SOURCES SOUGHT
18 -- Space Vehicles Advanced Technology (SVAT)
- Notice Date
- 4/1/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL, Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, 2251 Maxwell Ave, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, 87117
- ZIP Code
- 87117
- Solicitation Number
- FA9453-11-R-0287
- Archive Date
- 4/30/2011
- Point of Contact
- Wayne W Zitzka, Phone: 505 846 4987, Joel L. Perrine, Phone: 5058530982
- E-Mail Address
-
Wayne.Zitzka@Kirtland.af.mil, Joel.Perrine@kirtland.af.mil
(Wayne.Zitzka@Kirtland.af.mil, Joel.Perrine@kirtland.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is not a Solicitation announcement. This is a Sources Sought Synopsis and Market Research Survey to locate qualified business concerns for the procurement of Space Vehicles Advance Technology (SVAT) for the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV) located at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. AFRL/RV is seeking business concerns that can provide the following Research & Development support. A. REQUIREMENTS DESCRIPTION The objective of this request is the provision to the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate, Spacecraft Technology Division (AFRL/RVS, henceforth ‘RVS') with the necessary Research and Development (R&D) to support the discovery, development, and transition of spacecraft technologies as defined by the directorate's technology areas. These technology areas include but are not limited to: Defensive Space Control (DSC), Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR), Responsive Space (RS) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA). RVS executes three aspects of R&D, to include basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development, for these technology areas. Additionally, the contract will have, as incidental support, technician assistance, program management support, and administrative effort which will represent a small percentage of the overall work to be provided. Support to RVS provided under this contract will fall under the following functional areas: • Basic research • Engineering development & analysis • Subsystem & component development, integration and test • Laboratory operations and experimentation • Program management These RVS functional areas involve support of subsystem/component design, analyses throughout the research & development system engineering process, design optimization and review, testing and evaluation, technology transition, ground support systems, spacecraft, and launch vehicles. Depending on AFRL/RVS requirements, each functional area will be an element of research for the specific spacecraft technologies described above with transition from, for example Basic Research to Engineering Development and Analysis, or a separate tasking involving a single functional area without transition to another functional area. Performance shall be conducted at the AFRL/RV operating locations at Kirtland AFB, NM and at field sites or at the contractor's facilities. Examples of the technology to be researched and developed under this contract include, but are not limited to: advanced lightweight antenna and optical structures, deployable structures, nano-reinforced structures, structural health monitoring, state sensing, reconfigurable structures, integrated sensing, spacecraft thermal management, precision deployment, multifunctional structures, advanced spacecraft components, precision optical components, spacecraft and launch vehicle structural dynamics; data fusion and discrimination; spacecraft proximity maneuvering and precision navigation; spacecraft controls and estimation system technologies; spacecraft and launch vehicle vibro-acoustic load mitigation technologies; on-orbit spacecraft servicing technologies; advanced mechanism development for spacecraft and launch vehicles; space-based robotics technologies; autonomous decision making strategies and algorithm development for spacecraft and/or constellations of spacecraft; autonomous guidance, navigation, and control technologies; adaptive, nonlinear, and intelligent control algorithms; and active and passive pointing technologies for precision deployable systems, power generation, energy storage, and power management and distribution, multijunction solar cells, thin-film solar cells, novel solar cell concepts and structures, innovative non-photovoltaic technologies for space power, modeling and simulation technologies for on-orbit space power systems and/or space power system components, novel battery technologies and other energy storage devices, radiation hardening technologies, reconfigurable/self-diagnostic power management and distribution technologies, novel module, blanket, and array technologies, spacecraft threat detection, characterization, and avoidance; spacecraft catalog maintenance modernization; onboard spacecraft anomaly detection and mitigation techniques; and other intelligent reasoning software for space domain issues. 1. Basic Research 1.1 The contractor shall perform basic research in specified technology areas to support the identification of solutions and provide applicable CDRL documentation. These basic research activities include all scientific study and experimentation directed toward increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in the technology areas specified in section A and provide the basis for technological progress into applied research. 1.2. The contractor shall perform physical analysis and modeling and simulation of the basic physics involved in the specified technology areas. The contractor shall conduct experiments as necessary to discover and identify fundamental principles associated with technology in specified technology areas. The contractor shall perform trade studies, identifying, evaluating, and selecting alternative technology solutions. 1.3 The contractor shall support and document through appropriate CDRLs, technical interchange meetings, conferences, conduct training, make oral presentations, generate publications and participate in other discussions that promote the maturation of fundamental technology identified in Section A. The contractor shall have the capability to supplement their efforts through both accredited academic institutions and the industrial sector. 1.4 Research and analysis shall be accomplished through experimental testing and computer simulation and/or analysis tools such as MATLAB, IDEAS, Cosmic, SolidWorks, ANSYS, and ABAQUS. The contractor shall appropriately document research performed. The contractor shall provide or arrange for appropriate equipment and software support. 2. Engineering Development & Analysis 2.1 The contractor shall conduct research and development to expand the application of knowledge to develop useful materials, devices and systems or methods for relevant technologies. These activities will be oriented toward the design, development, and improvement of technology to meet general mission area requirements. Activities conducted under this functional area may translate promising basic research into solutions for broadly defined military needs. 