SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- BAA04-36 Large Aperature Space Surveillance (Optical) (LASSO)
- Notice Date
- 7/9/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714
- ZIP Code
- 22203-1714
- Solicitation Number
- BAA04-36
- Response Due
- 8/23/2004
- Archive Date
- 9/7/2004
- Point of Contact
- Karen Wood, DARPA Program Manager, TTO, Phone (703) 248-1523, Fax (703) 696-8401,
- E-Mail Address
-
kwood@darpa.mil
- Description
- LARGE APERTURE SPACE SURVEILLANCE (OPTICAL) (LASSO) PHASE I, BAA04-36 The Tactical Technology Office (TTO) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for the initial study phase (phase 1) of the four phase DARPA LASSO program. Phase I is conceptual system design and technology search; Phase II is the formulation of a preferred system design; Phase III is the detail design and Phase IV is the fabrication and demonstration. The LASSO program is pursuing the near term (4-5 year) demonstration of an in-space manufacturing concept focusing on emerging programs and initiatives within DARPA, NASA, NRO and other DoD Agencies. This effort will include design trade studies, conceptual system design and manufacturing approaches, and technology research. Future phases will include preliminary and detailed design, small scale risk reduction activities, and large scale system fabrication and demonstration. OVERALL PROGRAM GOAL AND VISION The overall goal of the LASSO program is to examine and validate technical options for manufacturing large space optical structures outside the confines of the Earth?s gravity. The system envisioned is a 150 meter optical system in geosynchronous orbit with the capability of 24/7 persistence and 6-inch resolution. Manufacturing in the space environment will enable novel structures that could not survive the loads experienced during terrestrial launch as well as the production of extremely large structures that enables optical systems resolution and accuracy that are not otherwise conceivable. Such structures are important to address both National security and energy issues. The size of such structures is currently limited by volume and mass constraints of launch vehicles. Technical challenges for the LASSO program include resource utilization, robotic processing, enabling structures and materials, propellants, power generation and manufacturing processes that can take advantage of the space environment, such as vacuum deposition, extrusion, nanotube fabrication, and surface finishing. Mass and complexity minimization of key components will drive the design of the system. This program will identify key technical challenges and define a demonstration mission to resolve critical issues for space manufacture. The demonstrations proposed will show scalability, traceability and heritage toward a full scale operational system. Miniaturized robotics capable of remotely processing materials and building rudimentary structures will be designed, fabricated and tested. Surface finishing techniques to meet optical wavelength tolerances will be a major focus of the program. Utility assessments of space manufacture in conjunction with operational customers will be performed to plan for technology transition. The LASSO program will lay the foundation and provide capability to increase the use of space. PHASE I DESCRIPTION Phase I is a six-month effort to explore advanced and innovative technologies to generate a feasible conceptual method to fabricate a large, 150 meter optical aperture in space that will contribute toward the development and design of a 6 inch resolution capable sensor system operating from both low earth and geostationary orbits. Conceptual designs and manufacturing approaches will be substantiated, experimental results or calculations proving feasibility of technical approach and its scalability will be provided. The effort will also include trade studies to explore the cost effectiveness of LASSO as compared to equivalent orbit constellations of LEO or GEO satellites having the same 6-inch resolution and 24/7 persistence capability. At a minimum, Phase I products will include: a conceptual design and manufacturing approach of a system capable of meeting the above objectives; identification of feasible advanced and innovative technologies to execute the demonstration; rationale for why this design and manufacturing approach are affordable, feasible and effective; and a program execution plan including risk mitigation steps, traceability relationships for scaled demonstrations, total program schedule and funding requirements. The contractor will support and provide a kick off meeting at award, an interim meeting and final brief at DARPA in Arlington, VA at approximately the 3rd and 6th month from award, respectively. FUNDING Total funding per Phase I award under this BAA is $500K for a six month effort. The government anticipates awarding multiple Phase I contracts and expects the offeror to provide a realistic proposal for best achieving the program objectives within the outlined budget and schedule. The government reserves the right to award without discussions. INFORMATION All awards will be subject to availability of government funds. Awards will be made to those offerors whose proposals are considered most advantageous to the government. The government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. Small Disadvantaged Businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions are encouraged to submit proposals and join other in submitting proposals. