MODIFICATION
A -- Adaptive Biomimetic Aircraft Structures (ABAS)
- Notice Date
- 7/12/2017
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command, ACC - RSA (W91215) FT EUSTIS - (SPS), LEE BLVD BLDG 401, Fort Eustis, Virginia, 23604-5577, United States
- ZIP Code
- 23604-5577
- Solicitation Number
- W911W6-17-R-0018
- Archive Date
- 8/15/2017
- Point of Contact
- Hope A. McClain, Phone: 7578782993
- E-Mail Address
-
hope.a.mcclain.civ@mail.mil
(hope.a.mcclain.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Questions and Responses Question - Can we request an extension and also some insight into whether this is lined up for a specific supplier(s) considering the very short turn around on it? Response - The requested extension is granted. The revised submittal date is 31 July 2017 as noted on the call amendment. This call is NOT lined up for a specific offeror. It is a full and open competition. Question - The BAA suggests 6.2 funding. Are there a target entry and exit TRLs for the effort? Response - In general for 6.2 funded projects, the starting TRL is 2-3 with a target exit TRL of 4 Question - Would it be appropriate to put forward multiple technologies on the same whitepaper if they are related? Response - Multiple related technologies may be submitted in a single white paper as a single topic. Offerors should keep in mind the funding available and the page limitation of the white paper when considering this approach. Offerors are permitted to submit multiple white papers as an alternative. Question - The solicitation is pretty broad in terms of requirements, so we just want to get a better idea of any particular interests that the Army would have. Are there specific platforms of interest? Response - The solicitation is intentionally broad in terms of requirements. The Government is interested in a wide variety of concepts. As stated in the call "the objective of ABAS is to develop innovative biomimetic structural concepts capable of adapting to meet specific aircraft performance needs, without compromising structural integrity." There are no specific platforms of interest. As stated in the call, "proposed ABAS concepts applicable to multiple aircraft types and providing broad benefits (e.g. performance, survivability, and operational availability) are desired; however, comprehensive applicability and benefits beyond improved performance are not required." Question - Is there a greater emphasis on smaller UAVs for this solicitation? Response - The call does not specify an emphasis on any particular platform or aircraft type for this solicitation. As stated in the call "The Government desires technology applicable to all Army aviation assets, both manned and unmanned. Proposed ABAS concepts applicable to multiple aircraft types... are desired." Concepts which are platform and aircraft type agnostic are desired; however, it is understood that this is difficult to achieve. For proposed concepts applicable only to certain platforms or aircraft types, it is recommended that the benefits of the platform or aircraft type to the warfighter be substantiated as space allows. Question - Among the different aspects that would go into developing such a technology (structural / hardware concept, controller for achieving seamless performance, optimization for finding the best design, etc.) are there particular aspects that are of greater interest than others? Response - The call does not specify any aspects of added emphasis for this solicitation. As stated in the call "The objective of ABAS is to develop innovative biomimetic structural concepts capable of adapting to meet specific aircraft performance needs, without compromising structural integrity." It is recommended that the focus of the white paper be on the proposed structural concept, elaborating on supporting technologies if space and funding allows. Question - What would be the expected end product of the research? Response - The expected end product of the research is listed in Attachment 2 "Report Requirements / Agreement Deliverables" of the Draft Technology Investment Agreement that is attached to the call. Question - I believe we need to put some cost information in the white paper as well. Are we correct in assuming that the funding (assuming 3 teams are funded) is about $100K for the first half year (FY18), $130K for 2nd year (FY19) and $250K for the 3rd year (FY20)? Response - Some cost information is necessary in the white paper. The Government anticipates at least three awards from the total funds, as stated in the Call; however, there is no assurance that three awards will be made. The Government anticipated available funding is expressed in the call; however, how the funding will be committed to efforts selected under this call will be dependent on many factors that are not known at this time. Two examples are that the number of awards may be more or less than the notional three and the selected proposed efforts may have differing funding requirements for the total effort and for each of the fiscal years. Therefore, the assumption that the funding is about $100K for the first half year (FY18), $130K for 2nd year (FY19) and $250K for the 3rd year (FY20) may be kept in mind when considering a proposed effort, but should not be used as a strict guideline for cost. Question - In the white paper do we need to define a work plan as well, or just describe our approach? If the work plan is required, would it require all 30 months of plans? Response - A defined work plan is not required in the white paper. Question - Is there any guidance on what all information (or sections) are required for the 3-page whitepaper? For instance, does it have to include work plan, cost, key personnel, related work, and similar sections? Response - Section 5.1.1 of the master Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911W6-17-R-0003: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c9e952f61e12b282dcbc0b25dde382e7&tab=core&_cview=0 provides additional information regarding content of the white paper. The Government desires sufficient details regarding proposed schedule, timeline, and cost to conduct an informed technical review using the evaluation criteria in the master Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911W6-17-R-0003 as amended in Section 5.0 of the subject call W911W6-17-R-0018. Upon completion of the evaluation of the white papers, the Government will request full proposals from those offerors whose white papers were evaluated as being scientifically meritorious under the evaluation criteria and show the potential for selection for award.
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-
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- Record
- SN04577230-W 20170714/170712235515-1519bcb9809a61494515b1ef0107c128 (fbodaily.com)
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