2.2 The contractor shall conduct research to support the development of systems engineering analyses, and concept modeling and simulation to support the maturation of relevant technology. The contractor shall conduct research to support the derivation of technical requirements for applied technology in response to customer requirements. The contractor shall participate in concept and design reviews and technical interchange meetings involving their research, and shall provide problem resolution and the development and incorporation of corrective action. 2.3 The contractor shall perform electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, test instrumentation design, modeling and simulation, functional/environmental test, data reduction and analyses, and provide engineering development and fabrication of components, subsystems, systems and laboratory equipment, including appropriate documentation, in support of the development of technologies. This includes basic mechanical and electrical design and fabrication such as electronic circuit design, structural design and finite element modeling, subsystem and system assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and setup and calibration of miscellaneous electronic, acoustic, thermal, optical and mechanical test equipment, as required. Work requires expert knowledge in the design, fabrication, and assembly of metallic, polymer, and composite parts. 2.4 The contractor shall design, develop, implement and test software. This involves modifying existing software to suit the particular needs, writing new code, documenting the software program and providing hardware and providing hardware descriptions, interacting with technicians and engineers for testing and experiment requirements, integration with the instruments used in testing, and maintenance of the software database. 3. Subsystem & Component Development, Integration and Test 3.1. The contractor shall conduct research and development to develop subsystems and components for advanced technology demonstration. These efforts include integrating subsystems and components into system prototypes for field experiments and/or tests in a simulated environment. The contractor shall support concept and technology demonstrations of components and subsystems or system models that have a direct relevance to identified military needs. Models may be form, fit and function prototypes or scaled models that serve the same demonstration purpose. Results of these activities will provide proof of technological feasibility and assessment of subsystem and component Technology Readiness Levels of 4, 5, or 6. 3.2. The contractor shall perform integration and test at field locations, test ranges, government locations, and contractor locations to support AFRL/RVS subsystem development, integration and test activities for mission-relevant technology. The contractor shall conceptually, mechanically, and electrically integrate various hardware and software systems and perform test planning, test procedures development, test design and fabrication, test preparation and coordination, test software development, test execution, data reduction and analysis, and document test results. The contractor shall provide or arrange sufficient and appropriate equipment and logistics support for the test effort. 3.3. The contractor shall perform experimental tests to evaluate the performance of the identified technologies. These tests include, but are not limited to: experimental modal analysis, system identification testing, control system performance testing, radiation testing, buckling/failure, strength testing, and operating environment evaluations. Experimental test results shall be used to validate prior analyses. 3.4 The contractor shall provide analysis and documentation for flight and/or ground experiments in the support of technology transition to include elements such as definition of experiment objectives, constraints, alternatives, and defining experiment requirements. The contractor shall provide engineering and technical support for technology demonstrations that include, but are not limited to, safety planning and procedures, environmental compliance, experiment risk analysis and risk management, experiment operations and support, experiment management and test data gathering, reduction, analysis/verification. 4. Laboratory Operations (Incidental and applicable to this contract) 4.1. The contractor shall be responsible for conducting operations in AFRL/RVS laboratories as required by the SVAT contract. Within the laboratory, the contractor shall perform information and process management, configuration management, resource and facility management to include property accountability, tool management, hazardous waste management responsibilities, quality control management, and work site cleanliness. The contractor shall be responsible for accomplishing the business and administrative planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, accomplishing, documenting, and controlling actions associated with basic research, applied research and advanced technology development activities in the laboratory. This includes complying with all technical, legal, and regulatory requirements. 5. Program Management 5.1. The contractor shall perform program management, information and process management, configuration management, resource and facility management to include property accountability, tool management and maintenance, hazardous waste management and monitoring responsibilities, quality control management, and work site cleanliness. 5.2. The contractor shall implement administrative, financial management and task planning functions to ensure the on-time, on-budget accomplishment of all authorized tasks. The contractor shall participate in program reviews of task orders. 5.3 The contractor shall establish and implement information and physical security programs governing their efforts in accordance with the applicable DD254 Contract Security Classification Specification. 5.4 Government Data Systems Access: Performance under this effort may require access to unclassified Air Force computer systems (standalone and networked). The contractor shall comply with local procedures for obtaining approval for employees to access required Air Force computer systems. 