Armament Contracting Division (WL/MNK), Building 13, 101 West Eglin Boulevard, Suite 337, Eglin AFB FL 32542-6810

A -- DEVELOP MULTIPLE EVENT HARD TARGET FUZE SOL MNK-97-015 POC ANDREA MOUNTAIN at (904) 882-4294, ext 3409 Research and development sources are sought for development of the Multiple Event Hard Target Fuze that will increase the current state of the art in penetration fuzing. The overall objective of this program is to improve existing smart fuze designs to provide increased operational effectiveness of hard target munitions against hardened/buried targets through burst point control/optimization including multiple output event capability. The program will develop and apply intelligent fuzing to next generation hard target weapon system concepts. A primary objective will be to achieve increased capability over the existing Hard Target Smart Fuze baseline while decreasing design complexity, miniaturizing the design, increasing the impact survivability, decreasing cost, and providing multiple output event capability. The fuze system will be required to provide multiple remote output events including command and control, deflagration, and detonation. The fuze system shall be compatible with standard weapon system interfaces and establish interface requirements for future weapon system power and environmental sensor integration (i.e., guidance integrated safe-and-arm fuzing technology). The fuze design shall include simple standard internal interfaces between boards and modules to support future expansion of the sensor suite and reduce recurring engineering costs for future design upgrades. The fuze design shall provide an integral nonvolatile recording capability as well as the ability to interface with an external recorder to improve failure analysis diagnostic capabilities. The fuze system will incorporate guidance integrated safe-and-arm fuzing technology to facilitate the integration of smart hard target fuzing into future small smart penetrating weapon systems. Fuze sensor fidelity and computational capability will both be increased to permit faster decision times with a higher probability of target/media detection. A series of environmental and functional tests will be conducted to assess proper fuze operation under a high shock environment. The Multiple Event Hard Target Fuze will then be tested in a penetrating weapon to demonstrate multiple outputs during full scale sled and/or flight tests. This two-phased program is a 51-month effort. The first phase (9 months) will be a multiple award contract to complete the Requirements Study and Conceptual Fuze Design. After phase I, the program will be down-selected to one contractor. Phase II (42 months) will be divided into several tasks (1) Detail Design and Component Test; (2) Subassembly Fabrication and Cannon Test; (3) Initial Fuze Fabrication and Test; and (4) Final Fuze Fabrication and Test. Potential offerers should, as a minimum, possess and have demonstrated experience in the design and testing of hard target penetration fuzing. Access and storage of classified material, up to and including Secret/NOFORN, is required. Foreign firms should be aware that restrictions may apply which could exclude them from being prime contractors on this effort. Firms having applicable interest, capability and background should submit particulars in accordance with Numbered Note 25 to WL/MNK, 101 W. Eglin Blvd Ste 337, Eglin AFB FL 32542-6810, Attn: Andrea Mountain. Responses to this synopsis must be received within 15 days from date of publication. Respondents to this notice will not be notified of the results of the evaluation of information submitted. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only, does not constitute an IFB or RFP, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Firms responding to this synopsis should state whether they are or are not a small business concern as defined by SIC Code 8731, 500 people. The Air Force reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based on responses hereto. It is anticipated that a Program Research & Development Announcement (PRDA) in accordance with AFMCFARS 5335.90 will be issued for this requirement. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. 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. 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. Interested parties are invited to call Colonel Timothy R. Kinney at (904) 882-9051. 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. Direct all requests for solicitations and routine communication concerning this acquisition to Andrea Mountain, WL/MNK, Eglin AFB FL 32542-6810, (904) 882-4294, extension 3409. For further information concerning technical aspects, contact Harris Barker, WL/MNMF, Eglin AFB FL 32542-6810, (904) 882-2005, extension 220. For planning purposes, the government anticipates a Pre-Solicitation Conference with preliminary data packages available at 1300, 11 March 1997, Bldg 13, Rm 160, Eglin AFB, FL. The conference will consist of a general government presentation from 1300-1600, 11 March 1997, followed by private meetings with potential offerers of 1 hour each on 12 March 1997. The private meetings that will be held in Bldg 432, Eglin AFB FL beginning at 0800 on 12 March 1997 may be scheduled, by interested contractors, by contacting Mr. Harris Barker at (904) 882-2005 ext 220 before 10 March 1997. Potential contractors interested in attending this pre-solicitation conference and obtaining a data package for the Multiple Event Hard Target Fuze must forward their security clearance and an approved DD Form 2345, Export-Controlled DOD Technical Data Agreement, to WL/MNPR (Security), Attn: Elizabeth Breaux, 101 W. Eglin Blvd, Ste 201, Eglin AFB FL, 32542-6810, Telephone: (904) 882-4740, ext 2302 by 4 March 1997. Individuals/contractors who fail to comply with this requirement will not be allowed in the conference and will not receive the Multiple Event Hard Target Fuze data package. (0052)

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