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

A -- VISIONARY TECHNOLOGIES FOR AVIONICS LEADERSHIP (VITAL) SOL BAA- 97-07-AAKE POC Contact Ms. Nancy Stormer, Contracting Officer, (937) 255-5311, or Mr. Donald W. Robinson, Contract Negotiator, (937) 255-3379 WEB: Click here to review the Supplemental Package, http://www/wl/wpafb.af.mil/contract/hp.htm. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contract negotiator, robinsdw@aa.wpafb.af.mil. INTRODUCTION: Wright Laboratory (WL) is interested in receiving white papers and proposals (technical and cost) for multiple awards on the research efforts briefly outlined in Section B, as supplemented by the VITAL Program Information Package (VITAL PIP) that is available separately via the Internet at http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/hp.htm or by hard copy from the contracting point of contact (POC) listed below. This BAA will use a two step process whereby offerors are required to submit white papers for initial evaluation in the first step. DO NOT SUBMIT A PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME. The purpose of a white paper is to preclude unwarranted effort on the part of an offeror whose proposed work is not of interest to the Air Force. Offerors whose white papers are found to be consistent with the intent of this BAA may be invited to submit a technical and cost proposal; however, such an invitation does not assure that the submitting organization will be awarded a contract. White paper and proposal submission information, including receipt times and dates, is detailed in Section D, below, and described more fully in the VITAL PIP. White papers and proposals shall not be submitted via facsimile transmission or by email. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. White papers and proposals shall be submitted in accordance with the information provided in this announcement and the detailed instructions contained in the VITAL PIP. White paper and proposal receipt after the cutoff dates and times specified herein shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10; a copy of this provision may be obtained from the contracting POC. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any BAA amendments that may permit later dates for submission of white papers or proposals. Offerors should obtain a copy of the WL Guide entitled, "BAA and PRDA Guide for Industry." This guide wasspecifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the BAA/PRDA proposal process. Copies may be obtained via the Internet site at http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/hp.htm or requested from the contracting POC. Offerors are strongly encouraged to expeditiously obtain a copy of the VITAL PIP which contains specific details relevant to formatting, technical and administrative aspects of the four focus areas (described briefly in Section B, below) and their subthrusts. B -- REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: In the modern battlespace, it is imperative to rapidly, and consistently, target enemy assets in a timely way that is survivable and cost effective. Visionary avionics technologies (including device, sensor, information processing and dissemination, modeling and simulation, and technologies to reduce the cost of development and ownership) are required to implement system concepts designed to overcome the war fighters' identified needs and deficiencies. Successful implementation of these concepts is dependent on the ability of the Air Force to develop and test new and creative avionics sensors, information processing capabilities, and their supporting technologies. This program is part of the ongoing effort at WL/AA to research, develop, test, and implement state-of-art and beyond technologies and data assets for advanced avionics. The VITAL effort shall include (a) the research and development of visionary and developmental technologies that are long term, high risk, and high payoff; as well as, (b) other developmental technologies that are near term and transitionable, both of which are within and across the following focus areas: 1) affordable, precision offensive/defensive sensors for airborne and space-based operations; 2) sensor-to-user (shooter) information for global engagement, to include design, development and evaluation of an architecture for a global reference network; 3) collaborative engineering for design, development, evaluation, training and support for avionics technology; and, 4) affordable devices enabling battlespace dominance. (2) Deliverable Items: See the VITAL PIP for details. Note: The Government desires unlimited rights to all data delivered. The offeror shall identify technical data and/or computer software to be delivered with other than unlimited rights. In accordance with DFARS 227.7103-1 and 227.7103-5, the offeror shall submit a price for which it would provide proprietary software or technical data to the Government with unlimited or Government Purpose Rights. (3) Security Requirements: Work performed under any resulting contracts or acquisition instruments may be classified up to and including TOP SECRET/SCI level. A cleared TEMPEST approved processing facility is required for all proposals where classified information is to be generated or processed. (4) Other Special Requirements: International