U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Bid Protests #FA8533-25-R-0002

Air Force Solicitation for Common Armament Tester (CAT-F) System for Fighter Aircraft

The Department of the Air Force is seeking proposals for the development, manufacture, and sustainment of a Common Armament Tester (CAT-F) system to support F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft. - Government Buyer: - Department of the Air Force (Department of Defense) - Products/Services Requested: - Common Armament Tester (CAT-F) system, including: - Handheld O-level armament testers (minimum 4 units) - Must have a screen size of at least 1.5 inches by 2.5 inches and a minimum resolution of 128 by 64 pixels - Aircraft-specific test kits for operational (O-level) maintenance - Fault-line I-level testers for intermediate/backshop maintenance - Additional fault-line test kits for I-level maintenance - All components must support a modular open systems design and interoperability across F-15, F-16, and A-10 platforms - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Modifications to existing non-developmental items are required; the full CAT-F system is not commercially available - Government requires data rights for maintenance and future upgrades - Minimum screen size and resolution for handheld testers - Emphasis on modularity and open systems architecture - OEMs and Vendors Mentioned: - Marvin Test Solutions, Inc. (mentioned as a protester; their product did not meet minimum requirements) - No specific OEMs or part numbers for the requested testers or kits are provided in the solicitation - The GAO denied a protest from Marvin Test Solutions, supporting the Air Force's technical and data rights requirements

Description

The Department of the Air Force issued RFP No. FA8533-25-R-0002 for the development, manufacture, and sustainment of a common armament tester (CAT-F) for F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft. The procurement includes a handheld tester for operational level maintenance, aircraft-specific test kits, fault-line testers for intermediate level maintenance, and additional fault-line test kits. The agency determined the full system is not commercially available, requiring modifications to existing non-developmental items. The protest challenged the agency's decision to not procure the testers as commercial items and the screen size requirement, but the GAO denied the protest in part and dismissed it in part, finding the agency's requirements reasonable and justified.

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