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

A -- LIFE PREDICTION OF SEALS POC Willam Warner, Project Engineer, WL/MLBT, (513) 255-9016. Notice of Contract Award for Life Prediction of Seals. The Wright Laboratory, Materials Directorate, Nonmetallic Materials Division (WL/MLBT) is contemplating the award of a 18 months program for the development of methods for the life prediction of seals. A computational or other method is sought that can use the easily measured physical and mechanical properties of elastomeric to predict the actual service life of static and dynamic seals in military aircraft hydraulic, lubricating oil, and fuel sealing systems. This program will correlate the properties of military specification elastomeric seals with dynamic and static seal test data and their actual performance on long term aging in military aircraft. Capabilities to compound elastomeric seal materials, to determine mechanical properties of seals, to test seal materials as both static and dynamic seals, and to develop predictive computational programs are important for 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: James Satteson, 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-96-04 in their responses. RFP release for this program is projected in (MONTH 199X). This program will not be republicized prior to solicitation. See Numbered Note(s): 25. (0167)

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