Traffic in Arms Restrictions (ITARS) apply. Public Law 98-94 applies to this acquisition. Offerors must submit a copy of their approved DD Form 2345, "Militarily CriticalTechnical Data Agreement" covering the pertinent technology with their proposal. C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The Air Force anticipates the technical efforts will vary between 24 and 48 months, depending on the effort proposed. Offerors shall also provide for an additional four months for processing/completion of the final report. (2) Expected Award Dates: Multiple awards are anticipated during the period from 15 Mar 98 through 30 Sep 98. (3) Air Force Estimate: Projected Air Force funding profiles are listed in the VITAL PIP. The value of individual awards is expected to vary between $350,000 and $6,500,000. (4) Type of Instrument: Contract -- Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) or Cost (no fee), Cost Share; Assistance Instruments -- Grants or Cooperative Agreements; or, Other Transactions, as appropriate. (5) Government Furnished Property (GFP): Estimated quantity, quality, and suggested source of GFP should be included in offerors' proposals as appropriate. (6) Size Status: Offerors should indicate whether they are or are not a socially and economically disadvantaged business, a Historically Black College or University/Minority Institution, whether or not they are 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 and Foreign-Owned Firms: Restrictions apply which preclude your participation in this acquisition. D WHITE PAPER AND PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: See the VITAL PIP for detailed requirements. (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. White paper and proposal preparation clarifications and questions should be directed to one of the points of contact listed below. Offerors should refer to the instructions contained in the WL "BAA and PRDA Guide for Industry" referenced in Section A of this announcement and to the VITAL PIP. (a) PREPARATION COST: This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to pay for any response preparation cost. The cost of preparing white papers and proposals in response to this BAA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract. It is, however, an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. (b) WHITE PAPER CLOSING AND SUBMISSION: All white papers must be received no later than 3:00 PM EDT on 21 August 1997 at WRIGHT LABORATORY, ATTN: DONALD W. ROBINSON, WL/AAKE, Building 7, 2530 C STREET, WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OH 45433-7607. REF: BAA 97-07-AAKE, Focus Area Title: "X", Subthrust Title: "XXX". WL/AA intends to respond to white papers, by 03 October 1997, with a recommendation to propose or not propose. Regardless of the recommendation, the decision to submit a proposal is the responsibility of the offeror. All proposals, with an associated white paper, submitted by the due date and time will be reviewed regardless of the disposition of the white paper. (c) PROPOSAL CLOSING AND SUBMISSION: All responsible sources who have previously submitted a white paper for evaluation may submit a proposal which shall be considered against the criteria set forth herein. Technical and cost proposals submitted without an associated white paper will not be evaluated and will be returned to the offeror. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the Government. Technical and cost proposals, submitted in separate volumes, are required, and must be valid until 30 Sep 98. All proposals must be received no later than 3:00 PM EDT on 3 November 1997 at WRIGHT LABORATORY, ATTN: DONALD W. ROBINSON, WL/AAKE, Building 7, 2530 C STREET, WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OH 45433-7607. REF: BAA 97-07-AAKE, Focus Area Title: "X", Subthrust Title: "XXX". E BASISFOR SELECTION/AWARD: See the Vital PIP. F POINTS OF CONTACT: (1) An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns 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 Air Force personnel. All potential offerors should use established channels to voice concerns before resorting to use 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 source selection. 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, ATTN: Mr. Michael Coalson, ASC/SY, Bldg 52, 2475 K Street, Suite, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7642, E-mail: coalsoms@sy.wpafb.af.mil, Phone: (937) 255-5535 Ext 232. (2) Technical POC: Questions on technical issues may be referred to the Coordinating POC, Steven C. Sawtelle, WL/AACR Bldg. 620, 2241 Avionics Circle, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base OH 45433-7318, E-mail sawtelsc@aa.wpafb.af.mil, Phone: (937) 255-1105, Ext 3436, 0600-1500 EST, M-F. (2) Contracting/Cost POC: Questions related to contract/cost issues should be directed to Wright Laboratory, Directorate of Research and Development Contracting, 2530 C Street, Building 7, ATTN: Mr. Donald W. Robinson, WL/AAKE, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base OH 45433-7607, E-mail: robinsdw@aa.wpafb.af.mil, Phone: (937) 255-2976, FAX (937) 656-7233, or to ATTN: Ms. Nancy Stormer, WL/AAKE, same address and FAX number, E-mail stormenf@aa.wpafb.af.mil, Phone: (937) 255-5311. See Note 26. (0199)

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