F-35 GAU-22 and F/A-18 M61 Range Data Acquisition System

This announcement should not be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Navy does not intend to award a contract based on this Request for Information/Sources Sought Notice. THIS IS NOT A Request for a Proposal AND DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE an RFP. This RFI is for U.S. Government planning purposes only and constitutes requests for exchange of information pursuant to FAR Part 10.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD), Contracts Department, Code 02 is conducting Market Research on an F-35 GAU-22 and  F/A-18 M61 Range Data Acquisition System. NSWC IHD is conducting a market survey to identify sources/vendors capable of supplying a system satisfying the following requirements:

1. The system shall consist of an integrated test and control console, computer workstation, and junction box capable of controlling and monitoring performance data for F/A-18 A/A49A-1, A/A49A-2 and F-35 GPU-8/A, GPU-9/A gun pods. 

1. The system shall interface with and control the 20mm M61A1/A2 gun in the F/A-18 A/A49A-1 and A/A49A-2 gun system configurations and must include an integrated lane-capable Gun Control Unit (GCU).

1. The system shall interface directly with the standard GPU-8/A and GPU-9/A Gun Systems Control Unit (GSCU) for controlling 25mm gun pods.

1. Manual swapping of control and telemetry cables between gun platforms is acceptable provided all connectors and bulkheads are military or industrial grade and rated for high-cycle insertion and removal.

1. The system shall replicate the baseline gun acceptance output, logging, and monitoring instrumentation utilized at production gun test facilities.  The data points monitored shall include:
   1. Gun rate
   2. Trigger signal
   3. Arm signal
   4. Safing signal
   5. Steady state rate
   6. Acceleration and deceleration time
   7. Hydraulic flow rate
   8. Hydraulic pressure for supply and return
   9. Hydraulic fluid temperature
   10. Hydraulic fluid temperature
   11. Hydraulic fluid pressure
   12. Rounds fired
   13. Rounds cleared

1. The RDAS setup shall operate strictly using existing test range utility power supplies:
   1. 115 VAC, 1-Phase, 60 Hz
   2. 300 VDC, 2.0 A
   3. 28 VDC, 30.0 A

1. The hardware must incorporate a hardwired, fail-safe "dead-man switch" accessible to the Range Safety Officer (RSO). Releasing the switch at any point during active operations shall immediately disarm the weapon drive and inhibit fire control commands.

1. The Contractor shall provide a complete Operational and Maintenance Manual covering the custom console, software configuration, cabling schematics, calibration procedures, safety interlocks, and troubleshooting.

1. System Drawings & Calibration Records: Applicable factory calibration data, wiring schematics, and system interconnection drawings shall accompany final hardware delivery.

1. The Contractor shall provide hands-on operational training, integration, and dry-fire range demonstration at the Picatinny Arsenal test range following installation.

1. The Contractor shall live fire test the system with an F/A-18 A/A49A-1 or A/A49A-2 gun system and an F-35 GPU-8/A or GPU-9/A gun pod to verify proper function prior to delivery to the government.  Government test facilities are not available for live fire testing as this capability has not been established yet.

Request your company provide responses to the following questionnaire:

1. Does your company have the capability to meet all of the requirements mentioned above? If yes, describe your company's history and experience with supplying this item (or similar gun control systems).
2. Can your company provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) price estimate?
3. What is your company’s plan for live fire verification testing with applicable gun systems?
4. Does your planned testing facility hold the necessary ATF licensing, Net Explosive Weight (NEW) storage capacity, and compliance with DoD 4145.26-M to perform the live fire verification testing?

All interested sources shall provide the organization name, address, point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, business size, Unique Entity ID, and CAGE Code. In addition, all interested sources shall provide a summary of their company’s capabilities and delivery timeframe and schedule. All responding sources must email their response submissions no later than 16:00 Eastern Time on 13 November 2026 to the Point of Contacts (POCs) listed below.  Submissions must be in PDF format and shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages in total.

1) NSWC IHD

Attn: David Harvey

Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806

[email protected]

2) NSWC IHD

Attn: Sean McAvoy   

Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000

[email protected]