CH-53K Forward Looking Infrared System Competition and Production

Background: The CH-53K is the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. The most powerful helicopter in the Department of Defense, the CH-53K is a new-build helicopter that will expand the fleet’s ability to move more material, faster throughout the area of responsibility using proven and mature technologies. The current domestic Program of Record (POR) for the CH-53K is 200 aircraft. The FLIR is a required avionics component of the CH-53K to provide navigation and surveillance missions capability. It is the Governments requirement to outfit all 200 CH-53Ks with a more capable FLIR system.

To support this requirement, NAVAIR intends to compete this effort via full and open competition. This effort will be formally solicited under one Request for Proposal. Prior to the release of the formal solicitation, which is estimated to occur in February 2024, the Government intends to release a draft RFP. The planned resultant contract will be a Single Award Firm Fixed Price Contract to include all integration, production, and kit deliveries.

NAVAIR intends to conduct an in-person Industry Day session on 21 September 2023 at Patuxent River Naval Air Station (PAX NAS), Patuxent River, MD. The purpose of this Industry Day is to provide our industry partners an avenue to learn about the planned effort and to collect any written questions or feedback that prospective offerors may submit prior to or through the course of the Industry Day.

In order to access PAX NAS, prospective offerors should coordinate BASICS requests with Giovanna Bonefont at [email protected] and David Fuchsluger at [email protected]. The main Industry Day event will occur at the PAX NAS Library. Directions will be provided upon request.

The Government intends to hold 1-on-1 sessions with any potential offerors that are interested, however; all request for 1-on-1 sessions must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST September 19, 2023. In addition, the Government intends to make available a CH-53K Production Representative airframe for potential offerors to take measurements, perform potential product fit checks, and review for any potential obstructions. Access to Production Representative airframe will only be provided during planned 1-on-1 sessions. Access to the airframe will not be provided any other time during the Industry Day.

Industry Day attendance is not a requirement and in no way affects any company from submitting a proposal in response to any forthcoming solicitations. The Industry Day for this requirement will only address information related to the CH-53K FLIR competition. Further, prospective offerors do not have to attend the Industry Day in order to obtain presentation materials or submit questions. All information presented at the Industry Day will be made available to prospective offerors at https://www.sam.gov, where questions can also be submitted electronically. The CH-53K FLIR competition will be listed under N0001923R0093.