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

A -- WEAPON SYSTEM SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SOL PRDA 97-14-AAK POC Contact Mark Sauls, Contract Negotiator, (937) 255-2206 A -- INTRODUCTION: Wright Laboratory (WL) is interested in receiving abstracts and a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM -- No pricing is required and no SF 1411 or SF 1448) for the research effort described in Section B, in accordance with the Two-Step PRDA Process. Potential proposers are to submit a proposal abstract for review and evaluation. The abstract should express a consolidated effort in support of either or both technology thrust areas. Potential offerors proposing work in more than one thrust area shall submit a separate abstract for each thrust area. WL will acknowledge receipt of the submission and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence regarding the abstract. Communications will discontinue with offerors upon receipt of abstracts.Upon completing the review of abstracts, WL will provide written notice whether the government is interested in pursuing the abstract approach or not. Those selected will be requested to provide a full proposal and will be given a date and time for submission of that full proposal. This procedure is intended to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review.WL will attempt to review proposal abstracts within 30 days after receipt. Abstracts will be evaluated based upon the following criteria of equal importance: (a) Soundness of Approach, (b) Understanding of the Problem, (c) Personnel/Related Experience, and (d) Availability of Equipment/Facilities. Regardless of the recommendation, the decision to propose is the responsibility of the proposer. Abstracts in response to this PRDA shall be submitted by 09 April 97, 1500 hours Eastern Standard Time. Proposals in response to this PRDA (an original plus three copies) shall be submitted within 45 days of notification, 1500 hours Eastern Standard Time, addressed to (Attn: Mark Sauls), WL/AAKE, Building 7, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7607. Abstracts and proposals shall not be submitted via facsimile transmission. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Teaming arrangements between private industry and universities will also be considered and are encouraged. Abstracts and proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Abstracts and proposals received 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 cited in Section F. There will be no other solicitations issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any amendments to this solicitation that may be published. This PRDA may be amended to allow subsequent submission of proposal dates. Offerors should request a copy of the WL Guide entitled, "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry". 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 or obtained via the world wide web site: www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract. B -- REQUIREMENTS; There are two distinct technology thrust areas, Existing Technology Transition and New and Creative Technologies. The Existing Technology Transition thrust area deals with software technologies which can be applied to existing weapon systems. The problem statement that maps to this thrust area is "Automated Generation of Avionics Software Tests" (AGAST), identified as candidate problem statement 02 in the supplemental package to this announcement. The New and Creative Technologies thrust area deals with software technologies which can be applied to modified and future weapon systems. The problem statement that maps to this thrust area is "Adaptive Software Technology Development" (ASTD), identified as problem statement 01 in the supplemental package to this announcement. (1) Technical Description: Wright Laboratory intends to award one or preferably two Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) type contracts with delivery order provisions (one ID/IQ contract for each thrust area). However, the Air Force reserves the right to award something other than an ID/IQ type contract. Proposed research and development should investigate and extend software and hardware technologies that impact legacy and future weapon system platforms. When appropriate, new concepts are to be demonstrated by means of systems prototypes. A strong emphasis will be placed on the ability to transfer the technology into legacy and future weapon systems. Specifically, proposals are sought that: (a) Research and develop techniques, methodologies, and processes that facilitate the development of next-generation avionics weapon system software. This includes system software security, adaptive real-time software techniques, fault-tolerance, automatic programming, technology evaluations, verification and validation (V&V) techniques, operating system and resource manager technologies, and software architecture concepts. (b) Mature and demonstrate technology to assist in the modernization of legacy weapon system software. This includes weapon system software reengineering, software reuse, and system emulation. (c) Develop and demonstrate technology to enable cost-effective life-cycle testing of airborne weapon systems software. This includes software integrated diagnostics, formal testing methods, software verification and validation techniques, hardware-in-the-loop and instrumentation systems. Application areas of interest are to focus on avionics weapon systems and their support environments, but can also include closely related land based, space based, and sea based weapon systems as well. Detailed information concerning submission is provided below. The proposals should identify which research and development tasks require scientific advances, tasks which are fundamentally integrative, and task which focus on engineering advances beyond the state-of-the-art. Based on present budget projections, WL/AASH anticipates the award of one or more contracts subject to technical acceptability. (2) Deliverable Items: Deliverables will be tailored to each delivery order. Any ID/IQ contract resulting from this PRDA will include the following deliverable items: (a) The following deliverable data items shall be proposed: (i) Status Report, DI-MGMT-80368A/T, monthly; (ii) Funds and Man-hour Expenditure Report, DI-FNCL-80331/T, monthly; (iii) Project Planning Chart, DI-MGMT-80507A/T, monthly; (iv) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR), DI-MGMT-81468/T, quarterly; (v) Presentation Materials, DI-ADMN-81373/T, as required; (vi) Scientific and Technical Reports, Contractor's Billing Voucher, DI-MISC-80711/T, monthly; and (vii) Scientific and Technical Reports, DI-MISC-80711/T, (Interim, Draft and Reproducible Final); and (viii) Technical Report -- Study/Services (Tools Manual), DI-MISC-80508/T; (ix) Conference Agenda, DI-ADMIN-81249A/T, as required: (x) Conference Minutes, DI-ADMIN-81250A/T, as required; (xi) Contract Work Breakdown Structure, DI-MGMT-81334/T. (b) The following additional deliverable items shall be proposed: None. (3) Security Requirements: SECRET facility and storage clearance requirements apply. (4) Other Special Requirements: None. C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The maximum period of performance for any ID/IQ contract will be 60 months. The ordering period for the ID/IQ contract will be 56 months after contract award. The performance period of orders