Sources Sought
MODIFIED WC-130J RTP APN-241 WEATHER RADAR SUSTAINING ENGINEERING SUPPORT RESEARCH AND SUPPORT TASK
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force · Sol. FA8509A069433
Due in 16 days
AI summary Beta
The Air Force (AFLCMC at Wright-Patterson area, Beavercreek Township, OH) is doing market research for sustaining engineering and repair support of the modified WC-130J RTP APN-241 weather radar. The planned contract is 2 years plus a 6-month option starting in FY27, but the Government says it expects to award it sole source to Northrop Grumman.
Watch out for
- Expected sole source to Northrop Grumman. The Government already expects to award to one company, so a small business has little chance unless it can show a strong capability case.
The Government anticipates this requirement to be sole source to: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION (NGC)
- Dependent on the original manufacturer's data. Bidders need access to Northrop Grumman's databases and equipment, which a competitor may not be able to get.
The proposed services are required to have access to Northrop Grumman Corporation, and their databases
- Information request only. This is an RFI, not a solicitation, and it does not promise a future contract.
it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future
Read from the notice text only.
Full brief
What they want
- Engineering studies to resolve reliability and maintainability and obsolete-part issues on the APN-241 radar
- Identify and propose solutions to Diminishing Manufacturing Sources problems
- Analyze failure trends from depots and field shops
- Sustaining engineering support and repair of the modified RTP, Transmitter Module and General-Purpose Processor Module
- Install the APN-241 weather radar and troubleshoot system problems
- Support developmental testing for up to 400 man-hours, including three 5-day trips for two engineers to Eglin AFB
- Period of performance
- 2 years plus a 6-month extension option, beginning in FY27 and continuing through FY29
- Place of performance
- Beavercreek Township, OH; on-site support at Eglin AFB
- Offers due
- 2026-10-23T16:00:00-04:00
What to include when you submit
- Provide documentation supporting proof of your company's capability to meet the requirements
- If lacking experience in an area, explain your strategy to overcome the gap
You must have
- Access to Northrop Grumman equipment and its APN-241 engineering software databases
Potential sources must be capable of and have access to Northrop Grumman equipment.
- Ability to install the APN-241 weather radar and troubleshoot system discrepancies
Potential sources must be able to install the APN-241 Weather radar in addition to troubleshooting system discrepancies.
Current contractor
Northrop Grumman Corporation (CAGE 11982) is named as the anticipated sole source; the notice does not say it is the current contractor.
Not in the notice text
- How and where to send RFI responses
- Contract type and estimated value
- Whether any small business set-aside is planned
- Page limits or format for responses
Is this a fit for your business?
Create a free accountFedReady checks notices like this against your business profile, tracks deadlines, and alerts you to new matches. Creating an account is free.
Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 23, 2026, 8:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 23, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- FA8509A069433
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force
- Office
- FA8509 AFLCMC Wiuka
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 541330
- Product/service code
- R425
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research
- Place of performance
- Beavercreek Township, OH, 45431
- Contracting contact
- Melissa Wellsmelissa.wells.5@us.af.mil
Full notice text from SAM.gov
The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualifications to support repairability maintainability, and sustaining engineering for the modified WC-130J RTP APN-241 Weather Radar. Potential sources must possess the ability to provide engineering studies for the WC-130J RTP APN-241 system in resolving reliability and maintainability issues, obsolete parts issues, identify and propose solutions to Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues, and analyze failure trends from both the depots and the field level shops to support the MC-130J CR-2M developmental testing. For vendors wishing to participate in this Request for Information (RFI), after reviewing the requirement, provide documentation supporting proof of company’s capability to meet the requested requirements. If lacking sufficient experience/capabilities in a particular area, please provide details explaining strategies to overcome the lack of experience/capabilities to perform that portion of the requirement. In accordance with RFO 15.101(c), this RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or services. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses incurred in response to this RFI; all cost associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in future RFPs nor does it ensure participation, if an RFP is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (SAM.gov) website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. Potential sources must be able to install the APN-241 Weather radar in addition to troubleshooting system discrepancies. Potential sources must be capable of and have access to Northrop Grumman equipment. Potential sources would need to have the ability to ensure equipment would be able to detect rain rates in real-time directly in front of the aircraft either proving or disproving the capability. The proposed services are required to have access to Northrop Grumman Corporation, and their databases which contain/maintain the APN-241 Radar System engineering software. The following equipment is required to sustain WC-130J RTP and will be provided as GFE: RTP P/N 780R270G10 (NSN 5841-01-522-1618), Transmitter Module (1A05) P/N 444R372G01 (NSN 5841-01-433-9455), and General-Purpose Processor Module P/N 824R061G06 (NSN 5998-01-534-5169). The modified configuration provided is the following equipment: WC-130J RTP P/N 780R270G13 (NSN 5841-01-546-5654), Transmitter Module (1A05) P/N 444R372G02 (NSN 6130-01-433-9452). And General- Purpose Processor Module P/N 824R061G13 (NSN 5998-01-564-1569). Provide sustaining engineering support and repairment of the modified configuration: WC-130J RTP P/N 780R270G13 (NSN 5841-01-546-5654), Transmitter Module (1A05) P/N 444R372G02 (NSN 6130-01-433-9452), and General-Purpose Processor Module P/N 824R061G13 (NSN 5998-01-564-1569) Provide engineering support during developmental testing not to exceed 400-man hours and provide on-site support at Eglin AFB for two engineers for a total of three 5-day trips. The proposed acquisition strategy is a 2-year (plus 6-month extension option) contract beginning in FY27 and continuing through FY29. The Government has determined this system is not a commercial item. There are no samples available for potential suppliers to evaluate. The Government anticipates this requirement to be sole source to: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION (NGC) CAGE Code: 11982 4065 Colonel Glenn HWY Beavercreek Township, OH 45431 RFO 15.101 Early exchanges with industry As prescribed in 15.101(c), The government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Request for Information or to otherwise pay for the information solicitated except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation 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.
Similar open opportunities
- SOURCES SOUGHT Data at Rest (DaR) - 400 Obsolescence ResolutionThe Air Force (AFLCMC/WIW) is doing market research for installing and integrating a replacement for the E-3G AWACS DAR-400 data-at-rest unit, using a Government-owned KG-204…
- Electronic Dental Annual Help Desk SupportThe Indian Health Service (Wagner Health Center, South Dakota) is doing market research for one year of annual help desk support, maintenance and software updates for its Dentrix…
- Coordinated SECREP Management and Strategic Logistics Services (CSM_SLS)The Marine Corps (MARCORLOGCOM / Marine Forces Storage Command) wants logistics support for its Coordinated SECREP Management program and strategic logistics services.
- Sources Sought for Structural Engineer Expert ConsultantThe Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District is looking for a structural engineering expert to help the government defend a contractor claim before the Armed Services Board…
- RFP N62742-26-R-3601 Enterprise Construction Management Support Multiple Award Contract (ECMS MAC)NAVFAC Pacific plans to award multiple IDIQ contracts for construction management support (ECMS MAC) across the Navy's NAVFAC enterprise, covering the Atlantic and Pacific…