COMMANDING OFFICER, ATTN NAVFAC CONTRACTS OFFICE CODE 27, NCBC 1000 23RD AVE, PORT HUENEME, CA 93043-4301

A -- INTEGRATED JOYSTICK CONTROLLER FOR CAUSEWAY LIGHTERAGE PROPULSION SYSTEM SOL N47408-97-R-1817 DUE 013197 POC Contract Specialist, MARY L. GUERRANT, 805-982-8842 This announcement constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC) under FAR 6.102 (d)(2) to solicit proposals for basic and applied research for new and innovative technology solutions to probems in the areas of an INTEGRATED JOYSTICK CONTROLLER FOR CAUSEWAY LIGHTERAGE PROPULSION SYSTEMS CONTROLS. Part of the proposed areas listed in this BAA are being considered 100% set-aside for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) or MinorityInstitutions (MIs) as defined by the clause at 252.226-7000 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. Interested HBCUs and MIs should provide the contracting office as early as possible, but not later than 15 days after this notice, evidence of their capability to perform the contract, and a positive statement of their eligibility as an HBCU or MI. If adequate response is not received from HBCU/MIs hen institutions, non-profit organizations, and private industry proposals abstracts will be evaluated. The effective period of BAA is one year from the publication date of this requirement in the Commerce Business Daily. Awards may be made at any time thrughout the effective period of the BAA. Initial submittals to this BAA may be in either the form of (1) an abstract describing the merits and objectives of what the contractor is offering and shall be no longer than five pages or (2) a detailed technical and cost proposal. The technical proposal shall not be longer than 50 pages. The abstract or proposal should concisely describe what the contractor is offring the Navy with sections discussing the following technical evaluation criteria: (1) the overall scientific or technical merits of the proposal; (2) the potential contribution of the effort to the mission of the requiring activity; (3) the offeror's capbilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique combination of these which are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives; (4) the qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed Principal Investigator, team leader, or key personnel who are critical in achieving the proposal objectives. Proposals, when and if requested after evaluation of the technical abstracts, hall will be evaluated using the four criteria listed above and the following criteria: (5) the reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and availability of funds. Based on the abstract submittal, vendors with technology or methodology found to have meits will be requested to submit a full technical and cost proposal for contract award consideration. If requested to submit a detailed technical proposal, the offeror also shall submit a cost proposal. A cost proposal, when submitted, should contain a cost estimate sufficiently detailed by element of cost for meaningful evaluation. Persons wishing to submit the requirements in response to this BAA should subit either an abstract or a technical and cost proposal to: Commanding Officer, Naval Facilities Contracting Office, Code 2722-7, Building 41, Naval Construction Battalion Center, 1000 23rd Avenue, Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4301, Attn: Mary L.Guerrant, (805)98-8842. Questions regarding this BAA may be sent by facsimile transmittal (FAX) to (805)982-3015. An offeror should submit five (5) copies of its abstract or technical proposal and, if submitted, three copies of its cost proposal regarding this BAA topic to the address noted above. Abstracts and proposals are to be submitted no later than 31 January 1997. However, abstracts or proposals submitted after that ut-off date will be considered throughout the effective period of the BAA. Abstracts or proposals may not be submitted by FAX. Any abstract sent by FAX will be disregarded. The cognizant NFESC technical personnel for this requirement is Mr. Peter Tabor, Coe ESC31, at (805) 982-1308. Potential offerors are encouraged to contact Mr. Tabor directly regarding technical issues. Abstracts and proposals will not be evaluated against each other since each is a unique technology with no common work statement. Proposals identified for funding may result in a contract; however, there is no commitment by the Navy to make any awards; to make a specific number o awards; or to be responsible for any monies expended by the offeror before award of a contract. Any award will be subject to the availability of funds. Multiple phase development contracts may be awarded at the $150,000 level. Phase II awards will be consdered for contractors awarded a Phase 1 contract. The following is a description of the research required for this BAA. TOPIC NO. BAA 97-006 -- INTEGRATED JOYSTICK CONTROLLER FOR . The objective is for the development of an integrated joystick controller that will increase maneuverability of causeway ferries while reducing the need for highly skilled operators. Propulsion of a Navy causeway ferry is providedby two fully azimuthing thrusters located at the stern of the craft. Each thruster has separate controls for engine R.P.M. and nozzle direction. The Navy is considering adding two additional thrusters near the bow to incrase maneuver capability. For a modiied causeway ferry utilizing two bow and two stern thrusters, eight controls (engineer R.P.M. and nozzle direction for each thruster) would be required. A simplified control system is required since that number of controls is too many. The Navy wants to develop an intuitiv joystick control system. The system shall be adaptive by handling multiple thrusters (from two to four), varying craft length (causewayferry lengths vary from 90-feet to 360-feet in 90-feet increments), and varying craft displacement (from 105- long tons to 640-long tons). Individual as well as simulaneous vector and rotational control of the causeway ferry is required. Net thrust during hese maneuvers should be optimized for maximum efficiency. The contol system also would have to compensate for thruster casualties. The end product of this developemnt should result in a control system that allows either loaded or unloaded causeway ferries to be safely maneuvered underway as wess as during approach and moor operations alongside wither a ship or pier to receive and/or discharge cargo. (0007)

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