HSC/PKR, 8005 9th St, Bldg 626, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5353

A -- ARMSTRONG LABORATORY'S DUAL-USE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SOL PKR-97-AL-01 DUE 041497 POC Sharon Bickford, 210-536-6399 WEB: San Antonio Acquisition RFP Highway, http://www.brooks.af.mil/HSC/PKA/sarah.htm. E-MAIL: Sharon Bickford, sharon_bickford@pkrccmail.brooks.af.mil. A -- INTRODUCTION: Armstrong Laboratory (AL) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) in the area of Dual Use Science and Technology (S&T) as described below. Proposals in response to this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) shall be submitted by 14 April 1997, 1500 hours Central Time, addressed to Human Systems Center, Directorate of Contracting (HSC/PKR), 8005 9th Street, Building 626, Attn: Ms. Sharon Bickford, Brooks AFB TX 78235-5353. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Proposal receipt after the cutoff date and time specified herein shall be treated in accordance with FAR 52.215-10 restrictions. (copy of this provision may be obtained from the web link http://farsite.hill.af.mil) There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any BAA amendments that may permit subsequent submission of proposal dates. Offerors should request a copy of the Guide entitled, "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry" dated November 1992. This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA/BAA proposal process. The Guide is available on the internet, address: http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/prdag.htm. B -- REQUIREMENTS: (1) This program is being conducted in cooperation with DOD's Dual Use Application Program (DUAP) managed by the Joint Dual Use Program Office (JDUPO). AL seeks projects to create and develop new product or process technologies which have potential for both Air Force and commercial applications. If successfully developed, the technology will have both Air Force relevance and sufficient potential commercial applications to support a viable production base. Approximately $50M of Government funds will be made available for the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for all awards made under DUAP. The proposer must bear at least 50% of the cost of the proposed effort. There is no preset dollar range for individual proposals. Proposals that involve either basic research or final product development beyond the stage of product prototype or feasibility demonstration are outside the scope of the competition and will not be acceptable. Teaming arrangements among companies are encouraged when the result is a technically stronger proposal. Teaming with a DOD or national laboratory may also be advantageous in many instances. Due to limited funding, the Government reserves the right to limit awards under any topic, and only proposals considered to be of superior quality will be funded. Topic areas, with technical points of contact, which will be considered in this BAA are found at the end of this announcement. There is no guarantee that awards will be made in each of the identified topic areas. The Government may award several proposals in a topic area depending in part on the cost of individual proposals and available funding. (2) Reporting Requirements: All awardees receiving assistance agreements under this BAA will be required to develop a commercialization plan for the activity stimulated by the award. Awardees will be required to make periodic reports on technical progress and financial outlays associated with their project(s). In addition, awardees will report on progress toward the stated project goals. All recipients will be required to submit a business status report which shall provide summarized details of the resource status of the agreement, including the status of the contributions of both parties. (3) Security Requirements: It is not anticipated that any project would require access to classified information. (4) Other Special Requirements: International Traffic in Arms Regulations may apply to some technology areas, it is anticipated that some restrictions may apply to the release of technology to foreign nationals. C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: Proposals should include schedules and budgets for a base term not to exceed 36 months. Costed options for an additional period of up to 24 months may be submitted. The Government may fund both base term and options from the present appropriation depending on the content of the proposal, the availability of funds, the fit with other programs and any other considerations necessary to establish and maintain program coherence and balance. The Government may also choose to condition the exercise of options on the availability of future year appropriations or other funding sources. (2) Expected Award Date: 1997 Sep 30. (3) Orals, Interviews and Site Reviews: During the proposal review and final stages of the selection process, some proposers may be asked to provide clarification and/or oral presentations to members of the selection panel or to travel to Brooks Air Force Base, TX, or other location for an interview. AL also reserves the right to conduct site reviews prior to award of assistance agreements. (4) Type of contract: non-procurement Cooperative Agreements or Other Transactions. (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 Air Force point cited below 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 elsewhere herein. Offerors should consider instructions contained in the PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry referenced in Section A of this announcement. Technical and cost proposals, submitted in separate volumes, are required and must be valid for 180 days. Proposals must reference the above BAA number. Proposals shall be submitted in an original and five copies. