Phillips Laboratory/PKLB, Lasers & Imaging Division, 3651 Lowry Ave., S.E., Bldg 499, Room 122, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) 96-05. FOR ADVANCED LASER AND IMAGING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT SOL F29601-97-R-0003 POC Ms Dorothy D. Black, Contract Specialist, AC505/846-4417, telefax AC505/846-1546. BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) FOR ADVANCED LASER AND IMAGING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: SOL No.F29601-97-R0003(BAA 96-05). Ms Dorothy D. Black, Contract Specialist,(505-846-4417), PCO Sam Berdin, Contracting Officer, PL/PKLB (505-846-1097). A - The Phillips Laboratory (PL), Lasers and Imaging Directorate (LI), is interested in receiving proposals on research to advance its capability in Lasers and Imaging technology. Proposals with new or unique ideas which enhance the state-of-the-art and scientific knowledge are solicited in the following areas: Part 1 Characterization and Compensation of Atmospheric Turbulence with emphasis on compensation in the presence of high irradiance scintillation, and Part 2 Algorithms to Aid in the Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing of high-energy laser beam control systems in an environment of strong atmospheric turbulence and resulting scintillation. ALL POTENTIAL OFFERORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT DUE TO UNANTICIPATED BUDGET FLUCTUATIONS, FUNDING IN ANY OR ALL AREAS CAN CHANGE WITH LITTLE OR NO NOTICE. Consequently, it is imperative that all potential offerors contact the appropriate technical point of contact prior to committing resources to preparing a proposal in response to this BAA. B - REQUIREMENTS: The following specific areas are of interest: Part 1 Characterization and Compensation of Atmospheric Turbulence. PL is interested in receiving proposals on research to advance the knowledge and understanding in the characterization and compensation of atmospheric turbulence with emphasis on: (i) atmospheric characterization, specifically low-noise airborne and balloon-based aerothermally-derived atmospheric turbulence measurement systems of sufficient bandwidth to measure inner scale (ii) atmospheric propagation data analysis, specifically novel data analysis approaches that reveal features that characterize atmospheric turbulence and (iii) compensation of atmospheric turbulence, specifically phase compensation improvements to atmospheric compensation components and systems. Offerors may propose on selected subsets of the above topics. Foreign owned firms are advised there are no restrictions to becoming the possible prime contractor for these Part 1 requirements. Funding is estimated at 1/4th a person year of effort for each proposal for a twelve month performance period.Offerors may propose follow-on options at the same level of effort if appropriate for the research being conducted. Proposals may be submitted for the Government Fiscal Year (GFY 97), beginning 1 Oct 96 ending 30 Sep 97. Technical point of contact is Dr Robert Butts, 505-846-0357. Part 2. Algorithms to Aid in the Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing in strong scintillation. Topics for research may include (but should not be limited to) passive track of the missile hardbody using thermal imagery, algorithms for switching from track of missile plume to missile hardbody,active track of missile hardbody using laser illumination, placement and maintenance of an aimpoint, and placement and maintenance of a scoring beam (method of quantifying pointing accuracy) on the missile hardbody. Areas that may be considered include effects of a high energy laser beam in a strongly scintillated atmosphere, rejection of sunlight glints off the harbody, background solar interference, plume interference with return of active illumination of the hardbody, missile dynamics, and aimpoint maintenance during high-energy laser firing prior to burn- through.Offerors may elect to propose on selected subsets of the above topics. A US Secret Facility clearance is required for work on these requirements.Foreign owned firms are advised they will not be allowed to participate as the prime contractor for these Part 2 requirements. Funding is estimated at 1/4th a person year of effort for each proposal for a twelve month performance period.Offerors may propose follow-on options at the same level of effort if appropriate for the research being conducted. Proposals may be submitted for the Government Fiscal Year(GFY 97), beginning 1 Oct 96 and ending 30 Sep 97. Technical point of contact is Dr Paul Merritt, 505-846-6334. Discussions with the technical points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only contracting officers are authorized to commit the Government. C - PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: 1) Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall include an Executive Summary, Program Description, Program Plan, Milestone Chart, Facilities, Equipment, and Key Individuals proposed. The technical proposal shall also include a Statement of Work (SOW) detailing the technical tasks to be accomplished under the proposed effort and be suitable for contract incorporation. 2) Cost Proposal: The cost proposal price breakdown shall be prepared in accordance with FAR 15.804-6 and shall be in a format which includes the same information needed to complete a SF 1411, together with supporting schedules and person-hour breakdown per task. 3) Deliverable Items: Data Deliverables shall be proposed that will adequately provide the government with sufficient information to ascertain the effectiveness of the offeror's operations. 