 production representative units and whether they can be delivered to this office by 05 Nov 07. Provide estimates on production capacity. 2.0 PURPOSE- The purpose of this RFI is to open a dialogue with industry and other communities of interest, to ensure to the maximum extent possible that industry input and comments are given proper and due consideration in obtaining a COTS PLB system. This RFI is for planning purposes only, and there is no intention to award any contract based on this RFI. The Government will not compensate any interested party, firm, or individual that may choose to provide a response to this RFI. An appropriate Request for Proposal (RFP) process will follow at the appropriate time, but is not necessarily linked directly to the questions and responses generated in this RFI. 3.0 RESPONSE GUIDANCE- Respondents to this RFI should submit documents via email to the Buyer and Contracting Officer and all of the POCs listed in section 6.0 of this RFI. In the response, please reference specific sections in the Draft Performance Specification by number, with the comments of that particular section following. Submitted responses should be in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat format. 4.0 INFORMATION APPROACH- When the responses to this RFI are received, they will be evaluated and analyzed by the Government. The information received may be considered in the development of the next proposed design, and may serve as input to a business case. Based on industry responses, 77 AESG intends to modify/update the Performance Specification document as necessary. In all cases pertaining to this RFI, the Government will take absolute care not to present information outside of the Government in a way that clearly identifies individual vendors or products. 5.0 DISCLAIMER- This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only, and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. In accordance with FAR 15.210 (e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. 6.0 CONTACT INFORMATION- Responses should include the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with us. In addition to the Buyer and Contracting Officer identified above, the following individuals are also Government Point of Contacts (POCs) for this RFI--Steven Brooks, 1st Lt, USAF, Program Manager, 648 Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Brooks City-Base TX 78235, email [email protected] AND John Tedor, Contractor, THI, Lead Engineer, 648 Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Brooks City-Base TX 78235, email [email protected]. *Please submit responses via e-mail in Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat format.

Bid Protests Not Available