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered against the criteria set forth herein. Offerors are advised that only contracting/grants officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the government. (2) Cost Proposal: Cost/funding proposals are not restricted in length, have no specific page layout requirements, and should address funding periods of performance. Work breakdown structures and certified cost or pricing data are neither required nor desired. Cost/funding proposals should be organized to include three sections in the following order: total project cost, cost sharing and in-kind contributions, and cost to the Government. Section 1 -- Total Project Cost: This section will give a detailed breakdown of costs of the project. Cost should also be broken down on a task-by-task basis for each taskappearing in the statement of work. This should include all of the proposed cost to the Government and cost sharing by the proposer. The following information should be presented in your proposal for each phase of the effort: total cost of the particular project phase; total proposer cost share; funding requested from the Government; and elements of cost (labor, direct materials, travel, other direct costs, software, patents, royalties, indirect costs, and cost of money). Sufficient information should be provided in supporting documents to allow the Government to evaluate the reasonableness of these proposed costs, including salaries, overhead, material purchases, fair market rental value of leased items, and the method used for making such valuations. Profit should not be included as a cost element. Profit is not appropriate for an non-procurement agreement. Section 2 -- Cost Sharing and In-Kind Contributions: This section will include: (1) the sources of cash and amounts to be used for matching requirements; (2) the specific in-kind contributions proposed, their value in monetary terms, and the methods by which their values were derived; and (3) evidence of the existence of adequate cash or commitments to provide sufficient cash in the future. Affirmative, signed statements are required from outside sources of cash. Proposals should contain sufficient information regarding the sources of the proposer's cost share so that a determination may be made by the Government regarding the availability, timeliness, and control of these resources. For example: How will the funds and resources be applied to advance the progress of the proposed effort? What is the role of any proposed in-kind contributions? Section 3 -- Cost to the Government: This section will specify the total costs proposed to be borne by the Government and any technical or other assistance including equipment, facilities, and personnel of Federal laboratories, if any, required to support these activities. The cost to the Government should be that portion of the proposed effort which is not covered by cost share. The costs incurred and work performed by any DOD or national laboratory "partnering" with the offeror under the proposal shall normally be considered costs of the Government and not costs of the proposer for purposes of the cost-sharing requirement. Proposals should contain sufficient information regarding the resources to be provided by the Government so that an evaluation of their availability, timeliness, and control may be made. . (3) Technical Proposal: Technical proposals should be a maximum of forty (40) pages and should include the following four sections: Section 1 -- Executive Summary: Provide a brief technical and business description of the contents of the proposal. The technical area should be written to cogently define your proposal's technical goals, the technical approach you are taking, and the expected technical result. Its purpose is to provide technical reviewers an overview of the technologies proposed.The business area should be written to explain strategic alliance, business, and market issues which successful commercialization and production will involve. It should reflect that the proposers have thought through the potential business, market, and economic implications if the technical goals of the project are achieved. If a consortia of performers are submitting the proposal, they should demonstrate that there is, indeed, a shared or common team vision. Section 2 -- Technical Issues: Give a detailed explanation of the technical approach, objectives, staffing and resources relating to the development of the proposed technology for both military and commercial use. a. Technical Objectives: Discuss clearly and specifically in realistic terms the technical objectives of this proposed effort. This should include all of the following: A clear, definitive statement of the objective or end product of your effort. A technical description of your technical activities in sufficient detail to determine the technical feasibility of the effort and the degree to which it improves on the current state of the art. A discussion of the technical barriers to be overcome and the technical risks expected during the conduct of the project. Note: technical risks are expected and acceptable provided they are well understood and realistic approaches are presented to mitigate them. A discussion, quantitative whenever possible, of the advantages (cost, performance, time to market, etc.) of the proposed technologies over alternatives. If they exist, a discussion of other related projects (especially those funded by the Federal Government) and a clear demonstration that this effort will not duplicate those efforts. b. Technical Approach: Discuss your approach for achieving the technical objectives of this project. This should include all of the following: A comprehensive description of your specific approach, including the advantages over other possible approaches which could be used to attack the problem. A clear plan for mitigating all identified risks, including description of alternate approaches to be taken if the planned mitigation efforts are unsuccessful. A Statement of Work (SOW) that discusses the specific tasks to be accomplished, tied to the specific approach and goals of the project. Specific performers for tasks should be identified whenever possible. Offerors should refer to the Guide referenced in Section A to assist in SOW preparation A schedule of significant events and measurable technical milestones. This schedule should extend beyond the end of the project and include critical technical milestones for commercialization or production. c. Quality and Appropriateness of Technical Staff and Resources: Provide the experience and credentials of the technical team assembled to carry out the developments proposed. Include all of the following: The identification of the proposed principal investigator and other key personnel and a full description of the qualifications, education, and relevant