Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- SOLID FREEFORM FABRICATION (SFF) AND DESIGN SOL BAA97-35 DUE 101797 POC Dr. William Coblenz, Mr. Kevin Lyons, DARPA/DSO, fax (703) 696-3999 SOLID FREEFORM FABRICATION (SFF) AND DESIGN SOL BAA97-35 DUE 101797 POC Dr. William S. Coblenz, Mr. Kevin W. Lyons, DARPA/DSO, FAX (703) 696-3999. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals which demonstrate reduced time and cost for validation of advanced design concepts through combining Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) and design technologies. Successful efforts will incorporate advances in both computational and hardware related technologies for the innovative design of high performance components, enabling the analysis of components, the selection and specification of advanced materials, and the design and control of fabrication processes. The technologies are to be demonstrated through the design, fabrication, test and evaluation of defense relevant components. The current SFF Program has been developing machine capabilities to convert virtual objects (i.e., CAD files) directly to components with form, fit and function. Ceramics for high temperature structural applications have been the primary focus. The new work is expected to expand on these technologies through efforts such as: the extension of machine capabilities to new materials and combinations of materials; the improvement of dimensional tolerances and surface finish; the extension of machine capabilities to nonplanar build layers; the development of machine capability for positional control of composition or crystal texture; the development of novel methods to facilitate the sharing and exchange of key material and SFF process information and knowledge supporting design optimization software; and the extension of software tools to utilize product performance information in planning and defining the SFF process. It is expected that the resulting demonstration components will have functionality that would not be achievable through the use of conventional fabrication methods and design methodologies due to cost, time to field, and/or the ability to fabricate. The technologies should address the limitations ofexisting approaches (e.g., support the substitution of components) and demonstrate the approach taken to overcome these limitations. Component demonstrations are expected to utilize the developed machine capabilities to optimize both design and materials. Demonstrations of novel concepts in support of advanced gas turbine or rocket engine technology are of particular interest, although other novel applications are encouraged. In most cases, teams with expertise in system integration and design optimization; machine design and process control; and materials science and engineering will be required to execute such programs. The total program is planned to be 24 months in duration with $8 M of funding. Multiple awards are expected. The government reserves the right to award contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions under this solicitation. TEAMING: To facilitate teaming, optional expressions of interest in the form of a one page letter with NON-PROPRIETARY information on: 1) the area of technical interest to be developed; 2) business and technical points of contact (including phone, fax and email); and 3) a short summary of the organization's relevant technical experience should be sent by mail or fax to: Mr. Kevin W. Lyons, DARPA/DSO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714; fax (703) 696-3999 by 4:00 pm ET Tuesday, 19 August 1997. A packet consisting of all expressions of interest will be sent to all respondents by Tuesday, 26 August 1997. In order to ensure that all technically relevant aspects of this program will be addressed, teaming of industry, national laboratories, and/or academic institutions with complementary areas of expertise is encouraged. PROPOSALS: Evaluation of proposals will be accomplished using a technical review process whereby each proposal will be scored using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (1) demonstrated technical and scientific merit of the proposed program, (2) impact of the successful development on the potential performance of DoD systems, (3) offeror's capabilities and recent related experience, including personnel, facilities, equipment, and data to perform the work, and (4) realism of cost. The government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. PROPOSAL FORMAT -- Ten single sided hard copies, each 8.5 by 11 inches, must be submitted. They should have 1.25-inch margins, and a font size not smaller than 12 pitch. The address and point of contact for the response should be clearly and prominently identified in the proposal. Non-conforming proposals may be rejected without review. Proposals shall consist of two volumes; Technical and Cost. The first page of both the Technical and Cost volumes should clearly indicate the title, the prime and subcontractors or partnership members proposed, the principal investigator name, phone number, fax number, email address, period of performance, and first year and total cost of the effort. The Technical Volume shall include an Executive Summary, a Program Description, a Program Plan, a Statement of Work, a Milestone Chart, a Facilities and Equipment description, a description of Relevant Prior Work, a Management Plan, and Resumes of Key Individuals. The page count of this volume shall be limited to a maximum of 40 pages, which includes all figures, references, tables, charts, and appendices. The Cost volume shall contain a summary cost breakdown and a detailed cost breakdown. The summary breakdown should be shown to the level of major tasks and should indicate manpower levels of effort, equipment and supplies, travel, and miscellaneous expenses for the tasks of the entire program, broken out by performer and time. The summary shall be no longer than 6 pages, but the detailed cost breakdown is not limited in page count. Bidders should submit proposals to: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Sciences Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, REF: BAA97-35. All proposals are due by 4:00 pm ET, October 17, 1997. Within approximately seven (7) business days of receipt, DARPA will acknowledge receipt of the submission and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence regarding the proposal. This CBD notice itself constitutes the Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). No portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticability of reserving discrete or severable tasks relating to solid freeform fabrication technology, however HBCUs and MIs are encouraged to apply. In cases where evaluation of proposals is substantially equal, preference for award will be given to those proposals which include HBCU's and MI's as participants over those which do not include HBCU's and MI's. An information package is available through written request to Mr. Kevin W. Lyons at the address above or through the DARPA homepage (URL http://www.darpa.mil/) after 4 August 1997. No additional information will be made available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Awards made under this BAA are subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 9.5, Organizational Conflict of Interest. All offerors and proposed subcontractors must state in writing, at the time of proposal submission, whether they are supporting any DARPA technical office(s) through an active contract or subcontract. All affirmations must state which office(s) the offeror supports, and identify the prime contract number. All facts relevant to the existence or potential existence of organizational conflicts of interest, as that term is defined in FAR 9.501, must be disclosed. This disclosure shall include a description of the action the Contractor has taken, or proposes to take, to avoid, neutralize or mitigate such conflict. Technical POCs for this BAA are Dr. William S. Coblenz and Mr. Kevin W. Lyons. All questions concerning this BAA97-35 should be submitted in writing to the technical POCs at the address above or transmitted by FAX: (703) 696-3999 or by e-mail at: wcoblenz@darpa.mil or klyons@darpa.mil. (0202)

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