US Army Research Laboratory, Attn: AMSRL-OP-PR-FM(MSF), Ft.Monmouth, NJ 07703-5601

A -- ARL PSD FY 93 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BATTERIES POC Marla Flack, Contract Specialist, (908)532-0290 This Single Topic Broad Agency Announcement entitled ''Low Cost Reusable Alkaline Manganese Batteries'' is issued under the Provisions of paragraph 6.102(d)(2) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) which provides for the competitive selection of basic research proposals. Proposals submitted in response to this BAA that are selected for award are considered to be the result of Full and Open Competition and are in full compliance with the Provisions of Public Law 98-369, ''The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984''. Questions concerning contractual, cost or pricing proposal format matters may be directed to Marla S. Flack, Contract Specialist at (908) 532-0290. Individuals with questions on technical matterc may contact the technical representative, Don Foster at (908) 532-0293. CLOSING: Proposals are due by 20 Jun 96. TYPE OF CONTRACT: Cost Plus Fixed Fee (Completion). One original and four copies of the proposal are to be submitted directly to: Army Research Laboratory, ATTN: AMSRL-OP-PR-FM (MSF), Ft. Monmouth, NJ 07703-5601. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory Physical Sciences Directorate, Ft. Monmouth, NJ s interested in receiving proposals for the study, development and delivery of a minimum of 20 each proof of principle RAM prototype size AA bobbin cells, 20 each prototype RAM cells of a cell construction other than bobbin, 10 each prototype batteries that are the RAM performance equivalent of a BA-5590 battery, but designed to address an economical, human factored alternative packaging for manportable Army electronics equipment and 4 prototype cell chargers and 2 prototype battery chargers for these cells and batteries. BACKGROUND: The Army needs low cost rechargeable batteries to replace a significant quantity of general purpose Army primary batteries (e.g. BA-5590) which are used to provide power to an increasingly wide range of Manportable electronics equipment. Low cost batteries such as rechargeable alkaline manganese dioxide (RAM) offer the potential for achieving a significant reduction in life cycle cost (i. e., 10 times or greater). RAM may also offer an advantage in low power Army equipment currently using secondary batteries such as the BB-590 Nickel Cadmium battery due to lighter weight better torability and lower initial cost. Topics of interest include improving the rate capability and reducing the capacity fade. Approaches for accomplishing the improvements might include improved separator materials, pore forming additives to the electrodes and further optimization of active material surface area, zinc alloy type and anode corrosion inhibitor. The study phase should identify one additional cell design, other than the bobbin cell design, for improved rate capability and reduced capacity fade due to higher surface area and reduced thickness of the electrodes. Cell designs for improving the rate might include wound cylindrical cell construction or prismatic cell construction. Considerations for choosing alternative cell designs should include rate capability, rechargeability, cost, weight, storability and prevention of cell leakage.Proposals for the delivery of low cost RAM must include provision for the test and evaluation of cell and battery objectives and should consider a RAM equivalent of the BB-590/U Nickel Cadmium and BA-5590/U Lithium Sulfur Dioxide Batteries because of their large quantity usage within the Army. (Note: BB-590/U and BA-5590/U requirements are contained in MIL-B-4936 and MIL-B-49430, respectively.) Proposals for the delivery of a prototype RAM type BB-X590 should address the following minimum considerations: 2 Ampere - hours to an end point voltage of 20 Volts at 25 degrees Celsius at a 2 Ampere constant discharge rate; storability and operation over the widest possible temperature range (minus 20 to 55 degrees (Celsius is essential); safety under all conditions of use and abuse and weight of 3.5 lb or less. A cycle life of 10 cycles at a capacity greater than 40 Wh at a discharge rate of 0.45 Ampere to the 20 Volt end point voltage. Packaging for the BB-X590 should be ergonomically designed providing safer and more efficient use by the soldier. This might include a battery designed to be worn as a flexible vest or belt with small cells or small battery packs attached and electrically connected to a single electrical socket. A design that minimizes battery cost is essential. Proposals for the delivery of the improved size AA RAM prototype cells and prototype RAM cells of alternate cell design should address the following considerations. Energy density of 32 Wh/kg after 10 discharge cycles at 25 degrees Celsius at a power density of 32 W/kg. Energy density of 32 Wh/kg at 25 degrees Celsius after 20 cycles to an endpoint Voltage of 1.0 V at a constant discharge rate of 7.5 W/kg. Operation over a temperature range of minus 30 Celsius to 55 Celsius Resistance to mechanical and electrical abuse. For estimating purposes, the Government anticipates that approximately 9,000 man hours over a period of 18 months will be required in order to accomplish this program. Programs for lesser amounts and/or stand alone subsets of effort, each individually priced are encouraged.Other Requirements: Any resultant contract will include the requirement for 2 contractor trips to Ft. Monmouth, NJ during the course of performance. Additionally, contract reporting requirements will include quarterly technical reports, monthly financial reports, a final technical report and an environmental report.Funds are not presently available for this BAA; and no contract award will be made until appropriated funds are made available from which payment for contract purposes can be made. GENERAL INFORMATION: Because both the technical and cost aspects of an offeror's submission will be evaluated at the same time, it is desirable that one volume containing all information be submitted. Pursuant to the requirements of FAR 52.219-9, if the total amount of the proposal exceeds $500,000, offeror(s) selected for award will be required at that time to submit a Subcontracting Plan for Small Business and Small Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business concerns. