Electric Modernization Upgrade
The Navy is seeking proposals to design production, deployment, sustainment, packaging, and human-factors processes for an MH-60R Seahawk electric modernization upgrade using COTS components and custom hardware.
⚑ Federal contract notice / sources sought under BAA N6893625S0001; responses must reference N6893625S0001-0001 on the cover page. · Open announcement, but eligibility and submission rules are governed by the referenced BAA on SAM.gov. · Question deadline: 2026-11-09 1600 EST; response deadline: 2026-12-01 1600 EST.
This is an engineering/logistics/human-factors modernization effort for a Navy aircraft system, centered on production workflow, packaging, and hardware sustainment. IPPRA’s team works on public opinion, risk, weather, energy, and education policy—not defense manufacturing or systems engineering—so this is not a plausible PI-level fit.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-10-29
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | portfolio topic: national_security_defense (primary); signature methods: policy analysis; social/behavioral work is minor; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 45 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
Description
The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) has developed and intends to field a modular, organic capability consisting of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components integrated into custom hardware for the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. The Government has established a viable system baseline, however, a standardized, repeatable, and supportable production, deployment, and sustainment process is not yet developed. With an initial operational capability target of Q1 FY2028, the program's small scope makes traditional, large-scale support and depot-level sustainment models highly cost-prohibitive. The current ad-hoc model lacks a process with defined material flow, supply-chain management, quality control, and software deployment process. Consequently, ongoing assembly and support practices require excessive time and specialized personnel that a small team cannot realistically maintain. Furthermore, the existing packaging is not optimized for rapid global air transport, and the chassis design needs human factors optimization for installation and removal in shipboard and austere environments. As a result, these cumulative limitations reduce overall operational availability, increase the burden on forward-deployed personnel, and raise long-term lifecycle costs. This delays the Navy's critical ability to rapidly produce, transport, install, and sustain this capability worldwide. Desired Outcomes & Constraints (Submissions may be for one or all requirements) 1. ?Process Design: Production Process: An operational, production-representative process capable of producing a defined pilot lot using controlled material, assembly, programming, inspection, test, configuration-management, packaging, and acceptance processes that is executable by a small team. Deployment Process: A lightweight, practical support process that enables a small team to provision and deploy the capability with minimal specialized infrastructure. Sustainment Process: A lightweight, practical support process that enables a small team to support, maintain, repair, reconfigure, and reconstitute the capability with minimal specialized infrastructure. 2. Packaging Plan: A rugged, efficient, and reusable packaging plan compatible with Joint Modular Intermodal Containers, Pelican cases, or comparable solutions that enable rapid global air transport and protect the system and associated components during storage, shipment, and operational movement. 3. Human Factors Optimization. The project seeks modified chassis, mounts, and installation/removal processes that reduce the time, tools, personnel, and specialized equipment required to install and uninstall the system in shipboard and austere field environments. Questions: Questions should be submitted to jennifer.a.felton.civ@us.navy.mil via email no later than 1600 EST (4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time) by November 09, 2026. Submission Guidelines, Evaluation, and Eligibility Requirements: Refer to BAA N6893625S0001 (https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/54d124889d3f423fa900e43c4b041026/view) posted on SAM.gov for submission guidelines and evaluation. While the BAA is an open announcement, the Government is requesting responses for this problem by 1600 EST (4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time) December 01, 2026. Required Submission Changes: When submitting the response, the cover page must specifically reference N6893625S0001-0001 to be considered.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Sources Sought. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE NAVY / NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER.
Apply
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Department of Defense (BAA-style) conventions SEE A DOD EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Department of Defense (BAA-style)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.