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

A -- COMPOSITE AFFORDABILITY INITIATIVE (CAI), PHASE II, PERVASIVE TECHNOLOGY POC Susan M. Palmer, Contract Negotiator or Timothy L. Jones, Contracting Officer (937) 255-7143 E-MAIL: click here to contact the contract negotiator, palmersm@wpafb.af.mil. The R & D Contracting Directorate is contemplating the award of four agreements, one each to The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Northrop Grumman Corporation, for the Composite Affordability Initiative (CAI), Phase II, Pervasive Technology program. Each of the agreements will be cost shared 50/50. The overarching goal of CAI is to significantly reduce the acquisition costs of fighter airframe structures through the significant and efficient utilization of composite materials. The specific goal of CAI is to develop the tools and technologies necessary to enable integrated product teams to confidently design, manufacture and integrate with aircraft subsystems an "all-composite" airframe. This airframe will incorporate innovative manufacturing concepts, materials, and processes which are supported by advanced design techniques and advanced business practices. The combination of these disciplines will enable breakthrough reductions in cost, schedule and weight. Initial CAI emphasis will be placed on JSF insertion opportunities. Subcontract opportunities for the US industrial base are available in the following technology areas: (a) Materials which provide equivalent structural performance to current aerospace materials when incorporated into integrated designs producing aircraft structures at reduced costs. Materials, in this context, generally apply to a matrix in a composite made up of carbon fiber. Material could also apply to carbon fiber forms or preforms. (b) Design concepts emphasizing the linking of design to processes. Simulation, process capability, part datum to tooling datum links and designs of self locating features to minimize tooling are areas of interest. (c) Structural Analysis Tools used to predict the performance, failure load and modes of structural concepts manufactured with affordable technologies and realistic quality criteria. (d) Cost Models which can overcome the deficits of current models by accounting for innovative structures, manufacturing and business practices. It is important that the cost model capture hidden costs such as overhead or allocated direct costs, not just the touch labor. (e) Manufacturing Processes which are essential to producing revolutionary composite structures offering significant reductions in cost without sacrificing quality and reliability. Quality criteria may be redefined based on the structural analysis tool and the method of detection. Manufacturing processes include the tooling and equipment necessary to support innovative processes. (f) Assembly Technologies which significantly reduce the overall cost of composite structures and enable the manufacture of extensively integrated structures for fighter aircraft. This is a broad use of the term assembly and could apply to integrating stiffening concepts to skins, and integrating skins to major substructure and/or major joints. (g) Non-Destructive Evaluation techniques which will be able to ensure the quality of manufactured composite structural components and assemblies both during and after manufacture. Evaluation can mean in process monitoring to enhance process control. The purpose of this synopsis is to solicit five page white papers from any interested parties on the technical areas above. The white papers should include as a minimum the technology area of interest, what the company is interested in providing (supplier of products or research), how it will affect the affordability of fighter airframe structure, and the company's capabilities. Submit separate white papers per technical area. The white paper should also identify intentions to resource share the effort. Future resource share is considered of most value. Resource sharing is encouraged but not required. No foreign sources will be considered due to the Arms Export Control Act. This effort is subject to International Traffic and Arms Regulation (ITAR) considerations. White papers will be accepted for consideration until 31 July 97. White papers received after this date will be considered for future opportunities. The CAI pervasive technology Activity Integrated Product Team (AIPT) anticipates requesting briefings from the most promising submissions in the September 22, 1997 time frame. The information submitted in the white papers and any resulting briefings will be collected in a database to be utilized for selecting candidate subcontractors for potential technical effort within their areas of expertise. Should you participate at the subcontract level be advised that each individual subcontractor will only be entitled to receive that data relative to their technology area which will be commensurate with that subcontract contribution to technology advancement. The purpose of this request is not to request competitive proposals. No further technical information will be available. White papers may be submitted to: Dee Gill, M.C. C071-0014, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, 2401 E. Wardlow Road, Long Beach, CA, 90807-5309. Mr. Gill has been selected to integrate the activities of the AIPT. Inquires of an acquisition nature should be addressed to Susan M. Palmer, Negotiator or Timothy L. Jones, Agreements Officer, WL/MLKT, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. (937)255-7143. E-Mail should be directed to Palmersm@wpafb.af.mil. (0181)

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