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS: The technical proposal shall include: 1) Table of Contents; 2) A description of the technical and or design approach to meet the topic requirements; 3) A Statement of Work (SOW) detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the effort and schedule for performance of those tasks; 4) description of available equipment, data, and facilities 5) methodology, techniques, and approach to technology demonstration and technology transfer for developments under this program; 6) identify any technical data proposed to be delivered with less than unlimited rights in the technical proposal. Unless otherwise stated in the proposal, all data delivered to the Government shall be with unlimited rights; 7) the organization structure and roles/qualifications of each team member and brief resumes of personnel; 8) a break-out of materials including the types and quantities. If subcontracting is anticipated, provide name, qualifications, and level of effort to be subcontracted. EVALUATION CRITERIA: All proposals received will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria listed in order of importance: A) New and Creative solutions to the technical issue presented in the BAA; B) the feasibility of the approach and technical objectives; C) understanding of the technical matters being presented for consideration;D) ability to implement the proposed approach as demonstrated by adequate detailed analysis and supported by specific accomplishments in the technical field to be studied; E) the availability of qualified personnel with the requisite expertise to accomplish the tasks as proposed; F) record of past performance; G) cost and cost realism and H) the availability of unlimited rights in technical data and/or computer software.The purpose of the evaluation will be to determine the relative merit of the technical approach proposed in response to this BAA. 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; (i.e.; an independent Government assessment of the probability of success of the proposed approach and the availability of funding). Responses must provide new or unique concepts, ideas or approaches in order to qualify for evaluation and consideration for award. The Government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part or none of the responses received. COST PROPOSAL: The cost proposal shall be prepared in general accordance with FAR 15.804-6 and shall include a Standard Form 1411, Contracting Pricing Proposal Cover Sheet with all supporting data in order to allow for a complete review by the Government. When cost of money is being proposed, the offeror is required to complete a DD Form 1861. The breakdown of cost data shall include all costs expected to be incurred under the contract. All details, broken-down by cost element, are to be prepared for each major task along with supporting rationale. All cost details shall be broken down to coincide with the offeror's accounting periods as related to the specific period of performance as indicated in the proposed milestone chart. The cost proposal shall include all supporting information including, but not limited to: breakdown of labor hours by category, materials (vendor quotes or method of establishing cost), travel, direct and indirect costs. Prime contractors are responsible for insuring that all proposed subcontracts in excess of $500,000 are supported by an executed SF 1411. OTHER INFORMATION: Proposals are to address the following business aspects of the program. 1) Plan for how the results of the program will be made available to all DOD contractors involved in the development of the applicable military systems; 2) Plan for establishment of a technology base that will insure affordable, economically secure sourcing of the technology for military applications; 3) Plan for insuring that future application of the R&D results achieved under the program will allow for a globally competitive capability without undue dependency on foreign sources; 4) Plan for technology insertion into military systems and describe the mechanism that will provide for the insertion. CERTIFICATE OF CURRENT COST OR PRICING DATA: Upon completion of negotiations and agreement on contract price, a Certificate of Current cost or Pricing Data pursuant to FAR 15.804-4 shall be submitted by the offeror if required by FAR 15.804-2. If exemption from the cost or pricing data requirements is claimed, an SF 1412 is required to be submitted. In addition, any offeror who is required to submit and certify cost or pricing data shall submit or procure the submission of accurate, current and complete cost or pricing data from his prospective subcontractors in accordance with the requirements of FAR 15.806. The Government anticipates that any contract resulting from this BAA will be funded on an incremental basis as provided for under FAR 52.232-22 ''Limitation of Funds''. In view of this and to allow the Government adequate time for budgetary planning, offerors shall submit a monthly funding Expenditure and Termination Liability Profile covering the total period of performance. The Expenditure and Termination Liability Profile should contain a breakout of projected funding requirements which are commensurate with the proposed level of effort, technical approach and milestone chart. The contractor will be required to submit a revised expenditure profile upon completion of negotiations. RESTRICTIVE MARKINGS ON PROPOSALS: Not withstanding Army policy, if information contained in the proposal is in the public domain or cannot be protected under law as a trade secret (e.g., a patent application), the Army will not accept liability for failure to safeguard against open disclosure.If a responder wishes to restrict the proposal, the responder offeror should mark the title page with the following legend: This data shall not be disclosed outside the Government and shall not be duplicated, used or disclosed in whole or in part for any purpose other than to evaluate the proposal; provided that if a contract is awarded to this BAA responder as a result of or in connection with the submission of this data, the Government shall have the right to duplicate, use or disclose the data to the extent provided in the contract. This restriction does not limit the Government's right to use information contained in the data if it is obtained from another source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction is contained on page . ''REPORTS: Monthly financial reports in accordance with the requirements of DI-6004B and technical reports in accordance with the requirements of DI-MISC-80711 will be required. Other data and deliverables as set forth above will also be required. REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS: Offerors are to complete the following required representations and certifications, and submit them as part of the proposal: 52.204-3 Taxpayer Identification (Sep 89); 52.204-4 Contractor Establishment Code (Aug 89); 52.209-5 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Proposed Debarment, and Other Responsibility Matters May 89); 52.215-6 Type of Business Organization (Jul 87); 52.215-11 Authorized Negotiators (Apr 84); 52.215-20 Place of Performance Apr 84); 52.219-1 Small Business Concern Representation (Jan 91); 52.219-2 Small Disadvantaged Business Concern Representation Feb 90); and 52.219-3 Women-Owned Small Business Representation Apr 84). Short Form Research Contract Forms DD 2222, 2222-1 and 2222-2 (May 89). Offerors eligible to utilize these forms are to submit all information necessary to process an award pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in Subpart 35.70 of the Defense FAR Supplement. Other additional certifications will be required at time of award. (0204)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0001 19960723\A-0001.SOL)