experience of each of these individuals. A description of the management organization to be used for this effort, including a discussion of the proposed lines of responsibility, authority, and communication through which tasks will be managed and the procedures taken to insure quality control and cost control. A discussion of the qualifications of each of the organizations involved in the effort in sufficient detail to demonstrate that the collective experience and expertise is necessary and sufficient to ensure technical objectives are met. A demonstration that the resources available for the proposed activity, including facilities, equipment, and technical support, are necessary and sufficient to accomplish the objectives. Special attention should be paid to describing the necessity of any resources which are proposed as part of the offeror's cost share. A discussion of how intellectual property (especially that proposed as part of the offeror's cost share) is to be used as a necessary resource to accomplish the objectives of the project. Section 3 -- Business Issues: Discuss the business issues that the proposer is facing and proposed commercialization development activities. This section should include all information necessary for evaluators to make an informed judgment regarding the business aspects of the proposed project as they relate to the selection criteria. While a formal "business plan" is not required, it is believed that the most readily accessible form for presenting a discussion of pervasive impact and commitment to production is to provide a business plan. Proposers should insure that their discussions at a minimum address the following points: a. Sustainability to Commercialization or Production: The proposal should demonstrate the commitment required to successfully accomplish the proposed project and to continue the effort toward successful entry into a viable commercial market. b. Demonstration of Defense and Commercial Impact: Proposals must demonstrate both an Air Force/defense and a commercial impact. Commercial value alone, no matter how compelling, without a clear demonstration of the value to the Department of the Air Force (DOAF) and/or the Department of Defense (DOD), is not sufficient. Proposals should include the following: A realistic discussion of the intended commercial markets. This should include a discussion of primary customers and the specific advantages accruing from this effort which will ensure an advantage over competitors. When lower cost is the basis for the competitive advantage of the proposed product or process, sufficient pricing data should be presented to permit evaluation of the claim. A discussion of the long-term, commercial value of the proposed effort, in terms of both market share and the establishment of high quality job opportunities. This discussion will demonstrate how this commercial value justifies the proposed government investment. A discussion of how the ultimate product or process of this effort will benefit DOAF/DOD. This may be achievedin any of the following ways: i) Develop an important new technology for DOAF/DOD. ii) Assure DOAF/DOD access to existing technology in a manner usable to DOAF/DOD. iii) Provide new commercial markets for needed Air Force/defense industrial capability that cannot be sustained by DOAF/DOD alone. If applicable, evidence of the beneficial effects which will accrue as a result of this effort to society at large through elimination or reduction of health, safety, and/or environmental hazards, especially in relation to the development or improvement of manufacturing processes. c. Cost Share and Risk: The technical proposal should demonstrate a commitment to share the cost and risk of the proposed effort with the Government. The proposal should include the following: A detailed description of the cost share for this effort, including the sources and the type (cash, in-kind). Actual dollar values should be provided in the separate cost proposal. High quality cost share would include cash to pay for people, materials, equipment and subcontractors used to carry out the project and the cost to restock inventoried parts and material consumed. High quality cost share can include future IR&D funds. Lower quality cost share would include in-kind, non-monetary resources used on the project, i.e., wear-and-tear on capital assets, value of space being used, foregone fees or profits, value of intellectual property used on the project, and costs occurred before the start of the project. A discussion of the risk, if any, incurred other than the cost share described above. This could include any changes to corporate strategies, long-term commitment of resources or other consequential changes. Section 4 -- Selection Criteria Index: A one page index showing the pages on which each of the selection criteria are addressed is needed. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the Technical Point of Contact cited in this announcement. (4) Page Limitations: The technical proposal shall be limited to 40 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. The page limitation includes all information, i.e. indexes, photographs, foldouts, appendices, attachments, etc. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be considered by the government. Cost proposals have no limitations, however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 50 pages as a goal. (5) Preparation Cost: This announcement does not commit the Government to pay for any response preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this BAA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract. However, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. E -- BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on an evaluation of an offeror's response (both technical and cost aspects) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement. Thetechnical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based on the following criteria which are of equal importance: (a) Impact on National Defense; (b) Commercial Viability of Technology; (c) Technical and Management Approach (d) Quality of Cost Share. Cost and/or price, which includes consideration of proposed budgets and funding profiles, is a substantial factor, but ranked as the second order of prio (0070)

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