U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Acquisition Center, Bldg 4488, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280

B -- IMPROVING UH-1H UTILITY HELICOPTER DUE 060399 POC Major (P) Don Hazelwood, Program Manager, 256-895-9243, AMSAM-DSA-UH. John Kilpatrick, 256-842-7507, Contracting Officer, AMSAM-AC-SA-H. (ACC) SYNOPSIS# 0010. -- This is a Request For Informaiton (RFI). -- The Utility Helicopters Projct Manager's Office (UHPMO), Huntsville, AL, is soliciting concept papers to identify innovative and low cost approaches to improving UH-1H Utility Helicopters for use in a Light Utility Helicopter (UH) role. -- The LUH is envisioned as an upgrade to the existing UH-1H to provide the Army reliable, low-cost aerial sustainment capability. -- Maximum use of technologies, subsystems or components that are common to the UH Fleet is desired where feasible. -- The LUH operates in a niche in which UH-60's are not economically attractive. -- Approaches to the following criteria are or interest: -- a. Mission Capabilities: Must operate in "High Hot" environments and achieve increased speed, endurance and range. -- b. Digital Avionics: Improved communication and navigation (COM/NAV) suites. -- Open architecture allowing for the incorporation of advances in technology to meet future military and civil requirements. -- c. System Survivability: Infrared signature reduction, electromagnetic and ballistic hardening/crew protection, improved crashworthiness, and enhanced situaitonal awareness. -- d. Operation and Support (O&S) Cost Reduction: Decrease O&S costs, including reduced fuel consumption and increased component life. -- Increased reliability and maintainability. -- e. System Safety. Minimize safety risks to operators, maintainers, and support personnel. -- f. Human System Integration: No increase in size or required capabilities of crew, maintenance personnel, or support personnel. -- g. Allowance for Future System Growth: Design growth capability must be provided to incorporate emerging technologies that are projected to mature during the system's life cycle. -- Maximum commonality with other utility aircraft is desired. -- Submission Requirements: A configuration capable of being fielded within 2-5 years is desired. -- Concepts proposed shouldinclude the following as a minimum: -- Respondent's name/address/point of contact/phone/FAX/e-mail address. -- Descripton of program, including technical approach and planned schedule/milestones/deliverables. -- The degree to which the desired improvements listed above are met must be specifically addressed. -- Discussion or identification of opportunities for trade-off studies to address producibility, CAIV, performance, etc. -- Evidence of proven commercial or Government application (where appropriate). -- Sufficient data and/or information to allow for adequate evaluation of logistics supportability and maintainability features. -- Estimates of acquisition and life cycle costs. -- Submit responses to this announcement to: U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, ATTN: AMSAM-AC-SA-H (Mr. John Kilpatrick), Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280. -- This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to pay any proposal/concept preparation costs or any other costs relating to this announcement. -- This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. -- Respondents are advised that only the Contracting Officer is legally authorized to commit the Government to the obligation of funds. -- Organizations submitting concept papers found to have significant merit, in terms of ability to meet the desired improvements listed above, may be invited to submit full technical and cost proposals. See Numbered Note(s) 22, 25 and 26. Posted 05/04/99 (W-SN327690). (0124)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0019 19990506\B-0009.SOL)