R&D Contracting Directorate, Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, WPAFB, OH 45433-7607

A -- AVIONICS COMMUNICATIONS, NAVIGATION, IDENTIFICATION EXPLORATION SOL F33615-97-R-1045 POC Contact Stacey Siemer, WL/AAKD, (937) 255-2206 or Bettie L. Steely, Contracting Officer (937) 255-5252 Notice of Contract Action for Avionics Communication, Navigation, Identification (CNI) Exploration (ACE). Sources are being sought to develop and demonstrate technologies which enable cost-effective evaluations/demonstrations of advanced and legacy avionics architectures; define and demonstrate techniques, methodologies, and processes to promote Collaborative Engineering Environment (CEE) research; and evaluate CNI simulation and advanced integration technologies in the ACE facility which was formerly the Integrated Electromagnetic System Simulator (IESS)/Communication Systems Evaluation Laboratory (CSEL). The facility is located in Building 620, Area B, WPAFB OH. The Wright Laboratory, Avionics Directorate, System Concepts and Simulation Division, Avionics Technology Testbed Branch is contemplating the award of a 60-month delivery order contract which addresses enabling technologies required to achieve next generation integrated avionics and fleet sustainment. The objectives of the program are to: 1) assess Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA), Low Probability of Detection (LPD), and data fusion technologies for advanced and legacy CNI avionics systems; 2) evaluate CNI simulation and advanced system integration technologies within the CEE domain; and 3) develop real-time avionics hardware-in-the-loop simulation technologies. Anticipated task areas include tactical wide-area surveillance, Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS)/Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system vulnerability, next generation antenna electronics, IMA vs Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) performance assessment, and integrated avionics simulation. In addition, GPS research is anticipated throughout the contract period, and includes Antenna WaveFront Simulator (AWFS) in-house development, antenna electronics evaluation, loosely vs tightly coupled GPS/INS integration, and protection/prevention GPS antenna system analysis. Prospective sources must be able to demonstrate the ability to conduct technology requirements studies, assess the technical feasibility of advanced CNI technologies, and develop and demonstrate simulation technologies to enable cost-effective evaluations/demonstrations of advanced and legacy avionics architectures. Clearances at the SECRET level are required for this procurement. A tour of the ACE facility may be arranged upon request. This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the government to award any contract or to pay for any response preparation cost. Notice to foreign and foreign-owned firms: Restrictions apply which preclude your participation at the prime contractor level in this acquisition. Firms responding should indicate whether they are, or are not, a small business, a socially and economically disadvantaged business, a woman-owned business, a historically black college or university, or minority institution. For this item the general definition to be used to determine whether your firm is small is as follows: "A small business concern is a concern that is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on government contracts and with its affiliates, the number of employees does not exceed 500 persons." SIC Code 8731 applies. "Concern means any business entity organization for profit with a place of business in the United States, its possessions, Puerto Rico, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, including, but not limited to, an individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, association or corporation." The Air Force reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based upon responses hereto. Small business respondents should provide a statement of capabilities to assist the Air Force in making a set-aside decision. Large businesses are only required to submit a statement of interest to receive a copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP). All respondents shall include in any request their assigned Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. Respondents are further requested to indicate theirstatus as a Foreign-owned/Foreign-controlled firm and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. Responses should be sent to: ATTN: Stacey Siemer, WL/AAKD Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. Non-technical assistance may be secured by calling the above individual at 513-255-2206. An Ombudsman has been established for this acquisition. The only purpose of the Ombudsman is to receive and communicate serious concerns from potential offerors when an offeror prefers not to use established channels to communicate his concern during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Potential offerors should use established channels to request information, pose questions, and voice concerns before resorting to use of the Ombudsman. Potential offerors are invited to contact ASC's Ombudsman, ASC/SY, Dan Kugel, at 513-255-3855, extension 204 with serious concerns only. Closing date for submission of responses is thirty (30) calendar days from the publication of this notice. Firms should reference F33615-97-R-1045 in their responses. RFP release for this program is projected in Apr 1997. (0051)

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