J -- F/A-18 In Service Support

The Naval Air Systems Command will be soliciting a proposal for support of In Service Support of the F/A18 aircraft for both USN and FMS countries with the Boeing Company. The McDonnell Douglas Corporation, A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Boeing Company (MDC/Boeing) will be solicited for this requirement via the F/A-18 Integrated Readiness Support Team (FIRST) program. This effort will include program management, in-service engineering, integrated logistics support management, continual assessment of life cycle logistics support, training system management, configuration management, supply support requirements and analysis, technical publications, modifications/retrofit, and support equipment/ILS and management. The FIRST Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract currently provides spares availability, asset repair management, engineering support, and integrated logistics support (ILS) of all F/A-18 Aircraft variants. The FIRST program demands aggressive pursuit of system reliability improvements through effective configuration and obsolescence management, technology insertion, and innovative product and support improvements. Various operational and repair sites are supported. Additionally, MDC/Boeing is also required to maintain CORE capability I/A/W U.S. Code 10 U.S.C 2464 through depot teaming arrangements with the NADEPs in North Island, Cherry Point, and Jacksonville under FIRST. This requirement is restricted to MDC/Boeing, the aircraft prime manufacturer, because MDC/Boeing is the only source that possesses the full range of technical data, much of which is proprietary, and other capabilities necessary to perform the effort. Further, MDC/Boeing is considered to be the only source that is capable of providing the required range of integrated program support. See Note 22*****