The Air Force plans to issue a request for proposals for its Deployable Radar Approach Control (D-RAPCON) radar system “on or about March 30,” according to a Notice of Contract Action (NOCA) posted on Federal Business Opportunities.
The service “anticipates” a “fixed price, hybrid-type contract with a nine-year anticipated period of performance” for D-RAPCON, according to the NOCA. It will be a “full and open” competition and will be a “best value, source selection procurement,” according to the NOCA. The Air Force also anticipates that the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract will be awarded in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 with a value of $50.5 million, according to an Air Force statement.
The overall value of the program is estimated at $672.5 million, according to an Air Force statement.
Currently, Full Operational Capability is scheduled for 2020, but Air Force Capt. Charles O’Connor, program manager for D-RAPCON, said in a statement if the service can, and wants, to accelerate, the program is equipped to do so.
The Air Force plans to buy 19 D-RAPCON systems, according to a statement.
D-RAPCON is a transportable Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar approach control system to provide services, day and night, in most operational weather conditions, to military and civil aircraft for tactical locations and fixed-base restoral operations, according to the NOCA.
The D-RAPCON system is composed of two subsystems: the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) and the Operations Shelter (OPS), according to an Air Force statement. The program plans to initially develop two Automation System (AS) test units and one D-RAPCON Pre-Production Unit (PPU), then procure up to 18 production units and retrofit the one PPU to the production baselines, according to the NOCA.