R&D Contracting Divsion, HSC/PKR, 8005 9th Street, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5353

A -- EFFECTS OF AIRCRAFT NOISE ON HUMANS AND ANIMALS SOL AL-95-10 PKRE DUE 102095 POC Technical Contact, Major Jeffrey Fordon, Program Manager, AL/OEBN, (513) 255-3376; Contracting Contact Ms Doreen Moore (210) 536-6241, Contracting Officer, Dean M Carsello, (210) 536-6392. A--Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA AL-95-10-PKRE). Introduction: The Air Force Human Systems Center, Armstrong Laboratory (AL/OEBN) invites white papers (proposal abstracts) including rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimates on the research effort described below. Technology sharing and transfer are encouraged. Armstrong Laboratory welcomes white papers that envision cooperation between scientists at universities, non-profit institutions, private industry, and Air Force scientists and researchers. White papers in response to this PRDA shall be submitted within 30 days after publication of this announcement to: Doreen Moore, HSC/PKRE, Bldg 626, 8005 9th Street, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5353 and Maj Jeffrey Fordon, AL/OEBN, 2610 Seventh Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7901, (513) 255-3376. White papers received after this date will be returned. The research may extend over a maximum period of four years, with funding beyond the first year dependent upon progress on the research objectives and available funding. There will be no other solicitation issued for this research topic and offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may be published. Offerors may request a copy of the 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 HSC/PKRE, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5353, telephone (210) 536-6241. B. Requirements: (1) Technical Description: The National Environmental Policy Act and AF Regulation 19-2 require that the Air Force assess the environmental impacts of proposed aircraft training operations on humans and animals, including the effects of noise or sonic booms from these operations. In response to these requirements, and those outlined in the AF/CEVP Statement of Need (SON) 1-81, Noise and Sonic Boom Description and Analysis, the purpose of this effort is to improve the prediction capability currently used by USAF route and environmental planners to assess the potential impact of aircraft noise on: (a) People in residential or outdoor settings (e.g., sleep disturbance and community annoyance), (b) Wildlife (e.g., pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and waterfowl), and (c) Domestic animals (e.g., ratites and chickens). Improved or new computer simulation models that are developed must be compatible with the USAF Assessment System for Aircraft Noise (ASAN). ASAN is a computer-based system running on a UNIX workstation, designed to assess the impact on humans, animals and structures from USAF aircraft noise developed while flying on Military Training Routes (MTRs) and in Military Operations Areas (MOAs). ASAN is written in ''C'' language, uses the Oracle Data Base Management System (DBMS) and uses the Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) Geographic Information System (GIS). Models have been developed to predict the effects of both subsonic aircraft noise and sonic booms on human annoyance, hearing damage, speech interference, sleep disturbance, birds-of-prey and domestic animals. However, many of these models were developed for predicting effects near airbase environments. Flight training along MTRs and within MOAs creates noise considerably different than that experienced near airbases, requiring modified prediction capabilities specifically for these environments. Another point of interest is to mitigate the effects of military aircraft noise on humans by using Active Noise Reduction (ANR) technology. Some preliminary work has already been pursued in this area, including construction of a 1/4-scale Hush House and 1/4-scale Portable ANR Capability, both with promising results. Offerors should propose innovative efforts relating to or utilizing ANR technology. (2) Deliverable Items: As a minimum, the following deliverable data items shall be proposed: (a) Contractor's Progress Status and Management Report, DI-ADMIN-81373, monthly (b) Funds and Manhour Expenditure Report, DI-FNCL-80331, quarterly (c) Project PLanning Chart, DI-MGMT-80507A, monthly (d) Contract Funds Status Report(CFSR), DI-F-6004B (e) Presentation Material, DI-3024A, as required (f) Scientific & Technical Reports (Draft and Reproducible, as required) DI-MISC-80711. (3) Security Requirements: All information collected and generated for this solicitation effort shall be unclassified. (4) Other Special Requirements: (a) DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS AT THIS TIME. Offerors are strongly encouraged to submit one copy of a not-to-exceed ten (10) pages white paper on their proposed research topic to Doreen Moore, HSC/PKRE, Bldg 626, 8005 9th Street, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5353. Two copies of the white paper should be sent to Maj Jeffrey Fordon, AL/OEBN, 2610 Seventh Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7901, (513) 255-3376. White papers must reference the above PRDA number. The white paper technical proposal shall be formatted as follows: Section A: Title, period of performance, cost of effort, and name of company; Section B: Task objective; and Section C: Technical summary. Multiple white papers addressing different research areas may be submitted by each offeror. The purpose of this white paper is to preclude effort on the part of an offeror whose proposed work is not of interest to the Government. Offerors whose white papers are found to be consistent with the intent of the PRDA and of interest to the Government may be invited to submit technical and cost proposals. Offerors who do not submit white papers may still submit technical and cost proposals. The closing date for submission of technical and cost proposals for offerors who do not submit white papers is 75 days after publication of this announcement. An invitation based on a submitted white paper does not assure that the submitting organization will be awarded a subsequent contract. (b) ADA language: ADA is the preferred programming language for Science and Technology software development and is utilized in all cases except when the nature of the research and development effort is such that use of ADA would adversely affect the development. White papers that envision software development shall provide a rationale or justification for not using ADA in the development effort. (c) Computer data: A copy of any data bases and/or sofware models which are constructed by successful offerors to this announcement will be used and retained by the Air Force. All data bases and models will be provided in automated form (e.g. magnetic tape, 3.5'' high density diskettes, or via modem). Data bases and models should be usable in a DOS 386/486-based computing environment and/or UNIX workstation with appropriate documentation on format and contents and compatible with ASAN. (d) Licensing or permit provisions in accordance with DODD 3216.1 must be in place for any efforts involving animal use and care. This directive is available upon request through