R&D Contracting Directorate, 2530 C St, WPAFB, OH 45433-7607

A -- IMPROVED SURFACES FOR SILICON CARBON EPITAXY SOL PRDA NO. 97-29-MLK DUE 011097 POC 2Lt Bill Foster, Contract Manager, WL/MLKN, (937) 255-5051. A--INTRODUCTION: Wright Laboratory (WL/MLKN) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research effort described below. Proposals in response to this Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA) shall be submitted by 10 January 1997, 1500 hours Eastern Time, addressed to Wright Laboratory, Directorate of R&D Contracting, Building 7, Area B,2530 C Street, Attn: (2LT Bill Foster, WL/MLKN) Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Proposal submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Proposal receipt after the cutoff date and time specified herein shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10, copy of this provision may be obtained from the contracting point of contact. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may permit subsequent submission of proposal dates. Offerors may request a copy of the WL Guide entitled, PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry dated November 1992. This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA/BAA proposal process. Copies may be requested from the contracting point of contact stated herein. The Guide is also available on-line at www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/prdag.htm. B-REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: The purpose of this effort, Improved Surfaces for SiC Epitaxy, is to optimize surface preparation techniques to enable reproducible, predictable high quality epitaxial growth processes for silicon carbide (SiC) for electronic applications. This program will focus on two tasks. The first is to develop innovative characterization methods for evaluating the surface condition of polished SiC wafers. Non-destructive evaluation techniques are preferred. The second task is to develop improved surface preparation techniques, enabling improved SiC epitaxy. Some epitaxial materials growth will be necessary to evaluate process improvements. The goal of this program is to provide a basis for advances in epitaxial material quality. Open dissemination of research results will be encouraged to support rapid transition to the industrial base. This technology will be enabling for improved device performance in high frequency power amplifiers, high temperature sensors and high power devices. Offerors may bid on either task, or both tasks. It is requested that proposals clearly differentiate between the ''characterization'' task and the ''surface preparation'' task. The title of the program ''Silicon Carbon (SiC) Epitaxy'' has changed from previously presented ''new start'' information ''Silicon Carbon Epitaxy'' presented at the Wright Laboratory Roadmap Review in Jul 96. This reflects a shift in technical focus from epitaxial growth to surface preparation improvement and characterization. Information about this procurement is available on the Wright Lab web page (http://picard.ml.wpafb.af.mil/kenskyet/MLPO/docs/mlpo.html) or in hard copy (write or email technical contact point listed). Information about the procurement will be updated and available at the web page listed above until the date of contract award. (2) Deliverable Items: The following deliverable data items shall be proposed: (a) Status Report, DI-MGMT-80368/T, Monthly, (b) Funds and Manhour Expenditure Report, DI-FNCL-80331/T monthly, (c) Project Planning Chart, DI-MGMT-80507A/T monthly, (d) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR), DI-F-6004B/T, quarterly, (e) Presentation Material, DI-3024A/T, as required, (f) Informal Technical Information Contractor's Billing Voucher, DI-S-30593/T, monthly, and (g) Scientific and Technical Reports, DI-MISC-80711/T (Draft and Reproducible Final), (h) representative sample material, annually. (3) Security Requirements: Unclassified (4) Other Special Requirements: none. C--ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The total length of the technical effort is estimated to be 48 months with an additional 5 months for processing/completion of the final report. (2) Expected Award Date: 1 Jun 97. (3) Government Estimate: The total Government funding profile for the entire program is estimated to be as follows: FY 97 - $ 55K, FY 98 - $ 325K, FY 99 $ 300K, FY 00 - $ 300K, FY 01 - $ 300K, Total = $ 1.28M. This funding profile is an estimate only and is not a promise for funding as all funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability. Dual awards are anticipated, with the majority of funds to be directed toward the ''surface preparation'' task. The ''Characterization'' effort will be a small portion of the above funding profile. (4) Type of contract: Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF). Any grants awarded will be cost (no fee). (5) Government Furnished Property: None contemplated. (6) Size Status: Unlimited. (7) Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Air Force point of contact cited below upon deciding to respond to the announcement. Foreign contractors should be aware that restrictions may apply which could preclude their participation in this acquisition. 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 WL 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 180 days. Proposal must reference the above PRDA number. In an effort to move toward paperless contracting, you are asked to submit your cost and technical proposals via electronic means on disk. Please note that classified information shall not be submitted on disk. Proposals shall be submitted in an original and five copies. If proposals will be submitted in electronic copies on disk, submit 2 hard copies and 2 electronic copies. The disks shall be 3 1/2 inch high density disks. 