AL/HR (HSC/PKRH), Bldg 578, Rm 115O, 7909 Lindbergh Dr, Brooks AFB TX 78235-5352

A -- DESIGN FOR DEPLOYABILITY (DFD) POC Ms Shirley Walluk, Contract Negotiator, (210) 536-5775, Ms Phyllis Morse, Contracting Officer, (210) 536-5771. DESIGN FOR DEPLOYABILITY (DfD). This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. The Air Force Armstrong Laboratory, Logistics Research Division (AL/HRG), requests technical and market information on current research and technologies related to designing systems, subsystems, and components for deployability. Information of interest includes metrics, simulation and modeling tools, methodologies, and software tools that support deployment planning during the requirements definition and design processes. The objective of this request is to obtain information on current research and technologies to serve as a baseline for a future 6.3A research effort. The research effort will focus on developing and demonstating technologies that allow Air Force (AF) acquisition and logistics agencies to more effectively ascertain the impacts of requirements and design decisions on deployability and other design metrics (e.g., reliability, maintainability, and performance) early in the decision process. Major changes in the military threat to U.S. security interests are causing AF organizations to deploy more than previously planned. These additional deployments require large amounts of cargo transportation (especially airlift) to transport support equipment, spares, and personnel. The Air Force has several initiatives aimed at reducing the logistics footprint and shortening the support tail. Lean Logistics and Two Level Maintenance are innovative management strategies that will allow base level stocking requirements and intermediate maintenance facilities to be reduced by shortening cycle times of the base-to-depot repair pipeline. Another initiative is embodied in a new ''ility'' -deployability- by which total weapon system performance is now to be measured. Along with renewed emphasis on reliability and maintainability, the Air Force stresses ways to trim weight and volume from mobility packages to enhance deployability. Air Force Materiel Command advocates airlift pallet positions to be saved as one metric for evaluating the deployability impacts of research investments and technology insertions. In response to these initiatives, the design of weapon systems and related equipment is starting to receive special attention. Existing research efforts at AL/HRG are specifically trying to solve existing and future deployablilty problems related to support equipment. However, very little work is being accomplished to determine the proper deployability metrics, how these metrics would be implemented, and how they would effect other design parameters. Any research or technologies that effect these issues are of interest. Responses to this request should be received by 31 Jul95. Information should be sent to Matthew Tracy, AL/HRGA, 2698 G ST, WPAFB, OH 45433-7604, phone (513) 255-8360. Product demonstrations are also acceptable. THIS is NOT a REQUEST for SOLICITAION and ANY RESPONSE to THIS RFI CANNOT BE USED by the GOVERNMENT to FORM a BINDING CONTRACT. (0166)

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