Request For Information - Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) Water System Freeze Protection

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI seeks to identify potential sources with expertise in developing and producing freeze protection solutions for the U.S. Air Force's Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) Water Systems. The goal is to understand commercial and off-the-shelf capabilities that can sustain water and wastewater system operations in cold weather environments, down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit and potentially -65 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Requirement: Freeze protection for BEAR Water Systems to operate in extreme cold.
• Desired Solutions: Commercial and commercial-of-the-shelf capabilities, concepts, or methodologies for an additive freeze protection kit.
• Technical Details: Solutions must sustain operations down to -25°F, with extended capabilities to -65°F. Integration with specific Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) like MEP generators and heaters is required.
• Market Research Focus: The Air Force is assessing commercial capabilities and may use this RFI to determine potential set-aside strategies for future solicitations.

Respondents are required to complete a detailed survey covering:

• Business Information: Company details, CAGE code, size (NAICS 332913), ownership, and years in business.

• General Capabilities: Company history, facility capabilities, experience with expeditionary military applications, technical data generation, and specific freeze protection expertise.

• Hardware Production: Quality assurance processes, production capacity, domestic manufacturing, lead times, and testing methods.

• Commerciality: Industry practices, catalog pricing, terms and conditions, and willingness to provide unlimited rights to technical data.

• Deadline: Responses are requested by March 28, 2026.

• Contact: Questions and responses should be directed to DYLAN HUCKEBA at 478-327-2542 or dylan.huckeba@us.af.mil, and shakilrah.walker@us.af.mil.

• Cost: The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses incurred in responding to this RFI.

• This RFI is for market research purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP).

• Participation in this survey does not guarantee future contract awards.

• Best Estimated Quantities (BEQs) are currently unknown.

Purchase Description

This document, a Purchase Description (PD), outlines the requirements for six modular and scalable Freeze Protection Modules (FPM) designed to protect the Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) water system components from freezing. The FPMs are intended for use in ambient temperatures ranging from 32°F down to -25°F, with an objective goal of -65°F.

• Freeze Protection: Provides protection for BEAR water system components, including pumps, piping, storage equipment, and fittings.
• Operational Range: Designed to operate in temperatures from 32°F to -25°F.
• Modularity and Scalability: The FPMs are modular and scalable, allowing for flexible configuration and expansion.
• Compatibility: Designed to be compatible with the existing BEAR water system without modification.
• Ease of Installation: Components are designed for quick and easy installation, even with gloved hands.
• Environmental Resistance: Materials are specified to be resistant to UV, splitting, cracking, fungus, and corrosion, and capable of withstanding various environmental conditions including sand, dust, salt fog, and humidity.
• Electrical Requirements: Modules interface with existing BEAR electrical power systems, utilizing Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) Mobile Electric Power (MEP) generators.

The document references numerous Federal Specifications, Department of Defense Specifications, Department of Defense Standards, Technical Orders, and Non-Government publications (ISO, AIA, ASME, ASTM, NACE, NFPA, SAE) that form part of the requirements.

The BEAR Water Freeze Protection System is an additive package to the BEAR Water System, providing water distribution capabilities in cold temperatures. It is not intended to meet base water requirements on its own.