The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is seeking information on Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) cloud-based application development for its propulsion systems.
In a request for information (RFI) posted on Beta.Sam.gov, the USAF said the Propulsion Integration Office (PIC) located at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., seeks to gather information from the private sector to shape a future RCM contract that will support multiple engine platforms. USAF is looking to pursue RCM, a maintenance planning model that helps ensure USAF’s propulsion systems continue to perform in their present operating context, to achieve an increase in cost-effectiveness, reliability, machine uptime, and a better understanding of the USAF’s level of risk.
For its eventual contract, the PIC is looking for vendors who have the technical expertise and capability needed to integrate cloud-based apps for engine type-model series. The RFI said that the apps must utilize machine learning to enable RCM, including the ability to identify required maintenance actions to optimize reliability and cost-effectiveness.
The eventual app must include a deployment readiness tool, EShop Optimization, CShop Optimization, a reliability predictor tool, data set monitoring, maintenance triage, kitting, and a workscope cost optimization tool, and need to be based on original prototype data and analytical models for engines within the Propulsion Directorate engine portfolio.
The USAF is asking for respondents to provide information on their experience with both RCM and military aircraft propulsion and maintenance activity, as well as their experience with cloud migration and machine learning, natural language processing, and domain ontologies. The RFI also provides additional questions regarding the app capabilities the PIC is seeking.
The RFI noted that the USAF has yet to determine the value of the eventual contract. Response are due by Nov. 27, 2020.
