R&D Contracting Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607

A -- RADAR SYSTEM APERTURE TECHNOLOGY SOL PRDA NO. 95-06-AAK DUE 030795 POC Contact Alan C. Struckman, Contract Negotiator, (513) 255-5201 or Barbara A. Mumma, Contracting Officer, (513) 255-5201. A--Introduction: Wright Laboratory (WL/AAKR) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research effort described below. Proposals in response to this PRDA shall be submitted by 7 Mar 95, 1500 hours Eastern Time, addressed to Wright Laboratory, Directorate of R&D Contracting, 2530 C Street, Building 7, Area B, ATTN: (Mr. Alan C. Struckman, WL/AAKR), Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Proposal receipt after the cutoff date and time specified herein shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10, a copy of this provision may be obtained from the contracting point of contact. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may permit subsequent submission of proposal dates. Offerors should request a copy of the WL Guide entitled, ''PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry''. This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA/BAA proposal process. Copies may be requested from WL/AAKR, 2530 C Street, Building 7, Area B, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607, telephone (513) 255-2902. B--REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: (a) Background/Problem. Radar systems fielded today need to be more affordable and reliable. The antenna gimbals on fielded radar systems are one of the most unreliable parts of the radar system. They also delay track updates of targets by having to overcome their own inertia. Electronically scanned array (ESA) antennas do not have this problem, but they are very expensive. (b) Objective. This effort will investigate novel approaches to an ESA type technology for lower cost radar system upgrades that will enhance radar performance while operating within the power, size, and cooling constraints of a currently fielded system. The proposed aperture should improve the overall system reliability. This effort has four major tasks. Task 1 is the requirements flow down. The contractor will determine the aperture performance requirement that will result in system performance equal to or greater than the operational system they propose to upgrade but at a forty (40) percent or greater reduced recurring cost. The proposed aperture should also improve the overall antenna system reliability by forty (40) percent or more. These performance requirements shall be used to generate performance requirements for a demonstration aperture that must be met to be considered to proceed to the aperture development and laboratory test phases of the program. It is well understood by the Air Force that some fielded systems such as the APG-68 were designed and fielded to be a low cost and lower performance radar system. Therefore, it may be unrealistic to try and design an aperture that would be 40% less than the cost of the existing antenna systems. If this is the case then a design should be found that increases performance and reliability by 40% or more and holds the cost to a minimum. Task 2 will use the results of Task 1 aperture requirements studies to define hardware, software, and system interfaces. Task 3 will require the generation of hardware and software preliminary designs for a systems integration into a chosen fielded radar system. It will also require the development of a test plan for a laboratory demonstration of the aperture. Task 3 will culminate in a Preliminary Design Review. Task 4 requires the fabrication of the aperture hardware and development of the software identified in Task 3, and concludes with a laboratory test and/or roof-top demonstration conducted by the contractor. (2) DELIVERABLE ITEMS: The following deliverable data items shall be proposed: (a) Contractor's Progress, Status and Management DI-MGMT-80227, monthly, (b) Performance and Cost Report, DI-FNCL-80912/T, monthly, (c) Project Planning Chart, DI-MGMT-80507A/T, monthly, (d) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR), DI-F-6004B/T, quarterly, (e) Scientific and Technical, Contractor's Billing Voucher, DI-S-30593/T, monthly, (f) Scientific and Technical Reports, DI-MISC-80711/T, (Draft and Reproducible Final) including as a minimum, the rationale, objective, assumptions, analytic methods/models description, design concept and rationale, test results, and, (g) Presentation Material, DI-ADMN-81373/T, as required. The contractor shall be required to conduct a kick-off meeting at the contractor's facilities within forty-five (45) days after contract award, and informal technical meetings held quarterly and alternating between WPAFB and the contractor's facility. (3) SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: TEMPEST requirements will apply. Generation of classified material for this solicitation effort is authorized only on equipment approved for classified processing by Air Force TEMPEST authorities. (4) OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: International Traffic in Arms Regulations apply. C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The total length of the technical effort is estimated to be 36 months. The contractor shall also provide for an additional 4 months for processing/completion of the final report. (2) Expected Award Date: 1 Jun 95. (3) Government Estimate: The Government funding profile, per individual award, is estimated