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other contract. Offerors are warned that only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. DARPA/TTO will accept classified responses to this BAA when the classification is mandated by classification guidance provided by an Original Classification Authority of the U.S. Government, or when the bidder believes the work, if successful, would merit classification. After reviewing incoming proposals, if a determination is made that contract award may result in access to classified information, a DD Form 254 will be issued upon contract award. If you chose to submit a classified proposal you must first receive the permission of the Original Classification Authority to use their information in replying to this BAA. The point of contact for classified responses is Paul Mclean, DARPA/SID, and can be reached at 703-526-6708. Bidders who are unsure about the appropriate classification of their proposal should contact this POC before submitting a response. AWARD INSTRUMENT AND EVALUATION APPROACH Awards of efforts as a result of this BAA will be in the form of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions depending upon the nature of the work propose. The Government will evaluate all proposals in accordance with the established evaluation criteria, other applicable published procedures (FAR Part 35) and the source selection plan. Evaluation criteria include: 1) Overall Scientific Approach and Innovation, 2) Technical Approach, 3) Management and 4) Cost Realism. Interim negotiations may be conducted during this evaluation process. PROPOSAL PROCEDURES The Offeror's proposal should consist of two sections: Section 1, Technical Proposal and Section 2, Cost Proposal. Section I should be submitted in standard three-ring, loose leaf binders with individual pages unbound and printed single sided. The complete section 1 response including classified pages shall not exceed 35 pages total. Indexes, cross reference tables, lists of acronyms, and tabs will not be included in the page count. Each page should be printed on an 8-1/2? x 11? sheet using Times New Roman 12-point font. Foldouts shall be no larger than 11? x 17? and shall count as two pages. Margins shall be 1? on all sides. The size of text used in tables and figures shall not be smaller than 10-point. Pages should be marked SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE. Section 1 ? The technical proposal shall ensure that it has considered the entire BAA solicitation while addressing the program issues described in the ?Phase I Description?. Section 2 ? The cost proposal has no page limitations. It must identify the individual cost elements the sum of which equates to total proposed cost. The cost proposal shall also provide supporting rationale as to how proposed cost is reasonable. Supporting cost rationale shall be to the level of proposed individual labor categories, labor hours and rates, applicable burdens and overheads including G&A, and other applicable cost including fee. The cost proposal shall also identify the cognizant DCAA office and the name and telephone number of a contact person at that office and advise as to if the proposed rates are the current DCAA approved rates. All Offerors must be registered with Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and must provide their CAGE, DUNS and TIN numbers on the cover sheet of the proposal. One signed original and eight copies of each proposal volume are required for submission. The Offeror is also required to submit its proposal in electronic format, on CD-ROM, in Microsoft Office 2000 compatible format. The deadline for receipt of proposals is August 23, 2004, 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. All proposals should be mailed or hand-carried to the delivery address as follows: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; Attention: Mr. Charles Nurse, CMO; LASSO BAA 04-36; 3701 N. Fairfax Drive ; Arlington, VA 22203-1714. Each volume of the proposal shall be packed and sealed separately and clearly marked to identify the volume number. Responses not received at the address and time specified above will not be considered. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST Awards made under this BAA are subject to the provisions of the FAR Subpart 9.5, Organizational Conflict of Interest. All Offerors and proposed subcontractors must affirmatively state whether they are supporting any DARPA technical office(s) through an active contract or subcontract. All affirmations must state which office(s) the Offeror supports and identify the prime contract number. Affirmations shall be furnished at the time of proposed submission, and the existence or potential existence of organizational conflicts of interest, as that term is defined in FAR 9.501, must be disclosed. This disclosure shall include a description of the action the Offeror has taken, proposes to take, to avoid, neutralize or mitigate such conflict. If the Offeror believes that no such conflict exists, then the Offeror shall so state in the affirmation. NON-GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL The Government intends to use support contractors, plus other independent experts to assist in processing and administering proposals during the Source Selection, and to provide advice relative to selected technical areas. These personnel are restricted by their contract from disclosing information contained in any proposal for any purpose to anyone outside of the Source Selection for this effort. Moreover, all personnel used in this capacity are required to enter into separate Organizational Conflict of Interest/Non Disclosure Agreements to this effect. By submission of its proposal, a offeror agrees that proposals may be disclosed to these personnel for the purpose of providing this assistance.
- Record
- SN00618412-W 20040711/040709212734 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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