5.5 Government-provided training: In general, contractor employees must attend and complete all training required of Government employees, unless otherwise notified. The contractor will be notified of the availability of such training by the Government. The contractor shall be responsible for scheduling the attendance of contractor personnel at such training, and shall be responsible for minimizing the interruption of necessary governmental functions. (As an example, the Government will provide Small Computer Training/Security Awareness, Training, and Education [SATE] Training IAW Air Force Instruction 33-204 "Information Protection Security Awareness, Training, and Education [SATE Program]."), and initial OPSEC orientation, annual OPSEC awareness training and participate in continuing awareness training throughout the year. B. GENERAL INFORMATION This effort contains one Statement of Work (SOW) with five functional areas that will be used for the basic contract. Multiple Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) type contracts with Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Completion task orders are anticipated. The anticipated contract ceiling is $60M over a five-year period. The total value of all task orders issued as a result of this effort should not exceed $60M for the duration of the contract. Potential small business sources are being sought who can provide a range of support, either in-house or through prospective subcontractors. Contract Teaming Arrangements are desirable if they offer the Government the best combination of performance, cost and delivery. The affiliation rule allows a set-aside when there is an expectation of two or more competitive offers from small business teams (small business as prime contractor with small and large business subcontractors) when at least 50% of the effort will be performed by the collective efforts of all small business members of the team. Based upon the evaluation of the responses, the Government reserves the right to set-aside this acquisition for participation by small businesses, qualifying 8(a), and service disabled veteran businesses. C. STATEMENT OF CAPABILITY PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS Interested/qualified small business offerors who can provide the requirements in accordance with Section A above are invited to submit a written Statement of Capability (SOC). The SOC is limited to 10 pages (12 pitch or larger), single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inch pages. The page limitation does not include resumes. An original SOC and three copies must be sent to the Contracting Officer at Det 8, AFRL/RVKS, 2251 Maxwell SE, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5773, no later than Noon (Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)) on 15 April 2011. Include in the SOC any other specific and pertinent information as it pertains to this effort that would enhance the Government's consideration and evaluation of the information, name and address of offeror, name, phone and fax number of point of contact(s), CAGE and NAICS codes and cognizant ACO name and phone number. All small businesses submitting SOCs should indicate whether they are a small, small disadvantaged (not 8(a) certified), 8(a), woman-owned, or service disabled veteran business. The NAICS Code for this effort is 541712, size standard of 500 employees. Submissions by e-mail or fax will not be accepted. LARGE BUSINESSES SHOULD NOT SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITY. D. EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES The following criteria will be used in evaluating all SOCs received in response to this synopsis: (1) Experience in the past five years in R&D related to technologies similar to those conducted at AFRL/RV as described in Section A - Requirements above. Include name of program, contract number, description of product or service, period of performance, customer name and phone number and contract value; (2) Availability of an adequate number of qualified personnel to locally support the effort with the ability to accommodate significant fluctuations based on AF programmatic and monetary variations while mitigating any significant technical and/or cost impact to the Government, and (3) Demonstrate (a) that the small business members of the team will perform at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance, and (b) a contract management structure that allows for a single organization accountable for total performance responsibility. E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 1. Foreign-owned firms are advised they will not be allowed to participate at the prime contractor level. 2. The operations, research, test data, and technical information produced under a resultant contract may contain Military Critical Technology List (MCTL) information whose export is restricted by the Export Control Act (Title 22, USC, Section 2751, et seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (Title 50, USC, App. 40-1, et seq.). Only those companies who are on the Qualified Contractors Access List (QCAL) may receive such information. Request certification and registration from the Defense Logistics Information Service, Federal Center, 74 Washington Ave., North, Battle Creek MI, 49017-3084 as soon as possible. 3. To be eligible to receive an award of any contractual document, a firm is to be registered in the DoD Central Contractor Registration Database. 4. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from potential offerors during the proposal development phase for this effort. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the program director or contracting officer, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. Before contacting the Ombudsman, potential offerors should first communicate with the contracting officer for this acquisition. If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, concerned parties may contact the Center/MAJCOM ombudsmen, Ms. Sue Hunter; 1864 4th Street, Building 15, Room 225; Wright-Patterson AFB OH45433-7130; Phone: 937-904-4407; FAX: 937-904-7024; Email:Sue.Hunter@wpafb.af.mil. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the MAJCOM/DRU level, may be brought by the concerned party for further consideration to the Air Force ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (703) 588-7004, facsimile number (703) 588-1067. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the award process. 5. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced separately. This is NOT a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or an announcement of a solicitation and no solicitation package exists at this time. No contract will be awarded as a result of this sources sought synopsis, which is for information purposes only. The Government will not pay for any materials provided in response to this synopsis and submittals will not be returned to the sender.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLPLSVD/FA9453-11-R-0287/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: AFRL/RVS, 3550 Aberdeen Ave SE, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, 87117-5775, United States
- Zip Code: 87117-5775
- Zip Code: 87117-5775
- Record
- SN02415545-W 20110403/110401234923-1d5253d4006221220a8a21720b16ad97 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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