NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The Air Combat Electronics Program Office (PMA-209) Avionics Component Improvement Program (AvCIP) is now accepting proposals for Fiscal Year 2011 project funding.

“If your program is having a problem supporting a particular piece of avionics equipment, we may be able to help,” said Tom Maday, AvCIP Integrated Program Team leader. “We have more than five million dollars of funding available for fiscal year 2011 projects, so please contact us and we will let you know if we can help.”

AvCIP was established to provide near term resources to address critical avionics component war-fighting readiness degraders, excessive support cost drivers and obsolescence issues that present near term loss of system sustainability and platform war-fighting capability.

“Since its formal start in 2006, AvCIP has resourced twenty-one projects with more than thirteen million dollars,” said Maday. “The long term savings and cost avoidances for those investments are projected to exceed one hundred million dollars.”

“All platforms, fixed wing, rotary wing, unmanned aircraft systems, weapons and support equipment, are eligible to receive AvCIP funds to fix an issue,” added Maday. “The components can be in or out of production.”

Proposals are solicited, reviewed, competed and selected by a panel of subject matter experts. The proposal submission is a two-step process. Teams are required to first submit a concept proposal by February 2010, which consists of identifying the component and platform it is used on, along with a simple description of the problem, the solution and expected benefits.

This preliminary step culls out projects that do not fall within AvCIP’s scope. Once a concept is approved, AvCIP team members will work with the program team leads to complete a formal submission package for a working group review that will be held in April 2010.

Project selection and prioritization is based upon its urgency, the return on investment, the number of users affected, operational benefits and risk, with an emphasis on quick execution. Project selection will be in May 2010 to ensure an early FY11 start date.

For more information on AvCIP, including assistance in developing proposals, please contact Mr. Tom Maday, AvCIP IPT leader at 301-757-0910.