Request For Information (RFI)

External Light Emitting Diode (LED) Landing Light Lamp for C-130H and LC-130H Aircraft

FAR 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997)

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(b) Although proposal and offeror are used in this request for information, your response will be treated as information only.  It shall not be used as a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: Identifying information on aircraft external Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting technologies for aircraft landing light lamps that have already been developed or may be modified from other aerospace industry solutions to meet the agency requirement as listed below.

The Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center (AATC) is conducting an effort to determine potential sources for external LED landing light lamp solutions compatible with Air National Guard (ANG) and Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) C-130H and LC-130H aircraft.

AATC is seeking contractors interested in providing affordable, readily available Form, Fit, Function, and Interface (F3I) LED PAR 46 and PAR 64 external landing light lamps for C-130H and LC-130H aircraft.  The LED lamps must use the latest military and/or commercial off-the shelf (COTS) technology with minor modifications that can be used as part of a Force Development Evaluation (FDE) effort. 

Late-model C-130H aircraft use a PAR 46 incandescent lamp, Part No. MS25241-4553 and ANG LC-130H and early model C-130H aircraft use a PAR 64 incandescent lamp, Part No. MS25242-4559.  See attached military specifications entitled, “Attachment_MS25241E”, and “Attachment_MS25242D” to use as a guide for referencing PAR 46 and PAR 64 lamp dimensions for LED lamp solutions that will fit into the applicable ANG C-130H and LC-130H landing light retractable assemblies.

System Requirements:

1. 1. Lamps must:
      1. Ensure no objectionable glare is visible to the pilot;
      2. Ensure the pilot is not adversely affected by halation;
      3. Provide enough light for night landing;
      4. Be color Aviation white; and
      5. Be F3I to the existing external landing light retractable assembly with only minor modifications, as required.
   2. The following documents are applicable to the solutions desired for this RFI:
      1. SAE ARP693 (R) Landing and Taxiing Lights - Design Criteria for Installation
      2. SAE ARP6253 (R) LEDs and Aircraft Applications
      3. SAE ARP6402 LED Landing, Taxiing, Runway Turnoff, and Recognition Lights
      4. SAE-AS25050 Colors, Aeronautical Lights and Lighting Equipment, General Requirements For (3.1 Aviation Colors, Table 1 – Aviation Colors, Aviation White Type I(e)) or suitable alternative specified in 14 CFR § 25.1397(c) Color Specifications
      5. FED-STD-3 Colors, Aeronautical Lighting (for Aviation White)
   3. The lamps must comply with the following:
      1. MIL-HDBK-516C, DoD Handbook Airworthiness Certification Criteria, paragraph 9.3.3; Air system lighting, Operation in commercial airways.
      2. 14 CFR § 25.1383(a) – Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Airplanes, Landing lights.
      3. 14 CFR § 25.1397(c) – Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Airplanes, Color Specifications.

The objective of the FDE is to evaluate potential solutions for recommendation for fielding within the next 1-3 years.  Proposed start date for the FDE is 15 Nov 2022.  Potential for follow-on procurement is dependent on results of testing and availability of funding.  The Government is looking for a system that offers the best value, not necessarily the lowest price.  Mission effectiveness and safety are key considerations.

Interested parties capable of providing LED PAR 46 and PAR 64 landing light lamps that meets or exceeds the above requirements, shall provide:

1. A statement of capability (SOC) that demonstrates the existing capability to provide, modify, and sustain the LED lamps, along with a description of the lamps specifications.  The SOC shall be unclassified and the information submitted should be pertinent to, and identify the system capability as related to the technical effort requested.  Limit responses to ten (10) pages.   
2. A completed copy of the attached Table 1, LED Landing Light Specifications sheet.  
3. A rough order of magnitude (ROM) price for the lamp only is requested as part of the RFI and will be used as market research.

Send required documentation via e-mail to the AATC Contract Specialist indicated below by 4:30pm ET, August 15, 2022. 

This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to directly pay for any information or responses submitted as the result of this RFI.

Contracting Office Address:

ANG AFRC Test Center
1600 E. Super Sabre Dr., Bldg. 10
Tucson, AZ 85706

Place of Performance:

ANG AFRC Test Center

C-130H Test Division
207 Vandenberg Blvd.

Little Rock AFB, AR 72099

Point of Contact(s):

Contract Specialist: Hollie A Hansen, [email protected], 520-603-0817

Test Program POC: MSgt Jason Witherspoon, [email protected], 501-987-5417

Technical POC:  Royce Walker, [email protected], 478-926-7355