R&D Contracting Division, Bldg 7, 2530 C St, WPAFB OH 45433-7607

A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON ADVANCED NONSTRUCTURAL MATERIALS POC Dr. Kent J. Eisentraut, Project Engineer, WL/MLBT, (513) 255-4860. Notice of Contract Action for Research and Development on Advanced Nonstructural Materials. The Wright Laboratory, Materials Directorate, Nonmetallic Materials Division is contemplating the award of a 55 month program for research and development on advanced nonstructural materials. This effort will include research and development on nonstructural materials including, for example, fluids, lubricants (both liquid and solid), sealing materials, paints, primers, coatings, etc. Efforts can include, chemical synthesis, characterization, formulation, mechanical evaluation, computational chemistry/modeling and the evaluation of friction and wear properties of fluid and lubricant materials for aircraft, missile, and space applications. Formulation, compounding and evaluation of compatible sealing and sealant materials is also included. Liquid lubricant R & D will include the development of both base fluids as well as performance improving additives. Solid lubricant development studies will include the deposition of different classes of solid lubricants and wear resistant and hard coat materials using pulsed laser deposition and other techniques, evaluation of the adherence of the coatings, surface analysis studies on both metal and ceramic substrates and development of a fundamental understanding of the tribology and structure/property relationships of these nonstructural materials. Spacecraft coating materials shall be investigated to determine their feasibility for use in the space environment. Research and development will also be performed on spacecraft thermal control coatings and other thermal management materials and evaluation of these materials will be conducted using an existing in-house space simulation facility. Research and development on aircraft paint can include development of and formulation of constituent materials, development of environmentally compliant application and removal technology/techniques, using a variety of metallic, nonmetallic and ceramic substrate materials, as well as fundamental investigation of related phenomena, such as corrosion. These investigations will be conducted primarily on-site within the facilities of the Nonmetallic Materials Division, Materials Directorate, Wright Laboratory in order to reduce costs and utilize existing government owned specialized scientific and engineering instrumentation and equipment. Respondents shall provide evidence of knowledge and experience in the above listed areas. The successful contractor shall be required to maintain a full time technical staff at the Materials Directorate consisting of one senior level scientist/engineer, up to twenty scientists/engineers/technicians and a varying number of specialized technical staff to conduct shorter term programs of duration's less than the overall contract. Respondents should also include a summary of all planned related efforts within the organization which might benefit this program. Firms responding should indicate whether they are, or are not, a small business, a socially and economically disadvantaged business, a woman owned business, a historically black college or university, or minority institution. For this item the general definition to be used to determine whether your firm is small is as follows: ''A small business concern is a concern that is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on government contracts and with its affiliates, the number of employees does not exceed 500 persons.'' SIC Code 8731 applies. ''Concern means any business entity organization for profit with a place of business in the United States, its possessions, Puerto Rico, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, including but not limited to an individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, association or corporation.'' The Air Force reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based upon responses hereto. Small business respondents should provide a statement of capabilities to assist the Air Force in making a set-aside decision. Large businesses are only required to submit a statement of interest to receive a copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP). All respondents shall include in any request their assigned Commercial and Government Entity Code. Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a Foreign-owned/Foreign-controlled firm and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. Responses should be sent to: ATTN: Patty Nickell, WL/MLKN Bldg 7, 2530 C St, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. Non-technical assistance may be secured by calling the above individual at 513-255-5051. An Ombudsman has been established for this acquisition. The only purpose of the Ombudsman is to receive and communicate serious concerns from potential offerors when an offeror prefers not to use established channels to communicate his concern during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Potential offerors should use established channels to request information, pose questions, and voice concerns before resorting to use of the Ombudsman. Potential offerors are invited to contact ASC's Ombudsman, ASC/CY, Col Robert C. Helt, at 513-255-1427 with serious concerns only. Direct all requests for solicitations and routine communication concerning this acquisition to (contracting office point of contact with name, title, address and phone). Closing date for submission of responses is thirty (30) calendar days from the publication of this notice. Firms should reference MLK-96-02 in their responses. RFP release for this program is projected in February 1996. This program will not be republicized prior to solicitation. See Numbered Note(s): 25. (0167)

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