4) Other Requirements: (a) Public Law 98-94 may be applicable to this program. Offerors must submit a DD Form 2345, Export Controlled DoD Technical Data Agreement to the Commander, Defense Logistics Service Center, Attn: DLSC-FBA, Federal Center, Battle Creek MI 49117-2084, (800)352-3572, for certification. The offeror is required to submit a copy of the approved DD Form 2345, including the required certification acceptance, to the buyer with each proposal. Failure to submit this certification may result in non-consideration for award, if it is determined to apply to the proposed effort. Offerors shall certify in their proposal that they will comply with all provisions of this law, (b) International Trade in Arms Restrictions (ITAR) may apply. Offerors must have appropriate ITAR clearances, if applicable, 5) General Information, (a) Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in FAR 52.215-12, Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data to trade secrets or privileged commerical and financial information contained in their proposals, (b) Technical and cost proposals submitted in separate volumes are required and must be valid for a period of not less than 160 days, Proposals must reference the above BAA number, include a unique proposal identification number, identify the subject area of the proposal, and the technical point of contact. The Technical Proposal shall be limited to 20 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double spaced, single sided, 8.5 by 11 inch pages. The page limitation includes all information i.e. indices, photographs, foldouts, appendices, attachments, resumes, etc. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be considered by the government. The cost proposal has no page limitation, however, offerors are encouraged to keep cost proposals to a goal of 15 pages. Unnecessarily elaborate brochures or presentations beyond that sufficient to present a complete and effective proposal are not desired. Proposals shall be submitted in an original and five copies with the original being clearly marked as to distinguish it from the copies. Proposals shall be submitted to Phillips Laboratory/ Attn PL/PKLB/Ms Dorothy D. Black/505-846-4417, 2251 Maxwell Ave SE, Kirtland AFB 87117-5773. (c) This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to pay for proposal preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this BAA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or to 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. (d) If a subcontract(s) with a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) is proposed, offerors are reminded of the limitations in their use (see FAR 35.017) and must provide documentation in the proposal that work is not otherwise available from the private sector. (e) Each proposal shall reflect the potential for commercial application and the benefits expected to accrue from this commercialization. (f) Offerors are reminded to contact the technical point of contact to verify interest in the effort to be proposed and funding availability prior to committing any resources to the preparation of any proposals in response to this announcement. Discussions with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. D - BASIS FOR AWARD The selection of one or more proposals for award will be based upon an evaluation of an offerors response (both technical and cost) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement and the availability of funds. Part 1 and Part 2 proposals will be selected for award independently based upon the funds availability in each Part. Technical proposals will be evaluated using the following factors in descending order of importance: (1) demonstrated technical and scientific merit (2) feasibility (3) Offerors capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, etc (4) qualifications of key personnel and (5) the offerors record of present and past performance. Cost proposals will be evaluated using the following factors: (1) reasonableness and realism (2) cost share contributions. Technical considerations are more important than cost. No other evaluation criteria will be used. Proposals will be classified into one of the following three categories: (1) Category I - Well conceived scientifically and technically sound proposals pertinent to program goals and objectives and offered by a responsible contractor with the competent scientific and technical staff and supporting resources needed to ensure satisfactory program results. Proposals in Category I are recommended for acceptance and normally will be displaced only by other Category I proposals. (2) Category II - Scientifically or technically sound proposals that may require further development and can be recommended for acceptance but are at a lower priority than Category I. Proposals in this category are not always funded. (3) Category III - Proposals are recommended for rejection for the particular announcement under consideration. E - This is an unrestricted competition. This program is anticipated to be unclassified. For the purposes of this BAA, the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code is 8731, 1000 employees. This CBD announcement in and of itself constitutes the BAA as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2). This BAA is open and effective for a period of one year from the date of its publication in the CBD, or until rescinded or extended by a revised announcement. Proposals are to be submitted by the due dates specified in each technical area but may be submitted at later dates. Pending availability of funds, awards are expected to be made within 160 days after the due dates of the proposals in each technical area. Cost Reimbursement type contracts are expected to be awarded. Proposers are advised that a copy of each final report of any resultant contracts is available, subject to national disclosure policy and regulations. This BAA will be posted on the PL Contracting Bulletin Board, the Science and Technology Acquisition Referral System (STARS). STARS is provided by the PL, Kirtland AFB NM as a service to industry and other interested parties. STARS is a means of disseminating key solicitation documents to allow contractors and other interested parties to access and download these documents into their existing computer systems. The STARS Bulletin Board is available on the Internet- http://www.plk.af.mil/. All files in the ''Show Available RFPs'' category are self-extracting executable (.EXE) files. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from potential offerors during the proposal development phase for this effort. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the program director or contracting officer, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. Before contacting the Ombudsman, potential offerors should first communicate with the contracting officer. In those instances where offerors cannot obtain resolution from the contracting officer, they are invited to contact the PL Ombudsman, Col James D Ledbetter, PL Vice Commander, at 505-846-4964, or at 3550 Aberdeen Ave SE, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5776. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. (0302)

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