issued within the ordering period may extend up to 4 months after the ordering period of the basic contract. Performance periods will be specified on individual delivery orders. (2) Expected Award Date: Sept. 97. (3) Air Force Estimate: The Air Force will establish ceiling amounts on the ID/IQ contracts. There is an approximate total of $49.9M for all awards resulting from this PRDA. It is anticipated that the total amount will be divided evenly between the two technology thrust areas, however, the Air Force reserves the right to establish a ceiling that may not reflect an even divisionof the approximate total funding. The estimated funding profile for the entire program is as follows: FY97-$15k, FY98-$9.8M, FY99-$9.8M, FY00-$9.8M, FY01-$10.1M, FY02-$10.385M. The estimated funding profile for the first delivery orders will be included in the supplemental package. The funding profiles are an estimate only and are not a promise for funding as all funding is subject to change due to Air Force discretion and availability. (4) Type of Instrument: Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity type contracts, with Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) or Cost (no fee) type delivery orders contemplated. Any grant(s) or cooperative agreement(s) awarded will be cost (no fee) or cost sharing and will be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties. (5) Government Furnished Property: None contemplated. (6) Size Status: For the purpose of this acquisition, the size standard is 500 employees (SIC 8731). (7) Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the contracting point of contact upon deciding to respond to this 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 below. Offerors should refer to the instructions contained in the WL "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry" referenced in Section A of this announcement. Separate technical and cost proposal volumes (for the delivery orders only) are required and must be valid for 180 days. Proposals must reference the above PRDA number. Proposals shall be submitted in an original and 3 copies, and also on disk. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be evaluated against the criteria set forth below in the Section E -- Basis of Award. A supplemental package will be provided to potential offerors upon written request to the Contracting point of contact. A library has been established that contains project information, white papers, final reports and other pertinent information that may be of benefit to any potential offerors. This library is located in Bldg 620, 3rd Floor, Room # S3X57, 2241 Avionics Circle, Wright Patterson AFB OH. Please call Charles Satterthwaite prior to any visit at (937) 255-6548 x3584. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the Air Force. Note: All abstracts and proposals shall be submitted in Microsoft Word 6.0. (2) Proposal Abstracts: Proposal abstracts shall provide an approach and capabilities for the overall effort within a technology thrust area, either the Existing Technology Transition or the New and Creative Technologies, as well as the problem statements that map to the two independent thrusts. Also any approach and capabilities for any subcontracting or teaming arrangements foreseen. (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, descriptions of available equipment, data and facilities, and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal and are not included in the page limit discussed below. The technical proposal shall include a Statement of Work (SOW) detailing the technical tasks / phases proposed to be accomplished for the problem statement under the proposed effort and be suitable for instrument incorporation. The problem statement for each candidate delivery order is included in the Supplemental Package for this PRDA. Offerors should refer to the WL Guide to assist in SOW preparation. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation should be referred to the technical point of contact cited below. (4) Cost Proposal: (Delivery Orders only) We anticipate this acquisition being based on adequate price competition. Therefore, to permit a cost realism analysis, the submission of SF 1448, available from the contracting point of contact, is required in lieu of a SF 1411. A suggested format for submission of cost information will be included in the Supplemental Package. Contractors are urged to use this format (which may be tailored as needed) in the submission of cost proposals. (5) Each technical abstract shall be limited to 20 pages per technology thrust area. Each technical proposal shall be limited to 25 pages (15 pages per technology thrust area, 10 pages per Delivery Order problem statement) per technology thrust area. (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. This page limitation includes all information, i.e., indexes, photographs, fold-outs, appendices, attachments, etc. This page count does not include resumes. Pages in excess of this limitation will be removed from the proposal and will not be evaluated. Cost proposals, for delivery orders only, have a limitation of 15 pages as a goal. (5) Preparation Cost: This announcement does not commit the Air Force to pay for any proposal preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this PRDA is not an allowable direct charge to any resulting award, or any other procurement instrument. However, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. If selected for negotiations, qualifying offerors will be required to submit a subcontracting plan unless exempt. E -- BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on an evaluation of an offeror's proposal (both technical and cost) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement. It shall be an integrated assessment of the technical proposals for the technology thrust area (either Existing Technology Transition or New and Creative Technologies) and the delivery order problem statement. The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based on the following criteria of equal importance: (a) soundness of approach, (b) understanding the problem, (c) creative solutions, (d) personnel/related experience, and (e) availability of equipment/facilities. Cost is ranked as the second order of priority. No other evaluation criteria will be used. The technical and cost proposals will be evaluated at the same time. The Air Force reserves the right to select for award any, all, part, or none of the proposal(s) received. The Air Force reserves the right to any resulting contract pursuant to the Research and Development Standard Contract Format which is DFARS 235.70. F -- POINTS OF CONTACT: (1) Technical Point of Contact: Charles Satterthwaite, WL/AASH, 2241 Avionics Circle, Suite 32, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base OH 45433-7334, (937) 255-6548 ext. 3584 . (2) 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 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 communications concerning this acquisition to Mark Sauls, Contracting Negotiator, WL/AAKD, Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-7607, (937) 255-2206. The Ombudsman should only be contacted with issues or problems that have been previously brought to the attention of the ContractingOfficer 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, E-Mail kugeldl@sy.wpafb.af.mil, (937) 255-3855. See Note 26. (0069)

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