FES Hovercraft

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FES Hovercraft

This announcement constitutes a Sources Sought Synopsis and Request for Information (RFI) to afford industry an opportunity to provide information regarding their capabilities to provide commercial items.  This is not a Request for Quotation (RFQ) or an Invitation for Bid (IFB), nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the U. S. Government to form a binding contract. Parties that respond will not be paid for the information submitted. The Air Force is hereby requesting capability statements and other information from interested sources.  

General Information: The 412 CS at the Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, CA is in the process of determining the acquisition strategy to obtain information from potential eligible and interested contractors for the purchase of FES Hovercraft. The AFTC anticipates awarding a contract under the associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 336612 with a standard employee size of 1000 and a Product Service Code (PSC) of 1940. A firm-fixed price contract will be contemplated.

Salient Characteristics (Minimum Government Technical Requirements)

Requirement Category

-Minimum Acceptable Threshold (Government Minimum Need)

Braking & Maneuverability

-Must feature an active reverse-thrust braking system capable of redirecting at least 50–60% of engine thrust forward via fly-by-wire/cockpit controls.

Payload Capacity

-Minimum passenger capacity of six (6) personnel or an operational payload of not less than 1,000 lbs (453 kg) on cushion.

Powerplant

-Minimum 100 HP, multi-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine with dual radiator cooling and electric start.

Speed & Endurance

-Minimum cruise speed of 35 mph; calm water speed greater than or equal to 45 mph; minimum operational range of 70+ miles on a standard fuel tank.

Operating Temperature

-Must function reliably across an ambient range of -30°F to +110°F (-34°C to +43°C).

Buoyancy & Hull Safety

-USCG-compliant positive flotation providing greater than or equal to 135% unladen displacement buoyancy with closed-cell composite urethane foam.

Terrain Clearance

-Minimum 8-inch hard structure obstacle clearance at operational hover power with segmented finger skirts.

Emergency Integration

-Factory-integrated emergency beacon/lightbar, siren/PA system, searchlight receptacle, and non-slip deck.

Transportation & Deployment Requirements

• Dedicated Trailer: One (1) matching single-axle fly-on/fly-off tilt trailer equipped with hull-protection rollers and standard ball hitch.
• Rapid Deployment: The entire system must be capable of single-person launch and recovery from the trailer directly onto dry ground, mud, or water.

Training & Technical Data Deliverables

The contractor shall deliver:

• Operator Certification: On-site certified pilot training (Class 3 Pilot Certification curriculum) covering basic control, high-speed turning, reverse-thrust braking, and casualty extraction maneuvers.
• Maintenance Training: Factory or on-site maintenance instruction covering pre/post-flight inspections, skirt segment replacement, and engine servicing.
• Technical Manuals: Commercial operator, maintenance, and illustrated parts breakdown (IPB) manuals delivered at vehicle handover.

System for Award Management (Sam.gov) registration is mandatory for this contract (see SAM website at (https://sam.gov/content/home). Responses will contribute to the Market Research Report as part of the acquisition strategy development process. Sources responding are invited to provide input and recommendations concerning contract type, contract clauses, and other aspects of the acquisition and anything else that may help to develop an efficient and effective acquisition strategy. If sufficient responsible and capable sources are identified, a formal RFQ will be posted on SAM.gov.   

Interested parties are requested to furnish a capability statement detailing their capabilities to provide these services, include highlights of experience on similar government or commercial contracts/agreements. In addition, please indicate business size (Large or Small), CAGE code/DUNS, provide a list of any contracts or other agreements similar in nature, the program/project name, contract number or other identifier, administering office/address, and the point of contact with the current telephone number.  

The AFTC will not pay for information or comments provided and will not recognize any cost associated with submission of comments. Please provide your response in Microsoft Word or a Microsoft Word compatible format. Submissions should be to the point and no more than 10 double space pages. Responses shall not be proprietary and will be unclassified. 

Interested vendors should submit responses no later than 09 Sep 2026 12:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). Small Business sources responding should state their business size status based on the NAICS referenced above. Replies to this RFI should be sent via email to Melissa Alvarez, Contract Specialist, AFTC/PZIOA at melissa.alvarez.2@us.af.mil and cc: Steven Confer, Contracting Officer, AFTC/PZIOA at steven.confer@us.af.mil.