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 SF 1411, together with supporting schedules, and shall contain a person-hour breakdown per task. Copies of the above-referenced forms may be obtained 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, description facilities and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal. 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 WL Guide referenced in Section A, which is also available on the www, to assist in SOW preparation. PL 98-94 applies. Offerors must submit approved DD Form 2345, Export-Controlled DOD Technical Data Agreement with their proposal. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the Technical Point of Contact cited in this announcement. (4) Page Limitations: The technical proposal shall be limited to 50 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, single sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. The electronic version shall be readable by Microsoft Word for Windows. The double spacing and page requirements shall be satisfied by Microsoft Word double spacing method and the 12 pitch or larger shall be satisfied by setting the font size at 12 or higher. The page limitation includes all information, i. e. indexes, photographs, foldouts, appendices, attachments, etc. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be considered by the government. Cost proposals have no limitations, but should be kept to 75 pages.. The electronic version of the cost proposal shall be readable by Microsoft Excel for Windows version 4.0. (5) Preparation Cost: This announcement does not commit the Government to pay for any response preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this PRDA is not considered to be an allowable direct charge to any resulting 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. E--BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on evaluation of an offeror's response (both technical and cost aspects) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement. The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based on the following criteria which are of equal importance: (a) demonstration of technical relevance of the solution and clearly defined transition path, (b) the offeror's understanding of the scope of the technical effort, (c) soundness of offeror's technical approach, (d) the availability of qualified technical personnel and their experience with applicable technologies, (e) the offeror's past experience with applicable materials, materials development, and prior government contracts. (f) organization, clarity, and thoroughness of the proposed SOW. Cost, which includes consideration of proposed budgets and funding profiles, is ranked as the second order of priority. No other evaluation criteria will be used. 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, grant or cooperative agreement any, all, part, or none of the proposals received. Award of a grant to universities or nonprofit institutions or cooperative agreement, in lieu of a contract, will be considered and will be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties. The government reserves the right to award any resulting contract pursuant to the Research and Development Standard Contract format in DFARS 235.70. F--POINTS OF CONTACT: (1) Technical Contact Point: Project Engineer, Lt Douglas Buchanan, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7707, email buchanda@ml.wpafb.af.mil, phone (937) 255-4474x3205. Potential offerors can contact the technical point of contact up until the technical evaluation to clarify items about the contract offered. That date will be posted at the web site. (2) A site has been set up on the world wide web at: http://picard.ml.wpafb.af.mil/kenskyet/MLPO/docs/mlpo.html. The web site will contain the Special Announcement and all questions asked by offerors will be referred and answered at this site to assist in fair and open competition in contracting. The site will provide offerors with as much information as possible while reducing the overall amount of paperwork typical to contracting and will eliminate the expenses associated with a pre-proposal conference. If you are unable to access the web site, please contact the Technical Point of Contact. (3) An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concern from offerors and potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the Contracting Officer, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. All potential offerors should use established channels to voice concerns before resorting to use of the Ombudsman. 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 selection decision. Interested parties should direct all routine communication concerning this acquisition to Lt. Bill Foster, Contract Negotiator, WL/MLKN, Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607, telephone (937) 255-5051. The Ombudsman should only be contacted with issues or problems that have been previously brought to the attention of the contracting officer and could not be satisfactorily resolved at that level. These serious concerns only may be directed to the Ombudsman, Mr. Daniel L. Kugel, ASC/SY Bldg 52, 2475 K Street, Suite 1, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7642, email kugeldl@sy.wpafb.af.mil, phone Comm: (937) 255-3855, DSN: 785-3855. NOTE 26: Based upon market research, the Government is not using the policies contained in Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, in its solicitation for the described supplies or services. However, interested persons may identify to the contracting officer their interest and capability to satisfy the Government's requirement with a commercial item within 15 days of this notice. (0318)

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