USAF anticipates releasing JSTARS recapitalization RFP in 4QFY16

The Air Force posted a pre-solicitation notice for its Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System recapitalization draft engineering and manufacturing development request for proposals package on April 1, just one week after the service awarded two contracts for the new fleet's radar risk-reduction efforts.

The service expects to release an RFP for the recapitalization effort in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016, according to the notice to industry posted on Federal Business Opportunities. Comments from industry on the initial draft RFP are due April 18.

"This contract action will include EMD, low-rate initial production and full-rate production lot 1," the notice states. "This effort will also contain the ground support systems which includes the required training systems, mission planning and processing systems, support equipment, spares, and system integration labs."

The government is also encouraging industry to submit an alternate proposal that incorporates a different radar solution, according to the memo. On March 24, the Air Force awarded two contracts for radar risk-reduction efforts to Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, totaling more than $130 million. Air Force officials have cited the radar integration as a major stumbling block for the recapitalization effort.

"Information from ongoing risk-reduction efforts will be used to appraise the degree of technical and schedule risk related to the delivery of the first radar test article to the weapon system prime contractor for integration onto the weapon system," the notice states.

The draft RFP also mentions the Air Force's plans to use a schedule incentive as part of the recapitalization effort. Last fall, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James pushed an accelerated acquisition process known as "should schedule," which could be applied to the JSTARS program.