SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Lightweight Deployable Imaging Telescope Mirror Technology
- Notice Date
- 3/29/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - PL
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-PKV-02-05
- Response Due
- 4/29/2002
- Archive Date
- 5/14/2002
- Point of Contact
- Sherry Freeman, Contract Specialist, Phone 505 846 7201, Fax 505 846 7041, - Francisco Tapia, Contracting Officer, Phone 505 846 5021, Fax 505 846 7041,
- E-Mail Address
-
Sherry.Freeman@Kirtland.af.mil, Francisco.Tapia@Kirtland.af.mil
- Description
- A. INTRODUCTION: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicle Components Branch (VSSV), as part of the Space Vehicle Directorate (VS) at Kirtland AFB NM is interested in receiving proposals in lightweight mirror technology for space-deployable imaging telescopes. The total program budget for these efforts is approximately $800K over 8 to 15 months. AFRL will make one award. This Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA) will remain open 30 days after date of publication. Open communication with the technical point of contact (POC) is encouraged until proposals are received. AFRL Evaluators may contact an offeror to clarify a point of information before completing the evaluation. The Government will provide a site visit on 10 April 2002. Offerors should contact the Technical POC, Dr. R. Scott Erwin, (505) 846-9816, to make arrangements to participate in the site visit. B. TECHNICAL TOPIC AREA: This technical effort is focused on the development of lightweight mirror systems technology for space-deployable imaging telescope applications. The contractor should consider innovative approaches for the design of stiff, lightweight, space-traceable mirrors that meet the performance requirements of visible imaging applications. Development of prototype mirrors based on the proposed technology is desired. AFRL is specifically interested in approaches that addresses the following goals (in order of importance): ultra-lightweight, high-stiffness mirror structures (technology goals of < 15 kg/m2 areal density, which must factor in any required mechanisms and control electronics, and first natural frequency in test mounting configuration > 80 Hz), applicability to large apertures (technology goal of 0.6 meters diameter circular), ability to achieve desired radius of curvature in mirror structures (technology goal of 5 meters ?b .2% for spherical optics), ability to achieve stringent radius-of-curvature matching between segments (technology goal of < 40 microns differential ROC between 3 segments), ability to provide stringent mirror surface figure error (technology goal relative to a best fit reference sphere ?T ??/4 peak to valley and < ??/40 rms at 633 nm over central 95% clear aperture), visible-quality, space-qualifiable coatings (technology goal is reflectivity of R ?d 90% from 450 - 850 nm at normal incidence, with no visible pinholes or defects in surfaces when viewed without magnification over central 95% clear aperture, with durability performance equivalent or greater to that of standard aluminum coatings), low surface roughness (technology goal ?T 20 angstroms rms over central 95% clear aperture), stringent mirror surface quality (technology goal better than 40-20 scratch ?V dig over central 95% clear aperture), low complexity approaches (i.e. non-actuated), low thermal gradient sensitivity mirror structures (i.e. low thermal expansion or high conductivity), and approaches that offer significant improvements in manufacturing time to current commercial mirror fabrication techniques. Offerors must propose development, design, fabrication, and test three (3) prototype mirrors that address all of the above technology goals to be acceptable for award. These mirrors must be compatible with a 3 point mechanical mounting interface, to be provided by AFRL, that will allow further test and evaluation by the Government. Offerors should contact the Technical POC Dr. R. Scott Erwin, AFRL/VSSV, 505-846-9816, fax 505-846-7877, email: richard.erwin@kirtland.af.mil to obtain a description of the mounting interface and planned AFRL testing configuration. All measurement units presented to the Air Force should use the meter-kilogram-second (MKS) system. C. PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1) TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: shall contain the following sections: (a) Executive Summary, (b) Program Description, (c) Program Plan, (d) Contractor Statement of Work (CSOW) and Milestone Chart, (e) Facilities and Equipment description, (f) Description of Relevant Prior Work, (g) Management Plan, and (h) Resumes of Key Individuals. The following information describes items that should be addressed in the technical proposal. Section (a) Executive Summary: Describe the proposed program, objectives, and approach. A description of the innovation and benefits of the proposed approach and relationship to previous efforts should be discussed. Section (b) Program Description: Describe the techniques, methods, materials, or ideas that will be addressed in this proposal, their innovation, and to what degree they advance the state-of-the-art. Also describe any potential for commercial application and the benefits expected to accrue from commercialization. Section (c) Program