THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. It is not a Request for Proposal, a Request for Quotation, an Invitation for Bids, a solicitation, or an indication that the PMA-251 Program Office or NAVAIR will contract for the items contained in this RFI. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst (NAWCADLKE) is seeking to continue the production of one (1) Recovery Assist, Securing and Traversing (RAST) System.

The RAST System is a shipboard installed system designed to assist the LAMPS MK III helicopter (SH-60B) to land on the deck of the ship, rapidly securing it to the deck, and move it safely and quickly to and from the ship's hangar. The A/W42U-1(V)-5 identifies the particular configuration necessary for DDG-51 class ships. The complete RAST system has two distinct line item categories, one for the system less tracks, the other for tracks and track hardware. This is a follow-on procurement for an additional ship added by NAVSEA to the new ship schedule.

NAWCADLKE is requesting information from industry for the purpose of identifying qualified contractors interested in bidding on the possible competition of the expiring production contract of the RAST contract. The objective of the new contract is to continue production for one (1) RAST System.

Companies interested in participating in the RAST program are asked to respond to this RFI with a brief summary of their knowledge, capabilities and experience in the areas of assisting the LAMPS MK III helicopter (SH-60B) landing on the deck of the ship, rapidly securing it to the deck, and moving it safely and quickly to and from the ship's hangar.

The Government intends to procure the above item under the authority of 10 USC 2304 (c)(1), FAR 6.302-1. CCC/Indal is the only company that can meet the agency's need for the RAST. Curtiss-Wright Indal Technologies is the original designer, developer and manufacturer of the RAST system and is the only source with the requisite knowledge, experience and technical expertise to continue production of the RAST system, and the only source, as subcontracted through the CCC, with the technical data, facilities and capabilities required to provide the associated aircraft recovery system. The US Government has sufficient technical data (partial drawing package) to perform in-service technical and logistics support to the currently fielded systems, however the complete technical data package necessary to manufacture the RAST system including drawings are proprietary to Curtiss-Wright Indal Technologies and are unavailable for a competitive procurement.

NAWCADLKE will not pay respondents for any information generated for or provided in response to this RFI. Submit your response in a Microsoft® Word or compatible format document in no more than twenty single-sided, single-spaced pages, 12-point, Times New Roman font, using a minimum of one-inch margins. Responses to this RFI are requested by 4:00 PM on 11 February 2019. Responses should cite RFI number N68335-17-RFI-0029 and be addressed to the attention of Mr. Keith Welge, Code 2.5.2.5.2KW at [email protected].

Respondents are notified that a formal solicitation MAY NOT necessarily result from this RFI. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this request, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any costs incurred in developing the information provided to the Government. The Government will not release any information marked with a Proprietary legend, received in response to this RFI, to any firms, agencies, or individuals outside of the Government without written permission in accordance with the legend.