HSC/PKRH, 7909 Lindbergh Drive, Brooks AFB, Tx 78235-5352

A -- AUTOMATION MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS (AMI) POC Contact Point-Annette Henderson, (210)536-5773, Jim Day, (210)536-5770 Sources are being sought in support of basic research, exploratory development, and advanced development areas planned by the Air Force Armstrong Laboratory, Logistics Research Division at AL/HRGA, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. Sources are sought to provide scientific, engineering, and technical non-personal services in support of the mission of the Logistics Research Division. The research and development will involve undertaking a program of research aimed at automating processes underlying the creation of system maintenance information. In the Air Force, this information has traditionally been packaged for field use in paper-based formats under the broad label of Technical Orders (T.O.) These documents contain step-by-step procedures for troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of weapon systems. A wide variety of text and illustration formats are combined in these instructions. Recently, Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETM) have been used for the same purposes. Despite many advances in the management and presentation of this information for maintenance people, the production of maintenance documentation remains a costly, laborious, and error prone process with few automation aids. The objectives of AMI research are to explore automation options and create candidate software tools that promote affordable technical data solutions. The emphasis will be on innovative ways to capture maintenance meanings from basic design information (CAD files, engineering information, etc.) and to simulate and validate maintenance actions concurrently with system development. Automation support for creation of technical information is expected to draw from advances in the scientific disciplines of computational linguistics, computer graphics (including human form simulation), and automated planning, among others. The goal of AMI research is to dramatically reduce the cost of T.O. production by exploiting emerging automation technology. Potential sources for this research should reply with statements of capability to include experience in relevant domains and recent accomplishments of key researchers. The Air Force's anticipated procurement approach is to competitively award a single Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), completion-type contract. The period of performance will be 40 months after award. The place of performance will be Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. This acquisition will follow the AFFARS Appendix BB, supplemented by AFMC FAR SUP to Appendix BB and Section F to the AFMC FAR SUP. Anticipated performance will begin during the second quarter of fiscal year 1998. Anticipated award of contract is during the first quarter of fiscal year 1998. This announcement is not a request for proposal or an announcement of solicitation. The purpose of this announcement is to solicit qualification packages from those sources who have the capabilities and are interested in competing for this requirement. Qualification packages should address the capabilities required to perform the requirements of the proposed effort. Your response should include your corporate and personnel expertise (including years of experience) in these specific capabilities, or your ability to obtain such expertise. The package should contain sufficient information to permit evaluation of your capability in no more than ten standard size (8.5 inches by 11 inches) typed, double spaced pages or less. Futhermore, your written request shall include the following in order to facilitate our assessment of industry's capability: 1) identification of business size, considering SIC 8731 with a size standard of 500 employees; 2) respondents address, business number, and a facsimile number; 3) identification of your intent to act as a consultant, subcontractor or prime contractor for the effort; 4) a statement regarding industrial security clearance, and 5) any other specific and pertinent information as pertains to this particular area of procurement that would enhance our consideration and evaluation of your capability to perform the requirements of this acquisition. Your standard company literature, annual reports, etc., may also be included and are not part of the ten page limit. The requested information will also enable the Government to more clearly define its acquistion approach. The above requested information is not intended as a preselection evaluation documentation. All requestors will be given a copy of the solicitation. The closing date for a submission of response is thirty calendar days from publication of this notice. Please submit a letter of transmittal only to HSC/PKRH, 7909 Lindbergh Drive, Brooks AFB, TX. 78235-5352, Attn: Annette Henderson. The full package should be sent to AL/HRGA, 2698 G Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 45433-7604, Attn: Ed Boyle. Any non-technical and/or contractual questions should be referred to Annette Henderson, (210) 536-5773. Technical questions are encouraged and may be directed to Ed Boyle, (513) 255-5169. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposaldevelopment 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. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. Parties wishing to access the Ombudsman are invited to call Mr. Emile Baladi at (210) 536-2903. Future information concerning this acquisition will be posted to the San Antonio RFP and Acquisition Highway (SARAH) home page available through the internet. SARAH's address is http://www.brooks.af.mil/HSC/PKA/sarah.htm. The CBD, in addition to SARAH, will still be used for the presolicitation announcement and the notice of contract action. Releasable draft documents and milestones will be posted to SARAH as they become available. A complete draft RFP will eventually be released on SARAH. **** (0086)

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