Plan: Describe in detail the approach planned and how the plan will be executed. This section should include all technical aspects and how the approach will be executed to address each of the technology goals outlined in Section B of this solicitation. Section (d) Contractor Statement of Work and Milestone Chart Description: Include a Contractor Statement of Work detailing the technical tasks to be accomplished under the proposed effort and to be suitable for contract incorporation (no proprietary legends). Milestones should indicate when specific objectives are expected to be met in the overall schedule of the program and should identify the specific accomplishments necessary to proceed to the next task. Section (e) Facilities and Equipment Description: Describe the facilities that can be used to achieve the goals of the program, in terms of manufacturing capability, testing facilities, and/or any relevant specialized equipment. Section (f) Description of Relevant Prior Work: Include a list of both in-house efforts funded by internal research funds and contracts funded by others. For each such effort, include a list of the principal investigator, title of effort, contract number, brief summary of results, and a technical and contracting point-of-contact, including phone numbers, with the funding organization. Section (g) Resumes of Key Individuals: Include brief summaries of resumes of relevant key individuals including any consultants or subcontractors that might be proposed. The technical proposal shall be limited to 50 pages, (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, 8.5 by 11 inch pages. The page limitation includes all information i.e., indices, photographs, foldouts, appendices, attachments, resumes etc. Use at least 1-inch margins on top and bottom and 1 inch side margins. The binding shall not impair legibility. Both sides of paper may be used. Each printed side of an 8?? x 11?? sheet counts as a page. Foldouts printed on one side only will be counted as 2 pages. Blank pages, title pages, table of contents, lists of figures, lists of tables, tabs, cover sheets, or blank dividers are not included in the page count. The Government will only read and evaluate proposals up to the page limitation. Pages over the page limitation will be removed prior to evaluation. Use elite type size or equivalent (not smaller than 10 point vertical character height and not more than 12 characters per inch). A ten-point proportional serif font is acceptable, in which case characters per inch measurement do not apply. Typesetting or other techniques to reduce character size or spacing are not permitted. The PRDA Guide is available at http://extra.afrl.af.mil/policy-guides.htm (2) COST PROPOSAL: There is no page limitation for cost portions of each technical proposal. Cost proposals should be prepared in accordance with the instructions located at the FedBizOpps website: http://www.eps.gov under this PRDA. (3) GENERAL: Proposals shall be due 30 days from the date of publication. Proposals shall be submitted to Det 8 AFRL/PKVV, Attn: Sherry Freeman 505-846-7201, 2551 Maxwell Ave SE, Building 426, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5773. Do not send proposals to any other address or they may not be considered for award. Proposals submitted by fax or e-mail will not be considered for award. Proposals shall be submitted in original and four (4) copies with the original being clearly marked in such a manner as to distinguish it from the copies. Submit Technical and Cost proposals in separate volumes. Proposals shall be valid for a period of not less than 180 days after the due date. Proposals must reference the above PRDA number and include a contractor unique proposal identification number. Unnecessarily elaborate brochures or presentations beyond that sufficient to present a complete and effective proposal is not desired. Offerors must mark their proposals with the restrictive language stated in FAR 15.609(a). The cost of preparing proposals in response to this PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or to any other contract. However, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect costs as specified in FAR 31.205-18. C. DELIVERABLE ITEMS. The following deliverable items will be required: (1) Data: (a) Program Plan with updates as needed; (b) Monthly Status/Financial Reports; (c) Final Report, draft and final with camera ready copy; and (d) Presentation Material as needed in conjunction with technical interchange meetings; (e) Test plan report showing how the prototype mirrors developed under this effort will be experimentally characterized to demonstrate attainment of each of the technology goals of Section B of this solicitation (f) All science/engineering data in Matlab-compatible electronic format from tests performed by the contractor to verify that the technology goals were or were not met (g) Mirror handling and storage document, describing any special instructions for proper packing, unpacking, handling and storage of the mirror hardware deliverables (2) Hardware: (a) Three (3) prototype mirrors that demonstrate all of the technology goals as discussed in Section B of this solicitation. These deliverable prototypes shall be compatible with a 3 point mechanical mounting interface, to be provided by AFRL, that will allow further