Deployable Flight Incident Recorder System (DFIRS) Mid-Life Upgrade (MUP) B-Kit Weapon Replaceable Assemblies (WRAs) Procurement

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Patuxent River, MD is issuing this Sources Sought notice as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support a requirement for supplies and services associated with the Deployable Flight Incident Recorder System (DFIRS) Mid-Life Upgrade (MUP), as known as Voice and Aircraft Data Recorder (VADR) for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Type/Model/Series (T/M/S) aircraft. The effort will include production of DFIRS MUP B-Kit Weapon Replaceable Assemblies (WRAs), Data Bus Interface Unit (DBIU) and Deployable Flight Incident Recorder Unit (DFIRU). The period of performance is anticipated to begin May 2027. The contract type is anticipated to be Firm Fixed Price (FFP).

The DFIRS MUP system is designed to address Search and Rescue Satellite Emergency Locator Transmitter beacon frequency obsolescence to fulfill the requirements specified in Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) ECP-MDC-F/A-18-06273.  The DFIRS MUP will be retrofit into USN F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) aircraft.

Prospective contractors should take note that unlike standard commercial derivative crash-survivable VADRs, this specific DFIRS must be able to be deployed from the aircraft via Cartridge Actuated Device during a mishap and must be able to survive terminal velocity ground impact as well as maintain flotation in the open ocean for an indefinite period of time in addition to other standard qualification requirements for military aircraft applications. DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the F/A-18 DFIRS, and as such possesses the requisite technical data, knowledge, and special skills regarding the design and operation (including aircraft data collection and homing beacon) to meet the Navy’s requirements.  The contractor shall be responsible for obtaining, from DRS Technologies Canada Ltd., all manufacturing drawings and proprietary specification data necessary to support the production of a DFIRS.

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. It is a market research tool being used to determine potential and eligible businesses capable of providing the supplies/services described herein prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a Request for Proposal. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice.    

Interested businesses shall submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than ten (10 pages in length) 8.5 x 11-inch pages, font no smaller than 12-point, 1.5 line spaced) demonstrating their ability to provide the supplies described herein. Documentation should be in bullet point format and should include the following:

1. Company name, address, CAGE code, UEI number, and point-of-contact information.
2. A detailed description of the company's experience in procuring and qualifying obsolete electronic components for military aerospace applications.
3. Evidence of access to the required technical data and specifications for the listed components.
4. A description of the company's quality assurance processes and certifications.
5. Any other relevant information that demonstrates the company's ability to meet the Government's requirements.

No phone inquiries will be entertained.  Responses shall be made in writing by e-mail to the attention of the listed points of contact using the contact information provided. 

The Government will acknowledge receipt of the response.  All information submitted will be adequately safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR 15.207(b).  All submissions must be clearly marked with the following caption: “For Official Use Only, Releasable to Government Agencies for Evaluation Purposes Only.” 

Responses that fail to comply with the above instructions or present ideas not pertinent to subject, may not be reviewed.  All information received in response to this Notice that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly.  Information submitted in response to this Notice is submitted at no cost to the Government and will not be returned.  The Government is under no obligation to provide responses or comments to information received from interested persons but may request additional information following review. 

Note:  If the interested person is a foreign concern or if a U.S. interested person has a team member or partner who is a foreign entity, adherence to all International Traffic and Arms Regulations (ITAR) is required.  A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

The capability statement package shall be submitted electronically to the designated Contract Specialist Cassaundra Somerville, in Microsoft Word format or Portable Document Format (PDF) at the following email address: cassaundra.e.somerville.civ@us.navy.mil.  

All responses, including capability statements, shall be submitted no later than 5:00 PM EST, 24 July 2026. All information submitted should be unclassified.

Questions or comments regarding this notice may be addressed to Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO), Ryan Bodine or Contract Specialist, Cassaundra Somerville.