Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Bethesda, Md 20084-5000

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT -- ADVANCED ROCKET NOZZLE AND HEATSHIELD MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY SOL N00167-97-BAA-0027 DUE 093098 POC Darrell Bachman, Code 3324, Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer, (301) 227-5760 This is a Broad Agency Announcement for applied research as defined at FAR 35.001 and 35-016 and is subject to FAR 6.102(d)(2). The Naval Surface Warfare Center in collaboration with the Office of Naval Research, is interested in proposals for the applied research of ceramic composites (for missile propulsion) and non-rayon-based carbon phenolic materials (for reentry body heatshields and missile propulsion). Zero-erosion ceramic-matrix-composite (CMC) materials, such as C-SiC and C-HfC, could provide performance improvement and/or system cost reduction in rocket propulsion components associated with tactical missiles, kinetic kill vehicles, strategic missiles, and spacecraft systems. For example, CMC materials are expected to provide significant cost savings versus rhenium materials for divert and attitude control systems (DACS) components for Theater Missile Defense (TMD) weapons. Non-rayon-based (NR) carbon-phenolic (C-Ph) materials (for example, using a hybrid carbon/SiO2 tape) are believed to be capable of providing equivalent heatshield and rocket nozzle performance as rayon-based materials, yet utilizing non-specialized, low-cost fibers and fabrication processes. The Navy seeks to develop low-cost fabrication processes for CMC and NR C-Ph materials, define and evaluate critical material properties and/or performance capabilities, and demonstrate subscale components. The Navy is soliciting proposals which (1) identify specific Navy systems for which advanced composite materials (including, but not necessarily limited to, CMC and NR C-Ph) offer high payoff, and quantify the payoff (eg., cost reduction, performance improvement, etc.),(2) define material properties (mechanical, thermal, oxidative, etc.) necessary to enable materials insertions into specific Navy applications,(3) develop low-cost material fabrication processes, (4) define and perform the material testing, evaluation, modelling, and data presentation required to confirm, or qualify, the viability of advanced materials in specific Navy applications. Proposals may encompass one or all of the previous technical items as separate tasks. Proposals should also address technical approach structured into separate tasks, schedules, and milestone charts including the contractor's capability to perform the task based on recent experience, corporate facilities, and experience of the personnel who will perform the task. In addition, proposals should address provisions for on-site reviews, and monthly/quarterly progress and financial reports. The offeror should also provide a detailed cost breakdown for individual tasks as well as a program cost summary. Multi-year, multi-phase efforts are encouraged; phases should be structured as discrete work segments, not as fiscal year segments. Proposals should not exceed twenty-five (25) pages. The primary basis of selection of the proposals will be technical merit and availability of funding. Proposals will be evaluated as follows: A) technical approach and quality, and/or probability of success; B) management and organizational approach; personnel ezxperience, program plan and milestones, and corporate capability; and C) cost reasonableness and realism. The contracts expected to be negotiated are cost reimburseable type. The level of effort projected for this Navy program is approximately $750K per year. Potential offerors shall submit an original plus four copies of the proposal. The date of closing is 30 Sep 98. For award in FY 97, offerors are strongly encouraged to submit proposals by 30 May 97. This BAA is an expression of interest only and does not commit the government to pay any proposal costs related to this BAA or to make any contract award. Proposals can be submitted to Mark Opeka/Code 681, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817-5700. Questions concerning this announcement can be directed to Mark Opeka on (301) 227-3963 (voic), (301) 227-4732 (fax). (0100)

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