test and evaluation by the Government. All items shall be delivered to the Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB. Electronic format (MS Word or MS PowerPoint in PC-compatible CD-ROM or 3.5?? floppy disk format) is preferable for applicable data deliverables. D. BASIS FOR AWARD: Evaluation will be in accordance with the categorization process in AFMC FARS 5335.016-90. Technical proposals will be evaluated using the following factors in descending order of importance based on scientific peer review: (a) technical quality and scientific merit of the proposed technical approach and program plan, and the relevance of the proposed technology to future DOD needs, (b) capabilities and related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of these which are an integral factor for achieving proposal objectives and (c) affordability. No further evaluation criteria will be used in selecting the successful proposal. Once the evaluation is completed, all proposals will be categorized as one of the following: (i) Category I: Well conceived, scientifically and technically sound proposals pertinent to program goals and objectives, and offered by a responsible contractor with the competent scientific and technical staff and supporting resources needed to ensure satisfactory program results. Proposals in Category I are recommended for acceptance and normally are displaced only by other Category I proposals. (ii) Category II: Scientifically or technically sound proposals requiring further development and are recommended for acceptance, but are at a lower priority than Category I; (iii) Category III: Proposals not technically sound or do not meet agency needs. Subject to the availability of funds, AFRL reserves the right to select for award any, part, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. When requested, a debriefing will be provided IAW FAR 15.505 and 15.506. E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: While the Government reserves the right to award a procurement instrument best suited to the nature of the research proposed, a Cost Plus Fixed-Fee Completion contract of 8 to 15 months duration is anticipated. The offeror shall include their recommendation and rationale for the type of instrument proposed in the proposal. In the event the Government is unable to conclude negotiations with the apparent successful offeror, it reserves the right to conduct negotiations with another acceptable offeror. It is anticipated that contractors may have access to or may generate data that is unclassified with limited distribution and/or subject to U.S. Export Control laws. Therefore, only offerors who are certified by the Defense Logistics Information Service (DLIS) may submit proposals. Contact the Defense Logistics Service Center (DLSC) on-line at http://www.dlis.dla.mil/ccal or at DLIS, US/Canada Joint Certification Center, Federal Center, 74 North Washington, Battle Creek, Michigan 49016-4312, 1-800-352-3572 for further information on the certification and approval process. Foreign-owned firms that are interested must contact the Contracting POC, Sherry Freeman, prior to proposal submission. Discussions with the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the government. Firms responding should indicate if they are a Small Business, a Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business, an 8(a) Certified Business, a Woman-Owned Business, or a Hub-zone certified concern. The NAICS for this acquisition is 541710, with a size standard of 1,000 employees. This acquisition is unrestricted; full and open competition is anticipated. All DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and DOD FFRDCs C3I Lab, Lincoln Laboratory or Software Engineering Institute may submit proposals in response to this solicitation/announcement. Other FFRDCs or contractors that propose using FFRDCs not discussed herein shall provide rationale in its proposal that research is within the purpose, mission, general scope of effort or special competency of the FFRDC and that research to be performed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with the private sector. An Ombudsman has been appointed to mediate concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the pre-proposal phase of competitive, negotiated acquisitions. The Ombudsman does not participate in proposal evaluation or contractor selection. The Ombudsman can work with responsible acquisition officials to respond to concerns, but will not detract from the authorities of the Project Manager or Contracting Officer. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain the confidentiality of sources. The Ombudsman at Phillips Research Site is Mr. Eugene C. DeWall, Director of Contracting, Det 8 AFRL/PK, 2251 Maxwell St SE, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5773; (505) 846-4979. Before contacting the Ombudsman, potential offerors should first refer concerns to the Contracting Officer, Mr. Francisco Tapia (505) 846-5021, francisco.tapia@kirtland.af.mil, or refer technical concerns to the Project Manager, R. Scott Erwin at (505) 846-9816 (richard.erwin@kirtland.af.mil). CBD Note 26: No commercial products anticipated.
- Record
- SN00050643-W 20020331/020329213232 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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