HSC/PKRE, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5353, (210) 536-6241. C. Additional Information: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The total length should be no more than 4 years including 2 months for processing/completion of the final report. (2) Expected Award Date: Jan 96. (3) Government Estimate: The government anticipates multiple awards with efforts ranging from $50,000 - $500,000. (4) Type of Instrument: Contracts or Assistance Instruments, e.g., Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), Cost Reimbursement (no fee), or Cost Sharing for contracts; any assistance instruments awarded will be cost reimbursable only. (5) Government Furnished Property (GFP): To aid in ensuring the new or improved models developed for people, wildlife or domestic animals are compatible with ASAN, the ASAN software will be available on CD-ROM. For efforts awarded requiring use of the ANM (Animal Noise Monitor), the accepted number of proposed ANMs will be GFP. It is the offeror's responsibility to identify and arrange for use of other property, be it contractor-owned and furnished or government-owned and furnished. (6) Size Status: Firms responding should indicate whether they are 1) a socially and economically disadvantaged business; 2) a Historically Black College or University/Minority Institution; 3) a woman-owned business; and, 4) should also indicate their size status. For the purpose of this acquisition, the size standard is 500 employees (SIC 8731). (7) Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Air Force point cited below upon deciding to respond to this announcement. Foreign contractors should be aware that restrictions may apply which could preclude their participation in this aquisition. (8) Options are discouraged and unpriced options will not be considered for award. Any option proposed shall include as a minimum a not-to-exceed estimate and fixed fee, as applicable. Responders are requested to provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number and reference AL-95-10 PKRE with their submissions. 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 PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry referenced in Section A of this announcement. Technical and cost proposals, submitted in separate volumes, are required and must be valid for 120 days. Proposals must reference the PRDA number AL-95-10 PKRE. 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 SF1411 (if greater than $500,000) or on a AFMC Cost Proposal Sheet (if less than $500,000), together with supporting schedules, and shall contain a person-hour breakdown per task. Copies of the above referenced documents will be provided upon request from the contracting office cited. (3) Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the technical approach. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, data and facilities, and personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal 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 Guide referenced in Section A to assist in SOW preparation. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the technical point of contact cited. (4) Page Limitations: The technical proposal shall be limited to 25 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. The technical proposal should also include all management and past performance data. The page limitation includes all information, i.e. indexes, photographs, appendices, attachments, etc. Pages in excess of this limitation will be returned unread. Cost proposals have no limitations, however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 25 pages as a goal. (5) Preparation Cost: This announcement does not commit the Government to pay for any response (including white papers) preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any contract awarded under this PRDA 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 or OMB Circulalrs A-121 or A-122. (6) A supplemental package providing examples of the types of R & D projects that Armstrong Laboratory (AL/OENB) would consider under this solicitation is available to assist the offeror in preparing the white paper. This can be obtained by contacting Doreen Moore, (210) 536-6241. It is suggested that the offeror request this package within 7 days after publication of this announcement to ensure adequate preparation time. Every effort will be made to protect the confidentiality of the white paper and any evaluation of same. The submitter must mark the white paper with a protective legend. Offerors should briefly address whether the research proposed will result in environmental impacts (including the use of Class I Ozone Depleting Substances) and how the offeror will assure compliance with environmental statutes. Unnecessarily elaborate white papers or proposals are not desired. Respondents are advised that data submitted to the Government in response to this solicitation may be released to technical assistance contractors (non-Government personnel) for the purpose of review and analysis. E. Basis for Award: (1) The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on an evaluation of an offeror's response to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement. The source selected may or may not be the lowest proposed total cost. Technical factors are more important than cost factors, however, cost is a substantial consideration. 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 any, all, part, or none of the proposals received. Award of a grant, in lieu of a contract, to universities and nonprofit institutions will be considered and will be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties. (2) The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based on the following criteria which are listed in descending order of importance: (a) Soundness of the offeror's technical approach, including research design and feasibility of obtaining valid and legally defensible results; (b) The offeror's understanding of the scope of the technical effort, including knowledge of issues relating to effects of military aircraft noise on people, wildlife and domestic animals (e.g., sleep disturbance in humans and reproduction in animals); (c) The offeror's understanding of existing modeling capabilities and their incorporation into ASAN for predicting the effects of subsonic aircraft noise and sonic booms on humans and animals; (d) Recognition of qualifications necessary to perform the work, including management structure and oversight and adequate facilities; (e) New and creative solutions using innovative approach, and (f) The offeror's past experience with the effects of aircraft noise on humans and animals. (3) Cost is ranked as the second order of priority. The cost evaluation factors are of equal weight and consist of reasonableness, completeness, and realism. F. Points of Contact: (1) Technical Contact Point: Noise and Sonic Boom Impact Technology (NSBIT) Program Manager, Maj Jeffrey L Fordon, AL/OEBN, 2610 Seventh Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7901, (513) 255-3376. (2) Contracting/Cost Point of Contact: Questions related to the contract/cost issues should be directed to R & D Contracting, Doreen Moore, HSC/PKRE, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5353, (210) 536-6241. (0212)

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