to be as follows: FY95 - $500K, FY96 - $1600K, FY97 - $1600K, FY98 - $1200K. This funding profile is an estimate only and is not a promise for funding as all funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability. Two awards are anticipated with a phase authorization decision after 12 months. (4) Type of Contract: Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) or Cost (no fee). Any grants awarded will be cost (no fee). (5) Government Furnished Property: None contemplated. (6) Size Status: For the purpose of this acquisition, the size standard is 1000 employees (SIC 8731). (7) Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Foreign contractors are excluded at the prime contractor level of this procurement. Any subcontracting arrangements will be handled in accordance with the ITAR. D -- PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1) General Instructions: Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision at FAR 52.215-12, Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data, to trade secrets or privileged commercial and financial information contained in their proposals. Proposal questions should be directed to one of the points of contact listed elsewhere herein. Offerors should consider instructions contained in the WL PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry referenced in Section A of this announcement. A technical proposal, cost proposal, and resumes of potential program team members, submitted in separate volumes, are required and must be valid for 180 days. Proposals must reference the above PRDA number. Proposals shall be submitted in an original and three copies. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered against the criteria set forth herein. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the government. (2) Cost Proposal: The accompanying cost proposal/price breakdown shall be supplied on an SF 1411, together with supporting schedules, and shall contain a person-hour breakdown per task. Copies of the above referenced forms may be obtained from the contracting office cited. (3) Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and technical approach, including a discussion of transitioning the aperture to a fielded system. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, and data and facilities should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal and are not included in the page limit. Resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should be included as a separate volume, and are not included in the page limit. The technical proposal shall include a Statement of Work (SOW) detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort and suitable for contract incorporation. Offerors should refer to the WL Guide referenced in Section A to assist in SOW preparation. Offerors must submit approved DD Form 2345, Export-Controlled DOD Technical Data Agreement with their proposal. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the Technical Point of Contact cited in this announcement. (4) Page Limitations: The technical proposal shall be limited to 25 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5'' x 11''. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be considered by the government. Cost proposals have no limitations, however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 75 pages as a goal. (5) Preparation Cost: This announcement does not commit the Government to pay for any response preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract. However, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. E -- BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on an evaluation of an offeror's response (both technical and cost aspects) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement. The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based upon the following criteria (listed in descending order of importance): (a) New and creative aperture solutions and the suitability of the aperture and related technology for transition to a fielded system (cost, size, performance, system impact, and date of maturity), (b) The offeror's understanding of the scope of the technical effort, (c) Soundness of offeror's technical approach, (d) The offeror's past experience with airborne radar technologies and component transition experience, and (e) Organization, clarity, and thoroughness of the proposed statement of work. Cost, which includes consideration of proposed budgets and funding profiles, is ranked as the second order of priority. No other evaluation criteria will be used. The technical and cost information will be evaluated at the same time. The Air Force reserves the right to select for award of a contract, grant or cooperative agreement, any, all, part, or none of the proposals received. Award of a grant to universities or nonprofit institutions or cooperative agreement in lieu of a contract will be considered and will be subject to mutual agreement of the parties. F -- POINTS OF CONTACT: (1) Technical Contact Point: Engineer, Todd A. Kastle, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base OH 45433-7408, (513) 255-3006. (2) Contracting/Cost Point of Contact: Questions related to the contract/cost issues should be directed to the Wright Laboratory, Directorate of Research and Development Contracting, Alan C. Struckman, WL/AAKR, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base OH 45433-7607, (513) 255-5201. (0032)

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