Brake Bleeder Valve Protective Caps for F/A-18 and EA-18G Aircraft

This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) to identify potential sources for the improvement, production, and retrofit associated with the incorporation of the Brake Bleeder Valve Protective Cap into the F/A-18/EA-18G aircraft weapon systems. Departures of the Brake Bleeder Valve led to rapid and complete depletion of Hydraulic (Hyd) 2A and Hyd 2B systems, resulting in loss of normal and emergency breaking and possible off-runway excursion. The Brake Bleeder Valve relies on torque application to resist backing out. No mechanical retention mechanism currently exists to prevent backing out. A mechanical retention mechanism, by way of a modified Brake Bleeder Protective Cap that can accommodate safety wire to prevent backing out and the departure of the Bleeder Valve (Part Number (PN) 2611992-5), is required to ensure all contributing factors to failure are adequately mitigated. This modification that the Government is seeking to procure will not affect form, fit, or hydraulic function of the Brake Bleeder Valve. The contractor will design a new configuration Protective Cap to meet the

requirements of the Brake Assembly performance specification and provide the associated drawings/updates. The Government does not own the drawings for the Hydraulic Bleeder Valve Cap, PN 2607574. The anticipated start date is in 2nd quarter, Fiscal Year (FY) 27. NAVAIR intends to procure up to 4,800 redesigned caps for retrofit. Vendors interested in responding shall provide a Capability Statement addressing the following: 1) a brief statement of interest/capabilities;

2) any other information at vendor discretion such as catalogs, drawings/illustrations, technical manuals, training description/material,

pricing, testing documentation, brochures, and/or any other documentation that describes the capabilities, interfaces, and specifications;

3) identification of any Government customer who has procured the Brake Bleeder Valve Protective Caps or a similar, comparable product and provide customer

point of contact, including a telephone number, e-mail address, or website; and