Notice for E-3 Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) Block 40-45 Enterprise Performance Based Logistics (PBL)   2

This is a notice; there is no solicitation available. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This is a notice for information purposes only and does not constitute an Invitation for Bid or a Request for Proposal and should not be considered as a commitment on the part of the Government.

PURPOSE: This notice is to provide an update on the status of the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) - Block 40/45 Enterprise Performance Based Logistics (PBL) effort.

BACKGROUND: The Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) provides a highly mobile, flexible, survivable theater Battle Management (BM), Wide Area Surveillance, and C2 capability. It is capable of detecting, identifying, and tracking airborne and maritime targets at extended ranges as well as identifying air/ground emitters. AWACS can relay "big picture" information to C2 agencies and friendly aircraft. AWACS provides worldwide response to situations requiring immediate on-scene C2/BM using embedded real-time surveillance for employment of US and allied combat air forces. AWACS is critical to gaining and maintaining battle-space air superiority. AWACS coordinates with both tactical and C2 assets in theater to execute the air mission.

The Block 40/45 upgrade replaces the mission computing system on the Block 30/35 E-3 with an open-architecture, utilizing predominantly commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software. The Block 40/45 enterprise includes the aircraft Mission Computing System (including 15 mission crew workstations per aircraft), Ground Support System (GSS), Deployable Ground System (DGS), Mission Computing Training System (MCTS), Mission Computing Maintenance Trainer (MCMT), and Mission Computing Test Rack (MCTR). The GSS and DGS provide mission planning / post-mission processing capabilities. Personnel are trained utilizing the MCTS and MCMT. The MCTR is used in support of interoperability testing, primarily AFSIT and JIT. The Block 40/45 system is currently installed on 17 planes, and the fleet will be upgraded by FY2023.

UPDATED INFORMATION: The Block 40/45 Program Office has determined to utlize the General Services Administration (GSA), One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services (OASIS), Pool 3 Multiple Award, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (MA-IDIQ). The program is targeting the release of a draft RFP in the third calendar quarter of 2018. An Industry Day is anticipated approximately two weeks following the release of a draft RFP. This timeline should not be taken as a guarantee that a solicitation is forthcoming.