Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- ADVANCED EROSION/CORROSION RESISTANT THIN FILM COATINGS SOL BAA95-41 DUE 111795 POC Dr. Lawrence N. Dubois, POC, ARPA/DSO, FAX: (703)696-2201. The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals in the development of advanced erosion/corrosion resistant thin film coatings. BACKGROUND: Corrosion and wear of mechanical and structural components and systems costs U.S. industry and the military billions of dollars every year and leads to excess waste, decreased product reliability, and poor worker safety. Unfortunately, the surface preparation, application, and use of most coatings to protect these components leads to the generation of significant quantities of hazardous wastes which are subsequently released to the air, water, and land. Through the development of new, more advanced corrosion and wear resistant coating systems and/or surface preparation techniques, the Department of Defense and its suppliers can not only minimize the environmental impact of these materials, but improve performance, and decrease costs. Waste minimization programs in the commercial sector have clearly demonstrated that pollution prevention can be both cost- and performance-effective. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: ARPA is seeking innovative proposals to eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and/or other hazardous waste materials in the manufacture, application, and maintenance of high performance wear, fatigue, and corrosion resistant coatings of utility to the Department of Defense. This effort includes the development of surface preparation and/or surface modification schemes to eliminate or reduce the need for coatings. The proposed coating or surface preparation technique should respond to a critical military need. Examples include (but are not limited to): replacement of chromate conversion coatings on land, sea, and air vehicles, the development of no VOC and no heavy metal primers, paints, and anti-fouling coatings, the application of thin, transparent inorganic coatings on plastics, composites, and metals, and the development of an all-dry process to replace cadmium plating of components. The goals of this effort, in addition to the development of more environmentally sound materials and practices, are four-fold: (1) to prolong wear-life of existing parts to decrease rework and product/process life-cycle costs, (2) to demonstrate functional compatibility of new coatings, new coating methods, and/or surface preparation techniques under ''real'' operating conditions, (3) to develop accurate cost/trade-off analyses and demonstrate viability of process scale-up, and (4) to transfer the technology developed to military bases/depots and/or suppliers. Projects must demonstrate a reduced environmental impact and contain a clear mechanism to commercialize the technologies developed. Therefore, the offeror must: (1) identify in the proposal how the work meets a specific DoD need and (2) design a plan to commercialize the results of the effort including a cost trade-off analysis with a comparison to existing systems. Critical to the development of any new, more environmentally benign technology is the understanding that the utilization of this technology can lead to significant cost savings as well as to true performance advantages. PROGRAMMATIC REQUIREMENTS: ARPA has budgeted approximately $12M from FY96 through FY99 for the development and demonstration of erosion/corrosion resistant thin film coatings. It is anticipated that several research and development projects of no more than four years duration (including a demonstration phase taking place at a military base/depot and/or military supplier) will be conducted. Partial efforts that address individual critical issues will be considered, however, teaming of these efforts into a coherent program capable of meeting the objectives summarized in the TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT section of this BAA is encouraged. All programs must culminate in a significant end-point demonstration of solutions to critical environmental issues within the initial period of support. Excluded for the purposes of this solicitation are proposals for studies and/or evaluations. Such proposals will be judged to be non-responsive. PROPOSAL: Contractors having the technical and management capabilities, facilities, and experience necessary to conduct all or portions of this program are invited to submit a brief pre-proposal describing their technical approach, management concept, participants, relevant experience, and cost and timing of the project. Teaming is encouraged, as appropriate. Within seven business days ARPA will acknowledge receipt of the submission and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence. Proposers should obtain pamphlet BAA 95-41, Advanced Erosion/Corrosion Resistant Thin Film Coatings Proposer Information, which provides further background on this program and details of the proposal format (including all margins - 1 inch minimum, font - no smaller than 12 point, and page limits: Pre-Proposal - 8 p., Full Proposal: Technical Volume - 30 p., Cost Volume - unlimited, and a special cover sheet). Page limits include the special cover sheet, all charts, figures, and appendices. All proprietary material should be clearly marked and will be held in strict confidence. Facsimile transmissions or electronic media transmissions will not be accepted. Separate attachments, such as institutional brochures, reprints, disks, or videotapes, will be ignored. Proposals and pre-proposals not meeting this format may not be reviewed. The pamphlet may be obtained in writing via fax or e-mail from Mr. Ryan Gallagher (fax: (703) 351-8662, e-mail: rgallagher@sysplan.com). This CBD notice itself constitutes the Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). A formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement will not be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded. Evaluation and selection of proposal(s) for award will be made to those offerors whose proposal is considered most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The Government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. In addition, the Government reserves the right to award either contracts or assistance instruments. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit pre-proposals and proposals which will be evaluated as received. Because of the technical breadth implied in this solicitation, and the end-point demonstration component required, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation, however these entities are encouraged to apply. PRE-PROPOSALS: All pre-proposals are due no later than 4 pm EDT 29 September, 1995. Offerors should submit one original and seven copies of the pre-proposal to: ARPA/DSO, ATTN.: BAA#95-41/Dubois, 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714. ARPA intends to respond to pre-proposals within approximately three weeks of receipt with a recommendation to propose or not propose. It is impractical for ARPA to provide a debrief of the pre-proposal. Regardless of the recommendation, the decision to propose is the responsibility of the proposer. All proposals will be fully reviewed regardless of the disposition of the pre-proposal. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Evaluation of the proposals and pre-proposals will be based on the following five criteria, in decreasing order of importance: (1) the scientific and technical merits of the proposed effort including the goals and the feasibility of the approach, (2) the relative importance and associated costs of the environmental problem(s) addressed and the impact of the proposed solution, (3) the quality of the demonstration, the adequacy of the technical tasks proposed to reach this demonstration, and a realistic mechanism to begin commercialization of the technology within the proposed time frame of the program, (4) the qualifications of the principal investigator and other key research personnel, their record of past performance, and the adequacy of current and planned equipment and facilities to accomplish the research objectives, and (5) cost, cost realism, and quality and quantity of cost share (if any). REPORTS AND OTHER CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS: As a minimum, all contracted efforts will be required to submit the following Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) items: R&D Status Report, Project Planning Chart, Funds and Man-Hour Expenditure Report, Contract Funds Status Report, copies of billing statements, a Final Technical Report, and copies of any presentation materials. CLOSING AND SUBMISSION: All proposals are due no later than 4 PM EST, 17 November, 1995. Offerors should submit one original and seven copies of the proposal to: ARPA/DSO, ATTN. BAA#95-41/Dubois, 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714. Questions regarding this BAA may be submitted in writing via fax or e-mail to Dr. Dubois (fax: (703) 696-2201, e-mail: ldubois@arpa.mil). (0220)

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