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

A -- THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS SOL PRDA 97-36-MLK DUE 040997 POC Contact Capt Joel Fortenberry, Contract Negotiator, WL/MLKN, (937) 255-5051 INTRODUCTION: Wright Laboratory (WL/MLBC) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research effort described below. Proposals in response to this PRDA shall be submitted by 09 May 1997, 1500 Eastern Time, addressed to Wright Laboratory, Directorate of R&D Contracting, Building 7, Area B, Attn: Capt Joel Fortenberry, WL/MLKN, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Proposals received after the cutoff date specified herein shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10; copies of this provision may be obtained from the contracting point of contact. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may be published. Offerors are encouraged to reference WL Guide "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry" available at http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/prdag.htm. This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA/BAA proposal process. Copies may be requested from WL/MLKN, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607, telephone 513/255-5051. B -- REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: The objective of this effort is to initiate development of inherently thermally conductive polymers for use in aerospace composites. Current state-of-the-art organic matrix composites handle thermal requirements by using thermally conductive fibers to dissipate heat laterally in the X and Y directions. The contribution of the matrix (thermal conductivity K, less than 0.1 W/mK), is negligible; therefore, thermal conductivity in the Z direction is also negligible. Increasing the thermal conductivity of the matrix relaxes design constraints; enables the use of lower cost, lower performance fibers; and could result in a more isotropic composite that is able to compete with metallic structures. Engineered solutions (filled polymers, z stitching) have been investigatedin the past but have not been successful in maintaining mechanical properties while increasing thermal conductivity. This program shall identify factors that effect thermal conductivity in polymers and composites and shall investigate innovative ways to exploit those factors. Candidate materials shall be developed and tested at the coupon level for thermal, mechanical, and other properties (with the emphasis on thermal conductivity). The thermal conductivity goal is 50 W/mK. (2) Deliverable Items: The following deliverable data items shall be proposed: (a) Status Report, DI-MGMT-803681/T, monthly; (b) Funds and Man-Hour Expenditure Report, DI-FNCL-80331/T, monthly; (c) Project Planning Chart, DI-MGMT-80507A/T, monthly; (d) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR), DI-MGMT-814681/T, quarterly; (e) Presentation Material, DI-3024A/T, as required; (f) Scientific and Technical Reports, Contractor's Billing Voucher, DI-MGMT-80711/T,monthly; (g) Scientific and Technical Reports, DI-MISC-80711/T, (draft and reproducible final); and (h) representative samples for evaluation by the government shall be submitted as appropriate. (3) Security Requirements: It is anticipated that work performed under this contract will be unclassified and that performance of the effort will not require access to classified material. (4) Other Special Requirements: International Traffic in Arms Restrictions apply. Offerors are required to have a DD Form 2345 covering the pertinent technology on file with the Defense Logistics Service Center, Battle Creek MI 49016 (1-800-352-3572). C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The total length of the technical effort is estimated to be 30 months. The contractor shall also provide for an additional four months for processing/completion of the final report. (2) Expected Award Date: September 1997. (3) Government Estimate: The government anticipates approximately one $512,000.00 award with funding profiles of FY97, $3K; FY98, $189K; FY99, $260K, and FY00, $60K; each for a totalprocurement of $512,000.00. (4) Type of Contract: Cost Plus Fixed Fee . (5) Government Furnished Property: None contemplated. (6) Size Status: Firms responding shall indicate whether they are or are not a socially and economically disadvantaged business, a historically black college or university/minority institution, and/or a woman-owned business and should also indicate their 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 of contact cited below upon deciding to respond to this announcement. Foreign contractors should be aware that restrictions may apply which preclude their participation in this acquisition. (8) The offeror shall identify any proprietary data issues that will arise as a result of the proposed effort. D -- PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1) General Instructions: Offerors should apply the restrictive marking prescribed in the provision in FAR 52.215-12, Restriction or 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 WL 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 shall reference PRDA number 97-36-MLK. 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 officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the government. (2) Cost Proposal: The accompanying cost proposal/price breakdown shall include supporting schedules, and shall contain a person-hour breakdown per task. Copies of the above-referenced forms may be obtained from the contracting office cited. (3) Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the technical approach. The offeror shall define the baseline material for the application and provide justification of the proposed 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. The technical proposal shall include a Statement of Work (SOW) detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort and suitable for contract incorporation. Offerors should refer to the WL guide referenced in Section A to assist in SOW preparation. PL 98-94 applies. Offerors must submit approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, with their proposals. Preparation of the SOW as distinct phases or tasks with the proposed cost determined separately is preferred. 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 50 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double spaced, single sided, and 8.5 by 11 inches. 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 75 pages as a goal and be broken out by year based on company's DCAA-approved accounting system. (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 PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to the resulting award 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. The technical aspect shall be evaluated on the following criteria: (a) the offeror's material concept and innovative approach to reaching the thermal conductivity goal. ; (b) the offeror's understanding of the material performance, cost, properties, and processing required; (c) the offeror's understanding of the scope of the technical effort; (d) soundness of offeror's technical approach; (e) the availability and use of qualified technical personnel and their experience with applicable technologies; (f) the offeror's past experience with thermally conductive polymers and ability to transition to potential users; and (g) organization, clarity, and thoroughness of the proposed SOW. Cost and/or price, which includes consideration of proposed budgets andfunding profiles, is a substantial factor. No other evaluation criteria will be used. The technical and cost information will be evaluated at the same time. The Air Force reserves the right to select for award of a contract, grant, or cooperative agreements any, all, part, or none of the proposals received. Award of a grant, in lieu of a contract, to universities and non-profit institutions will be considered and will be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties. F -- POINTS OF CONTACT: (1) Technical Point of Contact: Engineer, Elizabeth Shinn, WL/MLBC, 2941 P Street, Suite 1, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base OH 45433-7750, 937/255-3670. (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 of 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 communication concerning this acquisition to, Capt Joel Fortenberry, WL/MLKN, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607, telephone 937/255-5051, email: fortenjr@b045mail.wpafb.af.mil. 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. These serious concerns only may be directed to the Ombudsman, Mr. Mike S. Coalson, ASC/SYI, Bldg 52, Rm 136, 2475 K St, Ste 1, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7642, email: coalsoms@sy.wpafb.af.mil. See Note 26. (0094)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0012 19970408\A-0012.SOL)