Contracting Office, National Defense University, Bldg 62, Room 203, Ft. McNair, Washington, DC 20319

A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SOL BAA96-01 POC Purchasing Agent, Msgt Tobin Gatto, (202) 685-3790. This is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for research and development to support investigations into the nature of national security in the information age. The Center for Advanced Concepts and Technology (ACT) is soliciting research and development proposals that will further the process of designing, improving, and implementing mission capability packages (MCPs) to meet current and future national security challenges. MCPs consist of coherent packages of forces, command structures and arrangements, organizations, C4ISR and weapons systems, doctrine, education, and training that enhances readiness and performance in selected mission areas. ACT works together with other organizations in the U.S. Government to identify the need for MCPs; design MCPs; refine MCPs, and implement MCPs. To support these activities ACT is interested in undertaking research and development efforts, under this BAA, that contribute to the (1) design and refinement of specific MCP concepts for future national security environments, and (2) improvement of the intellectual and analytical infrastructure upon which these efforts must rest. This infrastructure consisting of analytical tools and techniques, models, experiments, wargaming, technology demonstrations, simulations, and exercises. Areas of particular interest (not in rank order) include Joint and Coalition C4I, C4I in Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), Information Warfare, the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), and Tools for assessing and evaluation of concepts and alternative investments, policies, doctrine and methods as well as C4I and C4I systems. Proposals that apply to more than one of these areas will be particularly attractive, but offerors are cautioned that ``shot gun'' papers that lack meaningful focus will not be considered favorably. (a) PAPER/PROPOSAL INFORMATION: Offerors are invited to initially submit a three to five page ``white paper'' summarizing the proposed effort explaining briefly how the project relates to ACT's needs and meets the criteria above, and a rough estimate of costs no later than 30 July 1997. All correspondence must identify BAA 96-01. Papers will be reviewed, as they are received, to identify those offerors whose initial papers are found to have clear scientific and technical merit and those on which more information is required to make an adequate judgment. Where more information is required, a second technical paper, up to 20 pages, may be requested and technical discussions may be requested. Those found to have clear scientific and technical merit will be the topic of technical discussion and are expected to result in proposals. This initial screening will save offerors the time and expense of developing a formal proposal with little chance of award. Offerors will be notified as to whether their papers have, or have not been favorably considered. Notification of a favorable review will include a request to submit an original and two (2) copies of a formal proposal consisting of separate technical and cost technical and costvolumes. These proposals will be due within 60 days of notification but in any event not later than 30 SEP 1997; the final date for proposal submission under this BAA. Proposals shall be valid for a period of not less than 180 days. Favorable review of white papers does not guarantee selection, and may not be construed as a binding commitment by the government to fund the proposed effort. The contractor's proposal (or any part thereof) may be incorporated into the resultant contract by reference. Papers and formal proposals must be typed, with type not smaller than 12 pitch. Papers and proposals will be double-spaced single sided on 8-1/2 inch by 11 inch paper. Formal proposals shall consist of a separate technical and cost volume as described below and shall reference the above BAA number. One original and two copies of the technical and cost proposal shall be submitted to National Defense University, Contracting Office, Bldg 62 Room 203 Attn: Tobin Gatto Ft. McNair, Washington, DC 20319. (b) PAGE LIMITATIONS: The technical volume shall not exceed fifty (50) pages. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be considered by the government unless the offeror requests an exception writing to the Buyer and receives written approval for the exception by the Contracting Officer. Resumes will not be included in the 50 page limit. Cost proposals have no limitation. Technical proposals must contain as a minimum: (1) Cover Page (including BAA number, area of interest addressed, proposal title, technical and administrative points of contact and their addresses with telephone and tax number) (2) Table of Contents (3) Statement of Work detailing the technical approach which includes a clear statement of the problem and the objectives of the effort, the proposed approach and methodology, how the success of the project is to be measured, a plan of action and supporting milestones, and an explicit indication of any proprietary aspects of the proposed effort (including how they might impact the use of the project's resultsby the U.S. Government or its coalition partners) (4) Management section to include relevant corporate expertise, experience, facilities other than relevant resources, organization of the project effort (5) current and past Government or commercial contracts, and (6) resumes of key project personnel. The cost proposal/price breakdown shall be prepared in accordance with FAR 15.804-6 and shall be submitted on a Standard Form (SF) 1411 or in a format which includes the same information to complete the SF1411, together with supporting schedules and person-hour breakdown per task. Types of contracts anticipated to be awarded for this BAA shall be firm fixed price. (c) PREPARATION COST: This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the government to pay any proposal preparation cost for responding to this BAA. Responses should be forwarded at no cost to the Government. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or other contract. It is however an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.206-18. OFFERORS ARE ADVISED THAT ONLY CONTRACTING OFFICERS ARE LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO CONTRACTUALLY BIND OR OTHERWISE COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT. (d) BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on an offeror's response (both technical and cost aspects) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement. Technical proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria in descending order of importance: (1) overall scientific and technical merit of the proposal (2) potential contribution to national security (3) the offeror's capabilities and experience and (4) cost realism and reasonableness. The following cost evaluation shall be considered: (i) The reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and (ii) the availability of funds. The technical and cost information will be evaluated at the same time. The government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part or none of the proposals received. Award decisions will be based upon the results from peer review panels assembled by ACT of managers, scientists, and operators from the U.S. Government and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and availability of funds. Multiple awards are anticipated. Awards may be made at any time during the term of this BAA. No further evaluation criteria will be used in selecting the proposal. (e) MISCELLANEOUS: This CBD notice itself constitutes the BAA as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2). The formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement will be issued. The last opportunity for submitting formal proposals (after favorable paper consideration) is 30 Sep 1997. This BAA announcement is open and effective until rescinded or extended by a revised announcement, otherwise it will be valid until 30 Sep 1997. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns, Women Owed Business Concerns, and Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns, Women Owned Business Concerns, and Small Business Concerns should identify themselves and the criteria by which they qualify in their technical proposals. Other businesses that have included small business, disadvantaged business, or HBCU elements in their proposed team should identify them in their proposals. (0345)

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