SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Military Lens Fabrication and Assembly Project
- Notice Date
- 12/6/2004
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Wright Research Site, Det 1 AFRL/PK Bldg 167, Area B, 2310 8th Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7801
- ZIP Code
- 45433-7801
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-SS-05-03-PKM
- Archive Date
- 1/12/2005
- Description
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Manufacturing Technology Division (AFRL/MLM) of the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate desires to issue a sources sought announcement to identify potential U.S. sources and gather information on current capabilities within the domestic market. Small businesses, as well as all offerors, are encouraged to respond to this sources sought announcement. Responses should include information identifying whether the offeror?s firm is a small or large business. The size standard is 500 employees. The NAICS code for this potential effort is 541710. This is not a request for competitive proposals; therefore, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Companies that respond will not be paid for the information submitted except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in FAR 31.205-18, ?Bid and Proposal Costs.? Under the authority of Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.), the Title III Program Office, Air Force Research Laboratory, Manufacturing Technology Division (AFRL/MLM) is contemplating a procurement to establish a domestic manufacturing capability for the design and fabrication of mono-spectral and multi-spectral optical lens assemblies and component systems to be primarily used by the warfighter in fire control, weaponsight, and surveillance applications. The envisioned end-to-end lens assemblies will be manufactured for military, commercial, and other surveillance applications. Firms without domestic R&D and production capabilities are ineligible for any potential award. Title III of the Defense Production Act authorizes the Federal Government to provide appropriate incentives to develop, maintain, modernize, and expand the productive capacities of domestic sources for critical components, critical technology items, and industrial resources essential for the execution of the national security strategy of the United States. The principal role of Title III is to establish and maintain domestic production capacity for critical technology items and industrial resources essential to national defense. This is primarily achieved by providing incentives, which serve as a stimulus to domestic industry to create, expand, or preserve economically viable capabilities. This is accomplished in partnership with a supplier through the sharing of costs, risks, technical knowledge, decisions, information, and insight. Risk reduction is an important consideration in this partnership in that a Title III investment is only undertaken when it is determined that the private sector is either unwilling or unable to assume the risks associated with the creation of a targeted capacity. Under the authority of the DPA, any potential acquisition is restricted to sources with domestic R&D and production capabilities. The Title III Program Office is interested in transitioning from foreign produced mono-spectral optical systems to domestically produced mono-spectral and advanced multi-spectral optical systems. Reliable multi-spectral lens manufacturing is essential for applications using shared-aperture and multiple-aperture systems that employ Image Intensifiers, Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) uncooled focal plane arrays, Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) and Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) cooled arrays in various combinations for government and commercial uses. The Title III Program Office is interested in developing a manufacturing capability for design, fabrication, coating, assembly, and testing of mono and multi-spectral night vision optical systems that can be integrated into military and commercial surveillance systems. While lens assemblies constitute the bulk of the existing market, both lens assemblies and component systems manufacturing are being considered. The successful awardee will seek to become a domestic market supplier of mono and multi-spectral optical systems and achieve independent financial viability by addressing the needs of both government and commercial customers. Manufacturing requirements for mono and multi-spectral lens and components vary widely depending on their use and functionality. Interested parties must be able to work with perspective customers to determine product specifics and satisfy those disparate demands on an individual basis. Contractors unable to meet these minimum technical requirements should not respond to this announcement. The government contemplates this project will consist of multiple phases. In the initial phase, the contractor will document technical requirements and conduct a business case analysis. The Government anticipates awarding a follow-on multi-phase contract incorporating the results provided from the initial phase effort. Interested contractors should possess documented expertise and an existing capability in the development and production of mono and multi-spectral optics. Contractors should identify their interest and capability to respond to any potential requirement by submitting the information required under Note 25. All submitted information should be limited to no more than 25 pages, one-sided, minimum font size 10 and should be sent to Michele Tritt, Contract Negotiator, Det 1 AFRL/PKMT, Area B, Bldg 167, 2310 8th Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7801 or via e-mail at michele.tritt@wpafb.af.mil by 11 January 2005 no later than 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Submittals via e-mail are preferred. A responder may request clarification in writing for any requirement that is unclear from Anita Bailey, Contracting Officer, Det 1 AFRL/PKMT at (937) 656-7197 or by sending an e-mail to anita.bailey@wpafb.af.mil. Technical questions regarding this sources sought announcement should be directed to Brad Sampson, AFRL/MLME at (937)-904-4321 or at brad.sampson@wpafb.af.mil. Any requests for clarification must be received no later than seven (7) business days prior to the close of this sources sought announcement in order to receive a timely response. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. All routine communications regarding this announcement should be directed to the technical or contractual points of contact listed above. All responsible sources may submit information that shall be considered by the agency. See Note(s): 25.
- Record
- SN00717345-W 20041208/041206211838 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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